At Basingstoke Station

Waiting for a train back to Manchester I passed the time strolling to the end of the platform. Basingstoke is one of our less prepossessing towns, so Imagine my surprise when these ruined arches came into view. These are the medieval remains of the Holy Ghost andHoly a trinity Chapel dating back to the 13th Century, and referred to by Thomas Hardy in the wonderful but heartbreaking Jude the Obscure. The cemetery there served as a burial place for notable Basinstokians including poor Mrs Blunden who was accidentally buried alive. A lesson that amazing treasures can be found in our land in the most unpromising of places.