A ruined church, Nell Gwyn and Hammer Horror

A long walk with the spaniel in some wintry sunshine this morning. Our halfway point was the ruined church of St James, the only structure left of the now deserted medieval village of Bix Brand which lay at the end of this remote valley. Nell Gwyn's family lived nearby and it is believed that she worshipped at this church in the mid 17th century. By the 1800s however the church was falling into disrepair and most of the population had moved south out of the valley to Bix Gibwyn. The church was finally abandoned in 1875 when the new church of St James opened in Bix.  Buzzards and Red Kites soared above us, their calls giving the ruins a somewhat eerie feel. No wonder that they have been used in two Hammer Horror films  (The Witches, 1966 and The Blood on Satan's Claw, 1971). Of more interest to me though are the missing windows. The old church had two early 16th century Flemish stained glass windows. Apparently these were removed and installed in the new church. I will try to find them later this week.