Morgan- River Port Town.

This small forgotten place was once one of the busiest and most important ports in SA. Its wharf, which dates back to 1878 when the railway arrived from Eudunda and the town was first established, was once over 550 feet (168 m) long. But let’s go back to the beginning of white settlement. Captain Charles Sturt arrived here on February 21st 1830. The first documented leaseholders arrived in 1851. Early attempts at pastoralism were not successful, (too many dingoes and poisonous plants) but by 1856 Hermann Von Reiben was established near present day Morgan. A post office was set up here and known as Von Reiben’s locality. Von Reiben also established a small hotel on the Murray lagoon on what is now the railway and ferry reserve. The nearest town to this emerging Morgan was Blanchetown.

 

The town was established in 1878 as a government town. 213 town allotments were surveyed and auctioned. About half the blocks were sold at the first auction. The wharf was built in 1878 and trains started to arrive at a non-existent town! This changed within a couple of years. By then there were five steam cranes working 24 hours a day on the wharves and six trains arrived from Adelaide daily. River boat fleet owners established themselves here, and some big commercial traders. Landseer and Sons from Milang were one of the first to establish a warehouse here, and it still stands today as the local Museum. (The warehouse housed grain, wood, wool, hides, dried fruit, dairy produce, groceries etc). The Murray Shipping Limited was the main company that survived and provided river boats for the lucrative river trade up to Wentworth and even higher up the Darling River. But many boats were owned and operated by individual captains who still found enough work and cartage to make a living. Boats from companies like Murray Shipping Ltd even carted all the building materials upstream for the construction of the Bourke Hotel. Murray Shipping also had its own slipways and workshops down on the river’s edge for its numerous barges and steamers. At one time this site employed dozens of workers.

 

The heyday of Morgan, however was short lived- about twenty years. By 1897 railway lines had snaked out from Sydney across the western plains to the Darling River area, and railway lines had also crossed the Murray from Melbourne and reached out into the Riverina area of NSW. Despite this the river trade continued for many more years, but at a lesser volume. Not all sheep stations were close to rail heads. Morgan handled less NSW, QLD and VIC wool and goods by then and the inter colonies had become inter states in 1901. Some wool was still being shipped downstream to Morgan from the Darling as late as the early 1930s from around 70 sheep runs and stopping places upstream from Wentworth. 1931 was the last year for big loads of wool to be shipped down to Morgan.

 

Old Morgan Wharf. Morgan railway station and station master house.

As the river boat traded died away in the 1920s (road truck transportation took over then) many of the boats were used to cart construction materials for the river locks upstream as far away as Renmark. Others were used to cart freshwater down to Tailem Bend for the steam trains because before the barrages and locks were built the Murray water was salty as far up the river as Mannum. Prior to its demise, some river boats were also built in Morgan. One of the last to operate for commercial trade reasons on the river was the “Kookaburra” owned by the Diener family, which operated until the 1956 Murray River floods. By the 1950s, however, there were steamers operating on the Murray from Morgan as pleasure craft, tourist ventures and fishing vessels. In the early days Morgan was also one of the many stopping places for the steamer “Etona.” The “Etona” operated from 1891- 1912 with funding from the Anglican Church as a sort of “floating” church that went up the river to Chowilla. The chaplain on board would conduct church services, weddings, funerals, baptism etc. A second vessel called the “Etona” was built in Milang for the Anglican Church. That vessel had a small chapel on board with seating for six. St Peters Anglican Church in Morgan became the base from which the “Etona” worked. Like many river steamers the Etona became derelict, and then was rebuilt by enthusiasts in Echuca, Victoria.

 

Boats and barges built in the workshops, including registered tonnage and steam engine tonnage in Morgan were: Croupierbarge188185 ton

Emeraldbarge190089 ton

Federalsteamer190354 ton

Merlesteamer1904112 ton

Rubysteamer1909313 ton

Sapphiresteamer190429 ton

Ukeebarge1910179 ton

Venture IIsteamer1910204 ton

Sunbeamsteamer?19 ton

This information is taken from the book by J.W. R. White, Morgan Centenary 1878- 1978, published by the Morgan Centenary Committee.

 

Naturally the town of Morgan prospered and grew quickly as it began life with a railway and a large wharf. The Terminus Hotel indicated that the train finished at Morgan and the other hotel was the Commercial and both were constructed in 1879. Until the Institute (1909) was built the Terminus Hotel was used for many social functions, and local council meetings until the Council Chambers were built in 1894. Nearby were general stores, a Police Station, a Customs House (SA was an independent colony in those days), a bank, Landseer’s warehouse, and a school. The old Customs House was located next to some old railway cottages on top of Billy Goat Hill in the town. The school was opened in 1878 and had fine stone buildings for classrooms by 1880. Enrolments peaked in 1927 when the school had 140 pupils. The school teacher’s house was built at the same time as the school in 1880. The Post Office was another essential town building. Although a postal service began from Big Bend in 1860, the Morgan post office was not opened until 1878. It handled all the mail for Wentworth in NSW and beyond, as well as SA mail. The post office was erected in 1912 and further extended in 1942.

 

In 1888 a local council was formed. By then the town had a cemetery, a ferry service across the river, a bank, and chemist and butcher/baker shops. The Morgan Institute was erected in 1909, with further extensions as a war memorial in 1924. The hospital opened in 1921. From 1923 the town had a Eudunda Farmers’ Store.

 

Apart from the social and business and government institutions in town, the churches always played an important role in the community. The first church in Morgan appears to be the Methodist church which was built in 1878 and is still used for services. Next came the Anglican Church of St Peter’s in 1894. By the 1930s the minister in charge was residing in Waikerie, a much larger town, and travelling to Morgan from there. The Catholics began services in Morgan in 1880 but they did not erect a church until 1926- St Ursula’s. Although Lutheran services for the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia were held in the town from 1891 they were in private houses. In the 1920s services began in the local Methodist church with the UELCA Lutherans not building their own church until 1957. The Lutheran ELSA (Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Australia) began their services in Morgan in 1910 but their church was not built in 1933. The two Lutheran churches amalgamated in 1966 and the former St Andrews Lutheran Church became the new St Mark’s Lutheran.

 

In terms of industry the town had a flour mill (Jackett’s) from 1900 to 1934 when it burnt down. The town’s first blacksmith opened in 1891 and operated for many years. The main employer of the town was the shipping companies, the warehouses like Landseer’s, and the railways. For a few years, from 1948 to 1957 the town even had a eucalyptus oil distillery operated for Faulding and Co chemists of Adelaide. The tourism industry got underway in Morgan in 1969 when the first house boats for hire began operating on the river. One last employer for the town was the pumping station for the Morgan to Whyalla pipe line. This engineering feat was officially opened in 1944. It involved the laying of 223 miles (360 kms) of concrete lined steel water pipes and four major pumping stations as the water had to be pumped higher than the township of Eudunda. 1,000 men were employed on this project and it came in at 12% UNDER budget. The system has been enlarged greatly since then. But all the water for the system is pumped from the Murray at Morgan.

 

In more recent years Morgan has contracted further. The last freight river services finished in the 1950s and the last train travelled to Morgan in 1969. Even the availability of water for the pumping station is a problem these days. But Morgan will always be able to claim its place in SA history as the most important River Murray port in SA. Because of this, the railway line to Morgan was the most profitable in the state. The train service to Morgan ceased in 1969.

 

 

This photo was taken by a neighbor, Ismael Reynoso (It was his idea!!!)

 

It was snowing a good part of the afternoon, but I had an appointment soon after so didn't go roaming in the snow until after nightfall. The snow had really begun to accumulate--perhaps 3-4 inches. The streets were almost deserted, but for a few sturdy souls--such as me! I do have a disability and walk with a cane, but have really strong, water-tight shoes that are like short boots and they gave me the excellent footing to face some slippery surfaces. And I was dressed REALLY warm, with all kinds of layers, hats, scarves, gloves--you name it...so I was never too hot or too cold.

 

I love being out in the falling snow! I guess it brings out the child in me... Walking around once the snow has fallen is wonderful, but I prefer getting covered with some of the white stuff, too. And taking pictures as it falls, of course! I know I could ruin my camera, but my current one is rather hardy and, as they say, "nothing ventured, nothing gained," n'est-ce pas?

 

I went out for a wee repast at my favorite Salvadorian haunt. I was one of perhaps two people having a meal. Another one or two were hanging out, having a drink. In other words, it was *dead*! By the time I left, it had started to rain. I decided to take another route home, hoping to photograph some Christmas decorations that I'm particularly fond of on a nearby side street that are usually on view by this time of the season. It was a great decision...

 

As I made my way through the very wet snow & rain, I came across a family of neighbors, including a small child, who were putting the finishing touches on a cute little snowman on the narrow sidewalk in front of their houses. I stopped to admire their work, complimenting them en español, the language they were speaking. (I'm a total sucker for snowmen!!!) They didn't seem to mind a bit that I was hanging around. When it was finished, I asked if I could take a few pictures with them and the snowman. Then one of them, a young man named Ismael, asked if I'd like to have a picture taken with the snowman. Was I delighted? Well, I think you can see for yourself!

 

This was a one-shot; Ismael had a magic touch--with the snowman AND this single shot.

  

Washington Heights, Upper Manhattan

New York City

 

Peziza repanda 'Spreading Brown Cup Fungus' is a cup shaped fungus when it is young but matures to a flat to undulating shape. The upper, fertile, surface is varying shades of brown and the lower surface is pale brown to white. Growing on a fallen poplar log. Rod Handfield's Acreage, West of Millarville, 5474August_17__2010

This might sound odd, but I love to go to jury duty.

Most people do everything in their power to get out of this but I not only enjoy it but look forward to being called. Today was that day. I not only got called but my friend got called also- on the very same day and place! What are the odds!

I, along with 45 other people, were sent up to the 6th floor to be questioned for selection. This trial (criminal) was estimated to last 3 to 4 days. Our group started to thin: people who had a hard time understanding English- gone. Medical reasons- gone. Time constants- gone.

Then there was 20.

We were asked questions by both attorneys. I answered everything honestly and hoped that I would be seen as a good candidate. We were asked to wait their decision outside.

I wasn't picked. And will never know why.

I also wont ever know what happened with the trial.

The case was multiple charges of armed robbery- that's all we were told.

I hope my fellow jurors did their jobs well and justice was served.

As for me, it's back to work tomorrow.

  

Click here for my "Year 7" 365 collection.

"But you, my dear and sweet mother, ought to be joyful and not sad; you ought to bear every burden for the honour of God and for your salvation and mine. Lift, lift your heart and your thoughts a little to that sweet and most holy cross, in the face of which every burden is as nothing. Desire to endure a little temporal pain to be spared the eternal pain that we deserve for our sins. Be comforted by the love of Christ crucified.

Abide in the holy and sweet love of God. Sweet Jesus, Jesus love!"

 

- from a letter of St Catherine of Siena OP to her mother.

 

Today, 7 February, the Dominican Order commemorates those of our parents who have died in the peace of Christ.

 

This cross is in St Paul's church in Kensington, London.

 

Designspiration - Popular via ift.tt/eLETx8. View the post ift.tt/1CPPKvP

Coffee and Pie

 

Where was I??? Oh yes, I was about to come down the car to go into a nice restaurant in Merida, all in doubt, fear and excitement. But I was there, it was my opportunity to do a more normal activity, and so I went out the car.

The walk to the restaurant, trying to pull myself together, It is nice to have the doors open for me. and there the first face to face to other people. The entry man at the restaurant, and a waiter standing there.

I saw them looking toward us (yes they have to see the new clients) I know they said something , but couldn't properly distinguish what. All I saw was the hand of one of them pointing towards the tables.

As we walked toward the designated table, we passed 2 tables with people, first one they didn't look, they were happy eating, next one indeed the man sit there took a look at us three.

Which side of the table to sit down?? should I sit on the one facing the door, where everyone entering would see my face, but I would be abel to see people enter?????, or should I chose the one giving my back, where only the very few who walked to the very last table would see me, but also I would not see much????. I decided to be able to see people ocme inside the place :D

My friend sit next to me, and the host left us there. I wanted to turn my face to see if he had any reaction once he left away, but that would have been so obvious, so I didn't.

Then came a boy, to leave the menu, for what I could notice, he barely looked at us. I looked through it, and find they served lemon pie, yumiii, me likes it. AS I was looking my friend asked me what I wanted. I think she probably wanted to tell the waiter the order for both of us.

I could have let that be the case, easier to pass if I didn't talk, but then I would be a mute girl. SO I asked my friend, "can I order myself???".

A waitress arrived then (a really cute girl) My friend ordered, and then it was time for me to talk. The girl looked towards me, and I, trying to lower my voice, started saying, "A lemon pie and a cofee", hoping my voice was not too hard (to sound so boyish), hoping my voice was not too low (that she couldn't hear me, and I had to talk again).

But she was able to hear me, as she repeated what we ordered. Then she left, with no reaction I could notice. Was I really passing??? Or was I so nervous that I couldn't notice???. Later she returned to leave what we ordered, being all nice.

My friend and I were talking, a really nice chat, and also a bit of an important one, about one part of Jessica and telling someone about.

Then a family (couple and a little boy) and the waitress were walking toward us, I was nervous, would they have a reaction to me?? but they just walk by next to us (the woman indeed look toward us) and sit in the table next to us (the one to my back).

That put me into a thought, either they didn't notice, or they didn't care, or they were too lazy to walk to a table far away from me.

The waitress returned later, with another girl, to let us know that her shift was over, that the new girl was now our waitress.

Then came time to go away, ask for the bill, my friend left me alone for a little moment, and then to go to the cashier to pay, and back outside. By then it was already night time.

 

So how that part of the adventure went, except from the beginning when I was too nervous, I enjoyed the rest of it.

Didn't notice any reaction of the few people that saw me, or talk to me.

And I had a really nice time talking to my friend. I really liked doing this.

Was it possible that I indeed passed as a girl??? or I waas just unaware of any reaction and so I didn't notice??? Or the people just didn't care,???

My friend later told me that she indeed looked to see if the waitress had any reaction once she left the table, and said she didn't saw any.

 

Kisses

Jessica

 

Is there more to this adventure, or did it end there????

    

Pay y cafe

 

Donde estaba??? Oh si, les decia que estaba a punto de bajar del coche para dirigirme al agradable restaurante en Merida, llena de dudas, miedo, y emocion. Era mi oportunidad de hacer una actiidad normal, asi que sin mas, baje del auto.

Y caminar hacia el restaurante, tratando de mantenerme en orden. Es agradable cuando me abren la puerta, jejeje. Y entonces ahi el primer encuentro cara a cara con otras personas. El cuate que te recibe en el restaurante y un mesero ahi parados.

Y ahi los vi, mirandonos (si ya se que tienen que ver a todos los clientes nuevos, pero aun asi, da cosa que se te queden viendo), se que dijeron algo, pero con el nervio no upde distinguir que, solo vi que con la mano hacian un gesto apuntando hacia las mesas.

Mientras caminabamos a la mesa que nos asignaron, pasamos por 2 mesas con gente, en la primera no note que nos observaran, estaban felices comiendo. En la otra, si vi que el señor volteo a vernos a los tres.

Decisiones. Que lado de la mesa elegir para sentarme??? debiera sentarme de cara a la puerta, donde todo el que entrase podria ver mi rostro, con la ventaja de igual yo ver a todo cuanto entrase???. O quiza mejor sentarme de espaldas, de forma que solo los pocos que caminaran a la mesa mas alla pudiesen verme, claro sin yo poder ver mucho realmente??? DEcidi que era mas divertido ver a la gente que pudiera llegar a entrar :D

Mi amigui se sento a mi lado, y el anfitrion no dejo. Realmente queria voltear mi cara para ver si al irse tenia alguna reaccion, pero como que hubiera sido demasiado obvio, asi que no lo hice.

Luego vino un muchacho a dejar los menus (se escribe asi???), Y por lo que pude notar, casi ni nos observo. Me puse a ver el menu, y encontre que tenian pay de limon, yumiii, me gusta el pay de limon. Mientras veia, mi amigui me pregunto que queria. Creo que pensaba en ser quien pidiera la orden por las dos.

Pude haber dejado que fuera asi, mas facil pasar y no delatarme si no hablaa, pero entonces seria como la niña muda, asi que le pregunte a mi amigui Fernanda, "puedo yo pedir lo mio???"

Una mesera llego despues (una chica muy linda por cierto). Mi amigui ordeno, y luego fue mi moento para hablar. La chica volteo a verme y yo, tratando de hablar con mi voz suave y bajita, empece a decir "yo quiero el pay de limon y un cafe", esperando que mi voz no fuera demasiado fuerte (que sonara totalmente de niño), esperando que tampoco fuera demasiado suave (no me escuchara y tuviera que repetir todo).

Pero si pudo escuchar lo que dije, pues la chica repitio mi orden. Y tras anotar y revisar lo ordenado, se fue, sin reaccion aparente. ¿¿Realmente estaba pasando como niña??? o era que de lo nerviosa ni me daba cuenta de las reacciones???. La chica regreso mas de rato para traer nuestros alimentos, toda amable.

Mi amigui y yo, no la pasamos hablando, una charla muy padre, y en cachitos un tanto importante, sobre Jessica y eso de que como que quiero contarle a alguien de ella.

Entonces una familia (pareja y un chiquillo) y la mesera caminaban hacia nosotros. que nervio, tendrian alguna reaccion hacia mi???, pero solo pasaron a nuestro lado (la señora si volteo a vernos) y se sentaron en la mesa al lado de nosotros, a nuestras espaldas.

Eso me pone a pensar, es que no me notaron, o no les importo si lo notaron, o no vieron, o les dio flojera caminar a otra mesa lejos de mi???

La mesera regreso despues con otra chica, para avisarnos que su turno terminaba, y que la nueva chica iba a ser nuestra nueva mesera, Nuevamente sin reaccion evidente.

Llego el momento de partir, pedir la cuenta, mi amigui me dejo por unos momentos solita, luego a la caja a pagar y de nuevo al exterior, a un sitio sin tanta gente. Para esa hora ya se habia vuelto de noche.

 

Asi que como creo que me fue en esta parte de la aventura, pues exceptuando al inicio que si estaba que me moria de los nervios, pues el resto, la disfrute mucho.

No note reaccion alguna de la gente que me vio o que me escucho hablar.

Tuve una muy agradable conversacion con mi amigui. REalmente me encanto haberlo hecho.

Es posible acaso que si haya pasado como niña??? o simplemente no pude percatarme de las reacciones y no note que ocurria?? O a la gente simplemente no le importo??

My amigui mas tarde me dijo que si volteo a ver a la mesera una vez para buscar alguna reaccion posterior, y que no noto tampoco reaccion alguna.

  

Kisses

Jessica

 

Hay mas partes de esta aventura, o termino ahi????

   

but still frozen

 

Project 52 Weeks/Week 29 - frozen

Usually my captions are from my own research, but this time I've cut & pasted the following from the British Listed Buildings site.

www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-471649-pleasant-stree...

I'm getting lazy in my old age.

 

"School and attached office, formerly school and master's house. 1818, extended 1851, with further alterations and extensions in 1889 and 1894. Red brick laid to Flemish bond with ashlar sandstone dressings, moulded eaves cornice beneath a slate roof covering laid to diminishing courses. Brick chimney stacks, 2 mid slope to west gable, 1 ridge stack and 2 front wall stacks. Linear plan, with main frontage to Pleasant Street, and with integral staff accommodation at west end, returning onto Green Lane..

FRONT (north) elevation: 2 storeys, 12 window bays to first floor, bays 1,3 and 8 of multiple light form. 3 ground floor doorways, 2 with deep small-paned overflights below segmental brick arches, the third at the west end with V-jointed rustication to ashlar surround, and 3 pane overflight. The door gives access to a through passage with a stone staircase which also separates former master's dwelling from classrooms. Single windows are sashes ,asymmetrically divided and some small-paned, multiple windows have C20 joinery between moulded columns. Centrally placed sign between floors reads `PLEASANT STREET BOARD SCHOOL'.

SIDE (west) ELEVATION: Gable with semi-circular headed doorway, with flanking attaches Doric columns which carry a semi-circular fanlight with curved glazing bars . Four-panelled door. Above, stacked sash windows, that to the first floor with glazing bars.

REAR (south) ELEVATION: Late C19 hipped- roofed 2 storey extension to centre of main range. East end gable linked by tall brick boundary wall to Experimenting Room of 1894, with first floor classroom having a ventilated sub-floor area above arcaded open bays to ground floor. First floor doorway to north gable served by iron staircase.

HISTORY: The school was built by the Benevolent Society of St Patrick, but was multi-denominational. The purpose of the foundation was the instructing in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic; the clothing and apprenticing of Poor Children descended of Irish parents'. The children were separated by sex and were taught on different floors until 1852, when, following the construction of an extension for infants, the school was re-organised into a mixed system. In 1866, the name of the school was changed to the Hibernian British School', and by 1874 the school had been transferred to the School Board.

The Pleasant Street School is a survival from the period before the first allocation of public funding for school building, and its development reflects progressive changes in educational thinking and organisation throughout the C19. Surviving examples are rare nationally, and this example , which has undergone little alteration either to the school, or the master's house since the late C19 is additionally significant as an early example of multi-denominational provision.

 

Pleasant Street School' Historic Buildings Report N.B.R. 95741. R.C.H.M.E. 1996 ."

 

Converted into apartments c2008.

You youngins may not have seen one of these, but if you were a kid in the 70’s you’d be a nobody if this wasn’t your mode of transportation! You’re looking at a Big Wheel and with no horsepower under the hood…or no hood to speak of, I’m hoping the admin staff over at LUGNuts will accept this unconventional entry in their All But Four

build challenge. As I’m half the admin staff there I’m guessing it’ll have a fighting chance…plus what it lacks in horsepower more than makes up for it in cool nostalgia! With its handbrake, a kid could do the most wicked spinouts ever…but like all things cool in the 70’s the big wheel was deemed too dangerous and replaced with safer toys…like video games. Still, in my opinion, you haven’t lived unless you’ve rode your big wheel at top speed down a steep hill, off a plywood ramp, purposefully ran down and injured a bicyclist, then spun out of control, doing a face plant on asphalt and skidding 30 feet into oncoming traffic, nearly getting run over by a VW bus! I sure loved my big wheel…and I have the scars to prove it.

"Ok, I may lose some contacts over this,but so be it i guess! A friend of mine recently told me that a comment was made about a picture that he had posted a while back. A rather crappy comment about him being a "feeder Cheater", because he photographed a bird on or near a feeder....

 

If i plant some Crab Apple trees in my yard and photograph Cedar Waxwings in them....is it cheating!? If go to the farmers field next door and photograph Goldfinches on the Sunflowers he planted....is it cheating!? The Screech Owl i recently posted can be found every morning i go there and its tree is beside a road ( i dont even have to get out of my truck)....Is that cheating!? My great friend and very talented photographer Tania shares her Hummingbird pictures & videos every spring with us all when they visit her house...is she cheating? A very talented photographer and someone i hope to meet maybe in a month, Hank Halsey has figured out where there are good concentrations of Apple Snails that attract Snail Kites...if he goes there is he cheating!? If Snidy photographs Bullfrogs in her pond in her yard...its cheating?

 

Sure, i think most would agree that a picture of a Lion running wild in Africa is a bit more stunning than a portrait of a Lion in a zoo...but the zoo portrait should not be looked at as beautiful, or a great shot composition wise, beacause its from a zoo...HELL NO! Pictures are posted because a person thinks others might find it as enjoyable as they did. Tame or wild, all God's creatures are beautiful! In a national park, or a backyard...they are beautiful!

 

....Where is the line drawn in the sand? And why would a certain person try to make another person feel as if he should not have even posted a picture!!! Constructive criticism is great...it helps us become better photographers...right? But personal attacks about a persons skill, decisions on what to post, and what is beautiful is just wrong! If you dont agree or you dont like a certain photograph, and you feel you're going to be an A$$ to someone.....close the page and leave them alone!

 

I post pictures of birds around my house, because most of the time i only have minutes after work to get some shooting in. No one wants to see the pictures i get because they are near a feeder?....HELL NO!

 

I have spent many days and countless hours with this certain friend. I've seen him covered with sweat in the summer tracking down Warblers through thickets and Hemlock stands. I've seen him get eaten alive by mosquitoes for hours to get a shot! There is nothing more this guy likes than to be away from civilization photographing the beauty around him! He also has beauty in his back yard, and i enjoy it when he shares them with us all!

 

The person who made this comment used to be a contact of mine...and his photography is amazing...BUT...his "true colors" are ugly!

 

* Red-bellied Woodpecker near a suet feeder in my back yard ( and this guy in a different pose is one of my best rated shots on Flickr)....I'm a Cheater!..LoL!

playing with the ball is so much more fun than posing for a boring photo!

We're back at the Monaco Ballroom on Friday December 12th for the final show of 2008!! Make sure you make it to see how the year's feuds end at this season ending super show - GPW: "Christmas Crunch"

 

We promise we wont crunch your credit.... we'll only crunch your Christmas!!

 

GPW Heavyweight Title Match

Bubblegum © vs. Dirk Feelgood

 

Just a few months ago you'd be forgiven for taking a double take at this match. The friendship between the two former friends totally imploded with the desire to become Heavyweight champion. Refusing to accept the demise of his friendship with Dirk Feelgood, Bubblegum spent months in turmoil not wanting to retaliate to the cutting comments and brutal attacks levelled his way by former friend and champion Feelgood. As time went by however, Bubblegum eventually unloaded on Feelgood but this will be the first time the two have ever come face to face in a one on one match. And to make things just a little more interesting... it's for the GPW Heavyweight Title. Can the fairytale championship reign continue for Bubblegum, or can Dirk shatter his dreams and become the first ever 2 time Heavyweight Champ?

 

Tag Team Special, Skeletor vs. Stella

Lethal Dose vs. Voodoo & "Sober" Mike Holmes

 

Alan Alan Alan Tasker's henchmen, Lethal Dose march into battle against former stable member Mike Holmes and the man they hold responsible for Holmes' new found sobriety - Voodoo. Cyanide and Toxic hope to tempt Holmes back over to the stable that two months ago he turned his back on. They want to snap him out of the spell they accuse Voodoo of putting him under. However, Holmes seems very happy with his new outlook on life and he and Voodoo look to send Lethal Dose packing in this tag team special. Lethal Dose have warned they will not be coming to the ring alone though, with them along with their attorney and law - Alan Alan Alan Tasker will be a 12 pack of Stella. Hoping the case of beer will prove to be a bigger demon to Holmes than the tag team itself. To fend off the 12 pack, Holmes and Voodoo will have Vooodoo's trusty skull, Skeletor in their corner. An unpredictable tag team match. Can MIke Holmes stay sober? Will Voodoo's spells work? Or will Lethal Dose deliver a beating big enough to break Voodoo's spell?

 

GPW British Title Match

Jak Dominotrescu vs. "Super" Sam Bailey

 

After pinning the British Champion last month in a tag team match, WKD's "Super" Sam Bailey has earned himself a title shot at GPW: "Christmas Crunch". Bailey, already a former tag team champion looks to add to his growing reputation by capturing his first ever singles gold in GPW. While reigning champion, Romanian Jak Domitrescu along with his cohorts - The Eastern Bloc look to make life as difficult as possible for the energetic live wire. Domitrescu has held onto the title since April this year with help from his fellow countrymen, but are his days numbered as champ? He surely wont be alone in this title outing and will have the Eastern Bloc close by, but can "Super" Sam Bailey overcome the odds to win his first singles gold in GPW?

 

And, the main event for the evening is...

 

GPW Tag Team Title 2/3 Falls Match

MIl-Anfield Connection © vs. Young Offenders

 

The heat just got turned up in this feud. The re-united Young Offenders have the most established tag team in GPW - The Mil-Anfield Connection firmly in their sights and not to mention the tag team trophy. These two teams met in September this year where there was no clear winner decided after the match ended in a draw. There will be NO excuses this time to not find a winner. This, for the first time in our history will be a 2/3 Falls Match for the tag team titles. A winner HAS to be decided, but who will it be? A truley epic encounter is in our midst as Jiggy Walker & "The Model" Danny Hope try to cling onto the championship that has defined them as a team and "Dangerous" Damon Leigh & Joey Hayes, The Young Offenders chase the title that one of the most popular tag teams in Europe have never held. Can the re-united friends overcome the well established unit that is The Mil-Anfield Connection? Or can the well oiled duo of the Mil-Anfield do what they've been doing all year and win again?

 

GPW British Title No.1 Contenders Match

Harry Doogle vs. Juice vs. Dylan Roberts vs. Chris Echo

 

After an eye catchingly good year from rookie Dylan Roberts, he has been included in this battle to earn a shot at the British Title. With a burning desire to win and the fans firmly behind him, Roberts could well mark his arrival onto the main roster by becoming the No.1 Contender and going for gold here. However, his opponents wont give him an easy ride. In a wonderful CC-08 tournament, no one impressed more than WKD's Chris Echo. Echo reached the CC-08 finals with two broken wrists and proved he is ready to take a step up. His previous attempts for British gold have been thwarted by the foreign legion numbers of the Eastern Bloc, is he ready to prove again that he is worthy of being No.1 Contender and finally lift the British title? Juice, the current CC8 champion has been as impressive as ever in singles competition this year, but can he compete in this match with 3 others all vying to be No.1 Contender? Also replacing Jervis Cottonbelly due to injury is Harry Doogle as a last minute entry could one half of the next gen score the upset win? , but with so many possible outcomes who will leave with the plaudits and go on to challenge for the British Title next year?

 

Lumberjack Match

Si Valour vs. Heresy

 

A violent and personal feud that has lasted all year long finally comes to a head in what promises to be a violent Lumberjack Match. Ever since brutalising Valour and cutting off all his hair, Heresy has, in some form or other dodged the challenge of Valour. Heresy claimed not to have lost his bottle or be running scared of the 2007 Break Out Star, yet during their Bull Rope clash at GPW: "V" where the two were tied to one another, Heresy still managed to find a way of escaping and creating distance between him and Valour. This time, in a special Lumberjack Match, no matter where either man go - there will be no escape. All lumberjacks will be at the ready to ensure neither man can escape the others clutches and a clear winner, one way or the other will HAVE to be decided. There will be nowhere to run to and nowhere to hide, no matter where they look. Heresy has been one step ahead of Valour all year, is this where he runs out of excuses, or can the master manipulator manipulate another win?

  

Brook lies about a quarter mile from the start of Wye Down, I can see it in the spring when I am orchid hunting, but never really thought about what the village was like, or even called.

 

After looking at John Vigar's book, I realised there were a few churches in east Kent I had missed out, and Brook was one. I dd not read up on it, so did not know what to expect. In fact, it seems of similar construction to Brabourne, with a stocky tower, and inside, sadly locked, the tower has a private chapel built into it.

 

But what is obvious is the hole in the north side facing the road. This clearly needed further inspection.

 

You reach the church via a bridge over a stream, presumably after which the village is named, and there is a path leading to the church door, which was unlocked.

 

On closer inspection, the recess in the north wall lead to a door, and inside the church, there was an oval door. This is a hagioscope (or squint), but I have never seen one in the outside wall of a church before.

 

Once home, I did some research, and found out about anchorites, people who decided to leave the cares of the world, lived like hermits attached to a church, with a window into the church so to witness the services.

 

If this wasn't remarkable enough, elsewhere inside the church had been re-ordered in the 1980s so it now resembles a 12th century Norman church, and has a remarkable collection of wall paintings on top of all that.

 

To call it breathtaking would be an understatement.

 

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An anchorite or anchoret (female: anchoress; adj. anchoritic; from Ancient Greek: ἀναχωρητής, anachōrētḗs, "one who has retired from the world",[2][3] from the verb ἀναχωρέω, anachōréō, signifying "to withdraw", "to retire"[4]) is someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society so as to be able to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic, and—circumstances permitting—Eucharist-focused life. Whilst anchorites are frequently considered to be a type of religious hermit,[5] unlike hermits they were required to take a vow of stability of place, opting instead for permanent enclosure in cells often attached to churches. Also unlike hermits, anchorites were subject to a religious rite of consecration that closely resembled the funeral rite, following which—theoretically, at least—they would be considered dead to the world, a type of living saint. Anchorites had a certain autonomy, as they did not answer to any ecclesiastical authority other than the bishop.[6]

 

The anchoritic life is one of the earliest forms of Christian monastic living. In the Roman Catholic Church today, it is one of the "Other Forms of Consecrated Life" and governed by the same norms as the consecrated eremitic life.[7] From the 12th to the 16th centuries, female anchorites consistently outnumbered their male equivalents, sometimes by as many as four to one (in the 13th century), dropping eventually to two to one (in the 15th century). The gender of a high number of anchorites, however, is not recorded for these periods.

 

The anchoritic life became widespread during the early and high Middle Ages.[9] Examples of the dwellings of anchorites and anchoresses survive. A large number of these are in England. They tended to be a simple cell (also called anchorhold), built against one of the walls of the local village church.[10] In the Germanic lands, from at least the 10th century, it was customary for the bishop to say the office of the dead as the anchorite entered his cell, to signify the anchorite's death to the world and rebirth to a spiritual life of solitary communion with God and the angels. Sometimes, if the anchorite were walled up inside the cell, the bishop would put his seal upon the wall to stamp it with his authority. Some anchorites, however, freely moved between their cell and the adjoining church.[11]

 

Most anchoritic strongholds were small, perhaps no more than 12 to 15 ft (3.7 to 4.6 m) square, with three windows. Viewing the altar, hearing Mass, and receiving Holy Communion was possible through one small, shuttered window in the common wall facing the sanctuary, called a "hagioscope" or "squint". Anchorites would also provide spiritual advice and counsel to visitors through this window, as the anchorites gained a reputation for wisdom.[12] Another small window would allow access to those who saw to the anchorite's physical needs, such as food and other necessities. A third window, often facing the street, but covered with translucent cloth, would allow light into the cell.[6]

 

Anchorites were supposed to remain in their cell in all eventualities. Some were even burned in their cells, which they refused to leave even when pirates or other attackers were looting and burning their towns.[13] They ate frugal meals, spending their days both in contemplative prayer and interceding on behalf of others. Anchorites' bodily waste was managed by means of a chamber pot.[14]

 

In addition to being the crucial physical location wherein the anchorite could embark on the journey towards union with God and the culmination of spiritual perfection, the anchorhold also provided a spiritual and geographic focus for many of those people from the wider society who came to ask for advice and spiritual guidance. It is clear that, although set apart from the community at large by stone walls and specific spiritual precepts, the anchorite also lay at the very centre of that same community. The anchorhold was clearly also a communal 'womb' from which would emerge an idealized sense of a community's own reborn potential, both as Christians and as human subjects.[8]

 

An idea of their daily routine can be gleaned from an anchoritic Rule. The most widely known today is the early 13th century text known as Ancrene Wisse.[15] Another, less widely known, example is the rule known as De Institutione Inclusarum written in the 12th century, around 1160–62, by Aelred of Rievaulx for his sister.[16] It is estimated that the daily set devotions detailed in Ancrene Wisse would take some four hours, on top of which anchoresses would listen to services in the church, and engage in their own private prayers and devotional reading.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorite

 

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Since its re-ordering in 1986 Brook church has shown the visitor what a church interior might have looked like in the twelfth century. The chancel is empty except for the medieval stone altar, discovered a few years ago in the churchyard, and now set on two ragstone pillars. The church is large, for throughout the medieval period it belonged to Christ Church, Canterbury. There is much Norman work to be seen, including the three-stage west tower which contains a purpose-built chapel or `westwerk`. The church has a comprehensive series of thirteenth-century wall paintings, overlain by some fourteenth- and seventeenth-century murals, although the early paintings are not as well preserved as in some other churches. In the north wall of the chancel is a small almond-shaped hagioscope to the exterior. It may have connected to an anchorite's cell, but is more likely to have been associated with the exposition of a relic on the high altar. It is certainly not a low side window as the tower bell would have been used for this purpose.

 

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Brook

 

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LIES the next parish southward from Wye. It is written in antient records both Broc and Broke, and takes its name from its low situation on the stream which runs through it, baroca in Saxon signifying a rivulet. It seems once to have been accounted a hundred of itself; but at the time of taking the survey of Domesday, in the year 1080, it was reputed to be in the hundred of Wye, as it is now.

 

The parish is very small, and is but little known, lying out of the way of all traffic and throughfare. It is not more than a mile across each way, and has in it about twenty houses. It lies very low and wet, in a deep miry soil. There is some coppice wood in the southern part of it, about forty-three acres, of which twenty-eighty belong to the dean and chapter of Canterbury. The village is nearly in the centre of the parish, having the church at the north end of it. There is a small hamlet, called Little Bedleston, consisting of only two houses, in the eastern part of the parish, close under the high ridge of hills called Braborne-downs, to the foot of which this parish extends eastward.

 

BROOKE was given, long before the conquest, by Karlemann, a priest, to the church of Canterbury; but it was wrested from the church in the troublesome times which soon after followed, by reason of the Danish wars, and it continued in lay hands at the accession of the Conqueror; soon after which it appears to have been in the possession of Hugh de Montfort, from whom archbishop Lanfranc recovered Brooke again to his church in the solemn assembly of the whole county, held on this occassion by the king's command, at Pinenden-heath in 1076; and then on the division which the archbishop made of the lands of his church, this manor was allotted by him, among others, to the share of the priory of Christ-church, Canterbury; accordingly it is thus entered among the possessions of it, in the survey of Domesday, under the general title of Terra Monachorum Archiepi, i. e. lands of the monks of the archbishops;

 

In the hundred of Wi, the archbishop himself holds one manor, which was taxed at one suling, in the time of king Edward the Confessor, and now, for half a suling. The arable land is two carucates. In demesne there is one, and three villeins, with four borderers having two carucates and an half. There is a church, and one mill of two shillings, and two servants, and seven acres of meadow. Wood for the pannage of ten hogs. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, and afterwards, it was worth fifty shillings, now four pounds.

 

This manor was soon after this let to farm, by the monks, to Robert de Rumene, at the above rent, and was allotted de cibo eorum, that is, to the use of their refectory; and the possession of it was confirmed to them both by king Henry I. and II. (fn. 1) King Edward II. in his 10th year, granted to the prior and convent free warren in all their demesne lands in Broke, among other places which they were in possession of at the time of the charter of liberties granted to them by his grandfather Henry III. about which time this manor was valued at 22l. 1s. 10d. In which state it afterwards continued till the dissolution of the priory of Christchurch in the 31st year of Henry VIII. when it came into the king's hands, where it did not remain long, for the king settled it by his dotation-charter, in his 33d year, on his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, part of whose possessions it still remains.

 

The demesne lands have been constantly let by the dean and chapter on a beneficial lease, at the yearly rent of 13l. 6s. 8d. in money, and four quarters of wheat. The present lessee is Mr. John Berry, of Newbery, Berkshire; but the manerial rights they retain in their own hands.

 

A court baron is regularly held for this manor. There are no parochial charities.

 

BROOKE is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Bridge. The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is but small, consisting of one isle and a chancel, with a low square tower at the west end, in which are two bells. There are no memorials of any account in it.

 

The church of Brooke has always been accounted an appendage to the manor, and as such passed with it from the priory of Christ-church into the hands of the crown, and from thence to the dean and chapter of Canterbury, who are the present patrons of it. The woods belonging to the dean and chapter here, claim an exemption from paying tithes.

 

¶This rectory is valued in the king's books at 7l. 7s. 3d. and is of the clear yearly certified value of thirty pounds. In 1588 it was valued at thirty pounds. Communicants ninety-two. In 1640 at sixty pounds. Communicants sixty. There are now only ten communicants. In 1724 it was augmented with the sum of 200l. given by the governors of queen Anne's bounty, on the gift of 100l. from the dean and chapter of Canterbury, and the like sum from Dr. Godolphin, dean of St. Paul's; with which there was purchased a piece of land, containing nine acres, called Great Chequer field, adjoining to the town of Wye.

 

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol7/pp381-384

Time will say nothing but I told you so,

Time only knows the price we have to pay;

If I could tell you I would let you know.

 

If we should weep when clowns put on their show,

If we should stumble when musicians play,

Time will say nothing but I told you so.

 

There are no fortunes to be told, although,

Because I love you more than I can say,

If I could tell you I would let you know.

 

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,

There must be reasons why the leaves decay;

Time will say nothing but I told you so

 

Perhaps the roses really want to grow,

The vision seriously intends to stay;

If I could tell you I would let you know.

 

Suppose the lions all get up and go,

And all the brooks and soldiers run away:

Will time say nothing but I told you so?

If I could tell you I would let you know

 

WH Auden (1940)

Not good quality photographs, but a notable dot nonetheless. U.S. Navy Boeing E-6B Mercury 162782 descending through 20,000 feet over the Hampshire/Berkshire border on her way to Mildenhall after crossing the Atlantic as SHADO77.

 

The E-6 is an airborne command post and communications relay, based on the Boeing 707. Codenamed Looking Glass, it is designed to take over in case the Global Operations Center located at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is destroyed or incapable of communicating with strategic forces. The term "Looking Glass" is used because it mirrors the abilities of the US Strategic Command GOC to control nuclear forces. Sixteen E-6's were delivered, and the fleet is based at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma,

 

Many thanks to Rob Finch for the heads-up. Literally :o))

I’ve been wanting to take a city break in summer, rather than in the cold months for a while, so rather than heading for the Lake District for a week of toil on the fells when Jayne could get a week off, we took off from Liverpool for Paris. Flight times were nice and sociable but it meant we were on the M62 car park at a busy time in both directions – it’s a shambles! I’ve stopped over in Paris a dozen times – on my way to cycling in the Etape du Tour in the Alps or Pyrenees – and had a few nights out there. Come to think about it and we’ve spent the day on the Champs Elysees watching the final day of the Tour de France with Mark Cavendish winning. We hadn’t been for a holiday there though and it was a bit of a spur of the moment decision. Six nights gave us five and a half days to explore Paris on foot. I had a good selection of (heavy) kit with me, not wanting to make the usual mistake of leaving something behind and regretting it. In the end I carried the kit in my backpack – an ordinary rucksack – to keep the weight down, for 103 miles, all recorded on the cycling Garmin – and took 3500 photos. The little Garmin is light and will do about 15 hours, it expired towards the end of a couple of 16 hour days but I had the info I wanted by then. This also keeps the phone battery free for research and route finding – I managed to flatten that once though.

 

What can I say – Paris was fantastic! The weather varied from OK to fantastic, windy for a few days, the dreaded grey white dullness for a while but I couldn’t complain really. We were out around 8.30 in shorts and tee shirt, which I would swap for a vest when it warmed up, hitting 30 degrees at times, we stayed out until around midnight most nights. It was a pretty full on trip. The security at some destinations could have been a problem as there is a bag size limit to save room in the lifts etc. I found the French to be very pragmatic about it, a bag search was a cursory glance, accepting that I was lugging camera gear, not bombs around, and they weren’t going to stop a paying customer from passing because his bag was a bit over size.

 

We didn’t have a plan, as usual we made it up as we went along, a loose itinerary for the day would always end up changing owing to discoveries along the way. Many times we would visit something a few times, weighing the crowds and light etc. up and deciding to come back later. I waited patiently to go up the Eiffel Tower, we arrived on Tuesday and finally went up on Friday evening. It was a late decision but the weather was good, the light was good and importantly I reckoned that we would get a sunset. Previous evenings the sun had just slid behind distant westerly clouds without any golden glory. It was a good choice. We went up the steps at 7.30 pm, short queue and cheaper – and just to say that we had. The steps are at an easy angle and were nowhere near as bad as expected, even with the heavy pack. We stayed up there, on a mad and busy Friday night, until 11.30, the light changed a lot and once we had stayed a couple of hours we decided to wait for the lights to come on. This was a downside to travelling at this time of year, to do any night photography we had to stay out late as it was light until 10.30. The Eiffel Tower is incredible and very well run, they are quite efficient at moving people around it from level to level. It was still buzzing at midnight with thousands of people around. The sunset on Saturday was probably better but we spent the evening around the base of the Tower, watching the light change, people watching and soaking the party atmosphere up.

 

Some days our first destination was five miles away, this is a lot of road junctions in a city, the roads in Paris are wide so you generally have to wait for the green man to cross. This made progress steady but when you are on holiday it doesn’t matter too much. Needless to say we walked through some dodgy places, with graffiti on anything that stays still long enough. We were ultra-cautious with our belongings having heard the pickpocket horror stories. At every Café/bar stop the bags were clipped to the table leg out of sight and never left alone. I carried the camera in my hand all day and everywhere I went, I only popped it in my bag to eat. I would guess that there were easier people to rob than us, some people were openly careless with phones and wallets.

 

We didn’t enter the big attractions, it was too nice to be in a museum or church and quite a few have a photography ban. These bans make me laugh, they are totally ignored by many ( Japanese particularly) people. Having travelled around the world to see something, no one is going to stop them getting their selfies. Selfies? Everywhere people pointed their cameras at their own face, walking around videoing – their self! I do like to have a few photos of us for posterity but these people are self-obsessed.

 

Paris has obviously got a problem with homeless (mostly) migrants. Walk a distance along the River Seine and you will find tented villages, there is a powerful smell of urine in every corner, with the no alcohol restrictions ignored, empty cans and bottles stacked around the bins as evidence. There are families, woman living on mattresses with as many as four small children, on the main boulevards. They beg by day and at midnight they are all huddled asleep on the pavement. The men in the tents seem to be selling plastic Eiffel Tower models to the tourists or bottled water – even bottles of wine. Love locks and selfy sticks were also top sellers. There must be millions of locks fastened to railings around the city, mostly brass, so removing them will be self-funding as brass is £2.20 a kilo.

 

As for the sights we saw, well if it was on the map we tried to walk to it. We crossed the Periphique ring road to get to the outer reaches of Paris. La Defense – the financial area with dozens of modern office blocks – was impressive, and still expanding. The Bois de Boulogne park, with the horse racing track and the Louis Vuitton Centre was part of a 20 mile loop that day. Another day saw us in the north east. We had the dome of the Sacre Couer to ourselves, with thousands of tourists wandering below us oblivious of the entrance and ticket office under the church. Again the light was fantastic for us. We read that Pere Lachaise Cemetery or Cimitiere du Pere Lachaise was one of the most visited destinations, a five mile walk but we went. It is massive, you need a map, but for me one massive tomb is much the same as another, it does have highlights but we didn’t stay long. Fortunately we were now closer to the Canal St Martin which would lead us to Parc de la Villette. This was a Sunday and everywhere was both buzzing and chilled at the same time. Where ever we went people were sat watching the world go by, socializing and picnicking, soaking the sun up. As ever I wanted to go up on the roof of anything I could as I love taking cityscapes. Most of these were expensive compared with many places we’ve been to before but up we went. The Tour Montparnasse, a single tower block with 59 floors, 690 foot high and extremely fast lifts has incredible views although it was a touch hazy on our ascent. The Arc de Triomphe was just up the road from our hotel, we went up it within hours of arriving, well worth the visit.

 

At the time of writing I have no idea how many images will make the cut but it will be a lot. If I have ten subtly different shots of something, I find it hard to consign nine to the dark depths of my hard drive never to be seen again – and I’m not very good at ruthless selection – so if the photo is OK it will get uploaded. My view is that it’s my photostream, I like to be able to browse my own work at my leisure at a later date, it’s more or less free and stats tell me these images will get looked at. I’m not aiming for single stunning shots, more of a comprehensive overview of an interesting place, presented to the best of my current capabilities. I am my own biggest critic, another reason for looking at my older stuff is to critique it and look to improve on previous mistakes. I do get regular requests from both individuals and organisations to use images and I’m obliging unless someone is taking the piss. I’m not bothered about work being published (with my permission) but it is reassuringly nice to be asked. The manipulation of Flickr favourites and views through adding thousands of contacts doesn’t interest me and I do sometimes question the whole point of the Flickr exercise. I do like having access to my own back catalogue though and it gives family and friends the chance to read about the trip and view the photos at their leisure so for the time being I’m sticking with it. I do have over 15 million views at the moment which is a far cry from showing a few people an album, let’s face it, there’s an oversupply of images, many of them superb but all being devalued by the sheer quantity available.

 

Don’t think that it was all walking and photography, we had a great break and spent plenty of time in pavement bistros having a glass of wine and people watching. I can certainly understand why Paris is top of the travellers list of destinations.

 

I was last here on a cold and grey day at the beginning or March.

 

Graveney stretches along the road, but All Saints sits on a quiet bend, and felt wonderfully isolated.

 

And not at all friendly, I have to say. It was locked, as expected, so I took aome outside shots and we moved on eatwards, but somehow I really wanted to see inside here, just to see if it could be warmer than it felt on that March morning.

 

I parked beside the road, I saw the door of the porch open, and a light filled space beyond.

 

Looked good....

 

The church was a hive of activity, with some people getting a table-top sale ready, others boiling the kettle and unpacking cakes for refreshments, whilst two others greeted me, and I was given my own tour.

 

Nooks and crannies everywhere, including an alcove in the north chapel, which must have held a figure, now as an artwork of the cross made my medieval nails found during restoration work.

 

Two panels of the original rood screen were still inside, though hidden away, and one had rings of concentric circles, to confuse the devil, I was told.

 

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The Victorians did not leave too much of a mark here, for the mellow red tiles, box pews and ledger slabs remain. There is a heavy medieval rood screen and the empty north and south aisles allow us to appreciate the building as it might originally have appeared. In the north aisle is a memorial brass to John Martyn (d. 1436) with cathedral-like proportions, being over 56 in long.

 

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Graveney

 

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GRAVENEY

LIES the next parish north-westward from Hernehill. It was called in the time of the Saxons, Graven-ea, and afterwards, by corruption of language, Gravenel, in like manner as Oxney, Pevensey, and Rumency, were corruptly called Oxenel, Pevensel, and Rumenel; (fn. 1) the name of it denoting its low and watery situation, and it is now, by contraction, usually called Grainey.

 

IT LIES about two miles from the high London road, on the north side of it, at the 48th mile-stone, the parish of Goodnestone intervening, in a low country adjoining the marshes, of which there is a large quantity, both fresh and salt within it, Faversham creek and the Swale being the western and northern boundaries of it. The soil of it various, there being in the level part some rich tillage land, and on the rises or small hills in it, a light soil of both sand and gravel. The church stands in the eastern part of the parish, having Graveneycourt, with an antient gateway, and numerous offices, singularly built round it, well worth observation, as denoting its former respectable state. In the western part is Nagdon, adjoining to Faversham creck, having a decoy for wild fowl, and a large quantity of marsh land belonging to it. There is but little thoroughfare here, and no village, the houses being interspersed straggling throughout it. Upon the whole though unhealthy, it has not an unpleasant aspect, being well cloathed with trees, especially elm, which are very thriving here, and in great plenty; the roads are remarkably well taken care of, as are the poor, and the whole parish seems to thrive well under the care of the inhabitants of Graveney-court. There are some parts of this parish separated from the rest by those of Faversham and Goodneston intervening.

 

There are several scarce plants observed by Mr. Jacob in this parish, and enumerated in this Plantæ Favershamienses.

 

THE ARCHBISHOP'S paramount manor of Boughton claims over the whole of this parish, as being within that hundred, subordinate to which is the manor of Graveney.

 

In the year 811, Wlfred, archbishop of Canterbury, purchased this place of Cenulph, king of Mercia, who had made the kingdom of Kent tributary to him, for the use of Christ-church, Canterbury, as appears by the leiger book of that priory, and that it was given L. S. A. that is, Libere Sicut Adisham, with the same liberties, immunities, and privileges that Adisham was. Soon after which, one Werhard, a powerful priest, and kinsman to the archbishop, found means to gain possession of it, and kept it till that prelate's death in 830, when Feogild succeeding to the see of Canterbury, though he sat in it but three months, yet in that time he compelled Werhard to restore Gravene then computed at thirty-two hides of land, to the church; and it was afterwards confirmed to it in anno 941, by king Edmund, Eadred his brother, and Edwyn son of the latter; (fn. 2) and it remained part of the revenues of Christchurch at the coming of archbishop Lanfranc to that see in 1070, when on his division of them, between himself and the monks of his church, this manor fell to his share, of whom it was afterwards held by knight's service. In which state it continued at the time of taking the survey of Domesday, anno 1080, in which it is thus entered, under the general title of Terra Militum Archiepi, that is, land held of the archbishop by knight's service.

 

In Boltune hundred the same Richard (who owed fealty to the archbishop) held of the archbishop Gravenel. It was taxed for one suling. The arable land is. In demesne there is one carucate, and eight villeins, with ten borderers having two carucates. There are five servants, and ten acres of meadow, and four saltpits of four shillings. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, and afterwards, it was worth one hundred shillings, now six pounds, of these the monks of Canterbury have twenty shillings.

 

Who this Richard was I do not find, though Somner calls him Ricardus Constabularius; however, it is not improbable, but he might afterwards adopt the surname of Gravene, from his having the possession of this place; certain it is, that it was afterwards held by a family who took their name from it. William de Gravene held it in the reign of king Henry III. of the archbishop, as one knight's fee. John de Gravene died possessed of it in the 56th year of the same reign, after which it became the property of the family of Feversham.

 

Thomas de Feversham died possessed of it in the beginning of the reign of king Edward III. leaving Joane his wife surviving, and in the window of the north chancel were formerly the arms of Feversham, A fess chequy, or, and gules, between six crosses, bottony, or; and underneath, Thomas Feversham, susticiar, & Johanna Uxor. ejus; on the pavement is a stone with two half-figures in brass for them, with an inscription round it in old French, part of which is gone; probably that which Weever mentions. (fn. 3) She afterwards entitled her second husband Sir Roger de Northwood to this manor, during her life; accordingly he paid aid for it in the 20th year of that reign, as one knight's see, which he held in right of his wife, of the archbishop, which was formerly held by Richard de Gravene. After her death her son Richard de Feversham succeeded to this manor, of which he died possessed in 1381, and was buried in this church, having married the daughter of Robert Dodde. His tomb, of Bethersden marble, remains against the south wall. In the south chancel, on the top, were two figures, and four coats of arms, the brasses gone; round the edge is this inscription, in brass, Ora pro aibs Roberti Dodde & Rici de Feuersham filii sui quonda dni de Gravene obiit, &c. Above the tomb, is a recess in the wall, with an antient carved arch above it. He had a daughter Joane, who became his heir, and married John Botiller, esq. and in her right became entitled to this manor, she died in 1408, and was buried in the south chancel here, her figure in brass on her gravestone is gone, but the inscription still remains. By her he had a son of his own name. Either he or his father was sheriff anno 22 king Richard II. John Botiller, esq the son, was knight of the shire in the 1st year of king Henry V.'s reign. They bore for their arms, Sable, three covered cups, or, within a bordure, argent; and John Botiller, probably the father, was esquire to archbishop Courtney, and mentioned in his will, proved anno 1396, being the 20th of Richard II.

 

There is a gravestone in the south chancel here, which most probably was for John Botiller the son; on it was his figure in brass, now gone, and four coats of arms; the two first are gone, the third Botiller, the fourth Feversham, a fess chequy, between six crosses, bottony, or. The inscription was remaining in Weever's time. This stone, I am informed, was some years ago removed out of the north chancel hither, and in the window of this chancel is this coat of arms, quarterly, first, Botiller, as above; second and third, a fess chequy, or, and gules, in chief three crosses, bottony, or; the bottom part being broken, the fourth is likewise broken. Underneath are these words remaining, Johes er, & Jonna ux ejs. Joane his wife was daughter and heir of William de Frogenhall, by whom he had a daughter and sole heir Anne, who carried it in marriage to John Martyn, judge of the common pleas, the son of Richard Martyn, of Stonebridge, who built much at his seat of Graveney court, where he partly resided. (fn. 4) He died in 1436, leaving his widow surviving, who then became again possessed of this manor in her own right. She afterwards married Thomas Burgeys, esq. whom she likewise survived, and dying in 1458 was buried beside her first husband in the north chancel of this church. His gravestone is of a very large size, and is most richly inlaid with brass, which is well preserved, having the figures of him and his wife, and other ornaments over the whole of it. There were four coats of arms, only the second of which, that of Boteler, is remaining. He bore for his arms, Argent, on a chevron, gules, three talbot bounds, passant, or. Her second husband Thomas Burgeys died in 1452, and was buried in the same chancel, where his gravestone remained till within these few years. At the upper end of the stone are two coats in brass, first Boteler impaling Frogenhall; second, a fess chequy impaling the like. Another coat, at the bottom, is gone, as is his figure.

 

In the descendants of Judge Martyn, residents at Graveney-court, this manor continued down to Robert Martyn, who likewise resided here, and died in the first year of Edward VI. (fn. 5) leaving his two daughters, Joane, married to Richard Argall, and Elizabeth to Stephen Reames, of Faversham, his coheirs. From them this manor was passed away by sale to John Pordage, of Rodmersham, in whose name it continued till it was at length sold to Daniel Whyte, esq. of Vinters, in Boxley, whose descendant of the same name, about the beginning of king George II.'s reign, alienated it to Mr. Edward Blaxland, who afterwards resided here, and bore for his arms, on a fess, three falcous volant, jessed and belled. He died in 1739. This occasioned this manor to be separated in several divisions and again afterwards in further subdivisions, among his descendants, in which state it now remains; but those of the male line of the name of Blaxland, still continue to reside at it. From the beginning of the last century to the middle of it, the Napletons, a family of good account in these parts of the county, were lessees of Graveney-court, and resided at it; and from that time to the latter end of it, the Houghhams were occupiers of it, and resided here. Many of both families lie buried in this church, as do all the Blaxlands, since their coming to the possession of this estate.

 

NAGDEN, formerly spelt Negdon, is a noted estate in the north-west part of this parish, consisting mostly of marsh land, which was once part of the endowment of the abbey of Faversham, and continued amongst the revenues of it till its final dissolution in the 30th year of Henry VIII. at which time it was valued at eight pounds per annum.

 

This estate thus coming into the hands of the crown, was granted by the king next year to Sir Thomas Cheney, lord warden, to hold in capite, who alienated it, in the 36th year of that reign, to Robert Martyn, of Graveney-court, who died in the first year of king Edward VI. (fn. 6) leaving his two daughters his coheirs, Joane, married to Richard Argall, and Elizabeth to Stephen Reames, who jointly possessed this estate. After which both these moieties seem to have been conveyed to Ciriac Petit, of Colkins, in this neighbourhood, who died possessed of the entire see of it in 1591, and in his descendants it continued down to Mr. William Petit, who in 1709 conveyed it by sale to dame Sarah Barrett, of Lee, widow, who died in 1711, upon which this estate came to her only son by her first husband, Sir Francis Head, bart. who died possessed of it in 1716. (fn. 7) He left four sons, who became entitled to this estate on their father's death, as coheirs in gavelkind. On the death of the eldest Sir Richard Head, bart. in 1721, his share devolved to his three brothers. James Head, esq. died afterwards intestate in 1727, and unmarried, on which Sir Francis Head, bart. and John Head, D. D. became possessed of it in undivided moieties, and the latter that same year conveyed his moiety of it to the former, who in 1745 sold the entire fee of it to John Smith, esq. of Faversham, who has since conveyed it to his son, John Smith, junior, esq. of Ospringe, the present possessor of it. The estate of Nagden pays nine shillings per annum, on Lammas day, to the vicar of Graveney, in lieu of tithes.

 

Charities.

On a tablet in the church, the benefactions of several pieces of land are recorded, amounting in the whole to upwards of four acres. These are put up as benefactions to the church; but by the information of the clerk, they belonged to the poor, to whom the yearly produce of them was distributed till of late. It is now applied to the repairs of the church.

 

The poor constantly relieved are about ten, casually 25.

 

GRAVENEY is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Ospringe.

 

The church is dedicated to All Saints, and consists of three isles and a high chancel, and two side ones formerly called chapels, the south one being dedicated to St. John, and the north one to the Virgin Mary. The steeple, which is a tower, stands at the north-west corner. In it are three bells. The antient gravestones in this church have been removed from where they originally laid, to make room for the present ones. Thus that of John Martyn, as I am informed, has been removed out of the north into the south chancel. In this north chancel they have been likewise still further displaced; there are now two rows of gravestones in it, lying three and three. In the west row are now, the first southward, Judge Martyn's; the second, Mr. Edward Blaxland's, who died in 1739; and the third, Thomas Burgeys, esq. For the making room for Mr. E. Blaxland's, Judge Martyn's stone was removed from the middle or second place to the first, where before his son's lay, till removed to the south chancel. This practice, of disturbing the ashes of the dead, as is but too frequent in churches of late, calls loudly for some authority to prevent it in future.

 

The church of Graveney, with the advowson of the vicarage, was in very early times part of the possessions of the priory of St. Mary Overies, in Southwark, with which it continued till the final dissolution of it in the 31st year of king Henry VIII. when it came into the hands of the crown, together with all the revenues and estates belonging to it.

 

The parsonage remained in the crown some years longer than the advowson of the vicarage, as will be mentioned hereafter, that is, till the 3d year of queen Elizabeth, when the queen granted this rectory, being then valued at 7l. 6s. 8d. yearly rent, to archbishop Parker and his successors, in exchange for other premises. (fn. 8) Since which it has continued part of the possessions of the see of Canterbury to this time.

 

This parsonage has been from time to time demised on a beneficial lease, at the above yearly rent. In 1643 Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson, widow, was tenant of it. John Baker, esq. of St. Stephen's, near Canterbury, is the present lessee of it.

 

But the advowson of the vicarage did not continue so long in the crown, for it was granted, among others, in 1558, to the archbishop and his successors, (fn. 9) with whom it now continues, his grace the archbishop being now patron of it.

 

This vicarage is valued in the king's books at fifty pounds, and the yearly tenths at 1l. 4s. per annum. In 1578 there were communicants here ninety. In 1640 the communicants were sixty-five, and it was valued at sixty pounds per annum.

 

In the year 1244 archbishop Boniface, on the presentation of the prior and convent of St. Mary Overies, as appears by an antient book belonging to it, instituted Ralph, the curate of Gravene, to the perpetual vicarage of this parish, so that he should receive and take in the name of it, all fruits and oblations, with all other things belonging to the church, excepting two sheaves of the tithe, and should take the same to his own use.

 

In the same manuscript, on a dispute between the prior and convent, rectors of this church, and Richard, lord of Gravenel, concerning tithes in this parish, it was decreed in 1283, before the rural dean of Ofpringe, that the vicar should receive, in the name of the religious, as well as in his own right, all tithes arising in future from the feedings and pastures in his own marshes, called North-marsh and Leved-marsh, which should be paid to him without any cavil or exception. (fn. 10)

 

The vicar has a house and two acres of glebe land.

 

¶The vicarage is worth about fifty pounds per annum. He is entitled, by the above composition, to all tithes, excepting the two sheaves mentioned in it, and by prescription likewise; which third part of the corn tithes is now usually known by the name of the vicar's third sheaf. But the impropriator's lease being for all the tithes of the parish, without any such exception, has occasioned many quarrels and disputes about this third sheaf, which are now entirely subsided, and the vicar is accustomed to take one shock out of every thirty shocks of corn, in right of his vicarage.

 

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol7/pp28-38

...but homemade chocolate chip cookies. The youngest (with some help from mom) made for a fundraiser.

Farzi is one restaurant I have wanted to be at the most but it, ironically, has taken me the longest. The reasons for this happening were plenty but I finally made it to Farzi last week and there was a sense of excitement and relief in equal measure.

 

The place is funky, chic and bohemian but I would not want to delve on it any more as it takes my focus away from what makes Farzi the best new restaurant in town - food and drinks.

 

Many people label the food here as molecular gastronomy but I think its akin to calling all Indian food "curry"; it strips away from the complexity of what's on your plate. Farzi is multi sensory cooking (as Blumenthal says); you don't just eat with your tongue but your eyes and other senses. Yes, there are elements of molecular gastronomy involved but (as my review ahead will tell) it is more a take on taking classic combinations or flavours and twisting them around.

 

Anyway, gyaan aside, our evening began with a mishti doi lollipop. Molecular gastronomy, spherification to be precise, was visible here. As soon as you bite into it though, you get that fabulous sweet and tart hit of mishti doi. Even though it was presented in such a fancy way, it tasted amazing and authentic.

 

Next came a drink called Apple Foamtini - a take on the classic apple martini, this had a light frothy apple flavoured foam and then a tart, cold hit of the great martini. Brilliant combination and a great drink this.

 

Next on the menu was a mini raj kachori with okra and chutney foam. Yeah, raj kachori with crisp okra and a chutney foam!! - mind blown. The kachori was stuffed with dahi, green chutney and the works but guess what, it was completely closed. After this piece of sorcery, when I tasted the kachori it was as good as any Delhi- 6 outlet. The chutney foam gave the "saunth kick" but it was way lighter. The crisp okra was great and I was told that the idea behind okra was that it goes well with yoghurt.

 

This, I believe, is the spirit of Farzi. The moment you bite into the food (or sip a drink) it feels familiar and utterly delectable. Also, every element has a reason to be there, not just to be fancy.

 

Next came a light, refreshing orange-vanilla drink called Farzi OK. Balanced, sweet and sour with a very light flavour of kaffir lime, this is what you will want to drink all evening.

 

Next came a portion of chilli pork ribs. Very well cooked ribs with a slathering of luscious chilli sauce. Wonderful.

 

I moved onto one of the many superstars on the menu (tapas menu), sarson ke gilawat with corn and cheese tostadas. Sarson ka saag becomes a FANTASTIC sarson gilawat kebab here. The makki di roti takes the form of corn (makki) popcorn. Corn and cheese tostadas provide warmth and there are even elements of safed makhan, sirka and pyaaz in this. You will fall in love.

 

The gastronomic adventure took me to my favourite dish amongst the pantheon of dishes - tenderloin pathar ke kabab with walnut and wasabi chutney. I'd say if you like meat, have this dish. If you do not like meat, have this dish. Dammit, if you are vegetarian - have this dish!!!! - it is that good.

 

In between we had a palette cleanser- rose water and coconut payasam foam with rose petal dust before the prawn tempura with nimbu chutney foam arrived. I have never had better prawn tempura in my life, period. I have to write a bigger review on this alone but lets leave that for now.

 

I had the braised lamb chops next along with cheeni ka paratha with duck liver maska. Cheeni ka paratha was farzified with a foie gras butter and all I could think of was why mom never served such delicious "cheeni ka parathas" when I was younger.

 

I had the chilli duck samosas, pulled pork bun and the galouti burger next. I am running out of space to write about how brilliant each dish was. The samosa was halwai khasta; the duck was flavourful and the sweet plum sauce brought the entire dish together.

 

Similarly, the pulled pork bun was So Goan yet so Farzi. There was flavour from the pork; the buns gave it airiness and the Goan puffed rice gave it crunch. *drool*

 

The gilawat burger came in a box and the soft and magnificent galouti was given a bit of bite by a layer of boti kebab. You have to admire the thought process.

 

The Mutton Irachi pepper fry came along with a malabari paratha and was sublime but the icing on the cake was the gucchi pulao risotto. Perfectly creamy risotto with morsels of expensive gucchi topped with a salty parmesan crisp. You have to taste it to understand how brilliantly flavours work together.

 

The CTM or chicken tikka masala came in a London telephone booth, what a cheeky idea. I will say that the "national dish" of Britain tasted way better at Farzi.

 

There are three special drinks I will recommend. The flaming Farzi tower was an event on its own – flambéed shots (Baileys, Sambucca, Vodka, Kahlua and Absinthe) caramelizes and forms a drink at the bottom. The red wine spaghetti shots were great too – acidic and sweet and it was a vision as well. Finally, there was the B-52 bomber that was basically B-52 shooters, spherified, so in effect you eat the shot!

 

Yes I had a tiny speck left in my stomach to try desserts and the best two came. The Parle G cheesecake is the most photographed Farzi dessert on the web and it tasted as good as it looked. My question before tasting it was if the Parle G would really work with a creamy cheesecake and voila, it does. It lends the dish crunch and saltiness - splendid.

 

The other dessert - rasmali tres leches was even better. First of all you need to admire it as it sits on your table - it’s that pretty. Then you start eating it to try and understand how brilliant the flavours are. The sponge is three layered filled with carrot cream bathing in "rasmalai" milk. If this dish does not Farzify you, I don’t know what will.

 

The evening ended with a final flourish - gujiya shaped, pan flavoured cotton candy!! The pan was dehydrated and it gave a delightful punch. You know how it tasted but it also brought a tinge of nostalgia with it. Farzi is all about that - senses, flavours and a little bit of magic.

 

Lastly, we do not just have to applaud Zorawar, Chef Saurabh and the entire team behind Farzi but give them a very loud, "Dilliwala" wolf whistle for bringing Farzi to us.

 

#Farzified forever.

 

XOXO

Shivangi

(Shivangi Reviews)

Review Credit: Mayank

Contact: mail@shivangireviews.com

Find me on Facebook, search "Shivangi Reviews"

 

www.shivangireviews.com

— with Mayank (Delhi Food Club), Zorawar Kalra

Windows & Tester Notes

  

•A window tells me I don't have permission to save notepad to desktop but it saves anyway.

•I like pin to taskbar.

•When I unplug and go outside my home network disappears. I was able to connect to the net. The network stayed when I came back in and unplugged.

•I don't notice a mail. Windows mail or outlook express.

•I'll install 2003 soon.

•I'm glad I can drag files to a folder and they Move like xp used to. I want a move feature.

•Could not load easy media transfer on xp pro machine

•Adobe flash player 9 debugger comes up in mozilla even though I have installed flash PLAYER 10

•I had problems installing an ati 650 made for windows 7 beta software. Uninstall was just as bad.

•I like the video preview box!

•I can't get the ati TV 650 wonder to load from the software disc or from the ati site using a windows 7 friendly download.

•It looks like you didn’t get the message about playing gifs.

•1/28/2009 5:11:15 AM

•Moving @ 50 gb from networked xp pro external hd to windows 7 LT

•69 processes, cpu usage %68, physical memory %51 5 apps open including mozilla with 3 tabs open to my webpage plus two fox web pages which are heavy with video and pics. Firefox at 224,00kpss

•Memory is at 1.93 gb

•1/29/2009 4:43:51 AM I have tried three or four times to open the control panel and get a runtime error. I want to uninstall a program. The control panel view opened but was blank. I had to use the drop down to select.

•Odd behavior tonight. I loaded some movie files from my Sony. Adobe premiere pro didn’t see them so I loaded adobe elements 2.0. It didn’t see them. I tried to rename the ext to .mpg they wouldn’t rename. I tried to use a bulk rename utility but it didn’t see the files… Twighlite zone. I see the files and the media player plays them. I want to cut them but do not understand.

•I started having problems with the forward button on the photo nedia viwer roday.

•1/30/2009 4:10:50 PM

•I like the thumbnail images on the desktop

•2/3/2009 6:57:56 PM

•OK it has to be a windows 7 thing with mo 2003 because I received both of these at the same time watching THE DESKTOP AND THE LAPTOP (LAPTOP HAS WINDOWS 7) . THE DESKTOP, xp pro, WAS FINE. THE LAPTOP RECEIVED GARBAGE. But I am wondering why Bella can send me the same thing and it was OK on Laptop when yours wasn't. So it is not you.

•2/4/2009 6:47:30 AM

•Pop up says ie8 not supported.

•I still haven’t found how to sort by name the icons in the quick launch area.

•I need base system deveice drivers’

•When moving files on a network from xp pro to windows 7 the move starts but often ends in can’t move thumbnail error.

•I like the way 7 easily synched with my moto q however I have trouble turning motoq into a modem.

•I have difficulty opening multiple folders at the same time

•IE comes up but then just disappears, firefox works.

•I can't get to advanced edit in mo 2003 windows 7. erroror h.

•windows 7 bogged dowen deleting duplicate files with dupe locator.

•2/8/2009 1:58:16 AM

•trying to update a techsmith camtasia I get switch to box. Finding the browser didin't help.

•When I try to use camtasia to record a power point presentation I can’t check the record from what speaker hears box.

•Ie won’t stay op[en. It opens then closes.

•Ie7 would not install. Windows said not nsupported

•Won’t work with google chrome.

•Shaneksmith1957@gmail.com

•2/9/2009 7:00:59 AM

•Sound recorder threw up multiple windows telling me it didn’t have enough temp memory to record. I have @ 200gb free on drive.

•2/17/2009 1:11:46 PM

•An infrared driver update came my way via windows beata notification. However the page disappeared and I can’t get it back. It lead me to a blank web page. I managed to save a pdf of the page with hot links but the links go nowhere. There was no explanatioin as to what the driver fixes.

•Shaneksmith1957@gmail.com

•I managed to downlload the cir driver from the hotlink.

•I am looking for 3 base system drivers

•Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

•2/28/2009 1:25:37 AM

•I like the desktop random change selection

•3/8/2009 3:48:36 AM

•7 has a problem with video programs. i tried importing an avi video from a networked pc using camtasia and she crapped out on me...AGAIN!!

•shaneksmith1957@gmail.com

•3/16/2009 9:09:52 AM

•windows 7 won't let total recorder record sounds heard from speaker only. This is useful when trying to record screen shots with internal sound from a website.

•shaneksmith1957@gmail.com

•Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

•3/17/2009 9:17:25 AM

It’s a sugar coated version of XP that conflicts with my video editing programs. Microsoft has made it harder to move files with no “move” feature. They have taken away the windows picture viewer and gif images don’t work without extra software.

The switch to box wouldn't let me switch mto moizilla on a download for an upgrade to snagit.

shaneksmith1957@gmail.c

 

4/5/2009 12:19:52 AM

7 crashed while saving a word project and going to open a photo.

shaneksmith1957@gmail.com

4/9/2009 6:17:34 PM

Windows 7 does not like my logitech webcam.

4/18/2009 1:47:39 AM

 

4/19/2009 9:46:20 PM

7 can feel me closing it down. it crashed as i copy program files so I can downgrade to vista.

shaneksmith1957@gmail.com

Installing windows 7 signature edition on 32 bit and 64 bit. I had to wipe the 32 bit because 7 wouldn’t recognize windows 7 RC. Install of fresh 7 took About 40 minutes. From Vista 64 bit 7 copied and saved programs and data of @ 400gb on my lt and @ 80 programs in @ five hours! That was nice!

 

10/10/2009 9:39:53 PM

Wipe 7 32 bit because of ati problem. Starting re install

To ready desktop:

10/10/2009 10:08:59 PM

A wipe did not fix the ati glitch on a reinstall.

 

Windows 7 changed back to windows 7 basic color scheme and the tuner came back on. I had just plugged the tuner into Laptop 2 64bit vista and ati 650 worked. Then all of a sudden the tuner started working again on my 7 lt. Weird coincidence.

10/14/2009 4:21:42 AM

Uninistalling Roxio and using a windows basic or Aero theme in Display settings then re-installing the 650 program over the existing install made the 650 work for me again. I dare not mess with Windows TV tuner!

For those with simple need that don’t need a TV tuner I sugest Windows 7 Ultimate. For those willing to troubleshoot your ATI tuner I also suggest Windows 7 Ultimate!

10/14/2009 11:23:51 PM

A windows 7 update today caused the ati not to work again. It plays but is slow.

10/17/2009 5:16:59 AM

I had to reverrify my activation key on the 32 bit.

I can only network 2 machines that are both on 7.

10/17/2009 10:12:32 PM

A clean uninstall of the 650 then re-install AFTER re-installing roxio fixed it so far.It’s working with roxio now. Roxio’s TV tuner and the ati tuner are working. If you put in ati first before Roxio then Roxio won’t let you install ati.

Hp 7350 photo printer won’t work with hp laptop 64bit and 7 desktop 32bit. No compatible drivers I have found so far have helped.

I can’t figure out how to sort icons in Quick launch with 7.

Let me take a #selfie

Meant not as a replacement for but an enhancement to your regular RP, the Garden of Allah is a getaway spot for those who wish a little luxurious time away.. but you get more than you bargain for here. Bring your sweetheart, or find a little love on-site.. just don't bring your guns. They aren't necessary here.

 

Anne Rice ( Rampling), Exit to Eden, Explicit, erotic rp. Violence, Dark rp, Kink. Vampire, Lycan, Illumanati , Rituals, Fae, Satan, BDSM, Romance. Japanese Garden, Fetish, Training of O, Upperclass, Vacation, Roleplay. Eyes Wide Shut.Coming soon!

 

Taken at The Garden Of Allah Opening July 6th!, Blue Spirit (23, 33, 22)

But it just goes to show you don't have to dress dowdy or dress down and look like most women. It's not about what you wear but how you wear it, well that's my view.

"...and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'Awww!' " - Jack Kerouac

Excuse the title, but it does seem apt for the shot. Quite a desolate place is this and healing after the forrestry saws and machinery have done their job and harvested the trees. These two stumps caught my eye as we walked through the old plantation.

 

Mono version here: www.flickr.com/photos/wdig/8535460721/in/photostream

  

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any type of media without my written permission.

In 1962, the US Navy issued a requirement for an eventual replacement for the A-4 Skyhawk. Of the proposals submitted by various companies, Vought’s design won the competition in February 1964. What became the A-7 Corsair II was based on the already successful F-8 Crusader fighter, a decision which figured heavily in the Navy’s selection of the aircraft. The A-7, however, was smaller and shorter, with a much less sleek fuselage but a larger wing. It was the first operational American aircraft to use a turbofan engine, a HUD, and an internal INS linked to the bombing radar, permitting very accurate bombing in all weathers. After a remarkably trouble-free development, the YA-7A first flew in September 1965 and entered service a year later, with a combat debut in December 1967 over Vietnam. Because the A-4 was more maneuverable, the A-7 only supplemented the Skyhawk in US Navy service until the early 1980s; likewise, it was not chosen by the US Marine Corps for the light attack role, as the Marines preferred upgraded A-4s and later the AV-8A/B Harrier series.

 

The USAF, however, would acquire the A-7 in large numbers, at first as an interim to bridge the gap between the F-105 Thunderchief and the F-111 Aardvark, and to replace the ancient A-1 Skyraiders then serving as COIN, close air support, and rescue support aircraft. The A-7D made a number of changes, including USAF-style boom/plug refueling port, the more reliable and powerful Allison TF41 engine, and deletion of the A-7A’s twin 20mm cannon for a single M61A1 Vulcan 20mm gatling cannon. The A-7D entered USAF service in September 1968, and its combat service over Vietnam impressed the US Navy enough that the follow-on A-7E Corsair II incorporated both the TF41 engine and the M61A1 gun armament. Aside from the two-seat TA-7C/A-7K conversion trainers and EA-7L electronic warfare trainers, the A-7E was the penultimate Corsair II variant. Vought proposed an advanced, supersonic long-range strike variant, the A-7F, but this only went to the prototype stage.

 

The A-7 served in every conflict the United States entered into from 1968 to 1991, including Vietnam, operations against Lebanon, Libya, and Iran in the 1980s, and the First Gulf War. The latter was the swansong for the type in US service, with only two US Navy A-7E squadrons seeing service. With the drawdown of the 1990s, the A-7D was rapidly retired from USAF and Air National Guard units in favor of the F-16 Falcon; the A-7E left US Navy service in favor of the F/A-18 Hornet. The aircraft was exported in the 1970s to Greece as the A-7H and Portugal as the A-7P, both of which saw service in the Third World War. Thailand received ex-US Navy A-7Es in the mid-1990s. Greece retired the last operational A-7s in the world in 2014.

 

(The following is a fictional history of a fictional naval air arm.)

 

With the adoption of the US Navy-style carrier battlegroup by the FIRN/FIRNAA in the late 1970s, the FIRNAA also adopted the Navy-style carrier air wing of F-14 Tomcats, A-6 Intruders, and A-7 Corsair IIs. The latter were deemed to be of low priority, with the FIRNAA acquiring and upgrading ex-US Navy A-4E Skyhawks, and there was some controversy over the need to buy the A-7 at all. The sale went through because of the A-7’s ability to carry more ordnance further, and the first order for 36 A-7Es and five two-seat TA-7Cs were placed in 1985. As the A-7 production line had closed by that time, these came from ex-US Navy stocks and were refurbished before delivery; the only addition to the aircraft was a Pave Penny laser designator, which allowed the A-7E to drop precision guided weaponry. TA-7Cs were also in short supply, so instead Vought converted five ex-USAF A-7Es to A-7K standard, though these aircraft had a bulged refuelling probe and were designated TA-7K. (The TA-7K retained its boom/plug system, making it a “hermaphrodite.”) The first FIRNAA A-7E entered service in August 1986 with NAS-17, and both it and NAS-18 were fully operational with the Corsair II before the end of the Third World War. The last batch entered service with NAS-19, with the last being delivered in July 1988. These aircraft would provide yeoman service during the First Gulf War.

 

Though the United States was rapidly retiring the A-7, the FIRNAA decided to keep the aircraft due to its range instead of acquiring more F/A-18 Hornets. Because of its lack of speed and the desire to keep the aircraft in service at least until 2005, the FIRNAA commissioned a study to upgrade its Corsair IIs. Vought had gone out of business by this time (1993), but the A-7F study was resurrected and the contract given to Predator Propulsion. Initially designated A-7P (for Predator Propulsion, but dropped due to confusion with the Portuguese A-7Ps) and then A-7S, this upgrade included completely updating the avionics, with a new HUD system, LANTIRN compatibility, the ability to carry the AGM-84 Harpoon and AGM-84E SLAM, and most importantly, the A-7F’s Pratt and Whitney F100 turbofan. Since the A-7S lacked the lengthened fuselage and modified tail of the A-7F, the engine was derated to 24,000 pounds, though the afterburner was retained. This increased the top speed and range of the A-7E, as the F100 was more fuel efficient. The first A-7S flew in July 1994 and entered service in December 1995; by 1996 the entire fleet had been upgraded.

 

Despite the expense of the upgrade, the A-7S’ career was to be brief. The decision to acquire the F/A-25 Rafale to replace it was made only two years after the A-7S entered service, and it began to be withdrawn from service in 1999. The outbreak of war in Afghanistan and Iraq only delayed withdrawal for a short time, though the A-7S would fly combat missions in what was the Corsair II’s final combat deployment. Both NAS-17 and NAS-18 would convert to the Rafale, while NAS-19 retained it’s A-7s until the squadron’s disbandment in 2004. The last FIRNAA Corsair IIs made a four-ship flypast of Viper Lake IFAAS in August 2004, marking 18 years of faithful service. Eleven A-7s were lost during the aircraft’s career, six in combat during the Third World War and the First Gulf War, and the remainder in accidents; these were replaced from US Navy stocks, making total procurement 52 aircraft.

 

(Back in the real world...)

 

Though I prefer 1/144 scale for my own personal models, there is not yet a 1/144 kit of the A-7; Tamiya, however, makes a 1/100 kit. After finding one in Indiana in 2010, I built it out of the box as a standard A-7E. I used a darker gunship gray over medium gray color scheme (which would probably be unworkable for carrier operations in real life). I used kit decals, but the tailcodes and crocodile tail motif were hand-painted. It is armed with 12 Mk 82 750-pound bombs and two AIM-9B Sidewinders, which were not as difficult to put on as I had originally thought.

 

Bút Tháp - BN (10/10/09)

But no wedding!

livinglavidarita.blogspot.com

“This world is but a canvas to our imaginations.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

 

This is my favorite photo that I took over our three day weekend. Owen has gotten to that age where he prefers to be put down rather than held and so when we spent a lovely morning at Painted Hills I spread out his blanket and set him in the middle. Somehow, while never actually appearing to move, he made his way to the very edge of the blanket. The memory of that just makes me smile. Actually a lot of the memories from this trip make me smile- many of them captured beautifully by Zeb and posted in his stream.

 

This was an 8 second exposure with my Zero Image pinhole.

 

This is a spot where some of the 29,123 some odd Canada Geese like to congregate. At the moment I took this photo there weren't any there. I liked the rows and swirls and curves of the grass seed crop that has been planted there. I used to wonder why farming was being done in a Wildlife Refuge. Well, it sort of goes like this. The nearby grass seed farmers (Oregon is one of the largest grass seed growers in the United States) do not at all appreciate the migration of the geese that come and trample their crops. Probably eat some of the tastiest grainy parts too. Anyway, farmers made a deal with the Wildlife Refuge. They are allowed to farm much of the land inside the Refuge, and in exchange they give plenty of feed over to the Refuge. They encourage the geese to land and stay on the Refuge property, but stay off of their farm land. It works out pretty well. Pigeon Butte is on the right. This whole place is not far behind where I live. This should address the "My Life As" a photographer who loves to go see what is around me in my world.

 

The My Story part, besides what I have said above, is that from this vantage point I have personally spotted Mallards, Pintails, Thousands of Canada Geese here for the winter, 2 Raccoons, Green Heron, Bittern, Loons, Red-Tail Hawks (one actually got hold of a duck that was dying, or else he killed it, but anyway he was dragging it about 100 feet. He kept picking little parts of it off, and then he would try again to be able to lift it to fly. It was kind of gross, but also kind of fascinating. There was a whole trail of duck feathers from where started to across the road. Also I have seen about 40 Elk, but not close to this, more off in the distance. I have seen Red-Wing Blackbirds and some unusual Yellow-Headed Blackbirds. Oh, and I've spotted Great Blue Herons, Great White Egrets, and large Crows and Turkey Vultures, and little wild rabbits, and Bald Eagles. That is all I can think of right now, but it is a pretty interesting place.

This is just a small part of the whole acreage of the Refuge.

(1010finleygrasscropltshpbottom&sattop)

Added to Snap Game group pool about 7:30 pm PST. They have requested that we tell why we thought our picture was a good transition. Her picture had lots straight and curvy things with lots of green and some browns, mostly vertical. Mine had the same stringy looking things, and general colors, but more horizontal.

 

"Condensing Tags So Not 75"

...but not a Trident!

 

Offside shot of Courtney Buses YJ62 FYA heading for Old Dean on the 194 Sunday service.

 

Also features another abandoned Sainsbury's trolley!

 

Pembroke Broadway, Camberley, Surrey.

Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, monuments, artifacts, fortifications, roads, bridges, and entire cities were built of stone. Famous works of stonemasonry include the Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal, Cusco's Incan Wall, Easter Island's statues, Angkor Wat, Borobudur, Tihuanaco, Tenochtitlan, Persepolis, the Parthenon, Stonehenge, the Great Wall of China, Chartres Cathedral.

 

DEFINITION

Masonry is the craft of shaping rough pieces of rock into accurate geometrical shapes, at times simple, but some of considerable complexity, and then arranging the resulting stones, often together with mortar, to form structures.

 

Quarrymen split sheets of rock, and extract the resulting blocks of stone from the ground.

Sawyers cut these rough blocks into cuboids, to required size with diamond-tipped saws. The resulting block if ordered for a specific component is known as sawn six sides (SSS).

Banker masons are workshop-based, and specialize in working the stones into the shapes required by a building's design, this set out on templets and a bed mould. They can produce anything from stones with simple chamfers to tracery windows, detailed mouldings and the more classical architectural building masonry. When working a stone from a sawn block, the mason ensures that the stone is bedded in the right way, so the finished work sits in the building in the same orientation as it was formed on the ground. Occasionally though some stones need to be oriented correctly for the application; this includes voussoirs, jambs, copings, and cornices.

 

The basic tools, methods and skills of the banker mason have existed as a trade for thousands of years.

 

Carvers cross the line from craft to art, and use their artistic ability to carve stone into foliage, figures, animals or abstract designs.

Fixer masons specialize in the fixing of stones onto buildings, using lifting tackle, and traditional lime mortars and grouts. Sometimes modern cements, mastics, and epoxy resins are used, usually on specialist applications such as stone cladding. Metal fixings, from simple dowels and cramps to specialised single application fixings, are also used. The precise tolerances necessary make this a highly skilled job.

Memorial masons or monumental masons carve gravestones and inscriptions.

 

The modern stonemason undergoes comprehensive training, both in the classroom and in the working environment. Hands-on skill is complemented by an intimate knowledge of each stone type, its application, and best uses, and how to work and fix each stone in place. The mason may be skilled and competent to carry out one or all of the various branches of stonemasonry. In some areas, the trend is towards specialization, in other areas towards adaptability.

 

TYPES OF STONE

Stonemasons use all types of natural stone: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary; while some also use artificial stone as well.

 

IGNEOUS STONES

Granite is one of the hardest stones, and requires such different techniques to sedimentary stones that it is virtually a separate trade. With great persistence, simple mouldings can and have been carved from granite, for example in many Cornish churches and in the city of Aberdeen. Generally, however, it is used for purposes that require its strength and durability, such as kerbstones, countertops, flooring, and breakwaters.

Igneous stone ranges from very soft rocks such as pumice and scoria to somewhat harder rocks such as tuff to the hardest rocks such as granite and basalt.

 

METAMORPHIC

Marble is a fine, easily worked stone, that comes in various colours, but mainly white. It has traditionally been used for carving statues, and for facings of many Byzantine and Italian Renaissance buildings. Prominent Greek sculptors, such as Antenor (6th century BC), Phidias and Critias (5th century BC), Praxiteles (4th century BC) and others used mainly the marble of Paros and Thassos islands, and the whitest and brightest of all (although not the finest), the Pentelikon marble. Their work was preceded by older sculptors from Mesopotamia and Egypt, but the Greeks were unmatched in plasticity and realistic (re)presentation, either of Gods (Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, Zeus, etc.), or humans (Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Phryne, etc.). The famous Acropolis of Athens is said to be constructed using the Pentelicon marble. The traditional home of the marble industry is the area around Carrara in Italy, from where a bright and fine, whitish marble is extracted in vast quantities.

Slate is a popular choice of stone for memorials and inscriptions, as its fine grain and hardness means it leaves details very sharp. Its tendency to split into thin plates has also made it a popular roofing material.

 

SEDIMENTARY

TYPES

TYPES OF STONEMASONRY ARE:

 

FIXER MASONS

This type of masons have specialized into fixing the stones onto the buildings. They might do this with grouts, mortars, and lifting tackle. They might also use things like single application specialized fixings, simple cramps, and dowels as well as stone cladding with things like epoxy resins, mastics, and modern cements.

 

MEMORIAL MASONS

These are the masons that make headstones and carve the inscriptions on them.

 

Today's stonemasons undergo training that is quite comprehensive and is done both in the work environment and in the classroom. It isn't enough to have hands-on skill anymore. One must also have knowledge of the types of stones as well as its best uses and how to work it as well as how to fix it in place.

 

RUBBLE MASONRY

When roughly dressed stones are laid in a mortar the result is a stone rubble masonry.

 

ASHLAR MASONRY

Stone masonry using dressed (cut) stones is known as ashlar masonry.

 

STONE VANEER

Stone veneer is used as a protective and decorative covering for interior or exterior walls and surfaces. The veneer is typically 2.54 cm thick and must weigh less than 73 kg m2, so that no additional structural supports are required. The structural wall is put up first, and thin, flat stones are mortared onto the face of the wall. Metal tabs in the structural wall are mortared between the stones to tie everything together, to prevent the stonework from separating from the wall.

Slipform stonemasonry

SLIPFORM STONEMASONRY

Slipform stonemasonry is a method for making stone walls with the aid of formwork to contain the rocks and mortar while keeping the walls straight. Short forms, up to two feet tall, are placed on both sides of the wall to serve as a guide for the stonework. Stones are placed inside the forms with the good faces against the formwork. Concrete is poured behind the rocks. Rebar is added for strength, to make a wall that is approximately half reinforced concrete and half stonework. The wall can be faced with stone on one side or both sides.

 

TRAINING

Traditionally medieval stonemasons served a seven-year apprenticeship. A similar system still operates today.

 

A modern apprenticeship lasts three years. This combines on-site learning through personal experience, the experience of the tradesmen, and college work where apprentices are given an overall experience of the building, hewing and theory work involved in masonry. In some areas, colleges offer courses which teach not only the manual skills but also related fields such as drafting and blueprint reading or construction conservation. Electronic Stonemasonry training resources enhance traditional delivery techniques. Hands-on workshops are a good way to learn about stonemasonry also. Those wishing to become stonemasons should have little problem working at heights, possess reasonable hand-eye coordination, be moderately physically fit, and have basic mathematical ability. Most of these things can be developed while learning.

Tools

TOOLS

Stonemasons use a wide variety of tools to handle and shape stone blocks (ashlar) and slabs into finished articles. The basic tools for shaping the stone are a mallet, chisels, and a metal straight edge. With these one can make a flat surface – the basis of all stonemasonry.

 

Chisels come in a variety of sizes and shapes, dependent upon the function for which they are being used and have many different names depending on locality. There are different chisels for different materials and sizes of material being worked, for removing large amounts of material and for putting a fine finish on the stone.

 

Mixing mortar is normally done today with mortar mixers which usually use a rotating drum or rotating paddles to mix the mortar.

 

The masonry trowel is used for the application of the mortar between and around the stones as they are set into place. Filling in the gaps (joints) with mortar is referred to as pointing. Pointing in smaller joints can be accomplished using tuck pointers, pointing trowels, and margin trowels, among other tools.

 

A mason's hammer has a long thin head and is called a Punch Hammer. It would be used with a chisel or splitter for a variety of purposes

 

A walling hammer (catchy hammer) can be used in place of a hammer and chisel or pincher to produce rubble or pinnings or snecks.

 

Stonemasons use a lewis together with a crane or block and tackle to hoist building stones into place.

 

Today power tools such as compressed-air chisels, abrasive spinners, and angle grinders are much used: these save time and money, but are hazardous and require just as much skill as the hand tools that they augment. But many of the basic tools of stonemasonry have remained virtually the same throughout vast amounts of time, even thousands of years, for instance when comparing chisels that can be bought today with chisels found at the pyramids of Giza the common sizes and shapes are virtually unchanged.

 

Stonemasonry is one of the earliest trades in civilization's history. During the time of the Neolithic Revolution and domestication of animals, people learned how to use fire to create quicklime, plasters, and mortars. They used these to fashion homes for themselves with mud, straw, or stone, and masonry was born.

 

The Ancients heavily relied on the stonemason to build the most impressive and long-lasting monuments to their civilizations. The Egyptians built their pyramids, the civilizations of Central America had their step pyramids, the Persians their palaces, the Greeks their temples, and the Romans their public works and wonders (See Roman Architecture). People of the Indus Valley Civilization, such as at Dholavira made entire cities characterized by stone architecture. Among the famous ancient stonemasons is Sophroniscus, the father of Socrates, who was a stone-cutter.

Castle building was an entire industry for the medieval stonemasons. When the Western Roman Empire fell, building in dressed stone decreased in much of Western Europe, and there was a resulting increase in timber-based construction. Stonework experienced a resurgence in the 9th and 10th centuries in Europe, and by the 12th-century religious fervour resulted in the construction of thousands of impressive churches and cathedrals in stone across Western Europe. Medieval stonemasons' skills were in high demand, and members of the guild, gave rise to three classes of stonemasons: apprentices, journeymen, and master masons. Apprentices were indentured to their masters as the price for their training, journeymen were qualified craftsmen who were paid by the day, and master masons were considered freemen who could travel as they wished to work on the projects of the patrons and could operate as self-employed craftsmen and train apprentices. During the Renaissance, the stonemason's guild admitted members who were not stonemasons, and eventually evolved into the Society of Freemasonry; fraternal groups which observe the traditional culture of stonemasons but are not typically involved in modern construction projects.

 

A medieval stonemason would often carve a personal symbol onto their block to differentiate their work from that of other stonemasons. This also provided a simple ‘quality assurance’ system.

 

The Renaissance saw stonemasonry return to the prominence and sophistication of the Classical age. The rise of the humanist philosophy gave people the ambition to create marvelous works of art. The centre stage for the Renaissance would prove to be Italy, where Italian city-states such as Florence erected great structures, including the Florence Cathedral, the Fountain of Neptune, and the Laurentian Library, which was planned and built by Michelangelo Buonarroti, a famous sculptor of the Renaissance.

 

When Europeans settled the Americas, they brought the stonemasonry techniques of their respective homelands with them. Settlers used what materials were available, and in some areas, stone was the material of choice. In the first waves, building mimicked that of Europe, to eventually be replaced by unique architecture later on.

 

In the 20th century, stonemasonry saw its most radical changes in the way the work is accomplished. Prior to the first half of the century, most heavy work was executed by draft animals or human muscle power. With the arrival of the internal combustion engine, many of these hard aspects of the trade have been made simpler and easier. Cranes and forklifts have made moving and laying heavy stones relatively easy for the stonemasons. Motor powered mortar mixers have saved much in time and energy as well. Compressed-air powered tools have made working of stone less time-intensive. Petrol and electric-powered abrasive saws can cut through stone much faster and with more precision than chiseling alone. Carbide-tipped chisels can stand up to much more abuse than the steel and iron chisels made by blacksmiths of old.

 

WIKIPEDIA

Bradford 795 BDJ83 a 1950 BUT 9611T trolleybus with original East Lancs body, at Wibsey terminus about to turn round to return to the City on 2 April 1968

Im noticing that the panel is mesh and no mod, So contacting the designer the issue is my height so why do I have to shrink myself to be short just so I can wear this dress. But my whole thing is why cant some designers make their mesh panels modifiable? I have this problem on other outfits too. I like my av how she is and dont believe I should be short just for an outfit to work!!!

At the end of Church Street is this, perhaps the finest view of a church in Suffolk. Maybe others would disagree with that, but the old Guildhall in front, and the splendid tower of Ss. Peter and Paul in the background.

 

It lies opposite the ruins of Eye Castle, at the edge of the town. Quite marvelous, and then you walk into the church, and oh my.

 

As I open the door, two pairs of eyes look towards me, the door was under the tower, quite a way to enter a church. And I was greeted by the lady volunteer who ran the shop till lunchtime, and a lay elder who was just stopping by. We all had a long chat, and they were pleased as I said nice things about their fine church.

 

The Rood Screen is most impressive, as so the Rood itself, I think the figures are just fine with the painted ceiling above.

 

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There are three Suffolks. There is mighty Ipswich, a proud provincial town of 150,000 people, currently undergoing a splendid renaissance. There are the scattered villages, hundreds and hundreds of them, their medieval parish churches forming the backbone of this website. And then, there are the small towns. Eye is perhaps the most robustly independent of Suffolk's smaller towns. It isn't big at all, but it is far from anywhere else of any size in the county, if you ignore Norfolk's Diss looming on the horizon. The railways reached it, bringing with them proud 19th century municipal buildings. Until the 1830s, the town returned two members to parliament, and it still gave its name to the parliamentary constituency until the 1970s. There is a castle (or, at least, what looks like a castle), some decent pubs, a theatre, and one of Suffolk's grandest churches.

 

The great flint-encrusted tower of St Peter and St Paul rises above a stunningly crafted interior. Here inside, we will find the nearest thing Suffolk has to a fulfilment of the ecclesiological aspirations of our great-grandparents' generation.

 

From a tiny spark, a glint in the eye of John Keble at Oxford in the 1830s, the sacramental revival in the Church of England spread like wildfire over the course of the ensuing century. The Church set about rediscovering its Catholic roots, and the preaching houses of the Hanoverians were stripped bare and filled with all the best that the Gothic revival had to offer. In many medieval churches, original artefacts were rediscovered and pressed back into service. Where this wasn't possible, the mass-production workshops of Birmingham and London could be called upon to provide what history could not.

 

Ironically, the catalyst for all this had been some of those very reform acts which had deprived Eye of its 'rotten borough' status. Catholic emancipation in the 1820s had been followed by grants to a Catholic university in Ireland; Keble, along with Pusey, Newman, Froude and the others, saw that the Church of England was in danger of being sidelined as a protestant sect. The Oxford Movement, as it became known, published a series of tracts to try and educate the middle classes about their lost past. Their intention was that the Church would recover its catholicity, and its destiny as a national church; the inevitable result was that some of the Movement, Newman among them, would leave the Church of England to become Catholics themselves.

 

The medieval past that they most admired was that of the early 14th century. This allowed them to see the later medieval period as an abuse-riddled downturn, from which the Church had to be rescued at the Reformation. However, as the Movement went on, there were many who asked if the Reformation had really been necessary at all.

 

The grandeur of Suffolk's biggest churches is an eve-of-the-Reformation wealth of the medieval industrial-heartland-of-England thing. Here at Eye it rebuilt the tower in the second half of the 15th century. As at Stradbroke, with which the tower has much in common, it was De la Pole money that rebuilt it, and the family arms are discernible still. Mortlock points out that you can see the shape of the windows change from late-Decorated to Perpendicular over the course of the 40 years or so it took to build. You can see the last windows, the pure rationalism of the late Perpendicular period, right at the top in the bell-stage. Beneath are some mystical Decorated windows, and below them the vast west window which bridges the gap between the two.

 

As the tower was being completed, so the rest of the church was undergoing an opulent rebuild. You can see evidence of the extension at the east end of the south aisle, where a blocked door sits beside the new one into the chancel. As at Lavenham, the parishioners here were left in no doubt about secular power and its might. Soon, the De la Poles, the Springs, the De Veres and so on would outgrow the middle ages, and the aspirations of wealthy families such as these would give rise to the Reformation, the nation state, and ultimately capitalism itself.

 

This was in the future. For now, the De la Poles invested in prayers as well as commerce, and although their south porch is a bit battered these days, it remains one of the loveliest in Suffolk, its brickwork echoing the gildhall on the other side of the church. You can only enter it from inside the church if you hope to see the dole table and fine 13th century doorway that survives of the earlier church, and you have to be there when it is open, for it now contains a shop.

 

Externally then, this is one of the great East Anglian churches. Here we see the late medieval Church in all its glory.

 

But in the 1530s, a collision of expediency and opportunity put an end to it all. Henry VIII took the church out of Europe; his son Edward VI enforced its protestant credentials, and Edward's sister Elizabeth I settled the whole thing by imposing a tyrannical oppression of the old ways, to bolster her grip on power. The past was subverted and lost, as first Anglicans, and then Puritans, overthrew the religion of their parents and grandparents, of the long generations. They all but obliterated the old order, the ancient faith. Much was lost, and much was forgotten. This was what the Oxford Movement tried to recover, but in the context of a national established church, with spectacular results.

 

By the end of the 19th century, the Anglo-catholic movement was in the ascendant. Most churches now saw Holy Communion as the main service rather than Morning Prayer; most churches became focused on the altar rather than the pulpit. Perhaps the formality and splendour of the high church aesthetic chimed with the pomposity and rhetoric of British imperialism; it is worth noting that the rise and fall of Anglo-catholicism as a mainstream tradition coincided almost exactly with the growth and decline of the British Empire. The movement reached its height in the early years of the 20th century, and probably the greatest exponent of Anglo-catholic fixtures and fittings was Ninian Comper. Comper will be familiar to regular users of this site for his work at Lound and Lowestoft; he has also made appearances at Kettlebaston, Ipswich St Mary Elms, Ufford and Barsham, all beacons of early 20th century Anglo-catholic correctness.

 

All gone now, alas, alas. The ritualist tide has receded almost completely, and only the trappings and debris survive here and there, a reminder of what once was. An age that hovers on the edge of a public memory, when the formal vision of the established Church was at the heart of British daily life; an age of candles and incense, of richly coloured vestments and four-part choirs. An age of anthems, and war memorials, and processions, and coronations, and a liturgy that brought you to your knees.

 

Some of this still survives. Here at Eye the tradition has not completely receded.

 

You walk beneath the great tower with its wonderful fan-vaulting so uncharacteristic of Suffolk, and then into the open space of a large, civic church. As at Hadleigh, Halesworth, and other small Suffolk towns, the 19th century restoration here was pretty significant. However, into this created space have been placed furnishings of superb quality and design. The centre piece is Comper's magnificent rood screen and loft, built on the remains of the old one in the mid-1920s. The screen below is good, although not as good as some of the county's other late-15th century screens; the loft however, is easily the best 20th century work in Suffolk.

 

The figures on the dado screen must have been painted in 1500. Pevsner says, somewhat harshly, that they are all bad. It is true that they are doll-like, with nothing like the sophistication of those across the A140 at Yaxley, for example, but they have a certain naive charm. Curiously, the gessowork that forms a relief to the figures is really quite sophisticated. They are, from north to south: I: St Paul, II: St Helen, III: St Edmund, IV: St Ursula and her ten thousand virgins, V: Henry VI, VI: St Dorothy, VII: St Barbara, VIII: St Agnes, IX: St Edward the Confessor, (the gap into the chancel is here), X: St John the Evangelist, XI: St Catherine, XII: St William of Norwich, XIII: St Lucy, XIV: St Thomas of Canterbury, and XV: St Cecilia. You can see them all below - click on them to enlarge them.

 

Many of these Saints had strong local cults in the late medieval period, and are familiar from other East Anglian screens. The less common St William of Norwich adds a little colour, standing as evidence of an anti-semitism that persisted well into the late middle ages, despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that the Jewish population had been expelled some two centuries previously. Two of the other images resonate strongly - the cults of Henry VI and St Thomas of Canterbury were particularly frowned upon by the 16th century reformers.

 

Up in the chancel, an entirely secular memorial recalls the Reverend Thomas Wythe, for fifty years Vicar of this Parish. he died in 1835, and the monument notes that he cordially believed, zealously preached, assiduously practiced. It is unlikely that the Reverend Wythe would recognise the inside of his church today. Much of what was foregrounded in this church by the considerable 1850s restoration was further adapted and enhanced by the higher church over the ensuing century. The most spectacular work is by Ninian Comper. As well as the rood and rood loft already mentioned, he produced the great east window depicting the Risen Christ flanked by St John, St Peter, St Paul and St Polycarp. His also is the towering font cover, and the image of St george in the north aisle, which I liked best of all.

 

The process continues; the elegant tomb recess in the north aisle, for example, is host to Lough Pendred's 1960s Madonna and child. Pendred carved the same subject in a different composition for the lady chapel in the south aisle. To be honest, this kind of light wood romantic abstraction is very much of its decade, but there is a poignancy to its presence here in one of the surviving outposts of modern Anglo-catholicism. Eye is one of the few Suffolk churches that still 'sports the big six'; that is to say, has six tall candles on the high altar.

 

Comper decorated the chancel roof, which glows magnificently in the morning light through the east window. Tucked away in two corners are two post-Reformation tombs to Nicholas Cutler and William Honyng, the first in the north aisle (it was originally in the sanctuary, according to Mortlock) and the second in the south aisle chapel. They are curious, because they appear to be almost identical, although whether this is a tribute to early-modern vanity, competing arrogance or mass-production I couldn't say.

 

This is a church in which to wander. It is full of interest, little details and quiet corners. A bit like Eye itself.

 

Beside the church, the large, half-timbered building to the north is the former guildhall. For a long time this was a wonderful second hand bookshop, but that is now closed. On the corner post are the restored angels of the Annunciation - one only has been left unrestored. It is almost a symbol for this reinvented place.

 

Across the road is a rather urban 1960s red-brick modernist building that now houses the Eye Youth Resource Centre - one assumes it wouldn't get planning permission today. Above is the Castle Mound, now crowned by a late 19th century folly after the former windmill was demolished. You wander northwards into narrow streets of independent shops, and the sense of a community that supports and is at ease with itself. A proud little town; its great church suits it well.

  

St Peter and St Paul, Eye, sits near the centre of this fine town just to the east of the A140 Ipswich to Norwich road. It is open every day.

 

Simon Knott, 2003 (updated 2007)

 

www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/eye.htm

BUT it appears that the crossing has been left in a state that would allow the siding to be rebuilt at most anytime. Fascinating occurrence. The siding belonged to the original Norfolk and Southern RR.

So this was for the monochromatic (but no black/white/grey) theme. I chose the theme, but I've never had so much difficulty choosing an outfit!! I realized that pretty much all of my solid-color skirts are black, white, or grey. So I fudged it a bit, with a sort-of-but-not-totally purple skirt.

 

Brownish/purple skirt: Searle

 

Purple corduroy blazer: H&M

 

Purple sweater with tie neck: The Limited

 

Purple knee socks: Calzedonia

 

Purple headband with bow: Target

 

Purple oxfords: Sandra Bon

 

but the Black Queen threatens!

Shea Stadium, originally to be called Flushing Meadows Stadium Park but instead named after William A. Shea, the man who brought National League baseball back to New York, was opened on April 17, 1964 after 29 months and $25.5M of construction. Located right next to LaGuardia Airport, Shea Stadium is known for the roar of overhead airlines.

 

The architectural firm of Praeger-Kavanagh-Waterbury designed the stadium to be the first all-purpose facility. In addition to serving as the home to the New York Mets, Shea also hosted the New York Jets until 1983, the New York Yankees and New York Giants during construction on Yankee Stadium (1974-75, and briefly in 1998), and numerous concerts including the opening of the 1965 North American Beatles tour, which was the first concert held at a major outdoor stadium.

 

With a seating capacity of 55,000+, Shea is a circular stadium, with the grandstand forming a perfect circle around the field, ending a short distance beyond the foul lines. The remainder of the perimeter is mostly empty space beyond the outfield fences--occupied by the bullpens, scoreboards, and a section of bleachers. Shea Stadium, with its swirling winds and poor batter's eye has historically played as a pitcher's park.

 

Square sections which hold the ramps from level to level pop out of the stadium's perimeter. After the Jets left for the Meadowlands in 1983, the exterior was masked with large blue wind screen panels and neon silhouettes of baseball players were placed on each of the six panels. In 2003, large murals celebrating the Mets' two world championships in 1969 and 1986 were put up, covering the two ends of the grandstand. The 1986 mural was removed following the 2006 season.

 

A distinctive Big Apple emerges from the Mets Magic Top Hat, a giant upside-down black top hat, and flashes whenever a Mets player hits a home run. the hat features the words home run in big letters. Prior to 1984, the hat featured the words "Mets Magic" in honor of the slogan used in 1980 declaring that "The Magic Is Back."

 

Prior to the construction of Citizens Bank Park, Shea Stadium's 175' x 86' scoreboard topped with a Bulova clock 25 feet beyond the right field fence was the largest in major league baseball. A new LED system was installed prior to the 2004 season, replacing an older light bulb display that had been in place since 1987. The scoreboard is topped by the New York skyline. Since 9/11 the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center have been kept unlit, a red, white, and blue ribbon placed over them. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, Shea served as a relief center.

 

A DiamondVision video board in left center field was installed in 1982, replaced in 1992 by a higher resolution CRT board, and then again by a high-definition LED board manufactured by Mitsubishi. The screen--35 feet, 8 inches wide by 26 feet, 3 inches high -- shows replays, special in-game features, statistics and more.

 

Shea Stadium Firsts:

* Game: April 17, 1964 - Pirates 4, Mets 3 (WP-Bob Friend; LP-Ed Bauta)

* Batter: Dick Schofield, Pirates (popped up to Mets second baseman Larry Burright against pitcher Jack Fisher)

* Met Batter: Tim Harkness (grounded out, shortstop Dick Schofield to first baseman Donn Clendenon against Bob Friend)

* Hit: April 17, 1964 - Willie Stargell, Pirates; second inning home run off Jack Fisher

* Met Hit: April 17, 1964 - Tim Harkness, third-inning single off Bob Friend

* Met Victory: April 19, 1964 - Mets 6, Pirates 0 (WP - Al Jackson; LP - Bob Veale)

but it's alright.

But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.

― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

 

11/22/2004 - Monday: in Rome Roma, the Vatican, train to Florence Firenze

 

tags: italy

   

Monday Reality

   

Left hotel a bit late...not too bad. Tried to get on the subway but there was a line up the stairs. We were going to take a bus, but then we got a cab. 10 euros to take a cab two metro stops...I sort of think that wasn't strictly kosher...but maybe it was. it was still fun. We got to go under a tunnel that we saw yesterday during our ordeal march of being lost.

   

the idea was to catch the capucin crypts on the way to the vatican. But they were closed...still. so we slipped down back into the subway. We had used our single use tickets when we were turned back by the line at the Termini station, but we decided that the moral constraints were met, so we slipped through and re-used the tickets to get to the vatican. AFter all, we had gone through the gate, but we hadn't gotten on a train...

   

so the train left at 4:48ish, maybe 4:47...basically right on time ...

   

Off we rushed to the Vatican museum. We arrived at 10:00...and the english tour was at 10:30, so just enough time to get oriented and rest a bit before the ordeal by marbel floor!

   

We had a nice tour guide. First she showed us a sort of parchement view of the sistine chapel-two rulls of text and pictures with details of the different scenes. She would wind it down to get the next view.

   

This was fascinating...I am phenomenally underinformed of art and cultural matters...it is almost a cliche to say that, but egads it it true.

   

on the other hand, there are things we know today that were unknown 200 years ago. Amazingly...apparantly the whole forum area was under dirt until 18-something. So much dirt that only the tops of the columns were exposed. and even now much remains.

   

The archeologists cringe over the techniques used to clear what is now exposed. There have been several recent archeological 'campaigns' among the ruins of palatine hill that have excavated pre-roman huts. one of the write ups discussed the findings of 27 flakes of flint, indicating tool maing. So infering thngs based on bits of things found...which is the whole point of archeology.

   

And it made me realize that they are not done excavating Rome Roma...an odd thing to realize, since only a moment's consideration would reveal how obvious that is! There are Indian mounds that the archeologists are intentionally leaving alone for now, with the expressed plan of letting future archeologists examine them when they have better techniques.

   

my ears are popping...and the gps lost its lock...I then look out and realize we are going through a tunnel. ah...sense is made.

   

maybe...perhaps it wasn't a tunnel...I can't tell. several more episodes of pressure changes are occuring.

   

There are sliding head rests on the cabin walls in back of the seats. they are padded and have vertical supports so that you can lean on them to sleep without falling into the window, or onto your neighbor. they slide up and down to allow you to adjust to your preferences.

   

We didn't see the capucini crypt, because it was closed, and it was getting dark as we got on the train, but we are doing pretty well.

   

The vatican tour took two hours...and it seemed that we were moving much of the time. they have these slick radio receivors so you can hear the tour guide even if you are in the next room back.

   

I had a strong response to a tapestry depicting the slaughter of the chilidren by herod. One baby is being held, barely, by its mother and a soldier has a dagger to the child's heart. The baby is about to die. Other mother's are using their bodies to shield their infants. it is truly horrible.

   

damn! the pressure changes are really frequent, and amazingly annoying.

   

I downloaded a bunch of stuff from 'hex'-a friend of Jo and Schuyler's. I'm reading

 

how to build a reality that doesn't fall apart two days later...file:///Users/admin/wa/web/downlode.org/etext/how_to_build.html

   

I'm on the train...fighting sleep. I need to pee, but to do that I worry I'll have to wake the gentleman seated in front of the door to our compartment.

   

passing through orte...at 5:27:00---possibly even got a track point. I had a signal for a moment.

   

well..more than a moment, but not too long. there is crying in the hall....

   

The GPS showed us going 115 mph, for a bit. not just one observation. interesting. fast.

   

The hall of maps was cool because I realized it was, or could have been, not about art and instead was about the simple matter of managing an empire.

   

I enjoyed the museum, duh, and the Sistine chapel...and then we climbed the dome! I loved that! I truly loved it. We got to the top and I could see radio vatican and the quiet parts of the vatican and various 'stuff.' I don't know why, but seeing vatican radio made me happy.

   

We descended...heather waited while i ran about St. Peter's one more time. I went back into the catecombs...and reflected again at st. peter's grave, and the crypts of the popes. different passageway's were open from last time...you went in and out on different sides. Saturday we went through more passageways, past bits of monuments, even broken bits, supposedly the memorials for past popes there had been recovered via archeological digs and the like...little rooms, with gates, and some stones mounted on the walls.

   

Today I looked through a grate and down at a compartment that seemed to be set up as a small chapel. maybe a particularly holy pope was buried there.

   

When they embalm a pope, or remove anything from one, they send the bits to a particular church in room so the bits don't become relics.

   

I was struck by how clean and non-catacomb like the area was that we were allowed to tour. There were passageways that looked like they might get more 'creepy' small and twisty, but it was all clean...I guess marble does that for you.

   

Heather was whipped. We walked the .4 miles to cafe ruggio (is that it? The antipasto bar place by gellati millenium. it is in the Rick steve's book. We tried for it Saturday, but it was still closed, and we tried today, but closed Monday. Both faux paws (sic) could have been avoided if we had looked at the book and actually _read_ that listign first.

   

I have so many books and things that I don't really need...

   

Well Heather felt really crappy...but we ate at the little place by millenium gellati. It was great. The woman dished me up two plates. First a bowl of pasta, and then a plate with veal, mushrooms, zucchine, and peas with ham. It was in little bowls and I got to pick...heather had a panini. I was jsut positive that I was suffering eyes bigger than my head syndRome Roma, but

 

(and here the laptop powered down, I was writing on the train, and now it is the next day and some, 1:20 am on the 24th) I ate everything, and had a gellato after. And we went to the big 'M.' We found the M, but there was no metro...it was up another block. We metroed to the train station. Identified a train time, then grabbed our stuff at the hotel.

   

We spent time at the internet cafe DSC_4285.JPG, DSC_4286.JPG, DSC_4287.JPG ... They didn't support ssh! well I finally did send an email to folks via the webmail at work.

   

Then the train! The train was great. And we whisked into Florence Firenze. We wandered streets for a bit, then I got lock on the GPS, and knew we were .15 miles, and we wandered. I didn't remember the street name (via nazzionale, #10), but when we stumbled onto it Heather identified it. And we were a half block away.

   

Check in went smoothly. We fooled around, and then took to the streets. We ate at trattoria Sostanza-Troia (see p285 of Rick Steves). There were tour de france pictures on the walls, and signed photos dating back. We enjoyed it! A bottle of table wine. Tortellini with a house sauce, and then pot roast with beans. Heather had a bean salad and a salad.

   

Then we wandered back and bought a bottle of wine and some chocolate. Heather studied our books, and I sort of watched the Tony Gatuf movie Swing. I think it was in Italian with French subtitles. After all of that Art, and trying to read the pictures, I watched it in a different way. Paying attention to the cultural signifiers and all of that jazz. Having thoughts like 'why did he frame that shot that way? What does that use of open space say?" etc...

    

but I also think I am enjoying my en femme life more :)

Check out my other miniature railway pics on Flickr:

www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/collections/72157625...

 

This railway was opened in May 1911 by local postman Griffith Llewelyn. It was known simply as Llewelyn's Miniature Railway but most of the finance had been provided by 4 local businessmen including Southport dentist Prosper Ladmore.

 

The first loco on the line was a Bassett Lowke 'Class 10' No.18 'George the Fifth' but this was sold a couple of years later to the Rhyl Miniature Railway and replaced by a larger 'Class 20' from Bassett Lowke No.22 'Prince of Wales'. In 1923 this was joined by another 'Class 20' No. 21 'Prince Edward of Wales' which came from the Fairbourne Railway.

 

These two locos continued to run at Southport until the late-1960s and were renamed on a regular basis, sometimes carrying two names at the same time! (one on each side). Eventually they settled down to permanent names - 'Prince of Wales' became 'Princess Elizabeth' and 'Prince Edward of Wales' became 'King George'.

 

At the end of 1933 the line was placed into receivership and was taken over by local engineer Harry Barlow who had already been involved with the line for several years.

 

It prospered under Barlow's control and in the late-1940s he extended the track and started building a fleet of new diesel-electric locos. In 1950 he built a new train for Southport Pier ('The Silver Belle') and the following year he built and operated the Festival of Britain railway at Battersea Park in London.

 

Barlow retired at the end of 1968 and sold the railway for £20,000 to a couple of local business owners. The two steam locos were not included and were later sold separately - 'King George' was auctioned at Christies in May 1969 for £950.

 

The railway at Southport was sold in 2001 and again in 2016 and continues in operation today and still uses some of the locos and carriages built by Barlow in the 1950s and 1960s. It is now the oldest continuously operated miniature railway in the world.

 

What happened to the steam locos? 'King George' ended up at the Whorlton Lido Railway in Co Durham where it operated for many years before being sold into private ownership where it survives today.

 

'Princess Elizabeth' was acquired by Bill McAlpine and went to Steamtown Railway Museum in Carnforth where it ran for 20-odd years. In 1983 it made a brief return to Southport to appear in a gala weekend. In 2000 the entire railway at Carnforth was sold to Hollywood movie director Francis Ford Coppola. 'Princess Elizabeth' now resides in working order on his California estate alongside the original Southport loco No, 18 'George the Fifth' which was acquired from Carnforth at the same time.

Between the two Boughtons along the sandstone ridge, little did I know there are three parishes, Chart Sutton, Sutton Valance and East Sutton.

 

As it happened I sailed past Chart Sutton without realising it was there, and there was a wedding on at Sutton Valance. But I had seen some fine hand made signs pointing to an open church, which happened to be East Sutton.

 

I was welcomed warmly, and once we had all agreed to how many churches in Kent I had visited, one of the wardens gave me a fine guided tour of the church.

 

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A knockout church that stands cheek by jowl with the red brick mansion that is now a prison with warning signs that tell you not to photograph the house whilst photographing the church! Mainly fourteenth century building but remodelled with new windows in the fifteenth. It contains much of interest although in many respects the late nineteenth century restoration which removed the plaster from the walls has created an interior unlike anything that went before. The memorials to the Filmer family are what most people come to see – from a rare 17th century brass plate to a nineteenth century marble baby the church ahs it all. The windows are mostly late 19th and early 20th century by Westlake. The post WW1 south chapel east window depicts a soldier, sailor, airmen and nurse under figures of Osmund, Edmund and Christ. The lovely font is one of the nicest thirteenth century examples around – one amazingly thin pillars. Architecturally the north chapel north window, with flamboyant tracery is the masterpiece but really it is the whole ensemble that goes to create such a welcoming and memorable space.

 

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=East+Sutton

 

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EAST SUTTON.

THE next parish eastward from Town Sutton is East Sutton, having the appellation of East from its situation eastward of the two adjoining parishes of Sutton Valence and Chart Sutton, though that of Sutton, near Dover, is likewise frequently stiled East Sutton, from its situation in the eastern part of this county.

 

IT is a small parish, and would be but little known or frequented was it not for the residence of the Filmer family in it. It is much the same situation and soil as the last described parish of Sutton Valence, the quarry hills crossing the middle of it; the church stands near the summit of the hill, at the back of East Sutton-place, which is pleasantly situated, having a most beautiful and extensive view southward, the park lying before it, which is well cloathed with trees both of ash and oak, and has a fine piece of water in sight of the house in the lower part of it; about half a mile south-east from the manor house, about the middle of the hill, is Little Charlton, which has still the appearance of a gentleman's seat, having several good rooms in it well ornamented with stucco, fret-work, &c. and every convenience requisite for a gentleman's family, and the hospitality of former times; from the top of the hill southward it is within the Weald, a low, flat and miry country. On the other side, above the church, from the shade of the quantities of trees which spread thickly over it, that part has an unpleasant and gloomy aspect. In this part is (hartway-street, the only village in this parish, the southern side of which only, on which however almost all the houses are built, being in this parish and its northern boundary, the other side of it being in Bromfield; the rest of the houses in East Sutton, excepting the two small hamlets of Friday and Sunday-streets, being intersperted at various distances throughout it.

 

THIS PLACE was part of those possessions with which Odo, bishop of Baieux, was enriched by his half-brother William the Conqueror, under the general title of whose lands it is thus entered in the survey of Domesday:

 

The same Adam Fitzhubert holds of the bishop Sudtone. It was taxed at one suling and an half. The arable land is eight carucates. In demesne there are two, and fifteen villeins, with nine borderers, having four carucates. There is a church and ten servants, and eight acres of meadow. Wood for the pannage of fifty bogs. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, and afterwards, it was worth ten pounds, now twelve pounds, and yet it pays eighteen pounds. Leuenot held it of king Edward.

 

On the bishop's disgrace, which happened in 1084, about four years after the taking the above survey, this among the rest of his estates became confiscated to the crown.

 

In the reign of Henry the IIId, John de Salario held East Sutton (fn. 1) of Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester; Geffry de Maitel held it in the latter end of that reign, and the beginning of the reign of king Edward the 1st, his successor was Adam de Martel, whose right to it was allowed against the king before the justices itinerant, in the 21st year of Edward I. Aymer de Valence, earl of Pembroke, was in possession of it in the beginning of the next reign of king Edward II. and died in the 17th year of it s. p. upon which his three sisters became his coheirs; of whom Isabel, married to John de Hastings, of Bergavenny, seems to have had this manor allotted to her as part of her share in the inheritance, and in his descendants, earls of Pembroke, it continued down in like manner as Sutton Valence manor before described, till on their failure of issue in king Henry the IVth's reign, Reginald, lord Grey, of Ruthyn, became entitled to it as next of kin and heir of Aymer, earl of Pembroke, but on his being taken prisoner by Owen Glendower, in Wales, king Henry IV. in his 4th year, granted licence to I obert Braybrook, bishop of London, and others, then seoffees of his several lordships, to sell this manor among others, towards raising a sum of money for his ransom. They sold it to Richard Brigge Lancaster, king at arms, who alienated it in the third year of king Henry V. to Thomas Buttiller and Thomas Bank. After which it passed into the family of Darrell, one of whom Sir Richard de Darrel, possessed it in the reign of king Edward IV.

 

In the first year of king Henry VIII. John York, esq. of Ramsbury, in Wiltshire, was owner of it, and in the 6th year of that reign passed it away to Richard Chetham, prior of the priory of Ledes, and it seems to have been for the use of his convent by the receipt in the exchequer, anno 8 Henry VIII. Nevertheless they had divested themselves of the possession of it before the 20th year of that reign, when Sir Henry Guldeford, knight of the garter, and comptroller of the king's houshold, owned it. He died s. p. in the 23d year of that reign, and his heirs sold this manor the next year to Richard Hill, esq. who in the 29th year of it alienated it to Thomas, lord Cromwell, and he soon afterwards exchanged it with the crown for other lands, where the fee of it remained till the king in his 37th year granted it, with its appurtenances, to John Tuston, and Stephen Reaves, to hold in capite, and they that year alienated it to Thomas Argall, who bore for his arms, Party per fess, argent and vert, a pale counterchanged; three lions heads erased gules. He procured his lands in this county to be disgavelled by the act of the 2d and 3d of Edward VI. and died possessed of it in the 6th year of that reign.

 

His son and heir, Richard Argall, esq. had by Mary his wife, daughter of Sir Reginald Scott, of Scots-hall, a son John, and two daughters, Catherine, wife of Ralph Bathurst, esq. of Horton Kirkby, and Elizabeth, of Sir Edward Filmer, of Little Charleton, in this parish, John Argall, esq. the son, was of Colchester, in Essex, and in the 8th year of king James I. sold this manor to his brother-in-law, Sir Edward Filmer before-mentioned, who upon that removed from his seat of Little Charleton to the manor house of East Sutton, called East Sutton-place, where he kept his shrievalty in the 13th year of that reign. The family of Filmer was originally seated at the manor of Herst, in the parish of Otterden, where Robert Filmer lived in king Edward the IId.'s reign. His descendants continued there till Robert Filmer, son of James, removed to the manor of Little Charlton, in this parish, which he had purchased of the family of Kempe, and had built a seat on it for his residence, it was antiently called Charlton-court, and had owners of its own name in the reigns of king Edward II. and III. (fn. 2) He was one of the prothonotaries of the common pleas for twenty years in the reign of queen Elizabeth, and to him Cooke, clarencieux, in 1570, granted, or rather confirmed the arms of the family, viz. Sable, three bars, and as many cinquefoils in chief, or. He died in 1585, and was buried in this church, which has ever since continued the burialplace of the family. He was the father of Sir Edward Filmer, the purchaser of this manor of East Sutton as before mentioned. (fn. 3)

 

He had by his wife before mentioned, nine sons and nine daughters, and died in 1629, being succeeded here by Robert, his eldest son, who was knighted by king Charles I. and resided at East Sutton. He employed his pen in defence of the rights of the crown. He was educated at Trinity-college, Cambridge, and wrote the Anarchy of a limited or mixed Monarchy; Patriarcha, or the natural Power of Kings; the Freeholder's grand Inquest, and Reflections concerning the Original of Government, besides several other tracts, all which were published after his death by his son. He was a great sufferer during the civil wars of king Charles I.'s reign, having his house here plundered ten times by the rebels, and himself imprisoned in Leeds-castle for his loyalty. He died in 1653, having married Anne, daughter and coheir of Martin Heton, bishop of Ely, by which an addition of fortune, as well as of arms, accrued to him.

 

He was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir Edward Filmer, gentleman of the privy chamber both to king Charles I. and II. who dying unmarried at Paris, in 1668, was succeeded in his estates by his next brother, Robert Filmer, esq. barrister-at-law, of Gray's inn, who, in consideration of his father's sufferings and loyalty to Charles I. was, on Dec. 24, 1674, created a baronet. He resided at East Sutton-place, which, as well as the park round it, he greatly augmented and improved, inclosing the whole with a stone wall. He died in 1675, leaving several sons and daughters, of whom Sir Robert Filmer, bart. his eldest son and successor, resided here, and in 1689, being the last of king James II. served the office of sheriff. He died in 1720, having married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Sir William Beversham, of Holbrookhall, in Suffolk, one of the masters in chancery, (fn. 4) by whom he had several sons and daughters. Beversham Filmer, esq. one of the younger sons, was of Lincoln'sinn, barrister-at law, master of the Nisi Prius office in B. R. and one of the most able conveyancers this kingdom has produced. He died unmarried in 1763, and was buried in this church, having by his last will bequeathed his estates in this county to his nephew, Sir John Filmer, bart.

 

Sir Edward Filmer, bart. the eldest son, resided at East Sutton, and married Mary, daughter of John Wallis, esq. of Oxfordshire, only son and heir of the learned John Wallis, D. D. Savilian professor of geometry at Oxford, and F. R. S. by whom he had twenty children, viz. eleven sons and nine daughters; of the former, John, the eldest, succeeded him in title and estate; Beversham married Dorothea, second daughter of William Henley, esq. late of Gore-court; the died in 1793, s. p. Edmund is rector of Crundall, and married Arabella-Christiana, the eldest daughter of Sir John Honywood, bart. by his first lady, by whom he has had six sons and two daughters; Francis, barrister-at-law, of Lincoln's-inn, is unmarried. Of the daughters, Dorothy, married the late Sir John Honywood, bart. He died in 1755, æt. 72, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Filmer, bart. of East Sutton, who died in 1797, æt. 84, and was buried with his ancestors in this church. He married Dorothy, daughter of the Rev. Julius Deedes, prebendary of Canterbury, by whom he had no issue. She survived him, but the title, and this manor and seat, together with the rest of his possessions in this parish, devolved to his next brother and heir, now Sir Beversham Filmer, bart. who resides here, and is the present owner of them.

 

BOYTON is a manor in this parish, which formerly belonged to the priory of Christ-church, in Canterbury, and continued so till the dissolution of it in the reign of king Henry VIII. when it was, together with the rest of the possessions of the priory, surrendered into the king's hands, who by his dotation-charter in his 33d year, settled this manor on his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, part of whose possessions it still remains.

 

The lessee of this manor, in the year 1645, was Sir Robert Stapleton, bart. who held it under the ruling powers of that time, the dean and chapter being dissolved, at the yearly rent of 5l. 6s. 8d. and one pound for entertainment money to the receiver of the church.

 

The family of Hope have been lessees of it for many years, the present lessee being Mrs. Sarah Hope.

 

Charities.

STEPHEER PENDE, gent. of this parish, by deed, anno 23 Henry VIII. gave a messuage, barn, garden, and two crosts of land, containing four acres in this parish; and GEORGE USMER, gent. of this parish, by deed, anno 6 Elizabeth, gave two pieces of land, containing three acres, in this parish; and by his will, anno 8 Elizabeth, gave three pieces of land, called Randalls and Lakefield, the latter in Town Sutton, and the former in this parish, all which were given for the habitation and maintenance of the curate of this parish, but if such curate should not reside in the said messuage, then the churchwardens were to receive the rents of all the before-mentioned premises, and apply them towards the repairs of the church. And he gave by will a piece of land called Park-corner, otherwise Lodge-land, in this parish, to the intent that the churchwardens should receive the rents, and, with the assent and advice of the inhabitants, yearly distribute the same amongst the poor on Good Friday and All Holland day, by equal proportion. And he further willed, that the churchwardens should receive the rents of two pieces of land in this parish, called Huntings, to be by them bestowed, with the advice of the inhabitants, in bread, cheese, and beer, among the poor of it on St. George's and Christmas day, yearly.

 

DAME ELIZABETH FILMER, widow of Sir Edward Filmer, in 1638, gave 100l. to the use of the poor of this parish.

 

MRS. SUSAN WATTS, of this parish, widow, gave 50l. for the use of the poor, and directed, that poor antient widows should be first preferred, and most relieved, according to their necessities.

 

The above-mentioned sums of 100l. and 50l. having been many years placed out at interest upon a mortgage, were, in 1722, together with 10l. raised by subscription among the parishioners, and 10l. given by Sir Edward Filmer, bart. and the further sum of 25l. raised by the sale of timber growing on the lands called Huntings and Lodge-lands above-mentioned, amounting in all to 1951. laid out in the purchase of a messuage, barn, orchard, and six pieces of land in Hedcorn, upon the den of Hockenbury, purchased of one William Fleet, and now in the occupation of John Croucher, at the yearly rent of 10l. 1s. 8d. to the uses following: to pay 40s. a year to the curate of this parish, so long as he inhabited here, and demeaned himself well, and diligently served the cure, and preached four quarterly sermons as therein directed; but in default of such residency, &c. to pay one moiety of the said 40s. towards the repairs of the church, and the other moiety, together with all the residue of the rents of the said Hockenbury farm, to the use of the poor.

 

SIR ROBERT FILMER, bart. gave by will in 1703, a piece of land, the yearly produce of it to be given in wheat, among eight of the poorest inhabitants at Christmas, vested in Sir John Filmer, bart. and now of the annual produce of 20s.

 

The number of poor relieved constantly are about twentyfive, casually about ten.

 

EAST SUTTON is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Sutton.

 

The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. It is not a large building, and has a square tower at the west end of it. It is kept remarkably neat, and in good repair. The grave-stones of the Filmers in it are a complete series of this family, from the time of their coming to reside in this parish. All the brasses on them are perfect. The grave-stone over Sir Edward Filmer, who died in 1629, within the altar rails, is very curious, having an entire sheet of copper over it, with the portraits of himself, his wife, and his numberous issue, engraved on it, and their names respectively over them, and the coats of arms and quarterings, belonging to him and his wife, at the corners of it. There is a neat bust in white marble of the late Sir Edward Filmer, bart. who died in 1755, with an inscription to his memory against the wall, over the pew where the family sit.

 

The church of Sutton was antiently part of the possessions of the priory of Leeds, to which it was appropraited, and the duty of it was first served by a chaplain, appointed by the prior and convent, at whose request it was afterwards united to the adjoining church of Town Sutton, of their patronage likewise, to which it has been ever since esteemed as a chapel.

 

On the dissolution of the priory of Leeds, in the reign of Henry VIII the parsonage appropriate of East Sutton came into the hands of the crown, as did likewise the patronage of the church of Town Sutton, with the chapel of East Sutton annexed, where they did not continue long; for the king settled them both, in his 32d year, on his new-erected dean and chapter of Rochester, with whom they remain at this time.

 

The parsonage has been for many years held in lease, by the family of Filmer; the present interest of the lease being vested in Sir Beversham Filmer, baronet.

 

The vicar of Town Sutton serves the cure of this church, as a chapel annexed to it, and as such is entitled to the vicarial profits of this parish, in right of his vicarage.

 

The church of East Sutton is not valued in the king's books, being included in that of Town Sutton.

 

¶On the abolition of deans and chapters, after the death of Charles I. this parsonage was surveyed in 1649, when it was returned, that the parsonage, late belonging to the late dean and chapter of Rochester, consisted of a parsonage house, and all tithes, and the glebe land lying together, containing forty-three acres and two roods, at the improved rent of seventy-five pounds; also seventeen acres more of glebe land, let at fifteen pounds per annum; all which premises were let by the late dean and chapter, anno 13 Charles I. to Sir Robert Filmer, for twenty-one years, at the yearly rent of ten pounds, and of two good capons, or four shillings in money, so there remained a clear rent of 79l. 16s. per annum; and that the lessee repaired the chancel of this church; out of which lease the vicarage was excepted, then worth twenty pounds per annum.

 

The lessee of the parsonage claims the tithes of all corn, hops, and grass, growing in this parish. In the reign of queen Anne these tithes were estimated at upwards of eighty pounds per annum; besides which, the glebe land belonging to it, was let at fifty pounds per annum.

 

In 1648 the communicants of this parish were one hundred and thirty.

 

The small tithes and other emoluments of this benefice, in the beginning of queen Anne's reign were estimated at eighteen pounds per annum, there being no glebe land belonging to it.

 

The land given and devised by Stephen Pende and George Ulmer, as before mentioned, was worth ten pounds per annum, in the above reign, and seems to have been intended for the better performance of divine service in this church every Sunday; before which, the vicar of Sutton Valence used to perform it here but once or twice in a quarter of a year. From the year 1648 to 1680, the parishioners bestowed the above income on the repairs of the church; but since that time, the vicar of Sutton Valence has generally had it, in consequence of which, he preaches here and at Sutton Valence alternately on a Sunday, morning and afternoon.

 

A list of the vicars of Sutton Valence, or Town Sutton, with this chapel of East Sutton annexed, has been already given in the description of that parish.

 

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