It's a dry muggy sort of day with sunny intervals . Extremely energy sapping and guaranteed to work upa good thirst.
Three dogs in tow today so they are going to have to be managed to stop them drying out too.
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| Gallops but no horses |
We quickly happen upon a large monument on top of a grassy bank. Its a marble column on a large square base with steps all around.
The monument is dedicated to Brigadier Robert James Loyd-Lyndsay, 1st Baron Wantage who was a British soldier during the Crimean War and one of the founders of the British Red Cross. There are various inscriptions on the faces of the monument with the one on the North East side, being in Latin;
- IN OBITU PAX
- POST OBITUM SALUS
- POST TENEBRAS LUX
- IN LUCE SPES
- Which translates as: “Peace in passing away. Salvation after death. Light after darkness. Hope in light."
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| Ridgeway signpost |
From the monument we continue along the Ridgeway past Middlehill Down, Lattin Down and Furzewick Down. The next point of interest we come to is Segsbury Camp/Letconbe Castle. There are no remains of the castle left sadly. The map above shows the 100 metre track we had to take which took us slightly off route.
The Camp is a large Iron Age Hill Fort in an elevated position overlooking the land to the north.From here you can see straight down into Wantage and Letcombe Regis.
The boundaries were absolutely full of wild flowers and insects of all colours and description.
The fort has extensive ditch and ramparts and four gateways. Excavation work carried out in 1996/97 suggests that occupation of the hill fort between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC. And that it was a communal centre for various activities, including sheep management and exchange. Its not hard to imagine the weary traveller stopping off at the camp for some alcoholic refreshment and a spot of bartering for a sheep or two !
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| Norwegian Blue |
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| Painted Lady |
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| Dogs cooling down at every opportunity ! |
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| Yours truly in thoughtful mood... |
