Grey Ilam

Definition of English summer: the greenest countryside under the greyest skies. 
The gloomy grey stone of these Staffordshire countryside buildings is typical; and, to be fair to the architects of same, one can hardly have buildings decked out in rainbow colours when we are usually under such louring skies.

These are the grounds of Ilam Hall in the Staffordshire Peak District.

St Bertram's healing well

On the Ilam Estate, which, because it's owned by The National Trust, is open to the public for free, one finds this ancient stone well, not far from the estate church.
This 'well' is more of a large bath than the sort of place one might simply draw water.

St Bertram (aka Bertelin) is the local saint, and his tomb is in the church, so the water in this well has supposed healing qualities, and pilgrims would dip themselves in the freezing pool therein.  If it didn't kill, it might have cured...
Nowadays, there is a small iron fence to act as a deterrent to bathers, but I daresay some do climb in.

Wonderful (if sentimental) tomb-sculpture

The week between Christmas and New Year is when many of us take a 'brisk walk' in the countryside.  Out in the Peak District Ilam (a National Trust site) is a favourite choice.
The whole area is of course beautiful and also contains some lovely sights.  The little estate church is nearly always open - and worth going into for many reasons, not least the wonderful (if sentimental) tomb-sculpture by Francis Chantrey - which shows a dying man with his children...

Jacobeans do Elvis, almost

Yet another ancient hair-cut to astound!  Why the Jacobean gentry thought it was a good idea to sport a quiff, as does this gentleman (Robert Meverell, entombed in Ilam Church), is hard to guess.   But then - who ever understands the vagaries of fashion anyway?

This is not the only 'Burton Peak' hair-style (as this cut was known) that you will find on a tomb in Staffordshire.  There's a rather handsome one in Forton too.

(There's a rather nice set of reflections about Ilam Church in The Corners of My Mind blog)

This post appeared on the 'Surprise' page of the My Town Shoot-Out Photo-Blog

Orienteering is all around

The sunny, mild (though chilly) weather makes for great walking.  But some people need an extra spice to their strolls; and like to add orienteering to their fun.  A new addition to the way that orienteering trails work is posts along the way that feature 'QR codes' - like this notice on the Ilam Estate.
One can buy the instructions on how to use them from the National Trust shop at the hall.

But... is my reaction a bit old-fashioned in thinking that it's a shame that beautiful countryside should need these attractions to keep the interest up?

Very grave Christmas trees

These are the oddest grave decorations I ever saw: mini Christmas trees!  I spotted them at the churchyard of Holy Cross in Ilam. 

Being as it's Twelfth Night this evening - when tradition says Xmas decorations should be taken down - will they be gone tomorrow morning?

This post was featured on the Cemetery Sunday website

Bridge for a saint

An old stone bridge, a beautiful spot, sunshine: the perfect recipe for an August bank holiday weekend.

We are on the Ilam Estate, where there are plenty of picturesque walks, including one across the bridge in this photo, St Bertram's Bridge. 
Named after the local saint, it has been the local crossing over the Manifold River for hundreds of years.

Crossed love at Ilam

The story of the restoration of Ilam Cross (think Charing Cross but a bit smaller) is quite a triumph.

The monument was built on the crossroads in the tiny, very pretty village of Ilam in north-east Staffordshire in 1841 as a testament of love by one man for his wife (another way in which it pays homage to the Eleanor Crosses - such as Charing Cross).

However, up till recently, it was literally crumbling to bits - and had even become a danger (see photo).
And then some concerned folk formed the Ilam Cross Trust to restore it. It is now back to its full glory, and is yet another reason to visit Ilam.

Beautiful Ilam

The Ilam estate is completely idyllic, isn't it?
Because it's all owned by The National Trust it's beautifully maintained, and in this instance, is free to access - even the garden in the forefront of this photo, which is part of Ilam Hall (now a local youth hostel).
The estate church is a gem - it's St Bertram's, and goes back to Saxon times. Pilgrims come to the saint's tomb to pray.

Great walks too!

Links: Ilam Estate / St Bertram