Regular readers have been hearing rather a lot about Darwen’s Jubilee Tower, but I couldn’t resist adding some pictures of the moor after snowfall. Continue reading “Darwen Moor In The Snow”
Darwen Town and Market Hall with Christmas Tree, Lockdown 2020
I took this picture of Darwen’s Christmas decorations yesterday, less than an hour after sunset. The town hall clock stopped some time ago, so if you can make out the dial, that’s a misdirection: sunset is just before 4 o’clock here in Northern England by the end of November. Continue reading “Darwen Town and Market Hall with Christmas Tree, Lockdown 2020”
Darwen’s Jubilee Tower

HeyJude’s challenge ‘Look Up’ prompted me to share some pictures taken along the routes to Jubilee Tower and the story of how it came to be set on the moor above my home town of Darwen in Lancashire. Continue reading “Darwen’s Jubilee Tower”
Barcelona Bar, Ropeworks District, Liverpool
Though I lived in Liverpool as a student, I’m just a tourist these days, popping back to savour its distinct style.
In its latest iteration, Grand Central, a Grade II listed building in the Ropewalks District, has a Gaudi theme – black and gold on the outside with a Bazaar of eating places and bars within, including the colourful Barcelona Bar. Continue reading “Barcelona Bar, Ropeworks District, Liverpool”
Stone In The Northern English Landscape

Today’s post is a celebration of stone. I’ve grown up seeing it used for buildings, country walls, and paths and miss it when I spend time in places where it is not so readily available. Stone is ancient and helpful: it softens, steadies, anchors.
My first stone bridge has pedigree. It’s one that the Brontë family used to cross the river across from the waterfall on the path that leads over the moor from Haworth to Top Withens. Actually the original bridge was swept away in a flood and this is a replacement, made to a similar design. Continue reading “Stone In The Northern English Landscape”
Turton Tower, Lancashire
This classic example of Tudor-style black and white timber and plaster designs seemed a good choice for Becky’s October Squares as this month’s theme is Lines&Squares. Continue reading “Turton Tower, Lancashire”
Celebrating The Southport Flower Show’s 90th Birthday

Remember the days when the Town Hall was the place to go if you wanted ‘further particulars’ about an event? How life has changed since then! At this year’s Southport Flower Show, we had no horse leaping events, but we did have heritage animals, courtesy of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, including a pig that was more rare than a giant panda (and much the same size).
The cultivars may have changed over the last 90 years, but gladioli like those shown on the 1929 poster were on display in 2019, together with just about every August flowering plant you could hope for.

Amongst so many choice plants, this solitary, perfect, innocent-looking, pink Japanese anemone caught my eye. Continue reading “Celebrating The Southport Flower Show’s 90th Birthday”