Polyrus' photos with the keyword: England

Grade II* listed Church of St Philip and St James at Norton St Philip in Somerset. A hand-held zoom shot which has not turned out too bad. Taken from Wikipedia: The current building has elements dating back from the 13th and 14th centuries, however it is likely there was a church on the site before the Norman Conquest. In 1345 the fair which had been granted to Hinton Priory was transferred to Norton St Philip which provided much of the income for the church. The noted diarist Samuel Pepys visited the church in the 17th century and described the tomb of one of the Knights Templar which is now thought to be that of a lawyer or merchant from 1460. He also described the story of the "Fair Maids of Foscott", believed to be conjoined twins from a local village now known as Foxcote. The memorials in the church include one to a soldier slain in Norton St Philip in 1643 during the English Civil War. There were further military casualties in the village during a skirmish in the Monmouth Rebellion A major Victorian restoration was undertaken by George Gilbert Scott in the 1840s. In 2000 further restoration work was undertaken with new wood and steel vestry, toilets and meeting facilities being installed. The tower has a clock by Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy and Charles Frodsham dating from 1841, and six bells. The east window has stained glass by Christopher Webb. In other windows there is much older glass. Explored!

Situated at the junction of the A366 with the B3110 close to the A36 road and approx. 7 miles from the Somerset city of Bath, the inn was built in the 14th or 15th century and and is now a Grade I listed building . The establishment claims that it is the oldest tavern in England but as yet they have not provided any photos of the era to verify this. [At least 10 other establishments lay claim to being the oldest pub in the country!] In the year 1226 the monks from Hinton Priory at nearby Hinton Charterhouse, petitioned the landowner, the Countess of Salisbury, for a new site to achieve greater solitude. She gave them her manors of Hinton Charterhouse and Norton St Philip and a new house was consecrated at Hinton Charterhouse in May 1232. A licence to sell alcohol here at what is now The George is claimed from 1397... which may have only been a local licence from the Prior of Hinton Priory as Governmental licences for providing alcohol were only introduced in 1552. The timber-framed upper floors were added In the 15th century. The inn became a regular part of the stage coach route between London and South West England. It was also used as the headquarters of Monmouth's army, during the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685, after his retreat from Bath. In the aftermath of the failed rebellion Judge Jefferies used the George Inn as a courtroom and conducted 12 executions on the village common, as part of the Bloody Assizes. Explored!

This footbridge on the south side of Painshill lake goes across to Grotto Island on the right. It is not the original which was constructed in the 1840s. This is a reconstruction, built off site in 2012. It is a replica of one known from a 1760s engraving by William Woollett, the only remains of which were the brick abutments. Painshill Park Trust maintains the park. It is a registered charity which was formed to restore the 18th century landscape and they have done an exemplary job.

Autumn at the Valley Gardens, Virginia water in Surrey. Taken not long after midday yesterday. A pity most of the sun was hiding behind the clouds at the time or the colours would have really be emphasised.

The view looking across the lake from the south side at Painshill Park, in Surrey. It would be folly to think the Gothic Abbey ruins are real, although they were erected in 1772 and are listed Grade II.

In Painshill Park, Surrey, by the River Mole. I was reliably informed by a member of the park staff that it is a Fairy House. However, I do not believe in fairies and think the dwelling belongs to either a pixie or more likely....a witch! Best viewed large. Explored!

View across the Mill Avon at Tewkesbury towards the mill cottages on the left, the lower end of Mill Street which goes up to the Abbey, and the old mill on the right.

View across the Mill Avon at Tewkesbury towards the mill cottages which are now well over 500 years old. I bet this scene looks really beautiful in the spring! Explored!

The view across the Mill Avon at Tewkesbury. No prizes for spotting a fence, but HFF! Explored!