Midday drink with canine friend

On the pivotal intersection of Roman Dere Street and Stanegate near the Tyne crossing, Corbridge played a vital role in every Roman campaign in northern Britain. The first forts here were founded c. AD 79-85 during the campaigns into Scotland under Agricola; the third in association with Hadrian’s Wall; the last used during the campaigns of Antoninus Pius in the mid-2nd century. Corbridge then became a busy garrison town.

The extensively excavated remains include a fountain house with an aqueduct, a pair of granaries, and walled military compounds containing barracks, temples, houses and a headquarters building with a belowground strongroom. You can even walk on the original Stanegate Roman road, which predated Hadrian’s Wall and passes through the centre of the site.
View of Corbridge Roman site-granaries and fountain site

Corbridge-undergound strong room looking north. Room at top of stairs may have been the shrine, centre of religious life for the garrison.
The granaries looking north.

Overview of site looking S.W.
Granaries

Reconstructed windmill at Whitburn

Limestone coastline at Whitburn. This is being eroded.

Angel of the North-It was the vision of Gateshead Council to create a landmark sculpture at the entrance to Tyneside, which culminated in The Angel of the North. Its wide, open arms greet visitors as they reach Gateshead, whether they come by road or rail.
Angel of the North in profile. Dot at bottom right is a person.

Causey Arch, built in 1725-6 is the oldest surviving single arch railway bridge in the world. It spans the gorge of Causey Burn.
Hand blown glass window at Pockerley Manor, Beamish Museum

Domestic scene inside Pockerley Manor, 1825

Burnt out stage coach in pond. Apart from being somewhat surreal this is meant to signify the transition from road transport to rail when many stagecoaches became redundant and were dumped.
Steam Elephant 1825. It is possible to have a short ride.

Steam Elephant or Locomotion

Another view of the Steam Elephant ready to roll.


Band stand c 1913. Very colourful.


Shoeing a horse
Replica early 20th century bus.

Thomas the Tank Engine? In need a heavy restoration.

Miners cottages.

Inside a miner's cottage c 1913.

Inside miner's cottage
Colliery scene, a reminder of the North East's heavy industrial past.
View of English pub

River Wear with Victoria Viaduct in distance.
The Bridge was designed by T.E.Harrison and patterned on the Roman bridge at Alcantara in Spain. It was officially opened on the Coronation Day of Queen Victoria in 1838 although it did not actually open to traffic until 1839. For many years it carried the main railway line from Newcastle to London until the main line was routed through Durham in 1872. The route over the Victoria was closed in 1991. It has been suggested that the line may be reopened in the future.

View of Penshaw Monument.
One of the North East's most prominent landmarks, Penshaw Monument was built in 1844 in honour of the first Earl of Durham, John George Lambton. Penshaw Monument was modelled on the Thesion, the Temple of Theseus in Athens. Penshaw stands magnificently above the city on a limestone hill in the middle of the Great North Forest and affords views as far afield as Durham Cathedral and the North Pennines.
Looking out from the Penshaw monument


Another view of the River Wear with Victoria Viaduct
Victoria Viaduct, opened 1839
Old clock at top of former stable block at Beamish Hall Hotel

Views of Beamish Hall Hotel. This dates back to about the 1200s and has been completely refurbished as a hotel. Excellent value!

Labels: N.E.England heritage tour

posted by Nigel Cole @ 3:49 AM  0 comments

Lonely tree at Glen Almond

Inside house in Clearance Village, Glen Almond


View of Glen Almond, Perthshire. Valley of the Almond River, Perth and Kinross, central Scotland, North of Crieff.


Sun through the trees at Glen Almond

Drummond Castle Garden


Drummond Castle from garden



Scenic drive to Drummond Castle and Garden


Roman fort at Ardoch, near Braco, Perthshire.

Ardoch Fort is considered to be one of the best preserved earthworks relating to the Roman army in Europe. The most dramatic feature remaining is, undoubtedly, the defensive earthworks to the north and east sides of the fort. (See picture)

The old Pack Horse Bridge which stands alongside the present bridge over the River Knaik. Braco is located 10 miles south of Crieff on the A822.

Labels: Perry and Gayle

posted by Nigel Cole @ 9:18 AM  0 comments

View of Glasgow from the Clyde

Ben and Sarah Parsonage's Bridge (over the Clyde).


Cacti inside the Winter Gardens

Tropical foliage within the Winter Garden's


Queen Victoria silhouetted against the sun


Doulton Fountain (1888) by A E Pearce. The largest terracotta fountain in the world was created for Glasgow's first Great Exhibition and later removed to Glasgow Green.


The People's Palace and Winter Gardens were built in 1898 on historic Glasgow Green for the benefit of the industrial working people of the east end.


Picture of the Green in sunlight. Note vertical iron poles.

More detailed picture of iron poles. These were erected to hold washing lines at a time when the working people used communal facilities for washing -and drying-clothes.



Stunning architecture at Templeton's Carpet Factory (1889). Glasgow's most colourful brick building-a bit of Venice marooned in Glasgow!

Labels: Glasgow Green

posted by Nigel Cole @ 8:41 AM  0 comments