Friday Face

Green Woman - organ pipe shade detail, Lyme Regis, Dorset

Winter Head

John Piper - Foliate Head: Winter (1986)

Whimsical and fantastic creations

I am not sure how I found the ceramics of Prue Piper, but I think it may have been on my journey researching the photographs of her husband Edward and father in law John. Both of whom I have always had a liking, especially their images of carvings associated with churches.

I chanced upon this small selling exhibition (until January 2017) at the delightful Bruton Museum - worth a visit in its own right, but look at these delights which I must say I found most appealing.

I especially liked the mermaid jugs and two faced millennium mug looking forward and back and was not surprised to see that each of the superb Green Man plates had already sold - these are quite wonderful and oh how I would love one!

The centrepiece being a most wonderful bowl the like of which I have never seen before - quite stunning and full of folklore, charm and humour. I enjoyed it enormously.

How old are yew?

This mighty fine specimen of a Yew is reputed to be over 1,500 years old. I was first acquainted with it back in the late 1980's. I was fishing a lovely little pool a short walk away and decided to take a late summer stroll over to the delightful church of Much Marcle. I returned recently and not much has changed. I have not returned to the pool however. There was something always not quite right about the place - I am sure we all fish places where you occasionally keep looking over your shoulder, well, this was such a place. Two Terriers put it perfectly, you whistle loudly on your way back to the car! The atmosphere was not one of welcome, it became dark and brooding very quickly. I wasn't the only one who thought the same. The church and its environs are quite the opposite and I do hope that this Yew is still standing and observing all who come and go for another 1,500 years. Look at the last picture below - How many faces can you see on the bark inside the Yew?

Autumn Head

John Piper - Foliate Head: Autumn (1986)

Summer Head

Sorry folks, there has been a major technical breakdown here at Straker Towers which means I will not be posting over the next few weeks. I'll leave you with summer head and look forward to being back with you when the barbel are biting. Enjoy the holiday season! 

John Piper - Foliate Head: Summer (1986)

Cocks and knockers

I will resist temptation to go all Frankie Howerd on you, honest! These two delightful examples were found quite by chance on the same day - one in Sussex and one in Dorset. The delightful weathercock was found in a quiet corner of Chichester Cathedral. Its story an interesting one.

It was taken down from the spire in 1978 and replaced by something "modern". This one was made and erected in 1638 and it fell down, with the spire, in 1861. Restored and returned to the new spire in 1866 it remained in place until 1978 - can you imagine what tales it could tell? The indentations to the tail are supposedly from a Battle of Britain dog fight. 

It was huge by the way and I could not resist feeling it and thinking about all it had seen from its vantage point so high - there were also many inscriptions from the clergy (1638-1866) who had looked after it for so long.    

The Green Man was spotted on my evening walk when I got home. I have not seen him before, but what a pleasing door knocker he makes? I don't think he is of the same vintage as our weathercock, but a very fine piece of door furniture nonetheless. I like the way his hands cross to form the door knocker.

There you are - no Frankie Howerd and no smut!

Spring Head

John Piper - Foliate Head: Spring (1986)

The weather has been schizoid of late. The beginning of the trout fishing season has seen the local rivers up and down like a yo-yo with freezing cold winds to boot. The opening day proved to be the best day to actually cast a line - I didn't. Then we have had days of glorious warming sunshine and days of heavy rain. 

The plum blossom in the family orchard, which is up in Gloucestershire, is just peeping through. The pear will be next and maybe the cherry might have a spurt and beat them all - no sign of it yet. The joy that is the early days of spring blossom - you just don't know how each season will begin.

The ramsons are out and the swallows have arrived. A few have been darting about in Dorset and my diary tells me around now is the norm unlike last years amazing sighting on the last day of the coarse fishing season (March 14th). Very welcome they are too. Is it me, or do the seasons seem to arrive quicker each year? Maybe it's just me getting old.

60 happy customers

I should have posted this yesterday to coincide with St Davids Day but all things are a little on the late side here at Straker Towers. We have just returned from a delightful break in Pembrokeshire - a county I know well and love dearly, but just like Norfolk it takes an age to get there. You think you are almost there and bang! Another few hours to go.

My trusty Shell Guide and Pevsner always accompany me on such trips, nothing has been produced since that even comes close to them. One of the joys of the Shell Guides is doing a modern day comparison with the superb photographs of Edwin Smith or Piper - I am pleased to say that in Pembs not a lot has changed.  

I have not visited St Davids cathedral since I was a child and on this particular day it was absolutely deserted - my mission was to view the 60 heads in the cathedral quire. Now, it didn't help that I had recently watched the utterly brilliant MR James story The Stalls of Barchester........if you know the story you will of course know that carvings form a great part of this chilling tale. I was the only one creeping around the quire. It was dimly lit and the day was dreary - needless to say the carvings were amazing including those of the green man on the stall seats. I looked over my shoulder more than once I can tell you.

They are pristine and probably in the same condition as first carved over 500 years ago. Each about the size of a 50p piece.The majority are of human faces and about twenty are of the grotesque. People or animal? Not sure really, very similar to those stunning stone carvings at Kilpeck where I have lost many an hour in wonderment. The joy for me is wondering just what, who and why?

   

Green Man

Green Man - Paul Bommer

I have long held a fascination for the mythical figure that is the Green Man. I don't know how or when it started - probably as a child poking around churches or reading the Green Knowe books of Lucy M Boston, which I still adore now. My fascination with old GM is stronger than ever and no doubt the seed was sown in those early years.

I spotted this wonderful cheeky screen print by Paul Bommer and I just had to have it! It helps that I really like Paul's work - I also like the fact he has included the two wild woodwose folk wielding their clubs like guardians of the forest. There is so much going on in and on those boughs. It is ready to hang and I like it that old GM will be watching over me. 

Friday Ditty Pt 17

I like this very much. I like the video very, very much! I don't know a huge amount about Stealing Sheep, what I have caught up with previously has been good, but how can they do any wrong with a video like this? Great stuff, keep your eyes peeled on the edges of the film for some favourite folklore folk. Some great filming here - splendid!

Friday Face

Haven't done a FF for a while, but I can see many here. Is it just me or can you see them too? Green Man? OK, OK, too much home brew!

Bring out the old - Happy New Year

Sir Benjamin Stone

Sir Benjamin Stone

Sir Benjamin Stone

Sir Benjamin Stone

Autumn bliss

It feels like autumn has come early this year – we had such a good spring after a mild and wet winter that it was not only the garden with its fruit and veg that got going. The wild harvest is also gearing up to be just as good. Berries and fruit for jamming, brewing and pickling with still enough for the wildlife.

I haven’t been shrooming, officially, yet this season, but that is just about to start. I have heard that all manner of wonderful specimens have already been found locally, which sort of makes me twitchy – In a “I need to get out now” sort of a way!

It’s also this time of year, well ordinarily in a few weeks, that I really get into Barbus barbus and I don’t just mean the delightful beer of the same name. The scent of autumn is a time that I associate with one of my favourite river fish species. Usually when it’s conker collecting time, not so soon after the August Bank Holiday.

I tend to start lighting the Kelly Kettle more at this time of year and it becomes even more of a companion on field trips and fishing jaunts. There were a few lovely old battered and much loved kettles being used at last weekend’s Stock Gaylard Oak Fair. I’m still on a bit of a high after this year’s 10^th Anniversary event. It was so enjoyable. All things associated with wood – bodgers, coppicers, charcoal burners, shepherd hut makers, peg makers, brush makers, wood fire camping gear, boats, whittling knife makers – you know the sort of stuff. I’ll try and post a few more pictures of the event in the coming days.

 One of the highlights was our lunch! Salt marsh lamb tagine with a couscous and bulger wheat salad and various accompaniments – absolutely amazing and probably the finest show food I have ever had. Cooked by the Thoroughly Wild Meat Company and washed down with a pint of Piddle ale – doesn’t get much better than that.

Finest purchase of the day has to be this wonderful new wallet hand made in the Purbecks by Embla Leather / Wood – I can’t begin to tell you how splendid it is. I wanted it as soon as I held it. I’ve never really used a wallet before but I cannot imagine one being as good as this. Not only in looks, but the way it feels and sits in the pocket. The time, effort and skill that Fiona de Wert put in to making it is something I can only marvel at. Handmade items such as this are the things to treasure as they have been created by such clever crafts people and have such a story to accompany them.   

Tent of the day had to go to the rather splendid one belonging to ORD Knives – I was lucky enough to treat myself, last year, to the most wonderful Yew handled knife from ORD Knives. I absolutely love a good knife, not in a macho posturing sort of a way, but in an appreciative way. I have them for all sorts of uses and at the moment cannot find a specific use for my Yew handled knife other than fondling it, admiring it and doing the odd bit of whittling with it. Early days yet and it will become an heirloom.

Friday Face

Friday Face