Friday 30 April 2021

A Pilgrimage and A Pilgrim

As explained in my previous post I like to get out on a pilgrimage to see the bluebells growing wild in the Hertfordshire woodlands every year if I can. And from time to time I find new woods to explore and, rather like the latest records added to a collection (for those who remember such things), each new addition seems the best yet.


Wain Wood stands just east of the rather well-heeled village of Preston, though in times past both the village and the wood had rather different reputations. And both wholly unjustified as far as we can tell.


Preston was, until 1900, one of a very few villages in England to have no church. It was considered too small to need one, which is odd because much tinier places elsewhere have churches. Instead it was lumped in with the parish of Hitchin, a good three miles (4.8 Km) distant. Understandably, faced with a six-mile round trip, on foot for most people in those days, many did not attend church on a regular basis. This got the village a reputation for being a godless place.


Then there's Wain Wood, the name of which, according to some sources, means a valley inhabited by heathens. Of course it might be named from the waggon-track that ran through it, "wain" being the old word for such a vehicle.


There used to be a village very near to the wood called Wayley - and that's supposed to mean the grove of the devil-worshippers - but that disappeared from the face of the earth in the 1340s, possibly as a result of the Black Death.


But how can you think of such things when the sun is shining and the bluebells are in full flower?



Contrary to all that I've said so far, the people of Preston went to extraordinary lengths, at considerable risk to themselves, to worship when the opportunity arose. As the Church neglected them they turned to those outside the establishment. The hollow shown in the photograph is known as Bunyan's Dell and the non-conformist John Bunyan is said to have preached there to over a thousand people.


If you've heard of Bunyan before it's probably as the author A Pilgrim's Progress (1678) which he began writing while serving a twelve-year sentence in Bedford jail for "devilishly and perniciously abstaining from coming to church to hear divine service" having held "several unlawful meetings and conventicles, to the great disturbance and distraction of the good subjects of this kingdom". 


It's interesting to try to imagine this lonely place in the woods on a winter's evening, with the congregation holding candles or rush torches and sentries in place on Tatmore Hill to watch out for any approaching law officers. 


Just down the track from Bunyan's Dell stands Bunyan's Cottage, rather hidden by outbuildings in my photo. It's not known whether it had any real connection to Bunyan, though parts of it are probably old enough. One wonders whether he strolled through these woods while composing his sermons. Or did he ever have to hide from the authorities, at dead of night, in these woods?


A modern long-distance path, known as Bunyan's Trail, joins together places in this locality that are connected to various events in his life, but for some reason it doesn't pass this way. Well, that's their loss.



Take care.


31 comments:

  1. Nothing quite so stunning as bluebells en masse is there John. Sad I have to imagine the scent.

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  2. How very, very beautiful.
    I was unaware that Bunyan had been sentenced to jail for his godless ways. Thank you for both the beauty and the information.

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  3. Ah the redeeming and forgiving power of religion! The bluebells are certainly heavenly!

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  4. What a beautiful place--and what a history. I didn't know the author of Pilgrim's Progress was an outlaw in his day. Religiously speaking, that is.

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  5. Stunning bluebell woods John - thanks for the beauty.

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  6. Wonderful to learn about the names, and their histories. I guess perhaps bluebells were growing in the 16th century, but there were probably different trees there then.

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  7. I loved reading the history of this land, these woods. Beautiful photos accompanied by such enlightening look at, as David G wrote,"the redeeming and forgiving power of religion." Thank you for this. Really so beautiful there.

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  8. Religions can be cruel. I don't think they "loved one another", hey?
    The bluebells are lovely, tho.

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  9. These bluebells add a magical touch to things.

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  10. Ha, that's quite a jail sentence! Absolutely stunning photos. I really enjoyed the post, especially the history of the local area.

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  11. Each picture makes the spirits soar! Lovely!

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  12. These woodland photos of the bluebells are incredible. I would have to camp out there for as long as they were around.

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  13. Beautiful photos, the bluebells are wonderful. We walked in the bluebell wood today - they do lift the spirits:)

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  14. The concentration of bluebells is stunning! Thanks for posting more photos of these lovely wildflowers.

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  15. Stunning photos of the bluebells. They truly are a beautiful flower when you see them in fields all together. Nice rich history of the area too.

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  16. Beautiful photographs, and such a wonderful thing to consider other people gone, and times gone in the place where you are. There are so many moments outside the moment of our own existence.

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  17. Those Bluebell woods are truly amazing to see. Thank you.

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  18. Simply stunning! Thank you for sharing your walk with us and the history of the area. I always learn something from you.

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  19. Hi John - I guess the fact Bunyan's Trail doesn't pass here may be their loss - but it is definitely not yours ... I'd love these woods to myself! Amazing area - you've given us some wonderful views and photos - let alone letting the imagination roam. I hate to say it - but I'd no idea Bunyan spent time in Bedford jail ... and was able to start to write 'his Progress' there ... Fascinating - thank you - Hilary

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  20. I look forward to your bluebell photos ever year. You never disappoint! I’m fascinated with the references to John Bunyan (British Lit teacher, rtd, here!) and especially the fact that once a crowd of a thousand people gathered there to hear him preach. Personally I would prefer a sermon in a bluebell patch and can’t believe he was jailed for 12 years for his audacity.

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  21. Such a beautiful stroll among the bluebells with a history lesson too. Thank you! :)

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  22. What a beautiful place! The bluebells are amazing.

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  23. What a beautiful sight, John, the bluebells were wonderful and the history lesson was even interesting and informative as well. Who would not have enjoyed being there to hear Bunyan speak?

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  24. These "blue" fields are simply gorgeous! It must be awesome being there and seeing all this natural beauty. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

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  25. Divine bluebells, wish we had them here!
    Interesting to visualise a crowd of 1000 people all listening to Bunyan's sermons in the dell, I hope they didn't crush the bluebells! But perhaps it wasn't bluebell season.

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  26. Lovely photos and words. Walking through such a beautiful forest I imagine renews the soul like no other place does.

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  27. I can definitely imagine a candle holding group chanting through these woods.. but it's much too pretty to think about that in the sunshine! Gorgeous images captured here John 💜

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  28. Bluebell woods must be gems of England. This is definitely one of the places I’d like to be there in person, admiring bluebells in the fresh verdure, hearing the songs of birds, remembering the history.

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  29. What glorious photos/scenes. So beautiful.

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  30. So beautiful blue forest. Fantastic photos.

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  31. The bluebells blanketing the land must be wonderful to see in person. Thank you for giving us a free tour.

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