Cathedral of The Forest

It's Mrs BB last day off, the weather being nice, we set off to do Ramble 3 of The Wye Valley Ramblers book which starts from Redrook (between Monmouth and Chepstow). This was not before we went to a sports shop to pick up another couple of pairs of swimming goggles. The last one's perished, as she swims 4 or 5 miles a week in a swimming pool.

We've done all the walks in this Ramblers book but hadn't done this one for a while.

After looking around All Saints Church, Newland (in the blip photo) we continued on the walk through wheat fields. Looking back through a break in the hedge, the view of the church was nicely set, and just as I clicked a number of swallows came into the frame. Thank you God! It makes for rather a classic country photo.

The Church of All Saints at Newland, traditionally and affectionately known as the 'Cathedral of the Forest', was begun in the early 1200s. King John appointed Robert of Wakering as first Rector in 1216. The original, probably rather small, building was expanded during the next two hundred years to the size and shape of the present church. A major restoration in the 1860s widened the chancel arch and slightly raised the roof of the nave. The village of Newland did not exist before the clearing was made in the Forest and the church built.


The church contains several effigies including that of Sir John and Lady Joyce of Clearwell who died in 1344 and 1362 respectively, and an effigy of Jenkin Wyrall, Forester of Fee (died 1457), which I took photo's of.

After a coffee in Monmouth (we're still boycotting Wetherspoons there as they wouldn't let us have the dogs in the beer garden near the exit) we got home in time for me to watch QPR v Cardiff City on Sky tv.

Afterwards I'm off to collect one of the daughters (lives in Southampton) who's going to stay the night after visiting her friend in Cardiff. No doubt a few glasses of wine will follow. Hopefully I won't get called out early tomorrow!