Monday, August 04, 2008

A moment in and out of Time

The title is by way of saying that although I have a few blog posts lined up, I'm going to be away for a few days this week conducting new research and re-connecting with John and William Marshal.
Myself and Akashic consultant Alison King have been invited to Hamstead Marshall by a reader who lives where William and John once did. Rewind the film 800 years to a summer morning here and you will see John going about his daily business with dogs and perhaps sons at his heels. His warhorse, a grey, raises its head from grazing to watch him pass, while his wife Sybilla gazes on the scene from their chamber window and shows their small daughter how to twirl thread from fleece on her first spindle. Fast forward a few scenes to see the great William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke setting out for London in the misty sun-rays soon after dawn, with a vast entourage of knights and squires, clerics and chaplains, stewards, chamberlains, baggage carts, sumpter horses, banners and gilding.
In our own summer morning, we are going to seek the echoes of theirs and add our presence to the film reel.
Visits are also planned to Old Sarum, Salisbury, Ludgershall, Marlborough, Avebury, Easton, Clyffe Pypard, and also a place on the Marlborough Downs called Rockley, that might or might not have its own poignant tale to tell about the Marshals...
I'll be back to blogging the week after next - unless I step through the standing stones at Avebury a la Diana Gabaldon and find myself back in the 12th Century!
The photograph at the top of the page is a purple shaft of sunlight over the Kennet at Hamstead Marshall - taken on an earlier research foray.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope you and Alison enjoy your trip, and I look forward to hearing about it in your next post :)

Marg said...

Have a great time!

I didn't have any time travelling experiences at Avebury, but it would be totally worth the effort if you found a man like Jamie...or William!

Elizabeth Chadwick said...

Thanks Lucy and Marg.
Marg, I have to say that if I do go through the stones, it will be with my beautiful John Marshal firmly in mind - and that's the reason for going to Rockley. Perhaps more on that anon!

Taminator said...

Knowing how you feel about John, I don't doubt you're going to be "meeting up" with him in the next couple of days. Have fun and stay out of locked churches.

Passages to the Past said...

Wow...that sounds like a lot of fun! Have a great time and I look forward to your next post!

Jane Henry said...

Sounds wonderful, Elizabeth. I have been waiting patiently since I was about six to visit standing circles and go back in time, but no sign of it yet.... And sadly I never even got a tingle when I went to Avebury on a school trip!

Picture looks fab as well and I loved your descriptions of John and William.

Jan Jones said...

Gorgeous photo. I have no doubt at all that JM will be nudging your feet in the right direction.

Carla said...

Have a great time! If you do walk through a wormhole in time to meet John Marshal, I hope you come back to tell us all about it :-)
In one of Terry Pratchett's novels (Lords and Ladies, I think), late summer - crop circle time - is when the boundaries between the worlds are thinnest, so you never know.....

Tess said...

Oooh - sounds like a lovely time! Enjoy :) And watch out for those stone circles *g*