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June 20, 2016

Meldon, Northumberland – St John (again)

When I visited in 2012 I commented I should have photoed Meldon station on the Wannie Line. This time I did. It was opened in 1862. Passenger services lasted for 90 years, and freight for another decade after that. I put some video of the line on an earlier post – this one. The church is in the middle of the hamlet – NZ119838. It dates from the 13th century, and was restored by John Dobson in 1849. On the churchyard wall is a “Thankful Village” notice – see my last blog about Ousby in Cumbria – and a certificate...
Categories Evetts' windows/Northumberland/Railway History/World War 1 Comments: 0
June 17, 2016

Celts, Carmichael and some railway films

If you are in Edinburgh (or can get there before September) I urge you to visit the wonderful Celts Exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland – website. Julie and I went last Monday – did half the exhibition in about an hour, had coffee, then did the other half. A marvellous collection of items from across Europe. As photography isn’t allowed, here are three photos lifted from websites – both with a Roman connection to fit the (current) theme of this blog. “A souvenir of Hadrian’s Wall” – the inscription on this bowl commemorates some of the forts...
Categories Derbyshire/Hadrian's Wall Walk/Northumberland/Personal/Railway History Comments: 0
June 16, 2016

Hadrian’s Wall Exploration 7 – Newcastle Castle

My Monday walk (see the last blog) continued as I walked beside the Tyne and then climbed up to All Saints Church. It was built between 1786-89 and the spire was added in 1796. The architect was David Stephenson of Newcastle (1757-1819). It is now on the Buildings at Risk register – website. Although the noticeboard talks about the Old Catholic Church, their website makes no mention of worship in this church. It was firmly locked. Good view across to the Sage. I threaded my way under the railway viaduct and found Holy Jesus Hospital. It was built in...
Categories Hadrian's Wall Walk/Newcastle upon Tyne/Railway History Comment: 1
June 3, 2016

Hadrian’s Wall Walk 11 – Newcastle to Wallsend

On Bank Holiday Monday 30 May I caught the 0812 from Hexham to Newcastle. The signal box is Grade II and was built in 1896. When they re-signal the line please can I buy the ‘box? It would be wonderful in the garden! Hexham station dates to 1835, and this is an excuse to include Carmichael’s wonderful painting of it. The railway bridge is being replaced over the next six weeks – it will be chaos in Hexham while the bridge is shut. The train was busy as the Northumberland Show is on at Stocksfield. Before that I photoed Riding...
Categories Hadrian's Wall Walk/Newcastle upon Tyne/Railway History Comments: 2
May 26, 2016

Hadrian’s Wall Exploration 5 – Whitley Castle Roman Fort

I have included the South Tynedale Railway – website – in previous blogs. It is a special line for me as Gareth drove diesel trains here. Here he is, in his element (7 June 2012). I came for a visit, to meet Clare (the mum of one of my Godsons), and we had a train ride to Kirkhaugh. It was a beautiful day for a train ride, and a beautiful day for a walk. We walked out of Kirkhaugh station and climbed up to the main road, then joined the Pennine Way. Clare had done this many years ago, but...
Categories Cumbria/Hadrian's Wall Walk/Personal/Railway History Comments: 0
May 26, 2016

Hadrian’s Wall Walk 10 – Heddon-on-the-Wall to Newcastle upon Tyne

On Monday 23 May I caught the 0720 bus from Hexham police station through to Heddon-on-the-Wall. At Hexham bus station a Go-Ahead bus leaves just in front of this Stagecoach and they leapfrog their way to Newcastle. In what sane and sensible world does this make sense? I started walking at NZ134670 before 0800. It was a beautiful morning. There is a little park in the village given in memory of the Knott sons – see my blog of St James and St Basil in Fenham. The track follows the Vallum ditch, then down to the into the village. There...
Categories Cathedrals/Hadrian's Wall Walk/Newcastle upon Tyne/Northumberland/Railway History Comments: 0
May 22, 2016

Beamish, County Durham – Church and Chapel

Beamish, “the living museum of the North” – website – is a place where I first went in the 1970s. I remember taking Julie soon after we were married, and we went with the kids on various occasions. We visited Beamish with friends May half term last year (and some of the photos come from that visit), and you get a ticket that is valid for a year. That year is almost up, so we took advantage of a free day to visit a free museum. We walked down to the Engine Shed. Last year Steam Elephant was out and we had a ride....
Categories Durham/Railway History Comments: 0
May 19, 2016

Brampton, Cumbria – St Martin

St Martin’s church is just down the road from the centre of Brampton village. My spies told me it has wonderful glass. The church entrance is at the far end, farthest from the village centre. It has a row of difficult steps and a firmly closed door. Despite the welcoming banner it does not look welcoming. They have a reasonable website, but it does not say when the church is open. I said to Julie “it looks locked, but I’ll give it a go”. I am so glad I did – the glass is a real wow. They are...
Categories Cumbria/Railway History/World War 1 Comments: 0
May 5, 2016

Hadrian’s Wall Walk 6 – Walltown to Shield on the Wall

On Tuesday 3 May I awoke early, so I drove from Hexham to Walltown NY568658 and parked by 0830. There is a car park here and a National Park visitors’ centre. There are short walks, a peace labyrinth and the remains of a quarry. The history of the conservation of the Wall is told in a fascinating book by Stephen Leach and Alan Whitworth, Saving the Wall: the conservation of Hadrian’s Wall, 1746-1987, Stroud: Amberley Publishing, 2011. In 1746 General Wade started to build his Military Road between Newcastle and Carlisle – we will get to know this road...
Categories Hadrian's Wall Walk/Northumberland/Railway History Comments: 0
April 29, 2016

Hadrian’s Wall Walk 5 – Birdoswald to Walltown

On Thursday 28 April I drove over to Birdoswald Fort (NY616664) and parked there about 0930. My aim was to walk to the Roman Army Museum. There are buses back from there at 1142 and 1522 – I doubted I would make the first. It had been sunny in Hexham and was dry at Birdoswald – but it was cold. Gloves and hat on today. On my last walk I commented how nice it was to see the proper Wall – today there is lots of it. If I had read Collingwood Bruce I might have looked harder for...
Categories Cumbria/Hadrian's Wall Walk/Northumberland/Railway History Comments: 0