We had left plans for my ’significant birthday’ celebration until the last minute. It was looking good to go for a Staycation so we booked into a hotel in Sherbourne, Dorset. Just after the booking was made lockdown tiers were announced. A few days before the planned mini adventure Chez Nous was moved into tier two. We phoned the hotel to check whether we could still visit and they confirmed that we could.
This led us to feeling confident enough to book restaurant venues during our stay. The next day there were rumblings of a full lockdown being imminent and sure enough a full lockdown was announced starting on November the 5th, the day of my birthday. I smiled at the irony of the start date of our second lockdown, November 5th being the anniversary of the date that the gunpowder plotters planned to blow up Parliament.
With our trip cancelled last minute birthday plans had to be made. Mr C booked an extra day off so that he could arrange some ’seasonal secrets’ that wouldn’t have been necessary if we had been away and also to enjoy some mini (Covid Safe) adventures before full lockdown came into force. In the morning he went out to sort out some shopping and various other things leaving me at home. I have to confess it was rather nice to have the house to myself for the first time since March. I am sure he would feel the same but he is usually working when I leave the house.
He was gone longer than expected because of difficulties and delays in the shops. Eventually he arrived home, although too late to have lunch out as planned. Instead we had a delicious bacon butty before heading off to Bodenham Arboretum for the afternoon.
We were treated to delightful autumn sunshine as we drove to the arboretum and as we walked around the arboretum the sun highlighted the beauty of the autumn leaves. I had to tread carefully in some places where the ground was muddy. The soles of my shoes were not quite up to clinging to the wet mud but I managed to stay upright. Later we enjoyed fine dining at home.
A good start to ‘plan C’ birthday celebrations.
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Tags: #walk1000miles, #walk1000miles2020, Bodenham Arboretum, Kidderminster, Lockdown Birthday, There's Always One, Worcester
The medieval cross base, known as the ‘Weeping Cross’, would appear to be a unique survivor of many such crosses in England. The place name ‘Weeping Cross’ still exists in Stafford, Banbury and Shrewsbury but no physical evidence remains. The age of this ancient and venerable relic is not known. It is certainly as old as the church, and perhaps much older if it was brought from the ’sinking chapel’ site. There is no cross now, but the socket where it fitted is clearly seen in the top of the upper stone. Iconoclasts may have removed the original cross (possibly a crucifix) at the time of the Reformation.
The manner of which the ‘Weeping Cross’ was used has been a subject of considerable debate among antiquarians. The Shrewsbury cross is known to have been the focus of a procession of the Blessed Sacrament by the monastic and secular clergy on the Festival of Corpus Christi, before the celebrations of the Holy Eucharist took place at one of the neighbouring churches. After the Reformation, the festival became secular and later an annual fair. The Ripley cross being located close to a church may have had a similar role in pre-Reformation times. The eight recesses, most likely for the head of kneeling devotees, would tend to support the idea of such group usage.
The term ‘weeping cross’ also seems to indicate the expression of grief, remorse or repentance. This may relate to the death of Christ and the Festival of Corpus Christi. However the public expression of such emotions in atonement for sins or crimes was not uncommon in medieval times and may be an alternative explanation. *
Since the leaflet was written a simply wooden cross has been placed has been placed on top of the stone.
*Information from a church leaflet – A Short History of All Saints’ Church Ripley
Tags: All Saints Church, Mini Break, Ripley, Weeping Cross, Yorkshire
A quiet village just north of Harrogate, with a magnificent stately castle, surrounded by lovely gardens and parkland. Ripley Castle and All Saints Church face each other across the village’s cobbled square. The church contains the tombs of several of the Ingilby family, who’s descendants still live in the castle today. Within the churchyard is one of the few remaining ‘weeping’ crosses in Britain – a pedestal with a hole in the top for the reception of a larger cross and surrounded by small recesses where penitents could kneel in certain discomfort.
I will share more information and photos of the church in my next post.
Tags: Harrogate, Mini Break, Ripley, Yorkshire
