Newnham Paddox Revisited

Monks Kirby, Warwickshire
Photos taken at Monks Kirby Midsummer County Fair
21st June, 2015

We visited here last year when the grounds

were open for another annual charity event

known as Daffodil Sunday.  It was fun

to see the piano (above) is still there today.

No daffodils this visit, but grounds are still beautiful.

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown designed the

lakes and park between 1745 and 1753.

These beautiful Grade I Listed 

Screen, Gates and Gatepiers are amazing.

And, there are wonderful views.....

Newnham Paddox is the private residence of the

Earl and Countess of Denbigh.

 Above, one of the lakes and below you can see the silhouette 

of the tower of the Church of St Edith in Monks Kirby taken
from the main drive into the park.

Here are a few more photos from the
event...adding them just for fun.

Tea, cakes, crafts...

Morris Dancing, Elsa and plenty of entertainment.

 Ice cream,
and
vintage cars
and more!

Have a good weekend.
See you next week :).

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Alvis Hare Mascot

Photo taken at Monks Kirby Midsummer County Fair

Part of a vintage car collection displayed by local Monks Kirby enthusiast.

1929 Alvis 12/50 SD with MG

PS. I think I was more interested in this radiator cap mascot than getting

details of these two cars.  I will add more later :).

Meet Elsa

Monks Kirby Midsummer County Fair

21st June, 2015

My husband with our granddaughter, Georgia.

Georgia (I mean, Elsa) performed twice at this event 

singing 'Let It Go' from the film, Frozen.  

The children loved singing along and having their pictures taken with 'Elsa' -

so did her granddad :).

And, she really looked the part, too.

Georgia hopes to go into musical theatre professionally.

Please follow the link - HERE to see a clip of Georgia's

performance posted on her 'Meet Elsa' Facebook page.  

Needless to say, Georgia is available to

do more work like this.  I think she'll be very busy.

More from Monks Kirby Midsummer County Fair tomorrow.

Participating in Our World Tuesday

Pedlar's Bridge

Smeaton Lane, Coombe Fields

Restored Medieval Pack Horse Bridge

It is amazing what is hidden from view when you drive down

country lanes near Coventry.  On Smeaton Lane is such an example:

this stone bridge that crosses Smite Brook.

The photo below is similar to a couple of others

I have found on the internet, except mine shows

a backlog of branches stuck under one of the arches.

No worries, I'm sure that rubble will be cleared in good time.

The research I have done suggests this bridge was originally built

in medieval times and used for travel to and from the village of Brinklow.  

Above is Smeaton Lane.  See those posts?  They have little

signs on them to designate foot and bridal paths.

Pedlar's Bridge is about 15 minutes drive from Coventry.

Think I might take a little break now.  

See you next week :)

W Is For Water

Smite Brook

(photo taken near Brinklow)

The bridge is actually a medieval pack horse bridge

known as Pedlar's Bridge.  I'll show more tomorrow. 

Participating in ABC Wednesday

St Giles Church & Gateway

Chesterton, Warwickshire

Gateway designed by Inigo Jones around 1632.

St. Giles Church is about 30 minutes from Coventry (by car) in the small

Village of Chesterton - not far from Chesterton Windmill.

Some parts of the church date back to the 12th Century.

If you scroll down to 'Church' in the link - HERE, there is

more detailed information.  

The gateway (below) to the north of the church seems to frame the countryside beyond.

It would have led to a nearby manor house (demolished in 1802).

Participating in Our World Tuesday

Join Me For A Walk

Coombe Country Park

(Two mile country walk through the gate.)

It has been over 2 years now that I have

been photographing that big Oak Tree.

Not much has changed with the tree

but if you click on the Tree Series link

you'll see plenty of seasonal differences.

Taken yesterday.

Have a super week.  I'll do my best to

post photos this week...but it's going to be a challenge :).

Roman Town Of Chesterton

Earliest Settlement of Chesterton, Fosse Way

(light green field - lower left in photo)

The small Roman town of Chesterton is no longer.

Not surprising since it dates back to (hold on to your hats)

140 AD.

Near the spot where I am standing is a

sign which gives details better than I can.

Please enlarge to read.

On top of the hill where I am standing is a beautiful windmill.

Less than a mile away is the present village of Chesterton.

For more about Chesterton Windmill - please follow the link to my 

blog post earlier this month - HERE.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Have a super weekend!

Coventry Pubs #4 - The Castle

7 Little Park Street

The Castle pub extends into the Grade II listed 

Georgian town house to the left.  It is 

one of only three surviving buildings of this type in Coventry.

The others are:

 Kirby House (16 Little Park Street) and

 11 Priory Row.  All were built in the early 18th Century.

Located right in the center of Coventry

next to Council House Square.

Below is a look at more of Little Park Street with The Castle in the middle.

Photos taken with my phone camera.

How amazing :).

Ordnance Survey Triangulation Station

Walsgrave Hill, Coombe Fields

So here it is - an Ordnance Survey Triangulation Station.

Basically, it is a concrete pillar used by Ordnance Survey

to determine our country's exact shape.

These pillars are usually located on high ground, with

direct line of sight to the next pillar.

I'll show you what Mr LOL is looking in a minute.

There are two sets of markings.  

(I now realise I need to get a closer shot of that bracket (below).)

 What was Mr LOL looking at?  Coventry City Centre.

You can see Coventry Cathedral Spire in the middle

and very faintly spires of Christchurch (left) and Holy Trinity (right) too.

The large building nearby is University Hospital Coventry.

I am anxious to learn where the nearest

'trig points' are and more about this whole subject.

That is what makes doing a blog like this fun for me.

I am constantly learning :).

Here is one more look at the view from here.

Young Wheat Crop

Coombe Fields

I'm standing on a public foot path looking west across wheat fields.

Coombe Country Park is to my left and

Walsgrave Hill to my right.

Taken yesterday - a gorgeous day for a walk.

Walsgrave Hill is just up that foot path and

to the left.  I'll show you more tomorrow :).

More Demoltion

Coventry Cathedral Spire 

The photograph (above) is a view looking through the demolition site

of a 1960's office block across the street from Coventry Train Station.

In the photograph below (one of my favorite buildings)

Station Tower is soon to be demolished.  

I believe major improvements are proposed

for Coventry Train Station (to the right of Station Tower).

Below is another view of how work is progressing.

Above is some of the completed walkway from the train station 

to town and some new occasional seating.  

 All of the buildings pictured will be completely demolished,

soon.

Have a super weekend...see you next week :).

PS  Happy Birthday, Jean!!!!

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Occasional Seating

Between City Centre and Coventry Railway Station

I was amused by these chairs.  They are

a tad random.  I thought someone just left them there.

It is the design.  Cemented in the brickwork (I checked).

A place to rest (I guess) on the walk between the

train station and town.  Overall the area looks pretty nice and

welcoming to visitors to Coventry.

Behind me - a total mess (for now).  I'll explain and show you more

in the week :).