Today was another really good day except that we both spent the whole day under the delusion that it was Wednesday and so missed out on a Bach organ recital at the Cathedral! Our accommodation is in a hotel at Wookey Hole, just a few kilometres from Wells. Wookey Hole is actually a privately-owned cave and there is a number of "attractions" associated with it. We decided to spend all of "Wednesday" exploring the cave and the local village.
This stalagmite is, supposedly, the silhouette of the Wookey Witch who was turned into stone by a monk from Glastonbury Abbey.
The witch's dog, Dougal.
Many parts of the cave has been decorated for Christmas
Cheddar Cheese is matured in the cave for 18 months. We bought some, it was very good!
Not quite sure why Rudolph was in the cave.
Wookey Hole was created by the River Axe seen here emerging from the caves.
Detail of the little door in the above photo. Not sure who lives there!
Satoshi found this ape. I said he couldn't keep him.
I don't think this little bird realised it was standing on the wing of a pterodactyl (see below).
Some of the buildings at Wookey Hole used to be part of a paper mill. This Austin and the machines shown below were part of the mill. Speciality paper is still made there.
This sign was in the museum but I saw one on the roadside a week or two ago! A charabanc is an early form of bus, typically used for pleasure excursions.
Employees of the mill had to use this machine to clock on and off.
This water wheel used to provide the energy required to run the mill's machinery.
St Mary Magdalen Church, Wookey Hole
The Nave
The four windows above depict two angels playing musical instruments and two with censers emitting incense. They are in memory of "Julia Cazalet Hodgkinson, the mother of Wing Commander Gerard Hodgkinson, who devoted her musical talents to the church". The Hodgkinson family owned the paper mill.
Mary Magdalen wiping the feet of Jesus with her hair.
The ceiling depicts the symbols of some saints.
The Organ
As there was no Evensong at the Cathedral tonight, we stayed at Wookey Hole for dinner. Also staying at the hotel were people associated with the filming of the third series of the BBC series Poldark. The filming was taking place at the Bishop's Palace in Wells.