Welford-on-Avon

It started raining by lunchtime.  It started and didn't stop.  Although Ann had managed to get out this morning for a walk whilst it was dry I had stayed in pottering about, so just to get me out of the house we decided to do a bit of one of our local villages and we chose Welford.  A nice place, famous for its maypole being one of the highest in England at 20 metres (65 feet in old money).  There has been a maypole here since Shakespeare’s time though the current pole, made of aluminium, replaced the previous wooden pole after it was struck by lightning.  The pole is classed as a Grade II historical monument by English Heritage. The primary school children dance round the pole every June (hence the name May Pole!).

We couldn't do a lot of the village due to the persistent rain, but there is a church and some old interesting buildings, plus a few public walkways, we will come back on a drier day.

I took a close-up of the top of the pole, obviously this bird thought it had found an ideal perch.


Diary Note: the large haematoma on my chest left after the pacemaker procedure doesn't seem to be shrinking at all.  I have an appointment at Warwick Hospital to look at it next week.  Hopefully it won't have to be drained.