Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my visitors, wishing you all peace and good fortune for the coming year.

A woodland snow scene at Tittesworth reservoir.

The dam

The Dam at Tittesworth reservoir.

A river runs in.

The river churnet making its way in to Tittesworth reservoir.

End of the line

The end of the railway line heading towards Leek, taken in the bad snow a few weeks ago.

James Robinfon 1788

This is the most famous grave in St Edwards church yard in Leek, Mr Robinfon (it would be Robinson now ere days) lived to the grand old age of 438.

Tomb

Inside the church at Draycott is this tomb of Elizabeth Draycott.

St. Margaret's Church, Draycott-le-Moors

St. Margaret's Church, Draycott-le-Moors, where i spent Sunday morning at a christening.

What no trains

A very bleak and snowy view of the old signal box on the tracks near Leekbrook.

Winter hut

A spot on the railway line I've photographer before but never in the snow.

The Wool shop

Another great shop front, the Wool shop in Getliffe's Yard in Leek.

Bibelot

As Christmas is coming, it time to look for great gift ideas, so i thought i would show a couple of shops, starting with Bibelot.

Cakes all round

Cupcakes, by Tessa Oldfield on a stall at Leeks farmers market

Xmas tree, Leek

The Xmas tree in the Market place in Leek, decorated in bras in aid of a breast cancer charity, breakthrough

Alton castle 3

Alton Castle was founded by Bertram de Verdon and built on a rocky precipice overlooking the River Churnet in the 12th century. It was substantially reconstructed during the 15th century and subsequently was damaged during the Civil War. In 1847 it was significantly reconstructed by Pugin as a Gothic country house for the 16th Earl of Shrewsbury.

The site was taken over by the Sisters of Mercy in 1855 and the presbytery became their convent. The castle remained a private residence until 1919 when the Sisters of Mercy bought it for £3,500 to extend their boarding school. The school closed in 1989 and the castle was left empty until in 1996.

In 1996 it was established by the Archdiocese of Birmingham as a Catholic Youth Retreat Centre. As many as 7,000 children age 9-13 spend time there each year.

This is a Grade II* listed building.

Alton castle 2

Alton Castle is in the village of Alton, Staffordshire. The castle is also known as or referred to in historical documents as Alverton or Aulton. The remains of the castle are a Grade I listed building. It is also a scheduled ancient monument. Despite its close proximity, it is entirely separate from Alton Towers.

Alton castle 1

The Discovery centre just outside Alton castle

French market, Leek 2

Another shot of the French market, it was great to see the town so busy.

Abandon college, Cotton

The old college in Cotton, near Alton.

French market, Leek

Leek was taken over by the French on Saturday as the Town centre hosted a French market, this is a shot of a mobile French bakery, complete with French bread and crepes.

Autumn colours

A country lane near Alton village.

Three shires head

A Autumn shot of the waterfalls at Three Shires head.

Longsdon Church

Longsdon Church, An impressive Grade II listed building designed by Gerald Horsley and consecrated in 1905. Built of local stone in the Decorated style with a superb west tower and spire, it stands in spacious grounds on the main A53 just two miles from Leek

Hazelhurst Aqueduct

Hazelhurst Aqueduct on the Caldon Canal where the canal divides, the main line descending through three locks to join the river Churnet, while the Leek Branch continues along to cross the main line on the Hazelhurst Aqueduct.

The Hollybush Denford

As i was down this way photographing the fields after the flood, I thought I would take another picture of one of my favourite pubs.

all gone 2

The second of the follow up shots of the flood down near the Hollybush, Denford, the water filled one is here

all gone 1

A follow up shot of the floods down at Denford, here's the one with the water

Autumn on the canal 3

The last of these shots for a few days.

Autumn on the canal 2

Taken the same day as Mondays shot, just a bit furtherer along the canal.

Autumn on the canal

A photograph taken last week when the weather tempted me from my desk for a few hours

St Edward church , Leek

Another shot of the old church in Leek.

All Saints

All Saints church Leek

St Edward , Leek

The old church Leek.

Foxt church

The village church at Foxt, there is a craft fair here today.

Signal

A restored signal along side the restored section of railway track leading to the Leekbrook bridge.

Manifold tea room 2

The Tea Junction tea rooms at Hulme End. One of our favourite stopping places, great cakes and drinks and always a great welcome. Check out their page here The Tea Junction.

Water every where 2

The other side of the road from the last picture, the river follows the wall, normally, check out the 5 bar gate on the right to see how deep the water is.

Water every where

After the resent heavy rain, this is a shot of a field just across the road from the Hollybush at Denford. The river normally runs down the side of the right hand fence, the cows are right on the river bank.

Leekbrook

A view looking towards Leekbrook from the top of the railway bridge, the thing that surprised me was the hight and how low the walls were at the side, only about 18 inches!

Iron road

A section of the track that has already been restored.

No road

This seemingly uninteresting picture was taken opposite the spot that this shot was taken and show what work has been done, in the other shot i was standing by the hut looking back to this spot, over a number of railway lines and thorough a lot of trees, both now gone. Soon to be replace by a new railway line, part of the on going work to open up the whole line.

Lock keepers view

One of my favourite spots on the canal, the lock keepers cottage just out side of Denford

Which way now

Canal side signpost.

Love needed

A very sorry looking boat on the canal, in need of a little love.

Misty morning

A wonderful September morning on the canal near Leek

Garden boat

Aside from the natural beauty of the canal the boat's provide their own splash of colour, these boats range in size and shape from the very small, very neat barges, to the large and cluttered narrow boats, each has its own little quirks and character.

These usually reflect the character of the owners of the boat, be it the smooth corporate look of the rented holiday boat, all gleaming paint and sparkling brass work, or the much loved weekend boat, all bedecked in nick-knacks and accessories, or the floating home, all rigged out with the day to day necessities like generators and fire wood.

Every boat has those little touches that make it unique, the way the rope is stored, the design of the paint work, the flowers on its roof, all showing the amount of love that the boat has lavished on it. Take this one for example, it nearly has as many plants in the bow as I have in my garden, in fact it is a mini garden, complete with tomatoes and wind chimes.

The Captine

A grab shot taken down at the canal, i was just focusing on the boat when he appeared, i call him the captain.

Follow us

Sheep trying to lead me astray as i head back to my car trying to beat the approaching rain

A lonely cloud

As seen from the Roaches above Leek

A storm is approaching

A storm running in over Hen cloud, near Leek

Take a seat

A well placed bench up on the Roaches.