Castle Combe, and Tiddleywink...

Saturday, 21st May - (Catch-up)

Continental breakfast, and then headed in to have a look at the town of Chippenham. Found the car park (not usually an easy thing), and headed for the main street, and shops. The centre is like many towns mentioned in earlier posts, in that it is given over to pedestrians, either all the time or when they close it because of the local market day. 

Many stalls, including an extensive cheese stall, (without refrigeration), so we wondered how they kept everything cool enough. (So much for e-coli and bean sprouts in Germany!)

Anyway, there was some local produce so we bought a few tomatoes, and some tiny bell peppers to do our own dinner tonight.

Asked at the local info centre about a laundromat and Lee found a book about Calne, and one on Castle Combe, so naturally we bought these! (see later posts about sending stuff back to OZ!!) 

Then we had morning coffee and bought some sandwiches to have for lunch, intending to have them back in our room. As it turned out we turned off one exit too soon and found ourselves on the road to Castle Combe.

Not sure there wouldn't be hoards of people there as we'd seen posters on the roadside announcing a Steam Rally in Castle Combe, so we assumed we would confront hundreds of people, and no parking.

As it turned out, the rally was in a large field and Castle Combe was spared. We were early. ({Please note EARLY, it is important)

St Mary's, Yatton Keynell

On the way to Castle Combe, you pass through the village/hamlet/cluster of Tiddleywink, and if you blink you literally miss it!! Then almost immediately you come to Yatton Keynell, where we stopped and inspected the local church and churchyard, as there had been some Bezer's there in the 1600's/1700's. Had a good look at the headstones but they were either falling over or illegible. Also saw a wall with the label "Church Farm", which is probably several hundred years old.

On to one of my all-time favourite villages, Castle Combe. We've been here before, and we should have gone down closer to the village, where we would have found a car space, but 'assumed' there wouldn't be one and so parked up the hill, and walked down. It is a long way, (at least half a mile), and you have to come back!

This is the one used in the ill-fated movie musical, "Dr. Dolittle" with Rex Harrison

Still, it was a lovely day and we had our sandwiches near the stream, and then a cup of tea in one of the local pubs. This one is a bit up-market and we were asked to have our tea in the lounge, as they wanted to keep the tables for lunch guests. (We really only wanted to use the loo anyway!)

I'd kill for this!!

Then across the road to St Andrew's Church, Castle Combe, and discovered on a notice board the names of Brian Cyril Beazer, and Patricia Beazer, both current residents, and we took down some details of the church in case we want to contact people. (Found out later from cousin Colin, that these are the well off Beazer's, and Colin said from Marshfield, and they don't have much to do with Colin and his family. There is most probably a "connection" to the family somewhere)

Next time...Bath