A-Z Challenge 2018 - British Rivers: 'S' Severn, Swale

The challenge this year is taking me to rivers and places that I didn't know well. For the Rivers Severn and Swale it's a different story.

The Old Customs House, Gatcombe, Gloucestershire

My younger son and his family once lived here. The lane in front leads to a watery end in the River Severn if you pass under a railway bridge.

Here is how it looks in a later photograph.

Gatcombe near Blakeney, Gloucestershire

Close to the river it's only separated by the railway.

The Severn Line train passing Gatcombe

My grandsons and I used to climb a bank through the trees on the right.

Accompanied by Milly and Cara

From the walk alongside the trees different views of the Severn could be obtained.

Severn at low tide between Gatcombe and Purton

The Severn is considered to be the longest river in the UK, rising in Wales it flows c 220 miles to run into the Bristol Channel and thence into the Irish Sea and the Atlantic.

Severn Map - Course of the River Severn

In terms of water flow it is the greatest river in England and Wales.

It's almost four years now since we visited Richmond in North Yorkshire to visit its magnificent castle. of course when you are there you get some magnificent views,

Looking down on the River Swale from the castle walls.

It's a long way down if you fall

Better to take a riverside walk - 

But keep off the rocks and not get swept away

Photo attributions:

• Gatcombe, near Blakeney, Gloucestershire: 4 March 2007 ex geograph,org,uk by Ruth Sharville - CC BY-SA 2.0 licence
• Severn Line train passing Gatcombe: 20 September 2008 ex geograph.org.uk by Stuart WIlding - CC BY-SA 2.0 licence
• Severn at low tide between Gatcombe and Purton: 28 June 2016 by Forester2009 - CC BY-SA 3.0 licence
• Severn Map: 19 January 2015 by Chris bayley: CC BY 2.5 licence

A Step Too Far - Sepia Saturday

A dog, a child and some steps in this week's prompt ought to be easy to match.

Golf used to one of my favourite pastimes and this picture from 1905 has steps aplenty just off the course.

The Royal and Ancient Clubhouse, St Andrews

When I was a student at St Andrews in the 1950s the 18th green looked much better than this.

My grandsons and their dogs found more steps in the woods alongside the River Severn although Alby seems to be wagging his finger at me behind the camera.

Cara, Alby, Milly and Kai (at the back) - 2001

Over the years the steps at my daughter's home in Michigan have been a spot to capture pictures of our grand dogs.

Grandmaw with Sam and Maxie

Cody and Scout

Grandpaw and Scout - 2010

In 2008 when we celebrated our golden wedding at Tresco in the Scilly Isles there were no dogs (or children) in evidence. In Tresco Abbey Gardens there was a shots of steps in the distance.

With a statue at the top of the steps

Statue of the Dorien-Smith children

This statue is said to be symbolic of the freedom of the islands.

Before we travelled to Tresco we stayed in Fowey and my daughter managed to get herself photo bombed by a dog.

King of Prussia, Fowey - 2008

And it's dogs that found a step too far.

Gem and Scout peer down the staircase to the basement - 2012

Now it's time for you to step over to Sepia-Saturday-257. to sample others' posts.

A-Z Challenge - 'I'

I - Irish Terrier, Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Setter

Two of the smartest dogs I meet when out for a walk are Irish Terriers.

Irish Terriers - Beau and Dexter

Irish Terriers are very active dogs, considered one of the oldest terrier breeds they enjoy agility competitions.

Dexter however is due to be clipped so that he is as smart as Beau.

Beau and Dexter

One of the smartest (most intelligent) dogs I've ever known was Milly, an Irish Water Spaniel, who lived in a house close to the River Seven,

Irish Water Spaniels - Milly and Cara

They have featured on my blog before. You can read about them here. As you can tell from their name they were in their element in water and a quick dip in the Severn was seventh heaven for them. Milly was the best footballing dog I've met with a stronger tackle than the legendary Norman Hunter of Leeds United and England fame.

Two other dogs from the village where I live appeared in my North Yorkshire Village Dogs series here. However these two Irish Setters had Scottish names.

Irish Setters - Duncan and Cameron ready for a road trip

Not as famous perhaps as dogs owned by President Truman or Richard Nixon., but just as photogenic as Lord Reilly of Redwood.

Lord Reilly and Clark Gable

Whether they are at the seaside,

Come on in - the water's fine

or just resting at home.

Duncan and Cameron

Quatford Castle

 A-Z Challenge 2012 - Q

Quatford Castle

The village of Quatford in the English County of Shropshire sits on the bank of the River Severn and is one of the oldest settlements in the area.

A fortress was built at Quatford by Ethelfleda in 913. Earl Roger Montgomery built what was almost certainly a timber castle there, on high ground overlooking the river, in 1085. Earthworks are all that remains of the motte and bailey castle. The 9m high motte is D-shaped, 35 x 50m at the base and 11m at the top. A rock-cut ditch bounds the eastern side.

Quatford Castle 2007

The existing ‘castle’ is on a different site north of the village and was built by a man named John Smalman for himself. Smalman’s Quatford Castle is a modern mansion on an elevated site with extensive views.

As you can see it is less romantic that the other castles you have seen in this series. Alas I also have no ghostly tales to recount.

Quatford is the only British castle I could find beginning with ‘Q’.

Hilary’s castle for P was Pendennis Castle, Cornwall

Attribution

• Quatford Castle 2007; built by John Smalman in 1830; author John M; from the Geograph project collection; Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 License.