Choo! Choo! Chugga! Chugga! I could hear it coming before I saw it - a real live steam train on the Churnet Valley Railway. I realise my photo may look as though it is a shot of a model railway but I swear it is not. I was standing on the old railway bridge near Bradnop. The Churnet Valley Railway is of course run by rail enthusiasts
It was a good start to my long Staffordshire walk. It had taken Clint just one hour and ten minutes to transport me cross country to the town of Leek but I chose to begin my walk just outside it in the strung out village of Bradnop. This is Lark Hall Farm just outside Bradnop:-
Later, after plodding along for a couple of hours I found myself in the centre of Leek itself. It has a population of some twenty thousand and a long history too. It even has its own building society. Here is the branch on Derby Street:-
Here's another view of Leek taken from near the old market place which received its charter from King John in 1207. The church is dedicated to St Edward the Confessor and also dates back to the thirteenth century:-
On the walking map I had printed off I had seen something marked called "Plague Stone" next to Cheddleton Road. I was keen to investigate and this is it....
This stump of a cross dates back to the fourteenth century. It is thought that provisions were left on or near the cross for the townspeople of Leek during the Bubonic Plague, and payment was left by the people in bowls of vinegar, to prevent spread of the disease.
It was after four o'clock when I jumped back into Clint's cosy cockpit ready for the drive back to Sheffield. Weatherwise, it had been a pretty perfect day and I was pleased that my circular walk had all been in "virgin territory" for I had never previously visited Leek. It was good.
Lark Hall Farm is a lovely looking home; I could live there quite nicely.
ReplyDeleteAnd that train photo does look a little model-y to me, too.
Great walkabout, as usual.
I enjoyed it and it gives me pleasure to tell other people about my long walks.
DeleteIt boggles my mind a bit, that a plague stone can sit there for nearly 500 years and nobody decides to remove it.
ReplyDeleteOf course that's because I live in a place where everything over 50 years old is knocked down.
I have just read a novel based on the plague story of Eyam. It was a great read.
Eyam isn't far from Sheffield. I have been there plenty of times.
DeleteYour walks take you to interesting places every day.
ReplyDeleteThere is wonder and delight to be found just round the corner. You don't have to travel far.
DeleteBeautiful photos and a lovely little town.
ReplyDeleteIt did seem like a nice town and on a manageable human scale too.
DeleteA pretty day and an interesting one. Obviously I have never been to Leek, but I do like the look of it and I alsi like leek, the onion related vegetable, it's very nice in chicken and/or vegetable soups.
ReplyDeleteThe leek is one of my favourite vegetables too.
DeleteIt looks good, too. You had perfect walking weather and combined a village, railway, and town with historic interest.
ReplyDeleteThe petrol-blue colour on the Georgian (?) home is rather unusual.
I believe that a business is now based there.
DeleteDuring the 1990s I had to visit the town of Leek many times as my employers' head office was based there. Unfortunately I never found the time to walk about and see much of it, so thank you for posting those photos.
ReplyDeleteI had pie and chips, a mug of tea and a good rest in the marketplace. The once palatial HQ of The Britannia Building Society now sits empty.
DeleteI had a uni friend who came from Leek. I've often wondered what it looked like.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have spent longer there. I would have liked to visit the town's museum and go inside that particular church.
DeleteWhat a stunning train photo. I visited Leek a few times.
ReplyDeleteI liked both the "feel" and the look of Leek.
DeleteGreat train shot,
ReplyDeleteThat's kind Mr Penguin. Thank you.
DeleteSounds like a pretty perfect walk although...no cows or sheep. You know how I love the livestock.
ReplyDeleteI nearly took pictures of a spotty horse and later some newborn lambs but the frolicked away - imagining that you cannot trust humans! Now why would that be?
DeleteI've heard of a technique one can do with certain lenses and elevations to make things appear like model toys. I've never been able to do it but I live mostly in the land of one to two story buildings so I'm guessing it has to do with my lack of elevation.
ReplyDeleteI am aware of that technique too but I didn't need it for this shot. It just came out that way.
DeleteThat train photo is terrific, Neil! Love that billowing smoke and the bright red bumper on the front of the train. The color really pops in that view from the market place. Well done! You'll be winning more photo awards...!
ReplyDeleteYou are so kind Ellen. Thank you!
DeleteI always think the Roaches Hills look interesting when I go in that direction.
ReplyDeleteThey are very gnarled. I have walked up there.
DeleteHave driven through Leek in years gone by, but can't recall ever stopping to look round. It looks a nice town.
ReplyDeleteTo add to Kylie's comment about the plague stone - it's a miracle it isn't daubed with graffiti!
Did you take a leak in Leek?
Deleteweird fact, my great grandad hid his bigamous second wife in leek...lol
ReplyDeleteI guess his secret leeked out.
DeleteSo who's riding that train? Does it carry passengers who are fellow railway enthusiasts?
ReplyDeleteYou found some interesting sights, particularly the "plague stone" (which would be easy to miss if you didn't know to look for it).
The people on the train would have been paying passengers who fancied a steam train ride. Some of those people would have been riding on a steam train for the very first time and others would have been lifelong enthusiasts.
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