Mythical Britain

Trees in narrow river valley viewed from a bridge.

A view towards The Bongs, from Crosfield Bridge above Lymm Dam, Cheshire. Bongs is thought to be a corruption of the Middle English “bonks” (slopes or hill/valley sides; possibly wooded), a word which appears in a number of northern Middle English texts including Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Eric Ravilious painting of Long man of Wilmington

Today’s lesson: talk to people. An NHS carer was chatting to me today and spotted one of my Middle English texts on the settee. Turns out he was an admirer of Eric Ravilious and a collector of rare books. The world is a richer place when we see, talk and listen. Nothing is what it might seem.

Face of a knight on a medieval tomb chest

Damaged but still delightful in all its well-cut detail; the face of Sir Philip Thornbury (d.1456) at Little Munden, Herts. You can almost feel the curling locks of his hair and see the jewels of his circlet, sparkling in the autumn light. Wonderful!

Cows in a field

Calming cowscape after a night of crashing storms.

Perfection!

Reminds me of an abandoned house at the back of us when I was a boy: rusting large 1950s car in the garage, billiard table with balls, stick telephone and a pianola with reels of music. It was like the family had just upped and left. Converted to a new house in the 1980s.

This is lovely; I particularly like the castle’s slight resemblance to Bodiam. We need peace right now and an end to barbarism.

Taylor Slow then? Clearly took several ages to get there.

Norman doorway showing round arch and St Peter figure above archway

Different ages and a door down in Herefordshire. A Norman doorway at St Peter’s at Bromyard with what seems to be a tympanum cut away in later years. The figure of St Peter above the door may pre-date the arch itself. #AdoorableThursday

A tour through the land of Logres in the footsteps of Sir Gawain!

Thank you!

Love these old images!

Castles in the landscape

Cracking prize - well done!

At the check-out, medieval style!

Castles in the landscape

Hut made in the woods from trees and branches

The Green Chapel in the woods, or is it a forest form of Bryn Celli Ddu giving an entrance to the underworld? Either way, it’s a haunting place for #TombTuesday!

Do it!

Overal enker-grene – the symbolism of the colour green in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The symbolism of the colour green in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has often been attributed to the supernatural. But is there a simpler reason behind the poet's choice, one based on narrative techn...

New Mythical Britain blog post - the symbolism of the colour green in the medieval Middle English masterpiece, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Enjoy the journey into the Gawain-poet's world of menace and malevolent meschaunce! www.mythicalbritain.co.uk/post/overal-...

Stone lion at feet of a knight on a tomb.

Lion in wait for the start of the week! Delightful sixteenth century big cat, alert to his duties at the feet of Sir William Sandys at St Michael and All Angels, Hawkshead, Cumbria. Quite a cutie!

This is super! A wonderful walk around a magnificent font.

The German Ocean yields its wealth from former folk-trod fields.

Linocut print of castle ruins.

Go on, name that castle! A linocut print of mine from a few years back.

Norman doorway in a church porch

Golden stone for golden hours. Fascinating combination of Norman and fourteenth century work at St Michael and All Angels at Great Tew, Oxfordshire. #AdoorableThursday

Shallow ditch and bank crossing a sheep field near the mountains

Not quite a hillfort, more a long ditch and bank; the confidence of Offa’s Dyke lies deep within the landscape. #HillfortsWednesday

Tree and gravestone in cemetery

Lecturing the dead? Strong words being said! If only we could hear them…

#TombTuesday

Stone effigy of knight in a church

Getting ready to face the week ahead.

Effigy of a knight said to be Robert de Vere (although very uncertain) at St Michael and All Saints, Great Tew, Oxfordshire. The knight is unusual for wearing ailettes; the poor representation of chain mail seems to suggest unfinished work.

Ah, a culinary version of RoboCop, perhaps - RoboChop Suey? When’s the film coming out?

Through the dark they came once more to live again in light; haunting spectres from past question their new world.

Taking the strain each day at a time