Home via Guildford

That is to say, Axminster to Epsom via Dorchester, Ringwood, M27, M3, Alton and Guildford - rather than our more usual A303. A journey which included the long wall around at least part of the Charborough Estate already noticed, more than ten years ago, at reference 2. A journey which also included the Wellingtonia already noticed at reference 1.

A chunk of the wall, as captured by the Street View people. Lots of Winterbournes, including Winterbourne Zelston, but no Zelstons pure and simple, so no use for the alphabet game. Have to stick with Zeals in nearby Wiltshire.

Having paused briefly at a layby on the A31, we decided to picnic outside Guildford Cathedral, where picnic tables had been provided on the grass across the road from the cafeteria. And then, on a whim into the cathedral.

Since we were last there, there has been serious and expensive work to remove the asbestos flavoured acoustic plaster from the roof and they took the opportunity to refresh the paintwork. It really looked very well indeed. Perhaps the light was just right. The snap above serves to remind, but does not do it justice.

Sadly, with the acoustic plaster gone, there was a terrific echo, so that one could almost hear conversation at the west end when standing under the crossing. We were told that choirs didn't like it.

I couldn't find a label on this probably grand grand piano, and I didn't like to take the cover off and lift the lid. I don't suppose the trusty would have approved. I suppose I could have asked him, but as they say (about credit) in public houses, refusal often offends. But there was a piano in a side room which I shall score shortly.

Some care had been taken to match up the grain of the stone at some of the joins. All adds to the cost.

Oddly enough, I had been asking Bing for an example of the cross like this just a few days previously (in the connection with the Faerie Queene of reference 8), but from the Italian Renaissance, which I had sure I had see in the National Gallery, but failed to come up with quite what I was looking for.

The fabric of the church was fairly plain, severe even. But there was plenty of rich, not to say lush, furniture and fittings. I learned later that the architect had lots of friends who were into that sort of thing. 

Left with a desire to know more about the building of the cathedral and while the shop did not have a book about that, it did have a book about the architect (reference 7) which has served well and on which I shall report in due course. An easy read.

At least four more places to visit, by the same architect. Canadian memorial at Brookwood. RAF memorial at Runnymede, the Magna Carta memorial at Runnymede and the church of St. Thomas by Boston Manor tube (a southwestern outpost of the Piccadilly Line) . This last visit was accomplished just a few days later and will be reported on in due course.

PS 1: having been reminded in the Treasury of one Jane Toller, mentioned at reference 6, I was pleased to find when we got home that I was able to put my hand on her pamphlet about British Samplers in no time at all. A souvenir that is, not for reading.

PS 2: the Charborough people were once mixed up with the Turbervilles. Did Hardy lift Tess of the d'Urbervilles from the Turberville Window in Bere Church, in Dorset?

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2021/08/wellingtonia-42.html.

Reference 2: http://psmv2.blogspot.com/2012/12/southern-passage.html.

Reference 3: http://www.charborough.co.uk/.

Reference 4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charborough_House. A seriously big house. Fairly recently owned by the splendidly named Admiral the Hon. Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax. Still a bit of a mystery how they keep the death duties at bay: paintballing, logs and charcoal only go so far. I think a visit to the nearby church at Almer is indicated, next time we are in the vicinity.

Reference 5: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2018/11/handl.html. A Maufe mention.

Reference 6: https://psmv3.blogspot.com/2018/05/guildford-cathedral.html. What seems to be the last proper visit to the cathedral.

Reference 7: Edward Maufe: Architect and Cathedral Builder - Juliet Dunmur - 2019.

Reference 8: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-second-monument.html. Going quite slowly, now on my second pass of the first book of the six. Taking longer than expected to get used to the deliberately antique language, antique that is even for 1600.

Reference 9: https://thetipsypigs.co.uk/. The grass outside the west end of the cathedral is used for all kinds of things, including festivals of gin and outdoor cinema. And these people have dropped a pin on gmaps. I wonder whether you can stop people dropping pins on your property, pins you might not want?