Ellastone & Calwich Abbey

This week was a short hop across into neighbouring Staffordshire to visit the village of  Ellastone.
The journey only took 40 minutes even with the mist hanging around. We parked in the car park just behind St. Peters Church and the first pic show just how misty it was even at 7:45am.

St. Peters Church Ellastone.

Ellastone Old Hall, a late 17th century house, it was a pub in the past and was called the Bromley Arms.

Ellastone Old Hall

Ellastone telephone exchange with the blue door.

Ellastone village has numerous quaint buildings.

This water pump sits in a little cove off the street.

King George letter box outside the old post office in Dove St.

Part of the Lodge Gate into the Calwich Abbey  Estate.

We passed these Alpaca grazing in a field.

 Alpaca's are south american in origin and are bred for there fibers which are made into clothing which would traditionally be made from wool.

To me they just look like sheep with long legs and a longer neck!!!

Don't know what this is but i call it Angels hair!!

The track leading up to the remains of Calwich Abbey

Beautiful autumn morning

This building is all that's left of Calwich Abbey. It was formerly the stables.

 Calwich Abbey was originally an Augustinian priory, it was acquired by the Fleetwood family in 1544 following the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The original house was rebuilt in the early 18th century by Bernard Granville and it was during this time that the house played host to many literary celebrities including Erasmus Darwin and Anna Seward and the French philosopher, Rousseau. The composer, GF Handel, was also a frequent visitor and it is said that he composed some of his Water Music suite here A further rebuilding of the house took place in 1849-1850 to a design by the architect William Burn. By then the estate had been acquired by the Duncombe family. Calwich Abbey was demolished in 1927-1928 following the selling-off of the estate. A fishing temple, built next to the river, survives.

Geoff coming through a kissing gate.

Tracks in the grass

Rob & Geoff looming out of the mist.

Geoff getting his leg over (at 75 there's still hope for us)

Just stubble left after the harvest.

Berries on a  Hawthorn tree

Geoff on one of the footbridges over the brook

Now he's skipping!!!

Me on a clapper bridge

Breakfast stop with the chickens

Me feeding the chickens

St. Peters church

We had a really nice chat to this "Mole catcher"

Rambling party

Weather vane on St. Peters Church

Sun dial on St. Peters Church

St. Peters Church Ellastone

Another lovely little walk, just 3 1/2 miles but quite gentle with only a few styles to climb over.
We hope to go back again when there is less mist about, there were a couple of things we missed. Close to the Abbey ruins there is an original fishing temple where the composer Handel was reputed to have written his water music. We also want to have a peep in the church. Well that's sometime in the future.
See you next week
Cheers.