Three Men in a Boat

I'm republishing this blog again for Inspired Sunday
Now this is not a book I have read though I know most of the places mentioned in it along the Thames near where I live. Jerome K Jerome was a name most of you know but I only found out a short time ago he was buried in a small village called Ewelme so I thought it was worth a visit to his grave. Before I carry on be warned I have used a lot of photo's on this blog so you might want a cup of coffee.

I'll start outside the church at this school which was built by William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk from the profits of the East Anglian wool trade in 1437, next door are some cloistered almshouses I have yet to photograph.

The church  is ajoind to the almsehouses by

this covered walkway.

It is well worth visiting the church which is rather stunning inside as you can see here looking at the chancel and rood screen.
 



Archways like this are on both sides of the church

but you really need to look and view the chancel window which is quite something to see.

As you walk in the church you can see this magnificent carved font cover with it's own winch to lift it up.

Going towards the front of the church look for two chest tombs






















This one with the brass on is to Thomas Chaucer

 His daughter Alice de la Pole lays in this tomb nearby

 This is one of the most amazing tombs I have seen.

Look inside the base through the tracery

and you can see her cadaver.
Thomas Chaucer was speaker of the house of commons and son of the poet
 Geoffrey Chaucer

It's also worth checking out the other intricate features you  can see in the church.

The panels below the chancel window are the ten commandments and lords prayer

Come out by this entrance as you are on the south side of the church

Go along the path to the left and you will have this view of the church.

Taking the path to the front of the porch it will lead you past these three graves.

 

One is Jerome K Jerome the other two are his wife and sister

His grave is one of many in the churchyard

Across the road is a cemetery where you can find more interesting graves.

 The village in one of the nicest in the area and the church though looking simple holds a lot of surprises. I intend to go back to visit again as I would like to get some photos in the Almshouses so if you in the area it could be worth your while spending a couple of hours wandering around.

Nineteen Eighy Four

Many of you will recognise the number as being from the book of the same name by George Orwell, his real name was Eric Arthur Blair 
Now like many of you I read the book when I was young as part of my literature for the exam's I would be taking but I never realised he was only buried a few miles away from my home. It was not until my later life I found this out and decided to visit when I had the chance which came about when I decided to take some photos from round Sutton Courtenay which is where his last resting place is.

All Saints Church is Sutton Courtenay

All Saint s church from the churchyard, I would have taken some photos inside but there was a service on, so another day.

Interesting porch this it was built built with money left to the poor of the parish by the 15th-century Bishop Thomas Bekynton of Bath & Wells. The obviously thought that saving the souls of the poor was more important than feeding them.

Walking on into the churchyard at he back you cannot but help noticing this tomb of Herbert Henry Asquith who was  the prime minister of England  from 1908 - 1916 he preferred to be buried here rather than Westminster Abbey

Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith tomb with the church in the background. Asquith lived nearby in a house which I think is no owned by Helena Bonham Carter  mind you he was her Great-Grandfather.

 It took a while to find Orwell's grave which was only done after I phoned my wife and she told me where to look after looking on the Internet.

 

As you can see  it is a simple headstone with a rose growing in front.

Behind you can see the grave of his friend David Astor

 Who when he heard his fried was to be buried in the churchyard bought both plots so he could be buried nearby.

The churchyard is well worth looking round  at the old graves which is parts are over grown.

And who knows you may well find some interesting ones there. I will return again to get a few photos of the inside which I will post on here for you to see. I hope you have enjoyed my tour of this churchyard.

Wolvercote Cemetery

This week I happened to be in Oxford again so took the opportunity to visit
Wolvercote Cemetery so those of you who visit from Inspired Sunday my apologies for no interiors this week. It was also the chance to visit the grave of a famous author.
The cemetery was opened in 1889 and has areas for various denominations & religions and quite a few notable people are buried here. There are also 44 Commonwealth War Graves though I admit I did not find that many. There is also a small chapel and an old Mortuary building. It is one of four old cemetery's in Oxford five if you include Botley
In this blog I will endeavour to show some of what I recorded.

October 2023 I added some new photos

The entrance to Wovercote cemetery off the Banbury road

On display as you go in are a couple of awards 

The first burial area you see is the Jewish one 

Where I came across the grave of Fight Sergeant J.L Shaer Navigator Royal Air Force.
The plaque below has the inscription.
In honored memory of Fgt/Sgt Joseph Shaer from his old pals from Brady Boys Club
Also in Memory of his friend and fellow Bradian   P/O David Miller shot down over Germany 22/10/1943
He is buried in Hanover War Cemetery 3.B.7

Walking on by and along the footpath you come to this  broken memorial

The top which was a crucifix is standing against the base
The wording on the other side of the base is hard to make out but the name I could make out was
 Margaret Rebecca Hughes

This is the Children's Remembrance area 

Though the fountain seems to be turned off and not working

Can't find any information  on Princess Bridget Esiri who is buried here

 Some of the more modern graves in the cemetery

I love the verse on the back of this headstone

 

 Couple of different religions  buried near each other

 

I just liked the simplicity of these headstones

 

These are green burials with a tree as a memorial 

 The Russian Orthodox area of the cemetery 

 

These crosses have been laid over for Health & Safety reasons 

 

 

More recent view of the cemetery

 There are some beautiful headstones and graves here

The cemetery chapel  

 

 

The entrance which was locked

 

 This was rather a stunning memorial

An anchor which I forgot the meaning behind, I always thought it was because they were old seafarers 

 

Some of the older headstones

Various crosses 

Lieutenant C.A.Pittar  MC of the Coldstream Guards another off the 44 commonwealth war graves in the cemetery

 

I Think this is the old mortuary for the cemetery

 A crucifix memorial which has been laid over for H&S reasons  

More of the cemetery, the memorial of the little girl was that of a child 

Some of the crosses 

Looking towards the chapel

 

 The main reason I cave to visit was to see this grave which is that of J R R Tolkien

 

 I felt a bit disappointing as I thought it needed some TLC

 

 

My latest visit showed the grave has been tided up 

 You van see the inscription now

One of the taller crosses

Frame holding watering cans used for the flowers on graves

 

 

Have a Peaceful Sunday.