…in the company of Isabel, Jennie, Sybil Mary, Paddy, Peter Pan and Woto! Six super little 2’0″ gauge steam locomotives enjoying themselves at the annual steam gala. For more pictures and (a little) information, visit “Amerton’s Gala” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
A warm Wednesday afternoon at the National Trust’s north Cotswold garden. Its style is described as “Arts and Crafts”, with “colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms’”. It’s deservedly popular – and clearly on the Cotswold tourist trail (between Stratford, Chipping Campden and Broadway), evidenced by the hundreds of visitors, many from distant corners of the world. They’re not all visible at the same time, of course – it’s easy to lose most of them – and oneself – in the intricate landscape.
We were in Cardiff on Friday – a trip to St Fagans was in order, though on this occasion it could only be a flying visit. There are new developments in the pipeline here – will have to come again before too long.
St Fagans National History Museum
A day that turned out much better than expected: more photos and an account of the day’s activities – and weather – at Rain and shine at Statfold on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
I had a feeling, when I booked the tickets, that it was going to rain on the 7th June, for the Statfold open day. It did, too – the forecast had been dire all week, and we were woken by a thunderstorm in the early hours of the morning. Happily, the BBC thought things were going to improve in the afternoon, and they were right.
A (fairly brief) “Rail Diaries” page will follow in due course; meanwhile, here are a couple of tasters.
It’s just inside Staffordshire, not far from Loggerheads. A pleasant afternoon’s exploration, with tea and cake to follow…
A wander around Blists Hill on a warm and pleasant afternoon, followed by a wander around the darkroom on a quiet evening…
The first time I found the tiny bottle kiln, abandoned and apparently forgotten, in a quiet corner of Broseley, I was amazed. It had been used for firing the clay tobacco pipes made in the small factory alongside. With the industry in decline, it was closed and left to decay nearly 60 years ago. It’s now part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, one of their lesser-known sites. Other than necessary safety measures, the factory is preserved as found – a real “time capsule”. Well worth an hour’s exploration.
… a breath of fresh air and a change of scene. Following 48 wet hours, the sky tried to clear on Saturday evening, and the sun broke through. Photos taken between Brockton and Much Wenlock.
A walk north of the river, from the top of Coalbrookdale – up the Loamhole Dingle into the fields above the Severn. No bluebells today; instead, wild garlic in the damp and shady spots (welcome in the strong sunshine), and buttercups in the meadows.
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