IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Mildenhall, MARLBOROUGH, SN8 2LZ

The Kennet, shallow here and full of trout, seen from Werg Bridge, Mildenhall.

School House, Thicketts Road, Mildenhall is a Grade II Listed former Protestant free school http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-310619-school-house-mildenhall. The plaque above the door reads: “The Protestant FREE SCHOOL of MILDENHALL. For the EDUCATION of CHILDREN of Poor Persons, as well INHABITANTS as PARISHIONERS: was created A D 1824, on grounds purchased by the REVEREND CHARLES FRANCIS late RECTOR. in his lifetime: who also bequeathed 4000. L for the building and endowment of this work of Piety to GOD , and of love to his fellow creatures”. This is followed by the names of interested persons: The Lord Bishop of Sarum (Visitor), Daniel Jones Long, Esquire, Charles Few, Gentleman, The Rector of Mildenhall, (Trustees), and Robert Abraham (Architect).

Former Protestant free school, now a private house, this extraordinary Grade II Listed building http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-310619-school-house-mildenhall was built in 1824 by Robert Abraham. Constructed of ashlar limestone with slate roofs, it has a central octagon containing the entrance, and classrooms on cardinal points forming a Latin cross. The plaque above the door reads: “The Protestant FREE SCHOOL of MILDENHALL. For the EDUCATION of CHILDREN of Poor Persons, as well INHABITANTS as PARISHIONERS: was created A D 1824, on grounds purchased by the REVEREND CHARLES FRANCIS late RECTOR. in his lifetime: who also bequeathed 4000. L for the building and endowment of this work of Piety to GOD , and of love to his fellow creatures”. This is followed by the names of interested persons: The Lord Bishop of Sarum (Visitor), Daniel Jones Long, Esquire, Charles Few, Gentleman, The Rector of Mildenhall, (Trustees), and Robert Abraham (Architect). The school was closed in 1969. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66522

The original school bell still hangs near the gate of School House, a former Protestant free school http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-310619-school-house-mildenhall, and is still in working condition.

What was this building all about. School? Church? Castle? Prison? It's got elements of all those. Maybe it was a sort of generic showpiece for Gothic R Us Builders Ltd. Show the punters what we can do. Anyway, it just seems to be a house now. And a handy place to live if you want to post a letter.

For centuries weathervanes have kept people in touch with the elements, signalling those shifts in the wind, which bring changes in the weather. This simple device has grown into an English tradition which can say something about their owners, adding interest to the landscape.

Looking downstream past river side properties. The path on the right is for fishing club members only.

A small George VI letter box at a junction of small village roads.

These signs mark the end of the village: from here on, the lane is very narrow and winding, and comes to a dead end in Sound Bottom. Perhaps Wiltshire County Council was being a little optimistic when they installed them.