Banwell Hutton Walk in the Countryside Part II, 'St Andrew's Church & Castle'by Sheila, Aug 4th 2021
Channel: semw52
Date: 2021-08-08

Banwell full of history, mystery, myths and legend---some historians debate the birth place of St Patrick here and very close within the Iron Age Hill Fort and marked in the form of a large cross embedded in the ground constructed in his memory.....A man called Harry Jelley has done much research on this topic and his writings can be found online www.st-patricks2.co.uk  'The birth place of St Patrick' 1998---------with St Patrick we are of course going back much further than than the present  church of St Andrew ( why not called St Patrick????)---back to the early Christian times when the Romans were departing , when invaders like the Anglo Saxons were arriving and the whole of Wessex was under siege---frequent raids took place here over many  many centuries--------King Alfred was here and  a very early church---the present church  was mainly created in the 15th c.....my earlier videos from 2020  have  further images and details---the River Banwell here has also played a significant part in the history here  and travels all the way to Woodspring Priory where it enters the sea, the Bristol Channel where many rivers meet...The village had several mills around the spring waters, the source of the  river Banwell and mentioned right back to the Doomsday Book....The church font is  one of the few  features from the 12th.c church---in the middle ages the church was highly decorated and with some original stain glass remaining from this period in its history...the church has a pamphlet written by David Bromwich in 1976 with references to more detailed descriptions of the church and its locals....
Anyway  I observe the masonic imagery as I pass over the threshold of the church doorway and enter the church eager to create a small video before the possibility  of other visitors arriving ----non came  on this visit----The 2020 video will be longer and more detailed---today's  2021 visit was part of my Summer stroll from Banwell to Hutton along old tracks and bridleways, thru woods  enjoying the brief episode of Summer  warmth , blue skies and sunshine.............I light a candle for family and friends and for World Peace...I leave the church and  pass thru the churchyard looking back at the statue of William Beard with the aim of visiting the Beard Stone on Banwell Hill later in the walk----...the walk continues as I wander up Dark Lane towards Banwell Castle---this is a quiet lane with big houses and gardens and close to the Hill Fort----at the top of the lane is a very busy and potentially dangerous road junction on a steep bendy hill  linking Banwell to Winscombe---to my amazement and horror I witness a beautiful hen peacock and her little troop of babies  calmly crossing the road from the castle to visit the  Wood of the Hill Fort-------they are allowed access unlike the rest of the public----the woods surrounding the plateaux hillfort are being parceled up and sold and Private signs are everywhere----a local Jewel denied to the locals and visitors apparently...........Anyway the Peacocks are safe and enter a woman's garden that backs onto the wood---the woman told me this is a common occurrence  and has happened for years---the peacocks belong to the castle---soon I am greeted by more peacocks--a gorgeous  male peacock in all his glory also  crosses a smaller road and then jumps up onto the castle wall-----as for the castle----it was closed for tea and cake but does hold weddings etc.....it has a timeline  back to 1750 and has passed hands several times-------no doubt  the land here holds more information  about any previous fortifications on Wint Hill--a roman villa was discovered nearby in the 1990s...more info to be found online folks----anyway I leave the castle area  heading for more peace in the countryside with its magnificent views as will be seen in the video to follow...