Last Thursday motored down to Wiltshire (to attend Shepton Mallett antique Fair). On way passed Silbury Hill, the largest man-made earth work in Europe. The base covers five acres of ground. It was built around five thousand years ago, which makes it much the same age as Stonehenge, and the Pyramids.
Above photo taken inside the house where we stayed shows one of the four crucks (oak beams) which supported the original house (it's been added on in all directions). These very early 'crucks' indicate that the house was built around the year 1300.
Above photo shows Robin, our host, feeding the dogs. Two are their own, and five are paying guests.
Above is the Bratton White Horse. It is not an ancient one; it was made in the late 1600s, and altered in the next two centuries. It was, however built on the site of an earlier White horse, supposed to have been commissioned by King Alfred the Great. Below is a photo of Marlborough, where we stopped for coffee and Ann bought a blue woolly jumper.
Been having problems with the blog. Nea (Swedish daughter has been helping me out). If any of you has been bothered by pictures of a Swedish paddling pool on this blog in the last few minutes - my apologies. I shall now continue to speriment with foties - please bear with me. Being called up to supper. Will try and add more post- din-dins. Please remember that Mike is experimenting.
11 comments:
A Ladies' Frock shop Mike?...
As opposed to a Bishops' Frock shop perhaps?...
PS was it really Aelfred who commissioned the Bratton White Horse? I was under the impression that one of Guthrum's lieutenants, Svein the Dane, bore the white-horse device on his shield and banner and was known for always riding a white horse. Aelfred's men slaughtered him in their first battle after emerging from the Aethelney marshes, Battle of Ethandun/Eddington I think, whereafter Danish resistance crumbled. Maybe Aelfred ordered the white horse cut as a memorial of his first telling dane-kill.
Any way Guthrum (King of East Anglia in Hadleigh)was baptised and the survivors lived miserably ever-after.
The Bratton White horse is traditionally said to have been commissioned by King Alfred to celebrate his defeat of the Danes at the battle of Ethandium in 878 A.D.
We drove through Marlborough and Past Silbury Hill on Tuesday Mike, and visited a place with as many dogs!
Small world!
That's a bit weird Rog! Wasn't Court Hill Farm House, by any chance?
I note you edited your mention of Ladies' Frock Shops, Mike. This comment is by way of explanation of my earlier comment.
I'm pleased Pooh got you sorted out properly; 'fraid I'm a bit poorly today, sorry I was not much help when you phoned.
I had not appreciated the geographic proximity of Bratton Downs, Westbury Hill and Eddington Village.
The Bratton white horse is the oldest of the Wiltshire horses. It is cut into Westbury Hill, on the edge of the Bratton Downs, immediately below the Iron Age hillfort called Bratton Camp, Where Guthrum marshaled his Danes against Aelfred, North-East of Westbury and near to the villages of Bratton and Edington / Ethandum, Wiltshire.
Hello Carl. Not really 'edited'. Lost the whole post, so republished the photies and rewrote (in shortened form) the whole thing. Back in business, but have to go way round the houses. Anyone else been having problems with Blog?
P.s. Many, many thanks, Nea, who worked very hard to get me out of the mire.
Those dogs look beautifully behaved.
Hello Pat. Yes, all things considered they are - remarkably so. The third dog in from the left - large lab, Jet, is only nine months old. He'd disgraced himself by pushing in (to a lady's bowl moreover!!) So Robin made him wait his turn. Strong minded chap Robin- retired Colonel; but it still rather surprised me that Jet then obeyed orders and submitted to be fed last.
We were in the same area on the same days as you, we even took the same photos'on the same days!
We toddled off down to North Cornwall for three days afterwards for some rest and relaxation.
Love to you both, Mark and Maggie x
Hello Maggie and Mark. That really is an incredible coincidence. Especially if you read Rog's comment above. He's from Norfolk, we're from Suffolk, you're from Leicestershire, and we all end up in the same area of Wiltshire at much the same time! As Rog said - Small World.
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