Medieval Effigies, A Monastery, A Castle and a Forge
A Rambler's route, walked solo. Who would have thought such a quiet part of Worcestershire would have so much history.
Starting at St Peter's Astley Church, I am reminded I really need to read "How to Read a Church" by Richard Taylor. To be fair, asking ChatGPT to give a summary is a start - especially when it asks if I would like it tailored for where I am visiting. I could have spent a good hour looking for the clues it suggested were there.
 |
| St Peters, Astley |
St Peter’s Church in Astley, Worcestershire, is a Norman-founded building with well-preserved Romanesque features and later Gothic additions. Highlights include a 14th-century font, Jacobean pulpit, and the 15th-century Blount Chapel, which houses striking polychrome effigies of the Blount family. The church reflects nearly 900 years of religious and artistic heritage.
The path down to New Bridge is one of my favourites. Carved through sandstone, presumably through hundreds of years of footprints, it takes the rambler to New Bridge and Glasshampton Monastery. The monastery a former Georgian Country manor house, ruined by fire and repaired by C20th Anglican Franciscans.
 |
| Into the Woods |
 |
| To the Monastery |
The monks (and other hired hands) are hard at work on the harvest, gathering potatoes and spring onions. Previously well explored paths do bring me to the notice board for Oliver's Mound. Information boards always providing inspiration for future walks - the masonry from Shrawley Castle repurposed at Holt.
 |
| Trees stopping the views to the river but the high ground can be traced |
Picnic at Dick Brook, at the marker stone for a forge. Just a handful of bricks remain, although if I looked hard enough, I should have found signs of canalisation of the brook.
 |
| Forge |
The walk kind of goes wrong as I head back to Astley. Wheat fields are being harvested, so re-routing required least death from combine harvester is attained. The less said about the wooded descent to the Dunley Road the better. Unless you know where I can send the bill for the bad cagging on my Rohan Bags. The view to Abberley Quarry as it opens up more or less makes it all worthwhile.
 |
| Harvest time in Worcestershire |
Back at the "Doors Open" church to look at the Medieval Effigies to the Blount Family.
Next time, I will be better prepared with a ChatGPT inspired "I Spy" list.
 |
| Love the little dogs at heel |
Walk Details
Distance - 8 Miles
Geocaches - 0
No comments:
Post a Comment