Crich Tramway Museum Glasgow Tramcar number 812
© Mike Freeman (view gallery)
Not to all peoples taste, but I do like to experiment and I think this makes a striking picture. The picture was edited using Fastone image viewer. Image cannot be loaded
Lower Brockhampton
© Martin Humphreys (view gallery)
A delightful timber framed manor house dating from the late
14th century, surrounded by a moat & entered by a charming
gatehouse. Owned now by the NT there a miles of walks through park & woodland & is a fabulous place to visit. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Heading north west, back into Shillingstone, after a 'summer evening cycle ride', along The North Dorset Trailway. Before it was closed in the 1960's the Somerset and Dorset Railway (S & D), was sometimes referred to as the 'Slow & Dirty'. Despite this, the actual geographical location of the North Dorset Stour Valley section, made it one of the most picturesque railway lines in the South West of England. Since its' 'rebirth' as a trailway, open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders, its' sympathetic and ongoing development, with regard for the surrounding environment and wildlife, has made this all too evident. Image cannot be loaded
Kingston Maurward, Stinsford.
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Kingston Maurward House was built in 1720 for George Pitt in the classic Palladian style that so characterised this period.
The contemporary parkland and pleasure gardens were laid out in the style popularised by Capability Brown. Simplicity was the hallmark of the gardens which consisted of rolling turf, carefully placed groups of trees, a lake and a lakeside temple. 
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The Big Question
© Vince Hawthorn (view gallery)
This is a fire place but was originally the main entrance into the Castle from the entrance hall at the top of the flight of steps into the Castle. The Castle was built by William d'Albini ( an ancestor of my wife and daughter and he was married to Adeliza of Louvain- King Henry 1st's second wife ). Now this shot I have taken a similar one but this one you see here was taken by my wife Linda and we have been unable to understand what we can see in the bottom of the reflections of the left hand window. Firstly there is what seems to be a womans face where the window frame main sections cross but it seems the face would have to be on the outside of the window ! Even more worryingly there is another image in the very bottom left of this window which looks like a semi mummified face with teeth in tact- it needs magnification but does go off a bit as you enlarge. It has been looked at by someone who knows Castle Rising Castle exceedingly well and who is very much involved with the paranormal, he has not been able to explain it and he says this picture and what it holds still freaks him out big time. Anyone else able to explain it? Image cannot be loaded
Porth-en-Alls ( Prussia Cove )
© Vince Hawthorn (view gallery)
Part of Prussia Cove these old buildings are a prime example of how little the cove has changed over the past century or two. An example is the picture showing rare fishermen's cottages at the top of the old slipway. In April 1947 HMS Warspite ran aground whilst being towed for breaking, I believe it was a year or few before it was removed. The remote cove with the various old buildings dotted around ( many now holiday lets ) has been used as a film set- such as Poldark and Ladies in Lavender. The most famous resident of Prussia Cove has to John Carter, one of Cornwalls most notorious smugglers. His time dates from the late 18th century and as a child he is said to have acted as if he was the King of Prussia and in adult life became this notorious smuggler who was nicknamed Image cannot be loaded
Wheal Ellen
© Vince Hawthorn (view gallery)
The road south from Porthtowan to Scorrier passes through the magnificent Tywarnhayle Valley, the scene of much copper mining during the 1800s. The sides of the valley to this day are a rust colour due to the copper waste that was tipped all those days ago. On the valley floor one of the mines there is Wheal Ellen and the engine house there is special in that the stack is castellated, a very rare if not unique feature. Image cannot be loaded
Church Lane
© Martin Humphreys (view gallery)
The lovely market town of Ledbury with its superb timber framed structures & oldy worldy lanes & cobbled streets.
Here is Church lane with the spire of St Michael & All Angels
church.March 2014 Image cannot be loaded
Westhuble Chapel
© Vince Hawthorn (view gallery)
Seen here is the West (and only)wall of what was Westhumble Chapel. The chapel was built in the 12th century but was desecrated in the 15th century and fell into disrepair, in 1937 it was taken over by the National Trust. It now has Ancient Monument status now. Image cannot be loaded
A Letter From Home. Dutton Massey Hall, Cheshire.
© Rod Burkey (view gallery)
This year, Dunham Massey Hall is running a commemoration of when it was turned into a hospital for wounded soldiers, from April 1917 to February 1919. On entering the Hall, one is advised that actors will be filling the roles of patients, doctors and nurses and that there should be no interaction between them and the visitors. It was all very moving during our visit there on 16th September 2014, seeing the room turned into a ward, and also another, a place for the recuperating men to relax. My picture captures a scene when a soldier, blinded and bandaged, is read a letter from home by his nurse. She has to read the sad news of his younger brother “B” having fallen on his birthday “Going over the top”. At the end of the reading the nurse presses the letter into the poor young man’s hands. If you are lucky, a trip to the Butler’s Pantry and the Dining Room will be rewarded by being greeted by a housekeeper and the butler.
I can recommend a visit. Image cannot be loaded
Fotheringhay
© Zbigniew Siwik (view gallery)
Fotheringhay is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire . It is most noted for being the site of Fotheringhay (or Fotheringay) Castle which was razed in 1627. There is nothing left of the castle to be seen today other than the motte on which it was built that provides excellent views of the River Nene.On February 8, 1587, an event that forever changed the course of this country’s history took place. Mary, Queen of Scots, a cousin of and rival to Queen Elizabeth I for the English throne, was beheaded after 19 years in custody . The power play between Elizabeth and Mary is infamous. Less well-known though is that its finale was acted out in what is now a very quiet, tiny and unassuming village just a few miles to the south west of Peterborough. The Queen of Scots spent the final months of her life at Fotheringhay, in the impassive motte-and-bailey castle that once stood there beside the River Nene. Months later, her coffin was taken by torchlight procession to Peterborough Cathedral where it was entombed until King James I had her moved to Westminster Abbey in 1612. Her grave there is, incongruously, just 30 feet away from Queen Elizabeth’s. Image cannot be loaded
Corfe Castle in the winter sun
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
'One of the ruins that Cromwell knocked about a bit' Apart from the destruction of the castle by Oliver Cromwell in 1646AD it is said that many of the old cottages in the village were built from stone 'salvaged' from the ruins over the centuries. The National Trust now ensures that what is left of the castle is preserved for posterity. Image cannot be loaded
Fotheringhay
© Zbigniew Siwik (view gallery)
St Mary and All Saints Church . In the medieval period church was twice its present size , but has been altered over the years, and now is much shorter . However, it is still a wonderful with its superb octagonal lantern tower. Image cannot be loaded
Shaftesbury in Dorset
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
The 'much photographed' Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. In the middle distance is part of Melbury Down and Compton Abbas. On the far horizon are the Purbeck hills and the coast. Image cannot be loaded
North Yorkshire Moors Railway.....Wartime weekend
© Dave John (view gallery)
Every October the NYMR is transformed for a weekend into a wartime railway, and great fun to visit. Have tried to capture the feeling with a very desaturated image (although somewhat rushed)....only you can tell me if I have succeeded. Image cannot be loaded
Cottage Gardens
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
The Station gardens at The Shillingstone Railway Project. The renovated station is now part of a steam heritage centre. It is evident that amongst its volunteers there are some experienced and dedicated gardeners. Image cannot be loaded
Lincolnshire
© Zbigniew Siwik (view gallery)
Wothorpe House was built as a lodge by Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter, the eldest son of William Cecil, 1st Lord Burghley the great advisor to Elizabeth I. Thomas was passionate about architecture and used his knowledge to create an imposing, novel and uniquely ornate structure described as “the least of noble houses but the very best of lodges”. The plan of the building is in the form of a Greek cross church design and the window detailing with their decorative carved stonework is clearly based on drawings created by the well known and influential Renaissance Italian designer Sebastiano Serlio. His published Architectural Treatises were widely admired and used across Europe at that time. The house is thought to have been under construction from 1615-1620. In sharp contrast to the Elizabethan hall house form, it was one of the first houses of compact design to have a separate entrance hall.Following the death of Thomas in 1623, the house was leased to members of the Cecil family and later to the Second Duke of Buckingham. It was used finally as a Dower House. In the mid 1700s however, Brownlow the 9th Earl decided that the house was no longer required and it was purposely partially dismantled, leaving what remains today. The ogee roof caps of the four towers remained until removed in the mid 19th Century. Image cannot be loaded
Avro Vulcan xh588
© Richard Davies (view gallery)
The infamous Avro Vulcan seen here banking over RAF Cosford. This is the only flying example left of its kind and this was its first appearance on the air show circuit for 2009 Image cannot be loaded
Castle Acre Priory
© Zbigniew Siwik (view gallery)
Castle Acre was the creation of the Warenne family , established in England by William de Warenne , a veteran of battle of Hastings . William founded the castle , and his son and descendants founded the priory on its existing site , laid out the town , and improved them over successive centuries . By the late Middle Ages the castle had been abandoned , and in 1537 the priory was suppressed , shattering the local economy but ensuring that the essentials of 12th-century Castle Acre remain with us today . Image cannot be loaded
Avoncliff and Bradford on Avon
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
A complete contrast from Avoncliff and the Country Park and yet within walking distance. The Shambles, the meat market in medieval times, is now a bustling pedestrian walkway lined with a range of small, independent shops. Image cannot be loaded
Castle Cary, Somerset.
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
The Roundhouse: One of the best-preserved examples of an old town lock-up in the country, built (or more probably re-built) in 1779. Located in Bailey Hill behind the Market House. One of a series of pictures featuring Castle Cary, Somerset. Image cannot be loaded
Castle Acre Priory
© Zbigniew Siwik (view gallery)
The interior of the east range looking northward . As originally built , the remainder of the east range contained two vast rooms - the monks' dormitory above and a long vaulted room below , both now open to the sky . Image cannot be loaded
Wimborne St. Giles, Dorset.
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Mill House, Wimborne St Giles Grade II listed building, now a private house having been an inn in the 19th century. One of a series of images featuring Wimborne St. Giles, Dorset. Image cannot be loaded
Shaftesbury in Dorset
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Just to be different, 'a view up Gold Hill'. The cat lives in the cottage on the right. You will notice he has a list to starboard of about 30 degrees, probably as a result of living on the hill? Image cannot be loaded
Stamford
© Zbigniew Siwik (view gallery)
The Priory of St Leonard . One school of thought suggests that it was built upon the site of the monastery founded by St. Wilfrid in 658. If true, it might claim to be the most ancient religious house in Lincolnshire. Image cannot be loaded
Plenty of space on the runway
© Vince Hawthorn (view gallery)
Like the runway some of the debris here has seen better days. Peggy asked about the airfield here at Wisley so here is a bit of information. It was built by Vickers in1944 who were working at Brooklands (the very old banked racing track) and the airfield was used for test flying many of their aircraft including the Vickers Valiant. The Valiant was of course one of the Image cannot be loaded
" >Maharajah's Well, Stoke Row
© Edward Lever (view gallery)
On the left of the picture is the ornate domed canopy of Maharajah's Well and at the right, the Warden's cottage (now a private residence). The well was built from an endowment funded by the Maharajah of Benares and was opened on Queen Victoria's birthday in 1864. Image cannot be loaded
Fotheringhay
© Zbigniew Siwik (view gallery)
View of Fotheringhay Bridge with St Mary and All Saints Church in the background . The village was visited by Queen Elizabeth I in 1573, who was shocked to see the desecrated tombs of her Royal ancestors amid the wrecked remains of the collegiate church. She ordered that they be reinterred inside the parish church, with twin monuments erected on the eastern wall. She also arranged for the local schoolmaster to be paid a salary of £20 per annum and commanded the decrepit old wooden bridge across the River Nene, adjacent to the castle, to be replaced. It had been noted as long before as 1330 that it was ‘broken so that hardly any winter passes without danger of death in passing there.’ Elizabeth’s one was much stronger, with stone piers and wooden decking. However, the inscription that accompanied it, proclaiming ‘God Save the Queen’ was obliterated by Cromwell’s Parliamentarian troops during the civil war of 1642 to 1651. Elizabeth’s bridge survived until 1722, when it was rebuilt completely in stone. This remains in use today. Image cannot be loaded
Inner Quadrangle, Hospital of St.Cross
© Vince Hawthorn (view gallery)
A general view of the Inner Quadrangle at the Hospital of St.Cross, the buildings on the left with the tall chimneys are the homes of the Bretheren. The almshouses are said to be the oldest in England and is home to 25 gentlemen, 17 wear the black gown of the original foundation and his trencher- a flat soft fabric hat. The black gown has a silver cross affixed ( same as the cross on the wooden tray in my shot of the Wayfarerer's Dole ).Eight other Brothers wear the red gowns of the Order of Noble Poverty and have a cardinal's badge on it. In the centre of the shot one can see the steps leading to on the left the Master's Office and to the right of the steps the Brethren's Hall where at one time they would eaten, but now only used on special occasions. The Beaufort Tower has the entrance at it's base with the Porter's Lodge to the right and this is where one obtains the Wayfarer's Dole. At the building on the far right one can see the entrance leading to the gardens and the the Ambulatory. An atmosphere of peace and quiet pervades the whole area and it is really a step back in time. Image cannot be loaded
A Slideshow of Bygone Era
