Horses in the shade

An afternoon of sun and cloud that involved a little shopping, a cup of coffee and a visit to one medieval and two Victorian churches (the latter of the highest order) should have produced several photographs of which a couple might be suitable for the blog. Alas, we reckoned without the Diocese of Gloucester which, it appears, has a policy of churches remaining closed except for a brief couple of hours on one day. This contrasts with the Diocese of Hereford where, at least in our experience, most churches are once again open to visitors. All was not lost, however, and this view of horses sheltering in the shade was taken from a nearby graveyard.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Birmingham to Shrewsbury coach

I assume this is a replica (or restored original) of the coach that served as transport between Birmingham and Shrewsbury - they are the two placenames painted on the exterior. Once again it is a four-in-hand (see the previous post). I have no idea why this coach and its passengers were undertaking a horse-drawn trip, but I imagine it is a re-enactment of some kind on a shorter journey than the fifty or so miles between those places.

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

London to Stamford coach

The London to Stamford coach stands outside Burghley House, somewhere it would have rarely, if ever, have been seen. This scene with the replica, or restored original, coach could date from any time in the eighteenth century to late in the nineteenth century. The giveaway that this is a modern scene are the female grooms and the two mobile phones in use. Otherwise the driver seems ready to get the four-in-hand underway on the just under one hundred miles journey.

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

Boston May Fair carousel horses

The May Fair at Boston, Lincolnshire, is the modern successor of the medieval and later fairs that were held in the town for centuries. Today the event is solely a fun fair, something that would be only an element of a fair of much wider scope in those distant times. As I wandered through the fairground rides my eye settled on the brightly painted horses of the carousel, each with its name written on its neck. During my lifetime such carousels have been a permanent fixture at this kind of fair, but in historic terms I suppose they are relatively recent.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100