A relatively inaccessible high rock

Hilltop village in the south west of the county. The settlement is on top of a rock that towers above the surrounding countryside. The road up to the top is hard to find and is a single track of such extreme gradiant that I wondered whether my car would make it.

The village now consists of twenty houses, although previously there were many more. Most of these residences are on the steep twisting road up the hill. On the summit is a big farmhouse (stone barns), an even bigger manorial hall, and a small church with a broach spire.

These three buildings are cramped together on the hilltop, the spaces between infilled with trees. Because of lack of space I had to park my car in the farmyard (no-one seemed about). Cold wind blowing.

The hill is of interest as it is the location of a local battle between a Saxon chief and Danish invaders (the Saxons won). It is possible that a commemorative church was built on the summit, although the present structure is thirteenth-century. The votivkirche theory is attractive, and would explain why the village was located on such a relatively inaccessible high rock.

Above: inside the building there is a small south chapel. This was almost certainly a chantry chapel where prayers would be said perpetually (up until the Reformation when the chantries were closed). Would this chantry be a successor to the original Saxon foundation, continually offering up prayers for the victory over the Vikings?

Above: the church contains a rare Judas Bible, dated 1611.

Above: lots of Saxon stones litter the hilltop, including grave markers either side of the door.

Above: the Saxon grave markers include a saltire cross of elliptical shapes, inside a circle. The atmosphere on the hilltop was made up of a sense of mystery, an intense silence, a steady cold feeling (the combination not unpleasant, but you couldn't tolerate it for long).