No Apologies

Coombe Country Park

Taken from the Bird Hide

Amazing the quality of photograph you can get with

a mobile phone...and this one is a Moto G (3rd Gen) 

not my iPhone.  I have shown many images of this

view out the window.  No apologies - here is another one :).

Participating in Skywatch Friday

English Rose

Coombe Country Park

It was so lovely here yesterday afternoon.  We

decided to go for a walk at Coombe.

I couldn't help admire these beautiful

pink English roses -

Strawberry Hill.

The first image is looking over the lake at Coombe.

Behind me is the view below -

Coombe Abbey Hotel.   I have shown it many times before.

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In The Evening

Coombe Country Park

Photo taken from the Bird Hide

last week.

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Coombe - Benchmark

Entrance to Coombe Abbey Hotel

as well as Coombe Country Park

Brinklow Road

When you drive down the Brinklow Road,

just outside Coventry, you can't help but notice

these two pillars and the magnificent Coombe Abbey Hotel beyond.

My interest today is the curious mark on the

left pillar noted by an arrow in the photo below.

Have a closer look below.

The white arrow is pointing at a

benchmark at the base of the pillar.

The benchmark is that 'line' with (what looks

like) an arrow pointing up to it.

The benchmark serves as an elevation reference point.

This one no longer appears on Ordnance Survey maps.

When the reference point was chiseled in the stone,

 these pillars were located just down the road, 

presumably at a different elevation.  

* * * * * 

In preparing for today's post, I was interested to read that

at some point in the 1960s these pillars were originally sited about 60 yards

to the east.  The pillars supported wrought iron gates

 known as the Griffin Gate. I have read further that these gates were

removed for safekeeping when the pillars were moved to their present

location.   I wonder where the gates are now.

In the photo below I am looking towards what was the 

carriage entrance (next to red car behind the trees).
The main entrance is behind me.

(Below) The Griffin Gate was originally here

at the carriage entrance to Coombe Abbey.

This road runs parallel to the main entrance driveway.  

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Bishop And The Spire

Coventry Cathedral Ruins

First Bishop of Coventry,

Huyshe Wolcott Yeatman

You may recall a similar image I took in January

from this spot with a fence interfering with the overall look.

The fence is gone and whilst there is more light on

the Spire in this image, I am amazed at the results taken with my phone.

Have a good weekend!

Hope you have picked a winner in tomorrow's

Grand National Hunt Horse Race.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Boathouse View

Coombe Country Park

View from Capability Brown boathouse

The public were given limited access to the

boathouse during Heritage Weekend in September, 2015.

It was a real treat to see the view from this recently restored building.

The boathouse is Grade II Listed and dates back to the 1770s when

Capability Brown was commissioned to remodel

the grounds, at the time owned by the Earl of Craven.

It is located on the south side of the lake.
Below is how it looks from other side of the lake.

Hope you have a 'sunny' weekend.

That's my plan :).

Participating in Skywatch Friday

and
Weekend Reflections

Dusting Of Snow

Coombe Country Park

The Oak Tree I photograph

throughout the year in a Tree Series.

It was a bit of a dark day last

Sunday, but I was delighted to see some snow

on the ground at last.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Thanks for visiting me here in Coventry, England.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Pity About The Fence

Coventry Cathedral Ruins

I took this photograph last month in the late afternoon.

I am working on a article about the restoration of parts of the

Old Cathedral Ruins.  So I can't show you the floor beyond

this statute and tomb of the First Bishop of Coventry just yet.

I do hope to get the same shot again when the fences are removed.

In the meantime, here is a link -

Huyshe Yeatman-Biggs. He was the First Bishop of Coventry.

I believe that this bronze tomb

was the only thing inside the cathedral to survive
 The Blitz during WWII.

Participating in 

Good Fences

Skywatch Friday

Have a good weekend!

No Rain

Walsgrave Hill, Coombe Fields

These photographs were taken last week with my phone 

on a walk at Coombe Country Park.

I have photographed this view many times before.

Below is a similar shot.  You can see (on the left)
a corner of Walsgrave Hospital, now know as University Hospital Coventry.

Have a super weekend and take care!

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Under The Rainbow

Coombe Country Park

View from Brinklow Road on Tuesday

These photos were taken in the rain with my iPhone.

Happily, I got the big oak tree on right.  That is the tree

I photograph occasionally in the Tree Series.

(Below) Not quite straight - but you get the idea.

Full view towards Coombe from the road.

Do I see a double rainbow?

 Participating in Skywatch Friday

Cedar Of Lebanon

Coombe Country Park

Here is an unusual sight.  Autumn leaves and what I thought

was a Monterey Pine (tree on the right).  I have since learned

that it is actually a Cedar of Lebanon tree. 

There is a story. 

First off, I think this tree might be over 200 years old.

The grounds of Coombe Country Park were designed by 

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown.  Although Brown liked native English trees

he also liked exotic trees and Cedar of Lebanon is

one of his most famous.  You can see cedars planted in 

many of his gardens across England.

Please note it isn't raining.  These photos were taken

over a week ago.  I am thinking that is the last time I saw blue sky :).

Have a super weekend.  See you next week

in Coventry City Centre for a change!

Participating in Skywatch Friday

A Great Enterprise

Birmingham New Street Railway Station

Originally opened in 1854.  It

had the largest single-span arched roof in the world,

accommodating a number of railways.

In the 1960's the station was completely rebuilt.

The most recent £550m redevelopment is nearly complete.

Have a look at one entrance.

The station is almost finished.  It looks quite futuristic to me.

Trains come and go underneath the station and shops.

I guess they are going to call it Grand Central.

In the shot below, I am standing on the walkway with

my husband.  The reflection shows the back of the Odeon Cinema

and another nearby shopping centre.

This reflective design goes all the away around

the building which seems as large as a

football stadium.  I will have fun coming back

to seeing the finished station.

Only 26 minutes from Coventry by train.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

and Weekend Reflections

using my iPhone.

Almost A Year

Coventry Central Police Station

That's how long this lamp door has

been open...presumably broken :).

I first took a picture of this lamp in May, 2012. 

For some reason it has been the most visited blog post of mine.

Well, since October, 2014, the flap/door has been open.

So, yesterday I decided to photograph it again. 

(Please note 'blue sky' to go with 'blue lamp'.)

 In the photos above (looking down Little Park Street)

you can just see the tops of

Holy Trinity and Coventry Cathedral Spires.

Want to see inside the lamp?

I don't know, maybe the doors to the Police cells

are kept open too :).

Have a super weekend.  I've got an idea

for September 1st CDP Theme Day - Curiosities.

Hope you have too!

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Blue Stained Glass

Coventry Cathedral Ruins

Look closely - Can you see the blue glass in the first photograph?

I hadn't noticed it before.  The photos below are

taken progressively as I step back into the middle 

of the cathedral ruins.

Coventry Cathedral and the ruins of the old cathedral

are open daily.  

It has been a busy week.  Biggest challenge was

sorting out Windows 10 on my laptop.  

All sorted now, I hope :).

Have a good weekend and see you next week!

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Clouds...

...with 3 fighter jets out training (I hope).

Mablethorpe

This was taken recently when we had an outing to the seaside.

You often see these jets (lower right corner) training off the coast in Lincolnshire.

They sound loud.

By the way, those clouds are a daily feature here in Coventry.
At least today we had no rain and it was actually 'warm' :).

It takes about 2 1/2 hours to drive to Mablethorpe from Coventry.

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Top Of The Tower

St Mary's Church

Warwick

The skyline of Warwick is dominated

by this magnificent church tower.  

For more about St Mary's Church,

please click the link HERE.

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My Sort Of View

Brancaster, Norfolk

Royal West Norfolk Golf Club

These photos were taken earlier this week when Mr LOL and I

spent a few days in Norfolk.  The coastline is

dotted with wonderful, picturesque villages not far from the seaside.

In the photo above you can see this amazing

links course is just beyond me.  That fence runs along the top of sand dunes.

  

In the photo below you can see more of the beach and the North Sea.

The big building is the clubhouse for the golf club.

Brancaster is a good 3 hours from Coventry.

We stayed in the area for three nights.  I'll share

more photos from this area early next week.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

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!

Library of Birmingham

Today we jumped on a train and visited Birmingham's

new public library.

This is a view from inside the 

library looking up.  The glass on the right

surrounds an elevator that goes to a rooftop terrace.

Library of Birmingham (left) & Baskerville House (office building, right)

Centenary Square, Birmingham

Below is a hint of the view.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Weather Report

It's not raining :).

This photo was taken at Ryton Pools Country Park,

about 10 minutes from Coventry.

Makes me feel like I am in Colorado, USA.

Better show you one of the pools....

....and the Visitors Centre.  There is a cafe too.

Have a super weekend.  I'll be painting (our living room walls :)).

Participating in Skywatch Friday.