Shapwick and Loxley

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Shapwick, Somerset, K. ID JB1_1335

Remembrance Sunday

The village of Shapwick sits on the edge of the Somerset Levels along the ridge of the Polden Hills.   The church has a beautiful display of hand knitted poppies for remembrance Sunday.

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Shapwick, Somerset, K. ID JB1_1353

On this cold day the low warm light brought out the deep red colours of the flowers on the church door.

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Shapwick, Somerset, K. ID JB1_1325

Loxley Woods

Nearby the autumn colours were still out in Loxley Wood.  I had not been into these woods before so I wondered down the main path from the entrance.  The trees are dense and the ground is pretty swampy.  My wellies were a good idea.

Loxley Wood – Somerset, UK. ID JB1_1373H

As I left the wood I noticed a footpath sign on the side of the busy A39 to Swayne’s Jumps.  I had to explore to discover these strange jumps.

The plantation was dark and the footpath was not easy to follow as it crossed the ivy covered woodland floor.

Doing a bit of Googling it seems its name comes from a line of standing stones.  The Modern Antiquarian suggests that during the English Civil War a rebel called Jan Swayne lived at the bottom of the hill in the village of Moorlinch.   He was dragged from his bed to be hanged.  He escaped with a hop, skip and jump into the swampy Loxley Woods.  The stones mark his huge triple jump leaps.

Swaynes Jumps Plantation – Loxley, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_1385H

I never saw the stones, perhaps they are covered by all that Ivy.  Apparently, they are only a few inches high.

Knoll Hill – Loxley, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_1404

Out of the woods and along a lane passed a small group of houses the path opens out along the top of Knoll Hill.  There were beautiful views over Moorlinch and the Levels towards the autumn sunset.

Knoll Hill – Loxley, Somerset, UK. ID JB1_1405