The New Cemetery gates

I followed up on some queries that arose at the meeting last night of the Friends of Daisybank, a new community group that I have been helping to establish in the ward I represent. Daisybank is the name of a small triangular piece of land, which slopes steeply down the hillside where the built up section of Horns Road ends and the cemetery begins. Part of it has become a really popular children's play area, and many of the Friends of Daisybank are the parents who use it. People apparently come from all round Stroud because of its unique situation, looking out across the valleys, as well as the good equipment and the fine sand the kids can play with. The Town Council owns and manages the site, which is why I will be involved not only as a Friend, but also as the part of the responsible body whose Green Spaces department maintains it.

I thought I would pay it a visit today and take a few archive pictures for the record when I walked back from an appointment I had this morning high up on the hillside above the cemetery.

The sun was shining brightly but the wind was blowing hard on the exposed hillside as I walked down from the cemetery chapel. I went along horns Road to Daisybank and took the pictures I needed and on my way back I dropped into the New Cemetery which was built as an extension in such a way that Horns Road bisects the two sites.

I noticed the painted ironwork on the right hand gate and I've also tried to show the chapel high up the hillside with its wonderful views out across the town centre to the gap in the escarpment and the Severn Vale in the distance. I tried to get as far away as possible so my back was against the supporting wall of the main entrance. I like the slightly damaged prong here on the right, and noticed how lichens have already invaded the joint in the iron, as well as the algae and some old blue paint bleeding through the thin black paint. Little details which all add up to the complexity of our neighbourhood.