Christchurch Priory

I was reminded today, whilst walking into Christchurch across Stanpit Marsh, how impressive and awe inspiring ecclesiastical buildings must have been to people who, say, lived in the middle ages (or even much more recent times) and only really knew modest wooden or cob thatched buildings, beyond that of their small local church. They're still very impressive buildings today, though now too often ecclesiastical buildings are surrounded by imposing modern buildings or smothered in a sea of urbanization, which detracts from them. From a mile out, approaching across the marsh, you're afforded an opportunity to glimpse what the priory might have looked like in an age before development.