Ston Easton Homepage


A quintessential English churchyard, with former parishioners resting peacefully around the yew tree.
©Dr Duncan Pepper
©Dr Duncan Pepper
Dist:0.1km<br/>The church has its origins in the 12th century and was greatly restored in the 19th century. The tower is 15th century. The banner is advertising Plough Sunday. Plough Sunday, coming on the first Sunday after the Epiphany was traditionally the Sunday set-aside especially to bless the plough before ploughing got off in earnest in preparation for the sowing of spring crops. To many today it may seem irrelevant, and also rather odd that ploughing started as late as January. In today’s farming scene, the ploughs are in the fields almost as soon as the combines have finished harvesting. But then, farming was very different. After harvest the stubbles were left to feed and fatten up poultry and geese. Geese especially, as it was always a goose that was served up at Michaelmas – an important feast day, more important even than Christmas. It was the end and the start of the farming year, it was a quarter day, indeed it still is, and many of today’s farming tenancies are still set at quarter days, principally Michaelmas and Lady Day. As most of the cereal crops grown were sown in the spring, ploughing did not start until after the Christmas festivities in January and February, giving time for the frost to break down the soil prior to sowing in March or April. Hence Plough Sunday coming in early January was the most appropriate time to bless the plough, and pray for a successful harvest to come.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.1km<br/>Judging by its girth, this yew tree in Ston Easton churchyard is one of the select English yews over 1,000 years old.
©Dr Duncan Pepper
Dist:0.1km<br/>
©Dominic Dawn Harry and Jacob Paterson
Dist:0.2km<br/>The footpath allows walkers to leave the A37 to reach Warberry Lane.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.2km<br/>Farrington Gurney next then Clutton, Pensford and Bristol The minor road signposted to the right goes to Clapton.
©Maurice Pullin
Dist:0.3km<br/>The stile allows walkers access to the footpath from the A37 to cross pasture towards Warberry Lane.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.3km<br/>The crw vehicle is probably returning to Gurney Slade after making a delivery of cement. After Gurney Slade the A37 continues to Shepton Mallet ending at Dorchester.
©Maurice Pullin
Dist:0.4km<br/>
©Dr Duncan Pepper
Dist:0.4km<br/>These houses are on the west side of High St in the middle of the village. The A37 goes right through the middle of the village.
©Nigel Mykura
Dist:0.4km<br/>The K6 type telephone box stands at the entrance of Ston Easton Park.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.5km<br/>Looking over a pasture to the Mendip TV transmitter on Pen Hill [[ST5648]] Also in sight is the wind generator at Shooter's Bottom Farm [[ST5950]]
©Maurice Pullin
Dist:0.5km<br/>Seen across the pasture from the A37.
©Maurice Pullin
Dist:0.6km<br/>This Palladian mansion, set in 36 acres of parkland with the river Norr running through the grounds is now an up-market hotel.
©Dr Duncan Pepper

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]

Members Nearby

Ston Easton Discussion Forum


Places Near Ston Easton

Barlake • Bathway • Benter • Binegar • Britten's • Cameley • Chewton Mendip • Chilcompton • Clapton • Coley • Cutler's Green • East End • East End • Emborough • Farrington Gurney • Ford • Gurney Slade • Hallatrow • Hinton Blewett • Litton • Midsomer Norton • Nedge Hill • Old Down • Paulton • Sherborne • Ston Easton • Stratton-on-the-Fosse • Temple Cloud • Thicket Mead • Winterfield •