Third time lucky - and what a lovely day it was for 12 of our members! Sunshine, no wind and a stunning display of snowdrops and aconites in a splendid setting.
Most are straightforward images but the painterly style and West Tower have had changes made. The others have only minor adjustments.
Some superb images with different moods and compositions. It was a fantastic day out. Thank you all participants for joining, and hooray to Hanne, who performed brilliantly to organise this successful event.
About the Packhorse Bridge and the Abbey, I found on the Internet this piece of information, by Chris Weston, that some of the participants may find interesting:
WALSINGHAM ABBEY’S PACK HORSE BRIDGE AND GROUNDS.
Whereas thousands visit Walsingham Abbey during the summer months, Norfolk folk can do so at almost any time of year. Most no doubt go during the annual February Snowdrop display.
Within the Abbey grounds is the Pack Horse bridge - the only one of its kind in Norfolk - but why is it there? Originally constructed at an ancient crossing place or ford, it also provided a conclusion and dam to a Serpentine lake dug out in front of the Abbey house during 1805. The lake formed part of the new park-land being created around Walsingham Abbey, designed by John Haverfield (1744-1820), Superintendent of Kew Gardens and long-time collaborator with neo-classical architect Sir John Soane (1753-1837), knighted in 1831. Located north-east of the Abbey buildings, the bridge over the River Stiffkey is a good example of an early 19th century interpretation of a medieval bridge. After the lake was infilled in the early 20th century, the ice house was also partly demolished in 1927, but the bridge remained, untouched.
If you are familiar with the Walsingham Abbey grounds, you may recall soon after crossing Pack Horse bridge (with no sides!), the path drops down to pass under a road bridge. This descent is also known as a Sunken Road which was created by a road diversion order in 1805. From this, the park area was entered and at the same time, a new route for the Thursford Road necessitated the Pack Horse Bridge being moved slightly northwards. Today, it’s a footbridge within the Abbey grounds but is not on the line of either the precinct wall nor the original road line. The bridge’s design may possibly replicate the medieval bridge which carried the Thursford to Norwich Road. Packhorse bridges were often built on trade routes forming major transport arteries across Great Britain and Europe before the 18th century arrival of turnpike roads and canals.
After the Reformation, pilgrims slowly returned to Walsingham, but in fewer numbers, so the Priory never reopened. The monastery was always a Priory, founded for canons of the Augustinian order. After dissolution by Henry VIII, the former Prior's lodging was transformed into a mansion. Around the end of the 17th century this became known as 'The Abbey' and the name has remained since.
Meanwhile on 15th February 1979, the Walsingham Abbey Pack Horse Bridge became a Grade ll Listed structure. Finally, it is estimated that there are at least 10 million snowdrop bulbs within the Walsingham Abbey grounds! Chris Weston, 2021
Comments
Most are straightforward images but the painterly style and West Tower have had changes made. The others have only minor adjustments.
Some superb images with different moods and compositions. It was a fantastic day out. Thank you all participants for joining, and hooray to Hanne, who performed brilliantly to organise this successful event.
About the Packhorse Bridge and the Abbey, I found on the Internet this piece of information, by Chris Weston, that some of the participants may find interesting:
WALSINGHAM ABBEY’S PACK HORSE BRIDGE AND GROUNDS.
Whereas thousands visit Walsingham Abbey during the summer months, Norfolk folk can do so at almost any time of year. Most no doubt go during the annual February Snowdrop display.
Within the Abbey grounds is the Pack Horse bridge - the only one of its kind in Norfolk - but why is it there? Originally constructed at an ancient crossing place or ford, it also provided a conclusion and dam to a Serpentine lake dug out in front of the Abbey house during 1805. The lake formed part of the new park-land being created around Walsingham Abbey, designed by John Haverfield (1744-1820), Superintendent of Kew Gardens and long-time collaborator with neo-classical architect Sir John Soane (1753-1837), knighted in 1831. Located north-east of the Abbey buildings, the bridge over the River Stiffkey is a good example of an early 19th century interpretation of a medieval bridge. After the lake was infilled in the early 20th century, the ice house was also partly demolished in 1927, but the bridge remained, untouched.
If you are familiar with the Walsingham Abbey grounds, you may recall soon after crossing Pack Horse bridge (with no sides!), the path drops down to pass under a road bridge. This descent is also known as a Sunken Road which was created by a road diversion order in 1805. From this, the park area was entered and at the same time, a new route for the Thursford Road necessitated the Pack Horse Bridge being moved slightly northwards. Today, it’s a footbridge within the Abbey grounds but is not on the line of either the precinct wall nor the original road line. The bridge’s design may possibly replicate the medieval bridge which carried the Thursford to Norwich Road. Packhorse bridges were often built on trade routes forming major transport arteries across Great Britain and Europe before the 18th century arrival of turnpike roads and canals.
After the Reformation, pilgrims slowly returned to Walsingham, but in fewer numbers, so the Priory never reopened. The monastery was always a Priory, founded for canons of the Augustinian order. After dissolution by Henry VIII, the former Prior's lodging was transformed into a mansion. Around the end of the 17th century this became known as 'The Abbey' and the name has remained since.
Meanwhile on 15th February 1979, the Walsingham Abbey Pack Horse Bridge became a Grade ll Listed structure. Finally, it is estimated that there are at least 10 million snowdrop bulbs within the Walsingham Abbey grounds! Chris Weston, 2021