Jenkin Chapel, Saltersford

Jenkin Chapel

(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 18mm, 1/320s @ f/8.0)
This unusual church was built in 1733 as a residence for the minister and a place of worship. It was later dedicated to St John the Evangelist. The chapel stands in a lonely spot at the junction of 3 "salters roads"; so called because they were the pack horse routes for transporting salt in the 18th century. The origin of the name is disputed but may be from a local farming family called Jenkin. I believe that services are still held here once a month, despite the chapel being 3 miles from the nearest village (Rainow).

Path on Axe Edge Moor

Moorland path

(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 18mm, HDR)
The Cat and Fiddle pub (yesterday's post) is the focal point of several moorland footpaths and bridleways. This path, heading south, leads over Axe Edge Moor towards Wildboarclough. I like the loop of the contrails and the icy coldness of the scene.

The Cat and Fiddle

The Cat and Fiddle Inn

(Canon EOS 60D, Tamron 10-24mm @ 22mm, 1/1250s @ f/6.3)


At 515 meters this is the second highest pub in England (after Adrian's favourite, the Tan Hill Inn). It is the Cheshire side of the Derbyshire-Cheshire border on Axe Edge Moor. The origin of the name is disputed. Their are a few other inns with the same name in England. One possibility is that it is a corrupted form of the French "Catherine la Fidele", Catherine of Aragorn. A little way down the hill on the Cheshire side is a tearoom which used to be called the "Dish and Spoon". The name has now been changed to the much less inspired "Peak View".

The A537 road by the same name on which the inn stands has the unenviable reputation of being the most dangerous A-road in the country. This is largely due to the number of accidents (including many fatalities) involving motorcyclists testing out their "skills" on this road with its sharp, blind bends and steep gradients. Recently, average speed cameras have been installed and a number of safety improvements carried out. If the motorcycle accidents are excluded, it ranks as one of the safest A-roads in the country!

The stone sign on the front wall of the pub

The Winking Man

The Winking Man

(Canon EOS 60D, EF 55-250mm IS @ 250mm, 1/1000s @ f/6.3)
Time to get my finger out and start posting again! This is the Winking Man rock on the A53 from Leek to Buxton. As one passes it appears to wink as a rock behind blots out the sky behind the eye. Legend has it that if a maiden travelling by carriage sees the wink she will fall pregnant within the year! Not so many maidens travel by carriage nowadays.

Nine Lessons and Carols, Leek

The Christmas Nine Lessons and Carols service in All Saints, Leek

This evening Lyn and I went to the Christmas service of Nine Lessons and Carols in the magnificent church of All Saints’, Leek. The building, dating from 1885, is a stunning, Grade I listed, Arts & Crafts Church  designed by Norman Shaw, one of the leading architects of the movement. It has many examples of Arts and Crafts style decoration in the wall-paintings, stained glass (some by William Morris) and embroideries. 

Santa's Express

Black 5 "George Stephenson" at Cheddleton

(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 25mm, 1/500s @ f/11)
This superb locomotive, an LMS Stanier Black 5, is based on the Churnet Valley Railway for the winter season. It is being put to good use during December hauling the "Santa's Express" specials. The loco was built for the LMS in 1947 and withdrawn from main line service in 1967. Since then it has been restored and has visited several preserved railways, most recently the North York Moors Railway. The loco was never named during it time in mainline service. The name was given in 1975 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of George Stephenson's Stockton and Darlington Railway.

First Snow

The first snow of winter

(Canon EOS 60D, Canon 55-250mm IS @ 250mm, 1/1600s @ f/5.6)
A light covering of snow lies on Morridge in the Peak District National Park while the lower slopes remain clear with the last of the autumn leaves on the trees. This photo taken today from my study window.