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.