Saturday, April 17, 2021

17th April 2021



And on this day?  Something Radio 4 does every morning as they look back on the history of one particular day.

Jo will ring the church bells twice, first before Prince Phillip's funeral service and then before the one minute silence.  Unfortunately I shall be queuing in Pickering for my second vaccination but I can watch later on.

I am happy for him that he planned his own funeral, the Land Rover, the wool coffin, he made an ecological statement even in his death, not wanting a State burial.

I was going to write, once more! about Garn Wynda cromlech, situated on a rocky outcrop above a village looking out to sea.  It is hidden in the jumble of rocks, but all along this Pembrokeshire coastline such cromlechs are to be found.  One of the things I notice about other people who go to see it they always start from the village, whereas I travelled along an old grassy  path from a lane.  It was interesting to see two derelict houses along the way and an old school deserted sitting alone in a field, and thinking about the people who must once have attended the school.




It looks towards the sea and you will often find these old burial places strategically placed in the landscape with a view.  The above Victorian plate shows the tall pointy rock above as does my photo.  The writer thought that it was dedicated to a god, but he was right on one level, you can locate the triangle capstone in the landscape beneath it.

Makes you think how we have not progressed very far with our own  gravestones and obelisks.

One theory for stones, tall and straight - phallic, the triangular shape - female.  This can be seen, if you believe that is, along the Avenue at Avebury.  But funnily enough down in Cornwall amongst the stone circles you will find the odd female triangle stone as well.

8 comments:

  1. I have the complete set of John Aubrey's drawings of ancient British monuments in two volumes. You would love that I am sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I would, it all happened round that part of the world - Wiltshire and Salisbury Plain. Colt Hoare also had great illustrated books.

      Delete
  2. Not one I've been to, but it reminds me of the one overlooking the beach at Manorbier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is surprising how they are very similar along the Pembrokeshire coastline Jennie. Except of course for the flying wonder of Pentre Ifan.

      Delete
  3. My first husband and I visited Wales a lot - there seemed to be so many Cromlechs and they were strangely moving - as are old gravestones I find. My son lived near Highgate Cemetery many years ago and a visit there always had a strangely moving effect too. I am pleased Prince Phillip planned his own funeral and in a way I am pleased that he died at a time when a state ceremony was forbidden by Covid rules - I am sure he will feel much more at ease with today's funeral.

    ReplyDelete
  4. When I was a child we would often go to Wales for school holidays. But my love for the country did not develop until I grew up, and I loved its wild fastness. You think Phillip is looking down on us and watching the preparations for his funeral?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I often have to google what you are writing about as I have not heard of them before. I would have thought the large rock just broke off of the cliff and tumbled there but it is set up that way as a tomb? How do they move such large heavy rocks into place? Must be important people to be buried like that high above the others.
    I learn from your posts, Thelma. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Moving rocks? It is quite difficult obviously, but their is a train of thought that the 'bluestones' of Stonehenge were moved from Wales down to Wiltshire. A combination of log rolling on land and then taken in boats along the coast and rivers. Prehistoric stones were important and signified a religious act probably Ellen when they were put into stone circles or tombs.

    ReplyDelete

Love having comments!