East Tytherton

Maud Heath's causeway, Wilts

E Tytherton Moravian Church

Maud Heath Monument

Maud Heath Monument on the causeway

We were in Wiltshire last weekend and so on the Saturday I took opportunity to visit East Tytherton near Chippenham. I knew about the place through my studies of John Cennick. He put the headquarters of the Moravian church there. The current buildings are 18th century ut later than Cennick's time. The other thing in the area is a causeway financed in Mediaeval times by one Maud Heath. We saw the causeway itself and two monuments to her.

On the smaller monument from 16 it says

"To the memory of the worthy Maud Heath of Langly Burrell Widow who in the year of Grace 1474 for the good of travellers did in Charity bestow in Lands and houses about Eight pounds a year for ever to be laid out on the Highways and Causey leading from Wick Hill to Chippenham Clift. This piller was set up by the feoffees in 1698. Injure me not."

On the larger monument from 1838, which overlooks the Chippenham flats, it says

'Thou who dost pause on this aerial height

Where Maud Heath's Pathway winds in shade and light

Christian wayfarer in a world of strife

Be still and consider the Path of Life.

It is sundial and there other inscriptions on three sides. On the side of the dia, facing the rising sun, the passenger is called on, generally, to remember the fleetness of the passing moment - Tempus volat (time flies). On the side fronting the meridian sun is the inscription to remind us Dum tempus habemus, Operemur bonum (while we have the time let us do good). The inscription fronting the setting sun, addressed to the evening traveller, is redibo tu nunquam (you will never return).

As Latn declined English words were added thus on the three sides

Haste, traveller, the sun is sinking now - He shall return again - but never thou.

Life steals away. This hour. oh man, is lent to thee. Patient to work the work of him who sent thee.

Oh early passenger, look up - be wise. And think how, night and day, time onward flies.

In the other direction one can see a white horse in the hillside (Cherhill?).