This week’s Saturday Snaphots were taken in Newton Regis, which claims to be the most northerly village in Warwickshire, and if you think they don’t look very seasonal that’s because they were taken back in April, when my elder daughter and I were testing her SatNav by deliberately getting lost...
I love stumbling across places and discovering they have the most amazing history, and Newton is no exception. It's a lovely little village and is, apparently, 'royal' twice over. It is supposed to have been given its regal title (regis is Latin for king) by Henry II in the last half of the 12th century, but later it became known as Newton-in-the-Thistles, which I think is much better. It's an incredible name, and makes me wonder if thistles were especially plentiful in the area, and if so, why? I know Eeyore ate them, but are there really any creatures which munch these prickly plants, or are they used for anything? The local football team are called the Thistles, which is a nice link with the past, but doesn't answer my questions. Generally speaking, dates appear to be a little vague, but it is thought the village reverted back to being Newton Regis in honour of Charles I, who prayed at St Mary’s Church on the night before a battle at Seckington, which is just down the road – and the village has also been referred to as Kings Newton, so it all gets a bit confusing really. And, should you wonder, the name Newton seems to mean ‘new settlement’ - tun or ton is Old English for an enclosure or homestead.
Anyway, 'quite settled' describes how Elder Daughter and I felt as we sat in the sunshine by the tiny, triangular village pond, and watched the ducks, who seemed happier on dry land. We admired a timber-framed, thatched cottage and the Queen’s Head pub, then (deciding that exercise was good for us), wandered along the road, past the Old Post Office (now a private house) and a gateway to a farm, to St Mary’s Church, parts of which date back to the 13th century.
It would have been nice to look inside the building, but it was locked, so we explored the churchyard, but we felt it was a sad reflection on the way life has changed. Once upon a time churches were always open, providing sanctuary and solace for those in need, and allowing visitors to browse at leisure: now many are kept shut up as a precaution against theft and vandalism.
For more Saturday Snapshots see Alice's blog
Love the photos. Your telling us that you were checking SatNav by deliberately becoming lost reminded me of my husband using the GPS function on his new camera while we were at the Desert Botanical Garden here in Phoenix (roughly south central in the state). The GPS listed the photos as being taken in Yuma (roughly 150 miles away on the California border) and even further away in Palm Springs, California. I hope we never have to depend on that to get us anywhere!
ReplyDeleteI love it!You'd have an interesting journey following the directions! Fortunately my daughter's SatNav was not like that. Her boyfriend got it for her, because her sense of direction is even worse than mine, and we worried that it might take take us up some narrow farm track, or miles from where we wanted to go, but we were quite impressed.
DeleteWhat a lovely little village, I love an unexpected find like that too.
ReplyDeleteIf I was braver about driving I'd take our campervan and go travelling, and just take off following signposts to places with interesting or odd names! But I'm much too scared to drive it (it's very old and heavy), and The Man of the House likes to plan where he is going.
DeleteThe photos look very peaceful, bucolic. I was hoping for pictures of Paris since you said you just returned. Maybe next week. Here's Mine
ReplyDeleteI put some pictures from Paris up last week, but I may put up some more of the Flower Market near Notre Dame, which is very pretty and smells beautiful, and there is a bird and animal market there as well, so you can hear all the birds singing away... but, sadly, you can't photograph sounds and smells!
DeleteI feel as though I've gone along on the stroll...a pleasant feeling! Thanks for sharing the photos and tidbits...
ReplyDeleteHere's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST
Thank you, that is such a lovely comment. It's not nearly as spectacular as your Oregon mountains - I just loved them
DeleteBeautiful pics! I love that first one of the homestead.
ReplyDeleteThank you - it's always easier to take pictures when the sun is shining!
DeleteThese are great. I love the little history lesson. It's so much fun to see photos from another country. Thanks for sharing.!
ReplyDeleteThank you - that's nice of you to say so. I feel the same about seeing photos from other countries - and I know this sounds daft, but I can't get over how fantastic America looks.
DeleteWhat a lovely place for an unexpected ramble! Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteI've got a list of other villages I want to visit, plus places in Birmingham and Coventry. I've decided that since I can't get a job I'll do things I enjoy - and I enjoy exploring, even if I don't like travelling!
DeleteI love the quaintness of the village. Great assortment of photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you Diane - I love quiet places like this with a hidden history, but I envy you that turtle!
DeleteSuch a lovely, peaceful village... thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. It is a lovely little village but, like so many villages these days, seem to be quite isolated with few facilities, which must create problems if you live there, I suppose.
DeleteWhat a nice tour of a happy coincidental encounter with your little village of Newton Regis ... sad that the church was locked ... a sorry comment on modern society, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteVery few places seem to leave churches open these days, which is sad, because they are always interesting to look at, and I think they should be used as much as possible, not just for services.
DeleteThat's my kind of day! A quaint village, sunshine and even some ducks.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely - we ended up having a very belated lunch at a garden centre, which rounded the day off nicely.
DeleteI would love exploring this little village as well!! But, I don't need any help getting lost :/
ReplyDeleteWe live right on the edge of Staffordshire - Warwickshire and Leicestershire are just a short hop, skip and a jump away, and Derbyshire is quite close as well, so I'm hoping to get out and about and do some exploring in the 'local' area.
DeleteSo much history there! I'm glad you shared about it because it adds so much when looking at the photos.
ReplyDeleteWithout knowing the history it's just a pretty village - somehow the kings (and the thistles) make it special!
DeleteI love little villages like this; and like you, I think Newton-in-the-Thistles is a great name. I want to be there right now. :)
ReplyDeleteThere's a Newton Burgoland just over the border into Leicestershire, which is another great name I think. I've passed through, but never stopped there, so I'm aiming to visit in the near future - I'm being a 'home tourist' in my own little corner of the Midlands.
DeleteThe ever enduring beautiful structure and its rich history and one of the reasons to visit England.
ReplyDeleteEdgar,sometimes, as I've said before, we English don't appreciate what we have. I am such a terrible traveller I am always reluctant to go abroad (with the exception of Paris) but there is so much to see and learn here in the UK, with lovely buildings, and beautiful towns and villages (and even the ugly ones have a tale to tell), and an amazing history and myths and legends. Even in the local area there are places to enjoy and admire, so I don't have to go far afield, which means I am very parochial,but I don't care!
DeleteI love finding unexpected places like this.
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky to have the time to be able to wander around and explore the area where I live.
DeleteWhat a great series of shots! So many interesting details.
ReplyDeleteMy Snapshot
Thank you Lisa! I'm totally bowled over by people's response - with something like this I just write what interests me, and it is wonderful when other people like it.
DeleteBeautiful pictures! Love the photo taken at an angle -- I've just started to experiment with doing things like that, myself :-)
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I've only just started experimenting myself. My daughters keep telling me 'just point the camera and click'!
DeleteWhat a lovely village, and wonderful history. Thistles always make me think of Eeyore too!
ReplyDeleteI love Eeyore - and I guess I'd be pretty gloomy if I ate thistles!
DeleteWhat a lovely little villages. It's nice to be able to just go (without a real plan) and see where you wind up. It's a shame that times are such that the churches can't be left open any more....
ReplyDeleteHere's my Snapshot.
It is nice to be able to wander off. Newton is only a few miles from Tamworth. When I was working as a reporter I used to go out to lots of the villages on jobs - fetes, golden weddings,etc. I ways promised myself I'd go back and take a proper look at them, now I can.
DeleteI love the photo of the cow! It's looking right at you! Great shots!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Were really surprised, because it looked a bit like an alley between houses in the main street, and we peered down, and it was a farm entrance!
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