The Priory, Llandogo Vintage Postcard

Here is another couple of pictures from my Large Postcard Collection. The first one was posted on the 4th June 1954 from Ross on Wye, Herefordshire to a Chapman, 36 Hill Road, West Worthing, Sussex. The picture shows the Priory, Llandogo, Monmouthshire, Wales. I am not sure the date is correct as the stamp is of King George VI who had died in 1952.

The postcard reads as best as I can as follows, if i can't make the word out I will just underscore
The Priory - Llandogo
Via Chepstow, Herefordshire.

Dear Denis, Eva and All,
We are having an enjoyable time here, had a v. wet journey on Saturday. Rain almost all the way. Arrived without Jerry at 3.00, had to wait at ____Jerry arrived 7.30 just as the dinner bell went the weather has been _______ __ ______ __ day was nice we walked to a beacon hill and villages ___ most of the rest of the card I unable to make out but it ends with, I hope you fix something up soon, love to you all ______Love from Hugh and Jerry.

The 2nd postcard I want to feature is of  Happy Valley, Llandudno, these are a set of gardens that are home to wildlife animals and plants and still popular today. Llandudno Pier can also be seen in the picture.

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Happy Valley, Llandudno. - Vintage Postcard.

Part of my collection of Vintage Postcards is this one looking across the Happy Valley gardens, Llandudno, towards the town pier. The card was posted on the 11th August 1950.

 Posted to a Mr & Mrs R. Acton
34 Worsley Road
Lower Walton
Warrington
Lancs.

The text as best I can make reads as follows,

Llandudno, Thurs

Having a very enjoyable holiday and regret it is nearly over. Weather has been mixed, but we have not been forced indoors. Had some lovely tours, and found N. Wales as beautiful as ever.

Love Helga & Harry

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Carter Bar. Crossing from England to Scotland.

Carter Bar is a set of 11 pictures taken at the historic border point between England and Scotland, The majority were taken in October 2018, with an additional one pictured looking south across Northumberland from the view point.

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Carter Bar can be found on the A68 road at the top Redesdale Valley at a height of 1371ft above sea level. It is approx. 58 miles south east of Edinburgh, and 45 miles north west of Newcastle. The nearest town being Jedburgh.


Carter Bar has a viewing are which is popular with passes by who tend to stop and picture the stunning landscapes visible from the crossing. There are 2 large stones to mark the actual historic border between England and Scotland. The Cheviot Hills, Scottish Borders and Northumberland can be viewed for many miles and the crossings exposed placing and altitude means it can be quite cold on a summers day, and still snowy into late spring and early autumn.

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On the 7th July 1575 Carter Bar was the scene of the last major battle between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, this became known as the Raid of Redeswire. The area was also known to hold Truce Days, also known as March Law. This was a system of international law to settle cross border disputes between England and Scotland, attended by the Lord Warden of the Marches who was responsible for the security of the border regions. These became unnecessary after 1603 when the union of the crowns led to  King James VI of Scotland being crowned King James I of England.

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Rochdale Canal. Station Road Bridge 6 to Longbottom Bridge 4

This collection of 11 pictures was taken whilst walking a short section of the Rochdale Canal. The distance covered was approx. 3/4 mile from bridge number 6 Station Road, Luddenden Foot to Bridge number 4 Longbottom or Tenterfields. The pictures were taken on 25th August 2019 as I was down Luddenden Foot searching for some old bomb shelters which I found (More on later) no far from Station Road Bridge.

Station Road Bridge No. 6 over the Rochdale Canal. The bridge used to provide access from the main A646 Burnley Road to the Luddenden Foot Railway Station (Closed 1962).

The mill is Denholme Mills which has stood at that location since the the early 19th century. Mainly used as a textile mill in the early 1990's it became a camping shop.

Taken a little further along the canal, Denholme Mills is just out of the left hand side of the picture.

Cooper House Bridge No. 5 over the Rochdale Canal. Built around 1798, the bridge allowed an access road to cross the canal from the main turnpike to the nearby Cooper House Mills. The mills were demolished in the early part of the 2010's.

The canal looking away from Cooper House Bridge. The mill complex stood to the right of the picture. Before the canal was reopened in the early 1990's the bank's here were much closer together. You could leap from 1 side to the other. The banking here was strengthened after it weakened and almost flooded the mills complex in the 1970's or 80's.


Just along the canal from Cooper House is another mill complex known as Tenterfields, this is just over the tree and wall to the right. The mill is now a number of small industrial units but was built as a Fulling Mill in 1738.


Bridge No. 4 Longbottom is also sometimes called Tenterfields Bridge. The bridge used to be an up and over with no path through, but in 1987 as part of the plan to reopen the Rochdale Canal the bridge was widened and a path through added by Manpower Services Commission.


The Rochdale Canal westwards from Longbottom Bridge. Tenterfields can be seen to the left, the original name of the mill being Whitworth's Mill.


Again taken from Longbottom Bridge, this time looking eastwards in the direction of Sowerby Bridge.


Bridge No.4 over the Rochdale Canal, Longbottom Bridge used to be passed by a set of Stone steps just out of shot to the left of the wall. The bridge was widened to include the towpath in 1987.


The canal banking just beyond Longbottom Bridge.

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The Ribblehead Viaduct.

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My Ribblehead Viaduct collection is a set of 17 pictures, 1 which was taken in August 1976, the rest in April 2015. They can all be seen here, on Flickr, YouTube and on Clickasnap where they can also be downloaded.

The Ribblehead Viaduct or Batty Moss Viaduct is a 24 arch bridge that carries the Settle to Carlisle line across the Ribble Valley in North Yorkshire, England. Work began on the viaduct in 1869 or 70 according to different sources and ran until completion in August 1875. The workforce grew to approx. 2300 men who lived in camps with their families around the viaduct, these settlements were known as Batty Wife Hole, Sebastopol and Belgravia. The area around the base of the viaduct where these settlements were is now a scheduled ancient monument. Over 100 men died during the construction of Ribblehead Viaduct due to accident, fighting and an outbreak of smallpox. In addition to these men they were over 100 more deaths amongst the women and children of their families who lived in the camps. Many are buried in the nearby ST Leonards Church, Chapel-le-Dale where there is a plaque erected in the church in their memory.

The Midland Railway had planned a route through the area from the early 1860's and despite trying to withdraw from the planned line, which was rejected by parliament in April 1869 they commenced work in November 1869. By July 1870 the foundations were being constructed and the first stone was laid in October 1870. The plan had originally been for 18 arches but this changed in 1872 and it was decided 24 arches would be better for the design. Despite the change work continued at a good pace and by the end of 1874 the stone work was complete. The first goods train crossed the viaduct in August 1875, followed by the first passenger train in May 1876.

The viaduct is 400m long and 32m high at the highest point across the valley. The 24 arches have a span of approx. 14m and the foundations are 7.6m deep underground. It is the longest single structure on the Settle to Carlisle line and probably the most famous. There is the Ribblehead Railway Station approx. 1/2 mile south of the viaduct and the area is popular with walkers, there is also the Station Inn which offers accommodation, food and drink in the shadow of the Viaduct.

The story of the Ribblehead Viaduct may have ended if it wasn't for a plan by British Rail to close the line in the early 1980's. They argued that the high cost of repairing the viaduct and other structures along the route made the continued running of the line uneconomical. Between 1981 and 1984 over £100000 was spent on repairs to the viaduct and by the mid 1980's the track across had been reduced to single status with a 20mph speed limit. In November 1988 the Viaduct was given Grade II listed status and by this time a major campaign group had formed to fight the closure threat. Due to there campaigning and increased passenger numbers the line was saved from closure by 1989 and the viaduct underwent major repairs until 1991.

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St Marys Church, Kirkby Lonsdale

The Parish Church of Kirkby Lonsdale, or by it's official name St Mary the Virgin is a Grade I listed Anglican place of worship overlooking the River Lune in the town of Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria.

Standing on it's current site since the 12th Century, with some of the architecture being of Norman build the church has many influences in it's build due to various rebuilds during it's history. In the 14th century the church was extended by rebuilding the north and south walls further out. further developments in the early 16th century included the addition of a new clerestory, pinnacles and battlements, these were removed during further refurbishments in 1807 as a new roof was added. Again the church was remodelled in 1866 by E.G Paley who once raised the roof, re-floored the chancel, added a south porch amongst many other developments.

In the grounds are a number of Grade II listed monuments and a 2 storey octagonal stone gazebo thought to date from the late 18th century. It was moved to it's current location to the north of ST Mary's from the garden of the vicarage.

My collection of 25 images were taken on the 4th April 2015 and can be seen here, on YouTube, Flickr and Clickasnap via the links in the sidebar.

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The following images are selected from the full album.

The pillar to the right with the raised pattern is of Norman build.

The Gazebo that was moved to the church grounds from the vicarage.

The sundial is a replica of an earlier 18th century one used to tell the local time in Kirkby Lonsdale. The original can still be seen in the church.


Now a feature of the garden, this Victorian Christening Font was used for over 150 years.


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Warley Moor (Updated)

Warley Moor is an area of open land approx. 6 miles north of Halifax on an old road route to Haworth, another 3 miles north of Warley Moor. The area lies just above the village of Wainstalls in an area known locally as Top Withins. The area is stunning and there have been many times I have been there and it seems to have it's own climate, it lies approx. 1440ft above sea level and I have known it sunny and calm when I have left my house down the valley at Sowerby Bridge and rainy and stormy when I have arrived at Warley Moor. The area is known locally by a number of different names, Them being Fly Flatts, Top Withins and Ovenden Moor.

As well as the outstanding moorland giving unbeatable views across the Calder, Hebble and Oxenhope Valleys, the moor is also home to Warley Moor Reservoir and Ovenden Moor Windfarm.

Warley Moor Reservoir

Completed in 1872 after a near 8 year build Warley Moor Reservoir or Fly Flatts as it is also known was built on behalf of the Halifax Waterworks Extension Scheme. When full it covers 68 acres, has a depth of 45 feet and holds approx. 193 million gallons. It is known owned and maintained by Yorkshire Water and the home of Halifax Sailing Club, established in 1959 the reservoirs high elevation makes them the highest sailing club in Britain.

Ovenden Moor WInd Farm


Opened in 1993 at a cost of £12 million, they site had 23 turbines when completed. Controversial when opened due to the turbines being in an area of outstanding natural beauty overlooking Bronte Country, and the Calder & Hebble Valleys the original turbines were expected to have a life span of 25 years and generate enough power for approx. 5500 homes. These were decommissioned in 2015 and replaced by 9 turbines with the power to generate more electricity, an estimated 11000 homes can now be powered from here.

The pictures were taken on various dates with different cameras, there are a total of 35 pictures in the album which can be seen below, on Flickr and Clickasnap.

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All the pictures can also be seen in a slideshow video below and on YouTube.
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Halifax Pubs Volume 5

I have recently posted on a few occasions about the pictures I took of the pubs of Halifax Town Centre in May 2018, this is to be my final post of this collection and I have now included the video of the entire set of 32 pictures which I have uploaded to YouTube.

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The Old Post Office

The first Post Office in Halifax was sighted here in 1790, the pub was known as the Bowling Green until 2008 when it closed for a spell before re-opening in 2010 with it's current name.

The Royal Oak

Rebuilt in 1929 using timber from HMS Newcastle the pub has had a number of different names in recent years including Tap & Spile and Dirty Dicks. It as here that Olive Smelt had been drinking on the 15th August 1975, the night she was attacked by the Yorkshire Ripper to become his 2nd victim. Happily she survived the attack and although she struggled to get over what happened that night lived to the age of 82.

The Westgate

Originally built as an house it became a pub some time after 1843 when the owner John Oldfield Bates had died. Despite plans to refurbish the building and it's good central location near to the Piece Hall and Borough Market it has remained closed for several years now.

Union Cross Hotel

The Oldest Inn in Halifax, it was renamed the Union Cross in 1745 to show support for the crown during the Jacobite Rebellion. Daniel Defoe and John Wesley have both stayed here, and like most old pubs within Halifax there is said to be tunnels from the cellars to the Parish Church. The building is Grade II listed. Webster's Brewery opened an in the adjoining Union Cross Yard.

The White Horse

Built in 1899 as a replacement for the earlier White Horse that opened in 1819 and stood nearby. The rebuilding was due to Southgate being widened.

All these pictures and over 2100 more can be seen and downloaded from Clickasnap here.

Halifax Pubs Volume 4

Batch number 4 is another set of 6 pubs / clubs from the centre of Halifax, West Yorkshire. All were taken in May 2018 using a Nikon d3300 SLR camera.

Atik & Vinyl

Starting life in 1913 as the The Picture House until 1960, when it was closed for 2 years before becoming a bingo hall. Opened again as a cinema in 1973 it continued until closure in 1982. Again the building was unused for a few years before becoming the Coliseum Nightclub and Maine Street bar in 1987. In recent years it has been known as Liquid, Atik and Maine Street has become Vinyl. The building is Grade II listed.

Bar Rouge

There are actually 3 different pubs/clubs housed in this building, Bar Rouge, Fusion and Panacea. Originally the site of the Globe public house the building was the head office of the Halifax Equitable Bank until it was taken over by Martins Bank in 1927. It then became a branch of Barclays Bank in 1969 until closure in 1985. In the early 1990's the building was converted at great cost by Mansfield Brewery in to the Coiners Bar. It has since had a number of names and owners and is currently up for sale.

Cat & Fiddle

Originally the Golden Lion housed in the all white washed building next to Bon Marche, the pub extended in to the nearer building in 1987. It adopted it's popular nickname the Brass Cat in 1981 and has been known as the Cat & Fiddle in 2014.

The Plummet Line


Built in 1897 as a replacement for the earlier Plummet Line Hotel which was to be demolished during the Bull Green redevelopment. Both were open alongside each other until 1898 as it is said there must always be a Plummet Line in this area of Halifax. I was once told that this was were Halifax RLFC's coaching team and senior players mapped out the tactics for their successful 1987 Challenge Cup run which resulted in Halifax beating St Helens 19-18 in the final at Wembley. Apparently the get togethers were known as the Monday night club.

Railway Hotel


The Railway is a former Ramsden Brewery pub within site of Halifax Railway Station. The hotel was the place where Janet Currie spent the night before drowning her child in the Calder & Hebble Navigation Canal. Despite people seeing her throw a bundle in to the canal, a child's body being found and being charged with the killing of a child on a couple of other occasions, the jury found her not guilty.

The Courtyard


Built in 1755 as Holly House it did not become a pub until the 1980's when it opened as Carrington's. It's most popular era was the 1990's through to early 2000's when it was known as the Bass House.

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