Worth making the effort

Village in the northern half of the county, at the northern edge of the central hills. All the villages in this area are related culturally. Traditionally they are descended from a devastated population that took refuge in the hills during the Viking incursions, and when returning to the valley split into several communities.



Above: the church was thoroughly restored by Blomfield in 1872, but he is supposed to have faithfully reproduced the Saxon windows in the tower. From the exterior you might think this was an entirely Victorian building and drive past without taking a closer look. Especially as it is on a sharp bend and you have to turn off the road to find somewhere to park.

But it was worth making the effort - inside there was lots to see.

Two attendant ladies offered tea to all comers (served from an urn), gave out portions of home-made cake (only 10p a slice), and guided people through the exhibits.



Above: there was further evidence of Saxon settlement, including this Saxon grave marker (it would have stood upright, the right-hand part above the earth).



Above: the font is Norman and was found by Blomfield buried under the floor.



Above: there were hundreds of artefacts from various periods dug up in the surrounding fields - here you can see a 17th century candle and a medieval key and nail.



Above: There was a photographic exhibition of village history. Here you can see a farmer's wife feeding chickens. The life of a farmer's wife was physically hard but when you talk to elderly ladies about their mothers and grandmothers there is considerable affection for the old way of life.



Above: there was formerly a blacksmith in the village, now long gone. Smiths held an important position in pre-industrial society as a knowledge of iron technology was of crucial importance for the making of weapons for both hunting and defence/offence. More work needs to be done on the social relationships between blacksmiths and hunters (they were often linked in fraternities).



Above: making of corn dollies in preparation for the harvest celebrations. Many schools in the county produce these items during craft classes. In all the fields this weekend the farmers have been taking advantage of the fine weather to bring in the crops.



Above: a cornucopia - a long-standing symbol of "plenty".