Abbotsbury, Portesham and Hardy's Monument, Dorset

Having left the coast road we are heading Inland to Abbotsbury

the village nestling in  the countryside in the centre of photo

It is late Sunday afternoon and we find this tearoom and the owners are prepared to stay open and serve us.

 The welcome and friendliness was outstanding and I understand that the B & B attached is the same

Wheelwrights dates from the 1500's and was for centuries a wheelwrights workshop

Afterwards we visit the Dansel Gallery which features a superb collection of high quality items from the best of British designer craftsman

I bought one of their small items

a hand crafted wooden vase and tulips

On our way back to the cottage Alan was good enough to stop while I took some photos in Portesham

very good of him as we have visited many places this Sunday afternoon on this our first day

I love these brooks on the side of the road

not forgetting to browse in the church yard

where I come across this ancient grave stone where a church vicar was buried in 1681

Not content to call it a day we pass the lane up to Thomas Hardy's monument. This area is known as Hardy country as there have been 3 well known men by the name of Thomas Hardy.

This monument was errected in 1884 to the memory of

 Vice-Admiral Thomas Masterman Hardy,  flag captain to

 H.M.S. Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. Amongst other things,  Hardy became famous as it was in his arms that Nelson died, saying the immortal words "Kiss Me Hardy" 

It is early evening now and it is almost too blustery up here to take photos but the views are great and this monument can be seen from miles around in every direction. Even better from the top of the tower when it is open

Well it is definitely time to make our way back to the cottage for 

high tea