Church on Sunday...Epsom..St.Martin of Tours

You know I love a coincidence, so you can imagine our surprise when deciding to have a look at the one of the churches here in Epsom, to find it dedicated to none other than St. Martin de Tours. The site here in Epson has been host to place of worship since Saxon times.The Doomsday Book of 1085-86 highlighted the existence of two churches in the area one of which would have been a forerunner to St.Martin's.

The 'medieval' church consisted of a short nave of about 50 feet with side aisles, a south porch and a north west tower.The 'new' church was built in 1824 in a 'Gothic' style but retained the old tower (15th century). The original seating would have been boxed pews.

 The very ornate alter sits underneath a partially stained glass window - apparently unfinished due to lack of funds - and behind a rood screen.

A view of the side chapel under the organ loft.

 

Two little stained glass windows in the small otherwise simple right-hand side chapel.

Two views of the impressive organ loft.

The pulpit is very reminiscent of the ones we see in France. 

Looking to the rear of the church and the 15th century baptismal font.

Not surprisingly there is no hint of 'Joan' even with the French connection.

The ancient graveyard surrounding the church is now 'closed' for burials...

but there is a pretty little garden of remembrance where 'ashes' can be placed.

The plain leaded windows of the nave are attractive in there simplicity.

Epsom...salt of the earth!

Staying at Pauline's sister's in Epsom for a couple of days before catching the ferry back over to France. Here are a couple of shots of the high street.

Was checking out if Epsom Salts actually connected to the town and found this information on this French website : "In the early 1600's, a farmer at Epsom Surrey England found his cow's drinking water healed scratches and rashes. Soon, the locals started to talk and the water became known for its healing properties and it was discovered that the healing properties were due to the mineral magnesium sulfate in the water. Named after the town, Epsom salt was prepared by boiling down the mineral waters found at the springs that arise where the non-porous London clay meets the porous chalk of the North Downs. Today Epsom Salt is obtained mostly from mining operations."

A last winter's walk...on the beach.

 We had our last walk here along the beach  - starting at Doonfoot to the south of the town...

...across their 'millennium bridge' and on to the shore front.It was good to see plenty of people out walking.

Young and old, equipped for the weather.

A break in the clouds gave us this view back to the 'Heads of  Ayr''

Then  it was on to the beach.

 It was a fairly bracing walk but we are glad we did it - good we to end our stay in Scotland.

Church on Sunday...St. Paul's Ayr

Today we visit the church of St. Paul's  in Ayr,  it was built in 1967 to cater for a then expanding population.

The church is very 60's in its design but has stood the test of time rather well

Here's a couple of newly-weds standing by the front doors (Oct,1975)

The inside is quite plain but airy and bright.

The glass in the windows has been replaced by modern stained glass.

Found these facts on the church's website, to buy the land in 1966 cost £240 and the architect’s fees were £8.8s.!! ...a bit like today's market...not!

Calender girl...

It is a tradition at Christmas for us to give Pauline's mum Ann, a calendar - with the criteria of it being pretty and utilitarian - being somewhere to scroll important dates. This year I sent off some of my photographs, one for each month, to the good people at 'vistaprint' and was pleasantly surprised at the result...
here's January's effort. Taken just outside Barrou.

January

I will post them throughout 2013...hope you'll like them...apologies in advance for reusing some I may have featured before but they were chosen to suit the months.

'First-footing' through 'Burn's Country'...

 We are very lucky with the location of Pauline's mum's house here in Ayr, the house looks onto what was the old racecourse now an open space used as playing fields. For one of our local walks we cross this on into Belleisle park and golf course (avoiding golf balls). So it was a good one to have as our first walk of 2013.

Then we cross over to another park 'Rozelle'  and on into the village of Alloway. 

It seemed appropriate that we should be walking through Alloway on the first day of the year as this is the birthplace of  Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns, the man who gave us 'Auld Lang Syne' among many others.

This is the thatched cottage in the village where he was born.

The 'Auld Kirk' in the village was immortalised in his poem 'Tam o'Shanter'

There is also a pretty little garden with a fine monument to him near the old bridge over the river Doon.

The auld Brig o'Doon was the bridge 'Tam' and his horse were chased over by the witches...

and just as they made the bridge,that the witches couldn't cross, one of them grabbed his horse, Maggie's tail...

For Nannie, far before the rest, 

Hard upon noble Maggie prest, 

And flew at Tam wi' furious ettle; 

But little wist she Maggie's mettle - 

Ae spring brought off her master hale, 

But left behind her ain gray tail; 

The carlin claught her by the rump, 

And left poor Maggie scarce a stump.

Here is a view  of the 'new'bridge over the river Doon.

 We then headed back through Belleisle park on our way back to Pauline's mum's house with the afternoon weather taking a turn for the better.

A happy New Year to one and all.

A guid New Year tae ane an aa,

An mony may ye see!

An durin aa the years tae come,

O happy may ye be!

An may ye ne’er hae cause tae murn,

Tae sigh or shed a tear!

Tae ane and aa, baith great and sma,

A happy, Guid New Year!

A guid New Year tae ane an aa,

An mony may ye see!

An durin aa the years tae come,

O happy may ye be!