A Glimpse Back: Cowes in Days Gone By from My 35mm Slide Collection

There's something incredibly satisfying about diving into a box of old 35mm slides. Each transparency is a tiny window to the past, a frozen moment in time waiting to be rediscovered. Today, I pulled out this fantastic shot of Cowes, and it immediately sparked a wave of nostalgia and curiosity.

This image captures the quintessential charm of Cowes, a town synonymous with sailing and the Isle of Wight. Looking at the serene harbour, with its distinctive buildings lining the waterfront and the gentle bobbing of boats, you can almost hear the gulls and feel the sea breeze.

Let's take a closer look at what we can see. The architecture along the High Street is classic Cowes, a mix of historic buildings that have witnessed countless regattas and maritime events. The calm water reflects the clear blue sky, suggesting a beautiful, probably summer, day. The boats, from small dinghies to what look like larger yachts further out, reinforce the town's identity as a sailing hub.

Dating the Image: A Little Detective Work

One of the most fun parts of revisiting old slides is trying to pinpoint when they were taken. While I don't have an exact date noted for this particular slide, there are a few clues that can help us narrow it down.

Firstly, the overall feel of the photograph – the colours, the quality of the film, and the general appearance of the boats and buildings – strongly suggests a 1970s or early 1980s timeframe. The style of some of the smaller boats and the lack of overtly modern marina infrastructure point towards this era. There's a wonderful, unhurried quality to the scene that feels characteristic of those decades before widespread digital photography.

Specific details that might help include:

• The design of the pontoons and walkways.

• The types of cars (though none are clearly visible, their absence is also a clue!)

• Any particular signage on the buildings, though these aren't entirely clear in this view.

This photograph is more than just a picture of a place; it's a snapshot of an era. It reminds me of leisurely days spent exploring the British coast, a time when film cameras were the norm, and every click was a carefully considered moment. I'm so glad these slides have preserved such beautiful memories.

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Unwinding the Bend: Dating a Timeless View of the Wye Valley

This stunning 35mm slide, simply labelled "Wye Valley," captures the classic, tranquil beauty of the English and Welsh borderlands. The image is a broad, sweeping panorama of the River Wye winding through lush farmland, anchored by a cluster of charming, traditional houses in the foreground.

While the specific location along the 134-mile-long River Wye is a detective job, we can make some highly educated guesses about both the spot and the date based on the visual clues provided.

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Pinpointing the Location: The River's Embrace

The key feature here is the highly meandering bend of the river that almost creates an oxbow lake around a large field. This kind of pronounced meander is characteristic of the Wye as it flows through the flatter sections of its course, particularly as it heads south towards the Severn Estuary.

• Lookout Point: The photograph is clearly taken from an elevated position, looking down over the scene. This suggests it was taken from a hill, a high bank, or perhaps an upstairs window of a property along the river.

• The Village: The cluster of traditional houses in the foreground, with their steep roofs and classic British architecture, suggests the viewpoint is near a small village or hamlet. The white or cream-coloured houses are typical of many settlements in the area.

• Likely Area: Sections of the Wye near Symonds Yat (though this view seems flatter) or between Hereford and Ross-on-Wye are known for these magnificent, looping bends and wide, pastoral landscapes. A very strong candidate area is the beautiful scenery around Bodenham, north of Hereford, where the Wye performs dramatic loops through the low-lying agricultural land.

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Dating the Image: A Mid-Century Mystery

The best clue for dating this image lies, as often is the case, with the motor vehicle in the foreground.

• The Car: Just visible on the road is a small, two-tone classic car. Based on its rounded body shape, pronounced headlights, and compact size, this appears to be a Morris Minor, likely a late-model saloon.

  • The Morris Minor was produced until 1971 (though some variants earlier).

  • The styling suggests it's a model from the late 1950s or 1960s. Its presence on the road means the photo must be from the period when these cars were common, or shortly after production ceased.

• The Colour Palette: The rich, slightly saturated, and warm tones of the slide film are very typical of colour film stock used in the late 1960s or early 1970s (Kodak Ektachrome or similar). The deep greens and intense blue sky are characteristic of this era of slide photography.

• Absence of Modern Features: There is a notable lack of modern road signs, street furniture, or highly developed infrastructure. The scene feels distinctly unhurried.

Estimated Date: Combining the car's presence and the film's characteristics, I would confidently place this slide in the late 1960s, possibly 1968–1972. The car is still clearly in regular use, but the technology points away from the mid-70s.

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The Timeless Allure of the Wye Valley

This slide beautifully encapsulates why the Wye Valley is one of Britain's most cherished landscapes. It’s a scene of pastoral perfection:

• The Meander: The river acts as a gentle, guiding ribbon through the flat fields, defining the landscape.

• The Farmland: The open fields suggest a traditional agricultural use, reinforcing the peaceful, rural character.

• The Sky: The dramatic sky, featuring large, puffy cumulus clouds, adds depth and drama, a quintessential feature of the British weather and light that photographers love.

This photograph is a moment of pure, uninterrupted English countryside, preserved perfectly on a small piece of film. It is a true time capsule of the beauty that has endured along the banks of the River Wye for generations.

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Pillars of the Past: A 1960s/70s Glimpse of the Temple of Jupiter, Baalbek

One of the greatest joys of digitizing my 35mm slide collection is stumbling upon photographs of truly monumental places. This particular batch transported me far away from England to the magnificent ruins of Baalbek in Lebanon, capturing the awe-inspiring scale of the Temple of Jupiter.

These slides, taken sometime in the 1960s or 1970s, offer a wonderful, sepia-toned view of one of the greatest surviving examples of Roman imperial architecture.

The Scale of the Gods

What immediately captures the eye in these photographs is the immense scale. The Romans spared no expense in building the sanctuary at Heliopolis (the Roman name for Baalbek).

In the wide shot, we see the legendary remaining six columns of the Temple of Jupiter. Standing nearly 20 meters (65 feet) high, these Corinthian columns are a fraction of the original 54 that once surrounded the temple. The sheer size of the column shafts and the entablature they support is breath taking, especially against the backdrop of a vast, open sky. It’s a powerful reminder of the ambition and engineering prowess of the Roman Empire, which built this temple between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD.

Up Close with Ancient Detail

The closer, more dramatic photograph pulls us right into the details of the ruins. The focus is split between the distant, towering columns and the intricate stonework right at the photographer's feet.

Here, we see a stunning example of Roman sculptural relief: a lion's head carving. This lion protome would have been part of the decorative cornice, likely serving as a functional water spout (or gargoyle) to drain water from the roof. The detail is remarkable, the lion’s gaping mouth frozen in a silent roar over the tumbled stones of the lower wall. This close-up view perfectly illustrates the blend of monumental scale and meticulous artistic detail that defines Baalbek.

A Time Capsule of a Timeless Place

While the Temple of Jupiter itself is thousands of years old, the sepia tones and slightly grainy quality of the slides date the image to the 1960s or 1970s.

During this period, Lebanon, and sites like Baalbek, were popular destinations for travellers and historians before later conflicts made access more difficult. These pictures capture the ruins when they were likely enjoyed by smaller numbers of visitors, before modern mass tourism, giving the scene a more tranquil, almost solitary atmosphere.

It's humbling to realize that these pillars have stood for two millennia, witnessing countless generations. To see them captured on a decades-old slide adds a unique layer to their history—a memory of a memory. It’s a testament to the fact that even a tiny piece of film can hold an epic story.

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High Moorland Majesty: Exploring Warley Moor, Fly Flatts Reservoir, and Halifax's 'Top Withins

The landscape of the South Pennines, just above Halifax, West Yorkshire, holds a unique, rugged beauty. The images captured here from August 2016, despite the impressive, moody clouds rolling overhead, perfectly encapsulate the dramatic and open feel of this upland area – a world away from the pleasant valley bottom. We're looking at the stunning area of Warley Moor and its centrepiece, the expansive Warley Moor Reservoir, known locally to many as Fly Flatts Reservoir.

A Reservoir with Two Names and a Great History

The reservoir, completed in 1872, is a key piece of Victorian engineering, built under the direction of John Frederick La Trobe Bateman to supply drinking water. Covering around 90 acres (or 68 acres according to some sources) and sitting at an altitude of approximately 410 meters (1,350 feet), it has earned its reputation not just as a water source but as a premier sailing spot.

Halifax Sailing Club: The Highest in England

Nestled on the shore of Fly Flatts is the home of the Halifax Sailing and Watersports Club. Formed in 1959, this friendly, member-run club proudly claims the title of the highest sailing club in England. The altitude ensures that they enjoy clear, strong winds, making for some top-quality, if often challenging, dinghy sailing.

The club, which is an RYA Recognised Teaching Establishment, offers dinghy racing, windsurfing, stand up paddleboarding, and more, welcoming members of all ages. The sight of brightly coloured sails against the often deep, peat-stained waters and the wild moorland beyond, as seen in the photographs, is a distinctive feature of the Warley Moor landscape. The very elements that can make the moor feel remote—the altitude and the wind—are precisely what make this location an active and exhilarating water sports hub.

The Myth of 'Top Withins'

It's a testament to the wild, windswept nature of this high ground that locals in the area, particularly those from the nearby village of Wainstalls, sometimes refer to this upper moorland expanse as 'Top Withins'.

This local nickname is, of course, entirely distinct from the famous Top Withens ruin near Haworth, miles to the north, which is renowned worldwide for its association with Emily Brontë's novel, Wuthering Heights. The Brontë-land 'Top Withens' has become a place of literary pilgrimage. However, it’s understandable that the sheer isolation and dramatic beauty of the moorland above Wainstalls and Mixenden would also inspire a name suggesting the 'top of the willows' or simply, 'the highest place'—a perfect description for this high-altitude corner of Calderdale.

The photos perfectly capture this atmosphere: the wide, open sky, the dark blanket of cloud that seems to cling to the horizon, the heather and rough grasses, and the long, winding roads that disappear into the landscape. It is a place where you feel the scale of the Pennines and the resilience of those who live and play on them.

Whether you're visiting for the exhilarating sailing, a peaceful moorland walk, or simply to experience the dramatic, untamed nature of a West Yorkshire summer day, Warley Moor and Fly Flatts Reservoir offer a truly memorable slice of upland life.

I took these pictures with a Nikon d3300 on the 28th August 2016, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Heptonstall and the Old Grammar School

On a grey, autumnal day in November 2013, a Samsung Galaxy tablet captured a series of images that perfectly encapsulate the enduring charm and rich history of Heptonstall, a village perched on the hills above Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. The subject of these photos, the Heptonstall Museum, is more than just a building; it's a Grade II-listed testament to centuries of change, a cornerstone of a community steeped in history.

The building that now houses the museum has had a fascinating journey through time. Its origins trace back to around 1600, when it was constructed not as a place of learning, but as a warehouse. This was a time when the woollen trade was the lifeblood of the Pennines, and Heptonstall was a bustling centre for handloom weaving. You can still see hints of this industrial past in the large first-floor windows of many local cottages, designed to maximise the light for the weavers working within.

In 1771, the building was given a new purpose when it was converted into the Heptonstall Grammar School. The photos from 2013 show the solid stone structure and classic architecture, elements that have witnessed generations of students passing through its doors. The school served the community until its closure in 1889. While the modern world moved on, the building's story didn't end there. For a time, it housed the Yorkshire Penny Bank, before finally reopening its doors in August 1972 as the Heptonstall Museum.

The museum today is a treasure trove of local history, offering a window into the past. It tells the story of the village's prehistoric beginnings and its role in significant events, including the Battle of Heptonstall during the English Civil War in 1643. One of the most captivating exhibits delves into the notorious Cragg Vale Coiners, a gang of counterfeiters who plagued the area in the 18th century. Their leader, "King" David Hartley, is buried in the nearby churchyard—one of the many historical figures whose stories are woven into the fabric of Heptonstall.

Speaking of the churchyard, it is perhaps one of the most unique in the country. It is home to not one, but two churches. The ruins of the Church of St Thomas a Becket, founded in the 13th century and severely damaged in a storm in 1847, stand as a hauntingly beautiful shell. Just yards away, the newer St Thomas the Apostle church, built in the 1850s, stands proudly, a symbol of resilience. This dual churchyard is also the final resting place of American poet Sylvia Plath, a poignant connection to the wider literary world.

The Heptonstall Museum, housed in its old grammar school building, serves as a perfect starting point for exploring this remarkable village. It's a place where the past isn't just displayed, it's alive in the very stones of the building and the stories they tell.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

An October Morning in Venice: A Golden Hour Tour of St. Mark's

 There's a magic to Venice that's best found in the stillness of dawn. On an early October morning in 2018, as the first rays of sunlight pierced the horizon, the legendary city transformed. The canals lay glassy and still, reflecting a sky streaked with the softest pastels, and the air was thick with a quiet anticipation. This is the Venice that few travellers get to experience—the one before the crowds arrive.

The Grand Entrance to a Grand Square

Wandering towards the heart of the city, the journey's destination was clear. The light was liquid gold, and it seemed to coat every building in a warm, ethereal glow. The Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark's Square, is the only true "piazza" in Venice. For centuries, it has been the city's political and religious hub, and Napoleon himself famously called it the "drawing room of Europe." In the tranquillity of the morning, you can truly appreciate its scale and grandeur.

The two towering columns, the Colonna di San Todaro and the Colonna di San Marco, stood sentinel at the edge of the water. The first holds a statue of St. Theodore atop a crocodile, Venice’s original patron saint, while the second is crowned by the city’s iconic winged lion, the symbol of its current protector, St. Mark. They mark the grand gateway from the lagoon, and seeing them at sunrise feels like stepping through a portal to another time.

The Dazzling Basilica and the Tower of the Master

Dominating the square is the breath taking Saint Mark's Basilica, a spectacular masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. With its intricate marble carvings and five great domes, it's a testament to the city's immense wealth and power as a trading hub. Known as the "Basilica d'Oro" or the Golden Basilica, its facade sparkles with mosaics that hint at the gold leaf covering its interior. Legend has it that the church was built to house the relics of St. Mark, smuggled out of Alexandria by Venetian merchants in the 9th century.

Standing guard next to the basilica is the imposing St. Mark's Campanile, Venetians' beloved "master of the house." This brick bell tower, at nearly 100 meters tall, has a fascinating history. It's not the original tower; the first one collapsed in 1902 and was rebuilt exactly "as it was, where it was" (com'era, dov'era). From its top, you can get a spectacular panoramic view of the city, its bell regulating the pulse of Venetian life for centuries.

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Off to the side of the main square, tucked beside the Basilica, lies a quieter space: the Piazzetta dei Leoncini, or the "little square of the lions." Named for the two squatting red marble lions that stand guard, this area offers a more intimate experience. While the main square buzzes with energy, this corner provides a tranquil space to pause and take in the magnificent architecture of the Basilica from a different perspective.

As the morning light grew brighter and the first cafe tables were set out, the magic of the golden hour began to fade, replaced by the vibrant energy of a new day. But for a brief, beautiful moment, Venice belonged to the sunrise.

I took these pictures on the 31st October 2018 with a Nikon d3300, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green photography store on Zazzle.

Piazzetta dei Leoncini.

Colonna di San Todaro and the Colonna di San Marco.

St Mark's Campanile.

San Giorgio Maggiore Church.

Doge's Palace.

St Mark's Square.

St Mark's Basilica.

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A Walk Through Time: Elwy Bridge, The Enduring Heart of St Asaph

As the River Elwy meanders its way through the historic city of St Asaph, it is gracefully spanned by a beautiful and unpretentious monument of Welsh history: the Elwy Bridge. The photographs you see capture its timeless charm—the gentle flow of the river, the sturdy stone arches, and the tranquil reflections on the water. But beyond its picturesque appearance, this bridge holds a story of resilience, craftsmanship, and a community's enduring spirit.

A History Built on Stone and Overcome by Water

The present Elwy Bridge, a magnificent five-arched stone structure, was completed in 1770. Its construction was a direct response to the persistent problem of flooding that plagued the area and regularly destroyed earlier crossings. Records show a previous bridge—likely a timber structure located further downstream—was severely damaged by floods in 1767, prompting the need for a more robust and permanent solution.

The design of the new bridge is attributed to Joseph Turner of Hawarden, a name also associated with the historic Ruthin Gaol. Turner's design was both practical and elegant. He incorporated triangular buttresses on the upstream side, known as cutwaters, to break the force of the river's flow during high water, a feature that has served the bridge well for over 250 years. The choice of materials and the symmetrical, yet varied, spans of the arches give the bridge a unique architectural character that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.

More Than a Crossing: Interesting Facts and Features

• A Scheduled Ancient Monument: Elwy Bridge isn't just a functional part of the city's infrastructure; it is a protected heritage site. Its status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument recognizes its national importance and its contribution to the understanding of post-medieval construction techniques.

• Decorative Details: Look closely at the bridge's masonry and you'll find subtle decorative touches. The Fleur-de-Lys motif on the tie bar plates adds a flourish to its otherwise utilitarian design, a small detail that speaks to the pride of its builders.

• A Symbol of Resilience: While the 1770 bridge was a major step in flood defence, the city of St Asaph continues to face the challenges of its location in the Vale of Clwyd. The River Elwy has a history of bursting its banks, with devastating floods recorded in the past. The tragic floods of November 2012 were a stark reminder of this threat. Since then, the city has implemented major flood defence schemes, including raising and strengthening embankments. The bridge, however, has stood firm, a testament to its original design and a landmark around which these modern defences have been built.

• The Bridge to Nowhere: Not far from the main bridge lies another fascinating historical curiosity—Pont Dafydd, a medieval bridge that once crossed a different course of the River Clwyd. With the river rerouted in 1969 for the construction of the A55 expressway, the bridge now stands alone in a field, a solitary road to nowhere that serves as a quiet footpath.

So, the next time you find yourself in the serene setting of St Asaph, take a moment to appreciate the Elwy Bridge. It is more than just a way to cross the river; it is a gateway to the past, a symbol of a community’s struggle with nature, and a beautiful piece of history that continues to stand strong.

I took the pictures below with a Nikon d3300 on the 27th July 2024, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The next 2 images are the result of some creative editing  and can be purchased in various formats from Photo4Me.

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All the images remain the copyright of Colin Green.