A modern stone circle

A henge is, properly, a prehistoric banked earthwork in the shape of a circle or oval. When it is accompanied by standing stones it is more accurately described as a stone circle. Stonehenge is not a typical henge, but such structures - reasonably common in the British Isles - are often referred to as henges.

Part of the landscape gardening of Hellens Manor at Much Marcle includes an oval 21st century "henge" with inscriptions on each of the standing stones. Its purpose is to add interest and size to the available grounds and its location in a meadow beyond the formal gardens adds to the attractiveness of the feature.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Dovecote, Hellens Manor, Much Marcle

At first glance this brick and stucco octagonal building rising out of the garden at Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, looks like it must be a gazebo. But no, further examination reveals that it is a dovecote. Also known as a columbarium, dovecotes were designed for the production of doves (pigeons) for the table. Their interiors typically have as many nest holes in the walls as can be squeezed into them, with ladders being used to retrieve the birds, eggs and nestlings. This example is prominently dated with the year of its construction - 1641. The large "W" denotes, Fulke and Margaret Walwyn, the owners of the manor at that time.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

A country house cafe

It's unusual to come across an independent cafe that hasn't made an effort to distinguish itself in some way. Even some chains occasionally try to inject something of the locality into their decor. Having said that, it's remarkable to find a cafe that is quite unlike any other - after all there's only so much you can do with a room or rooms, tables, chairs, pictures etc. However, recently we did find such a place. It is at Hellens Manor, Much Marcle in Herefordshire. Different or what?!

 photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Artemis the Huntress - again

Seven and a half years ago I photographed this garden sculpture at Hellens Manor, Herefordshire for the first time. I was attending a wedding in January and came upon it as I ventured outside. What appealed to me then - and did so again recently - was the way lichen had colonized the surface of the figure. It gave what must be quite an aged piece a sense of age that it would not possess had it been regularly cleaned. For more about the sculpture, a second image and a few reflections, have a look at that first photograph here.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10