Monthly Archives: November 2025

27th November picture of the day…

27 Thursday Nov 2025

Posted by in Musings, Nepal, Photography, Politics, Travel, West Yorkshire

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There’s been another quiet day here at Bigland Towers. Whilst Dawn has ventured out to see an old friend and work colleague I’ve stayed close to base in order to get some blogging done whilst the weather’s miserable, although not as cold as it has been, which is a small mercy as scraping ice off the car wasn’t needed.

In between type-swiping and resizing pictures for the blog I’ve been keeping and eye on the political arena, although it more resembles a bear-pit nowadays. The right-wing media worked themselves into a frenzy in the run-up to the budget as they convinced themselves and their listeners/readers that it would be an economic disaster. The reality was very different. Reeves is no Liz Truss! By the end of the day the bond markets were intact, the FTSE100 had risen by 0.85% and people’s mortgage rates remained unchanged. It wasn’t what the right had been hoping for. I’m always amazed how these ‘patriots’ seem to want the worst for the UK and its citizens. They spend all their time trying to pretend we live in an economic disaster area with a capital city so overrun with crime and foreigners it makes 1970s New York look like paradise. Here’s a good example, from the Brexiter and bankrupt Allison Pearson who writes for the Telegraph.

Actually, no – we don’t pray for such a thing as we remember what happened last time with ‘Lettuce Liz’ Truss…

The far-right and their cheerleaders in the media are an odd bunch. One minute they’re saying we should ‘look after our own’, then when Reeves lifts the two-child benefit cap, increases the minimum wage, freezes rail fares and taxes the rich more they hyperventilate that now we’re ‘rewarding the feckless’! But then hypocrisy runs through these people like the letters through a stick of seaside rock.

It would be tempting to go on to talk about the ‘fagash Fuhrer’ Nigel Farage and the latest revelations about his fascist past and his halfhearted denials, but I have other things to do. All I will say is – I’d be fascinated to know how you sing ‘gas ’em all’ so it’s not in a “hurtful or insulting way”? Then there’s the small matter of his buddy and fellow UKIP MEP Nathan Gill being imprisoned for 10.5 years for being a traitor…

Funny old thing, this ‘patriotism’ malarkey…

Anyway, I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which has nothing to do with politics or economics. In fact it’s a world away from matters temporal. Some of you may have wondered where the header picture for my blog front page comes from. I took it in Kathmandu in Nepal way back in 1992. It’s a cropped version of this picture of the Buddhist stupa at Bodnath.

This amazing place is both a temple and a world heritage site. I’ve not been back to Nepal since 1998 but for some reason it keeps cropping up in my imagination. Maybe it’s time to revisit…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

TRU: Checking out progress between Mirfield and Ravensthorpe.

27 Thursday Nov 2025

Posted by in Photography, Rail Investment, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, TRU, West Yorkshire

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On Tuesday the grey skies which have bedevilled us here in West Yorkshire took a day off, allowing me to get out with the camera and record progress on the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade between Mirfield and Dewsbury.

Having caught a Northern service from Sowerby Bridge we joined the Trans-Pennine route at Bradley Wood Junction, where earthmoving continues in order to create space for the new Fast lines. I’ll visit here again soon. My first stop was at Mirfield, where progress is steady but slow. Work on the new footbridge and lifts continues, as does the rebuilding of the island platform which is gradually creeping West towards Huddersfield. The most noticeable change since my last visit is that a long length of the Down Huddersfield line through the old platform 1 has been laid, although it remains unconnected and has yet to be ballasted. Here’s some pictures.

Much of the scaffolding around the lift tower has disappeared. Meanwhile, work continues on rebuilding the platform 1 side of the island.
Grand Central’s 180108 working 1A63, the. 10:29 Bradford Interchange to London Kings Cross slows to stop at Mirfield. You can see work continue on rebuilding platform 1 to the right. This scene will look very different in a few years when all four tracks are reinstated and electrification masts and wires abound!
Newly laid track in place on the formation of the Down Huddersfield which serves platform 1. This is looking East towards Ravensthorpe.

Moving on, I caught another Northern service to Dewsbury before walking back to Ravensthorpe.

Dewsbury is having platforms extended to cope with 6-car trains. Here’s progress on the Eastern (Leeds) end of platform 1.
The overbridge on George St has been replaced by a new concrete structure. The original (life-expired) structure dated from the opening of the line in 1847, so it had a good innings! Note the detailing on the concrete undersill in an attempt blend in with the original stonework.
Early embankment work on the River Calder seen through one of the arches of the double-span Butler bridge. A new river crossing will be constructed at this point with the original 1847 railway alignment and bridges being abandoned. The footpath along this stretch of the Calder is blocked off at this point. This is as far as you can go.

Walking back along the Calder to pass under the Spen valley greenway I walked down the (still open) footpath along the Calder and Hebble navigation to this point where the new railway bridges are beginning to take shape. A Northern service from Bradford to Leeds crosses the 1847 bridge in the background.
Another view of the new bridge. The different spans are because the Fast and Slow lines will converge near here. The (double track) Fasts are in the centre whilst the Up and Down Slows join on either side.

Walking on along a very muddy towpath I moved on to Ravensthorpe. Here’s the view of the station from the soon to be replaced Calder Rd bridge.

It’s difficult to appreciate how this scene will look in the future – or how it looked in the past. Here’s an artist’s impression curtesy of TRU. Everything here will disappear under a flyover and dive-under! The station will move behind the camera, to the other side of the bridge.
The current view from the station platform as workers pour concrete to build one of the retaining walls for the flyover and the line to/from Healy Mills (seen in the background) which will be diverted to pass underneath.
A TPE service from York via Healy Mills speeds past workers levelling a fresh pour of concrete.
Retaining walls for the new flyover are beginning to rise.
The existing main line towards Dewsbury curves away in the distance whilst cranes are at work constructing the bridges for the new line. This section of track will be abandoned once the new lines open. To the left of the picture is the site of the old goods yard and coal-fired power station which provided a lot of rail traffic in the past.
Here’s a 1937 map (published in 1942) showing the mass of freight lines and sidings that existed in the area. Ravensthorpe station is bottom left.
The very first of the Class 150s, 150001 arrived to take me back to Dewsbury for my connecting train to Halifax. The station will close from the start of the new timetable on Sunday 14 December 2025, so if you want to visit – be quick!

I’ll be adding another TRU update shortly. I’ll also be visiting Ravensthorpe again before it finally closes.

NOTE: All photographs in this blog are my copyright.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

26th November picture of the day…

26 Wednesday Nov 2025

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Pubs, West Yorkshire

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I’d hoped to have had another (different) blog written and published, but today’s run away with me. I was out and about yesterday, looking at some of the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) work around Mirfield and Ravensthorpe. There was a lot to see which means it’ll be a longer than usual blog with plenty of pictures. By the time I’d finished editing all the shots I’d taken, then carried out my usual duties here at Bigland Towers the day had almost gone! However, all’s not lost. I’m having another day working from home tomorrow which will give me time to get it written and published whilst still having time to sort out other work.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with one image taken yesterday – which has nothing to do with railways! One of the towns I visited was Dewsbury. It’s a bit of a sad place nowadays. Like so many Northern towns the closure of traditional industries like the woollen trade and coal mining have had an enormous impact on their prosperity and prospects. It’s sad, as there’s still some lovely old buildings but many are vacant or half-used. On my way out of town I passed a derelict pub. A faded Tetley’s huntsman sign outside caught my eye. Initially it was difficult to pick out the pubs name due to the missing letters. Then the penny dropped. It was named after assassinated American president John F Kennedy – an unusual choice for a pub.

Today I did some searching and found this interesting 2019 newspaper article about the pub, its unusual name and the story of its landlord, Ted Rushworth. I’ve no idea when the pub closed its doors for the final time…

Somehow, I doubt we’ll ever see a pub named after Donald Trump (assassinated or not)…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

23rd November picture of the day…

23 Sunday Nov 2025

Posted by in London, Musings, Photography, Railways, Travel

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Apologies for the lack of blogging recently, this will be rectified tomorrow as I’ve a number describing last week’s adventures which are half-written. Since returning from London much of my time’s been taken up with editing pictures and/or domestic duties. You can find which galleries have been updated on my Zenfolio website by following this link.

Here’s a sample…

Contrary to what many foaming right-wingers, foreign social media trolls and Reform politicians claim, London is not a dystopian hell-hole. The reality is, it’s recently been voted the worlds greatest city, and one that’s getting safer. During my time there I wasn’t stabbed, robbed or in any way hassled – even on crowded places like Oxford Circus tube station on the underground. I’ll never understand why so many so-called ‘patriots’ spend all their time running our country down. Funny old world, eh?

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

20th November picture of the day…

20 Thursday Nov 2025

Posted by in Avanti West Coast, Photography, Railways, Travel

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After two long days in the South-East it was nice to be home and put my feet up in the warm, especially as West Yorkshire had seen its first snow of the season. This looked very attractive from the bedroom window as it glistened on the tops of the hills across the Calder valley, but I was glad not to be out in it.

Instead, I had a morning Teams call with friends and colleagues from Community Rail Network as it was our day to pick the shortlist for the annual photographic competition. Myself and another judge (this year it was CRN’s Erin Kelly) go through the dozens of entries, pick what we individually consider the best, then collectively agree (or disagree!) on the final 14. More often than not the judges are in agreement on the vast majority but haggle over the last half-dozen, which was the case this year. The competition will go live in the new year, with the public being able to vote for their favourite. You can see the 2025 winners by following this link.

That’s not the only photographic competition I’m involved in this year. I’m also on the panel of judges for Avanti West Coast’s ‘Together We Roll Photography Competition‘ which was launched this week. Avanti are inviting photographers (professional, emerging, and amateur) to submit an image that perfectly captures the spirit of a community local to the West Coast Main Line, which serves major cities and towns in England, Scotland, and Wales. You can find full details by clicking on the link above.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to get out with the camera again myself once the weather changes. In the meantime, I’ve plenty of archive pictures to sort out, like this shot of one Avanti’s new ‘Evero’ trains taken at Crewe on Tuesday.

You can find many more images of Avanti services in this gallery.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

London, HS2 and home…

19 Wednesday Nov 2025

Posted by in Hs2, London, Photography, Railways, Travel

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Having finally made it to London my plans changed somewhat due to the power of social media. I’d not arranged to socialise but a friend who was in Brighton had read my blog and suggested meeting up in London on his return. Then another friend who’d just flown back to the UK from Ireland signed up to the meet. The obvious point for us all to rendezvous was around Victoria station, which is what transpired. That was handy for me as I had time to take pictures on the old South-Eastern side of the station which is still home to some the old BR-built Class 456/466 EMUs which work services to places like Gillingham, Orpington and Gravesend.

One of the remaining 2-car Class 466s in service at Victoria which had been working inner-suburban services that day. 43 of these units were built between 1993-94. 18 of them have already been scrapped whilst 3 more are in store.

Having enjoyed photographing various services it was time to adjourn to the St George’s Tavern which is a Nicholsons, pub adjacent to Ebury Bridge over the SER station in Pimlico. It’s a classic old London corner boozer that’s tucked out of the way so doesn’t see much tourist traffic. The three of us enjoyed a catch-up for a couple of hours before heading off in different directions, but not before a couple of us went back to photograph these beasts which had appeared on a railhead treatment train (RHTT)

A pair of re-engined GBRf Class 56s (now classified Class 69) were working a Tonbridge to Tonbridge (via ‘around the houses’) RHTT.

As I had some time to kill and a Travelcard at my disposal I nipped aboard another 465 to head out to an old haunt at Denmark Hill. The old station building has enjoyed a charmed life. In 1980 the building was devastated by fire but was resurrected by Bruce’s brewery as part of the much missed Firkin chain, when it was named the Phoenix and Firkin. The pub’s changed a lot since those days, but it’s still called the Phoenix. My fond memories of the area date back to 1981 and a lovely weekend spent with a female friend from Southport that involved a fur rug in front of a roaring fire in a house that it transpired was owned by an arms dealer. Happy days!

The next day was the main event and why I’d returned to London. I was due at an HS2 media visit to a rather special site – the Wendover green tunnel. I’ll blog about the visit in full later but for new here’s a few pictures and details. The 1.4km is being built from precast sections made by a company in Ilkeston, Derbyshire which are transported by road to the site. It’s not often you see a tunnel being built above ground, much less have the chance to explore one!

Looking South towards London from the site offices. Wendover village is to the left, across the existing Chiltern railway and A413 dual-carriageway. The segments are laid on a pre-prepared reinforced concrete base, then covered with layers of membrane before being carefully backfilled.
Inside the Northbound tunnel, looking South. I’m standing where the rails will run, inside concrete guides. The space to the right is for a walkway and services.

Our guided tour and explanations lasted several hours, after which I was glad to get back into a warm train for the trip back into London! We’d had snow that morning but fortunately it didn’t disrupt the visit, although there were still plenty of traces on the ground along the route back to Marylebone.

Marylebone’s now a unique London terminal, as it’s the only one that’s still 100% operated by diesel trains, with no plans to electrify services. However, the elderly Class 165s that form the backbone of local and suburban services are due to be replaced in the near future, but there are no firm plans on how decarbonisation will be achieved, or even what a new fleet will look like. In the meantime, these BR built units soldier on. They’re pretty dated on the inside, with no mod-cons like plug or USB sockets. However, they do retain the old 1st Class seats at the front of the vehicles, which are rather comfortable – if threadbare!

165039 at Marylebone before working a service to Aylesbury Vale Parkway.

By the time I got back to London it was late afternoon and the weather was hardly conducive to hanging around, so I made a beeline for Euston where I was just in time to catch LNW’s 15:46 to Crewe, which was worked by a pair of Class 350s. At least this service was running today! The train was packed leaving London but gradually emptied out en-route, allowing me to finally get a table seat and set up the laptop to begin processing pictures.

My journey back North was (thankfully) uneventful, if a bit late getting to Crewe, which seems a regular thing. I still made my Manchester connection and final train home from Victoria which saw me walk through the door at home just before 21:20. It had been a long couple of days!

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

Rolling blog. London bound…

18 Tuesday Nov 2025

Posted by in London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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08:00.

The adventure begins! Despote being ul at 06:00 I’ve had an easy start to the day thanks to Dawn, who decided to get up at the same time – and even offered to take time out of her day to give me a lift and save me a chilly walk to Halifax station.

Now I’m aboard the late-running 07:45 to Manchester Victoria on the first leg of my trip ‘darn sarf’. This is a busy 3-car train which is already packed with people commuting across the Pennines.

There’s no space to set up my mobile office, this is being typed on my phone, so I’ll flesh details and tags out later.

08:45.

The day is not starting well! My train is currently crawling along near Castleton, having left Rochdale 18 mins late. This will bugger up my connection in Manchester. If we were on time I had 37 mins to get between Victoria and Piccadilly. Being a few minutes late would have been fine (we left Halifax 5 down after all) but this is painful – and there’s no announcements made as to the reason why we’re running so slowly. Oh, and it’s raining! Ho hum…

09:45.

We crawled into Manchester nearly half an hour late. Fortunately, there was a plan B. I’d intended to have a leisurely journey to Crewe aboard one of the old Hunslet built Class 323s operated by Northern. It was long gone by the time I got to Piccadilly. Instead, I’m enjoying a comfortable Transport for Wales CAF built Class 197,which has the advantage of plug sockets and tales, giving me chance to set up the ‘mobile office’ to update this blog.

My connection at Crewe will be very tight, (three minutes) but do-able. However, as this train’s now stuck outside Wilmslow I’m beginning to wonder…

10:40.

It’s going to be one of those days, isn’t it? My TfW service made up some time to Crewe. I was even more optimistic when it pulled into the platform next to where my train was due to depart, with 2 minutes to spare. Hang on, the platform’s empty? Where’s my connection? Oh, bugger…

Still, for someone interested in railways there’s worse places to be stuck for an hour or so. That said, the West Coast Main Line seems to be having a bad day, with many trains cancelled or delayed.

12:00.

Southbound again after a right royal farce at Crewe. My enforced visit had a couple of silver linings. One was the moody skies and low sunshine which (hopefully) made for some great pictures. I’ll add them later. The other was that an old friend was also stuck at Crewe and we managed to meet up with the intention of travelling South together as far as Nuneaton on the delayed 11:13.

Then it all went Pete Tong again. The 8-car train that should have formed the 11:13 turned up as a 12-car, which wouldn’t fit in our platform so it arrived into 11, not 7. The two of us sensed something was afoot and made our way to watch the train being split. I asked LNW crew what was happening, only to be told the 11:13 was cancelled too! However, arrangements had been put in place so that the next Avanti service to Euston would take us forward. I had to bid goodbye to Jon as the Avanti didn’t stop at Nuneaton. I now find myself on a busy 9-car Pendolino heading to Euston which will get me in a few minutes earlier than my scheduled LNW service. Due to accepting LNW passengers this Pendolino is due to make an extra stop at Milton Keynes, otherwise it would have been non-stop from Stafford to Euston.

12:55.

We’ve left Milton Keynes and (thankfully) there’s been no further problems (touch plastic laminate). Next stop is Euston. Despite the train being very busy I managed to share a table in the quiet coach with a young woman. Whilst I’ve been busy typing/editing she’s been watching films on her iPad via headphones. The whole coach has been very well-behaved and respectful of the space, which has made for a very easy journey.

Now for the hustle and bustle of the metropolis!

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

17th November picture of the day…

17 Monday Nov 2025

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways

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Another week begins here at Bigland Towers, and it’s turning rather nippy. The balmy weather we’ve enjoyed for so long has deserted us, leaving us with a pronounced chilly spell and even (allegedly) the threat of snow – although I’ll believe that when I see it.

I’m not too perturbed as I’m back on my travels for the next couple of days. Tomorrow I head down to London in readiness for a press visit on Wednesday, but more of that nearer the time. I’m looking forward to getting out and about, making my way to the capital and having time to catch up with the dwindling suburban train fleets built in the 1980s-90s by British Railways. As an ex-Londoner, they’re very familiar to me and I’ll miss the 455s and 465s when they’re gone. Mind you, I’ll be heading to London via the West Coast Main Line where another, later fleet is also being retired. Owned by Porterbrook leasing, the 37 Siemens Class 350/2s were built between 2008-09, the majority have already gone into store with no firm future, which seems a criminal waste of such a good train. I’m hoping to catch one or two on my trip. Today’s picture is of the first of the fleet and one that’s still left in service for now.

350241, still wearing London Midland Livery but carrying London and Northwestern branding is pictured at Wolverhampton on the 18th August 2018.

Expect a rolling blog from tomorrow’s travels…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

Optimistic defibrillator locations. An occasional series…

16 Sunday Nov 2025

Posted by in Calder Valley, Humour, Photography

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I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

Well, that was fun!

15 Saturday Nov 2025

Posted by in Food, Photography, Pubs, Shropshire, Travel

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The pair of us are now back in Bigland Towers after our Shropshire sojourn. Travelling home on Friday was fun but nowhere near as bad as we feared. Our part of the Welsh borders missed the worst of the storms. They weren’t so lucky a few dozen miles further South, with extensive flooding in places like Monmouth.

We left Church Stretton just before 10am to drive up to Oswestry. There’s very few towns in the UK I’ve never visited. If it’s got a railway station then I’ll have been there. Oswestry isn’t on that list. Sure, it has a railway preservation site based by the old Cambrian Railway works, but as there’s no mainline connection the town was never high on my list of places to get to. On Friday we put that right, and I was pleasantly surprised. We didn’t stay long due to the rain which never let up, but we saw enough to make us want to revisit another time as the town has interesting variety of shops, cafes and pubs – along with a market. Unlike some towns which are dominated by chains and charity shops, Oswestry still has a range of independent outlets. One place I particularly liked was the indoor market. It’s got an eccentric feel to it as it contains cafes, a bar, lots of antique and model shops – and even has its own barbers.

Llwyd Mansion is a Tudor building dating from 1464. It’s grade 1 listed and currently under restoration by the local council who now own it.

Moving on we looked to find a country pub where we could stop for lunch. We’d decided to avoid the motorways as much as possible, so we stuck off across country along the A495 through Ellesmere before crossing the border back into England to skirt the Western edge of Whitchurch.

By the power of Google I found a pub further on by the Shropshire Union canal which seemed to fit the bill, the Willeymoor Lock Tavern North of Whitchurch.

We got there just after opening, making us the first customers of the day. This gave us chance to meet to and talk with the three generations of the family who run the place. Oh, and admire the amazing collection of over 230 teapots collected by the matriarch of the family, who at 97, is still going strong.

I ordered gammon, egg and chips whilst Dee had the home-made steak pie. Both were really good meals and very good value.

Tearing ourselves away we made a non-stop run across country to the M6 at Lymm. Needless to say, the motorway was chokka. Conditions weren’t much fun due to the rain and they got worse by the time we transferred to the M62 to head East across the Pennines. High winds didn’t exactly help matters but Dee’s excellent driving skills and my extra pair of eyes got us home safely. We were relieved to be home, but wistful too, as we weren’t really ready to leave Shropshire. We’ll be back…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!