Thursday 18 July 2013

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



12 comments:

Mary Ann said...

These pictures were wonderful... I have never seen a brook at the side of a road... I'm sure they must have used it for waste disposal in ancient times, but it is so pretty today!

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

What a joy to see Thomas Hardy country, the lanes, hills and lovely views that seem to go on infinitely. Wonderful post!
xx
julie

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

I do love that gently rolling landscape and all the green, the beautiful old stone walls, the old churchyards, and the red geraniums against the blue shutters! Wonderful photos, Barbara.

CherryPie said...

That is a very quaint looking villiage.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

It is a very picturesque place with lots of history. What a nice place to visit!

Winifred said...

Lovely photos Barbara. Hope the good weather continues for you.

Haven't been down that way so another place to go on the list!

Scriptor Senex said...

Lovely to travel with you as always. And I loved that little duck road sign!

Cheri said...

Loved the post, I am thinking I would love to visit Dorset. I loved the wood tulips you bought!

Lori Zehr said...

I so enjoy your pictures! Lovely churchyard! Thank you for the posts!

La Petite Gallery said...

Once again you out did yourself.
That photo of the rock wall with flowers was something I would have taken.
The village is beautiful and looks like the buildings were made to last forever. I love that stream,only wish my foxgloves were that big. Thanks for the great tour. What do you think they will name THE baby?
George, Edward, James?????

Anonymous said...

Very pretty countryside, and a quaint village. Your tulips are lovely.

Sigrun said...

Hi Barbara, thank you for the photographs. We actualy are speeking about holidays in dorset, but we are not shure.
Britain is not big, but realy big for our yearly holdiays.

Sigrun