Posts

Showing posts from February, 2022

Ancient 10th century carvings in England

Image
 This afternoon, I have decided to feature some unusual, possibly 10th century, stone carvings from the Church of St. Helen's, Bilton-in-Ainsty, Yorkshire, England.    These unusual carvings can be found in the Lady Chapel of the church which has origins dating back to Saxon times of the first millennium. Being of possible 10th century AD date, the carvings could be from the Viking era. The vertical stone immediately below may have been the shaft of across. This and the other stones may have been re-used as grave-markers at various times. I find these carvings pleasantly primitive and striking. In their day they were intended to convey messages at a time when most of the population would have been illiterate and Christianity a relatively new introduction.  

Louisburgh

Image
   Town view This evening I am posting information on the attractive town of Louisburgh, (formerly Kilgeever) which is located on the Bunowen River, in County Mayo in the west coast of Ireland. The town is situated about 100km NW of Galway.   Bonowen River This town ( pop 434) was constructed in 1795 by the 3rd Earl of Altamount (later 1st Marquess of Sligo), John Denis Browne of Westport, to house Catholic refugees escaping sectarian conflict in the north of Ireland. Browne named the town in memory of his Uncle - Captain Henry Browne - who fought in the 1758 battle of Louisburg, on the British side against the French. Louisburg was a French named fortress on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.  Town view Louisburgh is an attractive small town which retains many 18th century features in style and scale. The town displays lots of character and the surrounding townlands are packed full of history and charm. It is an area of immense natural beauty with Croagh Patrick (764m) to the e

Pompeii

Image
Today, I am posting a portfolio of images taken during my first visit to the ancient city of Pompeii in Italy.  Pompeii, a Roman town from the 1st century AD. has achieved fame worldwide as a consequence  of being buried under layers of lava pebbles, three types of pumice, and various types of ash in all about4m/12 ft in depth due to a massive explosion of nearby Mount Vesuvius at around midday on October 24th,  AD79. This entombed about 2000 people in the town with countless thousands of others dying in the surrounding countryside. This was the most catastrophic natural disaster ever recorded in European history. After the explosion, the town was forgotten until rediscovered in the 18th century. In 1860 the Italian government appointed a professional archaeologist to oversee excavations which are still in process today. To sum up the horrific deaths to thousands of the town's occupants caused by searing heat and suffocation is offset by the unique window this event

Glenfarg Community Garden

Image
Tonight, I am posting information on a community garden run by the residents of Glenfarg, a village in the S.E.of Scotland.Location is 11 miles south of Perth and 36 miles north of Edinburgh .The population of Glengarg is 690 persons. The images below reflect the lush, mild climate enjoyed in this part of Scotland.         Extract from Glenfarg village website Glenfarg sits at the southern end of a picturesque and narrow glen in the Ochil hills and its sheltered position ensures that the village benefits from a mild climate all year round. Glenfarg is a vibrant and thriving residential community and boasts numerous social clubs and societies that are always on the lookout for new members. Gardens, parks and open spaces abound and if you are a fan of golf; 44 golf courses are located within 30 minutes’ drive and these include the world famous St Andrews and Gleneagles.
 Glenfarg really is an ideal place to live if you are looking for the peace and relaxing atmosphere of a true village

Bellahouston Park under water

Image
Today, I noticed that Bellahouston Park in south Glasgow was suffering from extensive flooding in the sports area.    No football (soccer) today! This winter we have escaped much of the traditional snow and ice but, nevertheless, have suffered from heavy rains.We now have two major storms coming in form the west the first of which is predicted to be accompanied by high winds resulting in possible structural damage. Seagulls feel at home!  A watery view for the tower block residents. Although looking sad today, Bellahouston Park hosted the 1938 Empire Exhibition which attracted 12.5m  visitors. The 1938 Empire Exhibition was to be ‘the most elaborate and extravagant exhibition ever held in Britain’. Bellahouston Park was selected as it gave the organisers a large open space and a commanding view of the city. Formally opened on the 3 May 1938 at nearby Ibrox Stadium by King George VI and Queen Mary the site included more than 100 diverse sites ranging from a post office to a Hig

One day tour of Northern Ireland

Image
First, depart overnight lodgings at port of Larne following arrival previous evening by ferry from Scotland. Then proceed as follows: To nearby Carrickfergus, principally to visit the famous castle there. This dates back to 1180 when it was begun to guard the entrance to Belfast Lough (lake). This is, arguably, the finest and best preserved Norman castle in Ireland. The castle boasts an illustrious history, changing many hands many times. Famous people who have taken control include Edward the Bruce, James II and William III, It was finally handed over to civilian control in 1928. This attraction is well managed by the local authority. Video clip of castle interior.   Next to Ardboe on Lough Neagh to view the tallest High Cross in Northern Ireland. This dates from 10th century AD. Located on shore of Loch Neagh, County Tyrone. A very significant and historic Christian site dating back to founding by Saint Coleman in the 6th century AD. Here is an image of the cross followed by a vide

Church of St. Oswald at Heavenfield, England

Image
   This evening, I am posting information on the historic church of St. Oswald which is located near Chollerford,about 25 miles west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in northern England. This is a historic church on an equally historic site, namely site of the Battle of Heavenfield which took place in AD 634. At the battle, the Christian King Oswald defeated a pagan army from whereon Oswald was held in high esteem in the early Christian Church as manifested in many eponymous churches and a St. Oswald’s Day which is celebrated on August 5th.  The current church is probably the third such building on the site. There is evidence and/or records of a Saxon church, replaced by a medieval building in turn replaced by the current church in 1817. Features of the current church include: Interior with simple chancel and lime-washed stone. Close to the font is a Roman altar used as a cross-base. (This stonework was likely re-cycled from a site on nearby Hadrian’s Wall.) Exterior features a si

Spa Town of Harrogate, England

Image
This evening I am posting information on the spa town of Harrogate in Yorkshire, northern England.   Harrogate is about 23 miles due west of the city of York and is home to a population of c.75,000. The name has a fascinating etymology. It is of Scandinavian (Old Norse) origin and translates as 'Place at the road to the cairn or heap of stones'. Mineral waters were discovered here in 1571 subsequent to which the town rose to prominence as a major Spa destination in Britain, attracting many wealthy patrons. However, later in the 20th century scientific developments surpassed the need for water treatments and the baths were closed for medical use in 1969. However, there is a strong legacy of times past and Turkish Baths are still in operation. Here is the front of the former Royal Baths building which dates from 1897 and now houses a Chinese restaurant. This is the front of the intriguing Royal Hall which dates from 1903 and benefited from a GBP10.8M restoration programm

Crummock Water, Lake District

Image
This evening, I am posting a couple of images of Crummock Water ("crooked lake") which is located close to Buttermere, in fact the two lakes were once one and are now separated by a slightly elevated flood plain. Crummock Water is about two and half miles long and much deeper than Buttermere. The latter is more accessible to visitors.  Crummock Water is about ten miles south of Cockermouth. The lake is 2.5 miles long, 0.6 miles wide and 140 feet deep. The River Cocker is considered to start at the north of the lake, before then flowing into Lorton Vale        English Lake District More information on this extremely popular holiday and recreation area cam be found here . In essence, the Lake District is located in Cumbria, an enclave tucked away in North West England, just south of the border with Scotland. The area boasts a strong Scandinavian heritage as a consequence of immigration from Norway over one thousand years ago. Most of the Lake District comprises a Nati

Murrisk Abbey, Ireland

Image
Murrisk Abbey, County Mayo, Ireland This evening, I am focusing on Murrisk Abbey near Louisburgh in Co. Mayo on the central West Coast of the island of Ireland.Location is about 100 miles north of Shannon. Louisburgh    Key aspects of the abbey are: Founded 1457 by Augustinians on land donated by Teig O'Malley, chieftain of the O'Malley Clan. What remains now comprise picturesque ruins of the Church and priory which have been designated a National Monument. The buildings were L shaped. The church was on the south side while the friary was attached to the north choir. A square tower was added later at the western end of the church. The east window behind the main altar is the finest architectural feature of the ruins. This can be seen in the image above. The window has five trefoil lights surmounted by intersecting bar tracery and is one of the best examples of its type in the West of Ireland. The Augustinians were driven out in 1577 during the Protestant Reformation. However,