Nigel's Photo Blog

 Introduction This evening, I am reporting on the town of Seahouses in Northumberland, NE England.  Seahouses Harbour  Information on Seahouse Seahouses is just three miles from Bamburgh , as featured yeaterday. Seahouses Lifeboat  Seahouses Harbour Seahouses has a population approaching 2000 persons. It is a bustling fishing town that provides a gateway to the world-renowned Farne Islands National Nature Reserve. Seahouses is home to a wide range of shops and eateries.The harbour is both a working fishing port and embarkation point for the regular, daily boat trips which transport large numbers of visitors to view the Farne Islands and the local wildlife. Farne Islands scene with puffins in foregound.  Grey Seals basking on rocks Key members of the wildlife population include Atlantic Grey Seals and Puffins. Farne Islands lighthouse. Basking seals Shag drying wings Seabirds on Farne Islands

   This evening, I am posting information on Thirlwall Castle, a romantic ruin situated near Greenhead and Gilsland and close to the line of Hadrian’s Wall. Actual location is about 20 miles NE of Carlisle in northern England. It should be noted that the castle structure features masonry recycled from nearby Hadrian’s Wall. This castle dates from the early 14th century and gave service as a  fortified home until the early 18th century, a period which covers the troubled and lawless times of the Border Reivers when strong defences and self-reliance were paramount. The castle was originally fortified by John Thirlwall and stayed in the Thirlwall family through to its abandonment by Eleanor Thirlwall in the early 18th century. In 1738 the castle passed into the Swinburne family upon Eleanor Thirlwall’s marriage and subsequently to the Earl of Carlisle in 1748 upon sale of the Swinburne estate. Collapses of masonry occu...

  Northumbrian landscape at Laing's Hill Farm Information on Northumbria Northumbria is a county in N.E England with a p opulation is 319,000. Details of tour  This morning, we departed our lodgings in Haltwhistle at centre of Britain and embarked on a trip as follows: First, a one hour drive north, traversing remote countryside, to Kirkharle, a small village which has become famous as the birthplace of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, a renowned British landscape gardener who was born in 1716. Brown was educated at a local school and then trained as a gardener on the Kirkharle estate until moving on at age 23 years ultimately to achieve celebrity status in his chosen profession.Kirkharle is now a visitor attraction with coffee shop and small craft and specialist shops. We also visited the local church, St Wilfrid's, where Brown was christened. Haltwhistle, Northumberland Kirkharle Coffee Shop Kirkharle Courtyard Kirkharle landscape Kirkharle Church Next, a 15 minut...