The Fort Knox energy team demonstrated during an Energy Security Project ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday the installation’s capability to operate independently of external power sources using natural gas from beneath the post’s surface – a first for a U.S. military installation.

The project was originally conceived to address mission readiness issues experienced in 2009 when an ice storm left Fort Knox and much of Kentucky without power for several consecutive days.

The harvesting of renewable methane gas on post in recent years and the installation’s six new energy substations that include gas generators now allow Fort Knox to continue 100 percent of its operations if power from the external utility provider is cut off. The post’s 3.7 megawatts of solar arrays and 6 million square feet of building space that is heated and cooled using geothermal energy has allowed the post to reduce its dependency on using other power sources, such as gas, as well.

“We’re giving back gold to the taxpayers,” said Garrison Commander Col. T.J. Edwards. “Our (Directorate of Public Works) estimates that we will save about $8 million per year from peak shaving.”

Peak shaving des-cribes another primary purpose of the Energy Security Project – switching to Fort Knox-produced power when energy demand strains the off-post energy utility, which is also when costs to purchase energy are at its highest. Com- bined with the savings achieved through geothermal heating and cooling, Fort Knox’s annual energy utility bill is projected to be $18 million less.

“Our energy team is special,” said Edwards. “We’ve won nine conse- cutive Secretary of the Army energy awards. But we don’t sit on our laurels. We’re constantly getting after it, asking how do we get better.”

Katherine Ham-mack, the assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, addressed the criticality for installations to maintain operating capability at all times.

“Energy security underwrites our unique ability to rapidly de- ploy, employ and sustain military forces around the globe, she

said. “And it’s for that

reason the Army is moving toward building resilience into our installations.”

Fort Knox’s ability to achieve this “resilience” was credited by the secretary and garrison commander as a result of Fort Knox Director-ate of Public Works, contracting command and legal officials working to establish partnerships with third parties whose expertise is in the energy field. As an example, Edwards singled out Brandon Marcum, an engineer and Harshaw Trane subcontractor for Nolin RECC, as a central figure in creating and developing the concept that became the Energy Security Project.

“We have authorities to work with third parties, leveraging core competency, capability and funding to enable us to meet our mission,” said Hammack. “The private sector partners have stepped up to help the Army in meeting our mission requirements.”

Nolin RECC staff gave the audience of about 150 area and military leaders, Fort Knox employees and area community members an inside look at its energy security bunker through a live video stream. Attendees were told how all of the systems function to achieve energy independence and peak shave. The built-in redundancies to prevent power failure – such as an off-site energy security bunker and the multiple, secured substations – were touted as well during the demonstration.

The formal celebration of the occasion involved a unique twist. Dignitaries and Army leaders didn’t cut a ribbon, they unplugged a ribbon. The ribbon was an LED cord, and when it was unplugged in the middle, the side connected to the Fort Knox power source stayed lit, symbolizing Fort Knox’s energy independence.

“Kentucky is very proud of the efforts here,” said Dave Thompson, Kentucky Commission on Mili-tary Affairs executive director. “We see Fort Knox as a growing in- stallation with undeniable potential for the future. Job well done.”

For more information about Fort Knox’s energy initiatives, read Capt. Jo Smoke’s story in the March 26 edition of The Gold Standard, titled “The Army’s only green island: 20 years of energy investments pay off,” which can be found at bit.ly/1FY4MT5. To learn more about the Energy Security Project visit youtu.be/CxNH7m0cdfw.

Photo By Renee Rhodes Fort Knox Photo

The Fort Knox energy team demonstrated during an Energy Security Project ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday the installation’s capability to operate independently of external power sources using natural gas from beneath the post’s surface – a first for a U.S. military installation.

The project was originally conceived to address mission readiness issues experienced in 2009 when an ice storm left Fort Knox and much of Kentucky without power for several consecutive days.

The harvesting of renewable methane gas on post in recent years and the installation’s six new energy substations that include gas generators now allow Fort Knox to continue 100 percent of its operations if power from the external utility provider is cut off. The post’s 3.7 megawatts of solar arrays and 6 million square feet of building space that is heated and cooled using geothermal energy has allowed the post to reduce its dependency on using other power sources, such as gas, as well.

“We’re giving back gold to the taxpayers,” said Garrison Commander Col. T.J. Edwards. “Our (Directorate of Public Works) estimates that we will save about $8 million per year from peak shaving.”

Peak shaving des-cribes another primary purpose of the Energy Security Project – switching to Fort Knox-produced power when energy demand strains the off-post energy utility, which is also when costs to purchase energy are at its highest. Com- bined with the savings achieved through geothermal heating and cooling, Fort Knox’s annual energy utility bill is projected to be $18 million less.

“Our energy team is special,” said Edwards. “We’ve won nine conse- cutive Secretary of the Army energy awards. But we don’t sit on our laurels. We’re constantly getting after it, asking how do we get better.”

Katherine Ham-mack, the assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, addressed the criticality for installations to maintain operating capability at all times.

“Energy security underwrites our unique ability to rapidly de- ploy, employ and sustain military forces around the globe, she

said. “And it’s for that

reason the Army is moving toward building resilience into our installations.”

Fort Knox’s ability to achieve this “resilience” was credited by the secretary and garrison commander as a result of Fort Knox Director-ate of Public Works, contracting command and legal officials working to establish partnerships with third parties whose expertise is in the energy field. As an example, Edwards singled out Brandon Marcum, an engineer and Harshaw Trane subcontractor for Nolin RECC, as a central figure in creating and developing the concept that became the Energy Security Project.

“We have authorities to work with third parties, leveraging core competency, capability and funding to enable us to meet our mission,” said Hammack. “The private sector partners have stepped up to help the Army in meeting our mission requirements.”

Nolin RECC staff gave the audience of about 150 area and military leaders, Fort Knox employees and area community members an inside look at its energy security bunker through a live video stream. Attendees were told how all of the systems function to achieve energy independence and peak shave. The built-in redundancies to prevent power failure – such as an off-site energy security bunker and the multiple, secured substations – were touted as well during the demonstration.

The formal celebration of the occasion involved a unique twist. Dignitaries and Army leaders didn’t cut a ribbon, they unplugged a ribbon. The ribbon was an LED cord, and when it was unplugged in the middle, the side connected to the Fort Knox power source stayed lit, symbolizing Fort Knox’s energy independence.

“Kentucky is very proud of the efforts here,” said Dave Thompson, Kentucky Commission on Mili-tary Affairs executive director. “We see Fort Knox as a growing in- stallation with undeniable potential for the future. Job well done.”

For more information about Fort Knox’s energy initiatives, read Capt. Jo Smoke’s story in the March 26 edition of The Gold Standard, titled “The Army’s only green island: 20 years of energy investments pay off,” which can be found at bit.ly/1FY4MT5. To learn more about the Energy Security Project visit youtu.be/CxNH7m0cdfw.

Photo By Renee Rhodes Fort Knox Photo

Broadway Tower is a folly on Broadway Hill, near the village of Broadway, in the English county of Worcestershire, at the second-highest point of the Cotswolds (after Cleeve Hill). Broadway Tower's base is 1,024 feet (312 metres) above sea level. The tower itself stands 65 feet (20 metres) high.

The "Saxon" tower was the brainchild of Capability Brown and designed by James Wyatt in 1794 in the form of a castle, and built for Lady Coventry in 1798–99. The tower was built on a "beacon" hill, where beacons were lit on special occasions. Lady Coventry wondered whether a beacon on this hill could be seen from her house in Worcester — about 22 miles (35 km) away — and sponsored the construction of the folly to find out. Indeed, the beacon could be seen clearly.

Over the years, the tower was home to the printing press of Sir Thomas Phillipps, and served as a country retreat for artists including William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones who rented it together in the 1880s. William Morris was so inspired by Broadway Tower and other ancient buildings that he founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 1877.

Today, the tower is a tourist attraction and the centre of a country park with various exhibitions open to the public at a fee, as well as a gift shop and restaurant. The place is on the Cotswold Way and can be reached by following the Cotswold Way from the A44 road at Fish Hill, or by a steep climb out of Broadway village.

Near the tower is a memorial to the crew of an A.W.38 Whitley bomber that crashed there during a training mission in June 1943.

Stowe House and Gardens, Buckingham. Stowe House seen from across the Octagon Lake. The Gardens were designed by Charles Bridgeman, William Kent and Capability Brown over a period from 1711 to 1751. They are now in the care of the National Trust.

Stowe, Buckinghamshire, England - Stowe Landscape Gardens

August 2018

The Fort Knox energy team demonstrated during an Energy Security Project ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday the installation’s capability to operate independently of external power sources using natural gas from beneath the post’s surface – a first for a U.S. military installation.

The project was originally conceived to address mission readiness issues experienced in 2009 when an ice storm left Fort Knox and much of Kentucky without power for several consecutive days.

The harvesting of renewable methane gas on post in recent years and the installation’s six new energy substations that include gas generators now allow Fort Knox to continue 100 percent of its operations if power from the external utility provider is cut off. The post’s 3.7 megawatts of solar arrays and 6 million square feet of building space that is heated and cooled using geothermal energy has allowed the post to reduce its dependency on using other power sources, such as gas, as well.

“We’re giving back gold to the taxpayers,” said Garrison Commander Col. T.J. Edwards. “Our (Directorate of Public Works) estimates that we will save about $8 million per year from peak shaving.”

Peak shaving des-cribes another primary purpose of the Energy Security Project – switching to Fort Knox-produced power when energy demand strains the off-post energy utility, which is also when costs to purchase energy are at its highest. Com- bined with the savings achieved through geothermal heating and cooling, Fort Knox’s annual energy utility bill is projected to be $18 million less.

“Our energy team is special,” said Edwards. “We’ve won nine conse- cutive Secretary of the Army energy awards. But we don’t sit on our laurels. We’re constantly getting after it, asking how do we get better.”

Katherine Ham-mack, the assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, addressed the criticality for installations to maintain operating capability at all times.

“Energy security underwrites our unique ability to rapidly de- ploy, employ and sustain military forces around the globe, she

said. “And it’s for that

reason the Army is moving toward building resilience into our installations.”

Fort Knox’s ability to achieve this “resilience” was credited by the secretary and garrison commander as a result of Fort Knox Director-ate of Public Works, contracting command and legal officials working to establish partnerships with third parties whose expertise is in the energy field. As an example, Edwards singled out Brandon Marcum, an engineer and Harshaw Trane subcontractor for Nolin RECC, as a central figure in creating and developing the concept that became the Energy Security Project.

“We have authorities to work with third parties, leveraging core competency, capability and funding to enable us to meet our mission,” said Hammack. “The private sector partners have stepped up to help the Army in meeting our mission requirements.”

Nolin RECC staff gave the audience of about 150 area and military leaders, Fort Knox employees and area community members an inside look at its energy security bunker through a live video stream. Attendees were told how all of the systems function to achieve energy independence and peak shave. The built-in redundancies to prevent power failure – such as an off-site energy security bunker and the multiple, secured substations – were touted as well during the demonstration.

The formal celebration of the occasion involved a unique twist. Dignitaries and Army leaders didn’t cut a ribbon, they unplugged a ribbon. The ribbon was an LED cord, and when it was unplugged in the middle, the side connected to the Fort Knox power source stayed lit, symbolizing Fort Knox’s energy independence.

“Kentucky is very proud of the efforts here,” said Dave Thompson, Kentucky Commission on Mili-tary Affairs executive director. “We see Fort Knox as a growing in- stallation with undeniable potential for the future. Job well done.”

For more information about Fort Knox’s energy initiatives, read Capt. Jo Smoke’s story in the March 26 edition of The Gold Standard, titled “The Army’s only green island: 20 years of energy investments pay off,” which can be found at bit.ly/1FY4MT5. To learn more about the Energy Security Project visit youtu.be/CxNH7m0cdfw.

Photo By Renee Rhodes Fort Knox Photo

Croome, Worcestershire - inside the Rotunda. Both house and gardens at Croome Court were designed by Capability Brown between 1751-2, rebuilding an earlier house from the 1640s. The estate was requisitioned in WW2, but was not used for troops, being offered to the Dutch Royal family, but nearby, and partly within the grounds, RAF Defford was established, an important location for the Telecommunications Research Establishment. They left in 1957 as the runways were too short. The house was sold by the Croome Estate Trust in 1948, and became St Josephs Special School until 1979. Taken over by the Hare Krishna movement, it became known as Chaitanya College with involvement from George Harrison, who created recording studios within the house. They left in 1984 and the house was used for several short-term activities, including a training centre; apartments; a restaurant and conference centre; a hotel and golf course, and a private family home. In 2007, it was purchased by the Croome Heritage Trust, who leased it to the National Trust. Croome Court is grade 1 listed.

Croome D'Abitot, near Pershore, Worcestershire, West Midlands, England - Croome Estate, High Green

June 2025

A walk around Minterne Gardens in Dorset.

The garden walk is about 1 mile in a horseshoe shape.

You can take different paths on the last leg of the walk, we went on the upper path.

The River Cerne passing through the gardens with waterfalls.

Information below from leaflet from Minterne Gardens:

The Minterne Valley, landscapped in the manner of Capability Brown in the 18th century, has been the home of the Churchill and Digby families for 350 years. The gardens are laid out in a horseshoe below Minterne House, with a chain of small lakes, waterfalls and streams. They contain an important collection of Himalayan Rhodocdendrons and Azaleas, with Spring bulbs, Cherries, Maples and many fine and rare trees; the garden is noted for its Autumn colouring.

Of particular note are the large plants of Magnolia Campbellii which flower in March and April, together with a profusion of spring bulbs. Many flowering cherries were brought from Japan in 1920 and the Pieris Forrestii with their brilliant scarlet shoots, originally came from Wakehurst. A very fine collection of Davidia Involucrata (the pocket handkerchief tree) produce striking bracts in late May and early June, when the streams are lined with primulas, astilbes and other water plants.

A pre-booked visit to Westbury Court Garden in Gloucestershire. Was a rainy couple of hours. The garden was quite small, but the rain eventually stopped.

Westbury Court Garden is a Dutch water garden in Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, England, 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Gloucester.

It was laid out in 1696–1705, a rare survival not to have been replaced in the 18th century by a naturalistic garden landscape as popularised by Capability Brown. It is situated facing the high street of the rural village, extending on low-lying water meadows adjacent to the River Severn; the flat watery ground makes the site well suited to a Dutch-style garden, of which Westbury is the outstanding survival in Britain.

I kept seeing the massive spire of the Church of St Mary, St Peter and St Paul from the garden.

Grade II* Listed Building

Church of St Peter and St Paul

Listing Text

SO 71 SW WESTBURY-ON-SEVERN WESTBURY VILLAGE

11/215 Church of St. Peter and

St. Paul

GV II*

Large parish church: early C14, restored 1862 and 1878. North

facade thin, roughly squared grey stone brought to courses, larger,

squared stone to quoins, ashlar to windows, south and most of west

faces smooth reddish render lined as ashlar, chancel south and east

well-squared stone approaching ashlar: roof late C20 machine-made

red clay tile. Nave, aisles, north and south porches, chancel,

organ chamber and vestry: tower detached (q.v.). North facade:

high porch in centre of unbuttressed aisle: chamfered, 2-centred

archway, with hoodmould: wrought-iron gates, 2 rails at about 1

metre up, St. Andrews cross between, spiral dog bars with

spearheads. Top rail follows arch with another to nearly similar

line below: main bars with spear and volute heads. To right of

porch one 2-light window, trefoil heads to lights, solid stone

panel to flat hoodmould. To left one similar 3-light window and

one 3-light with flying ogee heads to lights below pointed head.

Gable parapets to porch, aisle, nave and chancel with cross-gablet

apex with stone cross to each: only porch has projecting moulded

kneelers. 2-bay chancel with large, central buttress: 2-light

windows with cinquefoil ogee heads to lights, quatrefoil over, and

hoodmould. West face, 3 gables, square-set buttress to nave only,

with splayed plinth. Ridges and windows to aisles offset towards

centre: windows 2-light, ogee heads, with recessed spandrels to

flat hoodmould. Nave wide 2-centred moulded doorway with

hoodmould and double boarded doors with applied timber tracery.

Above a flat cinquefoiled ogee-headed niche containing a calvary:

3-light Perpendicular window with hoodmould above.

Interior plastered: 7-bay nave arcade, alternate octagonal and

lobed pillars, with moulded caps and bases: hoodmoulds to plain

moulded arches, with small carved heads as stops. Quatrefoil

clerestory windows in alternate bays. Archbraced collar trusses

off corbels, crown post but no longitudinal timber. Aisles

exposed collar rafters; scissor-braced trusses to chancel, all

roofs C19. Tall Early English style arch to chancel, with leaf

capitals: similar on south and from south aisle to organ chamber.

Old cross-boarded door to vestry. 8-lobed piscina reset in south

chancel window sill. Carved reredos (1878) stone and alabaster

extended as blind arcading across east wall: aumbry to match on

left. Plain 6-sided 1862 stone pulpit, blind quatrefoils above

plinth: octagonal C19 stone font, with crosses, symbols of

evangelists and dove on bowl, over trefoil-headed blind arcading on

stem. An older octagonal stone bowl set on octagonal stem dated

1583, with royal arms, on a splayed base. A number of good C18

and early C19 wall monuments in chancel and at west end of aisles,

including one to T. Sinderby with violin and score in white marble

by J. Pearce of Frampton. 1686 monument in north porch, and

benefactions board. A number of good late C17 and C18 headstones

in churchyard not separately listed. Church restored 1862 by

Medland and Maberley, 1864 and 1876-78. (Victoria County History,

Gloucestershire, Vol X, 1972; D. Verey, Gloucestershire, The Vale

and the Forest of Dean, 1970).

Listing NGR: SO7171513886

This text is from the original listing, and may not necessarily reflect the current setting of the building.

XM2010 IKPT-2 Provides extended range capability and incorporates the latest in weapons technology for the Army Sniper.

The XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR), formerly known as the M24 Reconfigured Sniper Weapon System, is a sniper rifle developed by PEO Soldier for the U.S. Army.It is derived from the M24 Sniper Weapon System and is intended to replace existing M24s. After winning a competitive bidding process, Remington was awarded the production contract. Up to 3,600 weapons will be procured. The Army expects to begin fielding 250 upgraded weapons to deployed U.S. Army Snipers by the end of December 2010.Later project manager for Soldier weapons Colonel Douglas Tamilio said the XM2010 expected fielding will happen from January 2011

The XM2010 is distinguished by its advanced design and represents a quantum upgrade over the M24. The shooter interface can be tailored to accommodate a wide range of shooter preferences and its folding stock provides Soldier flexibility in transporting the weapon during operations. The weapon also incorporates advanced corrosion resistant coatings to ensure longevity. The aluminum, steel, and high impact polymers used in the weapon’s construction are lightweight and rugged.

The ESR is equipped with a Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm scope. The variable power scope includes a first focal plane reticle so when the user dials in, the reticle pattern scales with the zoom enabling the sniper to estimate range at any power setting. The scope also employs a reticle pattern that facilitates faster and more accurate range estimation and utilizes mil turret adjustments to eliminate MOA to mil conversion. The targeting stadia reticle allows for simultaneous elevation and windage holds that eliminate the need to dial in adjustments.

Macro capability of the 12-50.

Highcliffe-on-Sea ( usually shortened to Highcliffe ) is a small town in the borough of Christchurch, Dorset in southern England. It forms part of the South East Dorset conurbation along the English Channel coast. The town lies on a picturesque stretch of Solent coastline with views of the Isle of Wight and its Needles rock formation. In 1838 a large ship the Herman Julius 336 tons, was wrecked at Chuton ( Chewton ) Bunny. The crew of 11 were saved, one was lost overboard before she struck. Bemister and Holloway purchased the wreck.

Highcliffe Castle is a Grade I listed building now owned by Christchurch Council, and described as the most important remaining example of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture. It holds events open to the general public throughout the year open, and can be used for weddings and other private events. Highcliffe Castle, situated on the cliffs at Highcliffe, Dorset, was built between 1831 and 1835 by Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay in a Gothic Revival style on the site of High Cliff house, a Georgian Mansion designed for the 3rd Earl of Bute ( a founder of Kew Gardens) with the gardens laid out by Capability Brown. The design, by William Donthorne, a founder member of RIBA, incorporated large quantities of carved Medieval stonework salvaged from the Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Peter at Jumieges and the Grande Maison des Andelys. The Earl's fourth son, General Sir Charles Stuart sold the estate apart from the nearby smaller Bure Homage House.

All that remains of the original High Cliff are the two entrance lodges, now used as a restaurant, also some of the garden walls and features in the lands. The son of Sir Charles Stuart, also Charles Stuart, decided to buy his grandfather's estate and build a new house there. In 1828 Sir Charles Stuart became Lord Stuart de Rothesay. Early retirement from the diplomatic service meant Lord Stuart could now start on the project to build the new house and by 1830 he had purchased much of the eastern end of the estate. The castle is built on an L shaped plan, oriented on a south-east axis, so the oriel window is central on the south east elevation, providing a vista across the landscaped gardens to a panorama of the needles and Isle of Wight. The house remained in the family until 1950 when much of the estate was sold and eventually developed up to the castle walls. For a time from 1950 to 1953 the Castle was a children's home before being sold to Claretian Missionary fathers as firstly a noviciate, then for use as a seminary. The castle was put up for sale in 1966, after many years of uncertainty and neglect the castle was eventually restored. Today the Castle’s renovated exterior is testimony of the remarkable skills of craftsmen and women who carried out a huge repair and conservation programme in the 1990s, jointly funded by Christchurch Borough Council, English Heritage and a £2.65 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

All that remains of the original High Cliff are the two entrance lodges, now used as a restaurant, also some of the garden walls and features in the lands. The son of Sir Charles Stuart, also Charles Stuart, decided to buy his grandfather's estate and build a new house there. In 1828 Sir Charles Stuart became Lord Stuart de Rothesay. Early retirement from the diplomatic service meant Lord Stuart could now start on the project to build the new house and by 1830 he had purchased much of the eastern end of the estate. The castle is built on an L shaped plan, oriented on a south-east axis, so the oriel window is central on the south east elevation, providing a vista across the landscaped gardens to a panorama of the needles and Isle of Wight. The house remained in the family until 1950 when much of the estate was sold and eventually developed up to the castle walls. For a time from 1950 to 1953 the Castle was a children's home before being sold to Claretian Missionary fathers as firstly a noviciate, then for use as a seminary. The castle was put up for sale in 1966, after many years of uncertainty and neglect the castle was eventually restored. Today the Castle’s renovated exterior is testimony of the remarkable skills of craftsmen and women who carried out a huge repair and conservation programme in the 1990s, jointly funded by Christchurch Borough Council, English Heritage and a £2.65 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Highcliffe lies close to the historic town of Christchurch, the resort town of Bournemouth, and the New Forest National Park. Highcliffe's position on the middle of England's south coast gives it a climate with milder winters than inland areas and less rainfall than locations further west. This helped establish the town as a popular health and leisure resort during the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras. What is now regarded as Highcliffe has developed over the last several hundred years from the hamlet of Slop Pond, the Chewton Estate, and Chewton Common. The latter two also contained large farmsteads. Slop Pond was a collection of thatched cottages, named from the large pond on its common. The cottages wereoccupied by farm workers and fishermen, who engaged in the smuggling and poaching trade now notorious in local history. When the area became a more popular tourist destination in the Victorian era, Slop Pond was renamed Newtown. It was later then changed to Highcliff, after the first High Cliff house, and soon became known as Highcliffe on Sea.

Chewton Bunny Nature Reserve is an ancient wooded river valley which forms the county boundary between Dorset and Hampshire. The Walkford Brook flows through the site, entering a culvert and eventually flowing out to sea. A chine is a steep-sided river valley where the river flows to the sea through, typically, soft eroding coastal cliffs of sandstone or clays. The word chine originates from the Saxon Cinan meaning a gap or yawn. The word is in still use in central Southern England; in East Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight to describe such topographical features. However, bunny is also used to describe a chine in Hampshire, Chewton Bunny is designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest and is rich in woodland wildlife, including a number of Ancient Natural Woodland Indicator species. The mill house in the centre of the site previously used a waterwheel in the Brook to mill grain and the cover given by the site made it a convenient smuggling route for contraband in the past. At the north end of the site the Brook also passes under the first ever reinforced concrete bridge.

Demonstrating Land Rover's legendary capability, its latest model, the Range Rover Hybrid is being put through its final engineering sign-off drive on a gruelling 9,950 mile endurance expedition.

Read everything about the expedition here: bit.ly/1bdu7vi

A visit to Berrington Hall near Leominster in Herefordshire.The dome was being restored so part of the building was under scaffolding inside and out (including up the main staircase).

Berrington Hall is a country house located about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Leominster, Herefordshire, England. During the 20th century it was the seat of the Cawley family.

It is a neoclassical country house building that Henry Holland designed in 1778-81 for Thomas Harley. It has a somewhat austere exterior, but the interiors are subtle and delicate. Berrington Hall is home to the Elmar Digby furniture collection, paintings by, amongst others, Thomas Luny (1759–1837), and the Charles Paget Wade costume collection from Snowshill, which can be viewed by appointment. The 'below stairs' areas and servants' quarters that are open to the public include a Victorian laundry and Georgian dairy. Berrington has been in the care of the National Trust since 1957 and is, along with its gardens, open to the public.

Berrington features Capability Brown's last landscape design. A notable feature is the ha-ha wall, which was subject to extensive renovation in the late 20th century by local craftsmen. Berrington Pool, a lake and island, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Berrington had been in the possession of the Cornewall family since 1386, but was sold in 1775 to Thomas Harley, a banker and government contractor who in 1767 had been Lord Mayor of London. He commissioned the rebuilding in 1778-1781 of the present Berrington Hall in place of the previous old house. He made it available to his daughter Anne and her new husband George Rodney, the son of Admiral Rodney. After Harley's death the house descended in the Rodney family for 95 years.

In 1901 the Manchester businessman Frederick Cawley MP, later Baron Cawley, purchased the estate. In 1957 the 3rd Lord Cawley transferred it to the Treasury, which passed in on to the National Trust. Lady Crawley was allowed to remain in occupation until her death in 1978.

It was classified as a Grade I listed building in 1959.

Grade I Listed Building

Berrington Hall and Adjoining Outbuildings

A look around the hall.

First floor rooms had exhibitions.

A Dress Fit for a King

In 2016, an extraordinary discovery was made at an auction - an exquisite dress of the finest silk and woven by gold thread. It was made by hand, over 200 years ago for a woman who lived at Berrington - Ann Bangham. You can now discover the dress upstairs in the mansion as part of the exhibition 'A Dress Fit for a King'.

Fireplace

costume designs

XM2010 IKPT-2 Provides extended range capability and incorporates the latest in weapons technology for the Army Sniper.

The XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR), formerly known as the M24 Reconfigured Sniper Weapon System, is a sniper rifle developed by PEO Soldier for the U.S. Army.It is derived from the M24 Sniper Weapon System and is intended to replace existing M24s. After winning a competitive bidding process, Remington was awarded the production contract. Up to 3,600 weapons will be procured. The Army expects to begin fielding 250 upgraded weapons to deployed U.S. Army Snipers by the end of December 2010.Later project manager for Soldier weapons Colonel Douglas Tamilio said the XM2010 expected fielding will happen from January 2011

The XM2010 is distinguished by its advanced design and represents a quantum upgrade over the M24. The shooter interface can be tailored to accommodate a wide range of shooter preferences and its folding stock provides Soldier flexibility in transporting the weapon during operations. The weapon also incorporates advanced corrosion resistant coatings to ensure longevity. The aluminum, steel, and high impact polymers used in the weapon’s construction are lightweight and rugged.

The ESR is equipped with a Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm scope. The variable power scope includes a first focal plane reticle so when the user dials in, the reticle pattern scales with the zoom enabling the sniper to estimate range at any power setting. The scope also employs a reticle pattern that facilitates faster and more accurate range estimation and utilizes mil turret adjustments to eliminate MOA to mil conversion. The targeting stadia reticle allows for simultaneous elevation and windage holds that eliminate the need to dial in adjustments.

The Fort Knox energy team demonstrated during an Energy Security Project ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday the installation’s capability to operate independently of external power sources using natural gas from beneath the post’s surface – a first for a U.S. military installation.

The project was originally conceived to address mission readiness issues experienced in 2009 when an ice storm left Fort Knox and much of Kentucky without power for several consecutive days.

The harvesting of renewable methane gas on post in recent years and the installation’s six new energy substations that include gas generators now allow Fort Knox to continue 100 percent of its operations if power from the external utility provider is cut off. The post’s 3.7 megawatts of solar arrays and 6 million square feet of building space that is heated and cooled using geothermal energy has allowed the post to reduce its dependency on using other power sources, such as gas, as well.

“We’re giving back gold to the taxpayers,” said Garrison Commander Col. T.J. Edwards. “Our (Directorate of Public Works) estimates that we will save about $8 million per year from peak shaving.”

Peak shaving des-cribes another primary purpose of the Energy Security Project – switching to Fort Knox-produced power when energy demand strains the off-post energy utility, which is also when costs to purchase energy are at its highest. Com- bined with the savings achieved through geothermal heating and cooling, Fort Knox’s annual energy utility bill is projected to be $18 million less.

“Our energy team is special,” said Edwards. “We’ve won nine conse- cutive Secretary of the Army energy awards. But we don’t sit on our laurels. We’re constantly getting after it, asking how do we get better.”

Katherine Ham-mack, the assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, addressed the criticality for installations to maintain operating capability at all times.

“Energy security underwrites our unique ability to rapidly de- ploy, employ and sustain military forces around the globe, she

said. “And it’s for that

reason the Army is moving toward building resilience into our installations.”

Fort Knox’s ability to achieve this “resilience” was credited by the secretary and garrison commander as a result of Fort Knox Director-ate of Public Works, contracting command and legal officials working to establish partnerships with third parties whose expertise is in the energy field. As an example, Edwards singled out Brandon Marcum, an engineer and Harshaw Trane subcontractor for Nolin RECC, as a central figure in creating and developing the concept that became the Energy Security Project.

“We have authorities to work with third parties, leveraging core competency, capability and funding to enable us to meet our mission,” said Hammack. “The private sector partners have stepped up to help the Army in meeting our mission requirements.”

Nolin RECC staff gave the audience of about 150 area and military leaders, Fort Knox employees and area community members an inside look at its energy security bunker through a live video stream. Attendees were told how all of the systems function to achieve energy independence and peak shave. The built-in redundancies to prevent power failure – such as an off-site energy security bunker and the multiple, secured substations – were touted as well during the demonstration.

The formal celebration of the occasion involved a unique twist. Dignitaries and Army leaders didn’t cut a ribbon, they unplugged a ribbon. The ribbon was an LED cord, and when it was unplugged in the middle, the side connected to the Fort Knox power source stayed lit, symbolizing Fort Knox’s energy independence.

“Kentucky is very proud of the efforts here,” said Dave Thompson, Kentucky Commission on Mili-tary Affairs executive director. “We see Fort Knox as a growing in- stallation with undeniable potential for the future. Job well done.”

For more information about Fort Knox’s energy initiatives, read Capt. Jo Smoke’s story in the March 26 edition of The Gold Standard, titled “The Army’s only green island: 20 years of energy investments pay off,” which can be found at bit.ly/1FY4MT5. To learn more about the Energy Security Project visit youtu.be/CxNH7m0cdfw.

Photo By Renee Rhodes Fort Knox Photo

The Tupolev Tu-4 (NATO reporting name: Bull) was a piston-engined Soviet strategic bomber that served the Soviet Air Force from the late 1940s to mid-1960s. It was a reverse-engineered copy of the U.S.-made Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

Toward the end of World War II, the Soviet Union saw the need for a strategic bombing capability similar to that of the United States Army Air Forces. The Soviet VVS air arm had the locally designed Petlyakov Pe-8 four-engined "heavy" in service at the start of the war, but only 93 had been built by the end of the war and the type was limited by having been equipped with unreliable turbocharged V12 diesel engines at the start of its service to give it longer range. The U.S. regularly conducted bombing raids on Japan, from distant Pacific forward bases using B-29 Superfortresses. Joseph Stalin ordered the development of a comparable bomber.

The U.S. twice refused to supply the Soviet Union with B-29s under Lend Lease. However, on four occasions during 1944, individual B-29s made emergency landings in Soviet territory and one crashed after the crew bailed out. In accordance with the Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact, the Soviets were neutral in the Pacific War and the bombers were therefore interned and kept by the Soviets. Despite Soviet neutrality, America demanded the return of the bombers, but the Soviets refused. Three repairable B-29s were flown to Moscow and delivered to the Tupolev OKB. One B-29 was dismantled, the second was used for flight tests and training, and the third one was left as a standard for cross-reference. With the Soviet declaration of war against Japan in accordance with the Yalta agreement to enter the war within 90 days of VE day (to allow it time to move its forces from Europe to Asia) at about 11pm on August 8, 1945—two days after the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the subsequent entente with Japan ending, the fourth B-29 was returned to the US along with its crew.

Stalin told Tupolev to clone the Superfortress in as short a time as possible instead of continuing with his own comparable ANT-64.The reverse-engineering effort involved 900 factories and research institutes, who finished the design work during the first year; 105,000 drawings were made. By the end of the second year, the Soviet industry was to produce 20 copies of the aircraft ready for State acceptance trials.

The Soviet Union used the metric system, thus sheet aluminum in thicknesses matching the B-29's imperial measurements were unavailable. The corresponding metric-gauge metal was of different thicknesses. Alloys and other materials new to the Soviet Union had to be brought into production. Extensive re-engineering had to take place to compensate for the differences, and Soviet official strength margins had to be decreased to avoid further redesign, yet despite these challenges the prototype Tu-4 only weighed about 340 kg (750 lb) more than the B-29, a difference of less than 1%.

The engineers and suppliers of components were under pressure from Tupolev, Stalin, and the government to create an exact clone of the original B-29 to facilitate production and Tupolev had to overcome substantial resistance in favor of using equipment that was not only already in production but in some cases better than the American version. Each component made and each alteration was scrutinized and was subject to a lengthy bureaucratic process. Differences were limited to the engines, the defensive weapons, the radio (a later model used in lend-lease B-25s was used in place of the radio in the interned B-29s) and the identification friend or foe (IFF) system – the American IFF being unsuitable. The Soviet engine, the Shvetsov ASh-73 was a development of the Wright R-1820 but was not otherwise related to the B-29's Wright R-3350 — the ASh-73 also powered some of Aeroflot's remaining obsolescent Petlyakov Pe-8 airframes, an earlier Soviet four-engined heavy bomber whose production was curtailed by higher priority programs. The B-29's remote-controlled gun turrets were redesigned to accommodate the harder hitting and longer ranged Soviet Nudelman NS-23 23mm cannon. Kerber, Tupolev's deputy at the time, recalled in his memoirs that engineers needed authorization from a high-ranking general to use Soviet-made parachutes. Additional changes were made as a result of problems encountered during testing, related to engine and propeller failures and equipment changes were made throughout the aircraft's service life. Although it has been widely quoted, the Tu-4 did not have a random hole drilled in the wing either to emulate a bullet hole or because a Boeing engineer made a mistake – the Soviets had three complete aircraft and the wreckage of a fourth and the likelihood of all four having a hole in the same place is too small to be credible.[citation needed] The aircraft included 1 Boeing-Wichita −5-BW, 2 Boeing-Wichita −15-BWs and the wreckage of 1 Boeing-Renton −1-BN – three different models from two different production lines. Only one of the 4 had de-icing boots as used on the Tu-4.

The Tu-4 first flew on 19 May 1947, piloted by test pilot Nikolai Rybko. Serial production started immediately, and the type entered large-scale service in 1949. Entry into service of the Tu-4 threw the USAF into a panic, since the Tu-4 possessed sufficient range to attack Chicago or Los Angeles on a one-way mission, and this may have informed the maneuvers and air combat practice conducted by US and British air forces in 1948 involving fleets of B-29s. Some attempts to develop midair refueling systems were made to extend the bomber's range, but these were fitted to only a few aircraft.

The aircraft was first displayed during a flyover at the Aviation Day parade on 3 August 1947 at the Tushino Airport in Moscow. Three aircraft flew overhead. It was assumed that these were merely the three B-29 bombers that were known to have been diverted to the USSR during World War II. Minutes later a fourth aircraft appeared. Western analysts realized that the Soviets must have reverse-engineered the B-29. The appearance of an obviously Superfortress-derived Tu-70 transport over the crowd removed any doubt about the success of the reverse-engineering.

Eight hundred and forty-seven Tu-4s had been built when production ended in the Soviet Union in 1952, some going to China during the later 1950s. Many experimental variants were built and the valuable experience launched the Soviet strategic bomber program. Tu-4s were withdrawn in the 1960s, being replaced by more advanced aircraft including the Tupolev Tu-16 jet bomber (starting in 1954) and the Tupolev Tu-95 turboprop bomber (starting in 1956). By the beginning of the 1960s, the only Tu-4s still operated by the Soviets were used for transport or airborne laboratory purposes. A Tu-4A was the first Soviet aircraft to drop a nuclear weapon, the RDS-1.

28 February 1953, Joseph Stalin gave China 10 Tu-4 heavy bombers. These Tu-4's were refitted with AI-20K turboprop engines in 1966. The last PLAAF Tu-4 were retired in 1988.

In 1967 China attempted to develop its first airborne early warning aircraft, based on the Tu-4 airframe. The project was named KJ-1 and mounted a Type 843 rotodome on top of the aircraft. However, the radar and equipment was too heavy, and the KJ-1 did not meet PLAAF's requirements. The project was canceled in 1971. The single prototype aircraft is now on display at the PLAAF museum north of Beijing.

(Text Wikipedia)

SANDF Capability demonstration at the Rand Easter Show – Helicopters inserted and Parabatt Team to secure the Landing Zone then secure a casualty and extracted using the Hot Extraction method, while Rooivalk Attack Helicopter provided Top Cover

Photos: Lourens Badenhorst

The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division 'Rakkasans' helped celebrate the end of their tour at Kandahar, Afghanistan with an organizational night June 25. The day included free food and dessert provided by the Logistical Capability office, a prize raffle sponsored by the Kandahar USO, and a whiffle-ball tournament between the varying units on KAF.

Leominster (pronounced 'Lemster') is an historic market town which dates back to the 7th century.

Berrington Hall

A neo-classical mansion built to a design by Henry Holland, set in superb gardens by Capability Brown.

The exterior is restrained classical design, the interiors are stunningly ornate, with painted ceilings and an exceptionally fine entry staircase.

The House

Built in 1778-81 for Thomas Harley, son of the 3rd Earl of Oxford, Berrington Hall is one of the few masterpieces of the architect Henry Holland to survive intact. The interiors are characteristic of Holland’s refined Louis XVI manner and the house is set amidst a park with an artificial 14-acre lake laid out by the landscape designer ‘Capability Brown’ who was also Holland’s business partner and father-in-law.

Thomas Harley made a fortune supplying the British army with clothing and when he decided he needed a new house to showcase his family's prestige and wealth, he called on landscape gardener Capability Brown. It was Brown who chose the location for Berrington Hall, selecting a site that gave sweeping views to the Black Mountains of Wales. While Brown busied himself with creating the parkland and semi-natural landscapes, for which he was famous, the task of building the house itself fell to Brown's son in law, the architect Henry Holland.

Holland began work in 1778 and the house was completed in 1783. He drew upon the popular neo-classical style to create a house with two very different characters. The exterior is plain, sparingly adorned and formal whilst the interior is a riot of lavish colour and ornate decoration.

The interior decoration is unrestrained, with wonderful painted ceilings, ornate plasterwork, and a high dome shedding light onto a spectacular entry staircase. The elegant Georgian theme is augmented by fine furniture most of it French.

Lord Admiral Lord George Rodney was a family friend and visited Berrington Hall frequently. The dining room is hung with huge paintings by Luny depicting Rodney's famous sea battles.

There is also a fascinating glimpse of life 'below stairs', with the Laundry, Butler's Pantry, and Dairy being the highlights.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/berrington-hall/features/the-man...

The Staircase and Landing

This impressive staircase, designed by Henry Holland, is a Piranesian succession of sweeping arches beneath a great faceted dome.

Audley End House is an early 17th-century country house, and landscaped gardens ( by Capability Brown) , just outside Saffron Walden, Essex, south of Cambridge, England.

It was once a palace in all but name and renowned as one of the finest Jacobean houses in England.

It is currently in the ownership of English Heritage.

To view the House, please link below :

www.flickr.com/photos/59303791@N00/2644767403/

The Capability Brown parkland still includes many of the mock-classical monuments, although some are not in the care of English Heritage. The grounds are divided by the River Cam, which is crossed by several ornate bridges, and a main road which follows the route of a Roman road.

A rocket is fired from an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System of the 1st Battalion, 182nd Field Artillery Regiment, during the eXportable Combat Training Capability exercise at Camp Graying Joint Maneuver Training Center, July 15, 2014. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Bratic, Michigan National Guard/Released)

This magnificent informal landscape garden was laid out in the 18th century by 'Capability' Brown and further developed in the early years of the 20th century by its owner, Arthur G. Soames. The original four lakes form the centrepiece. There are dramatic shows of daffodils and bluebells in spring, and the rhododendrons and azaleas are spectacular in early summer. Autumn brings stunning colours from the many rare trees and shrubs, and winter walks can be enjoyed in this garden for all seasons. Visitors can now also explore South Park, 107 hectares (265 acres) of historic parkland, with stunning views.

The Fort Knox energy team demonstrated during an Energy Security Project ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday the installation’s capability to operate independently of external power sources using natural gas from beneath the post’s surface – a first for a U.S. military installation.

The project was originally conceived to address mission readiness issues experienced in 2009 when an ice storm left Fort Knox and much of Kentucky without power for several consecutive days.

The harvesting of renewable methane gas on post in recent years and the installation’s six new energy substations that include gas generators now allow Fort Knox to continue 100 percent of its operations if power from the external utility provider is cut off. The post’s 3.7 megawatts of solar arrays and 6 million square feet of building space that is heated and cooled using geothermal energy has allowed the post to reduce its dependency on using other power sources, such as gas, as well.

“We’re giving back gold to the taxpayers,” said Garrison Commander Col. T.J. Edwards. “Our (Directorate of Public Works) estimates that we will save about $8 million per year from peak shaving.”

Peak shaving des-cribes another primary purpose of the Energy Security Project – switching to Fort Knox-produced power when energy demand strains the off-post energy utility, which is also when costs to purchase energy are at its highest. Com- bined with the savings achieved through geothermal heating and cooling, Fort Knox’s annual energy utility bill is projected to be $18 million less.

“Our energy team is special,” said Edwards. “We’ve won nine conse- cutive Secretary of the Army energy awards. But we don’t sit on our laurels. We’re constantly getting after it, asking how do we get better.”

Katherine Ham-mack, the assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, addressed the criticality for installations to maintain operating capability at all times.

“Energy security underwrites our unique ability to rapidly de- ploy, employ and sustain military forces around the globe, she

said. “And it’s for that

reason the Army is moving toward building resilience into our installations.”

Fort Knox’s ability to achieve this “resilience” was credited by the secretary and garrison commander as a result of Fort Knox Director-ate of Public Works, contracting command and legal officials working to establish partnerships with third parties whose expertise is in the energy field. As an example, Edwards singled out Brandon Marcum, an engineer and Harshaw Trane subcontractor for Nolin RECC, as a central figure in creating and developing the concept that became the Energy Security Project.

“We have authorities to work with third parties, leveraging core competency, capability and funding to enable us to meet our mission,” said Hammack. “The private sector partners have stepped up to help the Army in meeting our mission requirements.”

Nolin RECC staff gave the audience of about 150 area and military leaders, Fort Knox employees and area community members an inside look at its energy security bunker through a live video stream. Attendees were told how all of the systems function to achieve energy independence and peak shave. The built-in redundancies to prevent power failure – such as an off-site energy security bunker and the multiple, secured substations – were touted as well during the demonstration.

The formal celebration of the occasion involved a unique twist. Dignitaries and Army leaders didn’t cut a ribbon, they unplugged a ribbon. The ribbon was an LED cord, and when it was unplugged in the middle, the side connected to the Fort Knox power source stayed lit, symbolizing Fort Knox’s energy independence.

“Kentucky is very proud of the efforts here,” said Dave Thompson, Kentucky Commission on Mili-tary Affairs executive director. “We see Fort Knox as a growing in- stallation with undeniable potential for the future. Job well done.”

For more information about Fort Knox’s energy initiatives, read Capt. Jo Smoke’s story in the March 26 edition of The Gold Standard, titled “The Army’s only green island: 20 years of energy investments pay off,” which can be found at bit.ly/1FY4MT5. To learn more about the Energy Security Project visit youtu.be/CxNH7m0cdfw.

Photo By Renee Rhodes Fort Knox Photo

The Fort Knox energy team demonstrated during an Energy Security Project ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday the installation’s capability to operate independently of external power sources using natural gas from beneath the post’s surface – a first for a U.S. military installation.

The project was originally conceived to address mission readiness issues experienced in 2009 when an ice storm left Fort Knox and much of Kentucky without power for several consecutive days.

The harvesting of renewable methane gas on post in recent years and the installation’s six new energy substations that include gas generators now allow Fort Knox to continue 100 percent of its operations if power from the external utility provider is cut off. The post’s 3.7 megawatts of solar arrays and 6 million square feet of building space that is heated and cooled using geothermal energy has allowed the post to reduce its dependency on using other power sources, such as gas, as well.

“We’re giving back gold to the taxpayers,” said Garrison Commander Col. T.J. Edwards. “Our (Directorate of Public Works) estimates that we will save about $8 million per year from peak shaving.”

Peak shaving des-cribes another primary purpose of the Energy Security Project – switching to Fort Knox-produced power when energy demand strains the off-post energy utility, which is also when costs to purchase energy are at its highest. Com- bined with the savings achieved through geothermal heating and cooling, Fort Knox’s annual energy utility bill is projected to be $18 million less.

“Our energy team is special,” said Edwards. “We’ve won nine conse- cutive Secretary of the Army energy awards. But we don’t sit on our laurels. We’re constantly getting after it, asking how do we get better.”

Katherine Ham-mack, the assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, addressed the criticality for installations to maintain operating capability at all times.

“Energy security underwrites our unique ability to rapidly de- ploy, employ and sustain military forces around the globe, she

said. “And it’s for that

reason the Army is moving toward building resilience into our installations.”

Fort Knox’s ability to achieve this “resilience” was credited by the secretary and garrison commander as a result of Fort Knox Director-ate of Public Works, contracting command and legal officials working to establish partnerships with third parties whose expertise is in the energy field. As an example, Edwards singled out Brandon Marcum, an engineer and Harshaw Trane subcontractor for Nolin RECC, as a central figure in creating and developing the concept that became the Energy Security Project.

“We have authorities to work with third parties, leveraging core competency, capability and funding to enable us to meet our mission,” said Hammack. “The private sector partners have stepped up to help the Army in meeting our mission requirements.”

Nolin RECC staff gave the audience of about 150 area and military leaders, Fort Knox employees and area community members an inside look at its energy security bunker through a live video stream. Attendees were told how all of the systems function to achieve energy independence and peak shave. The built-in redundancies to prevent power failure – such as an off-site energy security bunker and the multiple, secured substations – were touted as well during the demonstration.

The formal celebration of the occasion involved a unique twist. Dignitaries and Army leaders didn’t cut a ribbon, they unplugged a ribbon. The ribbon was an LED cord, and when it was unplugged in the middle, the side connected to the Fort Knox power source stayed lit, symbolizing Fort Knox’s energy independence.

“Kentucky is very proud of the efforts here,” said Dave Thompson, Kentucky Commission on Mili-tary Affairs executive director. “We see Fort Knox as a growing in- stallation with undeniable potential for the future. Job well done.”

For more information about Fort Knox’s energy initiatives, read Capt. Jo Smoke’s story in the March 26 edition of The Gold Standard, titled “The Army’s only green island: 20 years of energy investments pay off,” which can be found at bit.ly/1FY4MT5. To learn more about the Energy Security Project visit youtu.be/CxNH7m0cdfw.

Photo By Renee Rhodes Fort Knox Photo

U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company scout platoon, 4-118th Combined Arms Battalion, South Carolina National Guard, conduct dismount exercises from a M2A2 ODS-SA Bradley Fighting Vehicle during a capability demonstration held at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, July 24, 2021. The 4-118th Combined Arms Battalion hosted the event for families, employers and future recruits. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly D. Calkins, South Carolina National Guard).

A walk around Minterne Gardens in Dorset.

The garden walk is about 1 mile in a horseshoe shape.

You can take different paths on the last leg of the walk, we went on the upper path.

Flowers

Information below from leaflet from Minterne Gardens:

The Minterne Valley, landscapped in the manner of Capability Brown in the 18th century, has been the home of the Churchill and Digby families for 350 years. The gardens are laid out in a horseshoe below Minterne House, with a chain of small lakes, waterfalls and streams. They contain an important collection of Himalayan Rhodocdendrons and Azaleas, with Spring bulbs, Cherries, Maples and many fine and rare trees; the garden is noted for its Autumn colouring.

Of particular note are the large plants of Magnolia Campbellii which flower in March and April, together with a profusion of spring bulbs. Many flowering cherries were brought from Japan in 1920 and the Pieris Forrestii with their brilliant scarlet shoots, originally came from Wakehurst. A very fine collection of Davidia Involucrata (the pocket handkerchief tree) produce striking bracts in late May and early June, when the streams are lined with primulas, astilbes and other water plants.

A walk around Minterne Gardens in Dorset.

The garden walk is about 1 mile in a horseshoe shape.

You can take different paths on the last leg of the walk, we went on the upper path.

The River Cerne passing through the gardens with waterfalls.

Information below from leaflet from Minterne Gardens:

The Minterne Valley, landscapped in the manner of Capability Brown in the 18th century, has been the home of the Churchill and Digby families for 350 years. The gardens are laid out in a horseshoe below Minterne House, with a chain of small lakes, waterfalls and streams. They contain an important collection of Himalayan Rhodocdendrons and Azaleas, with Spring bulbs, Cherries, Maples and many fine and rare trees; the garden is noted for its Autumn colouring.

Of particular note are the large plants of Magnolia Campbellii which flower in March and April, together with a profusion of spring bulbs. Many flowering cherries were brought from Japan in 1920 and the Pieris Forrestii with their brilliant scarlet shoots, originally came from Wakehurst. A very fine collection of Davidia Involucrata (the pocket handkerchief tree) produce striking bracts in late May and early June, when the streams are lined with primulas, astilbes and other water plants.

A class-leading capability and ground-breaking design combine in the New #RangeRover #Evoque, a vehicle built for modern city living. Search ‘Range Rover Evoque’ in your browser for more info. by landrover ift.tt/1ZvpzaO ift.tt/1MsmFOS ift.tt/1pZRVvM

Communications capability was the primary focus for more than 50 Soldiers from the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade during their two-week annual training at Fort Indiantown Gap. In an elaborate configuration of tents, generators and specialized trailers, Maryland National Guard Soldiers set up classified and non-classified computer networks, switches, and routers all in a field environment.

A late April 2019 visit to Croome in Worcestershire, the estate is now run by the National Trust. Croome Park is quite big, and you can walk around the grounds and see the various landmarks there.

Croome Court

Croome Court is a mid-18th-century Neo-Palladian mansion surrounded by extensive landscaped parkland at Croome D'Abitot, near Pershore in south Worcestershire, England. The mansion and park were designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown for the 6th Earl of Coventry, and were Brown's first landscape design and first major architectural project. Some of the mansion's rooms were designed by Robert Adam.

The mansion house is owned by Croome Heritage Trust, and is leased to the National Trust which operates it as a tourist attraction. The National Trust owns the surrounding parkland, which is also open to the public.

Croome Court is a Grade I listed building.

Listing Text

SO 84 SE CROOME D'ABITOT CROOME COURT

3/12 Croome Court

(formerly listed as

Croome Court with Stables,

11.8.52 Garden Room or Temple,

Principal Lodge, Lodge on

west, and Panorama)

GV I

Country House 1751-2 by Lancelot (Capability) Brown with advice from Sanderson

Miller. Interior work from 1760 by Robert Adam. Built for 6th Earl of

Coventry. Limestone ashlar Palladian mansion with principal North and South

fronts of 11 bays. Basement and 2 storeys with 3 storey end pavilions. Slate

roofs, pyramidal over corner towers and 3 paired axial chimneys, pair linked

by arches. 1-3-3-3-1 division with pedimented centre to North and fine pro-

jecting Ionic tetrastyle portico to South. Modillion cornice and balustrade to

flanking wings. Moulded window architraves enriched with flat cornices on

ground floor main range, pediments to North front pavilions and Venetian win-

dows to South front pavilions. Roman Doric curved pediment doorcase to North

front, flat cornice on consoles over South door. Chamfered quoins to project-

ing centre and to end pavilions. Fine 2 armed balustraded stair to North door

and broad straight flight up to South door flanked by cast stone sphinxes.

INTERIOR partly Brown with plasterwork by G Vassalli, partly Robert Adam with

plaster by J Rose Jr. 2 Adam rooms removed to New York and London. Spine

corridor with stone stair at East end with moulded underside and iron balu-

strade. NORTH SIDE: Entrance hall with 4 fluted Doric columns and Palladian

moulded doorcases, to East, dining-room with plaster cornice and ceiling,

original pelmets, to West, billiard-room with fielded panelling, plaster cor-

nice and rococo fireplace. These rooms, probably decorated c.1758-9, probably

by Brown. SOUTH SIDE: Fine central Saloon with elaborate deep coved ceiling

with 3 embellished panels and rich cornice, fine Palladian doorcases and 2

marble Ionic columned fireplaces. Room probably by Brown and Vassalli. To

East former tapestry room now dismantled; ceiling a copy of original by R Adam

and J Rose. Beyond, former library by R Adam, largely dismantled; marble fire-

place. To West, drawing-room with shallow rococo-style plaster and marble

fireplace. At WEST END, Gallery by R Adam 1764, with half-hexagonal bay to

garden, elaborate octagonal panelled ceiling by J Rose, plaster reliefs of

griffins, painted grisaille panels and marble caryatid fireplace by J Wilton.

Attached at East end, SERVICE WING: L plan, red brick and stone with slate

hipped roofs. 2 storey. Stone plinth, band, moulded eaves cornice and

Chamfered quoins. Glazing bar sash windows with gauged brick heads. Red brick

wall joins service wing to stable court beyond: 2 rusticated stone gate piers,

one still with ball finial. CL 10.4.1915. A T Bolton: The architecture of

R and J Adam 1922. D Stroud: Capability Brown 1975. G Bead: Decorative

Plasterwork 1975. R Adam and Croome Court Connoisseur October 1953.

Listing NGR: SO8849444596

This text is from the original listing, and may not necessarily reflect the current setting of the building.

Around to the entrance of the house. Up those steps.

Several DPAC and Mental Health Resistance Network activists stand in front of the banners fixed to the railings outside the Royal Courts of Justice. Two of them hold red "Unite (the Union) Community Membership" flags.

DPAC, Mental Health Resistance Network & WinVisible vigil at High Court supporting judicial review of Work Capability Assessment (WCA) London - 08.07.2014

Disabled activists representing Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), the Mental Health Resistance Network (MHRN) and WinVisible (Women With Invisible Disabilities held a dignified vigil on the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice to show support for the judicial review taking place this week intended to make the Dept. for Work and Pensions (DWP) prove to the court that they are abiding by a previous court order that they make reasonable adjustments to the Work Capability Assessment testing process to make it fit for purpose and to abide by the Equalities Act 2010.

A previous judicial review had ruled that the WCA was clearly biased against people with mental health disabilities, and great harm has been done to many people as the DWP has refused to take into consideration any medical evidence or evidence crucial to any understanding of how a claimant's mental illness affects their daily lives and their ability to work. This cruel process has put people with mental health problems at a substantial disadvantage. The testing process has caused a great deal of distress, anxiety and fear, and there is clear evidence that there has been a significant number of suicides by claimants going through the Work Capability Assessment process, run up till now by disgraced French IT firm ATOS.

This photo © Pete Riches

Do not reproduce, alter, re-transmit, blog or otherwise exploit my images without my written permission. I remain at all times the copyright owner of this image.

Media buyers and publications can access this story on Demotix. Standard industry rates apply.

Hi-Res, un-watermarked versions of these files are available on application solely at my discretion

If you want to use any image found in my Flickr Photostream, please Email me directly.

about.me/peteriches

Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the information technology and communication sections of the Virginia National Guard joint staff and Army Guard staff train on the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability July 13, 2016, in Onancock, Virginia. The JISCC is an advanced communications system that can be rapidly deployed to an incident location and uses secure satellite connections to provide the Guard and first responders with high speed internet, voice-over-IP telephones and high frequency radio communications. The training also provided an opportunity to build relationships with local emergency services managers and help them learn more about the capabilities the Guard can provide if there was an incident that degraded normal communication systems. (Photo by Cotton Puryear, Virginia National Guard Public Affairs)

Capability Autumn

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Suffolk-based Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct troop leading procedures for an area reconnaissance situational training lane July 16, 2019, during eXportable Combat Training Capability Rotation 19-4 at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Read more about the XCTC at go.usa.gov/xyPx6. (U.S. National Guard photo by Cotton Puryear)

The Fort Knox energy team demonstrated during an Energy Security Project ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday the installation’s capability to operate independently of external power sources using natural gas from beneath the post’s surface – a first for a U.S. military installation.

The project was originally conceived to address mission readiness issues experienced in 2009 when an ice storm left Fort Knox and much of Kentucky without power for several consecutive days.

The harvesting of renewable methane gas on post in recent years and the installation’s six new energy substations that include gas generators now allow Fort Knox to continue 100 percent of its operations if power from the external utility provider is cut off. The post’s 3.7 megawatts of solar arrays and 6 million square feet of building space that is heated and cooled using geothermal energy has allowed the post to reduce its dependency on using other power sources, such as gas, as well.

“We’re giving back gold to the taxpayers,” said Garrison Commander Col. T.J. Edwards. “Our (Directorate of Public Works) estimates that we will save about $8 million per year from peak shaving.”

Peak shaving des-cribes another primary purpose of the Energy Security Project – switching to Fort Knox-produced power when energy demand strains the off-post energy utility, which is also when costs to purchase energy are at its highest. Com- bined with the savings achieved through geothermal heating and cooling, Fort Knox’s annual energy utility bill is projected to be $18 million less.

“Our energy team is special,” said Edwards. “We’ve won nine conse- cutive Secretary of the Army energy awards. But we don’t sit on our laurels. We’re constantly getting after it, asking how do we get better.”

Katherine Ham-mack, the assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, addressed the criticality for installations to maintain operating capability at all times.

“Energy security underwrites our unique ability to rapidly de- ploy, employ and sustain military forces around the globe, she

said. “And it’s for that

reason the Army is moving toward building resilience into our installations.”

Fort Knox’s ability to achieve this “resilience” was credited by the secretary and garrison commander as a result of Fort Knox Director-ate of Public Works, contracting command and legal officials working to establish partnerships with third parties whose expertise is in the energy field. As an example, Edwards singled out Brandon Marcum, an engineer and Harshaw Trane subcontractor for Nolin RECC, as a central figure in creating and developing the concept that became the Energy Security Project.

“We have authorities to work with third parties, leveraging core competency, capability and funding to enable us to meet our mission,” said Hammack. “The private sector partners have stepped up to help the Army in meeting our mission requirements.”

Nolin RECC staff gave the audience of about 150 area and military leaders, Fort Knox employees and area community members an inside look at its energy security bunker through a live video stream. Attendees were told how all of the systems function to achieve energy independence and peak shave. The built-in redundancies to prevent power failure – such as an off-site energy security bunker and the multiple, secured substations – were touted as well during the demonstration.

The formal celebration of the occasion involved a unique twist. Dignitaries and Army leaders didn’t cut a ribbon, they unplugged a ribbon. The ribbon was an LED cord, and when it was unplugged in the middle, the side connected to the Fort Knox power source stayed lit, symbolizing Fort Knox’s energy independence.

“Kentucky is very proud of the efforts here,” said Dave Thompson, Kentucky Commission on Mili-tary Affairs executive director. “We see Fort Knox as a growing in- stallation with undeniable potential for the future. Job well done.”

For more information about Fort Knox’s energy initiatives, read Capt. Jo Smoke’s story in the March 26 edition of The Gold Standard, titled “The Army’s only green island: 20 years of energy investments pay off,” which can be found at bit.ly/1FY4MT5. To learn more about the Energy Security Project visit youtu.be/CxNH7m0cdfw.

Photo By Renee Rhodes Fort Knox Photo

Heraldic device (greyhound serjeant), one of two mounted on buttresses on St Michael's chapel.

St Michael's was built in the c15th as the domestic chapel for Rycote Park manor house for its owner, Sir Richard Quatremaine. Quatremaine died without issue, and ownership transferred to the family of Sibil, Quatremaine's wife. In 1521 the manor house was passed over to Sir John Heron, Treasurer of the Household to both Henrys VII and VIII; it's probably during this time that the manor hourse was demolished and replaced by Rycote Palace. On Heron's death, the land passed over to his son, Giles, who was forced to sell it in 1539 to Sir John Williams (who was closer in favour to Henry). After Williams's death, the land passed into the Norreys family via Williams's son-in-law, Henry Norris, 1st Baron Norreys. On the 2nd Baron's death, the lands and title passed onto his nephew James Bertie, and remained in the family until the early c19th. During this time, the palace was rebuilt after a fire in 1745 and Lancelot Capability Brown (1716-1783) redeveloped the landscape in 1778. However, the manor was past its heyday, the house was sold off in lots early in the 1800s. A manor house (of sorts) remains, with the stables converted in the 1920s.

Perhaps the height of the palace was during the Tudor period, Henry VIII and Catherine Howard spent their honeymoon here; Henry's daughter Elizabeth visited Rycote on her way to her confinement at Woodstock (Williams being instructed to be her guard by Queen Mary I), Elizabeth would visit a further 5 times during her own reign.

Throughout all this time, the chapel remained alongside; slowly changed inside, shifting from Roman Catholic to High Anglican, extended and redecorated, always watching.

"...an old yew in the churchyard, said to have been brought from Palestine and planted in the coronation year of Stephen (1135), has easily outlived both them and their houses"

[ThameHistory.net]

A late April 2019 visit to Croome in Worcestershire, the estate is now run by the National Trust. Croome Park is quite big, and you can walk around the grounds and see the various landmarks there.

Croome Court

Croome Court is a mid-18th-century Neo-Palladian mansion surrounded by extensive landscaped parkland at Croome D'Abitot, near Pershore in south Worcestershire, England. The mansion and park were designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown for the 6th Earl of Coventry, and were Brown's first landscape design and first major architectural project. Some of the mansion's rooms were designed by Robert Adam.

The mansion house is owned by Croome Heritage Trust, and is leased to the National Trust which operates it as a tourist attraction. The National Trust owns the surrounding parkland, which is also open to the public.

Croome Court is a Grade I listed building.

Listing Text

SO 84 SE CROOME D'ABITOT CROOME COURT

3/12 Croome Court

(formerly listed as

Croome Court with Stables,

11.8.52 Garden Room or Temple,

Principal Lodge, Lodge on

west, and Panorama)

GV I

Country House 1751-2 by Lancelot (Capability) Brown with advice from Sanderson

Miller. Interior work from 1760 by Robert Adam. Built for 6th Earl of

Coventry. Limestone ashlar Palladian mansion with principal North and South

fronts of 11 bays. Basement and 2 storeys with 3 storey end pavilions. Slate

roofs, pyramidal over corner towers and 3 paired axial chimneys, pair linked

by arches. 1-3-3-3-1 division with pedimented centre to North and fine pro-

jecting Ionic tetrastyle portico to South. Modillion cornice and balustrade to

flanking wings. Moulded window architraves enriched with flat cornices on

ground floor main range, pediments to North front pavilions and Venetian win-

dows to South front pavilions. Roman Doric curved pediment doorcase to North

front, flat cornice on consoles over South door. Chamfered quoins to project-

ing centre and to end pavilions. Fine 2 armed balustraded stair to North door

and broad straight flight up to South door flanked by cast stone sphinxes.

INTERIOR partly Brown with plasterwork by G Vassalli, partly Robert Adam with

plaster by J Rose Jr. 2 Adam rooms removed to New York and London. Spine

corridor with stone stair at East end with moulded underside and iron balu-

strade. NORTH SIDE: Entrance hall with 4 fluted Doric columns and Palladian

moulded doorcases, to East, dining-room with plaster cornice and ceiling,

original pelmets, to West, billiard-room with fielded panelling, plaster cor-

nice and rococo fireplace. These rooms, probably decorated c.1758-9, probably

by Brown. SOUTH SIDE: Fine central Saloon with elaborate deep coved ceiling

with 3 embellished panels and rich cornice, fine Palladian doorcases and 2

marble Ionic columned fireplaces. Room probably by Brown and Vassalli. To

East former tapestry room now dismantled; ceiling a copy of original by R Adam

and J Rose. Beyond, former library by R Adam, largely dismantled; marble fire-

place. To West, drawing-room with shallow rococo-style plaster and marble

fireplace. At WEST END, Gallery by R Adam 1764, with half-hexagonal bay to

garden, elaborate octagonal panelled ceiling by J Rose, plaster reliefs of

griffins, painted grisaille panels and marble caryatid fireplace by J Wilton.

Attached at East end, SERVICE WING: L plan, red brick and stone with slate

hipped roofs. 2 storey. Stone plinth, band, moulded eaves cornice and

Chamfered quoins. Glazing bar sash windows with gauged brick heads. Red brick

wall joins service wing to stable court beyond: 2 rusticated stone gate piers,

one still with ball finial. CL 10.4.1915. A T Bolton: The architecture of

R and J Adam 1922. D Stroud: Capability Brown 1975. G Bead: Decorative

Plasterwork 1975. R Adam and Croome Court Connoisseur October 1953.

Listing NGR: SO8849444596

This text is from the original listing, and may not necessarily reflect the current setting of the building.

Weather vanes seen from the Walled Gardens.

This magnificent informal landscape garden was laid out in the 18th century by 'Capability' Brown and further developed in the early years of the 20th century by its owner, Arthur G. Soames. The original four lakes form the centrepiece. There are dramatic shows of daffodils and bluebells in spring, and the rhododendrons and azaleas are spectacular in early summer. Autumn brings stunning colours from the many rare trees and shrubs, and winter walks can be enjoyed in this garden for all seasons. Visitors can now also explore South Park, 107 hectares (265 acres) of historic parkland, with stunning views.

Most capability: All-new F-Series Super Duty can tow heavier trailers and haul heavier cargo than ever before, with maximum gooseneck towing capacity raised to 32,500 pounds on F-450, fifth-wheel towing capacity boosted to class-leading 27,500 pounds and conventional towing to class-leading 21,000 pounds; maximum payload now rated at up to best-in-class 7,630 pounds.

A late April 2019 visit to Croome in Worcestershire, the estate is now run by the National Trust. Croome Park is quite big, and you can walk around the grounds and see the various landmarks there.

The Walled Garden at Croome Court. This garden is private, and it costs £5 per person to enter. You can get drinks and cakes, here, but you can donate some money when you get them.

There was outdoor sculpture trails around the walled garden to see. It changes every 3 months.

Walled gardens

The first garden at Croome was developed in the late 17th century by Ann Somerset, the wife of Thomas Coventry, 2nd Earl of Coventry, along with William Shenstone. A kitchen garden was laid out in the early 18th century, at a time when Gilbert Coventry, 4th Earl of Coventry was making large changes to the house and garden, which subsequently became the walled garden.

The earliest plan for a walled garden dates from about 1750, when George William Coventry, the heir of the 5th Earl at the time, changed the shape of the walls from square to the rhomboid shape that exists today, mentored by Sanderson Miller. This created a garden of over 7 acres (2.8 ha), which may have made it the largest 18th-century walled garden in Europe. The increase in size allowed the garden to encompass a classical greenhouse on the eastern side of the garden. The walls of the garden were under construction at the time, probably replacing hedges. The date that the walls were finished is uncertain, but there is evidence that they must have been completed by 1752.

Unlike the mansion and the park, the walled garden was largely unchanged by Capability Brown, but it did receive new hot houses to house melons, pineapples, peaches, and vines, and in 1766 a stone-curbed circular pool was created, with a sundial designed by Adam.

In about 1806 a 13 feet (4.0 m)-high free-standing east-west hot wall was built, slightly off-centre, serviced by five furnaces. It is historically significant as it is one of the first such structures ever built.

Almost the entire 18th century records of the garden survive; together with the garden they are a nationally important part of garden history, and the history of Worcestershire. The garden and its glass houses were mentioned in Gardening World in 1887.

During the 20th century the garden was abandoned and fell into disrepair. They were purchased by Chris and Karen Cronin, who started restoring them in Summer 2000, including restoring many buildings and the greenhouses. They opened to the public for the first time in August 2014. They are privately operated, not being part of the National Trust.

Flowers seen in the Walled Gardens.

The shocking capability for evil to be in our midst during ordinary events of a day was my inspiration for this slow compositional read: at first this 13” by 36” piece appears to depict a typical suburban scene. Under closer inspection, the viewer realizes there is a heinous event taking place.The contrast of freshness and cleanliness of laundry hiding the dark and dirtiness of the disturbing event is meant to leave the viewer with an unsettled feeling.

The park on Wimpole Estate lanscaped by Capability Brown, including a gothic ruin he had built to complete the scene

A late April 2019 visit to Croome in Worcestershire, the estate is now run by the National Trust. Croome Park is quite big, and you can walk around the grounds and see the various landmarks there.

The Walled Garden at Croome Court. This garden is private, and it costs £5 per person to enter. You can get drinks and cakes, here, but you can donate some money when you get them.

There was outdoor sculpture trails around the walled garden to see. It changes every 3 months.

Walled gardens

The first garden at Croome was developed in the late 17th century by Ann Somerset, the wife of Thomas Coventry, 2nd Earl of Coventry, along with William Shenstone. A kitchen garden was laid out in the early 18th century, at a time when Gilbert Coventry, 4th Earl of Coventry was making large changes to the house and garden, which subsequently became the walled garden.

The earliest plan for a walled garden dates from about 1750, when George William Coventry, the heir of the 5th Earl at the time, changed the shape of the walls from square to the rhomboid shape that exists today, mentored by Sanderson Miller. This created a garden of over 7 acres (2.8 ha), which may have made it the largest 18th-century walled garden in Europe. The increase in size allowed the garden to encompass a classical greenhouse on the eastern side of the garden. The walls of the garden were under construction at the time, probably replacing hedges. The date that the walls were finished is uncertain, but there is evidence that they must have been completed by 1752.

Unlike the mansion and the park, the walled garden was largely unchanged by Capability Brown, but it did receive new hot houses to house melons, pineapples, peaches, and vines, and in 1766 a stone-curbed circular pool was created, with a sundial designed by Adam.

In about 1806 a 13 feet (4.0 m)-high free-standing east-west hot wall was built, slightly off-centre, serviced by five furnaces. It is historically significant as it is one of the first such structures ever built.

Almost the entire 18th century records of the garden survive; together with the garden they are a nationally important part of garden history, and the history of Worcestershire. The garden and its glass houses were mentioned in Gardening World in 1887.

During the 20th century the garden was abandoned and fell into disrepair. They were purchased by Chris and Karen Cronin, who started restoring them in Summer 2000, including restoring many buildings and the greenhouses. They opened to the public for the first time in August 2014. They are privately operated, not being part of the National Trust.

Statue by Angela Palmer.

A pre-booked visit to Westbury Court Garden in Gloucestershire. Was a rainy couple of hours. The garden was quite small, but the rain eventually stopped.

Westbury Court Garden is a Dutch water garden in Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, England, 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Gloucester.

It was laid out in 1696–1705, a rare survival not to have been replaced in the 18th century by a naturalistic garden landscape as popularised by Capability Brown. It is situated facing the high street of the rural village, extending on low-lying water meadows adjacent to the River Severn; the flat watery ground makes the site well suited to a Dutch-style garden, of which Westbury is the outstanding survival in Britain.

I kept seeing the massive spire of the Church of St Mary, St Peter and St Paul from the garden.

Grade II* Listed Building

Church of St Peter and St Paul

Listing Text

SO 71 SW WESTBURY-ON-SEVERN WESTBURY VILLAGE

11/215 Church of St. Peter and

St. Paul

GV II*

Large parish church: early C14, restored 1862 and 1878. North

facade thin, roughly squared grey stone brought to courses, larger,

squared stone to quoins, ashlar to windows, south and most of west

faces smooth reddish render lined as ashlar, chancel south and east

well-squared stone approaching ashlar: roof late C20 machine-made

red clay tile. Nave, aisles, north and south porches, chancel,

organ chamber and vestry: tower detached (q.v.). North facade:

high porch in centre of unbuttressed aisle: chamfered, 2-centred

archway, with hoodmould: wrought-iron gates, 2 rails at about 1

metre up, St. Andrews cross between, spiral dog bars with

spearheads. Top rail follows arch with another to nearly similar

line below: main bars with spear and volute heads. To right of

porch one 2-light window, trefoil heads to lights, solid stone

panel to flat hoodmould. To left one similar 3-light window and

one 3-light with flying ogee heads to lights below pointed head.

Gable parapets to porch, aisle, nave and chancel with cross-gablet

apex with stone cross to each: only porch has projecting moulded

kneelers. 2-bay chancel with large, central buttress: 2-light

windows with cinquefoil ogee heads to lights, quatrefoil over, and

hoodmould. West face, 3 gables, square-set buttress to nave only,

with splayed plinth. Ridges and windows to aisles offset towards

centre: windows 2-light, ogee heads, with recessed spandrels to

flat hoodmould. Nave wide 2-centred moulded doorway with

hoodmould and double boarded doors with applied timber tracery.

Above a flat cinquefoiled ogee-headed niche containing a calvary:

3-light Perpendicular window with hoodmould above.

Interior plastered: 7-bay nave arcade, alternate octagonal and

lobed pillars, with moulded caps and bases: hoodmoulds to plain

moulded arches, with small carved heads as stops. Quatrefoil

clerestory windows in alternate bays. Archbraced collar trusses

off corbels, crown post but no longitudinal timber. Aisles

exposed collar rafters; scissor-braced trusses to chancel, all

roofs C19. Tall Early English style arch to chancel, with leaf

capitals: similar on south and from south aisle to organ chamber.

Old cross-boarded door to vestry. 8-lobed piscina reset in south

chancel window sill. Carved reredos (1878) stone and alabaster

extended as blind arcading across east wall: aumbry to match on

left. Plain 6-sided 1862 stone pulpit, blind quatrefoils above

plinth: octagonal C19 stone font, with crosses, symbols of

evangelists and dove on bowl, over trefoil-headed blind arcading on

stem. An older octagonal stone bowl set on octagonal stem dated

1583, with royal arms, on a splayed base. A number of good C18

and early C19 wall monuments in chancel and at west end of aisles,

including one to T. Sinderby with violin and score in white marble

by J. Pearce of Frampton. 1686 monument in north porch, and

benefactions board. A number of good late C17 and C18 headstones

in churchyard not separately listed. Church restored 1862 by

Medland and Maberley, 1864 and 1876-78. (Victoria County History,

Gloucestershire, Vol X, 1972; D. Verey, Gloucestershire, The Vale

and the Forest of Dean, 1970).

Listing NGR: SO7171513886

This text is from the original listing, and may not necessarily reflect the current setting of the building.

BNS LEOPOLD I has the capability to embark, as required, a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) on board a merchant vessel to offer close protection against pirate attack

071212-N-4772B-133 IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. (December 12, 2007) -- A Marine Corps CH-53 helicopter hovers over the water off the coast of Imperial Beach, Calif. as it prepares to release an 11-meter rigid inflatable boat (RIB). Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) from Special Boat Team 12, stationed at Naval Base Coronado, Calif. will follow after the boat and prepare to get underway. SWCCs use this maritime transportation capability to move RIBs and special operation crafts-riverine (SOC-R), and the boat crew from land to water. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian P. Biller.

Incredibly rare shots of an Atlantic puffin were taken by photographer Sam Hobson on the Sony RX10 III, which features an extended 600mm super-telephoto zoom lens and silent shutter capability, to ensure the endangered animal was not disturbed

The delivery of the vehicles and IT equipment, such as computers and GPS devices, will help to enhance their on-land capability and IT connectivity

Brief description of GAC Products and services to be used on utube and probably in an email with the power point presentation attached.

Golden Arch Consulting (GAC) has a number of products and services all aimed at enhancing a company's cashflow, such as, a cash advance against your future credit/debit card takings; or using the GAC direct debit system to collect your invoice payments from your customers; or our “one-off” invoice factoring capability; or the GAC debt management process for companies, for both those companies who owe money to another, and those who are owed money.