DAVID Winpenny gave an interesting and amusing talk to Sarum Decorative and Fine Arts Society on Tuesday, May 13.

His subject was Pyramids in Britain and Ireland and he began with an image of the only known example in Wiltshire, a small parish boundary marker at Larmer Tree Gardens.

He continued with a well-illustrated romp through the ages.

He moved from the magic mountains such as Silbury Hill, which brought the builders closer to the gods, through more ordered step pyramids with great leaders buried inside, to contemporary examples; and touched on many aspects including Freemasonry and the Napoleonic wars.

British pyramids, with a few notable exceptions, became fashionable in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Although many were built as mausoleums for powerful people, in true British fashion they also housed pigs and hens, and became memorials to favourite horses.

The only example of a First World War memorial pyramid at the site of an armaments factory in Nottinghamshire was more sobering.

Lace-makers, employed for their manual dexterity, armed shells for the Somme and shell cases were later incorporated into the war memorial.

The membership was also pleased to hear that a Young Arts grant of £500 had been given towards a mural for the new Youth Centre in Endless Street.

The next talk, Once Upon a Time - Children’s Books through the Ages, will be held on Tuesday, June 10 at the Salvation Army Hall, Salt Lane, Salisbury.

Visitors are welcome, and entrance costs £7. The lecture starts at 11am.