Could have been

This could have been a picture of the cells of St Constantine built into the sandstone cliffs above the River Eden at Wetheral. The plan was to visit these, so we walked along the riverside path and then up into the woods. I say 'could have' because I never made it to the cells. I have no head for heights and one look at the narrow track, the sheer drop and the river way, way down below put me off completely. (Whether the braver explorer will actually blip these instead remains to be seen.)


So, it is yet another Holy Well
 
This is a well at Wetheral, just outside Carlisle, overlooking the River Eden, and dedicated to St Cuthbert. It is thought to have been built well before Norman times when Wetheral Priory was founded and it was known in the 12th Century as Fons Sancti Cuthberti. It is quite possible therefore that this was actually a place where St Cuthbert preached and held baptisms. He was known to have travelled far and wide over the north, preaching the Gospel, and there is evidence that he visited Carlisle in 683 and 687.
 
The well is built of handworked blocks of Eden sandstone on some of which the mason's marks are very evident. It is covered with a sloping stone slab. Sixteen stone steps lead down to the well through the trees. It was repaired in 1897 and again in 2001.
 
   
The Dark Skies evening at Keilder Observatory was wonderful. We were lucky to have a clear night and it was amazing to be outside with just the light of the moon and the stars. We thought we lived in a place with very little light pollution - this was something else. We were able to use the huge telescopes and saw all sorts of things, including a close up of Jupiter and a fine view of the moon (I have added an iPhone telescope photo as an extra picture on yesterday's blip if you are interested.) Some brilliant talks, and mugs of hot chocolate when we retreated inside to get warm - a great night. We were a bit late home!