Shaft of Light

I did a stint of garden hacking this morning (last year's iris sibirica leaves, dry and tough, why didn't I do this job in the autumn !!!). I should have gone back to it after lunch, but ...

The sun was shining in a clear blue sky. We decided on a short walk close to home.  This is the old church at Upper Ancrum, an abandoned village a couple of miles from here. 

It's actually an extension to the old church (built in the 1700s, so not that old), which was deliberately 'quaintified' by a local landowner  to make a burial enclosure for his family. 

Time, and ivy have finished the job for him ...

We ended up climbing the little hill behind it (extra). The large stones are the remains of an old tower that once stood on top.(Edit - apparently it was an iron-age hill fort.)

Thanks to Marlieske for hosting the Derelict Sunday challenge, I always like an excuse to poke around a ruin or snap a bit of rust :-) ..