Culbone Stone

The Culbone Stone is an inscribed stone, with a wheel cross cut into its south east side.  The carving probably dates from the 7th to 9th century.  The stone was found in a nearby wood in 1940 and re-erected. It is 65cm high and is made of local Hangman grit. The Culbone Stone is located in a wood on Culbone Hill (grid reference SS 832 473).  It is on private land but access via a permitted path is occasionally allowed. 

The Culbone Stone may originally have been part of a prehistoric (probably Bronze Age) stone row, which was discovered nearby in 1975.  The stone row now consists of 21 stones but there may once have been more of them. One of the stones in the row also has a cross inscribed on it.

Culbone Stone

My thanks to Alison for letting me use her photo.

Platinum Jubilee Floral Cascade at Stogumber Church

A lady from Stogumber called Wendy Symes saw a floral cascade on display at Barley in Hertfordshire and thought it would be an excellent way for the village of Stogumber to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.  Work on the cascade started in July 2021.  An informal group was set up and people in Stogumber were invited to create knitted, crocheted, organza or felt flowers for it.  The first flowers were sewn onto the netting in November 2021.  By December 2021 only 3 metres had been completed but by the end of January 2022 it had grown to 20 metres. The cascade was completed in March and in April some knitted bees were added to it. Over 2,000 flowers were sewn onto the netting in total.  It was hauled to the top of the tower of St Mary's Church with the help of the staff of Williton Fire Station and was unveiled on 7th May.  It will remain on display all summer.  It is beautiful and well worth a visit.  It is free to see but donations are requested and will go to Mind, Children's Hospice SouthWest and St Mary's Church.

A large ER and 70 made of sewn flowers were mounted on the front of the church, along with a Union Jack made from knitted red, white and blue flowers.  A wooden Grenadier Guard, made by Dave Ockenden was erected at the entrance to the church.

Floral Cascade

Floral Cascade

Floral Cascade

Mauve, purple and blue flowers up close

A Rainbow Cascade

Red and pink flowers and bees up close

Union Jack made from sewn flowers

70 in flowers

EIIR outside St Mary's Church,  Stogumber

The Queen visits St Mary's Church, Stogumber!

Stogumber's own interpretation of the Queen's wedding dress

Grenadier Guard at the entrance to St Mary's Church

Knitted flowers in vases on the boundary fence

Minehead's Metal Heads

Minehead is currently home to over 150 Metal Heads and there are a few elsewhere in West Somerset e.g. Blue Anchor, Watchet and Carhampton.  Local man Steven Heard, who is a former carpenter, began to produce them during the first lockdown.  They are all made from scrap metal and other materials and are appropriately dressed and decorated for their locations.  There is now a Metal Heads Trail Map: copies can be picked up from the Tourist Information Centre in the Beach Hotel.   Here are a few I have found so far:

Hairdresser

Echo Beach Cafe, Minehead Harbour

Lifeboat Station

Builder

Coastguard at Minehead Harbour

Watchet

Painter painting the gates at Blenheim Gardens

Walker at the entrance to Culvercliff

Chef at the Portside Diner

Chef at the Portside Diner

Blenheim Gardens

Francis James, Jewellers

Bill the Farmer outside the Old Hospital

Treat Suite

Angel, Methodist Church

Jack-in-the-Box outside Jack's

Brainwave Charity Shop

British Red Cross Shop

Policeman on a unicycle

Shopper at Iceland

Postman

Greenslade Taylor Hunt

Optician at Specsavers

Glenmore Bakery's Delivery Boy

Soldier outside the Royal British Legion's Centre in Watchet

Lady and her dog, near the seafront, Minehead

Frog, Toddy's Cafe, Minehead

Watchet Art Club

Scotsman

Fisherman near the harbour

Another fisherman near the harbour

Yet another fisherman near the harbour

Policeman outside Minehead Police Station

Paddington Bear and Queen Elizabeth II - 

Platinum Jubilee TV sketch

Minehead Garden Centre

This pair of gardeners can be found outside the public toilets in Blue Anchor

Billie Mae's Cafe, Minehead

Minehead YMCA

West Somerset Railway

Blue Anchor