Lud's Church

Lud's Church

This deep, mysterious chasm was formed by a massive landslip many centuries ago. It has been considered a sacred place since pagan times and was used as a secret place of worship by the Lollards in the 15th century. It may have been named after Walter de Ludank, a Lollard who was captured here after one of their secret meetings.

Lud's Church is associated with the legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
"A hole in each end and on either side
And overgrown with grass and great patches
All hollow it was within, only an old cavern
Or the crevice of an ancient crag"
So says part of the 14th century poem about the location of the battle between Sir Gawain, one of the Arthurian knights, and the mysterious Green Knight.

(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 12mm, 3 exposures HDR in Photomatix)

1940s weekend at Cheddleton

Austin Seven Boat-tail Sports

The 1940s themed weekend continued at Cheddleton today. There was a rally of pre-war Austin Sevens and, for me, this was the star of the show!
(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 10mm, 1/1000s @ f/6.3)

Steaming out of Consall

Leaving Consall station for Cheddleton

This weekend is a 1940s themed weekend on the Churnet Valley Railway. The platform of Consall station was "invaded" by a garrison of German troops (hence the 3rd Reich Battle flag) and the local Black Lion pub was taken over by the French Resistance!
(Canon EOS 60D, Canon 55-250mm IS @ 60mm, 1/160s @ f/6.3)

Evening in Cheddleton

Evening view from my study

Looking south-east from the study/spare bedroom this evening.  The farmland of the Staffordshire Moorlands with Morridge, in the Peak District National Park beyond.
(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 20mm, 1/200s @ f/11)

Three Shires Head

Three Shires Head

Misnamed on the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 map as "Three Shire Heads", this local beauty spot is the point at which the counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire meet. The young River Dane flows through the attractive packhorse bridge and over a series of cascades. In earlier times it was best known as a venue for illegal cock-fighting and prize fighting. The protagonists would flee to one of the adjacent counties when the authorities arrived as their jurisdiction finished at the border! Now it is the meeting point for several public footpaths and is a popular place in the summer months.
(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 11mm, 1/30s @ f/22)

Staffordshire Sunset

Staffordshire Sunset

Sunset and crescent moon from the Leek-Buxton road. (A bit of a cheat as I have enlarged the moon to make it look more significant!)
(Panasonic Lumix TZ10)

The Local

The Boat Inn, Cheddleton

The Boat Inn is only 10 minutes walk down the road from our house. It is next to the canal and near to Cheddleton Station (steam railway). It's a nice pub with good food and well-kept (Marston's) beer. What more could a man want!
(Panasonic Lumix TZ10)