Laurie Wilson – Project 365 » 2010

Day 244

September 1, 2010

A tour around our favourite micro brewery – Thornbridge.

They have recently moved to brand new riverside premises. Richard the production manager spent two hours enthusiastically showing us around and serviing up samples.

Thornbridge craft brewery

Thornbridge craft beers were first produced in the spring of 2005 in the 10 barrel brewery, in the grounds of Thornbridge Hall.

Based on innovation, passion and knowledge the brewing team produce high quality beers using the best natural ingredients winning over 100 awards.

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Day 245

September 2, 2010

Bakewell Parish Church is the oldest in the Peak District.

Bakewell Parish Church

There was a Saxon church in Bakewell in 920 and the churchyard is home to two 9th century Saxon crosses – a large somewhat damaged one in an enclosure on the north-east side of the church and a smaller, better preserved stump (which was found at a local farm and re-sited here) just to the east of the entrance. In and around the church porch there are many fine carved fragments of Saxon stonework found during restoration work in the 1840s and some ancient stone coffins.

The present church was started in late Norman style in the 12th century but only the West front and part of the North and South arcades of the nave survive from this period; the rest was built from 1220-40, with the spire added in 1340. A drastic renovation in the 1840s was almost a rebuilding – the spire, which was in danger of collapse, was completely rebuilt along with the central portion of the church.

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Day 246

September 3, 2010

A visit to Hardwick Hall which is one of our local houses on the other side of the valley.

Hardwick Hall

One of the most splendid houses in England. Built by Bess of Hardwick in the 1590s, and unaltered since: yet its huge windows and high ceilings make it feel strikingly modern. Outside, stone gleams and glass glitters in the light. Its six towers make a dramatic skyline. Climbing up through the house, from one spectacular floor to the next, is a thrilling architectural experience. Rich tapestries, plaster friezes and alabaster fireplaces colour the rooms, culminating in the hauntingly atmospheric Long Gallery.

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Day 247

September 4, 2010

Lunch in beautiful Monsal Dale

Monsal Dale

The local landmark is the Headstone Viaduct, built by the Midland Railway, over the River Wye, immediately after the 533-yard (487 m) Headstone Tunnel, travelling north from Great Longstone. The viaduct, usually incorrectly called Monsal Dale Viaduct, is 300 feet (91 m) long, with five 50-foot (15 m) span arches, some forty feet high at the centre. Initially, some slippage occurred, and remedial work was carried out in 1907-8.^[1]

Whilst considered elegant today, and indeed a preservation order was placed on it in 1970, when it was built in 1863 it was seen as destroying the beauty of the dale. John Ruskin, considered to be Britain’s leading writer on culture, having had many works published on architecture and art, as well as political works, harshly criticized the building of the railway :

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Day 248

September 5, 2010

Stars of the year’s Chatsworth Country Fair where the White Helmets motorbike display team. As Kairen was a member of the Signals Regiment from which they come, she was very supportive!

He's going to get that helmet dirty!

The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team (RSMDT), also known as the White Helmets, is a group of serving soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army, who give public displays of motorcycling skills, acrobatics and stunt riding. The team is based at the home of the Royal Signals at Blandford Camp in Dorset.

The team’s origins lie in precision motorcycling and horseriding demonstrations given by instructors and students from the British Army Signal Training Centre in Yorkshire, beginning in 1927. Riders were normally employed as despatch riders. They have had many names in the past including ‘The Red Devils’, before the Parachute Regiment team of the same name existed, Mad Signals (on account of the poor brakes on the motorcycles) and only adopted the name ‘White Helmets’ in 1963.