I WOULD always be rather proud that in Lydney we have a god of our own, a god wholly unknown in any other part of Britain or the world, the God Nodens,' declared the 1st Viscount Bledisloe in 1953. As the only other evidence for this mysterious god appeared at Cockersand Moss, Lancashire, in 1718 and subsequently vanished without trace, Lord Bledisloe may be forgiven his slight exaggeration. For Lydney in Gloucestershire not only has Nodens, but also an entire temple complex, including a possible dormitory where pilgrims seeking a cure could dream divine healing dreams. Many votive offerings have been found here, most exquisite among them a bronze statue of a greyhound, which has become the Lydney mascot and is so precious that the original is confined to the Hades of a bank vault.
Despite these wonders, the current Viscount, Rupert Bathurst, is more reticent than his grandfather, being rightly protective of Lydney's powerful sense of place. 'I would like all who come across it to experience it as understated and magical,' he proffers. As its custodian, I feel a sense of responsibility and that it's important to remain sensitive to the balance of keeping the sense of spirituality, as well as allowing visitors access to the beauty of the gardens and park.' The approach to the temple, up through the pretty woodland gardens, may mislead visitors into thinking that the site itself might have been tamed. However, on reaching it, the impact of its setting with the River Severn below affords a powerful impression of a more ancient landscape. 'We once had dowsers on site and I must say I was sceptical,' admits Lord Bledisloe. 'But, when they were at the altar, their rods went bonkers, so now I'm not. There really is an energy about the place.'
Denne historien er fra July 20, 2022-utgaven av Country Life UK.
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Denne historien er fra July 20, 2022-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
