Thanks for all the hillfort loveliness, iron age intrigues, Roman tidbids and some fun and laughter along the way throughout 2025.
Keep it coming through 26 :)

Lovely photo!

I imagine your car boot full of shovels and trowel just on the off chance!

Love Orkney. Absolutely stunning place

Some tree thinks it's Jupiter

...could tell it was male by its vice-like grip on the remote control

Charlie Cooper looks made up to get a brush with fame ! 😉

They're the most original bear's legs I've ever seen

Bulbarrow is a great spot for a walk :)

Bankes then went straight to Sir James Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty which kicks the can so far down the road the proposed line is eventually superseded by electric telegraph and the station never built nor the land leased by Bankes. The warrren, racetrack and Rings left undistrubed
14/14

5 November 1830: Charles Jones (solicitor Admiralty) to Bankes “It being expected that the piece of Ground selected for a Semaphore Station at Badbury Rings will be wanted for the erection of the Semaphore House in the Spring of next year, I have prepared the Draft _ of a lease thereof …. “
13/14

21 and 25 August 1827: Goddard to Bankes(practical) notifying Bankes of Goddard’s imminent and then actual arrival to lay boundary stones to mark the site.
12/14

7 October 1826:  Goddard to Bankes(conciliatory) “I am directed to apply to you again requesting that you will be pleased to signify to me the terms upon which you may think fit to be consenting to the occupation thereof –“  (i.e. Badbury Rings)
11/14

7 October 1826:  Goddard to Bankes(conciliatory) “I am directed to apply to you again requesting that you will be pleased to signify to me the terms upon which you may think fit to be consenting to the occupation thereof –“  (i.e. Badbury Rings)
10/14

16 June 1826:  Goddard to Bankes(frustrated) so that building the semaphore station during the fine weather of the summer, which is now ‘fleeting past’.   The Admiralty still wants to purchase the land, but offers an option to buy-back in the event of the station becoming redundant.
9/14

24 May 1826: Bankes’ to Mr Barrow of the Admiralty “I continue to consider the Telegraph upon Badbury Rings as a great annoyance . . .”  However, despite refusing to sell, Bankes gives reluctant consent to leasing the land to the Admiralty for an annual rent of £20.
8/14

19 May 1826: Goddard to Henry Bankes. The proposed signal station would be a modest affair accommodating one Lieutenant of the Navy and one or two signalmen:  “. . . the Party will have the effect of so many Gamekeepers inasmuch as Poachers will be kept off by the appearance of the station.”
7/14