Another jaunt out in the sunshine.

 

It must be over 50 years since I last visited Heysham and thought it high time for another visitation ! . We will ignore the nuclear power station and concentrate on the old part of the village and it's headland . A view through the door of St. Patrick's chapel built in the 8th century  with Morecambe Bay beyond . Tradition has it that the saint landed here from Ireland .

Excavations have shown that there were burial within the chapel and the surrounding areas all dating from the 10th century 

There are these six stone cut coffins with slots for crosses , they were probably used as ossuaries to hold the bones rather than bodies .

Another view of them with an impressive vista of the bay .

A not to successful panorama shot (clicking on it may improve it)

Just down the hill behind the chapel is the stump of a  headless cross .

Just down the hill is the 'modern' St. Peter's church which was consecrated in 967 AD , there is evidence of an earlier wooden structure nearer the bay .

Heysham is mentioned in the Domesday Book but the first written record dates from 1658, the remains of a dated cross - 1696 ..

In the church is a Viking hogback tombstone .

Another view with Mrs K for scale, the carvings on it represent the stories of Sigurd the dragon slayer and Sigmund , but with some Christian symbols -  scholars think it is part of transition from paganism to Christianity .and it is one of the most impressive found in the North of England.

A 13th century sepulchral slab with floriated cross and sword (not sure if the sword means the occupant had been on crusade ?) We rounded off the trip with cakes and teas at the cafe run by church volunteers - another 'Grand Day Out' 

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YeeHa ! (now with added lasso)

 

Several weeks ago (.: Reclaiming 'Buffalo Bill' .) I cleaned off this Buffalo Bill figure and have got him painted up,varnished and provided with a lasso made from some parcel string . He needs a bob of 'bluetack' on the saddle to keep him mounted and I've added a base to the horse to help with stability .He is the last of my 'to do' painting projects for the moment and as the Summer seems to have returned it's back to gardening again.

Getting the builders round.

 

I've had these 28mm buildings since Christmas and thought it was time to get them built. The Chapel on the left will be used with my Medieval 'Lion Rampant' collections and the log cabin on the right will do in an  American  setting , seeing the sun is shining I will get them sprayed with undercoat before continuing with the garden transformation. 

'Brae Heghland lads'

 

As the Summer returns I've got theses Schneider home-cast Highlanders based and painted (I've just noticed I have forgotten to base one of them - Upps !) . They are rather strange figures more "Brigadoon" than historical uniforms but with a certain style about them . Sadly only 4 of them so I will have to keep my eyes open for a few more.

Nothing new but it's old.

 

Think I've seen this before but not colourised,  ladies making model terrain for RAF training during WW2 . It looks rather modern like the terrain cloths you can buy nowadays, 

First fruits of the inclement weather.

 

Got these semi-flat painted up and varnished, (.: Garden Toy Soldiers in the sun.) half of them were already painted and I tried to copy the original paint job . I have also put them on bases as they where not very stable and fall over at the drop of a hat .Here we see a patrol crossing the 'Great Patio' (Upper Region).

Scouts report back "all clear Sir, no enemy in sight !". The figures are homecasts from a Schneider type mould (click on photos to enlarge them) . The weather is still showery so more painting on the agenda .