Blue-tailed Damselfly

(Canon EOS 60D, Canon 55-250mm IS @ 230mm, 1/250s @ f/8.0)
Blue-tailed Damselfly at Consall Nature Park.

Condlyffe Almshouses, Leek

The Condlyffe Almshouses (Northern Range)

(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 10mm, 1/500s @ f/11, ISO 400)
These fine Victorian almshouses were built in 1882 on land donated by Elizabeth Condlyffe. Although there is some doubt about the identity of the architect, the homes were reputedly designed by Norman Shaw, a noted follower of the "Arts and Crafts" movement in his "Old English" style and the architect of the nearby All Saints' church. There are two ranges of homes, separated by an elegant stone archway. The photo shows the northern range. The gables carry a religious motto: "The days of my labour O [Lord] thou hast Blest [Blest] be the hand of Thy love [...] the days of my rest". The gables of the other, southern range bear the motto: "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth for evermore".

Croxden Abbey

Croxden Abbey

(All photos, Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm)
Note: All photos will enlarge if clicked


Tucked away down quiet country lanes near Alton, Staffordshire is the impressive ruin of Croxden Abbey. Croxden was built for Cistercian monks by Bertram de Verdun of Alton Castle. It was started in 1179 and took 30 years to build.

The Abbot's House

The Chapter House and the Sacristy

The remains of the cloister

Remains of the crossing tower (HDR)

The abbey church was 240 ft long and very tall. It must have been a magnificent sight! The design was unusual for an English abbey being more like the classic French abbeys.

Sacristy and Book Room

Passage way to the Cloister

Looking along the body of the church from the Apse to the West Front in the distance

The Apse had a semicircle of 5 chapels, unique for an English abbey. Unfortunately, all that remains of the apse and the east end of the church are the foundations.

Sarcophagi

The sarcophagi in the east end of the church were probably the burial places of the founders and sponsors of the abbey.

The West front

Looking towards the West front from the interior of the church

The west front, with its soaring lancet windows still stands and is very impressive. The abbey was never very prosperous, the monks farmed sheep, and its demise came with the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1538.

Afternoon shadows cast by the West front (HDR)

Dramatic HDR photo of the West front and the afternoon sun

Cheddleton Station

Prairie Tank 5199 passing through Cheddleton Station

(Panasonic Lumix TZ10)


I spent today doing a 10 hour shift as a volunteer crossing keeper on the Churnet Valley Railway. This photo shows Prairie tank 5199 passing through Cheddleton on the way to Leekbrook Junction. The Cheddleton Station building was built in the 19th century and its design is attributed to Pugin.