View allAll Photos Tagged Kermode
Gribbell Island, British Columbia, Canada
I'm off to Zambia very shortly so here is a final set of ten Spirit and Black Bear images from our recent trip. The Spirit (Kermode) Bear is a white variant of the Black Bear and extremely rare. It was a real privilege to spend a day in the rain with these wonderful animals.
A sweet little Kermode, or Spirit black bear cub. He is on the Bay @ Desertmountainbear till 6/9. He is 12" tall. Made of an alpaca/mohair blend.. Fully locklined, so he poses beautifully. Open/close eyes.
I had previously designed a (low) intermediate bear for a client, and had forgotten about it. Then, a few days ago, I stumbled upon a rough draft of it while cleaning up. Looking at it afresh, especially after it had been partially squished, I realized that it could be made into a 3D design.
This new kamikuma is the result. It is a standing bear that is fully closed. The belly and the underside are sealed by separate locks. The paper is lokta, with a starting size of 45 cm square. The final bear stands 23 cm tall.
Ross.
Like Oatlands Ross was originally a garrison settlement set up in 1821. The site was selected by Governor Macquarie himself and named after the town of Ross in Scotland. The town progressed slowly and was not surveyed until 1844 but it grew from the early 1820s. The Macquarie River flows through the town and it is crossed by another famous bridge- the Ross Bridge, built by convicts and designed by John Lee Archer for Governor Arthur in 1836. It is embellished with stone carvings by Daniel Herbert one of the convicts and is the third oldest, and most beautiful bridge in Australia. Herbert was pardoned for his work and lived the rest of his life in Ross. The delightful main street has many interesting buildings including the Tasmanian Wool Centre (free admission), an unusual post office (mid 19th century), and the historic Georgian style Man O’Ross Hotel (1831). The first Man O’Ross hotel was opened in 1817! Nearby is the charming Methodist Church (1885) in a commanding position on the hill near the Female Factory (prison) which operated between 1833 and 1854. Walk around the ruins of this prison that housed 12,000 female convicts during this short period as a probation station. The buildings included a chapel, dining rooms, hospital, nursery, solitary cells, and dormitories. Women were taught how to sew, clean, cook, launder and care for their children. You can see the Overseer’s Cottage. There are few remains above ground, but the Ross Female Factory is the largest intact female convict site in Australia. The shady English trees, the fast running river, and the warm sandstone buildings give Ross a very English feel. The rich pastoral country around Ross is home to some grand mansions that do not, of course, allow visitors. They include Mona Vale 1865, home to the Kermode family( they were married to the Archers of Longford); Somercotes 1840 ( belonged to the Horton family); Lochiel 1839 ( another Kermode property); Beaufront 1837 (owned by Arthur Smith); and Ellenthorp 1827 ( built for George Clarke). Mona Vale is one of the largest and grandest houses in Australia and in my view Beaufront is one of the most beautiful historic homesteads!
A round up of some visits from nearly a decade ago when I just posted general shots, to my surprise I took shots of details too, and didn't post them at the time.
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Monday 10th September 2012
I can now reveal that being on Holiday is officially better than being at work. It is a Monday morning, and we have bottled another batch of beer, and i have mopped the floor as we did manage to mess it up, slightly. The house now smells like a brewery, which would not be a bad thing only it was just eight in the morning, and it is a tad early for beer, even for me. In an exciting move, we are heading to Tesco in a while to get ingredients for out Christmas cakes.
Yes, cakes. One is never enough. A couple of years ago, we tried one in November and had to bake another one to replace it. We don't marzipan or ice them, and just leave them with their cakey goodness and Christmas spiciness.
Friday seemed to go on forever until it got to five to four and it was time to head home. The technicians had come ashore early and gone home, so I had the office to myself, therefore my hearty laughing at the Kermode and Mayo film review went unheard except by me.
So, off to Tesco for a week's shopping, and ended up getting enough stuff to last the weekend. And once that was done and paid for, loaded up the car and back home and now the holiday could really begin.
And Friday night was spent watching football. Yes, now the Olympics and Paralympics are coming to an end, it means we must return, ashamed like a unfaithful lover to the old dependable. And England began their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away game against Moldova. I did have to ask Jools to Google Moldova to find where it was, as I really didn't have a clue.
Anyway, it is behind the fridge just to the lest of Romania, apparently.
And England strung together at least 5 passes, played well, and scored 5 goals; and yet managed to look unconvincing switching off several times, just before half time and in the second half and could have easily conceded goals. Just to remind you, by some quirk, England are currently ranked the third best team IN THE WORLD, which I suppose goes to show just how much you should trust information coming out of FIFA towers.
Saturday morning after breakfast we headed to Mongeham for some foraging action, so we can make jam and jellies. We knew of a footpath behind a garage that is just lined with plum and greengage trees. We picked a couple of pounds and then headed on up the A20 and M20 to head to The Weald for a tour of 'interesting' churches.
Each year English Heritage organises a long weekend where many buildings are open for people like us to visit and photograph. Last spring we visited St Lawrence at Mereworth; and while is it a wonderfully beautiful church, the doors were locked and we wanted to see inside.
First of all we headed inside the M25 to a tiny, but beautiful village on the edge of the Weald where stockbrokers and hedge fund managers have their homes with fine views onto the Garden of england. All along the main road huge gates with security cameras guarded the mock-Tudor mansions hidden behind mature trees.
We turned off down a narrow lane and headed towards to small village of Trottiscliffe; which is not pronounced the way it is spelt so to make the unwary visitor appear stupid. It is pronounced 'Trozli', if Wiki is to be believed.
At the end of a long dead end road leading to a row of cottages and an old stable block is the church. I don't think i have ever seen a church in a more perfect location, it is one of those places that you have to be going as you'll never just pass it.
There was a churchwarden waiting at the door and happy to answer questions and tell us the history of the church. Dominating the tiny church is, what I now know to be from Westminister Abbey is the biggest pulpit I have seen outside a er, cathedral.
We take our leave and head to Mereworth.
We were the only visitors at the church, we parked the car on the verge outside, took in the glorious design of the church before going in. First thing you do see is a pair of spiral staircases; one to the gallery and the other to the bell tower. And straight ahead is a simple wooden door leading to the main body of the church.
I won't try to describe the church, please use the link on the pictures to go to my Flickrstream. The design is glorious, and looking pristine as it has just been restored to its former glory. Or original glory.
Once again there was a churchwarden to greet us, offer us refreshments and answer any questions.
The warden at Spedhurst stressed that we should not miss Groombridge, and as that was next on our list, that is where we headed to next. At least by now the churches were just a mile or two apart and we were rattling through them.
St John the Evangalist is a small chapel, once part of a large estate, dominated by many wonderful 18th century windows and a single handed clock. An old gentleman welcomed us and handed us another leaflet. The mechanism for the clock sits in front of one of the windows, and it's loud ticking and tocking fills the church.
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One of those rarities – a seventeenth century church. Conceived as a single cell building with no structural division between nave and chancel and built almost entirely of brick its windows may be a good example of `gothic survival` but there is some debate about their introduction in the nineteenth century. The most famous feature of this church is its one-handed clock but if the visitor manages to get inside they will be overwhelmed by the contents, for this really is a treasure-chest of furnishings and memorials. The stained glass, much by Kempe, is outstanding as is the quality of the woodwork.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Groombridge
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¶THE CHAPEL OF GROOMBRIDGE, belonging to this hamlet, was dedicated to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, and was built before the end of the reign of king Henry III. in the 23d year of which William Russell and Hawis his wife, granted lands in different places to this chapel of St. John of Gromenebregge in their manor of Redmeregge, and Robert de Speldhurst and his successors, chaplains there, in pure and perpetual alms. It appears by a lease granted by the above-mentioned Robert, of part of the above premises in the 38th year of that reign, that this chapel was likewife called the chapel of Redmeregge, several other benefactors of small parcels of land are recorded in the Registrum Roffense, in some of which this chapel is mentioned to be situated in the manor of Redmeregge in the parish of Speldhurst. (fn. 16) John Packer, esq. who purchased this estate, rebuilt this chapel in the year 1625, and dedicated it to the service of God, in gratitude for the safe return of Charles, prince of Wales, from Spain; whence it was afterwards called St. Charles's chapel. Over the door of the chapel was the following inscription, now obliterated: D.O.M. 1625, ob felicissimi Caroli Principis Ex Hispania reducis Sacellum boc D. D. I. P. over which is the devise of the prince of Wales. He endowed it at the same time with twenty pounds per annum, and ten pounds per annum, in consideration of a chaplain's board. The duty in it is still kept up, but there is now paid out of the estate to the chaplain, only 12l. 15s. per annum. The hamlet being large, there is a large congregation likewife. It is now esteemed as a donative in the king's gift.
In this chapel, in the chancel, is a monument for Philip Packer, esq. obt. 1686; another for John his son, obt. 1697; in the windows are the arms of Packer with their several quarterings. In the middle isle is a memorial for John Poeton, minister of this chapel 36 years; obt. 1691. (fn. 17)
Yesterday, 6 October 2014, I returned to the Calgary Zoo and this time saw this beautiful, rare, "white" Black Bear. Not the best lighting with a shadow across the face, but I found it a little amusing to see it watching this Crow, that presumably was hoping for some spilt food from the black tube. About a week ago, I made my first visit to the Zoo since before the Alberta Flood of the Century in June 2013. Walking around the various enclosures made me wonder how on earth the Zoo managed to rescue and move so many animals on that dreadful, devastating day!
A sign placed outside this bear enclosure reads: "Manuka is lonely, but will soon be joined by two Black Bear cubs. She recently lost her companion, and you may see her walking back and forth in her habitat. Until they arrive, we are providing her with extra enrichment."
"In September 2013, a rare "white" black bear that had become a problem animal in British Columbia, became a resident at the Calgary Zoo.
It is one of a pair of young, white-furred bears that had acquired the habit of feeding on garbage in the town of Elkford, B.C.
The animals began lingering around Elkford in the fall of 2011. Conservation officers relocated the bears to the north, across the border in Alberta's Kananaskis Country. However, one of the bears returned to the town because of the easy availability of food.
When bears become habituated to people they are normally destroyed, but conservation officials made an exception in this case because of the rare colouring. The white fur of the bear is linked to a recessive gene.
This animal is an "ambassador" and helps educate people to respect wildlife and make sure their actions do not result in creating more problem bears." From a Calgary Herald newspaper article, 4 September 2013.
The white lion is a rare colour mutation of the lion, specifically the Southern African lion. White lions in the area of Timbavati are thought to have been indigenous to the Timbavati region of South Africa for centuries, although the earliest recorded sighting in this region was in 1938. White lions first became known to the English-speaking world in 1977 through the book The White Lions of Timbavati.
Description
White lions are not albinos. Their white color is called leucism, and is caused by an allele that is found at the same genetics as the allele that causes albinism. It is thought, but not proven, that the allele is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. They vary from blonde to near-white. This coloration does not appear to pose a disadvantage to their survival. White lions were considered to have been technically extinct in the wild between 1992 and 2004, when the Global White Lion Protection Trust achieved the first successful reintroduction of white lions to their natural habitat. These prides have continued to hunt and breed successfully in the wild, whilst other occurrences of white lion births have been reported in the greater Kruger region since then.
Breeding and genetics
Inbreeding can cause severe problems reproductively, even causing Arnold-Chiari malformation. This causes problems in the brain/skull and the spinal cord, more commonly in humans and dogs. However, ethical reintroduction programs such as The Global White Lion Protection Trust have sought to release captive white lions in to the wild.
White lions in captivity
A white lion breeding program has been established at Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.
In the 1990s, four white lion cubs were born at the Papanack Park Zoo outside Ottawa. In 2016, a white lion named "Zeus" escaped from captivity, and was shot by zoo officials, due to the threat he posed to the public.
In March 2017, an attempt to smuggle white lions from Afghanistan to Pakistan was quashed. The origin of the lions was unclear at first, before Border Police Commander-General Ne'matullah Haidari said that they were African. In April 2017, four of the lions were taken to Kabul Zoo, with the other two lions remaining in Kandahar Province.
Lory Park Zoo is currently in possession of two adult white lions (Daniel and Heidi), who have produced eight cubs. A litter of three cubs was born in 2012 and all three were hand-reared. A second litter of five cubs was born in 2013; three were removed for their own well-being while the remaining two (a male, Gabriel, and a female, Gazelle) were left with the parents. Both cubs are still with the parents and have not been handled by humans. A male cub was traded for other animals in August 2013 and now lives at the Hodonin Zoo in the Czech Republic.
Kruger and Umfolozi
In 1979, three litters containing white lions were recorded in Kruger National Park. In March, a female lion with three white cubs was observed near Tshokwane. In September, three white cubs (from two different lionesses) were seen. Another litter of white female cubs was captured from Kruger National Park and treated for sarcoptic mange. A white lion was observed in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve in Zululand.
Rustenburg Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
In 2018, Mufasa, a three-year-old, was in the process of being sold in South Africa after he was taken from an owner illegally keeping him as a pet. An anonymous buyer wanted both Mufasa and a female lion named Soraya, intending to protect both. Over 280,000 signed a petition asking that Mufasa not be auctioned, fearing a buyer might just want the lion for hunting.
Eurasia
The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria opposes the deliberate breeding of white lions.
West Midland Safari Park
In 2004, four white lions arrived at West Midland Safari Park, the only white lions in the United Kingdom. Mubuto, the male, and three lionesses (Marin, Natasha, and JoAnn; spellings undocumented) settled into the Kingdom of the White Lion exhibit at the park very well.
Newspapers and bloggers reported that the four cubs born at West Midland Safari Park, in 2008 had been sold to perform in a Japanese circus. It is alleged that the lions were given to British businessman Jim Clubb, who runs Amazing Animals, which also goes by the name Heythrop Zoological Gardens, in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. The animal rights organization Lion Aid, Ltd., quoted Mr. Clubb as saying, first, "No comment," then, "I've no idea if the West Midland Safari Park knew they were going to the circus, that's a matter for them." Bob Lawrence, the Head Keeper of West Midland Safari Park, who appears often in the YouTube videos raising the cubs, told the Worcester News, a local newspaper, that he "would never have supplied the four white lion cubs if he had known they would have ended up performing in a Japanese circus."
Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
There are 2 white lions at the sanctuary on the Isle of Wight: a male called Casper and a female called Frosty. The 2 lions were brought to the sanctuary from the West Midlands Safari Park, to live out the rest of their lives. They are not a breeding pair.
Jurques Zoo
In May 2007 four white lion cubs were born at Jurques Zoo in France. The cubs consisted of one male and three females. However, they needed to be hand fed because their mother was not taking proper care of them, and they died a few weeks after their birth.
Magan Zoo, Abony
A private zoo in Abony, Hungary recently acquired two white lion cubs, one male and one female lion.
Belgrade Zoo in Serbia has 12 white lions. In 2010 four were born by two female lions, each weighing about 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds). Four additional white lions were born in April 2011. One more cub was born in October 2013, but died soon after.
Pafos Zoo, an Animal and Bird wildlife park in Cyprus, received two seven-month-old white lion cubs, Zeus and Hera, in 2011. Eight years later, a white lion cub, Simba, was born to the pair.
Tbilisi Zoo
In December 2013, four white lion cubs were born at Tbilisi Zoo in Georgia. Cubs needed to be hand fed because their mother wasn't taking proper care of them. Another three cubs were born in May 2014.
Karachi Zoo
In 2012, the Karachi Zoo, Pakistan, purchased a juvenile male and juvenile female white lion. They have had 2 cubs.[citation needed] The male died in 2021.
Bukit Gambang Safari Park, Malaysia
The first white lions introduced into Malaysia was in March 2013 when the Safari Park in Bukit Gambang Resort City (Pahang) opened its door to the public. With 2 males and 3 females, the first white lion was born in May 2014 and was named King.
Wildlife Park of Sunway Lagoon, Malaysia
A couple of white lions named Zola and Zuri reside in the Sunway Lagoon's Wildlife Park since April 2015.
Singapore Night Safari, A subsidiary of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, recently[when?] acquired two white lions, a male and a female.
Taman Safari Indonesia
Taman Safari acquired six white lions from Canada in 2018.
Crimea Lion Park
A couple of white lions named Milady and Rocky were born at Taigan Lion Park in Crimea in March 2019
Performers Siegfried & Roy with their white lion in 2011
A couple of white lions in a playful mood; Otumba, Mexico
Toronto Zoo
In 2012, Toronto Zoo in Canada received three white lions to their African zone and replacing the single white lioness the zoo had since 1996. In September 2015, four white lion cubs were born at the zoo.
Cincinnati Zoo
In 1998, Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio received two white lions from Siegfried & Roy's White Lion exhibit. Prosperity died on January 6, 2020, at the age of 22. Her female cub Gracious died at age 21 on March 3, 2022.
Reino Animal
Mexican zoo Reino Animal, located in Otumba, State of Mexico, also has a couple of white lions which can be seen at the "Safari Leones" (Lions' Safari).
The Wild Animal Sanctuary
The Wild Animal Sanctuary, located in Keenesburg, Colorado, has at times had white lions rescued from various for-profit zoos or other exploitative situations. All animals at the sanctuary live out the remainder of their lives in large open-air enclosures free from further exploitation.
Genetics
Genetically, the white lion is the same subspecies as the tawny South African lion (Panthera leo melanochaita), which is found in some wildlife reserves in South Africa, and in zoological parks around the world. White lions are not albinos, but leucistic. They have pigment visible in the eyes (which may be the normal hazel or golden color, blue-gray, or green-gray), paw pads and lips. Blue-eyed white lions exist and may be selectively bred. The leucistic trait is due to a recessive mutation in the gene for Tyrosinase (TYR), an enzyme responsible for the production of melanins. More severe mutations in the same gene have been found to cause albinism in many species, while another less severe mutation in the same gene is responsible for the Chinchilla coloring trait seen in several mammals. Reduced pigment production decreases the deposition of pigment along the hair shaft, restricting it to the tips. The less pigment there is along the hair shaft, the paler the lion. As a result, "white" lions range from blonde to near-white. The males have pale manes and tail tips instead of the usual dark tawny or black. In 2013, the specific genetic marker that determines the unique coloration of white lions was identified, after a 7-year study led by the Global White Lion Protection Trust and partnering several different countries.
From the 1970s onwards, prized for their rarity, the white lions and many 'normal' coloured (tawny) lions carrying the white lion gene were removed from the wild and put into captive breeding and hunting programs and sent to zoos and circuses around the globe. No adult white lion had been seen in their natural habitat after 1992. The Global White Lion Protection Trust (WLT) therefore initiated a world-first re-establishment of white lions within their natural habitat in 2004, based on successful reintroduction techniques. The wild born offspring of rehabilitated white lions were integrated with resident wild tawny lions, and released through a soft release process. Three prides of white lions of high genetic integrity integrated with tawny lions have been successfully established, and are hunting self-sufficiently in their natural habitat, at a predation rate comparable to the wild tawny lions in the same habitat. The genetic marker determining the white colouration was identified in a collaborative study with 5 other countries in October 2013, and is being used to ensure genetic integrity and ultimately to determine the frequency of occurrence of the gene in the wild population.
The primary aim of the Global White Lion Protection Trust (WLT) is to harness the cultural importance of white lions to local indigenous communities, to help protect the Kruger to Canyon (K2C) Biosphere and the greater lion population in this region. This approach is based on the international precedent of the Kermode Bear (Ursus americanus kermodei) in British Columbia, whereby this rare, white variant of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) has been declared a critically endangered subspecies due to its conservation and cultural value, such that the Kermode Bear is being used as a flagship species for protecting a 4000 000 ha wilderness area. As with the Kermode Bear, by protecting the white lions, their entire population within their endemic area would be protected.
Subsequently, white cubs were born in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013, and in the Nwanetsi Area of Kruger National Park in 2014 and 2015, confirming that white lions are a natural occurrence and the recessive gene is still present in the wild population.
In light of the recent decision by South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) at CITES 2016, to continue to allow the hunting of captive bred lions ("canned hunting"), and the trade in lion bones from captive bred lions, the Global White Lion Protection Trust (WLT) asserts that the survival of lions in the Greater Kruger Park Region is likely to come under threat, and the white lion is the ideal capstone animal to help better protect all lions in the Greater Kruger Park Region.
As the proposed policy stands for the management of lions in South Africa, the WLT asserts that the legalization of the lion bone trade will increase the supply and therefore demand of wild lion trophies and especially lion bones, increasing poaching and illegal hunting and threatening the future of wild lion populations in South Africa.
When encountering a bear, it is critical that you properly identify it:
Black Bear, Cinnamon Bear, Kermode Bear, Sun Bear, Polar Bear, Panda Bear, Sloth Bear?
Teddy Bear, Gund Bear, The Three Bears, Care Bears, Berenstain Bears, Jenny's Bears?
Winnie The Pooh, Fozzie, Paddington, Teddy Ruxbin, Lots O' Huggin', Gentle Ben, Rupert, Ted?
GRIZZLY BEAR!!! DON'T RUN!!!
A round up of some visits from nearly a decade ago when I just posted general shots, to my surprise I took shots of details too, and didn't post them at the time.
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Monday 10th September 2012
I can now reveal that being on Holiday is officially better than being at work. It is a Monday morning, and we have bottled another batch of beer, and i have mopped the floor as we did manage to mess it up, slightly. The house now smells like a brewery, which would not be a bad thing only it was just eight in the morning, and it is a tad early for beer, even for me. In an exciting move, we are heading to Tesco in a while to get ingredients for out Christmas cakes.
Yes, cakes. One is never enough. A couple of years ago, we tried one in November and had to bake another one to replace it. We don't marzipan or ice them, and just leave them with their cakey goodness and Christmas spiciness.
Friday seemed to go on forever until it got to five to four and it was time to head home. The technicians had come ashore early and gone home, so I had the office to myself, therefore my hearty laughing at the Kermode and Mayo film review went unheard except by me.
So, off to Tesco for a week's shopping, and ended up getting enough stuff to last the weekend. And once that was done and paid for, loaded up the car and back home and now the holiday could really begin.
And Friday night was spent watching football. Yes, now the Olympics and Paralympics are coming to an end, it means we must return, ashamed like a unfaithful lover to the old dependable. And England began their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away game against Moldova. I did have to ask Jools to Google Moldova to find where it was, as I really didn't have a clue.
Anyway, it is behind the fridge just to the lest of Romania, apparently.
And England strung together at least 5 passes, played well, and scored 5 goals; and yet managed to look unconvincing switching off several times, just before half time and in the second half and could have easily conceded goals. Just to remind you, by some quirk, England are currently ranked the third best team IN THE WORLD, which I suppose goes to show just how much you should trust information coming out of FIFA towers.
Saturday morning after breakfast we headed to Mongeham for some foraging action, so we can make jam and jellies. We knew of a footpath behind a garage that is just lined with plum and greengage trees. We picked a couple of pounds and then headed on up the A20 and M20 to head to The Weald for a tour of 'interesting' churches.
Each year English Heritage organises a long weekend where many buildings are open for people like us to visit and photograph. Last spring we visited St Lawrence at Mereworth; and while is it a wonderfully beautiful church, the doors were locked and we wanted to see inside.
First of all we headed inside the M25 to a tiny, but beautiful village on the edge of the Weald where stockbrokers and hedge fund managers have their homes with fine views onto the Garden of england. All along the main road huge gates with security cameras guarded the mock-Tudor mansions hidden behind mature trees.
We turned off down a narrow lane and headed towards to small village of Trottiscliffe; which is not pronounced the way it is spelt so to make the unwary visitor appear stupid. It is pronounced 'Trozli', if Wiki is to be believed.
At the end of a long dead end road leading to a row of cottages and an old stable block is the church. I don't think i have ever seen a church in a more perfect location, it is one of those places that you have to be going as you'll never just pass it.
There was a churchwarden waiting at the door and happy to answer questions and tell us the history of the church. Dominating the tiny church is, what I now know to be from Westminister Abbey is the biggest pulpit I have seen outside a er, cathedral.
We take our leave and head to Mereworth.
We were the only visitors at the church, we parked the car on the verge outside, took in the glorious design of the church before going in. First thing you do see is a pair of spiral staircases; one to the gallery and the other to the bell tower. And straight ahead is a simple wooden door leading to the main body of the church.
I won't try to describe the church, please use the link on the pictures to go to my Flickrstream. The design is glorious, and looking pristine as it has just been restored to its former glory. Or original glory.
Once again there was a churchwarden to greet us, offer us refreshments and answer any questions.
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One of the few eighteenth-century churches in Kent, built in 1746 by the 7th Earl of Westmoreland. Surprisingly for so late a date the name of the architect is not known although it is in the style of Colen Campbell who designed the nearby castle, but as he died in 1722 it is probably by someone in his office. The main feature of the church is a tall stone steeple with four urns at the top of the tower, whilst the body of the church is a plain rectangular box consisting of an aisled nave and chancel. Inside is an excellent display of eighteenth-century interior decoration - especially fine being the curved ceiling which is painted with trompe l'oeil panels. At the west end is the galleried pew belonging to the owners of Mereworth Castle - it has organ pipes painted on its rear wall. The south-west chapel contains memorials brought here from the old church which stood near the castle, including one to a fifteenth-century Lord Bergavenny, and Sir Thomas Fane (d. 1589). The latter monument has a superb top-knot! The church contains much heraldic stained glass of sixteenth-century date, best seen with binoculars early in the morning. Of Victorian date is the excellent Raising of Lazarus window, installed in 1889 by the firm of Heaton, Butler and Bayne. In the churchyard is the grave of Charles Lucas, the first man to be awarded the Victoria Cross, while serving on the Hecla during the Crimean War.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Mereworth
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MEREWORTH.
EASTWARD from West, or Little Peckham, lies Mereworth, usually called Merrud. In Domesday it is written Marourde, and in the Textus Roffensis, MÆRUURTHA, and MERANWYRTHE.
THE PARISH of Mereworth is within the district of the Weald, being situated southward of the quarry hills. It is exceedingly pleasant, as well from its naturalsituation, as from the buildings, avenues, and other ornamental improvements made throughout it by the late earl of Westmoreland, nor do those made at Yokes by the late Mr. Master contribute a little to the continued beauty of this scene. The turnpike road crosses this parish through the vale from Maidstone, towards Hadlow and Tunbridge, on each side of which is a fine avenue of oaks, with a low neatly cut quick hedge along the whole of it, which leaves an uninterrupted view over the house, park, and grounds of lord le Despencer, the church with its fine built spire, and the seat of Yokes, and beyond it an extensive country, along the valley to Tunbridge, making altogether a most beautiful and luxuriant prospect.
Mereworth house is situated in the park, which rises finely wooded behind it, at a small distance from the high road, having a fine sheet of water in the front of it, being formed from a part of a stream which rises at a small distance above Yokes, and dividing itself into two branches, one of them runs in front of Mereworth house as above mentioned, and from thence through Watringbury, towards the Medway at Bow-bridge; the other branch runs more southward to East Peckham, and thence into the Medway at a small distance above Twiford bridge.
Mereworth-house was built after a plan of Palladio, designed for a noble Vicentine gentleman, Paolo Almerico, an ecclesiastic and referendary to two popes, who built it in his own country about a quarter of a mile distance from the city of Venice, in a situation pleasant and delightful, and nearly like this; being watered in front with a river, and in the back encompassed with the most pleasant risings, which form a kind of theatre, and abound with large and stately groves of oak and other trees; from the top of these risings there are most beautiful views, some of which are limited, and others extend so as to be terminated only by the horizon. Mereworth house is built in a moat, and has four fronts, having each a portico, but the two side ones are filled up; under the floor of the hall and best apartments, are rooms and conveniences for the servants. The hall, which is in the middle, forms a cupola, and receives its light from above, and is formed with a double case, between which the smoke is conveyed through the chimnies to the center of it at top. The wings are at a small distance from the house, and are elegantly designed. In the front of the house is an avenue, cut through the woods, three miles in length towards Wrotham-heath, and finished with incredible expence and labour by lord Westmoreland, for a communication with the London road there: throughout the whole, art and nature are so happily blended together, as to render it a most delightful situation.
In the western part of this parish, on the high road is the village, where at Mereworth cross it turns short off to the southward towards Hadlow and Tunbridge, at a small distance further westward is the church and parsonage, the former is a conspicuous ornament to all the neighbouring country throughout the valley; hence the ground rises to Yokes, which is most pleasantly situated on the side of a hill, commanding a most delightful and extensive prospect over the Weald, and into Surry and Sussex.
Towards the north this parish rises up to the ridge of hills, called the Quarry-hills, (and there are now in them, though few in number, several of the Martin Cats, the same as those at Hudson's Bay) over which is the extensive tract of wood-land, called the Herst woods, in which so late as queen Elizabeth's reign, there were many wild swine, with which the whole Weald formerly abounded, by reason of the plenty of pannage from the acorns throughout it. (fn. 1)
¶The soil of this parish is very fertile, being the quarry stone thinly covered with a loam, throughout the northern part of it; but in the southern or lower parts, as well as in East Peckham adjoining, it is a fertile clay, being mostly pasture and exceeding rich grazing land, and the largest oxen perhaps at any place in this part of England are bred and fatted on them, the weight of some of them having been, as I have been informed, near three hundred stone.
THIS PLACE, at the time of taking the survey of Domesday, was part of the possessions of Hamo Vicecomes, under the general title of whose lands it is thus entered in that book.
In Littlefield hundred. Hamo holds Marourde. Norman held it of king Edward, and then, and now, it was and is taxed at two sulings. The arable land is ninecarucates. In demesne there are two, and twenty-eight villeins, with fifteen borderers, having ten carucates. There is a church and ten servants, and two mills of ten shillings, and two fisheries of two shillings. There are twenty acres of meadow, and as much wood as is sufficient for the pannage of sixty hogs. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, it was worth twelve pounds, and afterwards ten pounds, now nineteen pounds.
This Hamo Vicecomes before-mentioned was Hamo de Crevequer, who was appointed Vicecomes, or sheriff of Kent, soon after his coming over hither with the Conqueror, which office he held till his death in the reign of king Henry I.
¶In the reign of king Henry II. Mereworth was in the possession of a family, which took their surname from it, and held it as two knights fees, of the earls of Clare, as of their honour of Clare.
Roger, son of Eustace de Mereworth, possessed it in the above reign, and then brought a quare impedit against the prior of. Leeds, for the advowson of the church of Mereworth. (fn. 3)
William de Mereworth is recorded among those Kentish knights, who assisted king Richard at the siege of Acon, in Palestine, upon which account it is probable the cross-croslets were added to the paternal arms of this family.
MEREWORTH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Rochester and deanry of Malling.
The church was dedicated to St. Laurence. It was an antient building, and formerly stood where the west wing of Mereworth-house, made use of for the stables, now stands. It was pulled down by John, late earl of Westmoreland, when he rebuilt that house, and in lieu of it he erected, about half a mile westward from the old one, in the center of the village, the present church, a most elegant building, with a beautiful spire steeple, and a handsome portico in the front of it, with pillars of the Corinthian order. The whole of it is composed of different sorts of stone; and the east window is handsomely glazed with painted glass, collected by him for this purpose.
In the reign of king Henry II. the advowson of this church was the property of Roger de Mereworth, between whom and the prior and convent of Ledes, in this county, there had been much dispute, concerning the patronage of it: at length both parties submitted their interest to Gilbert, bishop of Rochester, who decreed, that the advowson of it should remain to Roger de Mereworth; and he further granted, with his consent, and that of Martin then parson of it, to the prior and convent, the sum of forty shillings, in the name of a perpetual benefice, and not in the name of a pension, in perpetual alms, to be received yearly for ever, from the parson of it. (fn. 13)
The prior and the convent of Ledes afterwards, anno 12 Henry VII. released to Hugh Walker, rector of this church, their right and claim to this pension, and all their right and claim in the rectory, by reason of it, or by any other means whatsoever.
In the reign of king Henry VI. the rector and parishioners of this church petitioned the bishop of Ro chester, to change the day of the feast of the dedication of it, which being solemnized yearly on the 4th day of June, and the moveable seasts of Pentecost, viz. of the sacred Trinity, or Corpus Christi, very often happening on it; the divine service used on the feasts of dedications could not in some years be celebrated, but was of necessity deferred to another day, that these solemnities of religion and of the fair might not happen together. Upon which the bishop, in 1439, transferred the feast to the Monday next after the exaltation of the Holy Cross, enjoining all and singular the rectors, and their curates, as well as the parishioners from time to time to observe it accordingly as such. And to encourage the parishioners and others to resort to it on that day, he granted to such as did, forty days remission of their sins.
Soon after the above-mentioned dispute between Roger de Mereworth and the prior and convent of Ledes, the church of Mereworth appears to have been given to the priory of Black Canons, at Tunbridge. (fn. 14) And it remained with the above-mentioned priory till its dissolution in the 16th year of king Henry VIII. a bull having been obtained from the pope, with the king's leave, for that purpose. After which the king, in his 17th year, granted that priory, with others then suppressed for the like purpose, together with all their manors, lands, and possessions, to cardinal Wolsey, for the better endowment of his college, called Cardinal college, in Oxford. But four years afterwards, the cardinal being cast in a præmunire; all the estates of that college, which for want of time had not been firmly settled on it, became forfeited to the crown. (fn. 15) After which, the king granted the patronage of the church of Mereworth, to Sir George Nevill, lord Abergavenny, whose descendant Henry, lord Abergavenny, died possessed of it in the 29th year of queen Elizabeth, leaving an only daughter and heir Mary, married to Sir Thomas Fane, who in her right possessed it. Since which it has continued in the same owners, that the manor of Mereworth has, and is as such now in the patronage of the right hon. Thomas, lord le Despencer.
It is valued in the king's books at 14l. 2s. 6d. and the yearly tenths at 1l. 8s. 3d.
¶It appears by a valuation of this church, and a terrier of the lands belonging to it, subscribed by the rector, churchwardens, and inhabitants, in 1634, that there belonged to it, a parsonage-house, with a barn, &c. a field called Parsonage field, a close, and a garden, two orchards, four fields called Summerfourds, Ashfield, the Coney-yearth, and Millfield, and the herbage of the church-yard, containing in the whole about thirty acres, that the house and some of the land where James Gostlinge then dwelt, paid to the rector for lord's rent twelve-pence per annum; that the houses and land where Thomas Stone and Henry Filtness then dwelt, paid two-pence per annum; that there was paid to the rector the tithe of all corn, and all other grain, as woud, would, &c. and all hay, tithe of all coppice woods and hops, and all other predial tithes usually paid, as wool, and lambs, and all predials, &c. in the memory of man; that all tithes of a parcel of land called Old-hay, some four or five miles from the church, but yet within the parish, containing three hundred acres, more or less; and the tithe of a meadow plot lying towards the lower side of Hadlow, yet in Mereworth, containing by estimation twelve acres, more or less, commonly called the Wish, belonged to this church.
The parsonage-house lately stood at a small distance north-eastward from Mereworth-house; but obstructing the view from the front of it, the late lord le Despencer obtained a faculty to pull the whole of it down, and to build a new one of equal dimensions, and add to it a glebe of equal quantity to that of the scite and appurtenances of the old parsonage, in exchange. Accordingly the old parsonage was pulled down in 1779, and a new one erected on a piece of land allotted for the purpose about a quarter of a mile westward from the church, for the residence of the rector of Mereworth and his successors.
A round up of some visits from nearly a decade ago when I just posted general shots, to my surprise I took shots of details too, and didn't post them at the time.
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Monday 10th September 2012
I can now reveal that being on Holiday is officially better than being at work. It is a Monday morning, and we have bottled another batch of beer, and i have mopped the floor as we did manage to mess it up, slightly. The house now smells like a brewery, which would not be a bad thing only it was just eight in the morning, and it is a tad early for beer, even for me. In an exciting move, we are heading to Tesco in a while to get ingredients for out Christmas cakes.
Yes, cakes. One is never enough. A couple of years ago, we tried one in November and had to bake another one to replace it. We don't marzipan or ice them, and just leave them with their cakey goodness and Christmas spiciness.
Friday seemed to go on forever until it got to five to four and it was time to head home. The technicians had come ashore early and gone home, so I had the office to myself, therefore my hearty laughing at the Kermode and Mayo film review went unheard except by me.
So, off to Tesco for a week's shopping, and ended up getting enough stuff to last the weekend. And once that was done and paid for, loaded up the car and back home and now the holiday could really begin.
And Friday night was spent watching football. Yes, now the Olympics and Paralympics are coming to an end, it means we must return, ashamed like a unfaithful lover to the old dependable. And England began their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away game against Moldova. I did have to ask Jools to Google Moldova to find where it was, as I really didn't have a clue.
Anyway, it is behind the fridge just to the lest of Romania, apparently.
And England strung together at least 5 passes, played well, and scored 5 goals; and yet managed to look unconvincing switching off several times, just before half time and in the second half and could have easily conceded goals. Just to remind you, by some quirk, England are currently ranked the third best team IN THE WORLD, which I suppose goes to show just how much you should trust information coming out of FIFA towers.
Saturday morning after breakfast we headed to Mongeham for some foraging action, so we can make jam and jellies. We knew of a footpath behind a garage that is just lined with plum and greengage trees. We picked a couple of pounds and then headed on up the A20 and M20 to head to The Weald for a tour of 'interesting' churches.
Each year English Heritage organises a long weekend where many buildings are open for people like us to visit and photograph. Last spring we visited St Lawrence at Mereworth; and while is it a wonderfully beautiful church, the doors were locked and we wanted to see inside.
First of all we headed inside the M25 to a tiny, but beautiful village on the edge of the Weald where stockbrokers and hedge fund managers have their homes with fine views onto the Garden of england. All along the main road huge gates with security cameras guarded the mock-Tudor mansions hidden behind mature trees.
We turned off down a narrow lane and headed towards to small village of Trottiscliffe; which is not pronounced the way it is spelt so to make the unwary visitor appear stupid. It is pronounced 'Trozli', if Wiki is to be believed.
At the end of a long dead end road leading to a row of cottages and an old stable block is the church. I don't think i have ever seen a church in a more perfect location, it is one of those places that you have to be going as you'll never just pass it.
There was a churchwarden waiting at the door and happy to answer questions and tell us the history of the church. Dominating the tiny church is, what I now know to be from Westminister Abbey is the biggest pulpit I have seen outside a er, cathedral.
We take our leave and head to Mereworth.
We were the only visitors at the church, we parked the car on the verge outside, took in the glorious design of the church before going in. First thing you do see is a pair of spiral staircases; one to the gallery and the other to the bell tower. And straight ahead is a simple wooden door leading to the main body of the church.
I won't try to describe the church, please use the link on the pictures to go to my Flickrstream. The design is glorious, and looking pristine as it has just been restored to its former glory. Or original glory.
Once again there was a churchwarden to greet us, offer us refreshments and answer any questions.
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One of the few eighteenth-century churches in Kent, built in 1746 by the 7th Earl of Westmoreland. Surprisingly for so late a date the name of the architect is not known although it is in the style of Colen Campbell who designed the nearby castle, but as he died in 1722 it is probably by someone in his office. The main feature of the church is a tall stone steeple with four urns at the top of the tower, whilst the body of the church is a plain rectangular box consisting of an aisled nave and chancel. Inside is an excellent display of eighteenth-century interior decoration - especially fine being the curved ceiling which is painted with trompe l'oeil panels. At the west end is the galleried pew belonging to the owners of Mereworth Castle - it has organ pipes painted on its rear wall. The south-west chapel contains memorials brought here from the old church which stood near the castle, including one to a fifteenth-century Lord Bergavenny, and Sir Thomas Fane (d. 1589). The latter monument has a superb top-knot! The church contains much heraldic stained glass of sixteenth-century date, best seen with binoculars early in the morning. Of Victorian date is the excellent Raising of Lazarus window, installed in 1889 by the firm of Heaton, Butler and Bayne. In the churchyard is the grave of Charles Lucas, the first man to be awarded the Victoria Cross, while serving on the Hecla during the Crimean War.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Mereworth
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MEREWORTH.
EASTWARD from West, or Little Peckham, lies Mereworth, usually called Merrud. In Domesday it is written Marourde, and in the Textus Roffensis, MÆRUURTHA, and MERANWYRTHE.
THE PARISH of Mereworth is within the district of the Weald, being situated southward of the quarry hills. It is exceedingly pleasant, as well from its naturalsituation, as from the buildings, avenues, and other ornamental improvements made throughout it by the late earl of Westmoreland, nor do those made at Yokes by the late Mr. Master contribute a little to the continued beauty of this scene. The turnpike road crosses this parish through the vale from Maidstone, towards Hadlow and Tunbridge, on each side of which is a fine avenue of oaks, with a low neatly cut quick hedge along the whole of it, which leaves an uninterrupted view over the house, park, and grounds of lord le Despencer, the church with its fine built spire, and the seat of Yokes, and beyond it an extensive country, along the valley to Tunbridge, making altogether a most beautiful and luxuriant prospect.
Mereworth house is situated in the park, which rises finely wooded behind it, at a small distance from the high road, having a fine sheet of water in the front of it, being formed from a part of a stream which rises at a small distance above Yokes, and dividing itself into two branches, one of them runs in front of Mereworth house as above mentioned, and from thence through Watringbury, towards the Medway at Bow-bridge; the other branch runs more southward to East Peckham, and thence into the Medway at a small distance above Twiford bridge.
Mereworth-house was built after a plan of Palladio, designed for a noble Vicentine gentleman, Paolo Almerico, an ecclesiastic and referendary to two popes, who built it in his own country about a quarter of a mile distance from the city of Venice, in a situation pleasant and delightful, and nearly like this; being watered in front with a river, and in the back encompassed with the most pleasant risings, which form a kind of theatre, and abound with large and stately groves of oak and other trees; from the top of these risings there are most beautiful views, some of which are limited, and others extend so as to be terminated only by the horizon. Mereworth house is built in a moat, and has four fronts, having each a portico, but the two side ones are filled up; under the floor of the hall and best apartments, are rooms and conveniences for the servants. The hall, which is in the middle, forms a cupola, and receives its light from above, and is formed with a double case, between which the smoke is conveyed through the chimnies to the center of it at top. The wings are at a small distance from the house, and are elegantly designed. In the front of the house is an avenue, cut through the woods, three miles in length towards Wrotham-heath, and finished with incredible expence and labour by lord Westmoreland, for a communication with the London road there: throughout the whole, art and nature are so happily blended together, as to render it a most delightful situation.
In the western part of this parish, on the high road is the village, where at Mereworth cross it turns short off to the southward towards Hadlow and Tunbridge, at a small distance further westward is the church and parsonage, the former is a conspicuous ornament to all the neighbouring country throughout the valley; hence the ground rises to Yokes, which is most pleasantly situated on the side of a hill, commanding a most delightful and extensive prospect over the Weald, and into Surry and Sussex.
Towards the north this parish rises up to the ridge of hills, called the Quarry-hills, (and there are now in them, though few in number, several of the Martin Cats, the same as those at Hudson's Bay) over which is the extensive tract of wood-land, called the Herst woods, in which so late as queen Elizabeth's reign, there were many wild swine, with which the whole Weald formerly abounded, by reason of the plenty of pannage from the acorns throughout it. (fn. 1)
¶The soil of this parish is very fertile, being the quarry stone thinly covered with a loam, throughout the northern part of it; but in the southern or lower parts, as well as in East Peckham adjoining, it is a fertile clay, being mostly pasture and exceeding rich grazing land, and the largest oxen perhaps at any place in this part of England are bred and fatted on them, the weight of some of them having been, as I have been informed, near three hundred stone.
THIS PLACE, at the time of taking the survey of Domesday, was part of the possessions of Hamo Vicecomes, under the general title of whose lands it is thus entered in that book.
In Littlefield hundred. Hamo holds Marourde. Norman held it of king Edward, and then, and now, it was and is taxed at two sulings. The arable land is ninecarucates. In demesne there are two, and twenty-eight villeins, with fifteen borderers, having ten carucates. There is a church and ten servants, and two mills of ten shillings, and two fisheries of two shillings. There are twenty acres of meadow, and as much wood as is sufficient for the pannage of sixty hogs. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, it was worth twelve pounds, and afterwards ten pounds, now nineteen pounds.
This Hamo Vicecomes before-mentioned was Hamo de Crevequer, who was appointed Vicecomes, or sheriff of Kent, soon after his coming over hither with the Conqueror, which office he held till his death in the reign of king Henry I.
¶In the reign of king Henry II. Mereworth was in the possession of a family, which took their surname from it, and held it as two knights fees, of the earls of Clare, as of their honour of Clare.
Roger, son of Eustace de Mereworth, possessed it in the above reign, and then brought a quare impedit against the prior of. Leeds, for the advowson of the church of Mereworth. (fn. 3)
William de Mereworth is recorded among those Kentish knights, who assisted king Richard at the siege of Acon, in Palestine, upon which account it is probable the cross-croslets were added to the paternal arms of this family.
MEREWORTH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Rochester and deanry of Malling.
The church was dedicated to St. Laurence. It was an antient building, and formerly stood where the west wing of Mereworth-house, made use of for the stables, now stands. It was pulled down by John, late earl of Westmoreland, when he rebuilt that house, and in lieu of it he erected, about half a mile westward from the old one, in the center of the village, the present church, a most elegant building, with a beautiful spire steeple, and a handsome portico in the front of it, with pillars of the Corinthian order. The whole of it is composed of different sorts of stone; and the east window is handsomely glazed with painted glass, collected by him for this purpose.
In the reign of king Henry II. the advowson of this church was the property of Roger de Mereworth, between whom and the prior and convent of Ledes, in this county, there had been much dispute, concerning the patronage of it: at length both parties submitted their interest to Gilbert, bishop of Rochester, who decreed, that the advowson of it should remain to Roger de Mereworth; and he further granted, with his consent, and that of Martin then parson of it, to the prior and convent, the sum of forty shillings, in the name of a perpetual benefice, and not in the name of a pension, in perpetual alms, to be received yearly for ever, from the parson of it. (fn. 13)
The prior and the convent of Ledes afterwards, anno 12 Henry VII. released to Hugh Walker, rector of this church, their right and claim to this pension, and all their right and claim in the rectory, by reason of it, or by any other means whatsoever.
In the reign of king Henry VI. the rector and parishioners of this church petitioned the bishop of Ro chester, to change the day of the feast of the dedication of it, which being solemnized yearly on the 4th day of June, and the moveable seasts of Pentecost, viz. of the sacred Trinity, or Corpus Christi, very often happening on it; the divine service used on the feasts of dedications could not in some years be celebrated, but was of necessity deferred to another day, that these solemnities of religion and of the fair might not happen together. Upon which the bishop, in 1439, transferred the feast to the Monday next after the exaltation of the Holy Cross, enjoining all and singular the rectors, and their curates, as well as the parishioners from time to time to observe it accordingly as such. And to encourage the parishioners and others to resort to it on that day, he granted to such as did, forty days remission of their sins.
Soon after the above-mentioned dispute between Roger de Mereworth and the prior and convent of Ledes, the church of Mereworth appears to have been given to the priory of Black Canons, at Tunbridge. (fn. 14) And it remained with the above-mentioned priory till its dissolution in the 16th year of king Henry VIII. a bull having been obtained from the pope, with the king's leave, for that purpose. After which the king, in his 17th year, granted that priory, with others then suppressed for the like purpose, together with all their manors, lands, and possessions, to cardinal Wolsey, for the better endowment of his college, called Cardinal college, in Oxford. But four years afterwards, the cardinal being cast in a præmunire; all the estates of that college, which for want of time had not been firmly settled on it, became forfeited to the crown. (fn. 15) After which, the king granted the patronage of the church of Mereworth, to Sir George Nevill, lord Abergavenny, whose descendant Henry, lord Abergavenny, died possessed of it in the 29th year of queen Elizabeth, leaving an only daughter and heir Mary, married to Sir Thomas Fane, who in her right possessed it. Since which it has continued in the same owners, that the manor of Mereworth has, and is as such now in the patronage of the right hon. Thomas, lord le Despencer.
It is valued in the king's books at 14l. 2s. 6d. and the yearly tenths at 1l. 8s. 3d.
¶It appears by a valuation of this church, and a terrier of the lands belonging to it, subscribed by the rector, churchwardens, and inhabitants, in 1634, that there belonged to it, a parsonage-house, with a barn, &c. a field called Parsonage field, a close, and a garden, two orchards, four fields called Summerfourds, Ashfield, the Coney-yearth, and Millfield, and the herbage of the church-yard, containing in the whole about thirty acres, that the house and some of the land where James Gostlinge then dwelt, paid to the rector for lord's rent twelve-pence per annum; that the houses and land where Thomas Stone and Henry Filtness then dwelt, paid two-pence per annum; that there was paid to the rector the tithe of all corn, and all other grain, as woud, would, &c. and all hay, tithe of all coppice woods and hops, and all other predial tithes usually paid, as wool, and lambs, and all predials, &c. in the memory of man; that all tithes of a parcel of land called Old-hay, some four or five miles from the church, but yet within the parish, containing three hundred acres, more or less; and the tithe of a meadow plot lying towards the lower side of Hadlow, yet in Mereworth, containing by estimation twelve acres, more or less, commonly called the Wish, belonged to this church.
The parsonage-house lately stood at a small distance north-eastward from Mereworth-house; but obstructing the view from the front of it, the late lord le Despencer obtained a faculty to pull the whole of it down, and to build a new one of equal dimensions, and add to it a glebe of equal quantity to that of the scite and appurtenances of the old parsonage, in exchange. Accordingly the old parsonage was pulled down in 1779, and a new one erected on a piece of land allotted for the purpose about a quarter of a mile westward from the church, for the residence of the rector of Mereworth and his successors.
Porsche 911SC-RS Rothmans Replica (1980) Engine 2994cc HO6 OC
Registration Number DMN 911
PORSCHE SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623690528015...
Created by Historic Rally competitor Manxman Adrian Kermode, using a standard 911SC purchased on E-Bay as a base, the car was stripped and gutted and dipped in acid before being rebuilt as a Classic category (1975-81) Rothmans Replica car. Aidrian competes with the car and his Historic Minis regularly in Historic Rallying events.
Porsche 911 SC-RS
Was a purpose built rallycar, developed at Weissbach exploiting a loophole in the homologation rules. 20 were built, but only 6 had the works factory support, and were sponsored by Rothmans and run by Sir David Richards Prodrive concern. According to Richards the competition cars shed 600lbs, by replacing production body panels with thinner gauge steel and aluminium, a much thinner windscreen and plexiglass on the other window, a plastic front and rear spoiler and a gutted interior. The suspension was beefed up and 18mm anti roll bars fitted. The engine had increased valve lift, mechanical fuel injection and 935 racing cylinders, increasing the output to 254bhp.
The cars were further developed at Prodrive, with Porsche agreeing to an alloy bodied version, the A pillars and bulkhead were strengthened. and the undertray strengthened to prevent rock damage.
Many Thanks for an incredible 24.4 Million views
Shot 04:05:2014 at the Donington Historic Festival REF 102-337
A round up of some visits from nearly a decade ago when I just posted general shots, to my surprise I took shots of details too, and didn't post them at the time.
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Monday 10th September 2012
I can now reveal that being on Holiday is officially better than being at work. It is a Monday morning, and we have bottled another batch of beer, and i have mopped the floor as we did manage to mess it up, slightly. The house now smells like a brewery, which would not be a bad thing only it was just eight in the morning, and it is a tad early for beer, even for me. In an exciting move, we are heading to Tesco in a while to get ingredients for out Christmas cakes.
Yes, cakes. One is never enough. A couple of years ago, we tried one in November and had to bake another one to replace it. We don't marzipan or ice them, and just leave them with their cakey goodness and Christmas spiciness.
Friday seemed to go on forever until it got to five to four and it was time to head home. The technicians had come ashore early and gone home, so I had the office to myself, therefore my hearty laughing at the Kermode and Mayo film review went unheard except by me.
So, off to Tesco for a week's shopping, and ended up getting enough stuff to last the weekend. And once that was done and paid for, loaded up the car and back home and now the holiday could really begin.
And Friday night was spent watching football. Yes, now the Olympics and Paralympics are coming to an end, it means we must return, ashamed like a unfaithful lover to the old dependable. And England began their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away game against Moldova. I did have to ask Jools to Google Moldova to find where it was, as I really didn't have a clue.
Anyway, it is behind the fridge just to the lest of Romania, apparently.
And England strung together at least 5 passes, played well, and scored 5 goals; and yet managed to look unconvincing switching off several times, just before half time and in the second half and could have easily conceded goals. Just to remind you, by some quirk, England are currently ranked the third best team IN THE WORLD, which I suppose goes to show just how much you should trust information coming out of FIFA towers.
Saturday morning after breakfast we headed to Mongeham for some foraging action, so we can make jam and jellies. We knew of a footpath behind a garage that is just lined with plum and greengage trees. We picked a couple of pounds and then headed on up the A20 and M20 to head to The Weald for a tour of 'interesting' churches.
Each year English Heritage organises a long weekend where many buildings are open for people like us to visit and photograph. Last spring we visited St Lawrence at Mereworth; and while is it a wonderfully beautiful church, the doors were locked and we wanted to see inside.
First of all we headed inside the M25 to a tiny, but beautiful village on the edge of the Weald where stockbrokers and hedge fund managers have their homes with fine views onto the Garden of england. All along the main road huge gates with security cameras guarded the mock-Tudor mansions hidden behind mature trees.
We turned off down a narrow lane and headed towards to small village of Trottiscliffe; which is not pronounced the way it is spelt so to make the unwary visitor appear stupid. It is pronounced 'Trozli', if Wiki is to be believed.
At the end of a long dead end road leading to a row of cottages and an old stable block is the church. I don't think i have ever seen a church in a more perfect location, it is one of those places that you have to be going as you'll never just pass it.
There was a churchwarden waiting at the door and happy to answer questions and tell us the history of the church. Dominating the tiny church is, what I now know to be from Westminister Abbey is the biggest pulpit I have seen outside a er, cathedral.
We take our leave and head to Mereworth.
We were the only visitors at the church, we parked the car on the verge outside, took in the glorious design of the church before going in. First thing you do see is a pair of spiral staircases; one to the gallery and the other to the bell tower. And straight ahead is a simple wooden door leading to the main body of the church.
I won't try to describe the church, please use the link on the pictures to go to my Flickrstream. The design is glorious, and looking pristine as it has just been restored to its former glory. Or original glory.
Once again there was a churchwarden to greet us, offer us refreshments and answer any questions.
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One of the few eighteenth-century churches in Kent, built in 1746 by the 7th Earl of Westmoreland. Surprisingly for so late a date the name of the architect is not known although it is in the style of Colen Campbell who designed the nearby castle, but as he died in 1722 it is probably by someone in his office. The main feature of the church is a tall stone steeple with four urns at the top of the tower, whilst the body of the church is a plain rectangular box consisting of an aisled nave and chancel. Inside is an excellent display of eighteenth-century interior decoration - especially fine being the curved ceiling which is painted with trompe l'oeil panels. At the west end is the galleried pew belonging to the owners of Mereworth Castle - it has organ pipes painted on its rear wall. The south-west chapel contains memorials brought here from the old church which stood near the castle, including one to a fifteenth-century Lord Bergavenny, and Sir Thomas Fane (d. 1589). The latter monument has a superb top-knot! The church contains much heraldic stained glass of sixteenth-century date, best seen with binoculars early in the morning. Of Victorian date is the excellent Raising of Lazarus window, installed in 1889 by the firm of Heaton, Butler and Bayne. In the churchyard is the grave of Charles Lucas, the first man to be awarded the Victoria Cross, while serving on the Hecla during the Crimean War.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Mereworth
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MEREWORTH.
EASTWARD from West, or Little Peckham, lies Mereworth, usually called Merrud. In Domesday it is written Marourde, and in the Textus Roffensis, MÆRUURTHA, and MERANWYRTHE.
THE PARISH of Mereworth is within the district of the Weald, being situated southward of the quarry hills. It is exceedingly pleasant, as well from its naturalsituation, as from the buildings, avenues, and other ornamental improvements made throughout it by the late earl of Westmoreland, nor do those made at Yokes by the late Mr. Master contribute a little to the continued beauty of this scene. The turnpike road crosses this parish through the vale from Maidstone, towards Hadlow and Tunbridge, on each side of which is a fine avenue of oaks, with a low neatly cut quick hedge along the whole of it, which leaves an uninterrupted view over the house, park, and grounds of lord le Despencer, the church with its fine built spire, and the seat of Yokes, and beyond it an extensive country, along the valley to Tunbridge, making altogether a most beautiful and luxuriant prospect.
Mereworth house is situated in the park, which rises finely wooded behind it, at a small distance from the high road, having a fine sheet of water in the front of it, being formed from a part of a stream which rises at a small distance above Yokes, and dividing itself into two branches, one of them runs in front of Mereworth house as above mentioned, and from thence through Watringbury, towards the Medway at Bow-bridge; the other branch runs more southward to East Peckham, and thence into the Medway at a small distance above Twiford bridge.
Mereworth-house was built after a plan of Palladio, designed for a noble Vicentine gentleman, Paolo Almerico, an ecclesiastic and referendary to two popes, who built it in his own country about a quarter of a mile distance from the city of Venice, in a situation pleasant and delightful, and nearly like this; being watered in front with a river, and in the back encompassed with the most pleasant risings, which form a kind of theatre, and abound with large and stately groves of oak and other trees; from the top of these risings there are most beautiful views, some of which are limited, and others extend so as to be terminated only by the horizon. Mereworth house is built in a moat, and has four fronts, having each a portico, but the two side ones are filled up; under the floor of the hall and best apartments, are rooms and conveniences for the servants. The hall, which is in the middle, forms a cupola, and receives its light from above, and is formed with a double case, between which the smoke is conveyed through the chimnies to the center of it at top. The wings are at a small distance from the house, and are elegantly designed. In the front of the house is an avenue, cut through the woods, three miles in length towards Wrotham-heath, and finished with incredible expence and labour by lord Westmoreland, for a communication with the London road there: throughout the whole, art and nature are so happily blended together, as to render it a most delightful situation.
In the western part of this parish, on the high road is the village, where at Mereworth cross it turns short off to the southward towards Hadlow and Tunbridge, at a small distance further westward is the church and parsonage, the former is a conspicuous ornament to all the neighbouring country throughout the valley; hence the ground rises to Yokes, which is most pleasantly situated on the side of a hill, commanding a most delightful and extensive prospect over the Weald, and into Surry and Sussex.
Towards the north this parish rises up to the ridge of hills, called the Quarry-hills, (and there are now in them, though few in number, several of the Martin Cats, the same as those at Hudson's Bay) over which is the extensive tract of wood-land, called the Herst woods, in which so late as queen Elizabeth's reign, there were many wild swine, with which the whole Weald formerly abounded, by reason of the plenty of pannage from the acorns throughout it. (fn. 1)
¶The soil of this parish is very fertile, being the quarry stone thinly covered with a loam, throughout the northern part of it; but in the southern or lower parts, as well as in East Peckham adjoining, it is a fertile clay, being mostly pasture and exceeding rich grazing land, and the largest oxen perhaps at any place in this part of England are bred and fatted on them, the weight of some of them having been, as I have been informed, near three hundred stone.
THIS PLACE, at the time of taking the survey of Domesday, was part of the possessions of Hamo Vicecomes, under the general title of whose lands it is thus entered in that book.
In Littlefield hundred. Hamo holds Marourde. Norman held it of king Edward, and then, and now, it was and is taxed at two sulings. The arable land is ninecarucates. In demesne there are two, and twenty-eight villeins, with fifteen borderers, having ten carucates. There is a church and ten servants, and two mills of ten shillings, and two fisheries of two shillings. There are twenty acres of meadow, and as much wood as is sufficient for the pannage of sixty hogs. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, it was worth twelve pounds, and afterwards ten pounds, now nineteen pounds.
This Hamo Vicecomes before-mentioned was Hamo de Crevequer, who was appointed Vicecomes, or sheriff of Kent, soon after his coming over hither with the Conqueror, which office he held till his death in the reign of king Henry I.
¶In the reign of king Henry II. Mereworth was in the possession of a family, which took their surname from it, and held it as two knights fees, of the earls of Clare, as of their honour of Clare.
Roger, son of Eustace de Mereworth, possessed it in the above reign, and then brought a quare impedit against the prior of. Leeds, for the advowson of the church of Mereworth. (fn. 3)
William de Mereworth is recorded among those Kentish knights, who assisted king Richard at the siege of Acon, in Palestine, upon which account it is probable the cross-croslets were added to the paternal arms of this family.
MEREWORTH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Rochester and deanry of Malling.
The church was dedicated to St. Laurence. It was an antient building, and formerly stood where the west wing of Mereworth-house, made use of for the stables, now stands. It was pulled down by John, late earl of Westmoreland, when he rebuilt that house, and in lieu of it he erected, about half a mile westward from the old one, in the center of the village, the present church, a most elegant building, with a beautiful spire steeple, and a handsome portico in the front of it, with pillars of the Corinthian order. The whole of it is composed of different sorts of stone; and the east window is handsomely glazed with painted glass, collected by him for this purpose.
In the reign of king Henry II. the advowson of this church was the property of Roger de Mereworth, between whom and the prior and convent of Ledes, in this county, there had been much dispute, concerning the patronage of it: at length both parties submitted their interest to Gilbert, bishop of Rochester, who decreed, that the advowson of it should remain to Roger de Mereworth; and he further granted, with his consent, and that of Martin then parson of it, to the prior and convent, the sum of forty shillings, in the name of a perpetual benefice, and not in the name of a pension, in perpetual alms, to be received yearly for ever, from the parson of it. (fn. 13)
The prior and the convent of Ledes afterwards, anno 12 Henry VII. released to Hugh Walker, rector of this church, their right and claim to this pension, and all their right and claim in the rectory, by reason of it, or by any other means whatsoever.
In the reign of king Henry VI. the rector and parishioners of this church petitioned the bishop of Ro chester, to change the day of the feast of the dedication of it, which being solemnized yearly on the 4th day of June, and the moveable seasts of Pentecost, viz. of the sacred Trinity, or Corpus Christi, very often happening on it; the divine service used on the feasts of dedications could not in some years be celebrated, but was of necessity deferred to another day, that these solemnities of religion and of the fair might not happen together. Upon which the bishop, in 1439, transferred the feast to the Monday next after the exaltation of the Holy Cross, enjoining all and singular the rectors, and their curates, as well as the parishioners from time to time to observe it accordingly as such. And to encourage the parishioners and others to resort to it on that day, he granted to such as did, forty days remission of their sins.
Soon after the above-mentioned dispute between Roger de Mereworth and the prior and convent of Ledes, the church of Mereworth appears to have been given to the priory of Black Canons, at Tunbridge. (fn. 14) And it remained with the above-mentioned priory till its dissolution in the 16th year of king Henry VIII. a bull having been obtained from the pope, with the king's leave, for that purpose. After which the king, in his 17th year, granted that priory, with others then suppressed for the like purpose, together with all their manors, lands, and possessions, to cardinal Wolsey, for the better endowment of his college, called Cardinal college, in Oxford. But four years afterwards, the cardinal being cast in a præmunire; all the estates of that college, which for want of time had not been firmly settled on it, became forfeited to the crown. (fn. 15) After which, the king granted the patronage of the church of Mereworth, to Sir George Nevill, lord Abergavenny, whose descendant Henry, lord Abergavenny, died possessed of it in the 29th year of queen Elizabeth, leaving an only daughter and heir Mary, married to Sir Thomas Fane, who in her right possessed it. Since which it has continued in the same owners, that the manor of Mereworth has, and is as such now in the patronage of the right hon. Thomas, lord le Despencer.
It is valued in the king's books at 14l. 2s. 6d. and the yearly tenths at 1l. 8s. 3d.
¶It appears by a valuation of this church, and a terrier of the lands belonging to it, subscribed by the rector, churchwardens, and inhabitants, in 1634, that there belonged to it, a parsonage-house, with a barn, &c. a field called Parsonage field, a close, and a garden, two orchards, four fields called Summerfourds, Ashfield, the Coney-yearth, and Millfield, and the herbage of the church-yard, containing in the whole about thirty acres, that the house and some of the land where James Gostlinge then dwelt, paid to the rector for lord's rent twelve-pence per annum; that the houses and land where Thomas Stone and Henry Filtness then dwelt, paid two-pence per annum; that there was paid to the rector the tithe of all corn, and all other grain, as woud, would, &c. and all hay, tithe of all coppice woods and hops, and all other predial tithes usually paid, as wool, and lambs, and all predials, &c. in the memory of man; that all tithes of a parcel of land called Old-hay, some four or five miles from the church, but yet within the parish, containing three hundred acres, more or less; and the tithe of a meadow plot lying towards the lower side of Hadlow, yet in Mereworth, containing by estimation twelve acres, more or less, commonly called the Wish, belonged to this church.
The parsonage-house lately stood at a small distance north-eastward from Mereworth-house; but obstructing the view from the front of it, the late lord le Despencer obtained a faculty to pull the whole of it down, and to build a new one of equal dimensions, and add to it a glebe of equal quantity to that of the scite and appurtenances of the old parsonage, in exchange. Accordingly the old parsonage was pulled down in 1779, and a new one erected on a piece of land allotted for the purpose about a quarter of a mile westward from the church, for the residence of the rector of Mereworth and his successors.
Porsche 911SC-RS Rothmans Replica (1980) Engine 2994cc HO6 OC
Registration Number DMN 911
PORSCHE SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623690528015...
Created by Historic Rally competitor Manxman Adrian Kermode, using a standard 911SC purchased on E-Bay as a base, the car was stripped and gutted and dipped in acid before being rebuilt as a Classic category (1975-81) Rothmans Replica car. Aidrian competes with the car and his Historic Minis regularly in Historic Rallying events.
Porsche 911 SC-RS
Was a purpose built rallycar, developed at Weissbach exploiting a loophole in the homologation rules. 20 were built, but only 6 had the works factory support, and were sponsored by Rothmans and run by Sir David Richards Prodrive concern. According to Richards the competition cars shed 600lbs, by replacing production body panels with thinner gauge steel and aluminium, a much thinner windscreen and plexiglass on the other window, a plastic front and rear spoiler and a gutted interior. The suspension was beefed up and 18mm anti roll bars fitted. The engine had increased valve lift, mechanical fuel injection and 935 racing cylinders, increasing the output to 254bhp.
The cars were further developed at Prodrive, with Porsche agreeing to an alloy bodied version, the A pillars and bulkhead were strengthened. and the undertray strengthened to prevent rock damage.
Many Thanks for an incredible 24.4 Million views
Shot 04:05:2014 at the Donington Historic Festival REF 102-338
title: Celtic Kermode
artist: Elisabeth Bond
sponsor: Irish Times Pub & Oyster Bar
location: 1200 Government St
trail map #: 32
visit order: 24
visit time: 5:13p
provenance:
This bear is inspired by a fun, down-to-earth experience that the Irish call "Craic." Craic is not something that you can hold in your hand, nor can you see it on the wall, but is something that can definitely by felt. Craic is the little something extra that will bring people back again and again.
As a tribute to Mark Kermode and the Dodge Brother's amazing skiffle version of the Star Wars theme on Kermode Uncut, here's a minifig version featuring one of the new (custom) quiff hair pieces I've acquired.
A round up of some visits from nearly a decade ago when I just posted general shots, to my surprise I took shots of details too, and didn't post them at the time.
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Monday 10th September 2012
I can now reveal that being on Holiday is officially better than being at work. It is a Monday morning, and we have bottled another batch of beer, and i have mopped the floor as we did manage to mess it up, slightly. The house now smells like a brewery, which would not be a bad thing only it was just eight in the morning, and it is a tad early for beer, even for me. In an exciting move, we are heading to Tesco in a while to get ingredients for out Christmas cakes.
Yes, cakes. One is never enough. A couple of years ago, we tried one in November and had to bake another one to replace it. We don't marzipan or ice them, and just leave them with their cakey goodness and Christmas spiciness.
Friday seemed to go on forever until it got to five to four and it was time to head home. The technicians had come ashore early and gone home, so I had the office to myself, therefore my hearty laughing at the Kermode and Mayo film review went unheard except by me.
So, off to Tesco for a week's shopping, and ended up getting enough stuff to last the weekend. And once that was done and paid for, loaded up the car and back home and now the holiday could really begin.
And Friday night was spent watching football. Yes, now the Olympics and Paralympics are coming to an end, it means we must return, ashamed like a unfaithful lover to the old dependable. And England began their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away game against Moldova. I did have to ask Jools to Google Moldova to find where it was, as I really didn't have a clue.
Anyway, it is behind the fridge just to the lest of Romania, apparently.
And England strung together at least 5 passes, played well, and scored 5 goals; and yet managed to look unconvincing switching off several times, just before half time and in the second half and could have easily conceded goals. Just to remind you, by some quirk, England are currently ranked the third best team IN THE WORLD, which I suppose goes to show just how much you should trust information coming out of FIFA towers.
Saturday morning after breakfast we headed to Mongeham for some foraging action, so we can make jam and jellies. We knew of a footpath behind a garage that is just lined with plum and greengage trees. We picked a couple of pounds and then headed on up the A20 and M20 to head to The Weald for a tour of 'interesting' churches.
Each year English Heritage organises a long weekend where many buildings are open for people like us to visit and photograph. Last spring we visited St Lawrence at Mereworth; and while is it a wonderfully beautiful church, the doors were locked and we wanted to see inside.
First of all we headed inside the M25 to a tiny, but beautiful village on the edge of the Weald where stockbrokers and hedge fund managers have their homes with fine views onto the Garden of england. All along the main road huge gates with security cameras guarded the mock-Tudor mansions hidden behind mature trees.
We turned off down a narrow lane and headed towards to small village of Trottiscliffe; which is not pronounced the way it is spelt so to make the unwary visitor appear stupid. It is pronounced 'Trozli', if Wiki is to be believed.
At the end of a long dead end road leading to a row of cottages and an old stable block is the church. I don't think i have ever seen a church in a more perfect location, it is one of those places that you have to be going as you'll never just pass it.
There was a churchwarden waiting at the door and happy to answer questions and tell us the history of the church. Dominating the tiny church is, what I now know to be from Westminister Abbey is the biggest pulpit I have seen outside a er, cathedral.
We take our leave and head to Mereworth.
We were the only visitors at the church, we parked the car on the verge outside, took in the glorious design of the church before going in. First thing you do see is a pair of spiral staircases; one to the gallery and the other to the bell tower. And straight ahead is a simple wooden door leading to the main body of the church.
I won't try to describe the church, please use the link on the pictures to go to my Flickrstream. The design is glorious, and looking pristine as it has just been restored to its former glory. Or original glory.
Once again there was a churchwarden to greet us, offer us refreshments and answer any questions.
The warden at Spedhurst stressed that we should not miss Groombridge, and as that was next on our list, that is where we headed to next. At least by now the churches were just a mile or two apart and we were rattling through them.
St John the Evangalist is a small chapel, once part of a large estate, dominated by many wonderful 18th century windows and a single handed clock. An old gentleman welcomed us and handed us another leaflet. The mechanism for the clock sits in front of one of the windows, and it's loud ticking and tocking fills the church.
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ASHURST.
LIES southwestward from Bidborough on the confines of this county next Sussex, from which it is separated both on the south and west sides by a small stream.
This place is written in the Textus Roffensis, AISCHERST. It took its name from the Saxon word, asces, ash trees, and the British byrst, i. e. the wood of ashes.
ASHURST lies at the southern boundaries of this county, a stream of the Medway separating it from Sussex, and bounding the western and southern sides of this parish. It is in the hundred of Wachlingstone, which here joins the rest of it by a narrow slip running eastward by Tophill and Mitchel's farms, towards Rusthall common and Bishopsdown in Speldhurst. The northern part of it joins both to Penshurst and Speldhurst, in the hundred of Somerden, a part of which joins the western part of this parish, separated from the rest of that hundred, and containing the hamlet of Groombridge, in Speldhurst. This parish consists of hill and dale, the western part is woody, the soil a stiff clay, wet and miry, and rather unfertile. The church is situated on the west side of the parish, about a quar ter of a mile from the river, which here separating, forms a small island, on each side of which there is a bridge, over which the road leads into Sussex; there is no village, the houses being interspersed at different spots throughout it. In this parish is a seat and estate, called Ashurst-place, formerly admiral Forbes's, now the property and residence of Peter Lesevre, esq. (fn. 1)
THE MANOR OF ASHURST, with the manor of Buckland appendant, was part of those lands assigned to Jeffry de Peverel, for his assistance in the defence of Dover-castle, and with other lands made up the barony of Peverel, as it was then called, being held of that castle in capite by barony.
Nicholas de Gerund afterwards held this manor, and its appendage of Buckland, and the advowson of the church of Ashurst, of the king in capite, and died possessed of them in the 52d year of king Henry III. His descendant, Richard Gerund, in the reign of king Edward III. leaving an only daughter Maud; she carried them in marriage to Sir Henry de Chalshunt, who bore for his arms, three bends ermine, and he died possessed of them in the 45th year of it, anno 1370, holding them in capite, and performing ward to the castle of Dover.
They continued in his descendants till Henry V.'s reign, when by the heir general of this family they came to Robert le Hadde, who was afterwards of Frinsted, in this county; (fn. 2) his descendant, Rob. Hadde, esq. of Frinsted, in the beginning of the reign of king Henry VIII. conveyed this estate to William Waller, esq. of Groombridge, who died in the 18th year of that reign, and it continued in his descendants till Sir Thomas Waller, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, alienated it to Thomas Sackville, earl of Dorset, and lord treasurer of England, who died possessed of it in 1608. His grandson, Richard, earl of Dorset, conveyed the manor of Ashurst, with its appendages, to Sir George Rivers, of Chafford, whose eldest son, John Rivers, esq. was created a baronet in the 19th year of king James I. two years after which his lands, as well as those of his father, were disgavelled by an act then particularly passed for that purpose. On his father's death he succeeded him in this estate, which continued in his descendants until Sir George Rivers, bart. dying in 1734 without issue male, by his will devised it, with his seat of Chafford, among his other real estates, to his five natural children, but his surviving legitimate daughters, and the heirs of those deceased, filed a bill in chancery to set this devise aside, and after a process at law, and several decrees, the court ordered the estates to be sold in 1743, (fn. 3) which this of Ashurst, together with Chafford, accordingly was to Mr. William Saxby, gent. of Horsted Cayns, in Suffex, who died possessed of it in 1783, in which it was afterwards sold in pursuance of his will to Robert Burges, esq. of Lyghe, who died in 1794, since which his widow, Mrs. Sarah Burges, re-marrying James Harbroc, esq. he is become in her right the present possessor of this estate.
A court baron is held for this manor, a heriot is paid on the death of a tenant of the best live beast.
There are no parochial charities. The poor relieved yearly are about eleven.
ASHURST is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Rochester, and deanry of Malling.
¶The church is a low mean building, with a wooden steeple, over the porch are the arms of Sir John Rivers, who gave the dial. There are no memorials in it. In this church, before the reformation, was a famous rood, or crucifix, which was much resorted to for its supposed miraculous powers.
This rectory is a discharged living, of the clear yearly value, as certified, of thirty-five pounds, the yearly tenths of which are 10s. 5½d.
The church of Ashurst was antiently esteemed as an appendage to the manor, and continued so till the reign of king James I. when Richard, earl of Dorset, alienating the manor, reserved the church to himself; since which it has continued in his descendants, the present patron being his grace, John, duke of Dorset.
Victorian Alpine Huts survey, for Parks Victoria April, May 1994: Built in 1937 for the Ski Club of Victoria and dedicated to a pioneer skier, Cleve Cole, this hut was illustrated in the club's journal `Schuss' as a rubble stone gabled building with casement widows and stone chimney. Larger than most cattlemen's huts, the design had a porch and wood box, a living space with a 10 person bunk at one end and a bunk room with heating slabs at the other. In the centre was the fireplace. A kitchen and eating alcove adjoined on the south side{ see also Stephenson: 206}. A memorial stone on the wall of this hut was inscribed with the words: `In Memory of Cleve Cole Died 1936'{ Stephenson: 214}. His death arose from a disastrous skiing trip across the Bogong High Plains with (Percy E ) Mick Hull and Howard Michell, all three being very experienced{ MP p.70}. The architect was Malcolm McColl, Tom Fisher and Harold Doughty acted as labourers on the construction while the stonework was formed by Art Downer and the foreman was M McLaren{ Stephenson (1982): 360f.}. McLaren remained on the site from the 21 February to 17 May 1937 to complete the work. The foundations were in place by March 1937. The huts origins are linked with the August General Meeting of the SCV when a committee, consisting of Gordon Brown (chair), Harold Brockhoff, V Letcher (Vic. Railways), AW Shands, D Gray and D Stogdale, was initiated to raise funds for a memorial hut on Mt Bogong. Other members coopted to the committee were H Doughty (scouts), AW Keown (Vict. Railways), Miss BM Kermode (treasurer and part of the Government Tourist Bureau) and M McColl (architect, designer of hut). Apart from its memorial function the hut would allow access to `really excellent ski runs, better than exist elsewhere in Victoria, becoming accessible to skiing enthusiasts on the highest mountain in the State'{ `Australian & New Zealand Ski Year Book' 1937, p51}. This could not be achieved without `a substantial building' and stone was opted for as the least likely to deteriorate in those conditions, resulting in a cost estimate of 500 pounds and a public appeal. Within 6 months, up until March 1937, they had raised 350 pounds and after a visit to the State Tourist Committee, they obtained 200 pound State Unemployment Fund grant for use to employ local labour in the hut construction. McColl (architect) and Doughty worked on erecting the hut in the summer of 1936-7, preparing three construction stages: the first being the public bunks (for 10) and living space (with fireplace), the second being a club bunk room served by heating slabs in the rear of the fireplace (locked, as club rooms), and the last stage was the kitchen, meal annexe and bathroom{ ibid.}. This plan also obtained approval from the SCV Hut & Trip sub-committee. This hut was one stage in a grand scheme for the mountain, one which might cause considerable controversy today. Then skiers used the Staircase Spur and Bivouac Hut to ascend to the slopes. This route was developed to Cole's plan which had meant the removal of `young timber which grows so vigorously along the crest of the ridge but more clearing and widening of the track was needed. A better solution was a new all-weather access road up the Big River Valley or another around the north or south face of the mountain and entering Camp Valley below the tree line ibid.}. Meanwhile the hut site access time had been cut down by an hour by road and track improvements via Staircase such that 4 hours on horse and 5 hours on foot from Cooper's property to the site was typical{ ibid.}. The Lone Scout section of the Boy Scouts Association had provided for the transport cost of the 11 tons of building materials from Melbourne to Tawonga (Cooper's). Local carter, Dudley Walker, packed the materials across the next 8 mile stage, costing some 19 pounds per ton and taking 6 weeks (February 21- April 7th) with 8 horses. Bright builder, George Sharpe who was experienced in stone construction, was selected to provide quantities and labour costing for the hut. Building materials were provided by H Parsons P/L at cost and D&W Chandler (Fitzroy hardware merchants) also provided discounts. The shell was of stone, with 2 feet high, 15" thick foundation walls set in reinforced concrete, with a damp course and the 12" thick walls built on them. Steps led to the entry area which had a large wood box and ski rack (20 pairs) and from there to the living area with its stone fireplace lined with fire bricks and flanked with two large drying cabinets (heated by slabs in the side of the fireplace and fitted with shelves for boots and hooks for clothes). Water from a spring some 420' distant, was piped into the kitchen bathroom section with its sink and draining board, shelves and a wash basin. There was also a colonial oven, a washing recess and hand pump, and a shower. This hut was thought to be the first to use double casements (double glazing) in a snow resort. The floor level was elevated and the roof was kept to a shallow grade to stop the snow from sliding off and building up around the entrance and windows. The final cost would be about 600 pounds. `The hut has been erected on a site which has a most commanding outlook with glorious views in all directions, has substantial firewood supply right on the spot and is very easily approached from the summit of the mountain'{ ibid.}. A little over 10 years later, the hut had deteriorated considerably to such an extent that its structural soundness would be questionable unless urgent work was done in the Summer of 1948-9. So reported its designed, Malcolm McColl. The main problem was a lack of flashing to one side of the chimney which allowed large quantities of snow to penetrate a 2" gap into the hut ceiling. The roofing also needed renailing and the stone chimney itself was not only too short (requiring an extension pipe to stop it smoking) but had nearly disintegrated. It needed rebuilding. The front steps had been almost destroyed as the mortar had not set in the original construction. The last painting was in 1941 and this too needed redoing at least annually. The putty was falling out and the window sashes coming to bits{ DCNR file H.019905 Report on Inspection of Cleve Cole Memorial Hut November 28-30 1948}. McColl thought that if the standard of maintenance was not kept up the users of the hut would not take care of it. In 1949, the SCV revealed plans to reduce the wear on the hut by building another unlocked shelter with two bunks and a stove nearby. The public would then be charged for access to the original hut on the same scale as members were for the club section of the hut. The money would go into a trust fund to maintain the building. The hut was thought to be the only comfortable accommodation on the Mountain and must remain accessible to the public if only to carry out the development plans of its namesake{ DCNR file H.019905 letter from SCV (H Cartledge) 13.12.49}. With the rapid development of Kiewa scheme and all its infrastructure, more people would soon have easy access to the area. Along with the repointing and rebuilding parts of the stonework, painting the woodwork `new green', renailing the roofing and inserting flashing, other works planned included provision of new high pressure chrome plated taps to basin and sink, one inch boarding to porch interior walls, new glass panes and puttying, new Whitco casement stays to all windows, painting of ceiling with Muraltone along with other interior woodwork, painting the kitchen and shower in light tones, removal of the wall between the kitchen and meal alcove and install kitchen bench around the alcove with shelves above, install shelves around bunks, repair Caneite ceiling and strapping, decrease number of bunks in clubroom and provide storage instead, and wired glass to lower bunk windows. The SCV also reacted to the complaints of local people over the locking up of the hut. The SCV pointed to the generous help provided by the old generation of cattl
I haven't been very frequent on here but I am now trying to get caught up with everyone's photos again. Lots of wonderful posts by everyone.
This big male black bear was photographed near Cranberry Junction in Northern BC. I was hoping to find the elusive Kermodei (Spirit Bear) that frequents the area and ran into this guy instead. He had been enjoying a nice snack of grass and dandelions before being interrupted by me. He is one of the larger black bears I have seen in that area which has a strong population at the moment.
Some of you have asked what a Kermodei bear is... so here is a link to a bit about them.
Best viewed Large
A round up of some visits from nearly a decade ago when I just posted general shots, to my surprise I took shots of details too, and didn't post them at the time.
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Monday 10th September 2012
I can now reveal that being on Holiday is officially better than being at work. It is a Monday morning, and we have bottled another batch of beer, and i have mopped the floor as we did manage to mess it up, slightly. The house now smells like a brewery, which would not be a bad thing only it was just eight in the morning, and it is a tad early for beer, even for me. In an exciting move, we are heading to Tesco in a while to get ingredients for out Christmas cakes.
Yes, cakes. One is never enough. A couple of years ago, we tried one in November and had to bake another one to replace it. We don't marzipan or ice them, and just leave them with their cakey goodness and Christmas spiciness.
Friday seemed to go on forever until it got to five to four and it was time to head home. The technicians had come ashore early and gone home, so I had the office to myself, therefore my hearty laughing at the Kermode and Mayo film review went unheard except by me.
So, off to Tesco for a week's shopping, and ended up getting enough stuff to last the weekend. And once that was done and paid for, loaded up the car and back home and now the holiday could really begin.
And Friday night was spent watching football. Yes, now the Olympics and Paralympics are coming to an end, it means we must return, ashamed like a unfaithful lover to the old dependable. And England began their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away game against Moldova. I did have to ask Jools to Google Moldova to find where it was, as I really didn't have a clue.
Anyway, it is behind the fridge just to the lest of Romania, apparently.
And England strung together at least 5 passes, played well, and scored 5 goals; and yet managed to look unconvincing switching off several times, just before half time and in the second half and could have easily conceded goals. Just to remind you, by some quirk, England are currently ranked the third best team IN THE WORLD, which I suppose goes to show just how much you should trust information coming out of FIFA towers.
Saturday morning after breakfast we headed to Mongeham for some foraging action, so we can make jam and jellies. We knew of a footpath behind a garage that is just lined with plum and greengage trees. We picked a couple of pounds and then headed on up the A20 and M20 to head to The Weald for a tour of 'interesting' churches.
Each year English Heritage organises a long weekend where many buildings are open for people like us to visit and photograph. Last spring we visited St Lawrence at Mereworth; and while is it a wonderfully beautiful church, the doors were locked and we wanted to see inside.
First of all we headed inside the M25 to a tiny, but beautiful village on the edge of the Weald where stockbrokers and hedge fund managers have their homes with fine views onto the Garden of england. All along the main road huge gates with security cameras guarded the mock-Tudor mansions hidden behind mature trees.
We turned off down a narrow lane and headed towards to small village of Trottiscliffe; which is not pronounced the way it is spelt so to make the unwary visitor appear stupid. It is pronounced 'Trozli', if Wiki is to be believed.
At the end of a long dead end road leading to a row of cottages and an old stable block is the church. I don't think i have ever seen a church in a more perfect location, it is one of those places that you have to be going as you'll never just pass it.
There was a churchwarden waiting at the door and happy to answer questions and tell us the history of the church. Dominating the tiny church is, what I now know to be from Westminister Abbey is the biggest pulpit I have seen outside a er, cathedral.
We take our leave and head to Mereworth.
We were the only visitors at the church, we parked the car on the verge outside, took in the glorious design of the church before going in. First thing you do see is a pair of spiral staircases; one to the gallery and the other to the bell tower. And straight ahead is a simple wooden door leading to the main body of the church.
I won't try to describe the church, please use the link on the pictures to go to my Flickrstream. The design is glorious, and looking pristine as it has just been restored to its former glory. Or original glory.
Once again there was a churchwarden to greet us, offer us refreshments and answer any questions.
The warden at Spedhurst stressed that we should not miss Groombridge, and as that was next on our list, that is where we headed to next. At least by now the churches were just a mile or two apart and we were rattling through them.
St John the Evangalist is a small chapel, once part of a large estate, dominated by many wonderful 18th century windows and a single handed clock. An old gentleman welcomed us and handed us another leaflet. The mechanism for the clock sits in front of one of the windows, and it's loud ticking and tocking fills the church.
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One of those rarities – a seventeenth century church. Conceived as a single cell building with no structural division between nave and chancel and built almost entirely of brick its windows may be a good example of `gothic survival` but there is some debate about their introduction in the nineteenth century. The most famous feature of this church is its one-handed clock but if the visitor manages to get inside they will be overwhelmed by the contents, for this really is a treasure-chest of furnishings and memorials. The stained glass, much by Kempe, is outstanding as is the quality of the woodwork.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Groombridge
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¶THE CHAPEL OF GROOMBRIDGE, belonging to this hamlet, was dedicated to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, and was built before the end of the reign of king Henry III. in the 23d year of which William Russell and Hawis his wife, granted lands in different places to this chapel of St. John of Gromenebregge in their manor of Redmeregge, and Robert de Speldhurst and his successors, chaplains there, in pure and perpetual alms. It appears by a lease granted by the above-mentioned Robert, of part of the above premises in the 38th year of that reign, that this chapel was likewife called the chapel of Redmeregge, several other benefactors of small parcels of land are recorded in the Registrum Roffense, in some of which this chapel is mentioned to be situated in the manor of Redmeregge in the parish of Speldhurst. (fn. 16) John Packer, esq. who purchased this estate, rebuilt this chapel in the year 1625, and dedicated it to the service of God, in gratitude for the safe return of Charles, prince of Wales, from Spain; whence it was afterwards called St. Charles's chapel. Over the door of the chapel was the following inscription, now obliterated: D.O.M. 1625, ob felicissimi Caroli Principis Ex Hispania reducis Sacellum boc D. D. I. P. over which is the devise of the prince of Wales. He endowed it at the same time with twenty pounds per annum, and ten pounds per annum, in consideration of a chaplain's board. The duty in it is still kept up, but there is now paid out of the estate to the chaplain, only 12l. 15s. per annum. The hamlet being large, there is a large congregation likewife. It is now esteemed as a donative in the king's gift.
In this chapel, in the chancel, is a monument for Philip Packer, esq. obt. 1686; another for John his son, obt. 1697; in the windows are the arms of Packer with their several quarterings. In the middle isle is a memorial for John Poeton, minister of this chapel 36 years; obt. 1691. (fn. 17)
Victorian Alpine Huts survey, for Parks Victoria April, May 1994: Built in 1937 for the Ski Club of Victoria and dedicated to a pioneer skier, Cleve Cole, this hut was illustrated in the club's journal `Schuss' as a rubble stone gabled building with casement widows and stone chimney. Larger than most cattlemen's huts, the design had a porch and wood box, a living space with a 10 person bunk at one end and a bunk room with heating slabs at the other. In the centre was the fireplace. A kitchen and eating alcove adjoined on the south side{ see also Stephenson: 206}. A memorial stone on the wall of this hut was inscribed with the words: `In Memory of Cleve Cole Died 1936'{ Stephenson: 214}. His death arose from a disastrous skiing trip across the Bogong High Plains with (Percy E ) Mick Hull and Howard Michell, all three being very experienced{ MP p.70}. The architect was Malcolm McColl, Tom Fisher and Harold Doughty acted as labourers on the construction while the stonework was formed by Art Downer and the foreman was M McLaren{ Stephenson (1982): 360f.}. McLaren remained on the site from the 21 February to 17 May 1937 to complete the work. The foundations were in place by March 1937. The huts origins are linked with the August General Meeting of the SCV when a committee, consisting of Gordon Brown (chair), Harold Brockhoff, V Letcher (Vic. Railways), AW Shands, D Gray and D Stogdale, was initiated to raise funds for a memorial hut on Mt Bogong. Other members coopted to the committee were H Doughty (scouts), AW Keown (Vict. Railways), Miss BM Kermode (treasurer and part of the Government Tourist Bureau) and M McColl (architect, designer of hut). Apart from its memorial function the hut would allow access to `really excellent ski runs, better than exist elsewhere in Victoria, becoming accessible to skiing enthusiasts on the highest mountain in the State'{ `Australian & New Zealand Ski Year Book' 1937, p51}. This could not be achieved without `a substantial building' and stone was opted for as the least likely to deteriorate in those conditions, resulting in a cost estimate of 500 pounds and a public appeal. Within 6 months, up until March 1937, they had raised 350 pounds and after a visit to the State Tourist Committee, they obtained 200 pound State Unemployment Fund grant for use to employ local labour in the hut construction. McColl (architect) and Doughty worked on erecting the hut in the summer of 1936-7, preparing three construction stages: the first being the public bunks (for 10) and living space (with fireplace), the second being a club bunk room served by heating slabs in the rear of the fireplace (locked, as club rooms), and the last stage was the kitchen, meal annexe and bathroom{ ibid.}. This plan also obtained approval from the SCV Hut & Trip sub-committee. This hut was one stage in a grand scheme for the mountain, one which might cause considerable controversy today. Then skiers used the Staircase Spur and Bivouac Hut to ascend to the slopes. This route was developed to Cole's plan which had meant the removal of `young timber which grows so vigorously along the crest of the ridge but more clearing and widening of the track was needed. A better solution was a new all-weather access road up the Big River Valley or another around the north or south face of the mountain and entering Camp Valley below the tree line ibid.}. Meanwhile the hut site access time had been cut down by an hour by road and track improvements via Staircase such that 4 hours on horse and 5 hours on foot from Cooper's property to the site was typical{ ibid.}. The Lone Scout section of the Boy Scouts Association had provided for the transport cost of the 11 tons of building materials from Melbourne to Tawonga (Cooper's). Local carter, Dudley Walker, packed the materials across the next 8 mile stage, costing some 19 pounds per ton and taking 6 weeks (February 21- April 7th) with 8 horses. Bright builder, George Sharpe who was experienced in stone construction, was selected to provide quantities and labour costing for the hut. Building materials were provided by H Parsons P/L at cost and D&W Chandler (Fitzroy hardware merchants) also provided discounts. The shell was of stone, with 2 feet high, 15" thick foundation walls set in reinforced concrete, with a damp course and the 12" thick walls built on them. Steps led to the entry area which had a large wood box and ski rack (20 pairs) and from there to the living area with its stone fireplace lined with fire bricks and flanked with two large drying cabinets (heated by slabs in the side of the fireplace and fitted with shelves for boots and hooks for clothes). Water from a spring some 420' distant, was piped into the kitchen bathroom section with its sink and draining board, shelves and a wash basin. There was also a colonial oven, a washing recess and hand pump, and a shower. This hut was thought to be the first to use double casements (double glazing) in a snow resort. The floor level was elevated and the roof was kept to a shallow grade to stop the snow from sliding off and building up around the entrance and windows. The final cost would be about 600 pounds. `The hut has been erected on a site which has a most commanding outlook with glorious views in all directions, has substantial firewood supply right on the spot and is very easily approached from the summit of the mountain'{ ibid.}. A little over 10 years later, the hut had deteriorated considerably to such an extent that its structural soundness would be questionable unless urgent work was done in the Summer of 1948-9. So reported its designed, Malcolm McColl. The main problem was a lack of flashing to one side of the chimney which allowed large quantities of snow to penetrate a 2" gap into the hut ceiling. The roofing also needed renailing and the stone chimney itself was not only too short (requiring an extension pipe to stop it smoking) but had nearly disintegrated. It needed rebuilding. The front steps had been almost destroyed as the mortar had not set in the original construction. The last painting was in 1941 and this too needed redoing at least annually. The putty was falling out and the window sashes coming to bits{ DCNR file H.019905 Report on Inspection of Cleve Cole Memorial Hut November 28-30 1948}. McColl thought that if the standard of maintenance was not kept up the users of the hut would not take care of it. In 1949, the SCV revealed plans to reduce the wear on the hut by building another unlocked shelter with two bunks and a stove nearby. The public would then be charged for access to the original hut on the same scale as members were for the club section of the hut. The money would go into a trust fund to maintain the building. The hut was thought to be the only comfortable accommodation on the Mountain and must remain accessible to the public if only to carry out the development plans of its namesake{ DCNR file H.019905 letter from SCV (H Cartledge) 13.12.49}. With the rapid development of Kiewa scheme and all its infrastructure, more people would soon have easy access to the area. Along with the repointing and rebuilding parts of the stonework, painting the woodwork `new green', renailing the roofing and inserting flashing, other works planned included provision of new high pressure chrome plated taps to basin and sink, one inch boarding to porch interior walls, new glass panes and puttying, new Whitco casement stays to all windows, painting of ceiling with Muraltone along with other interior woodwork, painting the kitchen and shower in light tones, removal of the wall between the kitchen and meal alcove and install kitchen bench around the alcove with shelves above, install shelves around bunks, repair Caneite ceiling and strapping, decrease number of bunks in clubroom and provide storage instead, and wired glass to lower bunk windows. The SCV also reacted to the complaints of local people over the locking up of the hut. The SCV pointed to the generous help provided by the old generation of cattl
N722FR A321-211
Xavier the Mountain Goat
N229FR A320-214
Peachy the Fox
N366FR A320-251N
Kit the Kermode Bear
The Rainforest Coast of British Columbia encompasses the largest remaining intact temperate rainforest in the world. While it is often the beauty of BC’s coastal rainforests which enthral visitors from throughout the world, it is the productiveness of these forests that intrigue scientists. BC’s coastal rainforests feature the highest biomass (the total amount or mass of organisms in a given area) per hectare of any ecosystem on earth. Trees here can often live more than 1,000 years, reaching hundreds of feet into the air, with diameters exceeding 9.4m.
Coastal rainforests provide critical habitat for incredibly varied populations of animals. Well-known species include grizzly bears, eagles, and the rare Kermode or Spirit bear, an unusual snow-white variation of the black bear.
The coastal rainforests are among the rarest and most productive ecosystems on the planet; they are also disappearing before we know almost anything about them. It’s as if we are burning the library before we have read the books. Only in the last 10 years have scientists begun to learn about the fragile system of interrelationships that makes up the beautiful web of life in these “green cathedrals”. In the meantime salmon, which our fisheries as well as a multitude of other animals depend upon, are disappearing forever along with many other species that can live only in coastal rainforests.
The temperate rainforest is very rare, originally covering less than 0.2% of the earth's land surface. Now, over one half of that limited original temperate rainforest has been logged and altered; of that which remains worldwide, over one quarter is found on BC's coast.
Recently environmental organizations have been able to turn the spotlight of international concern to BC’s rainforests. Efforts to protect such ‘Great Spaces’ as the Kitlope and Great Bear Wilderness, have become internationally known as have the Queen Charlotte Islands’ Gwaii Haanas, and the Walbran Valley.
But time is running out. So far only 5.8% of BC’s ancient rainforests have been protected and much of the rest has been scheduled to be clearcut in the next decade.
(From Great Wild Spaces.)
This forest along Chapman Creek was logged (by hand) about a century ago. You can still see notched stumps scattered through the forest, with new trees sprouting from their tops.
This High Dynamic Range 360° panorama was stitched from 72 bracketed photographs with PTGUI Pro, tone-mapped with Photomatix, processed in Color Efex, and finally touched up in Aperture. (It’s not really as complicated as it sounds, just a matter of using one tool for each job.)
Original size: 20000 × 10000 (200.0 MP; 1.07 GB)
Location: Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada.
Photographed on a sailboat cruise through the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, with Bluewater Adventures. This imagery was created as part of the triptych assignment in my photoclub; however, we all agreed this was not a triptych but a collage. This is a kermode "spirit" bear, a black bear with a recessive gene that gives it this pale colour.
The Rainforest Coast of British Columbia encompasses the largest remaining intact temperate rainforest in the world. While it is often the beauty of BC’s coastal rainforests which enthrall visitors from throughout the world, it is the productiveness of these forests that intrigue scientists. BC's coastal rainforests feature the highest biomass (the total amount or mass of organisms in a given area) per hectare of any ecosystem on earth. Trees here can often live more than 1,000 years, reaching hundreds of feet into the air, with diameters exceeding 9.4m.
Coastal rainforests provide critical habitat for incredibly varied populations of animals. Well-known species include grizzly bears, eagles, and the rare Kermode or Spirit bear, an unusual snow-white variation of the black bear.
The coastal rainforests are among the rarest and most productive ecosystems on the planet; they are also disappearing before we know almost anything about them. It’s as if we are burning the library before we have read the books. Only in the last 10 years have scientists begun to learn about the fragile system of interrelationships that makes up the beautiful web of life in these “green cathedrals”. In the meantime salmon, which our fisheries as well as a multitude of other animals depend upon, are disappearing forever along with many other species that can live only in coastal rainforests.
The temperate rainforest is very rare, originally covering less than 0.2% of the earth's land surface. Now, over one half of that limited original temperate rainforest has been logged and altered; of that which remains worldwide, over one quarter is found on BC’s coast.
(From Wild Spaces.
I’ve been experimenting with my new Insta360 ONE camera. Verdict so far: image quality decent for a point-and-shoot, lacks a bracketing function, and the Bluetooth link with my iPad is very short-range (so much so that getting out of the picture can be problematical.) On the plus side, it only takes a minute or two to take a 360° panorama rather than 5-8 minutes with a nodal head.
This High Dynamic Range 360° panorama was tone-mapped from three bracketed 360° photographs with Photomatix, straightened with PTGUI Pro, processed in Color Efex, and touched up in Affinity Photo and Aperture.
Original size: 7000 × 3500 (24.5 MP; 153.94 MB).
Location: Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada
The Rainforest Coast of British Columbia encompasses the largest remaining intact temperate rainforest in the world. While it is often the beauty of BC’s coastal rainforests which enthrall visitors from throughout the world, it is the productiveness of these forests that intrigue scientists. BC's coastal rainforests feature the highest biomass (the total amount or mass of organisms in a given area) per hectare of any ecosystem on earth. Trees here can often live more than 1,000 years, reaching hundreds of feet into the air, with diameters exceeding 9.4m.
Coastal rainforests provide critical habitat for incredibly varied populations of animals. Well-known species include grizzly bears, eagles, and the rare Kermode or Spirit bear, an unusual snow-white variation of the black bear.
The coastal rainforests are among the rarest and most productive ecosystems on the planet; they are also disappearing before we know almost anything about them. It’s as if we are burning the library before we have read the books. Only in the last 10 years have scientists begun to learn about the fragile system of interrelationships that makes up the beautiful web of life in these “green cathedrals”. In the meantime salmon, which our fisheries as well as a multitude of other animals depend upon, are disappearing forever along with many other species that can live only in coastal rainforests.
The temperate rainforest is very rare, originally covering less than 0.2% of the earth's land surface. Now, over one half of that limited original temperate rainforest has been logged and altered; of that which remains worldwide, over one quarter is found on BC’s coast.
(From Wild Spaces.
I’ve been experimenting with my new Insta360 ONE camera. Verdict so far: image quality decent for a point-and-shoot, lacks a bracketing function, and the Bluetooth link with my iPad is very short-range (so much so that getting out of the picture can be problematical.) On the plus side, it only takes a minute or two to take a 360° panorama rather than 5-8 minutes with a nodal head.
This High Dynamic Range 360° panorama was tone-mapped from three bracketed 360° photographs with Photomatix, straightened with PTGUI Pro, processed in Color Efex, and touched up in Affinity Photo and Aperture.
Original size: 7000 × 3500 (24.5 MP; 151.14 MB).
Location: Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada
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LEGEND OF THE SPIRIT BEAR
In both Gitga’at and Kitasoo-Xai Xais First Nation folklore, the Spirit Bear is highly revered in a legend handed down from each successive generation:
‘Out of the iceage came the world, created by Raven and full of life and colour. After Raven had finished creating the green world he wanted something that would remind him of past days when things were all white, during the ice age. Raven spoke to black bear and promised him he would roam forever safe and live forever peacefully if he allowed one in every ten of his population be white.
The Kermode bear (ursus americanus kermodei) is also known as the spirit bear, a sacred and rare subspecies of the American black bear found in Central and North coast regions of British Columbia. The majority of Kermosde bears are black, with a small percentage of perhaps 100-500 being fully white in colour. These are not albinos, as they retain pigmented skin and eyes, instead a single non synonymous nucleotide substitutuin in the MC1R gene causes melanin to be produced. The gene is recessive, thus Kermode bears with two copies of it appear white.
Photograph taken at an altitude of Three hundred and seventy six metres, at 12:55pm on Monday 12th September 2019 off the Trans Canada highway 97 between Kamloops and Monte Creek on the North bank of the Thompson River in British Columbia, Canada.
Nikon D850. Focal length 135mm Shutter speed 1/250s Aperture f/16.0 iso500 RAW (14 bit uncompressed) Image size L (8256 x 5504 FX). Hand held with Nikon Image stabilization VR enabled on Normal mode. Focus mode AF-C focus 51 point with 3D- tracking. AF-Area mode single point & 73 point switchable. Exposure mode - Aperture priority exposure. Nikon Back button focusing enabled. Matrix metering. ISO Sensitivity: Auto. White balance: Natural light auto. Colour space Adobe RGB. Nikon Distortion control on. Picture control: Auto. High ISO NR on. Vignette control: normal. Active D-lighting Auto.
Nikkor AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E. Hoya UHC 67mm UV(C) filter.Cokin GND4 resin filter . Nikon EN-EL15a battery.Mcoplus professional MB-D850 multi function battery grip 6960. Matin quick release neckstrap. My Memory 128GB Class 10 SDXC 80MB/s card. Lowepro Flipside 400 AW camera bag. Nikon GP-1 GPS module. Hoodman HEYENRG round eyepiece oversized eyecup.
LATITUDE: N 50d 39m 4.80s
LONGITUDE: W 120d 5m 3.20s
ALTITUDE: 376.0m
RAW (TIFF) FILE: 130.00MB NEF: 93.7MB
PROCESSED (JPeg) FILE: 34.60MB
PROCESSING POWER:
Nikon D850 Firmware versions C 1.10 (9/05/2019) LD Distortion Data 2.017 (20/3/18) LF 1.00
HP 110-352na Desktop PC with AMD Quad-Core A6-5200 APU 64Bit processor. Radeon HD8400 graphics. 8 GB DDR3 Memory with 1TB Data storage. 64-bit Windows 10. Verbatim USB 2.0 1TB desktop hard drive. WD My Passport Ultra 1tb USB3 Portable hard drive. Nikon ViewNX-1 64bit (Version 1.3.1 11/07/2019). Nikon Capture NX-D 64bit (Version 1.4.7 15/03/2018). Nikon Picture Control Utility 2 (Version 1.3.2 15/03/2018). Adobe photoshop Elements 8 Version 8.0 64bit.
Joes 9th Birthday - we took him with his sister and three mates to see 2012 at Cineworld in Canary Wharf - it was better than Mark Kermodes review suggests - www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqVCjRojuP8&feature=channel but Kermodes reviews are always entertaining if you agree or not. Then we went to Wagammas for dinner - www.wagamama.com/ . I had the Yaki Soba .This photo taken in Cabot Square on the way from the cinema to the Restaurant.
Scattered throughout Victoria, Vancouver Island and Vancouver, British Columbia, these artistic "Spirit Bears" scuptures were to be auctioned off in
September 2006 to benefit the British Columbia Lions Society for Children with Disabilities Easter Seals and Bear Mountain Fund.
The legend of the "Kermode" Spirit Bear -
Found only in British Columbia's northern forests, the rare "Spirit Bear" or "Kermode Bear" is widely recognized for its unique white coloring.
A round up of some visits from nearly a decade ago when I just posted general shots, to my surprise I took shots of details too, and didn't post them at the time.
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Monday 10th September 2012
I can now reveal that being on Holiday is officially better than being at work. It is a Monday morning, and we have bottled another batch of beer, and i have mopped the floor as we did manage to mess it up, slightly. The house now smells like a brewery, which would not be a bad thing only it was just eight in the morning, and it is a tad early for beer, even for me. In an exciting move, we are heading to Tesco in a while to get ingredients for out Christmas cakes.
Yes, cakes. One is never enough. A couple of years ago, we tried one in November and had to bake another one to replace it. We don't marzipan or ice them, and just leave them with their cakey goodness and Christmas spiciness.
Friday seemed to go on forever until it got to five to four and it was time to head home. The technicians had come ashore early and gone home, so I had the office to myself, therefore my hearty laughing at the Kermode and Mayo film review went unheard except by me.
So, off to Tesco for a week's shopping, and ended up getting enough stuff to last the weekend. And once that was done and paid for, loaded up the car and back home and now the holiday could really begin.
And Friday night was spent watching football. Yes, now the Olympics and Paralympics are coming to an end, it means we must return, ashamed like a unfaithful lover to the old dependable. And England began their World Cup qualifying campaign with an away game against Moldova. I did have to ask Jools to Google Moldova to find where it was, as I really didn't have a clue.
Anyway, it is behind the fridge just to the lest of Romania, apparently.
And England strung together at least 5 passes, played well, and scored 5 goals; and yet managed to look unconvincing switching off several times, just before half time and in the second half and could have easily conceded goals. Just to remind you, by some quirk, England are currently ranked the third best team IN THE WORLD, which I suppose goes to show just how much you should trust information coming out of FIFA towers.
Saturday morning after breakfast we headed to Mongeham for some foraging action, so we can make jam and jellies. We knew of a footpath behind a garage that is just lined with plum and greengage trees. We picked a couple of pounds and then headed on up the A20 and M20 to head to The Weald for a tour of 'interesting' churches.
Each year English Heritage organises a long weekend where many buildings are open for people like us to visit and photograph. Last spring we visited St Lawrence at Mereworth; and while is it a wonderfully beautiful church, the doors were locked and we wanted to see inside.
First of all we headed inside the M25 to a tiny, but beautiful village on the edge of the Weald where stockbrokers and hedge fund managers have their homes with fine views onto the Garden of england. All along the main road huge gates with security cameras guarded the mock-Tudor mansions hidden behind mature trees.
We turned off down a narrow lane and headed towards to small village of Trottiscliffe; which is not pronounced the way it is spelt so to make the unwary visitor appear stupid. It is pronounced 'Trozli', if Wiki is to be believed.
At the end of a long dead end road leading to a row of cottages and an old stable block is the church. I don't think i have ever seen a church in a more perfect location, it is one of those places that you have to be going as you'll never just pass it.
There was a churchwarden waiting at the door and happy to answer questions and tell us the history of the church. Dominating the tiny church is, what I now know to be from Westminister Abbey is the biggest pulpit I have seen outside a er, cathedral.
We take our leave and head to Mereworth.
We were the only visitors at the church, we parked the car on the verge outside, took in the glorious design of the church before going in. First thing you do see is a pair of spiral staircases; one to the gallery and the other to the bell tower. And straight ahead is a simple wooden door leading to the main body of the church.
I won't try to describe the church, please use the link on the pictures to go to my Flickrstream. The design is glorious, and looking pristine as it has just been restored to its former glory. Or original glory.
Once again there was a churchwarden to greet us, offer us refreshments and answer any questions.
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One of the few eighteenth-century churches in Kent, built in 1746 by the 7th Earl of Westmoreland. Surprisingly for so late a date the name of the architect is not known although it is in the style of Colen Campbell who designed the nearby castle, but as he died in 1722 it is probably by someone in his office. The main feature of the church is a tall stone steeple with four urns at the top of the tower, whilst the body of the church is a plain rectangular box consisting of an aisled nave and chancel. Inside is an excellent display of eighteenth-century interior decoration - especially fine being the curved ceiling which is painted with trompe l'oeil panels. At the west end is the galleried pew belonging to the owners of Mereworth Castle - it has organ pipes painted on its rear wall. The south-west chapel contains memorials brought here from the old church which stood near the castle, including one to a fifteenth-century Lord Bergavenny, and Sir Thomas Fane (d. 1589). The latter monument has a superb top-knot! The church contains much heraldic stained glass of sixteenth-century date, best seen with binoculars early in the morning. Of Victorian date is the excellent Raising of Lazarus window, installed in 1889 by the firm of Heaton, Butler and Bayne. In the churchyard is the grave of Charles Lucas, the first man to be awarded the Victoria Cross, while serving on the Hecla during the Crimean War.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Mereworth
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MEREWORTH.
EASTWARD from West, or Little Peckham, lies Mereworth, usually called Merrud. In Domesday it is written Marourde, and in the Textus Roffensis, MÆRUURTHA, and MERANWYRTHE.
THE PARISH of Mereworth is within the district of the Weald, being situated southward of the quarry hills. It is exceedingly pleasant, as well from its naturalsituation, as from the buildings, avenues, and other ornamental improvements made throughout it by the late earl of Westmoreland, nor do those made at Yokes by the late Mr. Master contribute a little to the continued beauty of this scene. The turnpike road crosses this parish through the vale from Maidstone, towards Hadlow and Tunbridge, on each side of which is a fine avenue of oaks, with a low neatly cut quick hedge along the whole of it, which leaves an uninterrupted view over the house, park, and grounds of lord le Despencer, the church with its fine built spire, and the seat of Yokes, and beyond it an extensive country, along the valley to Tunbridge, making altogether a most beautiful and luxuriant prospect.
Mereworth house is situated in the park, which rises finely wooded behind it, at a small distance from the high road, having a fine sheet of water in the front of it, being formed from a part of a stream which rises at a small distance above Yokes, and dividing itself into two branches, one of them runs in front of Mereworth house as above mentioned, and from thence through Watringbury, towards the Medway at Bow-bridge; the other branch runs more southward to East Peckham, and thence into the Medway at a small distance above Twiford bridge.
Mereworth-house was built after a plan of Palladio, designed for a noble Vicentine gentleman, Paolo Almerico, an ecclesiastic and referendary to two popes, who built it in his own country about a quarter of a mile distance from the city of Venice, in a situation pleasant and delightful, and nearly like this; being watered in front with a river, and in the back encompassed with the most pleasant risings, which form a kind of theatre, and abound with large and stately groves of oak and other trees; from the top of these risings there are most beautiful views, some of which are limited, and others extend so as to be terminated only by the horizon. Mereworth house is built in a moat, and has four fronts, having each a portico, but the two side ones are filled up; under the floor of the hall and best apartments, are rooms and conveniences for the servants. The hall, which is in the middle, forms a cupola, and receives its light from above, and is formed with a double case, between which the smoke is conveyed through the chimnies to the center of it at top. The wings are at a small distance from the house, and are elegantly designed. In the front of the house is an avenue, cut through the woods, three miles in length towards Wrotham-heath, and finished with incredible expence and labour by lord Westmoreland, for a communication with the London road there: throughout the whole, art and nature are so happily blended together, as to render it a most delightful situation.
In the western part of this parish, on the high road is the village, where at Mereworth cross it turns short off to the southward towards Hadlow and Tunbridge, at a small distance further westward is the church and parsonage, the former is a conspicuous ornament to all the neighbouring country throughout the valley; hence the ground rises to Yokes, which is most pleasantly situated on the side of a hill, commanding a most delightful and extensive prospect over the Weald, and into Surry and Sussex.
Towards the north this parish rises up to the ridge of hills, called the Quarry-hills, (and there are now in them, though few in number, several of the Martin Cats, the same as those at Hudson's Bay) over which is the extensive tract of wood-land, called the Herst woods, in which so late as queen Elizabeth's reign, there were many wild swine, with which the whole Weald formerly abounded, by reason of the plenty of pannage from the acorns throughout it. (fn. 1)
¶The soil of this parish is very fertile, being the quarry stone thinly covered with a loam, throughout the northern part of it; but in the southern or lower parts, as well as in East Peckham adjoining, it is a fertile clay, being mostly pasture and exceeding rich grazing land, and the largest oxen perhaps at any place in this part of England are bred and fatted on them, the weight of some of them having been, as I have been informed, near three hundred stone.
THIS PLACE, at the time of taking the survey of Domesday, was part of the possessions of Hamo Vicecomes, under the general title of whose lands it is thus entered in that book.
In Littlefield hundred. Hamo holds Marourde. Norman held it of king Edward, and then, and now, it was and is taxed at two sulings. The arable land is ninecarucates. In demesne there are two, and twenty-eight villeins, with fifteen borderers, having ten carucates. There is a church and ten servants, and two mills of ten shillings, and two fisheries of two shillings. There are twenty acres of meadow, and as much wood as is sufficient for the pannage of sixty hogs. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, it was worth twelve pounds, and afterwards ten pounds, now nineteen pounds.
This Hamo Vicecomes before-mentioned was Hamo de Crevequer, who was appointed Vicecomes, or sheriff of Kent, soon after his coming over hither with the Conqueror, which office he held till his death in the reign of king Henry I.
¶In the reign of king Henry II. Mereworth was in the possession of a family, which took their surname from it, and held it as two knights fees, of the earls of Clare, as of their honour of Clare.
Roger, son of Eustace de Mereworth, possessed it in the above reign, and then brought a quare impedit against the prior of. Leeds, for the advowson of the church of Mereworth. (fn. 3)
William de Mereworth is recorded among those Kentish knights, who assisted king Richard at the siege of Acon, in Palestine, upon which account it is probable the cross-croslets were added to the paternal arms of this family.
MEREWORTH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Rochester and deanry of Malling.
The church was dedicated to St. Laurence. It was an antient building, and formerly stood where the west wing of Mereworth-house, made use of for the stables, now stands. It was pulled down by John, late earl of Westmoreland, when he rebuilt that house, and in lieu of it he erected, about half a mile westward from the old one, in the center of the village, the present church, a most elegant building, with a beautiful spire steeple, and a handsome portico in the front of it, with pillars of the Corinthian order. The whole of it is composed of different sorts of stone; and the east window is handsomely glazed with painted glass, collected by him for this purpose.
In the reign of king Henry II. the advowson of this church was the property of Roger de Mereworth, between whom and the prior and convent of Ledes, in this county, there had been much dispute, concerning the patronage of it: at length both parties submitted their interest to Gilbert, bishop of Rochester, who decreed, that the advowson of it should remain to Roger de Mereworth; and he further granted, with his consent, and that of Martin then parson of it, to the prior and convent, the sum of forty shillings, in the name of a perpetual benefice, and not in the name of a pension, in perpetual alms, to be received yearly for ever, from the parson of it. (fn. 13)
The prior and the convent of Ledes afterwards, anno 12 Henry VII. released to Hugh Walker, rector of this church, their right and claim to this pension, and all their right and claim in the rectory, by reason of it, or by any other means whatsoever.
In the reign of king Henry VI. the rector and parishioners of this church petitioned the bishop of Ro chester, to change the day of the feast of the dedication of it, which being solemnized yearly on the 4th day of June, and the moveable seasts of Pentecost, viz. of the sacred Trinity, or Corpus Christi, very often happening on it; the divine service used on the feasts of dedications could not in some years be celebrated, but was of necessity deferred to another day, that these solemnities of religion and of the fair might not happen together. Upon which the bishop, in 1439, transferred the feast to the Monday next after the exaltation of the Holy Cross, enjoining all and singular the rectors, and their curates, as well as the parishioners from time to time to observe it accordingly as such. And to encourage the parishioners and others to resort to it on that day, he granted to such as did, forty days remission of their sins.
Soon after the above-mentioned dispute between Roger de Mereworth and the prior and convent of Ledes, the church of Mereworth appears to have been given to the priory of Black Canons, at Tunbridge. (fn. 14) And it remained with the above-mentioned priory till its dissolution in the 16th year of king Henry VIII. a bull having been obtained from the pope, with the king's leave, for that purpose. After which the king, in his 17th year, granted that priory, with others then suppressed for the like purpose, together with all their manors, lands, and possessions, to cardinal Wolsey, for the better endowment of his college, called Cardinal college, in Oxford. But four years afterwards, the cardinal being cast in a præmunire; all the estates of that college, which for want of time had not been firmly settled on it, became forfeited to the crown. (fn. 15) After which, the king granted the patronage of the church of Mereworth, to Sir George Nevill, lord Abergavenny, whose descendant Henry, lord Abergavenny, died possessed of it in the 29th year of queen Elizabeth, leaving an only daughter and heir Mary, married to Sir Thomas Fane, who in her right possessed it. Since which it has continued in the same owners, that the manor of Mereworth has, and is as such now in the patronage of the right hon. Thomas, lord le Despencer.
It is valued in the king's books at 14l. 2s. 6d. and the yearly tenths at 1l. 8s. 3d.
¶It appears by a valuation of this church, and a terrier of the lands belonging to it, subscribed by the rector, churchwardens, and inhabitants, in 1634, that there belonged to it, a parsonage-house, with a barn, &c. a field called Parsonage field, a close, and a garden, two orchards, four fields called Summerfourds, Ashfield, the Coney-yearth, and Millfield, and the herbage of the church-yard, containing in the whole about thirty acres, that the house and some of the land where James Gostlinge then dwelt, paid to the rector for lord's rent twelve-pence per annum; that the houses and land where Thomas Stone and Henry Filtness then dwelt, paid two-pence per annum; that there was paid to the rector the tithe of all corn, and all other grain, as woud, would, &c. and all hay, tithe of all coppice woods and hops, and all other predial tithes usually paid, as wool, and lambs, and all predials, &c. in the memory of man; that all tithes of a parcel of land called Old-hay, some four or five miles from the church, but yet within the parish, containing three hundred acres, more or less; and the tithe of a meadow plot lying towards the lower side of Hadlow, yet in Mereworth, containing by estimation twelve acres, more or less, commonly called the Wish, belonged to this church.
The parsonage-house lately stood at a small distance north-eastward from Mereworth-house; but obstructing the view from the front of it, the late lord le Despencer obtained a faculty to pull the whole of it down, and to build a new one of equal dimensions, and add to it a glebe of equal quantity to that of the scite and appurtenances of the old parsonage, in exchange. Accordingly the old parsonage was pulled down in 1779, and a new one erected on a piece of land allotted for the purpose about a quarter of a mile westward from the church, for the residence of the rector of Mereworth and his successors.
One Tree Hill and Uleybury.
The district of Uley bury was named by Moses Garlick, an English settler who arrived in SA in 1837. He named the area after a place in the Cotswold Hills where he came from in Gloucestershire. Garlick was a devout Baptist and in 1851 he built the Uley Baptist Chapel at a personal cost of £400. Following frequent vandal attacks the church was demolished in 1981. The City of Munno Para erected a plaque here with some confused wording. The plaque inaccurately says Uleybury Baptist was the first Baptist church in SA. One need only read the headstone of Moses Garlick’s grave to realise the falsity of this. Garlick was involved in the founding of the first Baptist congregation in Kermode Street North Adelaide in 1838. The plaque says the Uley Chapel was established in 1864 when elsewhere it is dated as starting in 1851. The first Baptist churches (as opposed to a congregation meeting) built in SA were the Tynte Street Baptist Church and the Finders Street Baptist church erected in 1843. Uleybury opened in 1851. Most Baptists churches were independent congregations but the Baptist Union was formed in 1864 so perhaps Uleybury was the first church of the Baptist Union? Not all Baptist congregations ever joined the Baptist Union. Moses Garlick died in 1859 and has an outstanding sandstone headstone in the cemetery. Other common names in this pioneer cemetery are: Barritt, Bowman, Ifould and McKenzie. Stone from the church was used to build the current stone wall along the road frontage of the cemetery.
A few years after the founding of the Uley Chapel Moses Garlick got to work to have a school built in Uleybury. Reverend John Buttfield donated the land and the solidly constructed Uleybury School opened in 1856.It cost £400 to erect. It began as a Methodist church school until 1874 when it was taken over by the government just ahead of the passing of the Free, Secular and Compulsory Education Act of 1875. In the 1940s its name was changed to One Tree Hill School. It was closed in 1971 when a new One Tree Hill School was opened in a different location. Reverend Buttfield arrived in SA in 1848 and began work as a Baptist clergyman at Gumeracha becoming the first paid Baptist minister in the colony. Buttfield had a brother who had a store at nearby Smithfield and his other brother, Francis Buttfield, was the post master at One Tree Hill in the 1850s. Whilst at Uleybury Rev. John Buttfield became a land owner himself and ended up being a wealthy man. Reverend Buttfield was the first headmaster of the school, as well as the local clergyman, and in the government inspector’s report of the early 1850s it was written that: “Owing to the care he displays, and the consequent progress of his pupils, Mr Buttfield is deservedly esteemed as a teacher in the neighbourhood". Buttfield travelled widely across the Adelaide Plains and Gawler Hills to perform Baptist marriages. His wife died in 1862, aged 36 years, after bearing him eleven children. Since the early 1980s Uleybury School has operated as a school museum.
One Tree Hill was first settled in the 1840s and a township began around 1851 with the building of a hotel the One Tree Hill Inn. The town’s first Council meetings were held here from 1853. The town name came from a single massive gum tree which unfortunately burnt down in 1890. The first Methodist Church was built in One Tree Hill in 1867 after William Gartrell sold some land to the church. A modern church porch was added in the 1980s. Another school named the Precolumb School was also built in One Tree Hill in 1855. It operated until 1938.
James Adamson established a water driven flour mill at One Tree Hill in 1853 as the district was a major wheat growing area. Eventually the flour (or wheat) was carted down the hill to Smithfield or Salisbury railway station. Felled timber was also carted down to the railway stations. The ruins of this mill and water wheel are on the register of the National Estate but they are not visible from public roads. The mill operated until 1870 but Adamson soon sold out to the Kelly family, one of the pioneering families of One Tree Hill. William Kelly was a district founder and became a wealthy farmer. He was a local councillor and built a fine two story Georgian sandstone house on his property called Yelki. His son Edward Kelly, who had been educated at Prince Alfred College, inherited the property in 1891 and created a family business which operated as Yelki Pty Ltd from 1897. His father had established several thousand acres at Yelki in 1857. Edward employed architects to build a second main house on the property in 1909 and it included a septic toilet! It is located on the road to Elizabeth. The Kelly family sold Yelki in 1984.
British Columbia’s Gitga’at First Nation believe that the raven, creator of the rainforest, turned every 10th black bear white as a reminder of the last ice age. Geneticists understand that the white coat is the result of a double recessive gene in black bears. No one knows why the spirit bear (known locally as Moksgm’ol) only exists in a small part of Canada’s Great Bear Rain Forest. It’s just one of nature’s miracles.
Estimates of how many spirit bears exist vary. Some scientists believe there may be as many as 400. Some believe there may be as few as 200. This makes them more rare than a giant panda – and harder to find. My journey to find a spirit bear involved two plane flights, a ferry ride, a float plane ride, two zodiac trips, multiple nights on a boat, and a long hike through a rain forest. I’d willingly travel twice as far to get another glimpse of these majestic animals. Photographing this bear was, by far, the most profound thing I’ve done with my camera.
The Rob Roy Hotel consists of two separate buildings - one of whitewashed brick which dates from before 1853 and the other which was built in 1881 to the design of English and Soward, constructed from local sandstone, with a balcony and cast iron balustrade. The architectural drawing is of this building.
The Rob Roy was first licensed in 1840 and has been trading continuously to the present day which makes it significant as one of Adelaide's oldest trading pubs. It is also quite unusual for the older whitewashed brick building to have survived, particularly given the 1881 redevelopment when it was customary to totally redevelop a site. Only a handful of buildings from the first two decades of the colony exist. Comparable examples of early Adelaide pubs include the Queen's Head in Kermode Street, Prince Albert Hotel in Wright Street and the former Beresford Arms in Gilles Street.
From the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage website (www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDe...):
History:
The railway from Wentworth Falls to Mount Victoria was opened in 1868, passing through what was to become Katoomba. The Great Western Railway was intended to initially reach Bathurst but, beyond that town, its terminus was not stated.
The station opened in 1874 as 'The Crushers'. A sandstone quarry suitable for producing ballast for the construction and maintenance of the line was developed just to the north of the line, and from 1874 The Crushers was a stopping-place for trains with quarrymen, equipment and wagons for transporting ballast. A platform was provided in 1877 close to the level-crossing keeper's cottage (demolished in 1902).
In 1881 a new timber platform and station were built, to the west of the level-crossing. The goods yard between the stations and Bathurst Road (then the Great Western Highway) was developed in 1883-4. This expansion was necessary because of Katoomba's growth in the 1880s and 1890s as a tourist and local commercial centre. The goods yard contains a valuable collection of traditional railway structures, including the 5 ton jib crane (no. T171), the goods shed 54’ x 12’ dating in part from 1881 and an unusual curved timber loading platform. There is also an office for the yard gatekeeper and for a signalman, all dating from the early 1900s.
In 1891, the 1881 station building was moved to the improved goods yard to the south. The Katoomba Times reported on 10 October 1891 that 'the old Katoomba station building is to be the goods shed, and was put into position last Wednesday (7 October 1891)', with the 1884 crane adjacent to the east. Around 1921 the goods yard was altered, the siding was realigned and the goods shed (the former station of 1881) was moved 18 metres to the east, where it still resides. The 1884 five-tonne crane was moved along with the shed to its present position.
The present island platform and building at Katoomba date from 1891 and was constructed for £6,922 (including the subway) by Quiggan and Kermode, builders. They are unusual for two reasons. Firstly, the timber building is curved and, secondly, the building design was only used in the Sydney metropolitan rail system. It is the only such building constructed outside the Central to Parramatta line. It is one of 4 such structures remaining extant from a number of stations containing Type 10 buildings including Newtown, MacDonaldtown, Ashfield, Lewisham (all demolished - possibly other examples) and Summer Hill, Homebush and Croydon (extant). Extensions to the building in the same style were carried out in 1913 for £216. Its dominant feature is the extension of the roof bearers to form awnings on both sides and the position of small ornate brackets under the awning beams, marking a transition from the use of posted verandas to cantilevered awnings. The platform was reached by the use of a pedestrian subway constructed in 1891, which were rare outside Sydney.
The other main platform building is the elevated, timber signal box, which was commissioned in 1903. The signal box contains a cam and tappet 40 lever interlocking machine that was installed in 1945. It is typical of the construction time and is similar to boxes at Mount Victoria, Newnes Junction, Lithgow Yard and Exeter.
The line was duplicated in 1902. A two-room timber building was built on the western end of the platform in 1909 for an inspector and an electrician and this building was extended in 1945 for use as a staff meal room. An 'out-of' shed completed the platform structures.
At the entrance to the Station are the ‘Progress Buildings’ which are shown on a plan as part of a new ‘Booking and Parcels Office Building’ dated 20/12/1938. The buildings are a single storey group of three shops facing south to Bathurst Road with an additional shopfront facing east to the exit from the railway station subway. The eastern most shop, 283-285 Bathurst Road, retains its original brass shopfront, albeit with some modification, and tiled piers between, the shop entries are recessed from the street with splayed shopfront reveals. The tiled and marble threshold records the name "MARX" an early Katoomba businessman who used the premises. The Progress Buildings are still owned by RailCorp and leased for private business.
The railway residence at 8 Abbotsford Rd was sold in 1964.
Why significant?
Katoomba Railway Station and Yard is of state significance as a unique railway site in NSW developed around a former ballast quarry and is significant for demonstrating Katoomba’s growth in the 1880s and 1890s as the first tourist and local commercial centre in the Blue Mountains, before the duplication of the Western line in 1902.
The 1891 station building is significant as one of few surviving timber railway station buildings known as ' Standard Eddy', designed under Commissioner Eddy, and demonstrating the introduction of island platform buildings in NSW. Katoomba station building is the only known example of this station type outside the inner city area and is unique to the other examples for its curved form along the platform. The adjacent signal box with its garden beds and planting is also an important and integral element within the station group and is a rare example of a timber on-platform signal box.
The site of the goods yard is of particular significance as it was part of the original Katoomba station precinct dating from 1878, which was used for locomotive turning and minor servicing and stabling of trains. While fulfilling a minor railway use at present for per way maintenance, it contains two relatively rare items, which are the former 1881 timber station building as its goods shed and the 1891 crane.
The station group comprises a homogenous collection of timber structures adding significance to the townscape and streetscape with direct relationships to both. Situated at the focal point of Katoomba, the station is connected visually and physically to the town's commercial heart by the pedestrian subway and landscaped surrounds. The adjacent Progress Buildings from part of the station group and contribute to the early 20th Century character of the commercial precinct of Katoomba with their largely intact shopfronts.
Facade of Cameo Cinema 2008
The Cameo is an Edinburgh cinema which started life as the King's Cinema on 8 January 1914 and is one of the oldest cinemas in Scotland still in use. Since becoming the Cameo in 1949, it has had a tradition of showing art house films. From 1949 onward it has been an important venue for the Edinburgh International Film Festival. It is at Tollcross, and since 1992 has been a three-screen cinema. The Cameo was an independent cinema until 2012, when it was bought by the Picturehouse chain, owned by Cineworld.
History
Behind a modern shopfront, much of the cinema's original architectural character remains. The entrance lobby has a terrazzo floor and one of the original pair of ticket kiosks. An inner foyer leads to the main cinema built within the 'back green' or 'back court' (courtyard) of a tenement block. Cinemas were once built like this elsewhere in Scotland, the biggest being the Rosevale in Partick, but the Cameo is the only one still operating.
The original screen was mirrored, the first mirrored screen in Scotland, and there were 673 seats in an auditorium showing silent films with orchestral accompaniment, supplied at one time by Madam Egger's Ladies' Costume Orchestra. In 1930 the cinema was fitted for sound and could start showing talkies. The space has been left largely unchanged structurally, but the audience now have better sightlines and more comfort with fewer than half the original number of seats. There is an abundance of ornamental plasterwork: columns, cornices, decorative mouldings on walls and ceilings.
The cinema, and the full tenement it is part of, was awarded Category B listed status by Historic Scotland in 2006.
Jim Poole
In 1949 the cinema was renamed the Cameo by the new owner, Jim Poole (1911–1998), a member of the Poole family who were known for their touring Myriorama shows and who ran cinemas in Scotland and England. He had been in charge of two of the family's cinemas in Aberdeen before the Second World War, and after a posting as army entertainments officer in the Middle East, wanted to open a venue in Edinburgh where he could show foreign films.
The Cameo included art house and 'continental' films in its repertoire and started its association with the Edinburgh Film Festival in 1949, when it presented a 'Continental Film Festival', including a screen version of Sartre's Les jeux sont faits, alongside the documentaries being shown by the Edinburgh Film Guild. Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953) and Annie Hall (1977) were among Poole's successes in attracting good audiences for films not being shown by the big chains.
Poole had begun by rescuing a decaying building with a leaky roof. Later he was able to take over an adjacent shop which, in December 1963, became the first licensed (to sell alcoholic drinks) cinema bar in the city, despite neighbours' objections. When Poole retired in 1982 the Cameo stayed shut until 1986.
After 1986
Once the Edinburgh Filmhouse had opened in 1979 a few hundred yards away, the Cameo was no longer the only public cinema in Edinburgh showing alternative and foreign-language films. After a new owner took possession in 1986 more neighbouring shops were acquired to create space for second and third screens which opened in the early 1990s. A 2005 renovation plan proposing to change the original auditorium into a bar-restaurant was withdrawn after a well-supported 'Save the Cameo' campaign influenced council decision-making. In September 2006 Historic Scotland upgraded the conservation status of the cinema to a B listing, thus protecting the interior from future alteration. The Cinema Theatre Association had campaigned for this after the owners, Picturehouse, put the Cameo up for sale. They have now taken it off the market, drawn up new refurbishment plans, and invited contributions from sponsors.
The first film shown at the Cameo, in March 1949, was La symphonie pastorale, a rare surviving print of which was shown again at the cinema in March 2009 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the building re-opening as the Cameo.
The Cinema was named as one of the 10 best Independent Cinemas in the Guardian in January 2010.
Famous visitors
Lillian Gish, Orson Welles, Melina Mercouri and Cary Grant all visited the cinema in one Festival season or another. Sean Connery, who was born nearby, opened the bar in 1963. More recently Quentin Tarantino was there when Pulp Fiction opened in 1994 and Irvine Welsh was at the Cameo for the World première of Trainspotting in February 1996.
Other famous visitors throughout the years include Danny Boyle, Richard E. Grant, Fred Zinnemann, Robert Carlyle, Michèle Morgan, Peter Mullan, Christine Lahti, Mark Kermode, Claire Denis, Rutger Hauer, Liam Gallagher, Patsy Kensit, Ewan McGregor, Tim Roth, Guy Ritchie, Ken Loach, Bruce Campbell, Billy Bragg, Park Chan-wook, Ray Winstone, Robyn Hitchcock, Neil Jordan, Roy Keane, Charlize Theron, Duncan Jones, Michael Redgrave, Jim Dale, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Cusack, Tommy Wiseau and Danny Dyer.
In popular culture
The cinema appears in Sylvain Chomet's film The Illusionist. While hiding from the young couple, the main character, Tatischeff, accidentally enters the cinema, where Jacques Tati's Mon Oncle is playing. This is an in-joke as Tatischeff is largely based on Tati, the film itself having been adapted from a script of his.[6] Other films with scenes filmed inside the Cameo include Helena Bonham Carter's Woman Talking Dirty and Richard Jobson's A Woman in Winter. [Wikipedia]