Shottesbrook Farm 20 March 2016

This was such a grey day, winter holding on tightly even though there were signs of spring around.  It was really cold when we met up in Littlewick Green and headed through the village out into the countryside.

A lovely village green surrounded by really quaint houses.

Thimble Cottage - it was quite dinky, and a dog who wished he was joining us.

Even a theatre school ...

There are lots of traditional British farms but, quite surprisingly, a Rasta compound.  The flag is all that was visible.  No time to stop and look around though - the Ramblers march on!

Shortly we turned into Shottesbrooke Farm.  It looks so bleak, but in a few weeks it will all be soft green.

Walking through the Park and past the 18th century manor house

we came to the medieval church, St John the Baptist, which was built in 1337.  Apparently the church isn't often open but we were lucky on this day and able to have a quick look around.

The church is quite unusual in that the flint, which was normally not worked before building, was chipped away to form bricks in the lower part of the building.  Time consuming and very expensive.

The inside is very beautiful with stained glass windows, original brasses and a couple of tombs

An old tombstone but not as old as the church

Look at the size of these walls

Then back through the countryside to Waltham St Lawrence

Another of those impossibly quaint villages - all the buildings in wonderful condition.

Half a door?

To end the walk, daffodils, blue bells and blossoms