Gingall or Jingall

 This is a Chinese gingall as displayed in the small Northumbrian town of Bellingham.It was removed from the north-western of the Dagu forts during one of the British/foreign  interventions in China (June 17,1900).This was the Battle of the Dagu forts near Tianjin. According to wikipedia this can be classed as an unprovoked act of war. The gingall was presented to the town by Edward Charlton-there's a good reiver name. (He later became an admiral and a Sir Edward). 

How we got to Rousham

Rousham Eyecatcher

It was quite  by accident that we came on the eyecatcher at Rousham. We were totally lost and though it was obvious that we were in the vicinity I couldn't work out the correct route. In the silent high-walled village of Steeple Ashton we turned down what became a farm track and there it was. From its location I could work out the direction for Rousham and we soon got there. Eventually Shire publications asked if they could use my photo and sent me in return a copy  of their new book on Georgian Garden Buildings. Unfortunately they cropped out most of the image.The original is above.It is an interesting book nevertheless.