With grave site notes at the ready, we set off for Somerset – first stop, Porlock.  The first of the qday’s gems was the stag which bounded out of the hedge on to the road about 50 metres ahead of the car on the very scenic road to Porlock. It got as much of a fright as we did, and it slipped back in to the thickly hedged field as quickly as it had appeared. Then we were astounded to see the “PHEASANTS ON ROAD” sign not too far on.  There must have been hundreds of them off to the side of the road, and a few taking up slow crossings on the road.  Quite a fascinating few moments where nature ruled.

My literary interests were thwarted when Coleridge’s cottage wasn’t open….so we continued on to the village of Porlock and what a treat in store at St Drudius church where Murray found a few artefacts of his ancestors.

And it was inside the church that other treasures unfolded.  The team of female bell ringers from Minehead were a feature of the Flower Show and the church was filled with beautiful displays refecting the theme of poetry.  A sheer delight to have stumbled upon this.

Then it was on to another ancestral location of Wiveliscombe down more scenic hedged and narrow roads.  A previous visit had not been very fruitful, but armed with grave locations this time meant some measure of success.

However, some sections of the church of St Marks were being restored, but a worker’s connection to his sister from Brisbane unlocked the key and Murray was able to get inside to record some of the plaques on the walls….very kind!  When walking back to the car, we were highly entertained by the old steam bailer towing a little train engine puff its way up the High Street.  Certainly was a day of treasures all round…..the commemorative garden was also a treat with its steele showing diversity of the history of the town done by local school children.