24 August 2008

My first visit to this quiet hamlet which is a couple of miles south west of Chetnole up a no through lane.

My first sight of the village from the railway bridge on the approach lane. The village lies below Bubb Down Hill.

Looking south from the railway bridge. The track is the Yeovil to Weymouth branch line. The skyline is the Batcombe ridge.

The village church of St Mary. The oldest part of the present church dates from 1474. For a history of the church follow this link.

Next to the church is an old manor house. Follow this link to my next stop at Hilfield.

9 August 2011

A return visit on a days circular walk from Chetnole.

Not strictly taken at Melbury Bubb. Some colourful guelder rose berries in the hedgerow.

Our spot for lunch. On the hills above Melbury Bubb. Magnificent views. This view looking across to Thornford.

This view across to the Honeycombe woods ridge.

The final view looking across towards Yeovil.

Descending into the village.

An old farm storage building balanced on staddle stones at each corner to prevent the rats from entering.

The church of St Mary which dates from 1474.

The view from the churchyard up towards the hills known as the Bubbs.

The western end of the church and the old manor house.

The inside of the church. I liked the coal scuttles ready to feed the fire on those cold winter Sundays.

The Saxon font. The guidebook in the church explains that the decoration is an interesting bestiary with four large animals, including a stag biting a serpent, whose coils entwine the feet of other animals and the whole thing is upside-down! It was almost certainly the base of an Anglo-Saxon carved cross and was probably hollowed out by the Normans.

The west window.

A look back at the church and manor as we climb back up the hill on our way to Stockwood.