Tag Archives: archaeology

Time travelling: A place of kings and “holy air…”

Posted on February 18, 2019 by

“Holy air encased in stone” … that is how Sir John Betjeman described the crypt at Repton, and it was this that we had come to see… we hoped. On a previous visit, the crypt had been locked. This time, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient sites, archaeology, Churches, historic sites, Photography, Sacred sites, Stuart France and Sue Vincent | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Time travelling: St Wystan’s

Posted on February 16, 2019 by

We finally made it through the outer door of St Wystan’s church in Repton…and stopped. Two huge columns flank the inner door and, scattered around the porch are fragments of ancient masonry. carved medieval grave slabs and Saxon crosses. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient sites, Churches, france and vincent, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Time travelling: Ivar the Boneless and the Bone-yard…

Posted on February 15, 2019 by

Repton today is no more than a small Derbyshire village, but once it was the capital of Mercia, one of the most powerful realms of its era. For three hundred years, Mercia encompassed most of what would eventually become the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient sites, Churches, france and vincent, historic sites, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Time travelling: The ghosts of Repton…

Posted on February 14, 2019 by

After our visit to the wonderful church at Breedon, with its wealth of carved Saxon stonework, it seemed only right to call at Repton, less than ten miles away… and probably much closer in the days when horse and foot … Continue reading →

Posted in albion, Ancient sites, Churches, Folk Tale, france and vincent, historic sites, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Time Travelling: Monumental memories

Posted on February 9, 2019 by

We could not leave Breedon on the Hill without mention of the Shirley family who left their mark on the little church in no uncertain terms. In fact, as soon as you enter the nave, your eye is immediately drawn … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient sites, Art, Churches, History, Photography, Stuart France and Sue Vincent | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Time travelling: Fantastic beasts and where to find them…

Posted on February 8, 2019 by

The reason I had long wanted to take my companion to the church at Breedon on the Hill was carved in stone. On my first ‘accidental visit’, I had been astounded by a collection of cross shafts tucked away in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient sites, Art, Churches, Don and Wen, dragons, History, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 46 Comments

Time travelling: Ancient sanctity

Posted on February 7, 2019 by

We entered through the porch door, surprised to find ourselves in a kind of antechamber. From the outside, there is no suggestion that you will be anywhere other than in the main body of the church and I had forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in albion, ancient mound, Ancient sites, Churches, Don and Wen, England, france and vincent, History, Photography, symbolism, Templars | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

Time travelling

Posted on February 6, 2019 by

Nearly five years ago and with strict instructions from my writing partner about ‘not finding things’ on my way north without him, I had accidentally found Breedon on the Hill and we had been ‘going to’ go there together ever … Continue reading →

Posted in albion, Ancient sites, Churches, Don and Wen, England, historic sites, Landscape, Photography, Stuart France and Sue Vincent | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Dear Don: Romans…

Posted on December 26, 2018 by

Dear Don, Seems a bit daft writing when I will probably see you before you get this, but you know what my memory is like… except for ‘useless’ information. We really are going to have to go back up north… … Continue reading →

Posted in albion, Ancestors, Ancient sites, Art, Books, Don and Wen, france and vincent | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Giant Wombat in the Basement ~ Rob Hedge

Posted on December 3, 2018 by

Reblogged from The Incurable Archaeologist: There’s a giant wombat in the basement of Worcester Museum. It’s there because Henry Hughes was bored of banking. It was the starting point of a story that has led me, via mid-19th century Brisbane … Continue reading →

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