Monday 26 July 2010

AMAZing Miz Maze..........

Walk to St Catherine's Hill this evening .......

Just walked 2 miles along the river to get this far just having a rest before the dreaded steps to the top ......

Wait for me Jim ............



Looking over Winchester...the sky looks a bit ominous .......

YAY........ completed the Miz Maze......phew now we have to walk back home tooo....



Sky now looking like there will be a storm .........( Actually it did p### down while we walked home along the river )
Bit of a potted history of St Catherine's Hill and the Miz Maze....
The top of the hill is ringed by the ramparts of an Iron Age hill fort, which is a scheduled ancient monument. In the centre a copse of beech trees contains the site of the 12th Century chapel of St. Catherine. There is also a mizmaze, probably cut between 1647 and 1710.[2]
Mizmaze (or Miz-Maze) is the name given to two of England's eight surviving historic turf mazes. One is at Breamore,the other is on top of St Catherine's Hill, overlooking the city of Winchester, Hampshire. A mizmaze forms a pattern unlike conventional mazes and is classed as a labyrinth because the path has no stems. The pattern appears more like a very long rope, neatly arranged to fill the area. The Winchester mizmaze is most unusual, being roughly square, although its paths curve gently and it has rounded corners. It is also one of only two surviving historic English turf mazes where the path is a narrow groove in the turf (the other is at Saffron Walden, Essex).
thought I would add this tragic story about the origin of the Miz Maze.......
Wheeler's Hampshire Magazine for 1828 states the maze is 'famous in Wiccamical history', and that it was cut 'by a College boy'. This marks the first phase in the growth of the local legend, which goes something like this.

A certain boy was condemned for some unspecified misdemeanour to be kept behind in College during the Whitsuntide holidays. As part of his punishment, he was chained to a tree near the riverbank below Blackbridge. He is also said to have roamed on the Hill, presumably during intervals in his bondage, where he devised and cut the Mizmaze. It is also said that he would forlornly sit on the northern ramparts of the Iron Age fort, hence the area is now called 'Misery Corner'. Pining away, he died on the day his schoolfellows returned to College, some saying that he drowned himself in the river. So much for happy schooldays.



I have just completed the Miz Maze.........YAY !!!.........x

16 comments:

  1. Sounds a fascinating place Lorna. So glad you are out and about and relaxing after two very harrowing terms!
    Walking is wonderful.You see so much more and can really soak up the atmosphere.

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  2. I tried to send an email but it didn't go through. Just wanted to thank you for your kind comment on my blog! You will have great fun with the crayons! I also have art supplies I haven’t tried, yet – glad to know I’m not alone...

    Beautiful countryside!

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  3. belle balade.. l'adorable petit chien a besoin d'une muselière?

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  4. Judy I am really relaxing now and getting into the holiday vibe yes we needed it after the terrible last term .....x
    Conni yes I am going to try them out ....I have also bought some stamps that I haven't used yet I could stamp an image then use the caryons ...oh the possibilties.....x
    Elfi Merci pour vos commentaires .......mon chien est adorable mais mechant !!!.....x

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  5. The mizmaze is fascinating. I had no idea about it, it was good to read your post and see the pictures.

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  6. It looks like a wonderful walk Lorna and a very interesting post too....nice to hear your feeling more relaxed x

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  7. Do they know why they cut the maze? Very interesting. :)

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  8. Yes the miz maze has a tragic beginning .....excerpt from Tourist Board website.....
    Wheeler's Hampshire Magazine for 1828 states the maze is 'famous in Wiccamical history', and that it was cut 'by a College boy'. This marks the first phase in the growth of the local legend, which goes something like this.

    A certain boy was condemned for some unspecified misdemeanour to be kept behind in College during the Whitsuntide holidays. As part of his punishment, he was chained to a tree near the riverbank below Blackbridge. He is also said to have roamed on the Hill, presumably during intervals in his bondage, where he devised and cut the Mizmaze. It is also said that he would forlornly sit on the northern ramparts of the Iron Age fort, hence the area is now called 'Misery Corner'. Pining away, he died on the day his schoolfellows returned to College, some saying that he drowned himself in the river. So much for happy schooldays.

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  9. What fun history I learn here...loved taking the hike with you and me without getting out of breath! Cute video. Cute you!

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  10. thanks Lynn glad you enjoyed the hike ......xx

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  11. Good for you walking all those miles, bet the dogs just love you for their great outings! I love labyrinth's would have loved that walk too! You are looking spiffy in your orange! xox Corrine

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  12. Enjoyed your post enormously Lorna and that last slim photograph is fantastic. It would make an interesting textile piece. Hope you didn't get too wet.

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  13. Hi Lorna what a wonderful post ! wish i could have taken the walk with you as i love walking ! I live at the side of a lake and we have trails that go for miles so most days i walk 4 to 7 miles. i wanted to let you know that i received your atc and i love it ! thankyou so much for the ribbon also !

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  14. Corrine the dogs loved it especially the bit along the river Gracie loves the water ......x
    Julie thank you i took that pic with the panorama facility on my phone ...I didnt line each bit properly and its given me that very black area but I agree it would make a fab textile piece ........thanks for the idea ...watch this space ....x
    Michelle pleased you liked my card and it arrived safely thanks for letting me know and glad you enjoyed the 'walk '....x

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  15. I so enjoy seeing your mini-films!!!! Thanks for sharing the history of the maze too. It sure looks like a great way to get excercise, which I'm finding out I need to engage in more frequently as the years roll on. It's so extremely hot here in Florida now, but I go out to our neighborhood lake as much as possible. :)

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  16. Hi Lorna,

    I am not sure now how I found you...I believe it was a thread of ATC makers..anyway I thought I would drop you a line to say hello. I am an American but lived in England for about 5 years. I lived in a village in the Midlands between Rugby and Coventry. I read some of your posts and see you were overlooking the town of Winchester. I visited Winchester Cathedral and loved it there. I visited many places in England while I lived there and really enjoyed myself.
    I have just started making ATC's and wondered if you would like to do a swap sometime across the pond with me?? Let me know if you would like to at some point ok?

    Come and visit me at my blog sometime...I will make the Tea if you bring the Scones!! Lol

    I hope this finds you doing alright and Enjoy your weekend!!

    Hugs and Smiles,

    Susan
    sjmcdowell.blogspot.com
    Art of Mine

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