Today we’ll have a look at bits and bobs around the grounds of the priory.

The Inner court was occupied on 3 sides by service buildings. This is where they baked bread and brewed beer.

The Gatehouse is the oldest building in the Inner Court built in about 1400, the gates though are modern.  It did have an upper storey but that was dismantled during renovations to the guest house next to it.

There is a beauty of a Yew tree (think it’s a Yew) in the Inner Court..

and I could walk right inside it

In the North East Corner of the Great Cloister we found the well house. The water runs from here and fed a central water tower via lead pipes and then on to each Monks cell! Medieval plumbing rocks! They had a few springs and well houses back in the day, some to flush the outdoor loos in each Monks Garden (see previous post) and some for the rest of the priory service buildings etc.

In one of the gardens we found these stones which must be part of the demolished bits.

another interesting tree..

Looking up at the Priory is this modern statue of the Madonna & Child by Malcolm Brocklesby…

The inscription reads “This Madonna is not the meek and subservient figure portrayed in many renaissance works, but a determined and intelligent young woman who understands the wonder and the importance of her calling; she is also aware of the suffering that this will entail. The figure of the Madonna is integral with that of the Cross, which is an inescapable part of her existence, and the way in which she holds the Christ Child high suggests the subsequent Ascension rather than the immediate prospect of a sacrificial death.” Which is fine I guess. Art and all that 🙂

Some poppies in the grounds near the gatehouse..

So that’s it for today. No expeditions this weekend, but have been adding to the SX70 project which you can access from the menu if you are interested in polaroid shenanigans.

Also one of my flickr contacts is now doing a blog here on wordpress, his portrait and light painting works are great, he’s a really good photographer and you can find  him at Flatworldsedge. Tell him I sent you 🙂

laters gaters

😉