There has been a church on this site for around 1,000 years - probably dating back to Saxon times when Dorset was part of the Kingdom of Wessex.

As a child I was intrigued by the monkey puzzle tree on the right. Such trees are not common in Britain although I have seen other examples but it makes me wonder how one has come to be planted in a rural churchyard in Dorset. According to Wikepedia the tree is native to South America and its conservation status was listed in 2013 as endangered due to its declining abundance. The name monkey puzzle tree was applied to it during early cultivation in Britain during the 1800's.

Tags:   Dorset Yetminster Monkey Puzzle Tree

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Boxgrove Priory was founded by Robert de Haye around 1066 and dissolved on the orders of King Henry VIII in 1536. All that remains today is this Church dedicated to St Mary and St Blaise which stands in a very 'English' country church yard.

Tags:   West Sussex Halnaker Chichester English Heritage

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This photograph was taken last year and shows a view of Chichester Cathedral with part of the Bishops Palace in the foreground. One of my favourite places to photograph!

The Cathedral is almost a thousand years old and one the major tourist attractions in Southern England. Along with the Bishops Palace Garden they provide a quiet location for reflection and enjoyment even though located in the centre of a busy City.

Tags:   Great Britain England West Sussex Chichester Cathedral Bishops Palace Clive Ardontz

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This photograph is the western end of Chichester Cathedral captured from the Bishops Palace Gardens. The 15th century Bell Tower on the left is separate from the 940 year old Cathedral. It is presumed this is because the two matching towers either side of the main entrance have both suffered from subsidence over the centuries and been the subject of rebuilding.

Tags:   Chichester Cathedral West Sussex Clive Ardontz

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This very "English Church" scene is located in the centre of the village of Pangbourne in Berkshire. The Church is only one of twenty six places of worship in the country to be dedicated to St James the Less.

The first Church on this site was built some time prior to 1175 and rebuilt around the time of the Restoration in 1660. The brick tower was added in 1718 with the nave and chancel completely rebuilt in 1865.

Tags:   Berkshire Pangbourne Church Gravestones

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