Fox and Hedgehog by Jane McGinley

Thursday, 16 August 2012

Long Man of Wilmington (and a greyhound)





By the Priory of Wilmington, long now gone, is the path to another
plane. Where the 'Long Man' stands as a sign to all that the old gods
still remain. Caught between two worlds he stands - to mark rituals
of old. A giant calling ancient ones, in chalk lines marked bold.

Above the man, a strange terrain of honey-combed hollowed hills. Where
the darkest creatures ply their trade in the cause of human ills. Do not
walk up onto the mount when the full moon is on the rise, for the folk from
under come about, whom our forefathers did despise.

Calling on winds from the furrowed mount, opening the doors to the other
side. Long barrow graves, whose years we cannot count, which the 'Long
Man' stands astride. Not staves, but planes he stands between;
the world that lies beyond.

Long Man of Wilmington! Cast your ancient spell!
Long Man! Strong Man! Bar the doors to Hell!

A dark coven gathers upon the mount, to renew the sacred bond.
The time is nigh to sacrifice, when the high priest doth raise the wand.
Fire on the hill in the midst of night, does signal the dark one's delight.

Long Man of Wilmington! Cast your ancient spell!
Long Man! Strong Man! Bar the doors to Hell!

Long Man of Wilmington!
Doth rise!

Long Man of Wilmington
Old Forest

Friday, 27 July 2012

Hastings and St Leonards in Natural Colour

Look at what I found when I entered a search for 'Hastings' in Flickr... a 1950s brochure, 'Hastings and St Leonards in natural colour'. As the guy who posted these images commented, "if by 'natural colour' they mean the colours one naturally sees when on an LSD trip, then I would agree. Otherwise, a better name would be 'Hastings and St Leonards in highly unnatural colour".

Still a lovely insight to Hastings in the 1950s and some impressive hand-coloured (?) photographs!

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Jack-in-the-Green Festival, Hastings


I'm so excited for this May Bank Holiday the Jack-in-the-green festival takes place in Hastings! It'll be the first one I've been to!

This time of year has long been an important part of the annual calendar because it marks the beginning of summer and as such has always been a day for celebration.

In the 16th and 17th centuries in England people would make garlands of flowers and leaves for the May Day celebration and they became increasingly elaborate. By the 18th century, decorations had become a matter for competition, milkmaids in London carried garlands on their heads with silver objects on them, but the crown had to go to the chimney sweeps... Their garland was so big it covered the entire man!! It became known as Jack in the Green.

The Grand Procession takes place in Hastings Old Town on Monday 7th May.

Monday, 30 April 2012

Bodiam Castle, East Suusex

Last weekend we visited Bodiam Castle in East Sussex. Bodiam Castle was built in 1735 as a defence against the French during the Hundred Year War and also served as comfortable home. The exterior is pretty much intact and the castle sits in a beautiful moat. The interior features fireplaces, spiral staircases, a well, walls and window frames, even medeival toilets(!) enough of which survive to really get a feel of what it would have looked like...