Sydling St Nicholas February 2003
The chalk stream
An early meander on Sydling Water, just below Upper Sydling.
800-02200006.jpg 206Kb
20 February 2003
A considerable upwelling of spring water, doubling the discharge of the stream, takes one's notice from the lane above Upper Sydling.
600-02200005.jpg 234Kb
20 February 2003
The ford between Upper Sydling and Sydling St Nicholas.
800-02200002.jpg 172Kb
20 February 2003
The streams unite to pass through the body of the village. A footpath accompanies the torrent all the way to East Street.
Sydling Water divides here, a small distributary bleeds off under the road.
A microcosm of the stream environment, with a small addition of flow, a deposit of sediment, and characteristic plant life.
800-02180009.jpg 150Kb 18 February 2003
Sydling Water is narrowed here and its bed and bank smoothed in concrete as a flume provides a controlled cross section for measurement.
600-02180022.jpg 173Kb
18 February 2003
The gauging station from upstream of the flume.
800-02180023.jpg 140Kb
18 February 2003
A solar panel provides power for the automatic recorder to radio in its discharge data.
600-02180021.jpg 152Kb
18 February 2003
Stream and walkway narrow. This view is upstream and where the footpath is met by Waterside Walk.
600-02180025.jpg 138Kb
18 February 2003
Further water flows into the main body of the stream in East Street. This course is lower in the valley than the main, channelled stream, and was subjected to winter floods.
800-02190013.jpg 152Kb
19 February 2003
Down by the main road south from Sydling St Nicholas, Sydling Water eventually occupies a course nearer the true bottom of the valley.
600-02190007.jpg 144Kb
19 February 2003
In East Street sandbags indicate flood risk. At this point the stream is on the opposite side of the road, and is running down the side of the valley.
800-02180001.jpg 144Kb
18 February 2003
The village street
A picturesque assemblage of sandbags, gatepost and sign at City Farmhouse in East Street, as the entrance driveway crosses the chalk stream.
600-02180017.jpg 213Kb
18 February 2003
The same again, looking back to East Street and the other sandbags.
800-02180018.jpg 224Kb
18 February 2003
Local services have, like elsewhere in rural areas, been lost over the years. Here the petrol pump remains as a statue, whilst the telephone box still has a function. Will the mobile 'phone be its undoing.
800-02190011.jpg 114Kb
19 February 2003
The Greyhound Inn. The deep valley, amongst the chalk, occupied by Sydling St Nicholas, can be seen in the distance.
800-02190010.jpg 88Kb
19 February 2003
More sandbags in the main street. The waters rose sharply in the middle of the night, I was told.
800-02190012.jpg 141Kb
19 February 2003
At the junction of the main road, East Street and Church Lane. The village hall lies opposite the grand tree.
800-02180003.jpg 180Kb
21 February 2003
Looking down East Street.
800-02180016.jpg 172Kb
21 February 2003
The gentrification of Sydling has been long in the making. Not only have cottages been converted into smart homes, tastefully and at considerable expense, but many properties have been built in the village to match the existing upgraded housing stock. Here contractors vans fit out another cottage ..the burglar alarm being the essential clue!
800-02180019.jpg 130Kb
21 February 2003
At the junction of Church Lane and the main road.
800-02180002.jpg 171Kb
18 February 2003
The church walks
From the top of Church Lane, looking down towards the main road and Church Street.
600-02190017.jpg 193Kb
19 February 2003
A shot across City Farm House towards the church.
800-02180020.jpg 137Kb
18 February 2003
The entrance to the church is along a short, charming, green lane. Beyond the church the aspect is very open, across fields of pasture.
800-02190015.jpg 150Kb
19 February 2003
From Church Lane.
600-02180005.jpg 174Kb
18 February 2003
The church of St Nicholas from across the field on a walk up the bridleway past Court House.
994-02180007.jpg 119Kb
18 February 2003
18 February 2003
A lovely corner of old masonry just off the bridleway.
18 February 2003
The outstanding view over arable land from the bridleway.
18 February 2003
To the south of the village, along the main road, work on the hedgerows was still taking place.
19 February 2003
19 February 2003
A footpath climbs above the saw mill and affords a good view of the whole valley at this point.
19 February 2003
The Huish Trout farm.
800-02190001.jpg 123Kb
19 February 2003
Precautions against disease were simple, but in evidence at the entrance to the farm.
600-02190002.jpg 191Kb
19 February 2003
The water cress beds were some distance, about a mile, below the village.
800-02210001.jpg
21 February 2003