June 28, 2018

Nottinghamshire – Papplewick Pumping Station

Papplewick Pumping Station is one of those places I have meant to visit for years. It is just north of Nottingham – SK 584521, website. We drove over on the Bank Holiday Monday afternoon 28 May with a little bit of muttering from the Boss about why we were going to a pumping station she wouldn’t be able to get her wheelchair in. Disabled parking, easy access into the Superintendent’s House and the displays there, then flat access to the rest of the site. As Nottingham grew the new for water and decent sanitation grew as well. In 1845...
Categories Nottinghamshire/World War 1 Comments: 0
June 26, 2018

Northernvicar walks – Three Northern Cities, May 2018

1 – Derby. Julie and I voted, then went up into Allestree Park. There is a hard-surfaced track which the buggy can cope with. We enjoyed the bluebells. 2 – Sheffield. Friday 11 May and I had to give platelets. It is the same fare to Meadowhall as to Sheffield, so I walked down the River Don from there – 6 miles into the centre of town. (I did the first part of this walk a few months ago, but had to jump on a bus to get to platelets on time). Some good wildlife, Great Central viaduct and...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Yorkshire Comments: 2
June 25, 2018

Northernvicar walks – a Corbridge circle, 16 May 2018

I had a day to myself, so drove across to Corbridge and parked in the village car park. I had picked up a leaflet for a 10 mile walk up to the Wall and back – a Corbridge Heritage Trail. I crossed the Tyne, went up through the village, past a North Eastern Railway bench. I went and explored some fascinating bottle kilns, part of Walker’s Pottery, which operated through the C19, through until 1910. The kilns are approximately 14 metres high and 10 metres in diameter at their base, although tapering to a narrow hole of 2 metres diameter...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Hadrian's Wall Walk/Northumberland/Roman Britain Comments: 0
June 25, 2018

Northernvicar walks – Northumberland, May 2018

Julie and I had a week in Northumberland in the middle of May. We went chased across Gosforth park by a young lady I married a couple of years ago, spent too much at Cogito Books in Hexham – website – visited the refurbished museum at Corbridge, visited the Sill, dined out with friends (and children), and admired Harry and Sarah’s allotment (when did I become so old my kids have an allotment?). We stayed at the lovely “Cottage at Longridge”, just outside Morpeth – Sykes cottages website – and had stunning weather. I also managed some walks. On Sunday...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/National Trust/Newcastle upon Tyne/Northumberland Comments: 0
June 25, 2018

Yorkshire – Mount Grace Priory

We’ve been in Northumberland for a week – the churches I visited I have been to before, but I had some lovely walks which I’ll blog next. On the way home (on Friday 18 May 2018) we stopped at Mount Grace Priory, which is an English Heritage property I hadn’t been to for years – website. It is at SE 449984, just off the A19 – it is much easier to get to when you are heading south. They now have a nice café, although it was all very busy when we visited. We walked up to the House,...
Categories Yorkshire Comments: 0
June 16, 2018

Astley, Warwickshire – St Mary the Virgin

On Bank Holiday Monday 7 May 2018 we drove south to Astley Book Farm, just outside Nuneaton. It was Julie-friendly, and had a good café – website. Then we stopped at St Mary the Virgin, Astley, and went for an explore – SP 311894. There is a good description and lots of photos at the Nuneaton and North Warwickshire Family History Society site. I have found the church’s facebook page – but not a website for them. When we parked I saw a sign to the castle and wandered there before visiting the church. I found Landmark Trust holiday cottage...
Categories Warwickshire Comments: 2
June 16, 2018

Northernvicar walks – January, February, March and April 2018

I had planned to walk 1,000 miles in 2017, but only managed to be a Proclaimer. I won’t manage 1,000 miles in 2018 either, but I’ll let you know how I do. In January I managed 25 miles. On 2 January Alex and I went to Hull – we walked from Cottingham station to the Brynmor Jones Library at the University of Hull for a splendid exhibition of the works of Terence Cuneo. You could get up really close to the paintings, no one minded me taking photos (so I hope no one will mind if I post a...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Derbyshire/London/National Trust/Railway History Comments: 0
June 6, 2018

London – Lambeth Palace

Monday 30 April 2018, and the Bishop had asked me to attend a meeting of Diocesan European Link Officers at Lambeth Palace. We had been promised an opportunity to enjoy the gardens – but the weather was appalling. The conference was depressing. I won’t write what I think about Brexit. As someone said, you wouldn’t change a Golf Club Constitution when only 48% voted in favour. The Palace, which is the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, has a good website. You enter through Morton’s Tower – built in 1490 by Cardinal John Morton (I wonder how much building...
Categories London Comments: 0
May 27, 2018

Llandudno, Conwy – St Tudno on the Great Orme

Friday 27 April 2018 was a day chasing trains in North Wales – a ride on the loco hauled set from Chester to Holyhead. Nice signals on the platform, and signal box too. There are still several proper ‘boxes across Angelsey – we need to go back. Back to Llandudno Junction, then to Llandudon where they have more signals, a ‘box, and some lovely buffers. We walked through the town to Victoria station to have a ride on the Great Orme Tramway – website. The line opened on 30 July 1902, having been constructed by Thomas and John Owen, a...
Categories Railway History/Wales Comments: 0
May 23, 2018

King’s Lynn, Norfolk – Railway Station

I have been in King’s Lynn on a day trip with brother David, nephew Michael and friend Rad. We were there on a 1957 diesel electric multiple unit. If you would like to find out more about this fascinating unit, have a look at their website. Our thanks to them for maintaining this wonderful train, and for their welcome. The railway to King’s Lynn opened in 1846, but wasn’t actually connected to Ely until 1848. A line to Narborough opened on the same day (27 October 1846), eventually opening across to Swaffham – now that line is only open...
Categories Norfolk/Railway History Comments: 0