The Neighbourhood

Neighbourhood walkies and a spot of culture

This blog is much more picture-rich, as a challenge to myself (creating a gallery) and answering the #Blogging101 task to use a different form of post.

The Dogginator was primed for a long walk. I had my wellies on and phone camera to hand. Our task: to capture some images representative of the locality. The background to this is that my sister teaches UK culture to her students in Spain, so I took some snapshots along the way for her benefit & I share them here for your enjoyment.

One theme that quickly became apparent was old and new. Old signs, new signs.

Old road sign

Belisha beacon

Fox weathervane

Public footpath sign

Woodmancote village sign

Direction signpost

Old buildings, even older buildings. The villages have grown enormously in the past thirty years and typically, I can’t yet see the new buildings as worth pointing a camera at. Yet.

Thatched cottage

Cleeve Hall, Bishop’s Cleeve

King’s Head pub, Bishop’s Cleeve

Brick cottage

Brick cottage, Bishop’s Cleeve

Black & white cottage, Bishop’s Cleeve

Thatched cottage, Woodmancote

Thatched cottages, Woodmancote

New cottage in traditional style

Black and white cottage, Woodmancote

Mossy thatch on black and white cottage

I make an exception for a new cottage constructed along traditional lines.

Even in a short walk, there are plenty of opportunities to photograph religious architecture. The soaring majesty of the parish church contrasts with the smaller chapel and other buildings that have been deconsecrated and now make characterful family homes.

West door, St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Cleeve

St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Cleeve

Angel grave marker

Graveyard of St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Cleeve

St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Cleeve

St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Cleeve

Gargoyle, St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Cleeve

Side door, St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Cleeve

East window, St Michael’s Church, Bishop’s Cleeve

Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, Woodmancote

Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel, Woodmancote

The walk we took is partly covered by a wonderful account Under A Cotswold Height – Stockwell Lane, by Tim Curr, published by the BBC, which I invite you to read for sheer Cotswold indulgence.

Ivy on Cotswold stone wall

GWSR railway bridge, Woodmancote

Purple crocus

King’s Farm, Woodmancote

Road junction, Stockwell Lane, Woodmancote

Old Cotswold drystone wall

Modern Cotswold stone doorway

Pillar box