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5. I ve decided, my 365 five will be one upload a day
i knew i wouldnt have the staminaa
(amyy---i just got back from glen aba club night,, god that SUE can talk for brittain!!)
i did alot of painting and piano playing today, i may go do more nowww byee
XXX
explorerereer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_2s-gwLg2k&list=OLAK5uy_mclC...
When somebody does you wrong, what can you do
And you're not the only one they're making love to
When they let go of your hand,
You got to get back to the land
'Cause it will never, never, never hurt you.
When you're so called friends no longer want you around
You're not up with the trends like the other friends they've found
If you don't fit in to their plans
Then get back to the land
'Cause it will never, never, never let you down
And your Mother's always loved you
She wraps you in her arms
And she feeds you milk and honey
And she keeps you safe from harm
And when nobody appreciates you where can you go?
Do we pack our bags and catch that train to "I don't know"
So when they don't understand
You got to get back to the Land
'Cause it will never, never, never let you go.
So when they don't understand
You got to get back to the Land
'Cause it will never, never, never let you go.
It will never, never, never let you go.
So, I drew this on my feet yesterday. I go through these spurts where I get bored or inspired and want to draw, then I draw on myself. This is what I have drawn so far, and I realized I really miss free handing and tracing. I'm going to start again, specially since I have so much time to these days.
Well, some people will say it's bad to draw on ourselves, but honestly, I don't care. It's fun to do and it's not permant like a tattoo so if you decide you don't want it there anymore, depending on what you use to draw on yourself, you can remove it with water easyily. Sharpie is usually what I choose, so I've got to pull out the nail polish remover if I want or need what I've drawn on myself off quickly. It's my body and I'll draw on it if I want, that's how I see it.
I love being artistic in as many ways as I can, drawing is one of them, even if it's on myself. It's fun, I will let other friends draw on me too. They are allowed to do whatever they choose as long as it is not immoral, inapropraite, or wrong, so far no one has ever tried to draw or write something on my arm or hand that I'd be mad or uncomfortable showing other people.
One friend in particular this last winter drew a beautiful rose that started on the top of my right hand and the steam led down a good portion of my arm. It was cool and I wished I had pictures of it! Later on that same week, I ended up having several sharpie drawings on my right arm and a few on my left as well. On of the ones on my right are was of wings, I can't and couldn't ever forget that one, around that time is when "Angel Photography" got it's meaning. The drawing of wings was special for so many reasons. It was fun to see what my friends would draw and their creativeness.
Art is lots of fun and there are so many forms of it. I hope you all have your own ways of expressing yourself through art.
Anyways, I'll quite rambling about this and maybe go do something productive or go draw this in my sketch book the way I'd really like it to look. This was pretty roughly drawn on my feet.
a photo! the first i've taken in fucking forever... been more than a little busy with the tour managing, but now i've got a bigger crew on this tour, i've managed to shoot the odd song during the guys set, in between jumping into the crowd to pull her out, and hanging her off balconies by her legs whilst she hangs upside down for a song.
shot this at manchester academy last night (one handed, after a wee bone breakage a few nights ago during some stage antics!)... this 3 week tour is the end of the main bulk of the touring for now after travelling the world with the band since the beginning of last summer and hitting up a ridiculous amount of countries.
more photos to come later as i gotta go do some work now... BYE <3
touring/breakast updates = www.twitter.com/peterhillnet
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[Explored / July.18.11 # 293!] - THANK YOU!!
Press "L" NOW! Its so much better :)...now go do it! :)
Just hit an all time high of 2,000 Views in one day! Thank you guys so much!!!!!
I finally had the opportunity to meet up with Rameez - A professional model from Montreal, CAN. Me and Rameez have been good friends since highschool! I noticed that he had gone to Montreal to get into the model and fashion industry, so as soon as he came back to town for the summer to visit family, I gave him a shout right away! I was pretty stoked when I asked him to meet up for a shoot. We both set up a time and finally met up a few days later! I was so impressed by how good he was at what he did! He was a natural! I had a blast with me during the shoot and we will definitely be meeting up soon for some more shoots! Stay tuned for lots of uploads! :)
5D Mark II
85L (rented)
Natural Light
© 2011 Raj Sandhu
Every year my friend Spencer has the most amazing Christmas party at his house. I was excited all week at the prospect of it! His family invites their 100 closest friends! I've known them since I was in second grade, and this is my fourth annual Christmas party in a row with them. Such great times.
They have the best food there. His mamma (who by far is the most awesome friend mamma ever) makes the best white chile. So good. She even gave me a whole box to go. The rest of the food is all catered and equally amazing.
But then, that's not all. There is the chocolate fountain. O my. So. So. Good. Dipping bananas, grapes, strawberries, marshmallows, bread puffs......... oooooo so delish!
I always get a photo with it every year. So, check out my previous ones.
2006 Fat Version. I weighed 225 pounds. Bleh. I didn't need a chocolate fountain. haha!
2007 Skinny Version. After I went on my diet after looking at the 2006 photo. haha! 160 pounds.
Anyways, sorry this photo is really candid and not the crazy photoshop norm! LOL.
Short video on YouTube here. Watch me move in real life, haha!
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Sparrowrose Howard Thurman
This fresco painting on the ceiling of the church is 20meters tall, the largest in the world
I've read this book twice and recently watched that wonderful movie of his wonderful life - if you haven't read the book or seen the movie, go do so now!!
7 Days of Shooting Week #38 Text Black and White Wednesday ....
Thanks to everyone who views this photo, adds a note, leaves a comment and of course BIG thanks to anyone who chooses to favourite my photo .... thanks to you all.
Had a go doing some more water droplets tonight and am very happy with my results. It took a bit of setting up but I think it was worth it.
Nikon D5200, Sigma 18-200.
All of my images are available in hi-res without stamps and borders.
Baby, it's cold outside! Mom says that Old Man Winter guy finally came to Virginia. It's so cold, I'm refusing to guard the yard...I'm temporary relenquishing that duty today to my brother with the furry coat. Of course, I'm eventually going to wriggle out from the covers and go do a perimeter check because no one could possible trust that silly Aussie to actually do a proper job....But for now, I'm going stay snuggled up right here...Hey Mom, would you mind putting on the Animal Planet channel?
Sooc +2 in cmnts
-color adjustment
This is my cousin kenzie, she is down from atl
so i was like lets go do a shoot, but it was already 5
so we didn't have much time; ha it was fun
btw ha i tye died that sweatshirt thing
August 15
Yesterday we went for a snooze at six, and failed to wake up until nearly 11, meaning too late to do anything really, so we went back to bed.
All would have been well if the car hadin’t got bored and made the alarm go off twice. No idea what was wrong, so in the end we had to leave the car unlocked.
All was well this morning when we got up at six. Got up, but had been laying awake for at least two hours. But all was well, just now we could get up and go do stuff again. And as before, do the really popular stuff when the park is either empty or asleep, which is why we were heading for the Canyon and two sets of falls before seven, and just as the sun was rising.
As was the mist.
Mere photographs could not do the scenes justice, the morning light on the mist as it rolled down from the mountain tops, all tinged in pink. We do stop a couple of times for shots, but mostly just enjoy being some of the few people up and around at the early hour, lucky enough to see it.
We arrive at Canyon Village, and fill up the car, as it was reminding us it had only 45 miles of fuel left, and Yellowstone wasn’t the best of places to run out of fuel. However, I can say I am one of the few people to have locked the keys to his hire car, in the hire car, on the top of a mountain. You really could not make this up.
So with the car refuelled, we drive to the lower falls, and first of all go to the overlook, and with the mist wrapped round the fir trees on the edge of the gorge missing in with the spray from the waterfall, and again with the golden light, it was magical.
There was a train: three eights of a mile long, but dropping 660 feet. I knew the shots would be worth it, so we start to totter down. And down, and down. Zig zagging down the side of the gorge, with the roar of the falls getting ever louder.
With every step down, we would have to climb back up, and at over 7,000 feet, it was going to be interesting.
Once down at the bottom, there was a viewing platform right over the falls, allowing you to look down from the edge of the cataract. It was magical, and with just three young guys from Boston with us, we had it all to ourselves.
Of course, then came the walk back up, stopping every turn or two, but recovery seemed to get quicker and easier, and in ten minutes or so, we were at the top.
We have breakfast of salad and nectarines, I kid you not, before the short drive to the upper falls, where there was a less steep and much shorter set of steps to the viewing platform, made all the more magical by the mist that had risen. I snap it, and the mist wreathed trees on the far bank, then walk up where there was a small conference on what to do next.
In our preparations, we had left two days without accommodation booked, to allow us some flexibility, however, those two days were on Friday and Saturday, and all rooms in and around Yellowstone might be booked.
We drive round to Cooke City, Montana, where we had both thought the main street looked fun and nice to stay at. Once there was asked at the tourist information if they could help in finding a room, but we were told we would have to visit each and every motel and bar, casino to ask if they had rooms.
Only one did, but it didn’t really meet our standards these days, so we went back to the tourist information to use their free wifi, and after consulting a map, chose a town in southern Montana, did a search for rooms and came up with a condo with suits, and free wifi which should mean being online a little. It was all booked, so worries over, and being midday, we go over to a place opposite for lunch, our first meal in 22 hours, and have burgers. It was either that or steak.
Not the best burgers of fries in the world, but good enough to these hungry bunnies, we ate outside, the only ones to do so, but soaking up the rays, now that the sun had broken through.
On our way back to the park we see a cabin selling ice cream, so call in, and were given a waffle cone each with five scoops of creamy goodness, and these were just the singles at 3 bucks fifty each! Jools could not finish hers, but I wasn’t going to let huckleberry ice cream go to waste. I eat all mine, all except for the drips down my t shirt.
On the way back to the cabin, we stop many times to take in the views, or to look for wildlife. A friendly chap showed me where some mountain goats could be seen about a mile away, but also gave me the heads up on an Osprey’s nest near to the road further on.
At an overlook of a shallow river, Jools and I spend a fine half hou chasing butterflies, American Painted Ladies and some kind of Fritillary. All wonderful, and some photographed.
A few miles on, we see the Osprey’s nest and stop, next to the guy who told me about it. We watch to juveniles stretching and flapping their wings, and I rattle off probably 50 shots.
We move on and finally come to a place where a herd of Bison where near to the road, so we stop and I snap many of the animals, some rolling around in a dust bath. Just fabulous.
Back in Mammoth, we visit the upper terraces of the falls near to the cabin, but it is a joyless experience because of the numbers of people, but then still got some shots. But we can return in the evening or early tomorrow,
We had burgers for lunch, again, so in the evebing, in the hope of improving our diet, we go to the resoty restauratn, in the hope of vegetables, in for not other reason. We hadin’t booked a table, so had to wait 40 minutes, so retired to the bar, and where I was recommonded a pint of Moose Drihhle, a dark beer I was told. Turned out to have great depth of falvour, and it was a shame when that came to an end, but no worry as our table was ready, so we celebrated by odering a bottle of wine. We ordered bluse, but red came, but what the heck.
I had fillet of bison, showing they just don’t look good, the taste it too, it was accompanied by some mashed taters, and boccolini. Or, broccoli that had been on a diet. All good, as was the wine, and we may return to sample the huckleberry margarita.
We walked back under a clear sky with the crescent waning moon high overhead. We were pooped, and it was cold, just above freezing, so we took to our beds.
07/31/2010 This was a day of "let's just go do something" Dave-O, Jayk and I did a lot of random stuff, one of which was go to Pioneer park and mess around. Pioneer park is basically 52 acres of red rock to climb and enjoy with your family and friends. They ran all over the place as I took photos. Here is the shot I took near the end of our little adventure there. I just LOVE how you can see kind of the perspective of how little we are in such a big world.
"And at the end of the day, there's always a disappointing football match."
But before then, there's a whole day to get through.
Neither of us had any ill effects from our jabs on Friday, sore arm notwithstanding. So it meant the day was all ours to do with what we wanted.
Saying that, Jools didn't feel well enough for churchcrawling, but hunter/gathering at Tesco was fine.
So, after coffee we drove to Whitfield and after filling the car with unleaded, we go to the store to buy stuff for the weekend, and the final things for Christmas, which means that we just have veg to get as everything else is either bought or ordered.
I buy a gift for the charity Christmas box, so that poor children will have something. I bought a Hey Dugee singing stick that the child will love and their parents will hate. Does this make me a bad or good person?
Maybe both.
Back home to pack the shopping away, have fruit for breakfast, followed by bacon butties and huge brews.
Although Tesco had most things, there was no fresh fruit other really than bananas, apples. And for the second week, bacon, especially smoked bacon was in very short supply.
But we dine well on our bacon butties, then, Jools confirmed she was not going out, so I could visit anywhere.
Within reason.
Well. Most churches in the area I wanted to visit or revisit I have done these past few weeks.
One I hadn't gone back to was Lydden. Its a small place, but its a short drive there, so could be a stopover on the way to somewhere else.
I go down Coldred Hill, then along to the church.
It was a glorious day, I mean no clouds, clean, sparking air, but cold and frosty.
The church was unlocked, cold by welcoming.
As expected, there wasn't much I hadn't recorded, and no glass to use the big lens on. So, I go round to recrod everything, then on to the next stop.
Bekesbourne.
I hadn't called the keyholder, but she only lives opposite the church, so not that much of a hassle to walk over the small bridge over the dry Nailbourne.
I reach the church, park outside and walk to the old palace.
I rang the bell. Dogs barked. A lot. But no one answered.
Another time, then.
Three miles along the Nailbourne is Littlebourne where the bournes changes its name to the Little Stour and flows all the time. There is a church there and I can't remember when I was there last.
I drive round the village, find the church on Church Street. Where else to keep your church?
Again, it was open, but having no real memory of this, it was good to go in again and take lots and lots of shots, mainly of the large number of Victorian windows.
Once done, I decide there were no other churches to be done that day, athough I go do Wingham and Ash again, there's plenty of other occasions to do those. But it was a ten minute drive from Preston, and I noticed during the week we were out of sausages, so decide to go in and see if they had any.
And good job I did, as they were down to a few bits and pieces, but had some venison and cranberry bangers, so I get five pounds. Also, they were selling of these very large chickens, perfect for the late Christmas dinner we're planning when Jen comes back on January 24th, so £15 gets that and it can go in the freezer.
By which time it was lunch. We have gingerbread, or mixed spice bread. Two large stars, so I pull of each point and dunk it in a coffee, so soft enough in the end.
And amazingly, football is back. In fact, below the Championship, it never stopped during the World Cup, the the Prem and Championship did, and Norwich were to play for the first time in a month, away at Swansea.
So I could watch the early game, Portugal v Morocco as well as follow Norwich.
Good news in both games, as Norwich scored in the first minute then hung on to claim all three points, and Morocco knocked out Portugal; Ronaldo, Pepe and all.
There were tears at the end. Bitter ones from Ron and tears of joy for the rest of us.
And then, France v England.
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Why isn't this charming little church better known? It is the quintessential Downland church, built of flint and constructed near the bottom of a steep dry chalk valley away from its later village which grew up on the main road out of Dover. It is mainly thirteenth century in character and consists of just west tower, nave and chancel. On the north side the church sits right into the hillside - a perennial cause of damp. Here too is a tiny low-side window indicating that the few houses that existed when the church was new would have been on this side of the valley. Inside it is very dark and at first glimpse appears to be the product of a harsh nineteenth century restoration. However, there is much of interest including a charming 1952 window over the pulpit - the only colour to be found here. The chancel has two blank wall arcades on north and south walls with rounded heads - always a difficult thing to date - and a fine two seat sedilia with plain pointed (13thC) tops. Next to them is a very simple piscina of similar age. Strangely there is no chancel step - possibly the result of the Victorians putting a higher floor in the chancel to bring it up to the nave level - a rare, but not unique thing in Kent. What makes this church really worth a visit are the two recesses for tombs in the south nave wall. Their moulded arches repay close attention - no mechanical detailing here, but something rather wonderful and varied. Late they may be, but these late medieval carvings could compete with anything in East Kent. The left hand one has armorial bearings carved into its cill. A little charmer if ever there was one.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Lydden
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LIDDON
IS the next parish eastward, being spelt in antient records Leddene. Part of it lies in the hundred of Bewsborough and lath of St. Augustine, and the rest of it, in which is the church and village, in the hundied of Folkestone and lath of Shipway.
THE PARISH lies in an unpleasant dreary country, having the look of poverty throughout it, the soil of it is in general very chalky, and equally poor. The village is situated in the valley, on each side of the high road leading from Canterbury to Dover, a little way beyond the 67th mile-stone from London, having the church and court-lodge at a small distance on the north side of it. The hills rise very high and bold on every side, and toward the north are open and uninclosed. It extends towards the north but a little way; but towards the south it reaches more than a mile from the village beyond Swanton-house, a large antient stone building, towards Swingfield and Alkham. In this part there are several woods, most of which belonged to lord Bolingbroke, and were sold by him to the Rev. Edward Timewell Brydges, of Wotton, the present possessor of them. There is no fair held here.
THE LORDSHIP OF THE BARONY of Folkestone claims paramount over that part of this parish which is in that hundred, subordinate to which is THE MANOR OF LIDDON, the court-lodge of which is situated near the church. It belonged formerly to the abbey of West Langdon, and on the dissolution of it came to the crown, whence it was granted, anno 29 king Henry VIII. to the archbishop, together with the rectory of the church to which it was appurtenant, in the description of which hereafter a more parti cular account will be given of it. It still remains part of the possessions of his grace the archbishop.
THE MANOR OF COCKLESCOMBE, which lies in the hundred of Bewsborough, was antiently held of the castle of Dover by knight's service, being part of those lands which made up the barony of Maminot, afterwards, from its succeeding owners, called the barony of Saye. In the reign of Edward I. Ralph de Cestreton appears to have held it, and was succeeded in it by Stephen de Bocton; soon after which it was become part of the possessions of the hospital of the knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and this manor continued in their possession till their general dissolution in the 32d year of king Henry VIII. when it was suppressed by an act then specially passed for the purpose, and their lands and revenues were given by it to the king, who in the next year sold it to Edward Monins, esq. of Waldershare, who, anno 2 and 3 Edward VI. procured his lands to be disgavelled, and died anno 6 Edward VI. whose descendant Sir William Monins, of Waldershare, was created a baronet in 1611. His son Sir Edward Monins, bart. died possessed of this manor in 1663, leaving Elizabeth his widow, surviving, who held it in jointure at her death in 1703; upon which it devolved to the heirs and trustees of Susan, his eldest daughter and coheir, late wife of the hon. Peregrine Bertie, and they, in the reign of William and Mary, joined in the sale of it to Sir Henry Furnese, bart. of Waldershare, whose grandson Sir Henry Furnese, bart. dying in 1735 under age and unmarried, this manor, among his other estates, became vested in his three sisters, and coheirs of their father, in equal shares in coparcenary; after which, anno 9 George II. on a writ of partition, this manor was allotted, among others, to Anne the eldest daughter, wife of John, viscount St. John, whose son Frederick, became viscount Bolingbroke, and his son George, viscount Bolingbroke, sold it to Mr. Baldock, of Canterbury, who in 1791 again sold it to Mr. Peter Harnett, the occupier, who is the present possessor of it. A court baron is held for this manor.
SWANTON is a manor in the south-west part of this parish, within the hundred of Folkestone, and adjoining to Swingfield, in which part of it lies. At the time of taking the survey of Domesday, this manor, or at least the principal part of it, was in the possession of the bishop of Baieux, under the general title of whose lands it is thus entered in it:
Ralph de Curbespine holds of the bishop Svanetone. It was taxed at two sulings. The arable land is . . . . . In demesne there is one carucate, and two borderers with half a carucate.
Of this land Robert de Barbes holds one suling, and has there three villeins with half a carucate, and one Hugo holds one suling, and has there one carucate in demesne and one borderer. In the time of king Edward the Gonfessor it was worth ten pounds, when he received it thirty shillings, now forty shillings, and yet it pays four pounds. Coloen held it of king Edward.
That part of it mentioned above to have belonged to one Hugo, seems to have been in the possession of Hugo de Montfort; for under the general title of his possessions in the same record I find the following entry:
The same Hugo de Montfort has . . . . . half a suling Suanetone. The arable land is one carucate. Norman held it of king Edward, and it was taxed at as much. There are four villeins having one carucate. There is wood for the pannage of five bogs. In the time of king Edward the Confessor it was worth twenty-five shillings, and afterwards fifteen shillings, now thirty shillings.
This manor afterwards came into the possession of owners who took their name from it; for William de Swanetone held it by knight's service in the reign of king Henry III. by a female heir of which family it went in marriage to Lutteridge, whose daughter and heir marrying John Greenford, entitled him to this manor, on whose death anno II Edward IV. Alice, one of his daughters and coheirs, carried it in marriage to Robert Monins, of Waldershare, whose son John Monins resided at Swanton. The arms of Swanton were, Argent, a fess, gules, between three chessrooks, sable; of Lutteridge, Argent, a bend between six martlets, sable; and of Greenford, Gules, a chevron ermine, between three squirrels, seiant, or. John Monins, of Swanton above-mentioned, left two sons; from Edward, the eldest, descended Sir William Monins, created a baronet; and from John, the youngest, lieutenant of Dover castle, descended John Monins, esq. now of Canterbury. In the descendants of John Monins, this manor continued down to Sir Edward Monins, bart, of Waldershare, who died possessed of it in 1663. Since which it has passed, in like manner with his other estates here, as has been already mentioned before, in the description of the manor of Cocklescombe, to George, lord viscount Bolingbroke, who sold it to Messrs. Nutt and Walker, and they, in 1792, again conveyed it to Samuel Egerton Brydges, esq. of Denton, the present owner of it.
Swanton manor, with that of Perryn, in this parish, the situation of which is now unknown, are held of the manor of Folkestone by knight's service.
The master and fellows of Emanuel college are possessed of lands in this parish and Ewell, which were given by Walter Richards in 1627, towards the maintenance of two exhibitions, to be chosen out of the sizers and subsizers of that college, and the produce of them is now applied to that purpose.
Charities.
THOMAS FISHER, of St. James's, Dover, by will in 1593, devised to the poor people of Liddon 6s. 8d. to be paid yearly at the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle; and if not paid within 14 days, then the churchwardens should distrain for 13s. 4d. the money to be distributed at their discretion to the poor.
The poor constantly relieved are about nine, casually the same.
LIDDON is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Dover.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, consists of only one isle and one chancel, having a square tower at the west end, in which is one bell. The church is unceiled, except one half of the chancel. In the south wall is an arch, ornamented, with a hollow underneath, most probably for a tomb once at the base of it. There is nothing further worth mention in it.
William de Auberville, senior, on his foundation of the priory of West Langdon, in 1192, gave to it this church of St. Mary of Ledene, in pure and perpetual alms, which was confirmed by Simon de Albrincis, (fn. 1) and by Sir Simon de Cryoll, great-grandson of the former. After which, archbishop Walter granted licence for the canons of the priory to serve in it themselves, which prevented a vicarage being endowed in it; and the prior and canons thenceforward appropriated the whole profits of this church to themselves. In which state it continued till the dissolution of the priory, which happened anno 27 Henry VIII. when it was suppressed, as not having annual revenues of the amount of the clear value of two hundred pounds, and was given, with all its lands and possessions, to the king, who in his 29th year, granted it, among other possessions of the priory, in exchange to the archbishop. In which state it continues at this time, his grace the archbishop being now entitled to the rectory of this church, with the manor of Liddon appurtenant to it.
¶In the deed of exchange above-mentioned, anno 29 Henry VIII. of the grant of the scite of the abovementioned priory, and its possessions, to the archbishop, they are made subject to the payment of 3l. 11s. 8d. to the curate of Liddon; by which it should seem that the cure of it was then esteemed a curacy. However, in the valuation in the king's books it is mentioned as a vicarage, of the yearly value of 6l. 6s. 2d. It is now a discharged living, of the yearly certified value of thirty-two pounds. In 1588 it was valued at only ten pounds, communicants fifty-two. In 1640 here were the same number of communicants.
Archbishop Juxon, anno 15 Charles II. augmented this vicarage eighteen pounds per annum, to be paid by the lessee of the parsonage; and archbishop Tenison, by will in 1714, left to the augmentation of it two hundred pounds, to which was added two hundred pounds more by the governors of queen Anne's bounty.
... Quelque soit le maquillage et les paillettes, cette beauté, s'efface dans l'ombre ... Où va-t-elle?, Le sait-elle?... Quelque soit, elle a ma bénédiction...
__________
" White pearls " ... No matter the make-up and the spangles, this beauty, is in the shade… Where does she go? , Does she knows ? … But on any event, it has my blessing…
__________
finally gut the courage up to stick the pink moustache on the car and go do my first lyft. Was super nervous but in the end I loved it. And the highlights of 3 hours of lyfting:
1) First passenger asked me if I was gay.
2) Second passenger asked me if I was gay. There seems to be trend here.
3) Fourth passenger couldn't actually fit in the car without some seat rearranging..
4) Saw a lady on a bicycle get hit and run over by a bus. She was as OK as could be after getting run over by a bus.
5) Everyone knew how to get where they wanted so only used navigation once - which is good because I have no idea where I am going.
6) Time flew by. Could have kept going but figured 3 hours was a enough for the first day.
Good news is, I'll be back!
Just some last pics at the LynchLand sim before the sim closes ( and we will go do popup events)
Taxi to the Eraserhead Venue in LynchLand:
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pearl%20Coast/188/214/4052
Arrow Inglewood as Henry
Myrdin Sommer as Lady in the Radiator
David Lynch as David Lynch ;)
Yesterday I went out for a while to get some air and sun. Two of my cats have been sick since I mixed them with the new one. They are getting better now
Yesterday I went out for a while to get some air and sun. Two of my cats have been sick since I mixed them with the new one. They are getting better now and I went out for one hour with my new doll.
Jónsi ~ Go Do
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYb2Q3DvLNE
Go sing, too loud
Make your voice break- Sing it out
Go scream, do shout
Make an earthquake...
You wish fire would die and turn colder
You wish young eyes could see you grow older
We should always know that we can do anything
Go drum, too proud
Make your hands ache - Play it out
Go march through crowds
Make your day break...
You wish silence released noisy drummers
You wish white noise surrendered to summers
We should always know that we can do everything
Go do, you'll know how to
Just let yourself, fall into landslide
Go do, you'll know how to
Just let yourself, give into flood tide
Go do!
Tie strings to clouds
Make your own lake - Let it flow
Throw seeds to sprout
Make your own break - Let them grow
Let them grow (Endless summers)
Let them grow (Endless summers)
(Go do endless summers)
You wish surprise would never stop wonders
You wish sunrise would never fall under
You wish surprise would never stop wonders
You wish sunrise would never fall under
We should always know that we can do anything
Go do!
[While I upload photos from 2020, I am also trying to keep up with some of my more current works by uploading a couple of photographs every day, in the afternoon or evening.]
In September and October 2021, we spent three weeks touring the Italian regions of Abruzzo, Umbria, Marches and Emilia-Romagna, which we hadn’t visited yet.
Personally, I had my sights firmly set on a series of early Romanesque churches of high architectural and artistic interest, so you will see quite a few of those, in spite of the typical Italian administration-related problems I encountered, and which were both stupid and quite unpleasant.
There will also be other sorts of old stones, landscapes, etc., and I hope you will enjoy looking at them and have a good time doing so. If it makes you want to go, do, by all means, Italy is a wonderful country.
Today, I begin a new series on the church of Santa Pudenziana, near the town of Narni in the province of Umbria.
This is a very old church, a pre-Romanesque one from, I think, the 900 at least. Roman columns have been reused in the nave and pronaos, the way the arches are supported is typical of the archaic period, even though some elements are from the 11th and 12th centuries.
It also features a very nice bell tower, the base of which is dated from the 600s or 700s.
It is said that the church was originally part of a Benedictine priory.
It is absolutely lovely, restored and managed by a group of devoted volunteers worlds away from the persnickety and obnoxious bureaucrats that make up most of the Italian administration of beni culturali (Historic Landmarks).
This column is of much rougher stone. Could be from the Italian equivalent of our Carolingian, possibly Merovingian times. Very old, at any rate, and of an overall length prohibiting the use of a capital.
A danish guy visiting china contacted Storm earlier this week to go do a peice and so we all hooked up last night. Blazed a bit till 11 at Nine's house then the three of us where out. Didn't really have a spot till Nine told us that he recently passed by the river and noticed that our peices got buffed ... great occasion to come back.
So the mission started at 11 as I said earlier. Storm and I, pretty high, tried to direct the taxi driver to the apporpiate location but ended up geting lost and having to walk a mile the wrong way in order to get where we wanted. Along the way we found this great spot, a empty lot that's been totaly whitewashed, clean ass walls and all with a small worker hut in the far end. Checked it out for a bit then pounced over the wall to reach the spot we noticed could be best visible from the subway ... unfortunently right as we where sorting out the spaces these two dogs start barking and running up. In the night with the distance, we hadn't noticed them and they where loose ... this got our asses moving out of that lot asap. Why the F@ck couldn't they be tied up ... anyhow great spot will definently have to find a way to hit it, with or withought the mongrels. (any suggestions on geting rid of dogs?) Anyhow arrived at the river spot at 12:30pm, hiked the wall and started painting. Storm kinged it this time ... the size of his letters and highlights makes his readeable even at night and from a distance. Guess I shouldn't have gone mid-tone next to him (he was light blue/black and I bleu/brown) ... gotta see it in the daytime but I love this night flick with the reflections in the water.
Cold feet is a term used to characterize apprehension or doubt strong enough to prevent a planned course of action.
I did that more than I should have. (Example: Not posting for six months).
Sometimes turning a difficult task into a fun game can change the view on life! Laughing feels so much better. So here's my version of this game.
F U T A B (put your feet up and take a break) is freezing cold, but it's also crazy fun, and I'm so proud.. I've done it!
Let's go! Do it too! Then post your shot in the frozen futab pool.
Note: No drinking involved in the production of this shot
August 15
Yesterday we went for a snooze at six, and failed to wake up until nearly 11, meaning too late to do anything really, so we went back to bed.
All would have been well if the car hadin’t got bored and made the alarm go off twice. No idea what was wrong, so in the end we had to leave the car unlocked.
All was well this morning when we got up at six. Got up, but had been laying awake for at least two hours. But all was well, just now we could get up and go do stuff again. And as before, do the really popular stuff when the park is either empty or asleep, which is why we were heading for the Canyon and two sets of falls before seven, and just as the sun was rising.
As was the mist.
Mere photographs could not do the scenes justice, the morning light on the mist as it rolled down from the mountain tops, all tinged in pink. We do stop a couple of times for shots, but mostly just enjoy being some of the few people up and around at the early hour, lucky enough to see it.
We arrive at Canyon Village, and fill up the car, as it was reminding us it had only 45 miles of fuel left, and Yellowstone wasn’t the best of places to run out of fuel. However, I can say I am one of the few people to have locked the keys to his hire car, in the hire car, on the top of a mountain. You really could not make this up.
So with the car refuelled, we drive to the lower falls, and first of all go to the overlook, and with the mist wrapped round the fir trees on the edge of the gorge missing in with the spray from the waterfall, and again with the golden light, it was magical.
There was a train: three eights of a mile long, but dropping 660 feet. I knew the shots would be worth it, so we start to totter down. And down, and down. Zig zagging down the side of the gorge, with the roar of the falls getting ever louder.
With every step down, we would have to climb back up, and at over 7,000 feet, it was going to be interesting.
Once down at the bottom, there was a viewing platform right over the falls, allowing you to look down from the edge of the cataract. It was magical, and with just three young guys from Boston with us, we had it all to ourselves.
Of course, then came the walk back up, stopping every turn or two, but recovery seemed to get quicker and easier, and in ten minutes or so, we were at the top.
We have breakfast of salad and nectarines, I kid you not, before the short drive to the upper falls, where there was a less steep and much shorter set of steps to the viewing platform, made all the more magical by the mist that had risen. I snap it, and the mist wreathed trees on the far bank, then walk up where there was a small conference on what to do next.
In our preparations, we had left two days without accommodation booked, to allow us some flexibility, however, those two days were on Friday and Saturday, and all rooms in and around Yellowstone might be booked.
We drive round to Cooke City, Montana, where we had both thought the main street looked fun and nice to stay at. Once there was asked at the tourist information if they could help in finding a room, but we were told we would have to visit each and every motel and bar, casino to ask if they had rooms.
Only one did, but it didn’t really meet our standards these days, so we went back to the tourist information to use their free wifi, and after consulting a map, chose a town in southern Montana, did a search for rooms and came up with a condo with suits, and free wifi which should mean being online a little. It was all booked, so worries over, and being midday, we go over to a place opposite for lunch, our first meal in 22 hours, and have burgers. It was either that or steak.
Not the best burgers of fries in the world, but good enough to these hungry bunnies, we ate outside, the only ones to do so, but soaking up the rays, now that the sun had broken through.
On our way back to the park we see a cabin selling ice cream, so call in, and were given a waffle cone each with five scoops of creamy goodness, and these were just the singles at 3 bucks fifty each! Jools could not finish hers, but I wasn’t going to let huckleberry ice cream go to waste. I eat all mine, all except for the drips down my t shirt.
On the way back to the cabin, we stop many times to take in the views, or to look for wildlife. A friendly chap showed me where some mountain goats could be seen about a mile away, but also gave me the heads up on an Osprey’s nest near to the road further on.
At an overlook of a shallow river, Jools and I spend a fine half hou chasing butterflies, American Painted Ladies and some kind of Fritillary. All wonderful, and some photographed.
A few miles on, we see the Osprey’s nest and stop, next to the guy who told me about it. We watch to juveniles stretching and flapping their wings, and I rattle off probably 50 shots.
We move on and finally come to a place where a herd of Bison where near to the road, so we stop and I snap many of the animals, some rolling around in a dust bath. Just fabulous.
Back in Mammoth, we visit the upper terraces of the falls near to the cabin, but it is a joyless experience because of the numbers of people, but then still got some shots. But we can return in the evening or early tomorrow,
We had burgers for lunch, again, so in the evebing, in the hope of improving our diet, we go to the resoty restauratn, in the hope of vegetables, in for not other reason. We hadin’t booked a table, so had to wait 40 minutes, so retired to the bar, and where I was recommonded a pint of Moose Drihhle, a dark beer I was told. Turned out to have great depth of falvour, and it was a shame when that came to an end, but no worry as our table was ready, so we celebrated by odering a bottle of wine. We ordered bluse, but red came, but what the heck.
I had fillet of bison, showing they just don’t look good, the taste it too, it was accompanied by some mashed taters, and boccolini. Or, broccoli that had been on a diet. All good, as was the wine, and we may return to sample the huckleberry margarita.
We walked back under a clear sky with the crescent waning moon high overhead. We were pooped, and it was cold, just above freezing, so we took to our beds.
My camera seems to be collecting a little dust lately, so I thought I’d better clean it off and go do something fun. So, the other day I put all chores aside, and drove down to the Sun Valley Animal Shelter in Glendale, Az, and asked permission to photograph some kitties. I feel much better now ;o)
So here, if you’re in the Phoenix area, and happen to be looking, are some of the cuties currently up for adoption @ the Sun Valley Shelter ;o)
Porto Alegre - 11/11/11
Why Go
Do The Evolution
Severed Hand
Corduroy
Got Some
Low Light
Given To Fly
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
Even Flow
Unthought Known
Present Tense
Daughter / Blitzkrieg Bop / It's Ok
1/2 Full
Wishlist
Rats
State Of Love And Trust
Black
Encore 1
Just Breathe
Oceans
Comatose
Light Years
I Believe In Miracles
The Fixer
Rearviewmirror
Encore 2
Last Kiss
Better Man / Save it for Later
Crazy Mary
Jeremy
Alive
Rockin' In The Free World
Indifference
Yellow Ledbetter / Little Wing
WHAT?! COLOUR AND A SMILE? (FAKE AS IT MAY BE) That must mean it's Christmas! Spent my day last minute shopping and wrapping at midnight - the Miles tradition. Also I know this isn't a good photo - just wanting to wish you all Merry Christmas!
I was tagged by the lovely Lexi, you should go check out her stream :)
So here we go...
Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Yah
Where were you last night? It was Zaz's Birthday and we went to Winter Wonderland and a Japanese restaurant
What is today's date? December 25th
Who was the last person to call you baby/babe? bbz and it was Zaz
When you're at the grocery store do you use the self checkout? Yes. I always wanted to be the checkout person when I was younger so I had a massive geek out the first time I did it
Anyone crushing on you? I doubt it
What is your relationship status? Taken
Has anyone ever sang to you? No
Has anyone ever given you roses? No
If you were abandoned in the wilderness, would you survive? Definitely
Who do you text the most?: Zazie, Sav, Bruna, Roniel. (wow all girls)
How do you make your money? Student Finance. I need a job
First person to text today? Abhi wishing me a Merry Christmas
What is your favorite color? Black.
What color are your eyes? Blue/grey
What is a compliment you receive often? People like my hair
How tall are you?: 6'0"
Who was the last person to say they loved you and when? Zazie. Today.
Do you like your parents? Yes.
Do you secretly like someone?: No.
Why did your last relationship end? She didn't like me anymore.
Who was the last person you said you loved on the phone? Zazie.
Where is the furthest place you've traveled? Brazil.
Which do you prefer, to eat or sleep? Sleep
Do you look more like your mum or your dad? My mum
How long does it take you to shower? 30 minutes. (Average). I sing.
Can you do splits? Ha.No.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!
You don't have to do the tag if you dont want - just have to carry on the chain and all that.
As with all episodes, the story ends on a positive note, any baddies go to prison, any injured wildlife gets better, and good deeds get rewarded.
This time Sonny gets a camera, and I get some kangaroo steaks from a local supermarket.
As a child we would have been too upset if we saw kangaroo for sale in the local supermarkets or served up as Sunday lunch in the Children's Home in the 1960s, but now it appears almost anything goes.
Does anyone sell Tingha & Tucker burgers?
and if you want to know why I want Tingah and Tucker burgers, here is the answer:
Czy lekarz, który podczas wykonywania swojego zawodu stwierdził napad padaczkowy, powinien bezwarunkowo zgłosić go do wydziału komunikacji, a ten znowu skierować Cię na badania lekarskie do WOMP? www.badania-na-prawo-jazdy-wroclaw.com/zgoszenie-padaczki... Jak ma się do obowiązujących aktów prawnych, czyli tajemnicy lekarskiej oraz najnowszego rozporządzenia ministra zdrowia dotyczącego badań kierowców.
"And at the end of the day, there's always a disappointing football match."
But before then, there's a whole day to get through.
Neither of us had any ill effects from our jabs on Friday, sore arm notwithstanding. So it meant the day was all ours to do with what we wanted.
Saying that, Jools didn't feel well enough for churchcrawling, but hunter/gathering at Tesco was fine.
So, after coffee we drove to Whitfield and after filling the car with unleaded, we go to the store to buy stuff for the weekend, and the final things for Christmas, which means that we just have veg to get as everything else is either bought or ordered.
I buy a gift for the charity Christmas box, so that poor children will have something. I bought a Hey Dugee singing stick that the child will love and their parents will hate. Does this make me a bad or good person?
Maybe both.
Back home to pack the shopping away, have fruit for breakfast, followed by bacon butties and huge brews.
Although Tesco had most things, there was no fresh fruit other really than bananas, apples. And for the second week, bacon, especially smoked bacon was in very short supply.
But we dine well on our bacon butties, then, Jools confirmed she was not going out, so I could visit anywhere.
Within reason.
Well. Most churches in the area I wanted to visit or revisit I have done these past few weeks.
One I hadn't gone back to was Lydden. Its a small place, but its a short drive there, so could be a stopover on the way to somewhere else.
I go down Coldred Hill, then along to the church.
It was a glorious day, I mean no clouds, clean, sparking air, but cold and frosty.
The church was unlocked, cold by welcoming.
As expected, there wasn't much I hadn't recorded, and no glass to use the big lens on. So, I go round to recrod everything, then on to the next stop.
Bekesbourne.
I hadn't called the keyholder, but she only lives opposite the church, so not that much of a hassle to walk over the small bridge over the dry Nailbourne.
I reach the church, park outside and walk to the old palace.
I rang the bell. Dogs barked. A lot. But no one answered.
Another time, then.
Three miles along the Nailbourne is Littlebourne where the bournes changes its name to the Little Stour and flows all the time. There is a church there and I can't remember when I was there last.
I drive round the village, find the church on Church Street. Where else to keep your church?
Again, it was open, but having no real memory of this, it was good to go in again and take lots and lots of shots, mainly of the large number of Victorian windows.
Once done, I decide there were no other churches to be done that day, athough I go do Wingham and Ash again, there's plenty of other occasions to do those. But it was a ten minute drive from Preston, and I noticed during the week we were out of sausages, so decide to go in and see if they had any.
And good job I did, as they were down to a few bits and pieces, but had some venison and cranberry bangers, so I get five pounds. Also, they were selling of these very large chickens, perfect for the late Christmas dinner we're planning when Jen comes back on January 24th, so £15 gets that and it can go in the freezer.
By which time it was lunch. We have gingerbread, or mixed spice bread. Two large stars, so I pull of each point and dunk it in a coffee, so soft enough in the end.
And amazingly, football is back. In fact, below the Championship, it never stopped during the World Cup, the the Prem and Championship did, and Norwich were to play for the first time in a month, away at Swansea.
So I could watch the early game, Portugal v Morocco as well as follow Norwich.
Good news in both games, as Norwich scored in the first minute then hung on to claim all three points, and Morocco knocked out Portugal; Ronaldo, Pepe and all.
There were tears at the end. Bitter ones from Ron and tears of joy for the rest of us.
And then, France v England.
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The villages 13th century church, St Vincent of Saragossa, is thought to have been founded by the monks of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury and contains an ancient wall painting depicting Saint Christopher, patron saint of travellers. The church also has what is reckoned to be one of the finest collection of stained glass windows designed by Nathaniel Westlake in the country. Nathaniel Westlake was a leading designer of the Gothic Revival movement in England.
Work done in 1995 by experts from the V&A Museum established that he designed each of the windows over the long period of his work with the Company, thus giving an outstanding example of the development of his style.
The Church has a six-bell peal, the oldest bell dating back to 1597, the newest 1899.
www.littlebournebenefice.org.uk/littlebournechurchhistory...
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LOCATION: Situated at about 40 feet above O.D. on Head brickearth (over Upper Chalk). A little to the west of the river Little Stour. Littlebourne Court, originally belonging to St. Augustine’s Abbey, lies immediately to the north-west. Wickhambreaux and Ickham churches are not far away to the north and east.
DESCRIPTION: As with many North-East Kent churches, this church points south-east, and it is first documented in Domesday Book, with the eastern three-quarters of the nave of the present church presumably being, in part, of an early Norman date. The only visible evidence for the earliest structure, however, is outside the south-west corner of the nave. Here one can see reused Roman bricks, and the original steep slope of the very early 13th century south aisle (continuing the line of the nave roof). The nave must be earlier than this, so is at least 12th century in date. It is also worth noting the very rare dedication, to St Vincent.
The whole of the south arcade for the south aisle still survives in its very early 13th century form, with four pointed arches (that on the west is smaller). The arches have continuous flat
the piers themselves. All the dressings are in Caen stone.
Later in the 13th century a large new chancel was built, probably at about the time (c. 1245) when St Augustine’s Abbey were endowing the new vicarage there, after the appropriation. The chancel has four tall lancets on either side, and an eastern triplet which has internal shafting on the jambs, and deeply moulded rere-arches and hood-moulds. All the other lancets have plain rere-arches, and all the chancel windows sit internally on a filleted roll-moulding which steps up at the east end and runs under the triplet. There is a piscina on the south-east with a pointed arch (with hood) over it, and bar-stopped chamfers on the sides. On the north-west side of the chancel is a small doorway, which was restored in the 19th century. The chancel was fairly heavily restored on the outside in the 19th century (‘1865’ on one of the rain-water hoppers), but much of its original coursed whole flints are still visible, as well as some of the rows of putlog holes. The chancel also has a separate roof, with a west gable, but this was rebuilt completely in c. 1865.
At about the same time as the chancel was being rebuilt in the early to mid-15th century, a very plain tower was added at the west end (It is similar to the neighbouring tower at Ickham). This has a tall simple pointed arch (with flat chamfers and abaci) into the nave, and on the west is a simple pointed doorway with flat chamfers and a tall lancet above it. The tower is unbuttressed, and has four more wide restored lancets (one in each face) in the top (belfry) stage. Externally the tower has the remains of its original plastering over coursed flint with side-alternate Caenstone quoins. On top of the tower is a later medieval (14th/15th century) brooch spire (now covered in slates).
The tower was restored in 1899, and the bells were rehung in a new timber and cast iron frame. There are now six bells, dated 1597,1610, 1650 and three of 1899 (said to have been recast from two late medieval ones). Glynne tells us that there was an organ in a west gallery under the tower, but this was removed during the restoration. A shed (now 2 cloakrooms) was also added to the north side of the tower in c. 1899.
A small Lady Chapel may have been added to the north-east side of the nave in the later 13th century as shown by its two light trefoil-headed (with circular opening above) east window (it has an internal rere-arch). All other evidence for this above ground was removed by the early 14th and early 19th century re-buildings (see below). The Lady Chapel is first documented in the late 15th century, but most churches acquired a separate Lady Chapel in N.W. Kent in the 13th century.
In the early 14th century both the south and north aisles had their outer walls rebuilt. On the south this was a continuous heightening and rebuild for the full length of the nave (with the evidence for the earlier lean-to aisle surviving in the west wall, as shown above). There is however still a later 13th century lancet in the centre of the south wall, with a probable later 13th century south doorway next to it (though completely rebuilt externally in the 19th century). The other aisle windows are all, however, 2 - light early 14th century traceried windows, and the gables and separate pitched roof over the aisle is also perhaps 14th century (it is still hidden under a flat plaster ceiling). In the south aisle wall are some reused Reigate stone fragments, and the large later south buttress has Ragstone quoins and reused Reigate And Caenstone fragments (and heavy 19th century knapped flintwork). Some Purbeck marble is reused in the wall west of the south porch. This aisle also has a small square-topped piscina in its south-east corner, and a very small stoup just inside the door on the east.
Hasted tells us that ‘a few years ago the north isle fell down, when there were some curious paintings discovered by the breaking of the plaster from the walls. This aisle was immediately rebuilt’. It is however, clear from the present remains (and from the Petrie water-colour view), that the church was again rebuilt in the early 19th century, with the present flatish 4-bay crown/king post nave roof and lath and plaster ceiling. The two dormers on the south side of the nave roof are presumably of the same date as is the shallow-pitched shed-roof over the north aisle, and the wooden post and two semi-circular arches into the north aisle. On the north-west side of the nave one can see an infilled pointed arch (? of chalk) with abaci, suggesting that there was originally a 13th century 3-bay north aisle (and Lady Chapel). The scar for the south-west corner of this aisle which did not continue to the west end of the nave, is just visible, and the late 18th century collapse was clearly at the west end of this aisle, which was not rebuilt (the other aisle-wall window being reset in the nave wall). The north wall of the north aisle must have been rebuilt in the early 14th century with buttresses and new two-light traceried windows. There may have been a north door here.
Only the chancel was heavily restored in the later 19th century (1865) with a new south porch in 1896, replacing a brick one, according to Glynne. A porch is documented from at least 1505.
BUILDING MATERIALS: (Incl. old plaster, paintings, glass, tiles etc.):
The main local material is flint, and whole flints, in courses, are used for all the early work with dressings of Caenstone. Some Reigate stone is then used in the 13th century, with Kent Rag for the quoins in the early 14th century. There is also some reused Purbeck marble in the walls, and Bathstone is used for the late 19th century restorations. Hasted mentions ‘the remains of good painted glass’ in the chancel side lancets and ‘seven sacraments, etc. handsomely done, with rich borders’ in the eastern lancets, ‘but they have been some few years since removed’ (op. cit. below, p.155). Also he mentions armorial glass in the S.E. window of the south aisle, and other now-vanished glass is known from the church - see C.R. Councer (below).
EXCEPTIONAL MONUMENTS IN CHURCH: None, but remains of medieval wall-painting on the north side of the nave, at the west end. Also a leger slab, with a small brass inscription in it, dated 1585, in front of the chancel arch. Also some early 19th century Benefaction boards on the west wall of the south aisle. Most of the furnishings in the church date from the restoration of 1864-4, or later.
CHURCHYARD AND ENVIRONS:
Size & Shape: Large north-south rectangular area around church, with large extensions to north (20th century) and south (19th century).
Condition: Good
Building in churchyard or on boundary: Lych Gate of timber (1892) to the south. Very large c. early 14th century great barn of Littlebourne Court (172ft long) runs along west boundary of the churchyard.
Ecological potential: ? Yes. The burial under a ‘great palm’ (ie. Yew Tree) in the churchyard is mentioned in a will of 1542, and there are still some quite large Yews north of the church.
Late med. Status: Vicarage endowed in 1245 with a house, some tithes, etc. A chaplain had to be found to celebrate weekly in Garrington Chapel.
Patron: St. Augstine’s Abbey, Canterbury (and alienated to the Italian monastery of Monte Mirteto in Italy, 1224). In 1538 it went to the crown, and then on to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury in 1541.
Other documentary sources: Hasted IX (1800) , 155-8. There is much documentation in Thorne’s Chronicle and the ‘Black Book’ of St Augustine’s. Testamenta Cantiana (E. Kent, 1907), 196-8 mentions burial in the churchyard from 1473, the church porch (1501), various ‘lights’, the altar of Our Lady (1499+), reparation of the altars of St James and St Nicholas (1473), for paving between the chancel and the west door (1419).
SURVIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS:
Inside present church: ? Good.
Outside present church: ? Good, though there is a large soil build-up around the church, and a brick-lined drainage gulley (up to 2ft deep) has been made all around the church.
RECENT DISTURBANCES/ALTERATIONS:
To structure: None, but chancel stalls brought from St Johns, Herne Bay in 1974, and organ in north aisle from Holy Cross, Canterbury in 1972.
To floors: Brick floor relaid at east end of S. aisle - Oct 1991.
Quinquennial inspection (date/architect): Feb. 1990 Maureen O’Connor.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT:
A Norman nave was given a lean-to south aisle and perhaps extended to the west in the very early 13th century, with a plain west tower being added soon after. The chancel was rebuilt (and greatly enlarged) in the mid 13th century, and there was probably also a Lady Chapel and nave north aisle by the later 13th century. The outer walls of the aisles were rebuilt in the early 14th century. A timber spire was also built. In the late 18th century the west end of the north aisle collapsed and this was rebuilt along with the nave roof, etc. again in the early 19th century. Chancel restored in 1865, and west tower in 1899 (with rehung bells). A new south porch was built in 1896.
The wider context: One of a group of churches belonging to St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury with major rebuildings in the 13th and early 14th centuries.
REFERENCES: S.R. Glynne, Notes of the Churches of Kent (1877), 167-8. (He visited in 1851). C.R. Councer, Lost Glass from Kent Churches ) (1980), 77-8.
Guide Book: None available in church, but see St Vincent’s Church, Littlebourne by Elizabeth Jeffries (1984) - very poor for architectural history.
Plans & drawings: Petrie early 19th cent. view from N.E., with continuous roof slope over nave and N. aisle.
DATES VISITED: 19th December 1996 REPORT BY: Tim Tatton-Brown
www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/01/03/LIT.htm
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LITTLEBORNE
LIES the next parish south-eastward from Stodmarsh, taking its name from its situation close to the stream which bounds the eastern part of it, and at the same time to distinguish it from the other parishes of the name of Borne in the near neighbourhood of it.
There is but one borough in this parish, called the borough of Littleborne.
Littleborne extends to the skirt of the beautiful and healthy parts of East Kent, and verging farther from the large levels of marsh land which lie near the Stour, quits that gloomy aspect of ill health so prevalent near them, and here begins to assume one more cheerful, pleasant and healthy; and Twyne tells us, (fn. 1) that it was allotted by the abbot and convent of St. Augustine's, who possessed the manor, for the plantation of vines. The village is built on the high road leading from Canterbury to Sandwich and Deal, at the eastern boundary of the parish, adjoinining to the Little Stour, and consists of about forty houses. The church stands at a small distance from it, having the courtlodge close to it, with the parsonage at a small distance. This parish extends northward as far as the Stour, opposite to Westbere, in which part of it however, there is but a small quantity of marsh-land, near which is an estate called Higham, which antiently was owned by a family of that name. Above the hill, south-eastward from hence, there is a great deal of woodland, and among it a tract of heathy rough land, belonging to the archbishop, called Fishpool-downs, through which the road leads to Wickham. At the bottom of Fishpool hill is the valley called the Ponds, now entirely covered with wood, part of which is in this parish. The ponds were supplied from a spring called Arrianes well, probably for Adrian's well, and were of a considerable size and depth, made for the supply of the convent of St. Augustine, the owners of them, with fish for their refectory, the sides of them now equally thick with coppice wood, were antiently a vineyard. These woods continue from hence adjoining the high road towards the village in great quantities, much of which belongs to the archbishop, and are intermixed with a great deal of rough bushy ground. The lands in this parish are in general very poor and gravelly, but towards Wickham they are much more fertile both for corn and hops, of which there are several plantations. This parish extends across the river eastward towards the hill, and takes in great part of Lower Garwinton, and part of the house, and some little land of Upper Garwinton within it, which is entirely separated from the rest of it by the parish of Adisham intervening.
Polygonatum scalacæci, Solomon's seal; grows plentifully on Fishpool-hill in this parish.
A fair is held here on the 5th of July, for toys and pedlary.
In the year 690, Widred, king of Kent, gave to the monastery of St. Augustine, in pure and perpetual alms, five plough-lands called Litleborne, on condition of their remembring of him in their prayers and solemn masses. And in the year 1047, king Edward the Consessor gave another plough-land here, which consisted of the estates of Bourne, Dene, and Wiliyington, to archbishop Eadsin, free from all service, except. the trinoda necessitas, and he bestowed it on that monastery. After which the manor of Little borne continued in the possession of the abbey to the time of taking the survey of Domesday, in which it is thus entered under the general title of the land of the church of St. Augustine:
In Dunamesfort hundred, the abbot himself holds, Liteburne, which is taxed at seven sulings. The arable land is twelve carucates. In demesne there are three carucates, and thirty-five villeins, with fourteen cottagers having six and an half. There is a church, and thirtyeight acres of meadow. Wood for the pannage of four hogs. In the time of king Edward the Consessor it was worth twenty-five pounds, afterwards twenty pounds, now thirty-two pounds. Of this manor the bishop of Baieux has in his park, as much as is worth sixty shillings.
After this the abbot and convent's possessions here were increased by several gifts and purchases of different parcels of land. (fn. 2)
King Henry III. in his 54th year, granted to the abbot and convent free-warren in all their demesne lands of Littleborne, among others. In the 7th year of king Edward II.'s reign, anno 1313, in the iter of H. de Stanton and his sociates, justices itinerant, the abbot, upon a quo warranto, claimed and was allowed in this manor among others, free warren in all his demesne lands of it, and view of frank-pledge, and other liberties therein-mentioned, in like manner as has been already mentioned before, in the description of the manors of Sturry and Stodmarsh. (fn. 3) By a register of the monastery of about this time, it appears, that this manor had then in demesne the park of Trendesle. In the 10th year of king Edward III. Solomon de Ripple being custos, or bailiff of this manor, made many improvements here, and purchased more lands in it, all the buildings of it being in a manner wholly re-built and raised from the ground, with much cost, by him. In king Richard II.'s reign, the abbot's manor of Littleborne was valued at 23l. 8s. 6d. the admeasurement of the lands being 505 acres. After which this manor continued with the monastery till its dissolution, anno 30 Henry VIII. when it came into the king's hands, and remained in the crown till king Edward VI. in his 1st year, granted the manor and manor-house, with all lands and appurtenances, and a water-mill lately belonging to the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, to the archbishop, among other premises, in exchange for the manor of Mayfield, &c. parcel of the possessions of whose see it still remains, the archbishop being the present owner of it. The manor, with the profits of courts, royalties, &c. the archbishop keeps in his own hands; but the demesnes have been from time to time demised on a beneficial lease. The family of Denne have been for more than a century lessees of it, who now reside in the court-lodge.
On the abolition of episcopacy, after the death of king Charles I. this manor was sold by the state to Sir John Roberts and John Cogan, the latter of whom, by his will in 1657, gave his moiety of it to the mayor and aldermen of Canterbury, for the benefit of six poor ministers widows (for whose use he had at the same time demised his dwelling-house in Canterbury, now called Cogan's hospital. But the manor of Littleborne, on the restoration in 1660, returned again to the see of Canterbury.
The manor of Wolton, alias Walton, lies in the southern part of this parish, adjoining to the precinct of Well, and was antiently possessed by a family who took their name from it, one of whom, John, son of John de Wolton, held it at the latter end of king Henry III.'s reign. But this family became extinct here before the reign of king Edward III. in the 20th year of which, Roger de Garwinton held it by knight's service, (fn. 4) in whose descendants it continued till it passed into the family of Petit, of Shalmsford, who held it of the abbot of St. Augustine's by the like service, in which name and family it continued till it was at length alienated to Sir Henry Palmer, of Bekesborne, whose descendant of the same name passed it away by sale to Sir Robert Hales, of Bekesborne, in whose descendants it continued down to Sir Philip Hales, bart. of Howlets, who in 1787 alienated this manor to Isaac Baugh, esq. of Well, the present owner of it.
Wingate, alias Lower Garwington, in a manor, which lies on the other or eastern side of the river, adjoining to Ickham, taking the former of those names from a family, who were owners of it in Henry III.'s reign, and held it by knight's service of the abbot and convent of St. Augustine. In which reign Simon de Wingate held it as above-mentioned, but before the 20th year of King Edward III. this name was extinct here, and Thomas de Garwinton then held this estate, lying in Wingate, held of the abbot by the like tenure. (fn. 5) In the descendants of Thomas de Garwington, who resided at their mansion and manor, since called Upper Garwinton, adjoining to it, seems to have continued some time, and from them, as well as to distinguish it from that, to have taken the name of Wingate, alias Lower Garwinton. After this family had quitted the possession of it, the Clyffords appear from different records to have become owners of it, and after them the Sandfords, and it appears by the escheat rolls, that Humphrey Sandford died possessed of it in the 14th year of king Henry VII. and that Thomas Sandford was his son and heir. After which it came into the hands of the crown, for king Henry VIII. in his 30th year, granted the manors of Wingate and Garwinton to Sir Christopher Hales, then master of the rolls. He left three daughters his coheirs, who became jointly, entitled to it, and on the division of their estates it was allotted to the youngest daughter Mary, who entitled her husband Alexander Colepeper, esq. to it, in which name it continued till the 22d of queen Elizabeth, when it was passed away by sale to Thomas Fane, esq. whose son Francis, earl of Westmoreland, sold it to William Prude, alias Proude, esq. who being a lieutenant-colonel in the army, was slain at the siege of Maestricht in 1632, having devised this estate in tail male to his eldest surviving son Serles Prude, who died in 1642, leaving only two daughters his coheirs, upon which it came to his next brother William, who left an only daughter Dorothy, and she, the entail being barred, carried it first in marriage to Nethersole, by whom she had no issue, and secondly to Christopher May, esq. of Rawmere, in Suffex, whose only daughter and heir Anne, entitled her husband William Broadnax, esq. of Godmersham, to the possession of it. His son Thomas Changed his name, first to May and then to Knight, and died possessed of this manor in 1781, leaving an only son Thomas Knight, esq. of Godmersham, who in the year 1785 exchanged it for other lands in Crundal with Thomas Barret, esq. of Lee, the present owner of it.
Upper Garwinton is a manor, which lies adjoining to that last-described, southward, at the boundary of this parish, next to Adisham, in which parish part of the mansion of it stands, being written in the survery of Domesday, Warwintone, one of the many instances in that book of the mistakes of the Norman scribes. It was, after the conquest, parcel of those possessions with which the Conqueror enriched his half-brother Odo, the great bishop of Baieux and earl of Kent, and was exchanged by him for other lands with the abbot of St. Augustine's, accordingly it is thus entered in that record, under the general title of the land of the church of St. Augustine:
The abbot himself holds Warwintone, and the bishop of Baieux gave it to him in exchange of his park. It was taxed at half a suling and forty-two acres of land. The arable land is one carucate, and there is in demesne, with three cottagers, and sixteen acres of meadow. In the time of king Edward the Confessor it was worth four pounds, and afterwards forty shillings, now four pounds. This manor Edric de Sbern Biga held, and now Radulf holds it of the abbot.
Whether this description extended to the last-described manor of Wingate, is uncertain, though most probably, as both were held of the abbot by knight's service, it was comprehended in it. However that may be, this manor of Garwintone, called as above, erroneously, in Domesday, Warwintone, was held of the abbot by a family who took their surname from it; one of whom, Richard de Garwynton, resided here at the latter end of king Henry II.'s reign, and had a chapel at his mansion here; and in 1194, the abbot granted to him and his heirs, to have the divine office celebrated for three days in a week in this chapel by the priest of Littleborne. (fn. 6) His descendant Thomas Garwinton was possessed of this manor and several other estates in this part of the county, in the 20th year of king Edward III. whose great-grandson William Garwynton dying S. P. Joane his kinswoman, married to Richard Haut, was anno II Henry IV. found to be his heir not only to this manor, but to much other lands in these parts, and their son Richard Haut having an only daughter and heir Margery, she carried this manor in marriage to William Isaac, esq. of Patrixborne, whose descendant Edward Isaac, at his death, gave this manor to his two daughter by his second wife, viz. Mary, married to Thomas Appleton, esq. of Suffolk, and Margaret, to John Jermye, second son of Sir John Jermye, of the same county, and they seem to have shared this manor between them. Thomas Appleton sold his share afterwards to Anthony Parker, who with Isaac Jermye, eldest son of John above-mentioned, joined in the sale of the entire see of it to Sir Henry Palmer, of Howlets, and he by his will in 1611, devised it to his nephew John Goodwyn, whose heirs some time afterwards passed it away by sale to George Curteis, esq. afterwards knighted, and of Otterden, and he alienated it to Sir Robert Hales, of Bekesborne, in whose descendants it continued down to Sir Philip Hales, bart. of Howlets, who in 1787, passed it away by sale to Isaac Baugh, esq. the present owner of it.
Charities.
John Dorrante, of Bekesborne, yeoman, in 1560, gave by will, to discharge the poor from the assessments of the church, the overplus to be paid to the most antient poor of the parish, the sum of 3s, 6d. on Palm Sunday and the Monday before Penticost; and 21s. 6d. on Christmas-day yearly, out of the house and lands called Church-house, now vested in Mr. Peter Inge.
Henry Sloyden, of Wickhambreaux, in 1568, gave by will to the poor of this parish and of Wickham, six acres and a half of land, called Church-close, to be divided between them yearly, now of the annual produce of 3l. 9s. 9d.
Sir Henry Palmer, by his will in 1611, gave 10s. to be paid yearly out of his manor of Welle, for the use of the poor.
James Franklyn, by will in 1616, gave to the parishes of Littleborne, Chistlet, and Hoathe, in Reculver, 5l. each, to be employed in a stock for the poor. This 5l. is now increased to 11l. this interest of which being 8s. 93frac34;d. is distributed among the poor in general.
Valentine Norton, gent. by his will, was a benefactor to the poor; but there are no particulars further known of it.
The poor constantly relieved are about fifty, casually thirtyfive.
This parish is within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Bridge.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Vincent, consists of three isles and a chancel, having at the west end a low pointed steeple, in which hang five bells. The church is kept very neat. It is a good sized building, and is handsomely ceiled. The chancel is lostly, and has four narrow lancet windows on each side, and three at the end; in the former are the remains of good painted glass, and in the latter some years ago were the seven sacraments, &c. very handsomely done, with rich borders, but they have been some few years since removed. In it is a memorial for George I'anns, curate, obt. 1699. In the middle isle are several memorials for the family of Denne, for many descents lessees of the court-lodge, and descended from those of Dennehill, in Kingston, In the south-east window of the south isle is a saint holding a shield of arms, in front, Gules, three cocks, argent, being the arms of Bunington, on the lest side a moon, on the right a sun, all very well done; and there were formerly in one of the windows, the arms of Higham, argent, a lion passant regardant, between six cross-croslets fitchee, sable, impaling Gallaway, ermine, three lozenges, gules. A few years ago the north isle fell down, when there were some curious paintings discovered, by the breaking of the plaister from the walls. This isle was immediately rebuilt. In the church-yard, at the north-west part of it, are several tombs and head stones of the family of Denne before- mentioned.
¶The church of Littleborne was antiently appendant to the manor, part of the possessions of the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, and continued so till the year 1224, when Robert de Bello being chosen abbot, and finding much difficulty in obtaining the pope's benediction, to facilitate it, gave this church to the monastery of St. Mary de Monte Mirteto, in Italy, to which the pope, in 1241, appropriated it. Immediately after which, this parsonage, so appropriated, was demised to the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, in perpetual ferme, at the clear yearly sum of thirty marcs. (fn. 7) Four years after which, anno 1245, archbishop Stratford endowed the vicarage of it, the advowson of which was reserved to the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, when he decreed, that the vicarage should be endowed with a mansion, the tithes of filva cæ dua, of hay, and in three acres of arable, one acre of meadow, and in the receipt of three marcs and an half in money from the religious yearly, and in the tithes of flax, hemp, ducks, calves, pigeons, bees, milk, milkmeats, mills, wool, pigs, and in all oblations and other small tithes belonging to the church; and that the vicar should serve the church in divine rites, and find one chaplain to celebrate weekly in the chapel of Garwyntone, and to find bread, wine, and tapers, for celebrating divine rites in the church. Which endowment was afterwards, in 1370, certified by inspeximus, by archbishop Wittlesey. In which state this church and advowson remained till the final dissolution of the abbey of St. Augustine, in the 30th year of Henry VIII. when they came into the king's hands, and the king, in his 33d year, settled both, by his dotation-charter, on his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, with whom they continue at this time. The parsonage has been from time to time let on a beneficial lease, Mr. Thomas Holness being the present lessee of it, but the advowson of the vicarage the dean and chapter retain in their own hands.
The vicarage of Littleborne is valued in the king's books at 7l. 19s. 10d. but the yearly tenths taken are sixteen shillings, the sum total being erroneonsly cast up in the king's books at eight pounds. The antient pension of 3l. 17s. 4d. from the abbey of St. Augustine's, is yearly received by the vicar out of the exchequer; the demesne lands of the court-lodge pay no greattithes, and the archbishop's woods in his own occupation pay none. In 1588 here were one hundred and fifty communicants; in 1640 the same, when it was valued at thirty-five pounds. It has been augmented by the dean and chapter with fifty pounds per annum.
The chapel of Lukedale, in the precinct of Well, was once esteemed as within the bounds of this parish, of which more may be seen herefter, under Ickham, to which parish Well is now annexed.
I was in Breckenridge visiting a few friends, one of which wanted to go do some star photos near Breck at Boreas Pass. The pass rises to 11,492ft. in elevation, it's a beautiful area on a moonless night where the plethora of visible stars twinkle brightly far away from city lights.
You can follow my photography on these social sites:
"And at the end of the day, there's always a disappointing football match."
But before then, there's a whole day to get through.
Neither of us had any ill effects from our jabs on Friday, sore arm notwithstanding. So it meant the day was all ours to do with what we wanted.
Saying that, Jools didn't feel well enough for churchcrawling, but hunter/gathering at Tesco was fine.
So, after coffee we drove to Whitfield and after filling the car with unleaded, we go to the store to buy stuff for the weekend, and the final things for Christmas, which means that we just have veg to get as everything else is either bought or ordered.
I buy a gift for the charity Christmas box, so that poor children will have something. I bought a Hey Dugee singing stick that the child will love and their parents will hate. Does this make me a bad or good person?
Maybe both.
Back home to pack the shopping away, have fruit for breakfast, followed by bacon butties and huge brews.
Although Tesco had most things, there was no fresh fruit other really than bananas, apples. And for the second week, bacon, especially smoked bacon was in very short supply.
But we dine well on our bacon butties, then, Jools confirmed she was not going out, so I could visit anywhere.
Within reason.
Well. Most churches in the area I wanted to visit or revisit I have done these past few weeks.
One I hadn't gone back to was Lydden. Its a small place, but its a short drive there, so could be a stopover on the way to somewhere else.
I go down Coldred Hill, then along to the church.
It was a glorious day, I mean no clouds, clean, sparking air, but cold and frosty.
The church was unlocked, cold by welcoming.
As expected, there wasn't much I hadn't recorded, and no glass to use the big lens on. So, I go round to recrod everything, then on to the next stop.
Bekesbourne.
I hadn't called the keyholder, but she only lives opposite the church, so not that much of a hassle to walk over the small bridge over the dry Nailbourne.
I reach the church, park outside and walk to the old palace.
I rang the bell. Dogs barked. A lot. But no one answered.
Another time, then.
Three miles along the Nailbourne is Littlebourne where the bournes changes its name to the Little Stour and flows all the time. There is a church there and I can't remember when I was there last.
I drive round the village, find the church on Church Street. Where else to keep your church?
Again, it was open, but having no real memory of this, it was good to go in again and take lots and lots of shots, mainly of the large number of Victorian windows.
Once done, I decide there were no other churches to be done that day, athough I go do Wingham and Ash again, there's plenty of other occasions to do those. But it was a ten minute drive from Preston, and I noticed during the week we were out of sausages, so decide to go in and see if they had any.
And good job I did, as they were down to a few bits and pieces, but had some venison and cranberry bangers, so I get five pounds. Also, they were selling of these very large chickens, perfect for the late Christmas dinner we're planning when Jen comes back on January 24th, so £15 gets that and it can go in the freezer.
By which time it was lunch. We have gingerbread, or mixed spice bread. Two large stars, so I pull of each point and dunk it in a coffee, so soft enough in the end.
And amazingly, football is back. In fact, below the Championship, it never stopped during the World Cup, the the Prem and Championship did, and Norwich were to play for the first time in a month, away at Swansea.
So I could watch the early game, Portugal v Morocco as well as follow Norwich.
Good news in both games, as Norwich scored in the first minute then hung on to claim all three points, and Morocco knocked out Portugal; Ronaldo, Pepe and all.
There were tears at the end. Bitter ones from Ron and tears of joy for the rest of us.
And then, France v England.
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The villages 13th century church, St Vincent of Saragossa, is thought to have been founded by the monks of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury and contains an ancient wall painting depicting Saint Christopher, patron saint of travellers. The church also has what is reckoned to be one of the finest collection of stained glass windows designed by Nathaniel Westlake in the country. Nathaniel Westlake was a leading designer of the Gothic Revival movement in England.
Work done in 1995 by experts from the V&A Museum established that he designed each of the windows over the long period of his work with the Company, thus giving an outstanding example of the development of his style.
The Church has a six-bell peal, the oldest bell dating back to 1597, the newest 1899.
www.littlebournebenefice.org.uk/littlebournechurchhistory...
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LOCATION: Situated at about 40 feet above O.D. on Head brickearth (over Upper Chalk). A little to the west of the river Little Stour. Littlebourne Court, originally belonging to St. Augustine’s Abbey, lies immediately to the north-west. Wickhambreaux and Ickham churches are not far away to the north and east.
DESCRIPTION: As with many North-East Kent churches, this church points south-east, and it is first documented in Domesday Book, with the eastern three-quarters of the nave of the present church presumably being, in part, of an early Norman date. The only visible evidence for the earliest structure, however, is outside the south-west corner of the nave. Here one can see reused Roman bricks, and the original steep slope of the very early 13th century south aisle (continuing the line of the nave roof). The nave must be earlier than this, so is at least 12th century in date. It is also worth noting the very rare dedication, to St Vincent.
The whole of the south arcade for the south aisle still survives in its very early 13th century form, with four pointed arches (that on the west is smaller). The arches have continuous flat
the piers themselves. All the dressings are in Caen stone.
Later in the 13th century a large new chancel was built, probably at about the time (c. 1245) when St Augustine’s Abbey were endowing the new vicarage there, after the appropriation. The chancel has four tall lancets on either side, and an eastern triplet which has internal shafting on the jambs, and deeply moulded rere-arches and hood-moulds. All the other lancets have plain rere-arches, and all the chancel windows sit internally on a filleted roll-moulding which steps up at the east end and runs under the triplet. There is a piscina on the south-east with a pointed arch (with hood) over it, and bar-stopped chamfers on the sides. On the north-west side of the chancel is a small doorway, which was restored in the 19th century. The chancel was fairly heavily restored on the outside in the 19th century (‘1865’ on one of the rain-water hoppers), but much of its original coursed whole flints are still visible, as well as some of the rows of putlog holes. The chancel also has a separate roof, with a west gable, but this was rebuilt completely in c. 1865.
At about the same time as the chancel was being rebuilt in the early to mid-15th century, a very plain tower was added at the west end (It is similar to the neighbouring tower at Ickham). This has a tall simple pointed arch (with flat chamfers and abaci) into the nave, and on the west is a simple pointed doorway with flat chamfers and a tall lancet above it. The tower is unbuttressed, and has four more wide restored lancets (one in each face) in the top (belfry) stage. Externally the tower has the remains of its original plastering over coursed flint with side-alternate Caenstone quoins. On top of the tower is a later medieval (14th/15th century) brooch spire (now covered in slates).
The tower was restored in 1899, and the bells were rehung in a new timber and cast iron frame. There are now six bells, dated 1597,1610, 1650 and three of 1899 (said to have been recast from two late medieval ones). Glynne tells us that there was an organ in a west gallery under the tower, but this was removed during the restoration. A shed (now 2 cloakrooms) was also added to the north side of the tower in c. 1899.
A small Lady Chapel may have been added to the north-east side of the nave in the later 13th century as shown by its two light trefoil-headed (with circular opening above) east window (it has an internal rere-arch). All other evidence for this above ground was removed by the early 14th and early 19th century re-buildings (see below). The Lady Chapel is first documented in the late 15th century, but most churches acquired a separate Lady Chapel in N.W. Kent in the 13th century.
In the early 14th century both the south and north aisles had their outer walls rebuilt. On the south this was a continuous heightening and rebuild for the full length of the nave (with the evidence for the earlier lean-to aisle surviving in the west wall, as shown above). There is however still a later 13th century lancet in the centre of the south wall, with a probable later 13th century south doorway next to it (though completely rebuilt externally in the 19th century). The other aisle windows are all, however, 2 - light early 14th century traceried windows, and the gables and separate pitched roof over the aisle is also perhaps 14th century (it is still hidden under a flat plaster ceiling). In the south aisle wall are some reused Reigate stone fragments, and the large later south buttress has Ragstone quoins and reused Reigate And Caenstone fragments (and heavy 19th century knapped flintwork). Some Purbeck marble is reused in the wall west of the south porch. This aisle also has a small square-topped piscina in its south-east corner, and a very small stoup just inside the door on the east.
Hasted tells us that ‘a few years ago the north isle fell down, when there were some curious paintings discovered by the breaking of the plaster from the walls. This aisle was immediately rebuilt’. It is however, clear from the present remains (and from the Petrie water-colour view), that the church was again rebuilt in the early 19th century, with the present flatish 4-bay crown/king post nave roof and lath and plaster ceiling. The two dormers on the south side of the nave roof are presumably of the same date as is the shallow-pitched shed-roof over the north aisle, and the wooden post and two semi-circular arches into the north aisle. On the north-west side of the nave one can see an infilled pointed arch (? of chalk) with abaci, suggesting that there was originally a 13th century 3-bay north aisle (and Lady Chapel). The scar for the south-west corner of this aisle which did not continue to the west end of the nave, is just visible, and the late 18th century collapse was clearly at the west end of this aisle, which was not rebuilt (the other aisle-wall window being reset in the nave wall). The north wall of the north aisle must have been rebuilt in the early 14th century with buttresses and new two-light traceried windows. There may have been a north door here.
Only the chancel was heavily restored in the later 19th century (1865) with a new south porch in 1896, replacing a brick one, according to Glynne. A porch is documented from at least 1505.
BUILDING MATERIALS: (Incl. old plaster, paintings, glass, tiles etc.):
The main local material is flint, and whole flints, in courses, are used for all the early work with dressings of Caenstone. Some Reigate stone is then used in the 13th century, with Kent Rag for the quoins in the early 14th century. There is also some reused Purbeck marble in the walls, and Bathstone is used for the late 19th century restorations. Hasted mentions ‘the remains of good painted glass’ in the chancel side lancets and ‘seven sacraments, etc. handsomely done, with rich borders’ in the eastern lancets, ‘but they have been some few years since removed’ (op. cit. below, p.155). Also he mentions armorial glass in the S.E. window of the south aisle, and other now-vanished glass is known from the church - see C.R. Councer (below).
EXCEPTIONAL MONUMENTS IN CHURCH: None, but remains of medieval wall-painting on the north side of the nave, at the west end. Also a leger slab, with a small brass inscription in it, dated 1585, in front of the chancel arch. Also some early 19th century Benefaction boards on the west wall of the south aisle. Most of the furnishings in the church date from the restoration of 1864-4, or later.
CHURCHYARD AND ENVIRONS:
Size & Shape: Large north-south rectangular area around church, with large extensions to north (20th century) and south (19th century).
Condition: Good
Building in churchyard or on boundary: Lych Gate of timber (1892) to the south. Very large c. early 14th century great barn of Littlebourne Court (172ft long) runs along west boundary of the churchyard.
Ecological potential: ? Yes. The burial under a ‘great palm’ (ie. Yew Tree) in the churchyard is mentioned in a will of 1542, and there are still some quite large Yews north of the church.
Late med. Status: Vicarage endowed in 1245 with a house, some tithes, etc. A chaplain had to be found to celebrate weekly in Garrington Chapel.
Patron: St. Augstine’s Abbey, Canterbury (and alienated to the Italian monastery of Monte Mirteto in Italy, 1224). In 1538 it went to the crown, and then on to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury in 1541.
Other documentary sources: Hasted IX (1800) , 155-8. There is much documentation in Thorne’s Chronicle and the ‘Black Book’ of St Augustine’s. Testamenta Cantiana (E. Kent, 1907), 196-8 mentions burial in the churchyard from 1473, the church porch (1501), various ‘lights’, the altar of Our Lady (1499+), reparation of the altars of St James and St Nicholas (1473), for paving between the chancel and the west door (1419).
SURVIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS:
Inside present church: ? Good.
Outside present church: ? Good, though there is a large soil build-up around the church, and a brick-lined drainage gulley (up to 2ft deep) has been made all around the church.
RECENT DISTURBANCES/ALTERATIONS:
To structure: None, but chancel stalls brought from St Johns, Herne Bay in 1974, and organ in north aisle from Holy Cross, Canterbury in 1972.
To floors: Brick floor relaid at east end of S. aisle - Oct 1991.
Quinquennial inspection (date/architect): Feb. 1990 Maureen O’Connor.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT:
A Norman nave was given a lean-to south aisle and perhaps extended to the west in the very early 13th century, with a plain west tower being added soon after. The chancel was rebuilt (and greatly enlarged) in the mid 13th century, and there was probably also a Lady Chapel and nave north aisle by the later 13th century. The outer walls of the aisles were rebuilt in the early 14th century. A timber spire was also built. In the late 18th century the west end of the north aisle collapsed and this was rebuilt along with the nave roof, etc. again in the early 19th century. Chancel restored in 1865, and west tower in 1899 (with rehung bells). A new south porch was built in 1896.
The wider context: One of a group of churches belonging to St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury with major rebuildings in the 13th and early 14th centuries.
REFERENCES: S.R. Glynne, Notes of the Churches of Kent (1877), 167-8. (He visited in 1851). C.R. Councer, Lost Glass from Kent Churches ) (1980), 77-8.
Guide Book: None available in church, but see St Vincent’s Church, Littlebourne by Elizabeth Jeffries (1984) - very poor for architectural history.
Plans & drawings: Petrie early 19th cent. view from N.E., with continuous roof slope over nave and N. aisle.
DATES VISITED: 19th December 1996 REPORT BY: Tim Tatton-Brown
www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/01/03/LIT.htm
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LITTLEBORNE
LIES the next parish south-eastward from Stodmarsh, taking its name from its situation close to the stream which bounds the eastern part of it, and at the same time to distinguish it from the other parishes of the name of Borne in the near neighbourhood of it.
There is but one borough in this parish, called the borough of Littleborne.
Littleborne extends to the skirt of the beautiful and healthy parts of East Kent, and verging farther from the large levels of marsh land which lie near the Stour, quits that gloomy aspect of ill health so prevalent near them, and here begins to assume one more cheerful, pleasant and healthy; and Twyne tells us, (fn. 1) that it was allotted by the abbot and convent of St. Augustine's, who possessed the manor, for the plantation of vines. The village is built on the high road leading from Canterbury to Sandwich and Deal, at the eastern boundary of the parish, adjoinining to the Little Stour, and consists of about forty houses. The church stands at a small distance from it, having the courtlodge close to it, with the parsonage at a small distance. This parish extends northward as far as the Stour, opposite to Westbere, in which part of it however, there is but a small quantity of marsh-land, near which is an estate called Higham, which antiently was owned by a family of that name. Above the hill, south-eastward from hence, there is a great deal of woodland, and among it a tract of heathy rough land, belonging to the archbishop, called Fishpool-downs, through which the road leads to Wickham. At the bottom of Fishpool hill is the valley called the Ponds, now entirely covered with wood, part of which is in this parish. The ponds were supplied from a spring called Arrianes well, probably for Adrian's well, and were of a considerable size and depth, made for the supply of the convent of St. Augustine, the owners of them, with fish for their refectory, the sides of them now equally thick with coppice wood, were antiently a vineyard. These woods continue from hence adjoining the high road towards the village in great quantities, much of which belongs to the archbishop, and are intermixed with a great deal of rough bushy ground. The lands in this parish are in general very poor and gravelly, but towards Wickham they are much more fertile both for corn and hops, of which there are several plantations. This parish extends across the river eastward towards the hill, and takes in great part of Lower Garwinton, and part of the house, and some little land of Upper Garwinton within it, which is entirely separated from the rest of it by the parish of Adisham intervening.
Polygonatum scalacæci, Solomon's seal; grows plentifully on Fishpool-hill in this parish.
A fair is held here on the 5th of July, for toys and pedlary.
In the year 690, Widred, king of Kent, gave to the monastery of St. Augustine, in pure and perpetual alms, five plough-lands called Litleborne, on condition of their remembring of him in their prayers and solemn masses. And in the year 1047, king Edward the Consessor gave another plough-land here, which consisted of the estates of Bourne, Dene, and Wiliyington, to archbishop Eadsin, free from all service, except. the trinoda necessitas, and he bestowed it on that monastery. After which the manor of Little borne continued in the possession of the abbey to the time of taking the survey of Domesday, in which it is thus entered under the general title of the land of the church of St. Augustine:
In Dunamesfort hundred, the abbot himself holds, Liteburne, which is taxed at seven sulings. The arable land is twelve carucates. In demesne there are three carucates, and thirty-five villeins, with fourteen cottagers having six and an half. There is a church, and thirtyeight acres of meadow. Wood for the pannage of four hogs. In the time of king Edward the Consessor it was worth twenty-five pounds, afterwards twenty pounds, now thirty-two pounds. Of this manor the bishop of Baieux has in his park, as much as is worth sixty shillings.
After this the abbot and convent's possessions here were increased by several gifts and purchases of different parcels of land. (fn. 2)
King Henry III. in his 54th year, granted to the abbot and convent free-warren in all their demesne lands of Littleborne, among others. In the 7th year of king Edward II.'s reign, anno 1313, in the iter of H. de Stanton and his sociates, justices itinerant, the abbot, upon a quo warranto, claimed and was allowed in this manor among others, free warren in all his demesne lands of it, and view of frank-pledge, and other liberties therein-mentioned, in like manner as has been already mentioned before, in the description of the manors of Sturry and Stodmarsh. (fn. 3) By a register of the monastery of about this time, it appears, that this manor had then in demesne the park of Trendesle. In the 10th year of king Edward III. Solomon de Ripple being custos, or bailiff of this manor, made many improvements here, and purchased more lands in it, all the buildings of it being in a manner wholly re-built and raised from the ground, with much cost, by him. In king Richard II.'s reign, the abbot's manor of Littleborne was valued at 23l. 8s. 6d. the admeasurement of the lands being 505 acres. After which this manor continued with the monastery till its dissolution, anno 30 Henry VIII. when it came into the king's hands, and remained in the crown till king Edward VI. in his 1st year, granted the manor and manor-house, with all lands and appurtenances, and a water-mill lately belonging to the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, to the archbishop, among other premises, in exchange for the manor of Mayfield, &c. parcel of the possessions of whose see it still remains, the archbishop being the present owner of it. The manor, with the profits of courts, royalties, &c. the archbishop keeps in his own hands; but the demesnes have been from time to time demised on a beneficial lease. The family of Denne have been for more than a century lessees of it, who now reside in the court-lodge.
On the abolition of episcopacy, after the death of king Charles I. this manor was sold by the state to Sir John Roberts and John Cogan, the latter of whom, by his will in 1657, gave his moiety of it to the mayor and aldermen of Canterbury, for the benefit of six poor ministers widows (for whose use he had at the same time demised his dwelling-house in Canterbury, now called Cogan's hospital. But the manor of Littleborne, on the restoration in 1660, returned again to the see of Canterbury.
The manor of Wolton, alias Walton, lies in the southern part of this parish, adjoining to the precinct of Well, and was antiently possessed by a family who took their name from it, one of whom, John, son of John de Wolton, held it at the latter end of king Henry III.'s reign. But this family became extinct here before the reign of king Edward III. in the 20th year of which, Roger de Garwinton held it by knight's service, (fn. 4) in whose descendants it continued till it passed into the family of Petit, of Shalmsford, who held it of the abbot of St. Augustine's by the like service, in which name and family it continued till it was at length alienated to Sir Henry Palmer, of Bekesborne, whose descendant of the same name passed it away by sale to Sir Robert Hales, of Bekesborne, in whose descendants it continued down to Sir Philip Hales, bart. of Howlets, who in 1787 alienated this manor to Isaac Baugh, esq. of Well, the present owner of it.
Wingate, alias Lower Garwington, in a manor, which lies on the other or eastern side of the river, adjoining to Ickham, taking the former of those names from a family, who were owners of it in Henry III.'s reign, and held it by knight's service of the abbot and convent of St. Augustine. In which reign Simon de Wingate held it as above-mentioned, but before the 20th year of King Edward III. this name was extinct here, and Thomas de Garwinton then held this estate, lying in Wingate, held of the abbot by the like tenure. (fn. 5) In the descendants of Thomas de Garwington, who resided at their mansion and manor, since called Upper Garwinton, adjoining to it, seems to have continued some time, and from them, as well as to distinguish it from that, to have taken the name of Wingate, alias Lower Garwinton. After this family had quitted the possession of it, the Clyffords appear from different records to have become owners of it, and after them the Sandfords, and it appears by the escheat rolls, that Humphrey Sandford died possessed of it in the 14th year of king Henry VII. and that Thomas Sandford was his son and heir. After which it came into the hands of the crown, for king Henry VIII. in his 30th year, granted the manors of Wingate and Garwinton to Sir Christopher Hales, then master of the rolls. He left three daughters his coheirs, who became jointly, entitled to it, and on the division of their estates it was allotted to the youngest daughter Mary, who entitled her husband Alexander Colepeper, esq. to it, in which name it continued till the 22d of queen Elizabeth, when it was passed away by sale to Thomas Fane, esq. whose son Francis, earl of Westmoreland, sold it to William Prude, alias Proude, esq. who being a lieutenant-colonel in the army, was slain at the siege of Maestricht in 1632, having devised this estate in tail male to his eldest surviving son Serles Prude, who died in 1642, leaving only two daughters his coheirs, upon which it came to his next brother William, who left an only daughter Dorothy, and she, the entail being barred, carried it first in marriage to Nethersole, by whom she had no issue, and secondly to Christopher May, esq. of Rawmere, in Suffex, whose only daughter and heir Anne, entitled her husband William Broadnax, esq. of Godmersham, to the possession of it. His son Thomas Changed his name, first to May and then to Knight, and died possessed of this manor in 1781, leaving an only son Thomas Knight, esq. of Godmersham, who in the year 1785 exchanged it for other lands in Crundal with Thomas Barret, esq. of Lee, the present owner of it.
Upper Garwinton is a manor, which lies adjoining to that last-described, southward, at the boundary of this parish, next to Adisham, in which parish part of the mansion of it stands, being written in the survery of Domesday, Warwintone, one of the many instances in that book of the mistakes of the Norman scribes. It was, after the conquest, parcel of those possessions with which the Conqueror enriched his half-brother Odo, the great bishop of Baieux and earl of Kent, and was exchanged by him for other lands with the abbot of St. Augustine's, accordingly it is thus entered in that record, under the general title of the land of the church of St. Augustine:
The abbot himself holds Warwintone, and the bishop of Baieux gave it to him in exchange of his park. It was taxed at half a suling and forty-two acres of land. The arable land is one carucate, and there is in demesne, with three cottagers, and sixteen acres of meadow. In the time of king Edward the Confessor it was worth four pounds, and afterwards forty shillings, now four pounds. This manor Edric de Sbern Biga held, and now Radulf holds it of the abbot.
Whether this description extended to the last-described manor of Wingate, is uncertain, though most probably, as both were held of the abbot by knight's service, it was comprehended in it. However that may be, this manor of Garwintone, called as above, erroneously, in Domesday, Warwintone, was held of the abbot by a family who took their surname from it; one of whom, Richard de Garwynton, resided here at the latter end of king Henry II.'s reign, and had a chapel at his mansion here; and in 1194, the abbot granted to him and his heirs, to have the divine office celebrated for three days in a week in this chapel by the priest of Littleborne. (fn. 6) His descendant Thomas Garwinton was possessed of this manor and several other estates in this part of the county, in the 20th year of king Edward III. whose great-grandson William Garwynton dying S. P. Joane his kinswoman, married to Richard Haut, was anno II Henry IV. found to be his heir not only to this manor, but to much other lands in these parts, and their son Richard Haut having an only daughter and heir Margery, she carried this manor in marriage to William Isaac, esq. of Patrixborne, whose descendant Edward Isaac, at his death, gave this manor to his two daughter by his second wife, viz. Mary, married to Thomas Appleton, esq. of Suffolk, and Margaret, to John Jermye, second son of Sir John Jermye, of the same county, and they seem to have shared this manor between them. Thomas Appleton sold his share afterwards to Anthony Parker, who with Isaac Jermye, eldest son of John above-mentioned, joined in the sale of the entire see of it to Sir Henry Palmer, of Howlets, and he by his will in 1611, devised it to his nephew John Goodwyn, whose heirs some time afterwards passed it away by sale to George Curteis, esq. afterwards knighted, and of Otterden, and he alienated it to Sir Robert Hales, of Bekesborne, in whose descendants it continued down to Sir Philip Hales, bart. of Howlets, who in 1787, passed it away by sale to Isaac Baugh, esq. the present owner of it.
Charities.
John Dorrante, of Bekesborne, yeoman, in 1560, gave by will, to discharge the poor from the assessments of the church, the overplus to be paid to the most antient poor of the parish, the sum of 3s, 6d. on Palm Sunday and the Monday before Penticost; and 21s. 6d. on Christmas-day yearly, out of the house and lands called Church-house, now vested in Mr. Peter Inge.
Henry Sloyden, of Wickhambreaux, in 1568, gave by will to the poor of this parish and of Wickham, six acres and a half of land, called Church-close, to be divided between them yearly, now of the annual produce of 3l. 9s. 9d.
Sir Henry Palmer, by his will in 1611, gave 10s. to be paid yearly out of his manor of Welle, for the use of the poor.
James Franklyn, by will in 1616, gave to the parishes of Littleborne, Chistlet, and Hoathe, in Reculver, 5l. each, to be employed in a stock for the poor. This 5l. is now increased to 11l. this interest of which being 8s. 93frac34;d. is distributed among the poor in general.
Valentine Norton, gent. by his will, was a benefactor to the poor; but there are no particulars further known of it.
The poor constantly relieved are about fifty, casually thirtyfive.
This parish is within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Bridge.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Vincent, consists of three isles and a chancel, having at the west end a low pointed steeple, in which hang five bells. The church is kept very neat. It is a good sized building, and is handsomely ceiled. The chancel is lostly, and has four narrow lancet windows on each side, and three at the end; in the former are the remains of good painted glass, and in the latter some years ago were the seven sacraments, &c. very handsomely done, with rich borders, but they have been some few years since removed. In it is a memorial for George I'anns, curate, obt. 1699. In the middle isle are several memorials for the family of Denne, for many descents lessees of the court-lodge, and descended from those of Dennehill, in Kingston, In the south-east window of the south isle is a saint holding a shield of arms, in front, Gules, three cocks, argent, being the arms of Bunington, on the lest side a moon, on the right a sun, all very well done; and there were formerly in one of the windows, the arms of Higham, argent, a lion passant regardant, between six cross-croslets fitchee, sable, impaling Gallaway, ermine, three lozenges, gules. A few years ago the north isle fell down, when there were some curious paintings discovered, by the breaking of the plaister from the walls. This isle was immediately rebuilt. In the church-yard, at the north-west part of it, are several tombs and head stones of the family of Denne before- mentioned.
¶The church of Littleborne was antiently appendant to the manor, part of the possessions of the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, and continued so till the year 1224, when Robert de Bello being chosen abbot, and finding much difficulty in obtaining the pope's benediction, to facilitate it, gave this church to the monastery of St. Mary de Monte Mirteto, in Italy, to which the pope, in 1241, appropriated it. Immediately after which, this parsonage, so appropriated, was demised to the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, in perpetual ferme, at the clear yearly sum of thirty marcs. (fn. 7) Four years after which, anno 1245, archbishop Stratford endowed the vicarage of it, the advowson of which was reserved to the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, when he decreed, that the vicarage should be endowed with a mansion, the tithes of filva cæ dua, of hay, and in three acres of arable, one acre of meadow, and in the receipt of three marcs and an half in money from the religious yearly, and in the tithes of flax, hemp, ducks, calves, pigeons, bees, milk, milkmeats, mills, wool, pigs, and in all oblations and other small tithes belonging to the church; and that the vicar should serve the church in divine rites, and find one chaplain to celebrate weekly in the chapel of Garwyntone, and to find bread, wine, and tapers, for celebrating divine rites in the church. Which endowment was afterwards, in 1370, certified by inspeximus, by archbishop Wittlesey. In which state this church and advowson remained till the final dissolution of the abbey of St. Augustine, in the 30th year of Henry VIII. when they came into the king's hands, and the king, in his 33d year, settled both, by his dotation-charter, on his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, with whom they continue at this time. The parsonage has been from time to time let on a beneficial lease, Mr. Thomas Holness being the present lessee of it, but the advowson of the vicarage the dean and chapter retain in their own hands.
The vicarage of Littleborne is valued in the king's books at 7l. 19s. 10d. but the yearly tenths taken are sixteen shillings, the sum total being erroneonsly cast up in the king's books at eight pounds. The antient pension of 3l. 17s. 4d. from the abbey of St. Augustine's, is yearly received by the vicar out of the exchequer; the demesne lands of the court-lodge pay no greattithes, and the archbishop's woods in his own occupation pay none. In 1588 here were one hundred and fifty communicants; in 1640 the same, when it was valued at thirty-five pounds. It has been augmented by the dean and chapter with fifty pounds per annum.
The chapel of Lukedale, in the precinct of Well, was once esteemed as within the bounds of this parish, of which more may be seen herefter, under Ickham, to which parish Well is now annexed.
Below, the full interview with Dr. Nathan Myhrvold (from Nov 21, 2011):
Unless you’ve been hiding under some kind of rock, you’ve probably heard of Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking, the stunning six-volume, 2,400-page, 50-pound*, $625 cookbook that came out early this year. Nathan Myhrvold, whose team of 30 spent three-and-a-half years** in a 20,000 square foot lab (complete with a high speed camera and a machine shop) working on the tome, was in town this week to speak to about 250 food and science nerds at an event hosted by The Cookbook Store at the Isabel Bader Theatre. A staggering polymath, Myhrvold had already acquired a pair of master’s (economics and geophysics) and a Princeton Ph.D. (theoretical and mathematical physics) by age 23, before working with Stephen Hawking at Cambridge, holding the Chief Technology Officer job at Microsoft, running a patent empire called Intellectual Ventures and dabbling in photography, paleontology and, of course, cutting-edge food. We sat with Myhrvold over breakfast to talk about the surprising success of Modernist Cuisine and what the future holds for the project.
RS: Some say that the Modernist Cuisine is the cookbook of all cookbooks. Others say it’s like an encyclopedia. Then there are those that look at it as a coffee table book because it’s so visually appealing.
NM: If you’ve got a small apartment, you can use it as the coffee table! [Laughs]
RS: How would you classify the set?
NM: The book was designed to be all those things – everyone can take from it what they want. If you go into a kitchen store, there’s tones of fancy knifes, copper pots, and those things that people buy – some use them as professional tools; some people use them as a status symbol, haha; some people love food and all aspects of it. The book has all the capabilities of those things.
Most people are passionate and curious about cooking, regardless of who you are, then the pictures or the information may be enough. I say passionate and curious because if you are more utilitarian in your goal – a journalist in the UK had said “the top selling cookbook in the UK is Jaime Oliver’s 30 minute meals” – that’s very different. It’s a fine book, but if all you want is to cook a meal in 30 minutes, then go buy his book or a hundred other books like that. That’s a very mission oriented view of cooking. If you’re on a mission, then people already service that, but my book is about satisfying passion and curiosity in a broad way. It’s not about 30 minute meals... there are things in the book that can be used for 30 minute meals and if you wanted a 30 minute meal comparison between Jaime Oliver and our book, we’d be happy to rise to the occasion. But there are also recipes in the book that take a hundred hours [laughs].
If you’re task oriented (what’s the quickest way to cook a 30 minute meal), then I say, buy his book. But if you’re curious how things work, then that’s a different thing.
In terms of whether you need other cook books? Well I have other cookbooks.
This book is designed to be based on 21st century cuisine. It is a broad survey of how traditional cooking methods actually work. So we take (not every single method but) all the principal methods of Western cooking, and many principal methods of Asian or other styled cooking, in the context of 21st century cuisine. Every modern technique we can find. We’re not saying that traditional techniques go away; there’s just no reason to reprint them, lots of other people have done so. Most cases there is an improvement. That was our primer – to be the basic foundation for 21st century cuisine but only in the context of everything else that has happened.
RS: What was the inspiration and motivation behind the massive project?
NM: The book is so different from traditional cookbooks, if you can get by its cost, one thing that cookbooks are about is that it’s simplified. Ask any chef who’s written a cookbook, the cookbook editors are sort of relentless about making in laymen’s term. People ask if they can do every recipe at home, and I say no. I don’t understand why that’s a good goal, at least in my mind, for this book because we’re trying to explain how cooking works. It’s the fundamental question: would you like to hear the real story or would you like to hear the dumbed-down story?
There are a lot of people who would like to know the real story. The fact is that 25% of the recipes in the book – forget about it – you’re not going to do it. To read about them and learn about them at the same time as other chefs do. Another one of the goals of our book is that everyone who reads it will learn something, even if you’re Ferran Adria or Heston Blumenthal or the best chef in the world – someone’s going to learn something they never knew before.
I think it’s kind of cool, if Thomas Keller learns something from the book and you learn it the same time that he is. It flies in the face of the idea that everything has to be dumbed-down because it’s so different than conventional wisdom. Today I get a lot of journalists saying that this is really for the professional cook – that’s a paternalistic view. It’s not for everybody. If you look online you’ll find thousands of people who are not professions but are cooking from it, sharing their experiences on a blog... any market is not uniform. It’s interesting and complicated.
Another inspiration for the book was the sous vide thread on eGullet that started in 2004 and a lot of people checked in from all walks of life. One of the guys, Bryan Zupon was a Junior at Duke University and he was cooking sous vide in his dorm room, in part because he figured out it was a sort of loop hole that they didn’t allow hot plates but you could use a water bath. This is the spirit of all these people sharing on eGullet.
RS: Given the somewhat niche appeal of the subject, the fact that it’s being reprinted a second time, has the reception for the cookbook surprised you?
NM: There’s two ways you can design a product, broadly speaking: you can go do market research. Most big companies do that – they do focus groups and surveys. It’s probably the way most products are designed and tested. That’s not what we did. The other way you can come up with a design is if you do what you want, and God I hope someone will buy it. That’s the way art is made and great restaurants are made. Appealing to committees and asking people what they want gives you a limited view of things. Having your own vision, like novels that are successful or non-fiction journalism, are pursued by people who have their own idea. So that’s what we did. We had this vision.
Once we had it done and we could show [publishers] what we had done, then it was more concrete vs. “I’m going to cut cans in half, take pictures... they’ll ask what famous photographer are you using? Oh I’m going to do it myself and a guy I found on Craigslist.” I’ll just sound like a creepy person. But after we had it [done], a couple publishers were very interested... but one wanted to print 2000 [copies]. I was like we’re done. It might be a smart number to print, but I was so deep into it that I couldn’t just sell 2000 copies worldwide. That’s just too little. Of course, so far we’ve sold 25,000 and hoping for 30,000 this year, and that’s just in English. There’s still French, German and Spanish. Over time, we hope to sell really a lot... because you want impact. People cook to have other people eat it. If you hire the best chef in Toronto, say “we’re going to give you double your salary but as soon as you finish every one of your dishes we’re going to put it down the garbage disposal,” they wouldn’t want to do it. It wouldn’t be fun. So we wrote these books to have impact. So we hope that people would buy it. Some are going to say “why is it so expensive? Why couldn’t we use shitty paper?” We were making a quality product. Quality actually matters. There’s great rustic, peasant style food all over the world, but there’s also something wonderful about food that’s been refined and elevated. For the same reason it’s wonderful that the world has a Per Se or French Laundry or a Fat Duck. We thought, we should have a really quality book. We’re not going to skimp on the paper and printing – the cost difference was really small – maybe you’d save $20, but so what? It’s not a lot.
If you bought the same number of pounds of cookbooks, if you tried to replicate the same content for traditional cooking, you’d buy more than $600. It would cost you much more money than my book. And it wouldn’t be as cohesive because this was done by one team. We had no idea if it would work, but it seems like it has.
RS: So would you say that real potential can’t be realized until you try, and that you can’t let limitations restrict yourself?
NM: That’s one of the main reasons I did the book. I realized that this could be my contribution to cooking. Maybe in a parallel universe, I became a chef instead of working in Microsoft, going into physics and all the other things I did. If I started a restaurant at this stage in my life – for Seattle to have one more great restaurant, that would be nice – but it wouldn’t have the impact on people. I’d have more impact in i.e. Toronto with this book than if I say had a restaurant in Seattle. I’m not complaining about restaurants, but the ability for someone to find investors, to find space, to create a restaurant, although it’s difficult, people can do that. But a cookbook like this that has all the properties it has and covers all the techniques... who’s going to do that? Big publishing companies are incredibly conservative. Maybe they’re right to be conservative, but in this case, I love food and I love this kind of food, I knew how hard it was to learn this kind of cooking because I was learning it myself and it required lots of research, asking chefs around the world, a lot of experimentation... if I could pull all of this together to make a definitive book, coalesce all the information in one place, it would be hugely valuable. For the chef who would never get a stage at El Bulli or The Fat Duck a huge opportunity. That’s what I hope to be my contribution to food.
RS: Do you find any of the chefs resisting this because now you’ve explained how to do many of these once mysterious techniques?
NM: In general I’ve found most of the Modernist chefs are incredibly helpful. If you ask Ferran [Adria] how to do something, he’ll tell you, but he doesn’t have to explain to everyone what he’s doing. And even in his wonderful cookbook, he didn’t have the page count to go into tutorials. Some of the chefs don’t have the patience, because doing all those step by step things; they’re on to the next cool thing. That’s fair enough, that’s what they’re supposed to do. If you went to a great fashion designer and asked them, teach me how to sew [laughs]... It’s wasn’t a question of people hording ideas (maybe there’s a few people who do hoard ideas but that wasn’t the big phenomenon).
RS: Could it be that this is part of the culture of this movement/cuisine/technique? Where in the past with more traditional methods much of those techniques are guarded or protected vs. now it’s all about sharing knowledge to help advance things?
NM: Cooking still has an interesting structure. The medieval guilds were all about apprenticeships; you learned by turning at 13-year old to a master who treated him a little better than a slave and then they grew until they became the master, where upon they started abusing apprentices. That was the way most professions were. There are professional chef schools, but many of the greatest chefs are self taught which is fine; there’s still a whole idea of apprentices working their way up which is great so long as there’s a certain amount of shared information.
There’s a lot more than gimmicks and tricks; there’s a fundamental basis to the way you do things. Now that we know a way to describe modern cooking, it’s understanding what effects you’re trying to achieve with the food and then understand how to get them. Traditional techniques are sentimental and contradictory. Take roast chicken: crispy skin, moist flesh. Traditional cooking typically tries to make a compromise. Sentimental philosophy of Modernist cuisine is that you cook the inside one way and the outside another way. It’s all about the idea of control – another big idea in Modernist cuisine – you can be in control. The idea that it’s all mystical, that it requires vast amounts of human skill
RS: In working on the MC , what was the biggest myth you debunked?
NM: We found a bunch of errors in food safety – there’s a whole chapter on that. One example is eggs cooked to order should be brought to 145-degrees for 1-second. That does nothing. It’s sort of a cosmetic regulation. There’s a regulation for fish: 145-degrees for 1-second which overcooks the fish. If they said 145-degrees for 12-minutes, it would have some sense to it, but for 1-second it means nothing.
Duck confit is one that some chefs say, if you cook duck in fat, it will create this unique flavour. That’s a fraud. I figured that out because I was trying to understand how the fat can actually penetrate into the meat because fat molecules are large and they won’t go through the membrane. Firstly, what people call fat is actually fatty tissue. Most of what people object to is that it’s rubbery – that’s the collagen matrix that holds the fat; you have to render it to get the fat. Duck fat melts at 14-degrees Centigrade, so how come you have to cook it so hard? It’s not the fat; it’s that the lipids are enclosed in collagen and the collagen needs to be broken down because the lipids are trapped. It’s that collagen that gives rubbery duck skin. I realized the fat couldn’t possibly penetrate the meat so how does it create a unique flavour and texture? And the confit nature of the meat isn’t just at the surface, it goes all the way in. So it had to be a fraud.
We did a taste test, and we either cooked it traditional, sous vide or steamed it. As long as the time and temperature are the same, in a blind taste test, we couldn’t tell the difference. When I tell some chefs this, they almost get angry and don’t agree with it. But I say look, it’s not about agreeing, try it. If you can try in a blind taste test, maybe you can taste things I can’t taste, but no one in our group could taste it.
One of the essences of science is to know this idea that hypotheses can be disproven. And chefs have to understand that there are a lot hypotheses that people take for granted. Some of its correct but a lot isn’t.
RS: What’s your next cookbook project?
NM: Well in terms of a project that’s a little smaller than a giant multi-year, multi-volume extravaganza again. We did one of those, and I’m sure I’ll do another one again at some point, but the books that will come next will be a smaller thing – single topic book. And I can see a list of many single topic books. Imagine if I was doing another volume to Modernist Cuisine? It is a lot of ways to make that next volume by taking a specific topic. But I would also like to see the pastry and desserts so hopefully. One thing that was special about Modernist Cuisine is that we did take this topic approach and we didn’t have any compromises, we wanted to cover everything out there. So we have to find areas that are worthy of our attention; approach different ethnic cuisines or a technique in more specialized form. So there’s a lot of different ways that you could slice it. So we’ll see what happens.
RS: One thing I’ve found interesting is that chefs who have been reticent to use the label “molecular gastronomy” are now suddenly happy to talk about “modern cuisine.” Thoughts?
NM: Well molecular gastronomy is a terrible name. We discuss the history of it in the book. Chefs hate it. The ironic thing is that Hervé This, who’s this French food scientist – he would tell you he’s the father of molecular gastronomy – he feels strongly that that term shouldn’t be used to describe restaurant cuisine, but used for science.
RS: I believe he now refers to it as Note by Note?
NM: The latest thing he’s excited about is called Note by Note cuisine, which I’m not sure I fully understand. It seems to be like if you start using a slang term... it’s possible to be widely used because not anybody knows precisely what it means because they use it in context. I haven’t seen any precise definition of it. Is seems to be about isolating specific characteristics of ingredients and then having a sequence of these things in a menu which is analogous to playing notes of music. That’s my interpretation from the little I’ve seen, and Max, my co-author who reads French better than I do, said that seems to be kind of what he does.
Anyway, Hervé doesn’t want to call it molecular gastronomy; the chefs don’t want to call it molecular gastronomy. Molecular sounds very off-putting to people. If you take a scientific perspective of course everything is molecules and it’s not molecular biology. If there’s a reason to call it molecular biology – because that’s the study of unique molecules of life – and it’s molecules that that you’re concerned with, and there’s no sense that that’s true here. Historically molecular gastronomy was invented as a cool name for a conference. Hervé recently sent an email out to people that he was thrilled that this cuisine was being called modernist. Heston Blumenthal wrote a piece saying the same thing: that as far as he’s concerned, molecular is dead, it’s now modernist. I think modernist has a significant improvement over molecular: first, it’s more encompassing and broader. So what we mean by modern is that people cooking a wide range of styles, it’s not a single style. It includes people who cook foods that are deliberately different; the differentness is part of the point. If you go to Alinea, Moto or El Bulli part of the entire creative point is for it to be new and surprising. Just like artists that do that. There are people who use surprise as part of the experience. There are also a lot of chefs that don’t cook that way but modern techniques are still part of their cuisine. Modern art encompasses a wide range of different artistic styles. Modern art includes Jackson Pollock, the French Impressionists, Chuck Close doing photorealism and everything in between. In the same way modernist is a term for cooking, or a style of cuisine that is meant to be all encompassing.
RS: Do you eat out or cook more?
NM: Well it’s different. For starters, Seattle there are a lot of great restaurants, but there’s not a lot of great modernist restaurants. So when I travel, I like trying to experience other things that I don’t get at home. So great restaurants, ethnic restaurants and other takes on food are also nice to try. So when it’s places like Chicago, it’s places like Alinea, Moto and places like that but also Hot Doug’s and the French fries in duck fat are great. Ha ha ha.
RS: Have you tried horse fat fries? (Not there. I had to make it myself – it was terrible with having to render down the fat itself that had to be sourced, but...)
NM: Use a pressure cooker.
RS: Now I know.
NM: It’s great. What we do with rendering fat is use a pressure cooker and to use Mason jars to hold the fat with an inch of water under.
RS: What is your favourite cuisine? Restaurant? Do you find that having demystified the cooking process through the MC that you are less easily impressed?
NM: It’s not hard to go out to eat. The funny thing is that knowing how I would do it doesn’t mean I know how they would do it. There’s a tendency to over think things “oh yes, they must have done this and this and this and this cuz that’s how I’d do it.” But no actually.
In terms of harder to be impressed. You know those optical illusions? The lines... I don’t know if you know the trick? One of the lines looks longer? You can say we know, but the perception is very hard wired. The food is great, tastes great and it doesn’t really matter knowing how it’s made – it doesn’t affect how you experience it. Once you’ve had lots of great food and you know what it can taste like if it’s no overcooked you become more picky about how it’s overcooked – which is also pretty easy to forgive in a certain context. But it’s about being more aware.
RS: Comments on your dining experiences in Toronto?
NM: When I’m in a different city, I would eat with a local guide because usually when you come to a city, there’s a set of places that the concierge will tell you is the best restaurant in town. There are places that a guide like Zagat will tell you, then there’s a place that a foodie will take you. There is some overlap but not very much.
In Singapore there’s something called makansutra. The name is a sort of take on kamasutra: makan means eating (??) in a local language. And this crazy guy writes all about street food, a guy named Seto, and when I’m in Singapore, he takes me around. You go to like 30 places and at each one you order only one dish. It’s things from all across south east Asia and all the things that are unique there. So if there’s a Seto in every town, that would fantastic, but of course there isn’t.
Unfortunately didn’t have much of a chance [to explore Toronto]. I did have pre-arranged dinners at Splendido and Campagnolo, which was fine, but I ate at one Indian restaurant while I was here called Utsav. We asked one of the concierges, who’s an Indian woman, where to go for lunch. It was very good actually. Typical Indian dishes but we also didn’t want to walk. It was good. I love all food basically.
But sure, I’d love to come back to Toronto and explore a bit.
RS: You have such varied interests that take up your time. How much of it do you use to focus on food and MC?
NM: I’m interested in a lot of things. I try to do it to the best of my abilities.
In the case of paleontology, I write a number of articles on paleontology. Every few years I do one, it’s not very constant. And my contribution to paleontology is smaller, it’s a contribution but it’s not “Oh my god, I’m the world’s best paleontologist.” But it’s fun. And I’m going to keep doing it. My company - development and also inventing – and one of the things we try is to try to invent things that are solutions to problems. We might fail. We have a philosophy that it’s good for us to try to do those things. Again, you can tell me that the world doesn’t work or we shouldn’t be doing it that way.
The cookbook has been interesting because cooking has been something that, up until now, if you interviewed me about all my other things “oh yes, he’s also a really good cook, he once won a barbecue contest...” people would be like oh that’s an interesting little hobby. It’s not like it is a contribution that was important towards cooking, I mean, up until the book. The book was trying to be something that was very important. My relative contribution to cooking may well exceed my relative contribution to paleontology, whatever that means.
RS: They’re all significant contributions, but given all that you’ve accomplished and projects you’ve lined up for the future, what is it that you hope will be your legacy?
NM: Warren Buffet was asked when he was gone what he said was: god that guy was old. [laughs] So the legacy, I’m not at the stage in my life where I can worry about that. I’m hoping that I have a lot more years walking out of here [laughs].
It’s a funny question, because in paleontology, my paleontology friends will say “he done a few interesting things” and I’ll have some little legacy in paleontology but currently it will be little; maybe I’ll come up with something bigger later on. In physics and in other interests of mine, in those areas, yes in some of them, if you interviewed them after I was gone they’d say: “too bad he wasted his time in all that other stuff. Maybe he would be a successful guy if he didn’t waste all his time on all this other crap.” It’s funny because my friends in each area don’t quite understand why I would waste my time from their perspective. Lots of chef friends can’t quite understand why I don’t open a restaurant, because to them that is the best thing you can possibly do. So what’s up with that? They say “surely this book is how you were going to introduce your new restaurant.” Well, not so much. So within cooking I’m hoping the book has an impact. People write to be read; people cook to be eaten. So I really hope the book has a big impact. If it has a big impact, it would help a whole generation of cooks – at home and professionally – will help them get access to techniques that they couldn’t get otherwise. If you interview me 10 years from now, we’ll be able to say, “here’s the restaurants and the trends that have been influenced from the creation of this book.” I hope that there’ll be other books by that date, that I won’t be totally done, but if I was done today, I would hope that this book will be a good contribution, that people would have found it really useful. That’s as much as you could hope for.
RS: Thank you for sharing about the whole process of this project. It’s exciting to see the final product but I can’t imagine how hard those 5 years were when you were working through the trials and tribulations.
NM: There was a lot of work. There are things that don’t go how you’d like; there are those things that turn out really well. It was a great project. It’s terrific to see it now actually accepted by people.
RS: Are you thinking of any more translations of MC?
NM: Two languages: Chinese and Russian. If you look at what countries will hold the most high end restaurants – Canada is not going to quadruple its high end restaurants, you couldn’t. The number of high end restaurants will remain relatively constant (maybe they’ll grow at a few percent per year, but the population is flat and it’s already wealthy/successful country. The same is true for the United States or Europe. China, will have more high end restaurants – like how the United States went from in the 19th century it went from an agricultural country and the wild west and everything else into this urbanized industrial country – and that’s what’s happening in China. If you want to be influential... Plus China has this interesting combination of [having] rich culinary traditions of its own and everybody loves variety. So there will be more French restaurants developing , more sushi... If you lived in Shanghai or Beijing today, or Hong Kong – Hong Kong’s had a western economy for a while – so it’s got great restaurants of every variety. They’re actually selling the books in English in China through our printer. For the very rich people in China it doesn’t matter the books are in English. It’s also not a big influence on the culinary world. The challenge there is finding a way to get it translated in a cost effective way. If you told me that when we translate it to Chinese and I’ll never make any money on it, I’d still do it just because it’ll be a cool thing to do. It actually has many of the same properties that I said about China: it’s another unique situation where they’re growing more of a restaurant culture and growing more of an open society. Spanish is great, because not only do you get Spain but you get all of Latin America. So if you look at parts of the world that are more influential, the parts of the world that are developing are only part of the story. If you look back 20 or 30 years from now, it’s the parts of the world that are growing fast, they will go from having no culinary traditions to high end cuisine – that’s where you’ll have the most influence.
RS: And can we use the metaphor that “they’re really hungry for it” appropriately here?
NM: [Laughs]
RS: Thank you so much for your time.
* Random fact: Although both editions are printed on high quality paper, edition one used paper from Japan and weighed a mere 48-pounds. However, in wake of the tsunami earlier this year, the paper was no longer available and an equally high quality source, but slightly heavier product, from China was used. The ink alone weighs 4-pounds.
** Mhyrvold worked on the project for two years alone before having a team.
this is zach.
we have not been friends since forever.
...actually, i hated him five years ago because he broke my finger and called my friend 'retarded'.
he has since been reformed.
now he vlogs a lot.
go watch his video of this shoot here and subscribe here
go do it. NOW! if you don't i'll probably be sad :(
+4 in comments :)
This is a supplemental, the third of what's turned out to be three ... we'll call it part 13c of 50 in an occasional series.
The idea to do a supplemental discussion of American independence came to me early in the process of writing these state things, as independence marks a transition in how states came about that I thought might need some context. It's just a nice coincidence brought on by my glacial writing pace that I get to this one today. Today happens to be Independence Day in the United States, and that little building with the steeple across the lawn in the picture up above is Philadelphia's Independence Hall. In that building 241 years ago, on July 4, 1776, a batch of mostly rich guys in wigs representing each of the 13 colonies I've discussed gathered to sign the Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States of America that erased the Colonies and changed them into states. For people from foreign lands who don't know, that anniversary's a big deal for us, and we all get today off work to go eat hot dogs and blow our fingers off with illegal fireworks.
But why, exactly, did all those rich guys in wigs gather in that building at the start of a hot summer in the first place, and how did they accomplish what they set out to do?
The why's a more complicated question than it seems in a lot of the stories we tell about our national origin. I tend to simplify the whole thing myself in discussions with a short answer that tracks back to those consequences I mentioned after the French and Indian War: Americans have a long history of not wanting to pay for anything. This answer tends to bother people who prefer their history to have things like context or depth, as there's a lot more to it than just a tax revolt. Honestly, I think the whole thing was inevitable anyway. The colonists had been away from the homeland for too long, and the cultures on their separate continents were evolving in too many different ways. The increasing tensions just needed a trigger, and the heart of that trigger turned out to be a tax revolt. So I cling to the underlying truth of the statement. The Americans didn't want to pay for anything.
Let's backtrack a little. It's 1763, and young King George III and his Parliament have just spent an enormous amount of money defending the colonies from the French. (They also tossed a ton of cash at Europe they maybe didn't have to spend, something a lot of Americans would bring up, but to George III, that was beside the point.) Meanwhile, the colonists have been paying almost nothing in taxes--the average American in 1763 payed about 1/25th as much in taxes as his cousins back in England. So the British came up with a perfectly fair idea. Why not ask just a little more? Not a lot. It's not like they were going to make the colonies pay off the entire national debt. Just little things, a couple of tiny taxes here and there to help balance the books. You know, for King, and country and all that.
They started with a tax on imported molasses, the main ingredient in the production of rum, among other things. Of course, there'd already been a tax on imported molasses since 1733, but the Americans had gotten really good at smuggling molasses past the authorities, and when smuggling wasn't an option they just bribed the tax guys into overlooking the shipment. The Molasses Act of 1764 would cut that 1733 tax in half--it was actually a tax cut--but would make evasion a lot more difficult to manage. So the colonists would owe less tax ... but they'd actually have to pay it.
Well, this got everybody into a snit, so Parliament repealed the tax in 1766. But they kept trying other taxes. The Stamp Act of 1765 required all the paper sold in the colonies to have a stamp you had to pay the government to get. The Townsend Acts of 1767 instituted taxes on all sorts of things, including glass, lead, paint, paper and tea. Every new tax ticked the Americans off just a little more than the last one, and people started organizing increasingly more effective boycotts of this or that. In turn, every protest and boycott ticked off the guys in Parliament, who responded with increasingly more peevish acts that just made things worse. None of it made any sense to Parliament. It wasn't like they were asking the Americans to surrender their first-born sons. All they wanted was just a couple of cents here and there. Just pennies a day, the price of a cup of tea, and you, too, can have an army of British regulars to keep the Indians on their side of the mountains.
So what was the American problem? The most popular explanation among today's historians and yesterday's Patriots involves the popular slogan on the tips of every colonist's tongue in 1776: "No taxation without representation." The problem, this argument said, wasn't that colonists didn't want to pay their taxes, but that taxes were being imposed on the colonists by a body (Parliament) the colonists did not elect and in which they weren't represented. And to be sure, It's true that while every colony had always had its own elected assembly--the Virginia House of Burgesses, for instance, was 145 years old when the Molasses Act came down--these assemblies had no say in Parliament. There was no place in the system for the will of the colonial people, and any duty imposed on the people without their consent was nothing short of tyranny. (The word "tyranny" is always very popular among hyperbolic anti-tax folks, but in this case, it was particularly funny coming from so many people who owned slaves.)
The thing is, while I'm sure a lot of colonists believed this line of thought with every fiber of their being, I tend to think this was more a rhetorical dodge than anything. It was an argument with just enough truth to make the colonists feel justified in their indignation, but I think the issue ran much deeper than that. Sure, maybe King George could have done something crazy like maybe give the colonists a few seats in Parliament or something, but that wouldn't have fixed the underlying problem. The greater problem was simply that for too long, the various British governments of various kings, queens, and lords protector had left the colonists to pretty much fend for themselves. The guys in London had a tendency to get caught up in European affairs--and, at least once, in a decade-long revolution of their own--and administering a bunch of colonies full of (let's be honest) religious nuts and backwoods dopes took a lot of effort. For more than a century, it had made more sense to let the colonies just take care of themselves. And the colonies had gotten used to that freedom and had taken great advantage of it, spreading themselves out into the woods wherever they wanted to go, waging wars against the Indians and against each other, making money, losing money, building little plantation empires and city-states and personal fiefdoms that acted more and more like there wasn't anybody named George worth worrying about. Most of them were still loyal to the Crown in the 1763, sure, but that was only because the Crown had little to no effect on their lives. The minute some George tried to change that ... well, look out!
The final straw came after Parliament passed the Tea Act of 1773. This one wasn't so much a tax as it was a trade regulation designed to prop up the failing British East India Company by helping it sell down its massive backlog of unsold tea, while at the same time providing a subtle political dig at the whole anti-tax movement. There'd long been this convoluted process involving the sale of tea in the colonies that depended in part on smuggling, and the Tea Act would result in a lot of middle men losing a lot of money. So one night in December of 1773, a bunch of rowdy Boston guys went aboard a ship full of tea parked in Boston harbor and tossed the whole shipment overboard. They were orderly about the whole thing, being careful not to damage any cargo but the tea, and they even left money to pay for a padlock they had to break, but they got their point across. And from that moment, it was on. A lot of people in Great Britain who'd been sympathetic to the colonists' argument decided suddenly they were all a bunch of hooligans, and Parliament passed a quick set of laws designed to isolate and punish Massachusetts. This only unified a bunch of colonials who usually didn't agree on much around a common enemy. Things escalated quickly, and in April of 1775 somebody in the Massachusetts militia fired a shot heard round the world.
I haven't spent a lot of time giving the Revolutionary play-by-play on these pages, but the shorthand version is that just before all those rich guys in wigs signed their Declaration, they told George Washington to turn about 10,000 farmers into soldiers so they could go shoot British people. Washington's men spent the next six years between recurring episodes of starvation and frostbite not getting cornered by a better trained and better equipped force run by idiots. Now, I mean no disrespect to the soldiers of the Mother Country, but even a brief glance at the actions of the British military leadership and its ministers back in London is more than enough to prove this was far from Great Britain's finest hour. One general managed to lose an entire army of 7,000 men in 1777 because he couldn't figure out how to march from Canada into upstate New York. Another in 1778 let an army of barefoot farmers who only lasted more than a week because George Washington was some kind of wizard corner him in New York City. And then there was Cornwallis, who got chased out of the Carolinas by a bunch of hillbillies in 1780 and picked the most indefensible spot in Virginia to set up base in 1781. And this doesn't even take into account the large and powerful navy the British had available that they hardly used. They used the navy for troop transport, like, one time. Most powerful navy in the world, and the British used it as a ferry. So, yeah ... Yorktown.
Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, and representatives of Great Britain and the former colonies signed the Treaty of Paris that ended the war in 1783. The United States of America were finally their own thing, independent and free and ready to take their place in the world. And it was full of people who were no longer colonists, optimistic people who saw a vast continent to their west that was just waiting to be tamed, and that's what they set out to do. The West was waiting for them, just waiting for them to triumphantly carve it all up into new states with names nobody yet knew. There were states out there just waiting to be made, and it was finally time for them all to go do it.
Fantastic block design by Amy(badskirt)! I tried to add fishnet stockings( she seems like the kinda gal to wear them!), but I didn't like the way I sewed them on, so unpicked them. I still think she needs something....maybe a tattoo!! Just realized that I forgot to add the cord to the machine...better go do that!
[19:03] Dmitry Luminos laughs aloud at that. "She's pretty cool. But....risky," he says, using the same language he used last night. "I trust her. I would suggest that you don't." He smirks, then looks down on the platforms, seeking and finding Tal. "Yo - Tal!" he says, speaking up over the sound of the crowd. "Is this first blood, or what?" He readies his notepad and pen.
[19:04] Taladis Tower grunts, "I see." He turns back towards Dmitry, "Weapons allowed are only knives. There is no time limit. They've decided there are no submissions. No first blood. No TKO stoppages. They just fight to a knock out."
[19:05] Allissa Coswell looks up at Taladis then back at Rein with a smirk as she rolled her shoulders loosing herself up.
[19:06] Taladis Tower tapped those dark clawed fingertips on his forearms as he looked down towards Evie, "Woman, are you ready?" He shouted out.
[19:06] Niyol Clawtooth: "Kick butt Aunt Evie!" He hollars down to her before the battle, his hands still knuckle white on the railing. He nods to Dmitry's words. "Trusting people is not something I often do, Dmitry, and with her avoiding me at the party and such it doesn't seem all that likely I'll trust her or be around her any longer than it would take to walk the other direction."
[19:07] Dmitry Luminos nods and gives Tal a thumbs up sign, writing in his notepad. "By knockout," he says. He addresses Niyol without turning his head to look at the boy. "There will be blood," he says. "Can you handle it?" The words are even a neutral, no emotion or implication behind them.
[19:11] Niyol Clawtooth: He would nod slowly to Dmitry. "i will be fine. " He says through clenched teeth as he would begin moving closer to see, as tall people moved in his way. "I'm moving closer. "
[19:07] Allissa Coswell looks up to Tal and nods "Ready...kitty man"
[19:07] Taladis Tower grunted, "Call me Litterbox if you're going to call me a cat." He looked towards Rein, "Twinkle toes, are you ready?"
[19:07] Harlequin Salome: "Don't kill her totally, Rein, I need my damn shades back!" He shouts with hands cupped around his mouth.
[19:08] Reinhardt Stenvaag says nothing. His eyes never leave Evie. He just nods. There would be no more noises out of him untill this was done.
[19:08] Taladis Tower let his head fall back as he let out a low grumpy sigh, following it up with a loud snarl, "Let's brawl!"
[19:09] Allissa Coswell pulls the first of her three Kunai from her tight band and grin at Rein. Her thin fingers twirlling the blade as she calculates her first move in her head. Her stance was neutral at this point except for her legs which looks as if she were ready to move though the dircetion wasn't yet indicated. She remembered the other fighters and how the first move always seems to be the fall of their fight so she stood there instead motioning to Rein with a finger telling him to go first.
[19:10] Reinhardt Stenvaag smirked, "Cocky bitch." he whispered. She had caught on to what others missed in how he did these matches. He would play her game, because otherwise, there would be no game would there? He charged, shoulder down but wasn't leaving much for the purpose of stopping, he was attempting to bowl into her with his weight, and hit or miss, would contine on past her position some afterwards.
[19:12] Allissa Coswell watched that charge and the freight train of a mech coming towards her. As he got closer she leap up in the air hoping to plant on hand on his back as if to leap frog over him as her other hand would come down with the blade in in and try to slice into the flesh from the top center of his shoulders and hopefully down his back as he kept going. If it didn't happen she'd most likely end up rolling down his back and landing on her knee in the mucky wake.
[19:14] Reinhardt Stenvaag would smirk as she went up over him. He followed her with his right arm, the knife in it slashing for her even as her own blade dug into his flesh and tore down his back, splitting wide to reveal the synthetic muscles underneath, blood flowing. The motion of his knife attack launched at her as she lept him forced him to stop and turn even if it was useless in protecting his back from the much speedier woman.
[19:17] Allissa Coswell grinned as she drew first blood and even as her blade kept digging into the flesh and the momentum kept her going, she couldn't avoid the right arm swiping that knife at her. She grunted as the blade cut into her forearm causing her to start to bleed but it wasn't deep. Her feet would kick back trying to propel herself forward and farther away. She wasn't a dancer or a gymnist but she was still graceful in her moves so that she wouldn't land face first in the water. In the air she twisted and her feet came down first letting her slide on the slippery surface for a few feet before she came to a stop and looked back at Rein. Her hand tight on her blade as his blood dripped from it and her smirk grew.
[19:19] Reinhardt Stenvaag having turned with the counter attack charged her again even as she landed. This time, his left shoudler down and forward, he had his right arm up and back, ready to lash for her should she go up and over, or to his right. His left hand was held slightly before, ready to lash out for her to the left if that was her choice, and failing either movement, his weight barreled forward for her presently.
[19:21] Allissa Coswell spun her body to face him and those blue eyes watched him closely. She didn't have much time to react and she knew she couldn't go up again. So she went down. her body dropping into an instant crouch just as he got close. her leg swinging out to trip him up as she leaned to her left and her right arm came up to slice at the inside of his right thigh hoping to get in far enough to cut a muscle or tendon like cable or whatever it was he had there. Her bleeding left arm curled against her incase he switched his postion and barreled her over in a one man stampeed.
[19:23] Reinhardt Stenvaag did miss her, though her leg trying to trip him was akin to had she tried to hold a car back and he did barrel on for a few steps past her. The speed of his charge made her slash difficult even though she managed to get her target, but caught in something as it dug through synthetic flesh and muscle, jamming between somethign deep within him and sticking, even as he carried on for only 3 more steps. If he had barrled into her with that charge, or if her leg were too planted and rigid in her trip attempt, the android would have delighted in the sound of crushed bone and possibly sending her flying.
[19:25] Allissa Coswell's knife wreched from her hand as it caught on something solid in his leg and she cursed to herself as that plan to make his leg immobile went to shit. Her leg wasn't planted since it was used to trip him up and not to stay where it was. She felt her knee twist as a pop was heard as the petella twisted off to the side and pretty much dislocated. It hurt like hell but she didn't scream out. She grunted and her teeth clenched but her body just rolled with his movement turning her before she fell back. Her right hand reaching down in the water for another blade she had on her tight and she got back to her feet using her good leg to take the weight as she planted her other foot to the floor and twisted back popping her knee back into place. It still hurt and it would be hard to walk on but she wasn't going down so quick.
[19:27] Reinhardt Stenvaag turned to her, and while he had never moved fast to start with, he seemed slower, his right leg was no longer steady and stable, it seemed to jerk at the knee slightly every time he moved it, the sound of grinding metal heard before her knife fell from him, destroyed though his leg didn't recover. He lunged towards her, forced to drop to his right knee to get the distance, but slashed out with his left arm, the blade sweeping from his left to right quickly.
[19:29] Allissa Coswell watched him coming for her again and this time she couldn't move fast enough to dodge the blade completely. It dug into her side and sliced open her flesh letting blood quickly come to the surface and pour out. She actually cried out this time since it was a sensitive spot no less. Her cry however stopped short as she held her breath and she spun as he started moving past her. her knee popping again only cause it moved with her shift but her right hand with the knife came around and up in a back hand type movement trying to shove it up under his chin at the soft spot where his tounge would rest on the otherside inside his mouth. She was trying to lodge the knife up as deep as she could even if it meant that it would hurt her in return. Though if she missed it might hit his neck or up higher along his face.
[19:31] Reinhardt Stenvaag is stabed where Evie hoped to stab, her knife digging into the front of his throat and upwards. He had an esophagus albeit synthetic like all flesh, and she slit his throat as the knife dug deep in. He had learned after last weeks match, his spine was better able to deflect anything but a direct attack, and his shifting weight meant her knife glanced against the metal deep inside, only making the tear in his flesh worse, almost an 'in the front, out the side' effect and leaving blood to splatter everywhere. He brought his right arm up and out, knife forward with all the strength his much longer arms could muster, attempting for her midsection as she was close for her little neck move.
[19:34] Allissa Coswell wretched her knife free not prepared to loose another yet. Her body much too close to dodge again but she managed to be her lithe little self and shift her weight to her bad leg making her knee buckle and her drop to the floor. The knife finding that already split open side again puttin gin another deep slice and more blood to spray out from her body. She was already looking a bit weak but not ready to go out yet. There was no yeildinig and if she was gunna lost she'd do it fighting all the way. She traded hands with the knife and grabbed her final blade from her tigh with her right now duel weilding. Her right hand swinging up with all the strength she had left in her which was actually still quite a bit and was hoping to jam the blade into his arm pit and either disable or weaking that left arm of his.
[19:36] Reinhardt Stenvaag always fought without a sound.. always. Untill now. Always he had battled opponents much better suited to range and Evie here had provided his best opponent yet for his prefered short range. Her knife came up with all the speed the womans smaller body was known for, yet another wound against Rein as her dagger found its mark, digging in to his armpit, though maybe she had failed to predict what sticking a knife into a motor would do. Electricity erupted from the severed motor, arcing out from the wound, along the blade and the hand holding it. He screamed, his voice sounding slightly digitized yet gurgling as well on the blood of his throat. His left arm disabled, fell, but his right swung sloppily, yet hard, down for her as she leaned in for his armpit, knife screaming for her blood as loudly, in his mind at least, as his voice.
[19:39] Allissa Coswell was ready for the shock and the pain of the walking taser she had stabbed. She felt that pain hit her and she twisted the ruined blade as every muscle in her body went rigid and she grunted out through clenched teeth. Her body leaning closer to him and not pulling away though as she willed herself to release that blade in his armpit. The blade he swung coming for her found a mark in hershoulder sliding down and peeling flesh with it. She winced and held her breath to keep from screaming out again. That arm that was sliced into however came up and she was aiming for that other arm pit using all her might. The exposed muscle could be seen shifting and constircting as that arm went to work and she again preapred for another shock. Though she wasn't sure she could take another high voltage hit but she just wanted to take out those arms. She was bloody and losing it. Unlike the mech it would do her less than good to bleed out but Evie didn't care at this point.
[19:41] Reinhardt Stenvaag knew that if she took both his arms out, the match would be hers in short order as for the moment, the thoughts of shocking her was not in his mind. He did the only thing he could to avoid. Left or right wouldn't get enough distance, back was not an option with how he was kneeling, and forward would do nothing. Instead, he went up. He kicked up from kneeling on his right knee, pushing hard with his left to rise fast. And hard. Her knife hit him, tearing into his side but much lower than she had hoped, tearing into just under his right ribcage, but as he rose, he brought his right knee forward. The knee down was unreliable, still jerking randomly, but the knee up was good, and with the strength of rising, how close she was, his knee flew for her body.
[19:44] Allissa Coswell was slow to move and that knee connected with her right below the ribs lifting her small frawe up out of the water sending her to the ground behind her. The wind knocked from her for the moment as she tucked and rolled untill she found herself on her knee again and coming up. She wasn't happy to have missed her mark but still had that blade in her hand. She took short quick breaths until she was able to take a full one and her aching body stopped screaming at her long enough to think a moment and collect. She still wouldn't charge him though even if he couldn't wrap her in that bearhug of his. She tested her sore swollen knee for a moment rocking side to side as she stared her opponent down trying to plan her next knife strike.
[19:46] Reinhardt Stenvaag stood there, taking a moment to reroute power to stop it from sparking out of his left armpit, but this rendered his arm fully offline, the knife clutched in a literal deadmans grip in his immobile arm. Where a humans arm would flop with movement, Reins was rigid, like a board. He didn't put his full weight on his right leg either, and at this point.. he knew he couldnt charge her. the one thing he could do.. surrender the one useable knife he had. , as she focused on her breathing, his hand moved, flinging the massive blade with all his strength for her body, though the move left him reeling foward for balance. Just beyond arms reach yet still close enough to be short range, the speed and strength of the throw would cause the metal severe damage were she to dodge and it hit the concrete behind her, warping if not outright destroying the blade.
[19:48] Allissa Coswell watched him throw the knife and she blinked a moment shifting to the side letting the blade just graze over her shoulder and it sure did hit that wall and splintered the concrete behind her. She felt it hit her back in little bits as she looked back to him and growled. In her mind that looked like he was trying to kill her and she wasn't happy about that at all. So she lunged for him putting all her weight into her lunge and that right arm coming up over his head as he was trying to catch his balance. Her body would most likely collide into his as her blade was coming down with all her strength for the base of his skull right at the spine. She was now wanting this fight over and she was determined to win even if it wasn't her fate.
[19:50] Reinhardt Stenvaag was unbalanced and had no real way to stop her. As she landed on his back he droped, knowing that being flat would give him greater control over the situation but then he felt her knife striking at his spine. Eyes went wide.. too late. He had miscalculated. Her knife struck into his spine and dug in as she had found her target. Rein thought he was as good as done, screaming out loudly even as he fell, face down into the sewage, electricity erupting from his spine in far greater force than his arm had: this was his spine after all, the life of any human was tied to it and it was the same for mechs. The lightning erupting from him was devestating to behold, untill he fell into the water fully submerged, and one would assume, that much electricity in the water would not be good. By some miracle her knife and their movment didnt completely sever his spinal column, but he now had to spend all of his efforts attempting to reroute the systems and power through it.
[19:52] Allissa Coswell had released the knife as soon as the drive forward had stopped and she smirked though it was short lived as she felt that arching electicity hit her and she cried out at the pain as it rolled through her body. Oddly it wasn't as painful this time since she wasn't on the ground and it just flowed through her body and back down to his as it was searching for the easiest path to ground. She looked almost as if surfing as her feet stayed on his shoulders all the way until her hit the ground in the water. She was still standing though it really was by sheer will that she was. Her body bleeding heavily and it was rolling in small streams from her arm and side all the way to his back and the water below. She staggered a bit before dropping to her knees on his back and hunched over breathing heavily now and hoping that it was over.
19:54] Reinhardt Stenvaag was caked in shit, grime, blood, and torn flesh that was now cooked, cracked, blistered from electrocution. He moved his right arm under the water. He was just like her.. he was not surrendering, and like her, he looked on his last wind. He moved suddenly in the water, with her on his back, arm pushing himself up and legs following to kick up, hoping to launch her though he was hardly moving as fast as he once would have. Regardless of her, he would fly up, and trying to land on his feet, would collapse as his right leg buckles, and go down to his knees, and his right arm in the shit to keep himself from falling again.
[19:56] Allissa Coswell raised her head up as she felt him move. her fingers finding a flap of skin to hold onto so she doesn't slide off. In his sudden buck she manages to move and fall into the water not being thrown far, but landed in the muck hard. She gets back up slowly and she wipes the shit water from her face with her hand before looking back at him to see what he was going to do. She was able to stay on her feet though a bit wobblely in the knees. She looked like she still had fight in her though there wasn't much around for her to fight with since she was out of blades. Her eyes went to the bent up knife that was his and she started moving for it keeping her eyes on him.
[19:58] Reinhardt Stenvaag looked up to her. his eyes were hidden behind his goggles. He lunged from his kneeling position, his right arm swinging wide, trying to sweep her before him , keep her from avoiding if he could as his body flung for her. It looked like what it was. A move of desperation.
[20:00] Allissa Coswell was most certainly ready for him and she dove for the knife int he muck going under water and rolling as sher finger wrapped arounf the handle of the blade. She got to her knees as his heavy body and that arm hit her sending her into the wall with a heavy solid thud. Her head cracking against her and she could feel the warmth of the blood already starting to come from it. It dazed her a little but didn't knock her out. She blinked a few times sweeping that bent blade out for him in a wild and sloppy manner.
[20:02] Reinhardt Stenvaag was far from standing upright as she slashed, and the blade was jagged and deformed from when he had sent it to smash into the wall.. so as it tore into his cheek, it tore flesh, tearing accross his face as she slashed and just tearing much of hte lower half of his face off, revealing the grisly, blood covered lower skull and jaw of the android, the knife tore more than just flesh, the synthetic nose was torn, only making the grisly appearance worse but Rein couldnt spare the moment. He brought his metal cranium forward, down. Evie or wall.. either way, something would break here, letting his body collapse forward with the move to bring momentum and weight into it as well.
[20:03] Allissa Coswell blinked again seeing that head come down and she got that oh fuck look on her face. She sunk down drawing her smaller frame in and taking a deep breath, his head did miss but not by much as she went underwater. Her legs come up suddenly from the muck as she tries to kick up at his chesthoping to knock him to the side though knowing she was a target for drowning and wouldn't put it past him but she didn't have many options.
[20:05] Reinhardt Stenvaag 's forehead smashed into the concrete wall hard, tearing skin brutally as if it mattered at this point, and he continued to fall as her legs came up at him trying to push, though with him falling, the best for her was simply deflecting him or holding him up. With the androids weight falling, could her legs hold? Could she deflect his weight? His right arm moved, punching down at the side of her legs as they came up to try and deflect her first, and though he was less than accurate at this point having smashed his forehead into concrete, one thing remained certain. The massive weight of the machine was falling straight down for this moment at least, and Evie was below him.
[20:07] Allissa Coswell could hold him up with both legs but when that right arm hit her swollen knee it buckled instantly and left her other leg there holding him. She grunted under water and rolled slowly trying to guide that falling body to the side and for the wall. If she succeeded then she would come up for air and scramble away only a few feet before collapsing again. If not then well she was trapped under him and the water.
[20:09] Reinhardt Stenvaag 's weight did roll when only one leg buckled. Before he could swing his fist again, he fell, crashing down form her one leg and possibly crashing into her left arm and shoulder before she managed to pul out from under him and left him to crash into the water. He shifted slowly, using his right arm to push himself up along the wall, shakey, and standing only by virtue of the walls support.
[20:11] Allissa Coswell felt that weight slam into her arm and the shoulder pull from the socket when she pulled away. The visible muscles that were exposed to the open ar seemed to spread when the bone shifted. When she was away she stayed on her knees and let her left arm dangle infront of her. There really wasn't much left in her at this point but she was away from him enough that he had to move to get closer. She was buying her time at this point trying to gain a little bit of energy to use that bent knife again
[20:13] Reinhardt Stenvaag does something he had never done in his career in the pit. He swung his right leg, foot sideways. a soccer kick sort of.. the sole purpose was kicking water, sludge and shit up at Evies face and even as it flew, he pushed off the wall with his arm and followed it for the woman, charging as his fist swung, trying for a right handed uppercut as he flew to her, and hit or miss with it, his body, weight, momentum and just sheer mechanical aggression, would follow through the space where at the beginning of this post at least, she had been.
[20:15] Allissa Coswell shielded her eyes though the rest of her face got hit with the sludge, her mouth closed as soon as it graced her lips. Her body twisting and falling back as her arm came down to see that damn frieght train coming for her again but slower this time. She saw that fist as her grazed over her chin and her head knocked back and a soft crack could be faintly heard as her skull collided with the top vertibrae of her spine. When her head bounced back she played just as dirty as him spitting that mouthful of shit water that had collected in her mouth from his kick right back at his face hoping to diztract him from her right arm coming up to grab at the knife in the back of his neck and twist it. it however was her move of desperation as his body came down on her and pinning her down under the water. She didn't flail much if at all before she just laid there holding her breath hoping that playing possum would work at least to get her up and into the air again.
[20:17] Reinhardt Stenvaag wouldnt have been able to stop her grabbing the knife in his spine even without the distraction of her spitting like a disobedient whore spits cum. As his body crashed into her and she twisted the knife, pressed so close to her in an oddly intimate hold, it was the knife twisting itself that caused him to collapse ontop of her, his weight falling on her in the water as his body twitched as if recieving random electrical jolts. With her pinned under him in the water he brought his right arm up and brought it down for her head in the water. It was NOT a full strength punch. he couldnt pull that much strength into it with how violently he was spazaming.
[20:19] Allissa Coswell lifted her face up out of the water to get a breath only to meet a fist coming at her and she got knocked back underwater as blood escaped from her lips and nose. She wasn't out but there was nothing left in her to fight with. She struggled to wretch the knife free and failed as her right arm just dropped to his back and sat there motionless except for a slight twitch of her muscles.
[20:20] Reinhardt Stenvaag spazamed uncontrollably but his mind still worked clearly. He rocked back off her when her arm fell limp on him. He knew it was a ploy.. well, rather he considered it. As he rocked back off her, he grabed her by the shirt, between her tits unless she revealed it was a ploy and would prevent it. If he grabed her, he would pull her up out of the water, even as he sat back on his ass, not about to let his opponent drown IF he had beaten the fight out of her or knocked her out.
[20:22] Allissa Coswell laid limp in the water as he rocked back. Her hand not coming up to block him as he grabbed her shirt and lifted her from the water. Her eyes fluttering open to look down at him but she was lifeless other than that little bit of movement. She was done having lost so much blood and taken so much damage to her body. SHe was disappointed in herself and though she put up what she thought a great fight she was also reckless in how she went about things. Eitherway she was done and her eyes slowly closed then everything went black and her body completely limp in his grip up in the air.
[20:22] Reinhardt Stenvaag sat there, barely moving except to violently twitch. He knew he couldnt hold her up, and pulled her over his shoulder, letting his body hold her out of the shit as his right arm, the only useable one, collapsed into the water. He was torn, beaten, heavily damaged, and he looked exhausted. She was the best he had ever faced. He was awed.
[20:23] Taladis Tower shouted out, "She's done! Medic!"
this is the stairwell in our house, about halfway up. i was inspired to take it this morning, after having watched "amelie" for the umpteenth time last night. if i had to pick one film -- which is an impossible task -- i'd have to say this would be my favorite. the heroine is, without a doubt... well, my hero (followed by anne of green gables, red-headed sprite of my youth). her outlook on life is one i try and grasp every day: enjoy it, every inch of it; don't settle; look for magic; be romantic; take risks; feel pain; surround yourself with color; be, fiercely.
i watch this movie when i need a dose of magic, and i lose count of how many scenes make me get weepy. some is happy crying, some is sad. all of it is real, and i feel alive. i know i'm a sap. that's the goddam point. :-)
now go find a stone and skip it.
The North Carolina Tar Heels, a power five program out of the Atlantic Coast Conference, dealt Old Dominion its first home defeat since November 2015. But in the loss, ODU gained a new starting quarterback.
True freshman Steven Williams, a graduate of Woodrow Wilson H.S. in Washington, D.C., replaced starting quarterback Jordan Hoy and backup QB Blake LaRussa in the 53-23 loss.
"When you don't have a first down in the first quarter and you have no energy on the sideline because the players feel it, you have to make the move," ODU head football coach Bobby Wilder explained. "I didn't go into this game thinking [Williams] would play."
Seeing his first action, the 17 year old Williams completed 9-of-20 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw an interception and lost a fumble. Williams added 34 rushing yards on seven attempts.
"We haven't developed an identity on offense," Wilder noted. "Stevie Williams today gave us an identity. Steven Williams is the quarterback of the Old Dominion football team moving forward."
"They just said 'let's go," Williams explained of how he learned he was about to receive his first college playing time. "My teammates were all behind me. I just had to go do my job and we'll be fine."
Old Dominion outscored North Carolina (1-2), 16-14, in the second half, after trailing the Tar Heels, 39-7, at the half.
Prior to the game, ODU learned All-Conference USA running back Ray Lawry, the program's all-time leading rusher, has a torn hamstring. Head coach Bobby Wilder reveals the injury could keep Lawry sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Paul Weisel
10h ·
In May of 2018 I was headed west for my annual visit with Don Edmunds, but took a few side trips before showing up in Oregon. After stopping at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, IA to deliver a supply of Don Edmunds' books, I veered north to I-90 and my first visit to Mount Rushmore. An early Friday morning arrival made a stop at the speedway in Sheridan, WY an easy addition to my route. On Saturday I said a final goodbye to Rocky Mountain Raceway in Salt Lake City and chalked up both their figure 8 course and the infield course used by their 4-cylinder division. As I cruised across Nevada, a Sunday afternoon event at the Winnemucca Regional Raceway was the cherry on top of four new tracks in the western states.
Monday was spent chasing vintage sprint car tires for our low-bar Edmunds sprinter project around the Ukiah, CA area and the slow day allowed me catch my breath for a first ever visit to San Francisco. On Tuesday morning I headed south on CA-101 to cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. 'Why in the world would you want to drive into San Francisco?' you ask. There's only one reason – Norm Rapp. Norm was 91 years young, a midget racer of note, a multi-time winner indoors at the Oakland Coliseum, a purveyor of race car parts for at least the past 60 plus years, and a recent inductee into the National Midget Hall of Fame. Norm has been instrumental in finding parts for several of our midget restorations, I've spoken to him numerous times on the phone, but we'd never met! Upon my arrival at 5 Cordova Street, Norm Rapp Racing's World Headquarters, Norm jumped into my van and we went for breakfast at the Bayside Cafe, where it appeared Norm was revered as their favorite patron. Great view of the bay and I was able to cruise past the Cow Palace on the way back to Norm Rapp Racing. After an afternoon of spending money with Norm (he even had a used Goodyear pavement sprint car right rear tire), I headed north, hoping to escape the San Francisco traffic mess before things really got sporty at rush hour.
Unfortunately, Norm left us on December 28, 2019 at age 92 and I will be eternally grateful I took the time to visit with him at his place of business and spend some quality time with a true icon of the sport of midget racing. When the phone rang at Norm's business, a former grocery store on Cordova Street where Norm ran his business since 1961, you never had to wonder if Norm was 'in'. If the guy on the other end of the phone answered with, 'Zoom, zoom!', you were talking to Norm.
We both sold Firestone tires, so we always had something in common and we'd talk once, maybe twice, a year – always phone time well spent. When I needed a Casale rear end for the restoration of Don Edmunds' personal Kurtis-Kraft, I called Norm. Shockingly, he said he had two! He asked if I was familiar with the term 'butted' (indoor racers in particular often shortened the rear axles of their cars – narrow holes, narrow cars) and I replied, 'Yes, it means I want to hear about rear end #2.' The second rear was built in October, 1947 and was perfect for a midget built by Kurtis in 1948. Always the kidder, Norm added, 'I hear you drove race cars back east, so I'd better shim the ring and pinion and put it together for you before we ship it. Edmunds always said, 'Race drivers have to be smart enough to operate a race car ---- and just dumb enough to climb in it.' So, I took Norm up on his gracious offer and the rear arrived in two pieces. All I had to do was to was put the axle and ring gear into the rear and tighten the side plates. Everything was shimmed to perfection. Not wanting to miss an opportunity to impress my good pal, Ronnie Dunstan, I told him I had just assembled this Casale rear (and I had) and asked if he'd stop by to check the lash and see if everything was OK. Dunstan was impressed when he worked the axle back and forth – the rear was right and tight! If he's been walking around the last few years thinking I might have some mechanical ability – good! Norm even had a laugh when I told him about it.
A few days ago I read an interview with Norm by Saroyan Humphrey for Rust Magazine and Rust Media and thought it was the perfect insight to Norm Rapp. Photos included from the article are identified and I'd like to find a few more articles and interviews from these folks.
Rust Magazine, Q&A w. Norm 'Zoom Zoom' Rapp, 91 year-old racer and businessman remembers driving, wrenching with George Bignotti, and growing up in San Francisco.
TEXT – PHOTOS SAROYAN HUMPHREY
Feature: Norm Rapp has been inactive as a midget driver since 1967, but has owned and managed his racing supply business since he started it from the basement of his house in 1953. Until recently he was still selling vintage midget and sprint car parts, including tires and wheels. Along with parts, Rapp also supplied Northern California speedways with racing fuel for decades.
Norm was born in 1927 in San Francisco and was raised across the street from what would become his current race shop. Rapp's father, Gene, was also involved in automobiles, mechanics and racing. Several years before Norm was born, Gene raced a big car – a flathead 'T' – at San Jose and San Luis Obispo. He found success, winning a main event that summer at the .625-mile San Jose Fairgrounds track, but a crash, where he was knocked unconscious for over a week, ended his career in 1923. Still, it didn't end his enthusiasm for racing and the automobile, as he continued to attend races in the Bay Area with his infant son, Norm, in tow. In 1936 the elder Rapp also opened a Nash dealership in San Francisco's Mission District, a place Norm would work as a mechanic a few years later.
After World War II, as midget racing continued to grow in popularity across the United States, Norm began driving a Drake (Harley Davidson-powered) midget in training races in 1948 at the long-gone Bayshore Stadium in South San Francisco. In ’49, Rapp competed in his first full season of professional competition, and by ’51, the driver won his first main event at a quarter-mile dirt track in Marysville, Calif. Norm continued to hone his driving skills and would eventually win 40 main events—on both dirt and pavement—during his driving career. Competing with the BCRA (Bay Cities Racing Association) mostly, Norm also raced at special events across the West Coast and Midwest, often traveling with his father.
In commemoration of his lasting racing career, Norm has been inducted into six halls of fame. From the National Midget Hall of Fame, to Balboa High School in San Francisco, where he shares the honor with George Bignotti, another San Franciscan who graduated from the same school a few years earlier. Besides being neighbors, Bignotti and Rapp became racing comrades, competing in BCRA events early in their careers. Rapp was also part of Bignotti's Indy team in 1956 and helped build the '57 Bowes Seal Fast Specials that went on to finish sixth and 22nd with drivers Johnny Boyd and Fred Agabashian.
Laid-back and still a big kid at heart, Rapp spent a few hours talking about his career and his life as a racer/businessman.
You're one of the few lifetime honorary members of the BCRA. Rapp: Yeah, there's only about six of us. It's quite an honor. There's Johnny Boyd, Fred Agabashian, Boots Archer, Johnny Soares, Sr., and also Floyd Busby. He's the present scorer. Years ago, his father was the scorer when I first started in 1947.
And you were inducted to the National Midget Hall of Fame. Rapp: Yeah, three years ago. They inducted eight of us altogether that day. It was an enjoyable situation. Bobby Unser was there. It was a great day. It was something that I'll always remember. That's my biggest highlight. I'm in there with names like A.J. Foyt, Tony Stewart and all the rest of 'em.
Is being inducted to the halls of fame the best part of getting older? Rapp: Well, yeah; I gotta say, aging is not for sissies.
You were born and grew up here in San Francisco. Rapp: Yeah, in Crocker-Amazon, right next to the Excelsior District, off of Geneva Avenue.
And your dad was a racer? Rapp: Yeah, I'd been going to the races since I was two years old. Before I was born, he was racing. In those days they called them big cars, where now you call 'em sprint cars. He just raced for a couple of years and then he got hurt really bad at San Jose Fairgrounds in 1923. So, when he recuperated from the skull fracture, my mother, who then was his girlfriend, sail, “Well, Gene, you have to make the decision, racing, or me....” So he raced once more after that and then retired from racing, but we went to the races to watch and I always begged him to go in the pits and look at the race cars after the race.
In those days racing was so much more dangerous. Rapp: In 1923 they killed six guys at the track (San Jose) in one season. There's a story about how my dad was in the hospital and there was a memorial race for a close friend of his and he came out to the track with a bandaged head and was part of the ceremony.
What other local tracks do you remember going to? Rapp: We used to go to San Francisco Motordrome, which was down on Army Street. I was a young kid, before World War II, I went to Alameda (Neptune Speedway). He took me over there a few times. In those days, you had to take a ferry boat to go across the bay. There was no Bay Bridge (laughing). And there was a mile track over there on Hesperian Boulevard (Oakland Speedway) in Hayward. It was well-known in those days, before World War II. And then during the war, somebody lit the grandstand on fire, or something, and the property became valuable.
You raced a soap-box derby car when you were a kid. What do you remember about that? Rapp: When I was 11 and 12 years old. That's what I called the start of my career. In my day we didn't have any go-karts, quarter midgets, and things like that. There just the full midget. I raced at Treasure Island (during the World Exposition) in 1940. Chevrolet built this ramp about 75 feet high and you'd tow the car up the ramp. I was fine going down the hill, but when I hit the flat, I didn't have the weight to carry me and so, I lost the heat race by a couple of inches.
Your dad also had a Nash dealership, right? Rapp: Right, from 1936 to 1946. It was between 18th and 19th on Valencia (Street), 740 Valencia. He had a shop as well as sales for the cars. In 1937, he sold 97 Nashes. That was a real good year for Nash. I had a '37 Nash. That was my first car!
Did you work in the shop? Rapp: When I was 14 or 15 years old, after the soap-box derbies. I was working for him, yeah. It was a small business and I was doing the parts work, as well as the lubrication. We had a rack there that we'd put car up on.
You joined the Army Air Corps after high school, right? Rapp: Yeah, when I graduated (in 1944) everybody was patriotic, much more than anytime in my life. So everybody enlisted in one form of service or another. I chose the Army Air Corps because I wanted to fly and the Army was a little easier to get into that the Navy. So, I went down to Market Street and signed up. It took 110 points to go to officer training and I got 125. Since I was still 17 years old, they didn't want to send me to an army specialized training program, so they sent me to Stanford (University) for two terms. After that I went to Biloxi, Miss. To Kessler Field and then to Lowry Field and Buckley Field in Denver, That's how I spent my 28 months total.
What do you remember about living in San Francisco during that time, after Pearl Harbor? Rapp: Neighborhoods were blacked out and the San Francisco Seals used to play baseball only in day games. Everybody had black curtains on their windows; everything was blacked out. We had wardens also, and every block was checked to make sure the windows were sealed. There are still bulkheads out here close to the hospital (points west toward the Pacific Ocean).
How did you get your start driving midgets? Rapp: After I got out of the Army Air Corps, a friend of my dad's got me a job at Pan American Airways (as a mechanic) and one of the mechanics there owned a Drake midget. His name was Larry Christensen and he had Lyle Johnson and some other prominent guys driving for him. He won a feature in '46 or '47. He lived nearby. We got to be good friends and I went to his shop every night, almost, and helped him work on the Drake and in the pits. (George) Bignotti's shop was about a half mile away, too.
I bought a Drake midget in '48 and I had Earl Motter, Dick Strickland, all prominent veteran drivers, drive the car. The way I did it was I let those prominent guys run the car in the program and usually they would have warm-ups and I'd go out and run the first warm-up and they'd run the second warm-up and qualify and race the car. In the middle of the program, they'd have training races and I ran those. I ran 20 training races. In '49, when I first started driving, I turned 10th fastest at Bayshore Stadium and made the main event. After that, I progressed over the years.
I was really hot for the Drake engine and it was the main event winner at different times with Jerry Piper and Bob Barkhimer. It was a Drake engine like Billy Vukovich, Sr. always ran. It accelerated really good. It could beat the Ford V8-60s and it was a cheaper car.
Where was the Bayshore Stadium? Rapp: There used to be a track right next to the Cow Palace that was built in 1934 by some gamblers from Chicago. People don't know about it anymore. The story there is that these gamblers came out here and were going to run greyhound races. So they established this track next to the Cow Palace as well as the one down in Belmont and another across the bay. They had four of them and then (the State of) California says, “We don't want dog racing” for humane reasons. So there was a quarter mile dirt track and along comes December 7th (1941), and the government took over the Cow Palace and all the surrounding area, including the race track, and put all their tanks and trucks and everything else in there. Then after the war, all the vehicles disappeared and left the track. So, in 1946 BCRA came in and ran programs there until 1950, every Friday night. It was called Bayshore Stadium and it had a covered grandstand.
And you expanded your mechanical knowledge at Pan American? Rapp: I worked at Pan American for 10 years altogether, in different shops. I first started out in the wheel and tire shop. Then I was in engine buildup for three years. We'd put the engine on a test stand before they put it in the aircraft. And then I had a chance to go to the parts department, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I spent six years there.
How did you meet George Bignotti? Rapp: George was running the BCRA circuit in 1947, and when I started going to the races with Larry Christensen, I met George. He had a shop at Geneva and Mission and he ran two midgets with Fred Agabashian and Ed Normi driving, running seven days a week (laughs). BCRA was running eight days a week back then (big grin).
Do you remember your first man event victory? Rapp: Yeah, it was at Marysville in 1950. It was a different track than the one that we see now. It was a quarter mile. I started outside front row and Jerry Hill was on the pole. It was a hard, dry track, and there were a lot of prominent drivers there like (Johnny) Boyd, (Johnny) Baldwin and Edgar Elder. Edgar had fast time in a Drake. So, I got a jump on Jerry on the start and I held the lead for 25 laps and won it. Elder had fast time and he was tangling with Boyd and Baldwin and it hit one of 'em and ended up going out through the open pit gate and he just drove right up onto his trailer. He was a great guy.
Was your dad a part of your racing? Rapp: He followed me, but didn't help me. Then after about a year, he said, “I see you're serious, and I'm going to see about buying this Kurtis Ford.” Johnny Smith had driven it to sixth place in (BCRA) point stands the year before in 1947. It was a one year-old car, a Kurtis V8-60, with a spare engine and everything else for $2,000. So he bought it and I sold the Drake. I ran the Ford for three years and I kept paying him off and I owned the car when we got done. That was #16. It was really a good way for me to get started.
You traveled to the Midwest to race in '52. You must've been feeling confident with your driving and equipment. Rapp: I hadn't been driving for very long. The story there is, I was kinda depressed because my grandmother, who used to live with us, died. She had taken care of my brother and me when we were young kids, when my mother and father were running the auto shop. It was tough times. And my girlfriend, who later became my wife (Dorothea), decided she didn't want to see me anymore. So I was kinda depressed. I thought, “Heck with it. I'd just like to go the the Midwest and race.” I went by myself, Bignotti tuned my V8-60 and it was outstanding. I didn't have a spare engine, just some extra tires and wheels. But the good thing about the Midwest was that it taught me a lot. I really had to get down to the nitty fritty and learn how to race against those guys and I was running different tracks all the time. Day race, night race......
Midget racing was a big deal at that time. Rapp: It was pretty big, but in '52 back out here, it tapered off a lot. NASCAR came in and Barkhimer was running a lot of (stock car) races at San Jose Speedway and he had a whole bunch of tracks that he was supervising...
Did you like the pavement, or dirt? Rapp: When I first started out, I liked the dirt. You got it sideways, but sometimes I got in trouble, too. But after about 1953, I started learning how to drive better on pavement and be smooth. I got to be quite accomplished. I got second to Parnell Jones at San Jose Speedway in '64, and I'd win a feature here and there. Then I had a good Offy and we really made it perform. For six nights in a row, I had fast time at three different tracks. Two at San Jose, two at Kearney Bowl in Fresno, and two at Stockton. I think I won one, got four seconds and a third. In those days we'd start 18 (in the main event), so, I was coming from last.
The car was #10 and that's why #10 is my favorite number now. It set a mark for me. I put #10 on my recently restored Offy. It was red and yellow. The current car is the same paint job, more or less. It's in my store, ready to run. It's worth 35 grand. It's a Jimmy Davies car. He only built six cars; mine and one in Chicago are the only ones that I know of. It's a historic car. It was just a bunch of parts when I got it, and I put it together gradually over five years. I put a lot of new parts into it, torsion bars and everything else.
You must've had some close calls in your driving days. Rapp: I only spent one night in the hospital. I flipped three and a half times at Sacramento (West Capital Raceway) on the half mile in 1955. I hit a rut. I woke up in the ambulance with my dad. I felt that flip for six months, in different ways. In those days, we didn't have a shoulder harness, we just ran the lap belt and it held me in. In fact, the car was upside down and Walt Faulkner was running fast time in an Offy and he had the high groove and he hit my tail right next to my head in the turn and moved the car a couple feet. It just wasn't my time to go (laughs).....a lot of guys got killed at Capital Speedway.
You weren't spooked? Rapp: No, I was ready to go again. But I remember one guy who crashed at Bayshore Stadium, he hit the light pole outside the track and he never showed up again. In that era, right after World War II, Bay Cities used to lose about two guys a season, plus injuries....Yeah, it was tough, really tough. You had to watch what you were doing.
Tell me about the leather face masks that you developed as a safety device in the 1950s. Rapp: Speedway Motors used to buy 100 at a time. I must've sold four or five hundred. When I first started out, guys used to put a bandana around their neck, but that wouldn't help with the dirt and the rocks. You'd get hit. At first I made my own and developed it from there. There was a lady who was a seamstress at Pan American Airways and she helped.
I made a lot of different models before I produced the one that you see now. For different reasons it had to be improved. I had a company on 9th Street in San Francisco that was a leather company and I had them make 'em for me. They made some dies and they'd punch out the product with the die and sew 'em together per my instructions. It was a beautiful piece. I've seen used ones sell for $150 today (laughs).
You worked for Bignotti in '56 and '57. What do you remember from that time? Rapp: Oh, it was a real exciting experience. I had been to the (Indianapolis Motor) Speedway before it 1949 as a spectator. (In 1957) I was working for the Bowes Seal Fast Specials that Bignotti and Bob Bowes were partners in. I was a mechanic, doing everything. In the first day (of qualifying) Fred (Agabashian) was fourth fastest; (Johnny) Boyd was fifth fastest. They started side by side in the second row. Agabashian might have won the '500', but the fuel tank split. In those days we didn't have bladders and the tank wore and cracked. Agabashian was a really shrewd, great driver. He never acquired the achievements that he could've.
Bignotti was a good friend. I was helping him put the cars together in San Francisco. I was getting parts from Pan American. Pan American was a sponsor, but they didn't know it (laughs). Bolts and nuts, whatever we needed for the Indy cars. Bowes got the cars from Kurtis (-Kraft) and we modified them. That was a good deal. They were beautiful cars for those days. Frank Kurtis was a great craftsman. Bignotti just worked out of his basement, just about a half mile from me.
George was the greatest wrench out of a toolbox. That's the way I put it. Nowadays they have all this tech stuff. It's altogether different. He was the chief mechanic on seven Indy winners with different drivers. Can you imagine? (A.J.) Foyt, (Al) Unser, (Tom) Sneva, (ed. note: also Graham Hill and Gordon Johncock). He made 'em all perform. Nowadays it's so costly.
After Indy, I had to make a big decision in my life: whether I should stay back there (Midwest) and race. My wife said, “We can stay back here, I can get a job anyplace. Don't worry about me.” Bignotti was going to run one of the Seal Fast cars over there at Monza in Italy on the high banks, and I could've gone over there with him. Or I could come home and continue with my part-time business. I had been making a couple hundred a week, or something like that. Not big monoey, but I decided to come home and I made the right decision. In those days there weren't many dealers like there are now.
For seven years I worked out of my basement, and about five or seven others in the neighborhood. I was walking back and forth between all the places all day long. So I decided in 1961 that I should get everything in one place. That's when I acquired the building that I'm in now at 5 Cordova. I leased it for 16 years and bought it for $40,000 (in 1977). It's 3,300 square feet.
It was orifinally a grocery store, right? Rapp: It used to be the independent grocer. The Safeway moved down to Mission Street where they are now with a big parking lot, and the independent moved from my building to the corner. And that's where they still are today with different owners. It's Cordova Market.
It was set up so I could back my truck and trailer in there after a race, with a big, wide doorway and everything else. And that's the way it is today....been there all these years. The house where I was born and raised is right across the street from my store, 329 Rolph. I live up the hill, a half mile, in Southern Hills. My wife and I bought the house there brand new. She died 32 years ago, from cancer. She was a great part of my life, as far as career goes.
Did she go to the races: Rapp: Before we had kids, she went to the races all the time. But I'll tell you, it was 1966 or 1967; I was driving for Emery Graham with a Chevy II. The kids were young and sometimes she'd stay home. So, I came home and the next morning she asks, “How'd you do last night?” And I said, “I did good in the heat race; I got up to second and in the main I got on my head. (She said) “You got on your head?” I hadn't been on my head in like 10 years. So she asked, “What happened?” I said, “Well, a guy screwed up ahead of me and I got over him and hit the fence and bent the car up.”
She wanted to know what I was going to do now and I said, “Well, a bunch of guys are working on the car right now to straighten it out so we can run tonight in Sacramento on the half mile, a 100-lapper.” So, we got a fifth in the 100-lapper (laughs). It thrilled me.
It must've been difficult to run a business and drive at the same time. Rapp: Yeah, I used to look at J.C. Agajanian. He was an owner and a promoter. It was pretty tough. My dad was helping in the shop, at the house, going to all the races and pumping fuel. My wife was doing the books. She was a really sharp bookkeeper. She could take care of anything.
It seems like the 1960s was your peak as a driver. Rapp: I kept winning races into the '60s. I retired in '67. The last main event I won was indoors in '66 in Oakland. I won about 40 main events altogether. Gary Koster and I won the most indoor (BCRA) races. We each won 12.
Did you miss driving when you retired? Rapp: Not too much, because I was still going to the track with my fuel and tire truck. I was busy. I kept going to the track until the last couple of years. I just retired a couple of years ago.
You were dedicated to your job as a supplier. Rapp: At Calistoga I got a hall of fame and it wasn't because I had great achievements there. I got third in the main there one night. I got some other fifth, sixth places, stuff like that. The big thing was I had been hauling fuel and tires there for about 45 years (laughs). We'd bring 15 barrels of fuel for a weekend. Louis (Vermeil) said to me way back in '53, “I'd like you to bring a barrel of fuel with you,” and that's how it got started. I gradually built it up. I had a 1,000 gallon tank and then a 6,000 gallon tank in South San Francisco. A friend of my dad's had an oil company there and they had all these tanks, so I bought a tank. You got a better price when you took big quantities. One year I sold nearly 22,000 gallons of fuel.
To what do you attribute your longevity? Rapp: Take care of the body by eating the right kinds of food and don't eat any junk foods. Stay healthy. When I was running a 50- or 100-lapper, I would exercise every other night before I went to bed. That gave me stamiina.
Racing has been my life. And as the saying goes, “Would you like to live your life over again?” I would. Some people wouldn''t, but I would.
"And at the end of the day, there's always a disappointing football match."
But before then, there's a whole day to get through.
Neither of us had any ill effects from our jabs on Friday, sore arm notwithstanding. So it meant the day was all ours to do with what we wanted.
Saying that, Jools didn't feel well enough for churchcrawling, but hunter/gathering at Tesco was fine.
So, after coffee we drove to Whitfield and after filling the car with unleaded, we go to the store to buy stuff for the weekend, and the final things for Christmas, which means that we just have veg to get as everything else is either bought or ordered.
I buy a gift for the charity Christmas box, so that poor children will have something. I bought a Hey Dugee singing stick that the child will love and their parents will hate. Does this make me a bad or good person?
Maybe both.
Back home to pack the shopping away, have fruit for breakfast, followed by bacon butties and huge brews.
Although Tesco had most things, there was no fresh fruit other really than bananas, apples. And for the second week, bacon, especially smoked bacon was in very short supply.
But we dine well on our bacon butties, then, Jools confirmed she was not going out, so I could visit anywhere.
Within reason.
Well. Most churches in the area I wanted to visit or revisit I have done these past few weeks.
One I hadn't gone back to was Lydden. Its a small place, but its a short drive there, so could be a stopover on the way to somewhere else.
I go down Coldred Hill, then along to the church.
It was a glorious day, I mean no clouds, clean, sparking air, but cold and frosty.
The church was unlocked, cold by welcoming.
As expected, there wasn't much I hadn't recorded, and no glass to use the big lens on. So, I go round to recrod everything, then on to the next stop.
Bekesbourne.
I hadn't called the keyholder, but she only lives opposite the church, so not that much of a hassle to walk over the small bridge over the dry Nailbourne.
I reach the church, park outside and walk to the old palace.
I rang the bell. Dogs barked. A lot. But no one answered.
Another time, then.
Three miles along the Nailbourne is Littlebourne where the bournes changes its name to the Little Stour and flows all the time. There is a church there and I can't remember when I was there last.
I drive round the village, find the church on Church Street. Where else to keep your church?
Again, it was open, but having no real memory of this, it was good to go in again and take lots and lots of shots, mainly of the large number of Victorian windows.
Once done, I decide there were no other churches to be done that day, athough I go do Wingham and Ash again, there's plenty of other occasions to do those. But it was a ten minute drive from Preston, and I noticed during the week we were out of sausages, so decide to go in and see if they had any.
And good job I did, as they were down to a few bits and pieces, but had some venison and cranberry bangers, so I get five pounds. Also, they were selling of these very large chickens, perfect for the late Christmas dinner we're planning when Jen comes back on January 24th, so £15 gets that and it can go in the freezer.
By which time it was lunch. We have gingerbread, or mixed spice bread. Two large stars, so I pull of each point and dunk it in a coffee, so soft enough in the end.
And amazingly, football is back. In fact, below the Championship, it never stopped during the World Cup, the the Prem and Championship did, and Norwich were to play for the first time in a month, away at Swansea.
So I could watch the early game, Portugal v Morocco as well as follow Norwich.
Good news in both games, as Norwich scored in the first minute then hung on to claim all three points, and Morocco knocked out Portugal; Ronaldo, Pepe and all.
There were tears at the end. Bitter ones from Ron and tears of joy for the rest of us.
And then, France v England.
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The villages 13th century church, St Vincent of Saragossa, is thought to have been founded by the monks of St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury and contains an ancient wall painting depicting Saint Christopher, patron saint of travellers. The church also has what is reckoned to be one of the finest collection of stained glass windows designed by Nathaniel Westlake in the country. Nathaniel Westlake was a leading designer of the Gothic Revival movement in England.
Work done in 1995 by experts from the V&A Museum established that he designed each of the windows over the long period of his work with the Company, thus giving an outstanding example of the development of his style.
The Church has a six-bell peal, the oldest bell dating back to 1597, the newest 1899.
www.littlebournebenefice.org.uk/littlebournechurchhistory...
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LOCATION: Situated at about 40 feet above O.D. on Head brickearth (over Upper Chalk). A little to the west of the river Little Stour. Littlebourne Court, originally belonging to St. Augustine’s Abbey, lies immediately to the north-west. Wickhambreaux and Ickham churches are not far away to the north and east.
DESCRIPTION: As with many North-East Kent churches, this church points south-east, and it is first documented in Domesday Book, with the eastern three-quarters of the nave of the present church presumably being, in part, of an early Norman date. The only visible evidence for the earliest structure, however, is outside the south-west corner of the nave. Here one can see reused Roman bricks, and the original steep slope of the very early 13th century south aisle (continuing the line of the nave roof). The nave must be earlier than this, so is at least 12th century in date. It is also worth noting the very rare dedication, to St Vincent.
The whole of the south arcade for the south aisle still survives in its very early 13th century form, with four pointed arches (that on the west is smaller). The arches have continuous flat
the piers themselves. All the dressings are in Caen stone.
Later in the 13th century a large new chancel was built, probably at about the time (c. 1245) when St Augustine’s Abbey were endowing the new vicarage there, after the appropriation. The chancel has four tall lancets on either side, and an eastern triplet which has internal shafting on the jambs, and deeply moulded rere-arches and hood-moulds. All the other lancets have plain rere-arches, and all the chancel windows sit internally on a filleted roll-moulding which steps up at the east end and runs under the triplet. There is a piscina on the south-east with a pointed arch (with hood) over it, and bar-stopped chamfers on the sides. On the north-west side of the chancel is a small doorway, which was restored in the 19th century. The chancel was fairly heavily restored on the outside in the 19th century (‘1865’ on one of the rain-water hoppers), but much of its original coursed whole flints are still visible, as well as some of the rows of putlog holes. The chancel also has a separate roof, with a west gable, but this was rebuilt completely in c. 1865.
At about the same time as the chancel was being rebuilt in the early to mid-15th century, a very plain tower was added at the west end (It is similar to the neighbouring tower at Ickham). This has a tall simple pointed arch (with flat chamfers and abaci) into the nave, and on the west is a simple pointed doorway with flat chamfers and a tall lancet above it. The tower is unbuttressed, and has four more wide restored lancets (one in each face) in the top (belfry) stage. Externally the tower has the remains of its original plastering over coursed flint with side-alternate Caenstone quoins. On top of the tower is a later medieval (14th/15th century) brooch spire (now covered in slates).
The tower was restored in 1899, and the bells were rehung in a new timber and cast iron frame. There are now six bells, dated 1597,1610, 1650 and three of 1899 (said to have been recast from two late medieval ones). Glynne tells us that there was an organ in a west gallery under the tower, but this was removed during the restoration. A shed (now 2 cloakrooms) was also added to the north side of the tower in c. 1899.
A small Lady Chapel may have been added to the north-east side of the nave in the later 13th century as shown by its two light trefoil-headed (with circular opening above) east window (it has an internal rere-arch). All other evidence for this above ground was removed by the early 14th and early 19th century re-buildings (see below). The Lady Chapel is first documented in the late 15th century, but most churches acquired a separate Lady Chapel in N.W. Kent in the 13th century.
In the early 14th century both the south and north aisles had their outer walls rebuilt. On the south this was a continuous heightening and rebuild for the full length of the nave (with the evidence for the earlier lean-to aisle surviving in the west wall, as shown above). There is however still a later 13th century lancet in the centre of the south wall, with a probable later 13th century south doorway next to it (though completely rebuilt externally in the 19th century). The other aisle windows are all, however, 2 - light early 14th century traceried windows, and the gables and separate pitched roof over the aisle is also perhaps 14th century (it is still hidden under a flat plaster ceiling). In the south aisle wall are some reused Reigate stone fragments, and the large later south buttress has Ragstone quoins and reused Reigate And Caenstone fragments (and heavy 19th century knapped flintwork). Some Purbeck marble is reused in the wall west of the south porch. This aisle also has a small square-topped piscina in its south-east corner, and a very small stoup just inside the door on the east.
Hasted tells us that ‘a few years ago the north isle fell down, when there were some curious paintings discovered by the breaking of the plaster from the walls. This aisle was immediately rebuilt’. It is however, clear from the present remains (and from the Petrie water-colour view), that the church was again rebuilt in the early 19th century, with the present flatish 4-bay crown/king post nave roof and lath and plaster ceiling. The two dormers on the south side of the nave roof are presumably of the same date as is the shallow-pitched shed-roof over the north aisle, and the wooden post and two semi-circular arches into the north aisle. On the north-west side of the nave one can see an infilled pointed arch (? of chalk) with abaci, suggesting that there was originally a 13th century 3-bay north aisle (and Lady Chapel). The scar for the south-west corner of this aisle which did not continue to the west end of the nave, is just visible, and the late 18th century collapse was clearly at the west end of this aisle, which was not rebuilt (the other aisle-wall window being reset in the nave wall). The north wall of the north aisle must have been rebuilt in the early 14th century with buttresses and new two-light traceried windows. There may have been a north door here.
Only the chancel was heavily restored in the later 19th century (1865) with a new south porch in 1896, replacing a brick one, according to Glynne. A porch is documented from at least 1505.
BUILDING MATERIALS: (Incl. old plaster, paintings, glass, tiles etc.):
The main local material is flint, and whole flints, in courses, are used for all the early work with dressings of Caenstone. Some Reigate stone is then used in the 13th century, with Kent Rag for the quoins in the early 14th century. There is also some reused Purbeck marble in the walls, and Bathstone is used for the late 19th century restorations. Hasted mentions ‘the remains of good painted glass’ in the chancel side lancets and ‘seven sacraments, etc. handsomely done, with rich borders’ in the eastern lancets, ‘but they have been some few years since removed’ (op. cit. below, p.155). Also he mentions armorial glass in the S.E. window of the south aisle, and other now-vanished glass is known from the church - see C.R. Councer (below).
EXCEPTIONAL MONUMENTS IN CHURCH: None, but remains of medieval wall-painting on the north side of the nave, at the west end. Also a leger slab, with a small brass inscription in it, dated 1585, in front of the chancel arch. Also some early 19th century Benefaction boards on the west wall of the south aisle. Most of the furnishings in the church date from the restoration of 1864-4, or later.
CHURCHYARD AND ENVIRONS:
Size & Shape: Large north-south rectangular area around church, with large extensions to north (20th century) and south (19th century).
Condition: Good
Building in churchyard or on boundary: Lych Gate of timber (1892) to the south. Very large c. early 14th century great barn of Littlebourne Court (172ft long) runs along west boundary of the churchyard.
Ecological potential: ? Yes. The burial under a ‘great palm’ (ie. Yew Tree) in the churchyard is mentioned in a will of 1542, and there are still some quite large Yews north of the church.
Late med. Status: Vicarage endowed in 1245 with a house, some tithes, etc. A chaplain had to be found to celebrate weekly in Garrington Chapel.
Patron: St. Augstine’s Abbey, Canterbury (and alienated to the Italian monastery of Monte Mirteto in Italy, 1224). In 1538 it went to the crown, and then on to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury in 1541.
Other documentary sources: Hasted IX (1800) , 155-8. There is much documentation in Thorne’s Chronicle and the ‘Black Book’ of St Augustine’s. Testamenta Cantiana (E. Kent, 1907), 196-8 mentions burial in the churchyard from 1473, the church porch (1501), various ‘lights’, the altar of Our Lady (1499+), reparation of the altars of St James and St Nicholas (1473), for paving between the chancel and the west door (1419).
SURVIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS:
Inside present church: ? Good.
Outside present church: ? Good, though there is a large soil build-up around the church, and a brick-lined drainage gulley (up to 2ft deep) has been made all around the church.
RECENT DISTURBANCES/ALTERATIONS:
To structure: None, but chancel stalls brought from St Johns, Herne Bay in 1974, and organ in north aisle from Holy Cross, Canterbury in 1972.
To floors: Brick floor relaid at east end of S. aisle - Oct 1991.
Quinquennial inspection (date/architect): Feb. 1990 Maureen O’Connor.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT:
A Norman nave was given a lean-to south aisle and perhaps extended to the west in the very early 13th century, with a plain west tower being added soon after. The chancel was rebuilt (and greatly enlarged) in the mid 13th century, and there was probably also a Lady Chapel and nave north aisle by the later 13th century. The outer walls of the aisles were rebuilt in the early 14th century. A timber spire was also built. In the late 18th century the west end of the north aisle collapsed and this was rebuilt along with the nave roof, etc. again in the early 19th century. Chancel restored in 1865, and west tower in 1899 (with rehung bells). A new south porch was built in 1896.
The wider context: One of a group of churches belonging to St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury with major rebuildings in the 13th and early 14th centuries.
REFERENCES: S.R. Glynne, Notes of the Churches of Kent (1877), 167-8. (He visited in 1851). C.R. Councer, Lost Glass from Kent Churches ) (1980), 77-8.
Guide Book: None available in church, but see St Vincent’s Church, Littlebourne by Elizabeth Jeffries (1984) - very poor for architectural history.
Plans & drawings: Petrie early 19th cent. view from N.E., with continuous roof slope over nave and N. aisle.
DATES VISITED: 19th December 1996 REPORT BY: Tim Tatton-Brown
www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/01/03/LIT.htm
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LITTLEBORNE
LIES the next parish south-eastward from Stodmarsh, taking its name from its situation close to the stream which bounds the eastern part of it, and at the same time to distinguish it from the other parishes of the name of Borne in the near neighbourhood of it.
There is but one borough in this parish, called the borough of Littleborne.
Littleborne extends to the skirt of the beautiful and healthy parts of East Kent, and verging farther from the large levels of marsh land which lie near the Stour, quits that gloomy aspect of ill health so prevalent near them, and here begins to assume one more cheerful, pleasant and healthy; and Twyne tells us, (fn. 1) that it was allotted by the abbot and convent of St. Augustine's, who possessed the manor, for the plantation of vines. The village is built on the high road leading from Canterbury to Sandwich and Deal, at the eastern boundary of the parish, adjoinining to the Little Stour, and consists of about forty houses. The church stands at a small distance from it, having the courtlodge close to it, with the parsonage at a small distance. This parish extends northward as far as the Stour, opposite to Westbere, in which part of it however, there is but a small quantity of marsh-land, near which is an estate called Higham, which antiently was owned by a family of that name. Above the hill, south-eastward from hence, there is a great deal of woodland, and among it a tract of heathy rough land, belonging to the archbishop, called Fishpool-downs, through which the road leads to Wickham. At the bottom of Fishpool hill is the valley called the Ponds, now entirely covered with wood, part of which is in this parish. The ponds were supplied from a spring called Arrianes well, probably for Adrian's well, and were of a considerable size and depth, made for the supply of the convent of St. Augustine, the owners of them, with fish for their refectory, the sides of them now equally thick with coppice wood, were antiently a vineyard. These woods continue from hence adjoining the high road towards the village in great quantities, much of which belongs to the archbishop, and are intermixed with a great deal of rough bushy ground. The lands in this parish are in general very poor and gravelly, but towards Wickham they are much more fertile both for corn and hops, of which there are several plantations. This parish extends across the river eastward towards the hill, and takes in great part of Lower Garwinton, and part of the house, and some little land of Upper Garwinton within it, which is entirely separated from the rest of it by the parish of Adisham intervening.
Polygonatum scalacæci, Solomon's seal; grows plentifully on Fishpool-hill in this parish.
A fair is held here on the 5th of July, for toys and pedlary.
In the year 690, Widred, king of Kent, gave to the monastery of St. Augustine, in pure and perpetual alms, five plough-lands called Litleborne, on condition of their remembring of him in their prayers and solemn masses. And in the year 1047, king Edward the Consessor gave another plough-land here, which consisted of the estates of Bourne, Dene, and Wiliyington, to archbishop Eadsin, free from all service, except. the trinoda necessitas, and he bestowed it on that monastery. After which the manor of Little borne continued in the possession of the abbey to the time of taking the survey of Domesday, in which it is thus entered under the general title of the land of the church of St. Augustine:
In Dunamesfort hundred, the abbot himself holds, Liteburne, which is taxed at seven sulings. The arable land is twelve carucates. In demesne there are three carucates, and thirty-five villeins, with fourteen cottagers having six and an half. There is a church, and thirtyeight acres of meadow. Wood for the pannage of four hogs. In the time of king Edward the Consessor it was worth twenty-five pounds, afterwards twenty pounds, now thirty-two pounds. Of this manor the bishop of Baieux has in his park, as much as is worth sixty shillings.
After this the abbot and convent's possessions here were increased by several gifts and purchases of different parcels of land. (fn. 2)
King Henry III. in his 54th year, granted to the abbot and convent free-warren in all their demesne lands of Littleborne, among others. In the 7th year of king Edward II.'s reign, anno 1313, in the iter of H. de Stanton and his sociates, justices itinerant, the abbot, upon a quo warranto, claimed and was allowed in this manor among others, free warren in all his demesne lands of it, and view of frank-pledge, and other liberties therein-mentioned, in like manner as has been already mentioned before, in the description of the manors of Sturry and Stodmarsh. (fn. 3) By a register of the monastery of about this time, it appears, that this manor had then in demesne the park of Trendesle. In the 10th year of king Edward III. Solomon de Ripple being custos, or bailiff of this manor, made many improvements here, and purchased more lands in it, all the buildings of it being in a manner wholly re-built and raised from the ground, with much cost, by him. In king Richard II.'s reign, the abbot's manor of Littleborne was valued at 23l. 8s. 6d. the admeasurement of the lands being 505 acres. After which this manor continued with the monastery till its dissolution, anno 30 Henry VIII. when it came into the king's hands, and remained in the crown till king Edward VI. in his 1st year, granted the manor and manor-house, with all lands and appurtenances, and a water-mill lately belonging to the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, to the archbishop, among other premises, in exchange for the manor of Mayfield, &c. parcel of the possessions of whose see it still remains, the archbishop being the present owner of it. The manor, with the profits of courts, royalties, &c. the archbishop keeps in his own hands; but the demesnes have been from time to time demised on a beneficial lease. The family of Denne have been for more than a century lessees of it, who now reside in the court-lodge.
On the abolition of episcopacy, after the death of king Charles I. this manor was sold by the state to Sir John Roberts and John Cogan, the latter of whom, by his will in 1657, gave his moiety of it to the mayor and aldermen of Canterbury, for the benefit of six poor ministers widows (for whose use he had at the same time demised his dwelling-house in Canterbury, now called Cogan's hospital. But the manor of Littleborne, on the restoration in 1660, returned again to the see of Canterbury.
The manor of Wolton, alias Walton, lies in the southern part of this parish, adjoining to the precinct of Well, and was antiently possessed by a family who took their name from it, one of whom, John, son of John de Wolton, held it at the latter end of king Henry III.'s reign. But this family became extinct here before the reign of king Edward III. in the 20th year of which, Roger de Garwinton held it by knight's service, (fn. 4) in whose descendants it continued till it passed into the family of Petit, of Shalmsford, who held it of the abbot of St. Augustine's by the like service, in which name and family it continued till it was at length alienated to Sir Henry Palmer, of Bekesborne, whose descendant of the same name passed it away by sale to Sir Robert Hales, of Bekesborne, in whose descendants it continued down to Sir Philip Hales, bart. of Howlets, who in 1787 alienated this manor to Isaac Baugh, esq. of Well, the present owner of it.
Wingate, alias Lower Garwington, in a manor, which lies on the other or eastern side of the river, adjoining to Ickham, taking the former of those names from a family, who were owners of it in Henry III.'s reign, and held it by knight's service of the abbot and convent of St. Augustine. In which reign Simon de Wingate held it as above-mentioned, but before the 20th year of King Edward III. this name was extinct here, and Thomas de Garwinton then held this estate, lying in Wingate, held of the abbot by the like tenure. (fn. 5) In the descendants of Thomas de Garwington, who resided at their mansion and manor, since called Upper Garwinton, adjoining to it, seems to have continued some time, and from them, as well as to distinguish it from that, to have taken the name of Wingate, alias Lower Garwinton. After this family had quitted the possession of it, the Clyffords appear from different records to have become owners of it, and after them the Sandfords, and it appears by the escheat rolls, that Humphrey Sandford died possessed of it in the 14th year of king Henry VII. and that Thomas Sandford was his son and heir. After which it came into the hands of the crown, for king Henry VIII. in his 30th year, granted the manors of Wingate and Garwinton to Sir Christopher Hales, then master of the rolls. He left three daughters his coheirs, who became jointly, entitled to it, and on the division of their estates it was allotted to the youngest daughter Mary, who entitled her husband Alexander Colepeper, esq. to it, in which name it continued till the 22d of queen Elizabeth, when it was passed away by sale to Thomas Fane, esq. whose son Francis, earl of Westmoreland, sold it to William Prude, alias Proude, esq. who being a lieutenant-colonel in the army, was slain at the siege of Maestricht in 1632, having devised this estate in tail male to his eldest surviving son Serles Prude, who died in 1642, leaving only two daughters his coheirs, upon which it came to his next brother William, who left an only daughter Dorothy, and she, the entail being barred, carried it first in marriage to Nethersole, by whom she had no issue, and secondly to Christopher May, esq. of Rawmere, in Suffex, whose only daughter and heir Anne, entitled her husband William Broadnax, esq. of Godmersham, to the possession of it. His son Thomas Changed his name, first to May and then to Knight, and died possessed of this manor in 1781, leaving an only son Thomas Knight, esq. of Godmersham, who in the year 1785 exchanged it for other lands in Crundal with Thomas Barret, esq. of Lee, the present owner of it.
Upper Garwinton is a manor, which lies adjoining to that last-described, southward, at the boundary of this parish, next to Adisham, in which parish part of the mansion of it stands, being written in the survery of Domesday, Warwintone, one of the many instances in that book of the mistakes of the Norman scribes. It was, after the conquest, parcel of those possessions with which the Conqueror enriched his half-brother Odo, the great bishop of Baieux and earl of Kent, and was exchanged by him for other lands with the abbot of St. Augustine's, accordingly it is thus entered in that record, under the general title of the land of the church of St. Augustine:
The abbot himself holds Warwintone, and the bishop of Baieux gave it to him in exchange of his park. It was taxed at half a suling and forty-two acres of land. The arable land is one carucate, and there is in demesne, with three cottagers, and sixteen acres of meadow. In the time of king Edward the Confessor it was worth four pounds, and afterwards forty shillings, now four pounds. This manor Edric de Sbern Biga held, and now Radulf holds it of the abbot.
Whether this description extended to the last-described manor of Wingate, is uncertain, though most probably, as both were held of the abbot by knight's service, it was comprehended in it. However that may be, this manor of Garwintone, called as above, erroneously, in Domesday, Warwintone, was held of the abbot by a family who took their surname from it; one of whom, Richard de Garwynton, resided here at the latter end of king Henry II.'s reign, and had a chapel at his mansion here; and in 1194, the abbot granted to him and his heirs, to have the divine office celebrated for three days in a week in this chapel by the priest of Littleborne. (fn. 6) His descendant Thomas Garwinton was possessed of this manor and several other estates in this part of the county, in the 20th year of king Edward III. whose great-grandson William Garwynton dying S. P. Joane his kinswoman, married to Richard Haut, was anno II Henry IV. found to be his heir not only to this manor, but to much other lands in these parts, and their son Richard Haut having an only daughter and heir Margery, she carried this manor in marriage to William Isaac, esq. of Patrixborne, whose descendant Edward Isaac, at his death, gave this manor to his two daughter by his second wife, viz. Mary, married to Thomas Appleton, esq. of Suffolk, and Margaret, to John Jermye, second son of Sir John Jermye, of the same county, and they seem to have shared this manor between them. Thomas Appleton sold his share afterwards to Anthony Parker, who with Isaac Jermye, eldest son of John above-mentioned, joined in the sale of the entire see of it to Sir Henry Palmer, of Howlets, and he by his will in 1611, devised it to his nephew John Goodwyn, whose heirs some time afterwards passed it away by sale to George Curteis, esq. afterwards knighted, and of Otterden, and he alienated it to Sir Robert Hales, of Bekesborne, in whose descendants it continued down to Sir Philip Hales, bart. of Howlets, who in 1787, passed it away by sale to Isaac Baugh, esq. the present owner of it.
Charities.
John Dorrante, of Bekesborne, yeoman, in 1560, gave by will, to discharge the poor from the assessments of the church, the overplus to be paid to the most antient poor of the parish, the sum of 3s, 6d. on Palm Sunday and the Monday before Penticost; and 21s. 6d. on Christmas-day yearly, out of the house and lands called Church-house, now vested in Mr. Peter Inge.
Henry Sloyden, of Wickhambreaux, in 1568, gave by will to the poor of this parish and of Wickham, six acres and a half of land, called Church-close, to be divided between them yearly, now of the annual produce of 3l. 9s. 9d.
Sir Henry Palmer, by his will in 1611, gave 10s. to be paid yearly out of his manor of Welle, for the use of the poor.
James Franklyn, by will in 1616, gave to the parishes of Littleborne, Chistlet, and Hoathe, in Reculver, 5l. each, to be employed in a stock for the poor. This 5l. is now increased to 11l. this interest of which being 8s. 93frac34;d. is distributed among the poor in general.
Valentine Norton, gent. by his will, was a benefactor to the poor; but there are no particulars further known of it.
The poor constantly relieved are about fifty, casually thirtyfive.
This parish is within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Bridge.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Vincent, consists of three isles and a chancel, having at the west end a low pointed steeple, in which hang five bells. The church is kept very neat. It is a good sized building, and is handsomely ceiled. The chancel is lostly, and has four narrow lancet windows on each side, and three at the end; in the former are the remains of good painted glass, and in the latter some years ago were the seven sacraments, &c. very handsomely done, with rich borders, but they have been some few years since removed. In it is a memorial for George I'anns, curate, obt. 1699. In the middle isle are several memorials for the family of Denne, for many descents lessees of the court-lodge, and descended from those of Dennehill, in Kingston, In the south-east window of the south isle is a saint holding a shield of arms, in front, Gules, three cocks, argent, being the arms of Bunington, on the lest side a moon, on the right a sun, all very well done; and there were formerly in one of the windows, the arms of Higham, argent, a lion passant regardant, between six cross-croslets fitchee, sable, impaling Gallaway, ermine, three lozenges, gules. A few years ago the north isle fell down, when there were some curious paintings discovered, by the breaking of the plaister from the walls. This isle was immediately rebuilt. In the church-yard, at the north-west part of it, are several tombs and head stones of the family of Denne before- mentioned.
¶The church of Littleborne was antiently appendant to the manor, part of the possessions of the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, and continued so till the year 1224, when Robert de Bello being chosen abbot, and finding much difficulty in obtaining the pope's benediction, to facilitate it, gave this church to the monastery of St. Mary de Monte Mirteto, in Italy, to which the pope, in 1241, appropriated it. Immediately after which, this parsonage, so appropriated, was demised to the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, in perpetual ferme, at the clear yearly sum of thirty marcs. (fn. 7) Four years after which, anno 1245, archbishop Stratford endowed the vicarage of it, the advowson of which was reserved to the abbot and convent of St. Augustine, when he decreed, that the vicarage should be endowed with a mansion, the tithes of filva cæ dua, of hay, and in three acres of arable, one acre of meadow, and in the receipt of three marcs and an half in money from the religious yearly, and in the tithes of flax, hemp, ducks, calves, pigeons, bees, milk, milkmeats, mills, wool, pigs, and in all oblations and other small tithes belonging to the church; and that the vicar should serve the church in divine rites, and find one chaplain to celebrate weekly in the chapel of Garwyntone, and to find bread, wine, and tapers, for celebrating divine rites in the church. Which endowment was afterwards, in 1370, certified by inspeximus, by archbishop Wittlesey. In which state this church and advowson remained till the final dissolution of the abbey of St. Augustine, in the 30th year of Henry VIII. when they came into the king's hands, and the king, in his 33d year, settled both, by his dotation-charter, on his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, with whom they continue at this time. The parsonage has been from time to time let on a beneficial lease, Mr. Thomas Holness being the present lessee of it, but the advowson of the vicarage the dean and chapter retain in their own hands.
The vicarage of Littleborne is valued in the king's books at 7l. 19s. 10d. but the yearly tenths taken are sixteen shillings, the sum total being erroneonsly cast up in the king's books at eight pounds. The antient pension of 3l. 17s. 4d. from the abbey of St. Augustine's, is yearly received by the vicar out of the exchequer; the demesne lands of the court-lodge pay no greattithes, and the archbishop's woods in his own occupation pay none. In 1588 here were one hundred and fifty communicants; in 1640 the same, when it was valued at thirty-five pounds. It has been augmented by the dean and chapter with fifty pounds per annum.
The chapel of Lukedale, in the precinct of Well, was once esteemed as within the bounds of this parish, of which more may be seen herefter, under Ickham, to which parish Well is now annexed.
Whiskey is one of those things I've learned to greatly appreciate over the past 4 or 5 years. My good friend Rob introduced me to bourbon and scotch back when we used to live together, and he once even gave me a very fancy bottle of bourbon in return for watching his cat. This particular bottle (Elijah Craig, 12 year old, 94 proof) is pretty nice. It's good enough to drink on its own and enjoy it, yet I don't feel bad about fixing it into a Manhattan either. And now that I'm done with this week's photo, I'm going to go do exactly that.
Strobist:
1 sb600 camera right and high, 1/64 power, 1/4 CTO, fired through my home-made speed grid.
1 sb600 camera left and behind the subject, 1/32 power, 1/4 CTO, fired through a 12'' cardboard snoot.
Triggered with Cactus V4s.