Hagioscope

Her Indoors's Summer School has begun again, and this year, she is holding it in a lovely village hall in the shadow of this church, right on the edge of the Wiltshire/Somerset border. The main core of the church is 12th century, as is most of it's tower, shown above. It was heavily improved in the 17th century and 19th century, mainly by the local family of Long. You can see what the Longs' thought of themselves by the incredible portico tomb below...

You could use this memorial to Thomas Long to make a fine doorway in Ephesus or London, but right now, it is the site for the children's sunday school, which is explains all the soft toys on the tablet. You would have thought that part of the spiritual education for these kids would be respect for the dead - let alone dead of such obvious importance. This little room is the 'Long Chapel', tacked on in the 1600s or earlier.

When they were carrying out some renovations in the 19th century, they found a bricked in 'Hagioscope' (shown above) in the wall of the chapel, and this was made so that the Long family could get a good view of the altar and priest, without having to leave their chapel and join the rustics outside. They had their own separate entrance too. So much for everyone equal in the eyes of God.

This last photo is for the benefit of Cro, who is currently building a little tower at his pad in France - I thought it might inspire. It is in the back garden of a house in Corsham, and this photo was taken from the public car-park, hence the shutters. The large house on the High Street was once the residence of Sir Michael Tippet, the composer. I spoke to the owner recently, and she says they just use it as a store room, not even a guest lodge - what a waste. I suppose it is about 1750 in date.