Stanton & The Archbishop of Canturbury

Today we did get to Stanton albeit a week later than planned after last weeks disaster. The village of Stanton  was designated a conservation area in 1973 and has many listed buildings.
We parked alongside the Gilbert Sheldon Hall and just followed the road down to Ousley Cross Farm.

Named after the Archbishop of Canterbury who was born in the village in 1598

Lovely stone houses in the village

St. Mary's Church - built around 1846 by W Evans of Manchester.

Strange double wall  along the road.

Looking for potential walking sticks in the Hazel tree's that run alongside the road.

After we passed St. Mary's Church we walked down the lane to Ousley Cross Farm where we found the remains of the ancient cross. The Farm house is thought to date back to 1424 which is probably the date the cross was erected.

Remains of Ousley Cross

Ousley Cross Farm circa 1424

We left the road and went onto a track which eventually led onto footpaths crossing over the fields. Mostly the tracks were dryish, but then we encountered the worst conditions we have ever had and there was no escaping the MUD.

We got to a field that was a nightmare to cross. Rob & Ike went first then me, unfortunately i seem to get the worst of it. At one point i thought i was going to have to leave my boots in the mud, i had to use the stick to get some air in and relieve the vacuum. Geoff managed to get into the next field and missed the worst of it.

Me stuck in the mud.

Phone masts and pheasants

Misty sun rays.

The footpaths eventually led us to a road where we had our breakfast and cleaned our boots best we could.  back to Stanton Village.

Lovely garden

Cracking weather vane

Not sure if this was the village well.

King George V Coronation Lime tree

There is a lime tree planted to commemorate the coronation of King George V (22nd June 1011) and the cottage behind this tree has a blue plaque denoting where Gilbert Sheldon was born in 1598. He eventually became the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Sheldonian theater at Oxford was built and endowed at his expense. He died in 1677 and his remains are buried at St. John's the Baptist Church in Croydon.
We all wonder if our Geoff is related to him, sharing the same surname.
After i got home i had to hose my boots and walking trousers, not sure if the boots will be dry by next weekend.
This walk was just over 4 miles but there was a lot of stiles for Geoff to climb over and quite a lot of very damp and muddy conditions. The mist and low cloud kept rolling in and we had to wait for clear spells to some decent pics.
I think next week we need somewhere water free with solid ground.
Cheers