Author: Mike.McKeown
Explore the charm and heritage of Shorncote church
Tucked away in the tranquil hamlet of Shorncote in Gloucestershire, and only a mile’s walk from Somerford Keynes, All Saints church is a hidden gem which invites you to take a step back in time, offering a glimpse into our rich heritage. For a day filled with history and charm, make sure to include Shorncote Church in your plans. Your visit and support will play a vital role in preserving its legacy for the future.
All Saints church is a historic Anglican church in Shorncote, Gloucestershire, under the care of The Churches Conservation Trust. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. All Saints dates from about 1170. Alterations were made to it, including the addition of a bellcote, in the 14th century. The church was restored by William Butterfield in 1883. The church was declared redundant on 1 July 1984, and was vested in The Churches Conservation Trust on 18 March 1987.
The church is in Norman style. It is constructed in stone rubble, with stone slate roofs. The plan consists of a nave with a north aisle and a south porch, and a small chancel. On the east gable of the nave is a double bellcote, over which is a pierced quatrefoil. In the west, south and east walls are two-light windows. The south doorway is Norman, with Early English capitals on the outer columns. On the south side of the chancel is a priest’s door between two straight-headed Perpendicular windows. Inside the church are wagon roofs. The chancel arch is narrow and pointed and contains 15th-century gates. The arch is decorated with Norman style carving. The font is also Norman. In the chancel is a piscina and a credence shelf dating from the 14th century, and in the north wall is a 15th-century Easter Sepulchre. On the chancel walls are medieval wall paintings depicting patterns and foliage. The pulpit dates from the early 18th century and has a tester suspended above it. Also in the church are the Royal coat of arms carved in stone.
Shorncote church is no longer used for regular public worship except for once each year, on the first Sunday after Christmas.
Somerford Keynes Coronation Big Lunch – Funds Raised and Thanks
A Roaring Success!
We are delighted to announce that the Somerford Keynes Coronation Big Lunch was a tremendous success! The fantastic support from our community helped us raise an impressive £260 for the remarkable charity, Winston’s Wish (https://www.winstonswish.org/). This fantastic organisation provides an invaluable service offering therapeutic support for children and young people who have lost a parent or sibling. They assist these children and their families in navigating their grief and building hope for the future.
Monday’s voluntary work was also a success! Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated volunteers, the Village Lake is now ready for the summer. We’re looking forward to seeing families and friends enjoy the beautifully lakeside.
We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who played a part in making this event successful. A special mention to our organisers: Bex Warde, David Crofts, Lynton Mogridge, Mike McKeown, Nick Cartwright, and Shirin Pawlowska. Your efforts were key in making this event a memorable one.
Our gratitude also goes to our generous donors: The Parish Council, Village Hall, Friends of Somerford Keynes Church, Nicholas Handover, Sussanne Lock, Andrew Kay, Helen Sweet, Mike McKeown, Roger Sleeman, Jane Hayman, Mark and Poppy Broadbent, Helena Metcalfe, Julie Allan, and six anonymous donors. Your contributions made a significant difference, and we can’t thank you enough.
A big shout-out to Jon Cantouris, Duncan Stradling, Lauraine, Richard, Richard Elsey, Chris Leek, Jane & Angus Hayman, Angela Stradling, Henrietta Cantouris, Maggie Elsey, Karen and Keith Holdsworth, Val Ockwell, Kat, and Mark. Your help with the Pimms and BBQ was appreciated by everyone.
Lastly, we want to thank the Heavy Gang – Des Sheen, Chris Isherwood, Andy Clark, Mark Broadbent, Poppy Broadbent, Richard Goldman, Alexander Warde, Keith Holdsworth, Jon Cantouris, Jane Hayman, and Angus Hayman. Thanks to your tireless efforts, the tables, chairs, and decorations were impeccably set up, adding a lot to the festive spirit of the event.
For those who want to relive the memories of the Big Lunch, photos from the event are available at Somerford Keynes Coronation Celebrations May 2023.
Once again, thank you all for your support and participation. It’s the collective effort of our community that makes events like this possible.
Village Spring Clean 2023
Dear Parishioners,
Thank you to everyone who came along and helped with the Litter Pick on Saturday. It was so very much appreciated and it was lovely to see you all. I would also like to thank all of the very kind residents who also collect litter throughout the year – it is always so shocking to see just how much there is! Thank you all. Here are a few photos but they really don’t capture everyone who helped. If you took any photos please email them to [email protected] who will add them.
Best wishes,
Kristy
Parish Clerk
New Parish Website
You may notice that our website has changed.
The address is the same, but we have built a new, redesign site.
Peter Watkins, who built and ran the original website as decided to retire. A big thank-you for all Peter’s work over the years.
Jon Lunn and Mike McKeown have kindly agreed to take over the site and have built a new site with more features and content and reduced hosting costs. Some of the benefits of the new site include:
- Dynamic content including news, notices and blogs
- Dynamic resizing means the site works mobile and tablet, as well as PC
- Photo galleries
- Local directory
- Content search
- Easier to manage, which means people from groups such as the parish council, village lake, village hall, church and history group can manage their own content
- Uses modern web technology, that allows a nicer design, meets government guidelines on accessibility and improves security, including using HTTPS, which is encrypted
The History Group has already created a nice new village timeline.
If you would like to post content please contact either Jon Lunn or Mike McKeown. We are open to adding additional groups and can create pages and blogs when needed.
Please note that public information, such as Parish Council minutes, continue to be available on the new site. The only personal information the site stores is contacts for groups and societies, and any incidental mentions, such as in meeting minutes. The site does not store general parish resident details.
Moths in Somerford Keynes – August 2020
A moth trap was set up in a garden at the end of Mill Lane that looks over lake 99 at the beginning of August 2020. We waited for a warm, calm and overcast night when traps work best. Moth traps are completely harmless to moths. They involve using a very bright light to attract moths which then fall into the trap. They then find refuge from the light in cardboard egg boxes which have been placed into the trap. The moths stay here until released the next day.
The following morning, we approached the moth trap carefully, as quite a few moths had taken shelter in the grass. We saw many bright yellow Brimstones (who live on hawthorn) and two species of Thorns , the Dusky Thorn (whose food plan is Ash and Privet) and the beautiful Canary Shouldered Thorn (below) (which lives on Birch , Alder, Elm and Goat Willows). We released these into the nearby hedgerow, before moving onto the trap itself.
The trap contained a huge variety of moth species. 28 different species were identified in total and over 90 moths were found. The largest was the Poplar Hawkmoth, pictured below. A personal favourite was the Gold Spangle which is now rarer in Gloucestershire, whose golden patches shined brightly in the sunlight. It was wonderful to uncover some of the rich diversity of wildlife associated with the village lake after the sun goes down. Moths form an important part of the ecosystem, being a key food source for bats, so it was great to see such diversity.
Canary Shouldered Thorn
Poplar Hawkmoth
Golden Spangle
Swallow Prominent – lives on Willows, Poplars & Aspen
White Satin – lives on Willows, Poplars and Aspen
Brindled Green – Oak, Hazel, Hawthorn
Iron Prominent – Lives on Birch, Alder, Hazel
Poplar Grey – Poplars, Aspen, occasionally Willows
Author: James Tipping – local conservationist who lives in Ashton Keynes
With Nick Cartwright