The Common Homepage


Dist:0.5km<br/>
©Mike Searle
Dist:0.6km<br/>Weather vanes have always been more than just a wind direction device. Created by skilled craftsman, there is true artistic expression in the varied designs. Initially wood vanes were carved by carpenters or furniture makers, and iron, copper and tin ones were forged by the local blacksmith or tinsmith. In the 19th century weather vanes started to be mass-produced from moulds.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.7km<br/>The postbox and noticeboard, by the corner of the lane to the church.
©Chris Downer
Dist:0.7km<br/>Belchalwell is visible to the right of the foreground tree and Bell Hill is beyond the village.
©John Lamper
Dist:0.7km<br/>Beside the track to St Aldhelm's Church wildflowers grow in abundance including Jack by the hedge. It is also known as garlic mustard, which describes the aroma of the crushed leaves. This biennial plant grows to 1 metre tall in large groups below hedges and walls. After flowering from April to June, long seed pods are produced.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.7km<br/>Beside the track to St Aldhelm's Church wildflowers grow in abundance including campion. This untidy plant is commonly found in hedges, woods and shady places, which it brightens with a mass of carmine flowers in May and June.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.7km<br/>
©Basher Eyre
Dist:0.8km<br/>The Church of St. Aldhelm overlooks Lower Belchalwell from a low hill to the north west to the village and portions around the Main doorway and south west facing side are believed to date from around 1190. http://www.belchalwell.org.uk/church.asp
©John Lamper
Dist:0.8km<br/>Sundial on the church tower. The tower dates from the 15th century Sundials or sun clocks are considered to be the oldest known device for the measurement of time and one of the most ancient scientific instruments. The oldest known true sundial was built around 1500BC in Egypt. Shaped like a letter 'L' the length of the shadow cast by the vertical leg along the horizontal leg indicated the time. The Romans perfected the horizontal sundial we know today and invented portable travelling versions.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.8km<br/>The bench mark is to be found on [[1861664]] and http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm34392 A bench mark is an Ordnance Survey arrowhead sign found on walls, bridges, churches and specially erected triangulation pillars where the altitude above sea-level has been accurately measured by surveyors. The arrowhead points to a horizontal line above it which marks the exact altitude. With rivets and pivots there is no datum (horizontal line) cut, the pointed-to horizontal surface defining the datum height.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.8km<br/>Most of the fittings within the church date from the 19th century.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.8km<br/>The font is 20th century.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.8km<br/>A view through the tiny window in the porch to the churchyard beyond.
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.8km<br/>A family of birds have taken up residence in the porch. As I did not get a glimpse of the occupiers I am not sure if this is a swift or swallows nest. Thanks to Hugh Venables the occupiers of the nest are "It's a Swallow nest: Swifts nest in existing cavities as they can't take off from the ground so can't collect mud. House Martins build mud nests but they reach the surface above the nest except for a small opening."
©Trish Steel
Dist:0.8km<br/>Access to the church is gained via a track. There is a small parking area to the left.
©Trish Steel

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]

Members Nearby

The Common Discussion Forum


Places Near The Common

Bagber • Belchalwell • Belchalwell Street • Broad Oak • Droop • Fiddleford • Fifehead Neville • Fifehead St Quintin • Gold Hill • Hammoon • Hazelbury Bryan • Ibberton • Kingston • Leigh • Newton • Okeford Fitzpain • Pidney • Puxey • Rivers' Corner • Rixon • Rolls Mill • Shillingstone • Stoke Wake • Sturminster Common • Sturminster Newton • The Bridge • The Common • Turnworth • Wonston • Woolland •