Watermills in border country

On 12 May 201812 May 2018 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography, VideoLeave a comment

A good day out – the steam-hauled “Welsh Marches Express” (see “Steaming through Stokesay” for more pictures and video), followed by visits to Herefordshire and Shropshire watermills, open to the public on “National Mills Weekend”. We’ll have lunch out too, in the black-and-white village of Pembridge.

The mills are:
Staunton Mill, at Staunton on Arrow (Herefordshire)
Court of Noke Mill nearby (with mill-wheel turning)
Wrickton Mill, near Neenton, Shropshire (also with a turning wheel)
Charlcotte iron furnace, near Neenton (no, not a mill, though its bellows were water-powered – many years ago…)

National Mills Weekend

Video on Youtube: Court of Noke and Wrickton mills

A splash of colour

On 30 Apr 2018 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

A short wander around Attingham Park, on an afternoon of (some) bright sunshine and a cold wind. The walled garden provides a little shelter, and there’s lots of cultivated spring colour. Outside, in the woodlands, there are more natural seasonal highlights, with bluebells and cowslips brightening the shade.

Attingham Park NT

The old hall

On 29 Mar 2018 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

That’s Moseley Old Hall, near Wolverhampton, an interesting place to explore on a cold and decidedly damp afternoon. Originally half-timbered, it was later encased in brick. King Charles hid here! It’s dark inside – very dark, in places – but we’ll do what we can.

Moseley Old Hall NT

In the house …

On 23 Mar 201823 Mar 2018 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

… at Attingham – a wander around indoors on a cold afternoon.

Attingham Park NT

A Blists Hill miscellany

On 16 Feb 2018 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

We’re wandering around Blists Hill with the camera…

Blists Hill Victorian Town

White carpets

On 15 Feb 2018 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography, Walks1 Comment

It’s cold and sunny – and there’s a chilly breeze, though we’ll mostly be sheltered from the wind at Attingham. The snowdrops are fully out, and the walk around the perimeter of the park (about 4 miles) is about right for this afternoon.

Wrapped up

On 04 Feb 2018 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

It’s cold this afternoon – I need a leg-stretch, but I’ll need to be well wrapped up. Perhaps the bridge at Ironbridge was cold too – it’s certainly well wrapped. I’m wondering if there might be signs of spring, but other than the bulbs coming up in the garden, the only spring I’ll see today is the ochreous flow by the iron bowl sculptures near the river bank. There’s iron in these hills – which is why the wrapped-up bridge is here…

Project Iron Bridge – English Heritage