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| King Aethelstan's tomb (15th Century) |
In our wanderings today we ended up at Malmesbury Abbey. Begun in the 7th century, it was substantially completed by 1180. It used to have a huge spire, some 430ft, but in 1500 the spire and the tower it was built on collapsed, destroying a large part of the Abbey at the same time.
There is still a beautiful building there though, and somewhere on the site King Aethelstan is buried. He was an Anglo Saxon king and considered by many to be the first King of England. He died in 939. The tomb pictured above is symbolic and empty, a 16th century addition, although his body is in the vicinity.
I loved the illuminated bible pictured. 600 years old, made by Belgian monks. I've been imagining them poring over the letters, practising their calligraphy, mixing their inks and the colours for the illustrations. The gold is particularly gorgeous.
In the 11th century one of the monks at the Abbey, Eilmer of Malmesbury, had a go at flying. He strapped on a pair of wings and jumped off the tower. He got over 200 yards before he landed, breaking both of his legs. What is it with boys?
Outside the weather was glorious, and I think it's set fair for a while. I'm wishing you a good weekend with a little happy adventuring. I'll be watching football tomorrow. You?
Malmesbury Abbey is simply beautiful and completely touches/moves the spirit. I enjoyed this "journey" very much, as well as, learning history. LOVE your blog!! xx
ReplyDeleteOh you lucky girl to have so much wonderful history at your fingertips. I loved seeing the abbey and especially the illuminated calligraphy work. Makes me want to pull out my pens, ink and watercolors. But I'm painting flowers in the snow with yarn this weekend. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful manuscript. I've never visited Malmesbury Abbey but I'll put it on the list! I was impressed that the monk got quite so far before crash landing; pretty impressive stuff. We're off to Bristol today for a little wander round - it looks like it might be E's first choice for uni. Have fun watching the football. x
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing place, so much history. So wonderful to be able to see those old bible pages.
ReplyDeleteI've never visited here but what a beautiful place. I love to think about all the changes the Abbey has seen and the numbers of people who have wandered through over the years. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy football. I shall be watching daughter play, long trip south today. Caz xx
ReplyDeleteI love illuminated manuscripts. So beautiful. I get the feeling I can fly whenever I am at the top of tall buildings. I have to be Quite Stern with myself and remind myself firmly that I can not and that leaping from the building would not result in majestic soaring but ungainly and ultimately doomed plummeting :-) xx
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to imagine the many hours they took to create those illuminated bibles. I remember visiting a Cadfael exhibition in Shrewsbury years ago ,where you were able to have a go at illumination. Fascinating. Yes the weather is beautiful here too. A little cliff walking will hit the spot today I think. Enjoy the football in the warmth for once. B X
ReplyDeleteThe colours and images in the bible border are amazing. You can feel the history in places like this, can't you? Hope the football goes well. I've more birthday baking to do (party yesterday; birthday today) but the birthday girl did say she wouldn't mind helping to sow some seeds. I think she secretly enjoys it :-) x
ReplyDeleteIllustrations are hard enough with proper brushes and ink, never mind goose quills and diluted egg white! The colours are so luminous though, maybe we've missed a trick with our modern paints. Gilding is still done in the same way though, gum and gold leaf - I used to use this when I illustrated. I hope the weather is good for you today, CJ - I'm waiting for thick fog to clear before I go into the garden. I stuck my nose out of the door at 8 and it was freezing!! Caro x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful building, I love the honey colour of the stone in your part of the world. The bible is wonderful, so many hours of work gone into it. Enjoy the football, it could be ok in the warmth today. It's sunny here, I have a monster pile of ironing to reduce and I think we'll drag everyone out and go for a walk later. Have a great week ahead, CJ. xx
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and photos. I've spent both mornings plotting. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful building and the bible is a real delight I can only imagine the hours spent in its making. Finally we have some fine weather so I am making the most of it, gardening.
ReplyDeleteI've always admired illuminated scripts but shall look at them in a different light now I know some of the ingredients used!
ReplyDeleteIlluminated manuscripts are amazing. Just incredible that a calfskin was stretched and scraped to make this amazing surface for calligraphy and illustration (just realised the etymology for illuminate and illustrate must be the same!) and they have survived in such perfect condition for hundreds of years. Your visit to Malmesbury sounds lovely and I hope the football matches went well and you had a win or two. We spent ALL DAY gardening at the cottage yesterday (I was amazed I could get out of bed this morning but it was ok thanks to my allotment training) and today have been out walking on our local chalk Downland where we saw three Peacock butterflies in the beautiful sunshine. I hope to get down to the allotment this week - I have a tray of broad beans that need planting out. Have a good week CJ.
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to think that culture is too low on my radar. Must make an effort. I hope you had a lovely rest of the weekend. x
ReplyDeleteIt looks like an interesting place to explore.
ReplyDeleteI don't know Malmesbury Abbey, I must go there one day even if it's just to read those incredible manuscripts! Thanks for sharing, have a great week! xx
ReplyDeleteLooks a great place to visit, love the story about the intrepid flying monk! The bible looks beautiful, in fact lots of beautiful windows and architecture.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week!
Gill xx
Malmesbury Abbey looks wonderful. The work involved in producing that bible is amazing. I used to enjoy doing calligraphy, but I never reached anywhere near that perfection! Hope you enjoyed watching the football for a change in the sun shine. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteI did chuckle at the flying monk. Perhaps he'd been at the communion wine...we had a grand weekend, and I am still basking in its' after glow.
Leanne xx
Oh lovely a bit of culture, having just renewed our NT membership I've threatened, no told my lovely lot of plenty of trips this year :). Ah the flying monk - perhaps being a boy never leaves the mind xx
ReplyDeleteOh that was nice! Thank you for taking us on a little history tour and sharing your wanderings. I remember the bit about improving color and texture from my studies way back in my own history. I still giggle.
ReplyDeleteI've just come off a long weekend here in tas; spent the first couple of days helping my parents in their garden then came home and did more work in mine! that autumnal deadheading and pulling out, and at dad's, harvesting his apples. great to spend so much time working out doors.
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful abbey - all that glorious stonework. so peaceful!
Such a lovely post dear C.J., beautiful images of the abbey and its stonework, the calligraphy and ornate illustrations, how wonderful to live in a country with so much history and beauty.
ReplyDeletexoxoxo ♡
I love the rich history of your country. There are no structures this old in California. You take your kids on such great outings! I am always impressed!
ReplyDeleteHi CJ, I'm just catching up. I would love to visit this abbey someday. I still can't believe how old things are there. I don't know if I'll ever get used to seeing a 600-year-old building or book. It's amazing to me. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous place! That's a very interesting list of things they used to improve the texture of the illuminations ... but obviously it worked and has stood the test of time. :)
ReplyDeleteMalmesbury is a place I still haven't visited, and it looks beautiful. Illuminated writing is amazing, isn't it? Although I'm not too sure about some of the ink ingredients. When I was growing up I lived near an Athelstan Road, so it's interesting to hear a bit about him.
ReplyDeleteCathy x
This is such a gorgeous place! I'd love to visit one day. I love history :)
ReplyDeleteThose old texts always remind me of the book - and film - In the name of the rose. All that time and effort, all that labour. Fab photos, thank you for sharing. Xx
ReplyDeleteExcellent site I have bookmarked your site..
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