Hidden Local Gem

[leefer]

Found this little Gem near Leigh near Cricklade...actually the small hamlet of Waterhay...only a few miles from Swindon,the church below was demolished and rebuilt as the origanal kept flooding....they left the chancel which is an incredibly peacefull and historic spot..well worth a visit.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay049_zps0a850799.jpg[/URL]


[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay020_zps841eddcf.jpg[/URL]

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay022_zps4d9b77b0.jpg[/URL]

Below is the Chancel origanally attached to the church.....the floodfields made it a haven for flora but alas not good for trudging to the church hence the rebuild.....you can get an idea of the meadow land on some of these pics of the chancel.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay022_zps4d9b77b0.jpg[/URL]

Below some info on the old chancel.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay030_zps8a57a360.jpg[/URL]

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay032_zps32ae4382.jpg[/URL]

Below in the old Chancel graveyard is two memory stones to the Curtis brothers killed in WW2....the older stones have generations of the Freeth family of Cricklade...known now more for there cardboard recycling plant....Freeths.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay029_zps8149e8d7.jpg[/URL]

Below is some stunning pics of inside the old chancel...when being refurbished they decided to leave the old artwork found underneath crumbling plaster.
[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay036_zps61f69c3e.jpg[/URL]
[url width=768 height=1024]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay034_zpsab3febb3.jpg[/URL]

[url width=768 height=1024]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay035_zps9afdbe0a.jpg[/URL]

Below is the basic but ancient praying area of the old Chancel.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay038_zpsae9b6b72.jpg[/URL]

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay040_zps3f347802.jpg[/URL]

Finally below is Waterhay Bed and Brekky....lovely old farmhouse.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/waterhay046_zpsa3a6844e.jpg[/URL]

Know some of you like the pics...apologies to those who find it tiresome!

[Peter Gibbons]

Enjoyed these, more of the same please!

[Reg Smeeton]

 Excellent work Leefer...don't think I've ever been there. When I go out that way, I'm always lured in by the birdwatching in the Water Park. There's a small car park nearby....will make a detour next time.

[grubby]

I lived there for about 4 years from 2003. Christened my son at the church pictured. A nice place to live but strange people.

[donkey]

Keep it coming Leefer, great stuff as always.

[Fred Elliot]

Excellent work Leefer...don't think I've ever been there. When I go out that way, I'm always lured in by the birdwatching in the Water Park. There's a small car park nearby....will make a detour next time.

Dogger

[Reg Smeeton]

Dogger

German Bite

[Batch]

German Bite

Lundy

Is this some kind of nautical Mornington Crescent?

[Reg Smeeton]

Lundy

Is this some kind of nautical Mornington Crescent?

(Ben) Dover

[RWB Robin]

Going back to the photos....Serendipity!!  I've never been to Waterhay, but was meeting someone today for work called Andrew Freeth - never met him before and he comes from Buckinghamshire, but was talking about his relatives who ran the recycling plant - and his dad who was born there to a farming Freeth....

[Ginginho]

There's a similar church I stumbled across in Inglesham a few weeks back. I don't have any photos, but it was built in 13th century and well worth a visit if you're in the area.

http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/Ourchurches/Completelistofchurches/Church-of-St-John-the-Baptist-Inglesham-Wiltshire/

[leefer]

Hi folks....some random pics from my travels.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/012-10.jpg[/URL]

Above is Lincoln Cathedrall in December...surrounded by a massive wall.

Below is Bishops House...Sheffields oldest house.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/042-1.jpg[/URL]

Below is Soham Church.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/014-5.jpg[/URL]

Below...Poppys near Marlbrough.

[url width=720 height=480]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/poppy2.jpg[/URL]

Below is Tidworth Military Cemetery.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/034.jpg[/URL]

Below is Defyniog Church in South Wales.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/Defyniog_zps659ac3fb.jpg[/URL]

Below is Lambourne Woodlands Church.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/lambornewoodlands_zpsb079187d.jpg[/URL]

Below is Eastleach Church

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/021.jpg[/URL]

Below is Scrapyard and Church in Handsworth Brum

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/006.jpg[/URL]

And in Handsworth again...impresive Temple building.

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/021-2.jpg[/URL]

Finally below,driving over the Brecon Beacons....can you spot the near fatal mistake?

[url width=900 height=675]http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/swindon123/017-1.jpg[/URL]

[cheltred69]

Good selection of photos once again Leefer.
Did you nearly drive over that cattle grid into the live rifle-range? (I'm guessing near Sennybridge)
 

[Reg Smeeton]

Hang on a min Leefer...are we talking Eastleach Martin or Eastleach Turville, both of which the last time I was there had their own church?  Maybe Martin has been knocked down.

[Dostoyevsky]

I got back from Guernsey 5 days ago. I love the place. So friendly and the scenery is gorgeous. If you have a drink habit I highly recommend it. I couldn't give it a higher recommendation.