Medieval Cloisters

These late medieval cloisters are immediately adjacent to St Mary's Church in the Oxfordshire village of Ewelme.

The cloisters, built around a quiet central quadrangle, are the original thirteen almshouses, and were completed in 1455.

Linked here is my photograph of the covered part of the cloisters.

Walking up a covered passage, we reach the West Door of the church itself. This fine church was built soon after 1430, and the East Window of St John's Chapel contains glass from the same period. The guidebook says of the church: "The impression of dignity and grace made by the interior suggests a much larger building and is the result of good proportions and good lighting".

The church is closely associated with the Chaucer family. There is a tomb of Thomas Chaucer (d 1434), son of Geoffrey, and his wife. Then there is the most impressive tomb of Thomas's daughter Alice, who became the Duchess of Suffolk. The main tomb is in three tiers, and is entirely of alabaster. My photograph here is of the recumbent figure of the Duchess in this masterpiece.

My next picture shows more detail of the Duchess's head. She is clothed in the habit of a vowess, and wears a ducal coronet on her head, which rests on a cushion supported by two angels on either side.

At her feet is a very fine lion!

Above the tomb is an elaborate cornice with the lowest tier formed of winged figures.

Beyond the church and its cloisters and almshouses, Ewelme is famed for something quite different. It is widely known for its watercress beds!

These beds grow in a chalk stream of exceptional clarity. The beds are crammed with what, to our eyes, looked like plants of a startlingly green colour.

This web site carries an interesting but somewhat old-fashioned history of Ewelme.

An outing such as ours can be nicely rounded by a visit to a good local pub, which was conveniently (and unavoidably) located at the very beginning of the village.

... and so concluded a quiet, tranquil, peaceful afternoon: you might think! However, our route home went via the market town of Wallingford, which we found fully en fête. The whole town was really buzzing, with very lively crowds around on this sunny Saturday. It turned out that much of the activity was associated with the Bunkfest, centred on the large green of the Kinecroft. Has anyone else ever heard of a Bunkfest? From the look of the stages, and the sounds emanating from them, this (free) festival was associated with music (of a kind). We noted, more particularly, the many interesting food outlets, and a superb beer tent offering (they said) over 30 real ales from local independent brewers. But, peaceful and tranquil it was not...