GB and I went to Norton Priory today. The walled garden is magnificent. I feel quite guilty that despite living within 30 miles of it my whole life I'd never been there before.
The priory before Henry VIII.
The priory after Henry VIII.
The site has been extensively excavated and a number of medieval coffins unearthed. Their contents show some of the many degenerative and other diseases from which our ancestors sufferred. So here's one for Bryony...
In the gardens we came across Coventina - Celtic Goddess of springs and wells.
We also found a sign that said Fairies at work making the Fairy Glen. This meant GB spent the rest of the walk looking for the fairies....
The Norton Museum Trust has been designated the National Collewction holder for Tree Quince, Cydonia oblonga, and there are over 20 varieties at Nortonm Priory. The Quince is repiuted top be the Golden Apple that Paris gave to Aphrodite and is first mentioned in Britain in 1275 when Edward I planted four at the Tower of London. The Quince is an apple or pear shaped fruit with a golden yellow skin and a strong, spicy scent. It is not eaten fresh but can be stewed with meat or boiled with sugar to produce an excellent jam or jelly.
Buddleia alternifolia - I want one!
Mecanopsis betonicifolia - ditto.
Jacob's Ladder - ditto again!
There were just so many beautiful flowers. I would thoroughly recommend a visit to anyone visiting N Cheshire.
0 comments:
Post a Comment