Today's thread will be interspersed with random Dorset pics, 'cos it's #dorsetday. Here be Eggardon Hill, looking toward Portland, doubling up for #HillfortsWednesday with ramparty goodness.
Carousel fascism on the South Bank.
The code stone, 1837, lion by Woodington. Once proudly guarding the gates of Lambeth's Lion brewery.
Now on Westminster Bridge not a #tinylion
Some fools think the Oxbridge is the rootstock of the English education system.
Of course they are wrong. The world's largest monastery is that place. St Paul's Jarrow is part of that monastery. Founded in 681 dedicated 4 years later. The tower and chancel are original.
Inside that little circle, and diabolically photographed, is the oldest stained glass in Europe, made by craftsmen imported by Benedict Biscop, the funder of the church.
Two utterly beautiful sinous populated vine carvings from the C8th, and 'Bede's chair' which isn't Bede's but dates from between 800 and 1100. One of England's oldest extant bits of furniture.
At dawn this morning, the beauty that is the single celled Norman church of St Andrew's, Winterborne Tomson.
Never locked, the C15th windows allow morning light to crawl in across the pews.
St Michael's, Lyme Regis is an odd thing, its east end tunnels into the hill behind, its west is the remnant of an earlier, Norman edifice. Filled arcade arches, seep through the render.
@TheMinster1 has its own treasures, in particular the chained library, now located in the old Treasury. Founded in 1686, it is one of four extant in the kingdom.
It's got all sorts up their like this gorgeous encaustic #tile from the C13th/c14th.
This rather splendid escutcheon of Henry VII probably dates from his 1509 accession. His mother Lady Margaret Beaufort founded a chapel and paud for a cleric as a teacher. Thus starting QE school.
Her parents, the Dule and Duchess of Somerset were buried @TheMinster1 1444.