Readers of these posts will know that there are a number of Roman villas in the vicinity of Sherborne. You will recall that a couple of years ago we spotted the crop mark of a long-suspected Roman villa down where the Sherborne Brook meets the Windrush. Here's
Just a short post. 1. Serena reports finding a tiny common lizard in her house the other day. I've not seen any lizards in the local area. Maybe you have, but it's nice to see this one has been spotted. 2. An interesting development with regards
About 18 months ago, the Cotswold District Council (CDC) distributed an early draft of their local plan. Aspects of the plan, particularly section EN18, caused some alarm in the community. In this section, the National Trust presented their concept for "Big Nature, Better Access", and that caused most
I thought subscribers in Sherborne might be interested in a couple of other projects I'm working on, that will appear here in the coming months. Firstly, utilising some research that is coming out through the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, which has examined the records from Winchcombe Abbey
This is the latest in a series. It began with the economics of Sherborne under the Duttons, went back to the gift of 806, and then asked who has a say in what this landscape becomes. It concluded that the community's view of its own heritage is a
Quite a range of things to report or pass on - a miscellany but I think they are important. 1. Contamination / Deterioration of Water Quality in the Sherborne Brook An eagle eyed Support Group member, Ben P., noticed some unpleasant possible contamination in the Brook, by Wadlands bridge at the Eastern
The last post addressed who owns the heritage here in Sherborne, and what changed when the National Trust took ownership in 1987. It brought a response I had not expected. Two documents arrived within a day, both of them the National Trust's own. Neither, I should say at
This is the latest in a series of articles that started by exploring the economics of Sherborne in the late Middle Ages. Stand on the village road and look north. Over the brook there is meadow, trees, deer. It looks like countryside that simply happened. It did not. Every version
As many of you know, Brian and Glenys have left Sherborne. They will no doubt show their faces and will retain the friendships they built over time here in Sherborne. They will always be welcome. I have always valued Brian’s support to the Brook Group. At every call to
In researching some of the sad tales of the young men of Sherborne who died in the Great War or the Second World War, I have encountered a surprising story of another man associated with Sherborne but not, technically, a son of Sherborne. I think as a community we need
The recent article giving some nature notices got quite a few responses. I thought I'd share them back with you. 1. The picture above is a hedgehog, seen on the road between the crossroads and Haycroft. It seemed a bit thirsty, so Anna tempted it to head towards
My current physical immobility has tied me to my desk - hence all these posts. Don't read them if you are bored, I won't be offended. My body isn't working but my brain is still ticking along. Continuing to research the history of Lodge Park,
Some minor stuff to report 1. Joshua, who runs the mink eradication project for the Waterlife Recovery Trust, which we're helping on, has told me there have been numerous sightings of mink across the county in recent weeks. He's concerned about an uptick in the population
In researching Lodge Park, with a bit of detective work, I came across a document that has never been publicly encountered before – it’s part of the Conservation Management Plan for Lodge park, written over 10 years ago. It's hosted on a webpage by the Cotswold National Landscape.
Third in a series. In the last two pieces on Sherborne's historic economics I argued that Sherborne's landscape has always been chosen but driven by the economy of the estate. Winchcombe Abbey built a working valley of mills, leats and washing pools, handsome because it worked.
Second in a series. My recent piece on Sherborne's economic transformation after the dissolution of the monasteries drew quite a number of cogent responses. Thank you. It also left a question hanging, and it has nagged at me since. Economics tells us who owned the land. It does
This image is interesting. I don't have the full facts or pretend that I do. The object on the trailer sits abandoned in Sherborne on National Trust property. I suspect it was used in the 1970s or 1980s. The object, a strange amphibious machine, is fitted with twin
This may bore a small proportion of the Sherborne Brook Support Group, but I imagine it is of some interest to most of you. I think it is important I keep you up to date. I apologise if you are overwhelmed by emails from me. Many of you have expressed
Subscribers to these emails may recall that three months ago, through our membership of the Windrush Catchment Partnership, I attempted to engage with Thames Water after monitoring the sewage outflows from the Bourton in the Water Sewage Treatment Works. You'll recall that the sewage from Sherborne is pumped
A few weeks ago, I wrote about paddling in my canoe with George, who was taking film along the Sherborne Brook. If you recall, I got a bit carried away with my own thoughts as George was filming. Anyway. George has put together the following video using what he filmed
This is a follow-up to my last post where I raised some questions about a county council strategy that seemed to include the possibility of a wildlife bridge over the A40 at Sherborne. I engaged with the Gloucestershire Local Nature Partnership, who have a coordinating role in this. Although
I have picked up in my research some county level strategy development that might, possibly, include some significant and expensive engineering on the A40 here in Sherborne to create a "wildlife bridge". What is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy? First, some context. A Local Nature Recovery Strategy is
I spent some time today talking to a gentleman called Vaughan Taylor. Vaughan was brought up in Sherborne. The Taylor family go back several generations, and indeed his ancestor was the Sherborne turbine electrician who ran the turbine house down by the lower weir. His parents ran the village shop
Our favourite Sherborne musician, Richard Boothby, is giving a concert in Windrush next weekend. Highly recommended!