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March 5, 2017

northernvicar walks – February 2017

My idea was to walk 1,000 miles in 2017 (after Harry ran 1,000 in 2016). I managed 11 miles in London on 3 February, and got a useful sermon for the Queen’s Accession out of it – there are a lot of royal connections between Euston and the V&A. I also spotted these two plaques on the wall of the Norwegian Embassy and are made of Coade Stone. Coade Stone is an artificial stone and we had the most northerly piece of it in St Mary’s, Ponteland (or so I was once told). This National Trust website will answer...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Derbyshire/London/National Trust/Railway History Comments: 3
February 11, 2017

northernvicar walks – January 2017

In 2016 my son Harry ran 1,000 miles for the charity Changing Faces – website. We have never worked out where he gets the running gene from, but we are proud parents. Here he runs back to the Vicarage having completed his challenge. If he can walk 1,000 miles surely, I mused, I can walk 1,000 miles. That is only 2.74 miles a day. I don’t want to start counting every footstep, just measuring the walks. Will it be possible? On Sunday 1 January I walked to St Matthew’s, Darley Abbey, and back. That’s just 1.4 miles, so I’m 1.34...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Derbyshire/Railway History Comments: 0
February 10, 2017

Harringworth, Northamptonshire – St John the Baptist

After lunch beside Rutland Water we headed south through North Luffenham and across the railway (barriers controlled from Ketton box). Then the A6121 and B672 which took us under the Harringworth (Welland) Viaduct. The field on the south side of the road is Seaton Meadows nature reserve – website – which means there are lots of opportunities to take photos (the website has a lovely photo of the viaduct through a blanket of wild flowers). There is a history of the viaduct on the village website. The line between Kettering and Manton Junction (on the Peterborough-Leicester line) didn’t open...
Categories Northamptonshire/Railway History/World War 1 Comments: 0
February 1, 2017

Whissendine, Rutland – St Andrew

We drove south out of Wymondham and, as it was getting late and foggy, didn’t go via Edmonthorpe (which is a CCT church). Another minor road – this car will need a clean – and we crossed the railway at Whissendine Station SK837166. It was opened on 1 May 1848 and closed on 3 October 1955. The signal box was built in 1898 and renewed during WW2. It is still there, though the gates have gone. There is an older photo at this website. I got some photos, but failed to get any of the Royal Train as it speeded...
Categories Railway History/Rutland Comments: 0
January 31, 2017

Stapleford, Leicestershire – St Mary Magdalene

The Churches Conservation Trust website describes Stapleford church as “A tasteful church with fabulous family tombs”. It is at SK811182 and stands in Stapleford Park – website – advertised as a Hotel and Sporting Estate. Lots of places you can get married, including the church, but is it any wonder our churches are struggling to attract weddings when there is so much money being poured in to secular venues? I wonder how much people spend attending the “Health and Well-being Centre” – while the last church I visited has no money for a new roof, and here the church...
Categories Churches Conservation Trust/Leicestershire/Railway History Comments: 0
January 29, 2017

Brentingby and Wyfordby, Leicestershire

We left Melton on the B676 and turned right to Brentingby, where the church is now a house. I didn’t stop and photo it as I didn’t feel I should, but then found out that the tower is owned/managed by the Churches Conservation Trust and I could have done – website. Here is their photo. The next church is St Mary Wyfordby – SK793189. The noticeboard is blank, the door is firmly locked, the lead has gone. The church is mentioned on “A church near you” with a contact number for the Secretary, but no mention on any services....
Categories Leicestershire/Railway History Comments: 0
January 29, 2017

Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

Wednesday 25 January and we are staying at Norman Cross Premier Inn. That is not very far from Derby. We left about 10.45, drove down the A6 and across to Melton Mowbray. We found a parking place at the north side of the town and the main drag is very Julie-friendly. The Age Concern charity shop has books on sale, and a coffee bar – two toasted tea cakes, a latte and a chocolate for £5. I couldn’t really complain when J bought books.  The she (actually, we) bought books at Works. Spotted these two converted chapels. I then left...
Categories Leicestershire/Railway History Comments: 0
December 30, 2016

Leicester – Top Hat Terrace and London Road Station

On Friday 23 December I needed a morning out. There is a wonderful website called “Passenger Services over Unusual Lines” which lists all the unusual passenger train workings across Britain (wow, you said). In the new timetable there is a new morning train north from Corby over line mainly used for freight trains over Harringworth Viaduct and round the Syston North Curve (I can feel your exciting boiling). In addition to this, the first train of the day from Alfreton to Nottingham has a meander through Toton freight yard, so Alex and I were at Alfreton for 0630. It was...
Categories Leicestershire/Railway History Comments: 0
November 22, 2016

Sheffield Park Gardens and the Bluebell Railway, East Sussex

On Tuesday 8 November we did not move early, then drove south through Ashdown Forest. It was lunchtime when we arrived at Sheffield Park. A lovely National Trust property, but the queue for the café was very long – they could have done with a separate burger van. We went into the gardens and had a walk – it was lovely. The colours were beautiful – enjoy. These are just a few of my 60 photos. The NT website says “John Baker Holroyd (later the First Earl of Sheffield) purchased the house and Park in 1769, and set about remodelling the...
Categories National Trust/Railway History/Sussex Comments: 2
November 22, 2016

Hever, Kent – St Peter

We are in Kent, and had a cottage in Hever. St Peter’s church was open and worth exploring – they advertise the fact it is open very well indeed. The church website is here, and there are photos here. The church stands opposite the wonderful Henry VIII pub – website. We had had a very good Sunday lunch here, though the pub was extremely busy. They could only fit us in at 12 or 4.30 for lunch, so if you’re going you need to book. Henry VIII visited Hever for the beautiful young ladies in the Castle, these days he should...
Categories Kent/Railway History Comments: 2