We started this day by finding Judson headstone in Wilsford
Tony (looking pleased with himself} with ancestors Benjamin & Sarah Judson
Now in Ancaster where we found this headstone. There was a note to say that the church would be open in the afternoon so we rearranged our day and as we arrived in the afternoon we met the lady with the key! Read the notice. Very keen on Health & Safety!
Edward & Sarah Judson
The Romans were here and left behind this carving of goddesses. Ancaster was a Roman town at the junction of Ermine Street and King Street.
Do you remember this from your geography lessons? The River Trent once flowed eastwards through the gap in the limestone ridge. Interesting note from 1200
Now to Caythorpe:
Lincolnshire is RAF country, Cranwell is not far away This church has several RAF plaques
Cute cross stitch.
Passed through Leadenham the start of my quest:
St Swithun
A definite air of neglectI need to research Sargeant G Judson
On to Fulbeck, to The Hare and Hounds for lunch.
Hough on the Hill
Love this name Graffoe perhaps the Gruffalo has visited?Lovely little High Street with many shops & good cafe.
Allington next, a pretty church but closed.
Westborough:
Overgrown not easy to search! Interesting difference, many graveyards are carefully tended.
Dry Doddington. A beautiful setting and beautifully kept.
And so passing Belton House we returned to Wagtail and tried out our new toy! An excellent purchase! Just plugs in to Henry’s external socket.
The church of St Swithun, Leadenham has a headstone for a Judson family member and a headstone for Thomas Snaith. Judson is the family name of Tony’s mother and Sarah Snaith was my great great great grandmother on my maternal line. I am trying to prove these families knew each other and how they are connected to these two headstones. I’m not sure how many years this will take !
We had an exceptionally good week visiting all the villages the Judsons lived in. Lincolnshire, apart from the likes of Skegness and the seaside towns, is a very underrated county. A great part of it is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB) and it’s not all flat!
So off to Rippingale one of may villages with a beautiful sign
Then Haconby
Notice how the tower leans
Bourne:
Bourne: The church was not open but we found other things that took our eye…….
A good sentiment above and below
Britain in Bloom garden adjoining the Public Loos!
Knowing quite a lot about bed bugs and how to get rid of them don’t believe this message! Happy to pass on my knowledge!
Edenham. An idyllic church with former wealthy patrons:
Carved angels adorn the roof
Many elaborate figures like this one of Lord Willoughby
And many elaborate tombs in quite good condition. As agricultural labourers the Judsons could not have afforded a headstone.
Next to Witham:
What a lovely welcome for a visitor. The flower arrangers should be very proud of themselves. Simple but very effective.
Now what could be in here? What happened in 1683? See end for an indication.
The notice board of Little Bytham. Intrigued by saints we had never heard of. Wikipaedia gives this information
The church of St Medardus and St Gildardus in Little Bytham, Lincolnshire, England, is a Grade I listed building. It is dedicated to two 6th-century French saints, St Medard and St Gildard (or Medardus and Gildardus); the dedication is unique in the UK. Virtually unknown in Britain, St Medard is still well known in France, with at least 25 towns or villages named after him (as St Médard or St Méard). Gildard, thought to be his brother, is less well known. The village fête is held annually on or near St Medard’s feast day, 8 June.
So off to Castle Bytham where one of the Judsons was a Publican and where Tony’s direct ancestors lived. Nice village complete with duck pond.
Church was unfortunately closed when we were there. We have taken notes of keyholders for future, hopefully non Covid visit.The castle in Castle Bytham
Swayfield next:
And the Grantham Canal How could we not visit it?
Parts of the canal are being restored but a major road like the A1 is a major obstacle!
Covered in weed strewed with rubbish! A promising mooring pontoon is now decaying, and all rather sad after evidently hard work.
So exhausted after a busy day it’s back to Wagtail Park
Re chest above: In the winter of 1683/84 even the seas of southern Britain froze and a frost Fair was held on the Thames and on 6 June 1683 the Ashmolean Museum opens as the world’s first university museum.
When I last visited the cake shop I was told there would be a “different” wedding cake display. Wouldn’t this suit a steampunk wedding?
Walking to pick up the car from Sainsburys we noticed these two guys who were cleaning the college windows. We were wrong! They were washing the exterior paintwork before it was painted , however we have yet to see the decorators!
Boats circling , waiting for the lock to the River Severn to be filled.
Paddleboarders visiting Victoria Basin. Some also visit to litter pick, although capacity on board is limited.
10 k run with Saul Junction Bridge Keeper in patriotic colours!
We always find something we haven’t noticed previously
Folk day at The Folk of Gloucester
Our new Doctors Surgery, not that we have had need to visit, but whist passing we saw the old prison entrance:
and reference our visits to Sharpness and the Vindicatrix memorial:
National Waterways Museum Gloucester
A visit to Devizes to help reclaim the model boat and Devizes letters. The allotment holder sadly passed away two years ago and since then it has become somewhat overgrown:
Cutting a pathCheered on by a passing boaterLetters revealedBoat rescued but in need of some TLCA lot achieved (including by Regional Volunteer Lead, Steve Manzi) but a lot more to do!
Then off to catch up with friends setting off along the K & A, and pleasant aroma from adjacent Wadworths:
So off cruising along the Gloucester & Sharpness.
New benches made and planted by Volunteers on one of the hottest days of the year!You can tell Tony mowed this!Started training on operating the bridge from the bridge hut.
Hedge trimming
The beautiful Gladys at Saul Junction. A really atmospheric photo! (The heavy rain started just as she approached!)
Abandoned lawn mowing to watch Gladys!
Wildlife at Saul:
Grebe with ducklings
Water boatmen
From Sharpness we walked to Purton along the towpath.
Purton Wishing Well in the garden shed on the towpath raises money for charity. You roll your coin along the green ramp into the pond! A delight for any child!
Purton church is so well kept and I just love the way they ask for funds:
So well kept and enhanced by simple jugs of flowers.
Then off to visit the Hulks or ships graveyard. The ships were beached to prevent erosion. Each is named.
Looking across the Severn you hear the train toot before you see it! It disappears into tunnels in the steep cliffs.
One of the reasons we like mooring at Sharpness is that we can sit and watch the sunset.
