17 | May | 2020 | DAVID OAKES

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Like the Curates Egg, today has been good in parts…. and to be fare not that bad but could have been better. Bluebells in the woods really are on their last legs now, battling away in the ever increasing shade below the trees and struggling against the ferns….

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We have easing regulations on Lockdown, well in England that is. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are being more cautious……. Perhaps they are wiser.

One of the Restrictions to be eased relates to being able to play Golf! Social Distancing measures, two players only and new Golf etiquette rules apply.

Our local Course though remains closed till the 25th. May

But no one thought to tell this little fellow.. well into the swing of things. …. Go for it Tiger!

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New growth is now everywhere. Cultivated or wild, tree or shrub, delicate or bold, just an abundance of new life and good things to come….

Yep, things are starting to brighten up….

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Encouraging in tough times and lets not forget…

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

17th May

Hartington

Hartington Village, Derbyshire

The Parish Church of Saint Giles stands high above the village of Hartington. The foundations and main building date back to circa 1250. As always it is thought to have been built on an even earlier religious site.

Step inside. You are at the west end of the nave and you get the first impression of not just the impressive size, but the importance to the village but the wider community.

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Standing at the chancel you get an even better impression of the age of the church.

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The massive stain glass window, behind the alter, is a relatively new addition. Installed in 1848 and is the work of the Glass Artist Thomas Wilmshurst.

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There are other decorated windows. The one I think I like the best is this very simple window in the south transept. Plain glass was once more common in church windows. This has had a later addition. I was not able to find its attributed to any artist but the angels are very much of the style of the main window. The roundel lower down is even later and I am told made from much older glass (recycled perhaps)

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Finally before you leave Saint Giles, look up and admire some early wall decorations. It was this style of wall décor that once graced not only all these walls but was a practice in many churches across the country

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