Osmaston

My personal challenge for this round of Miss Jenny Matlock's alphabe-Thursday is to post about a location within the borders of my own county of Derbyshire, UK, for each letter of the alphabet.

Look for the letter, to see where I am.

O is for Osmaston.

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Osmaston is mentioned in the Domesday Book, under the name of Osmundestone. At the time it had a population of around 60 - 80 people. Thatched roofs are rare in Derbyshire, but Osmaston is the archetypal English village with thatched roofed cottages and a village pond.

Alongside the pond is the entrance to the Osmaston Estate.The original manor house within the estate was constructed in 1849, but demolished in 1964. In 1988, the land was sold to the family of Sir Ian Walker and the Walker-Okeovers still own the estate today.

The gatehouse to the estate. (I like this house. It is so sturdy and well proportioned.)

There are several examples of thatched cottages in the village, including these two, which are the oldest cottages in the village.

I love the tall chimneys on this one!

Even without thatched roofs, these cottages have appeal!

The local pub is called 'The Shoulder of Mutton' and, on four days a week, the village Post Office operates out of one of its outbuildings.

St Martin's parish church was built in 1845, but the original wickerwork construction dated back to 1606.

And close by is the CE voluntary controlled Primary School.

What do you think? Would you like to live here?

A quick trip round Roberts Park

Although recently refurbished, the age of this building (the Half Moon Cafe, in Roberts Park, Saltaire) is clear to see.

And the family crest (above the bird bath), shows Sir Titus Salt to be the inspiration behind the construction; providing a place of recreation for his workers to enjoy.

The bandstand looks splendid in its new paint.

Along the long walkway, three shelters provide seating

...and there are outdoor benches for good weather too.

And, the whole is overlooked by Sir Titus himself.

Taking the Aire

Approaching the bridge over the River Aire (after which the second part of 'Saltaire' was named), the Robert's Park cricket ground and Half Moon cafe come into view, beyond the sign for the Boathouse Inn (once actually a boathouse, now a pub).

While the view in the other direction looks over to a more energetic pass time; the ramps and half-pipes of the skateboard park

A 99 with two flakes and toffee sauce please :)

This barge moors here, on the Leeds & Liverpool canal, for the summer; selling ice creams to passers by. It is definitely more quirky than the usual ice cream van :)

Saltaire United Reformed Church

Saltaire URC was built by Sir Titus Salt in 1859. Being a devout Christian, he was keen to cater for the spiritual well being of his workers, as well as their physical and educational needs. I've seen many photos of this famous church and have walked past it a few times, but this was the first time I had had an opportunity to enter.

We had to be very quiet because there was a tour being given a 'talking to' by a couple of Victorians!

But, it is a beautiful building with lots of detailed and ornate features.

Plus, I loved this collage made by children from a local school!

Normanton

My personal challenge for this round of Miss Jenny Matlock's alphabe-Thursday is to post about a location within the borders of my own county of Derbyshire, UK, for each letter of the alphabet.


Look for the letter, to see where I am.

N is for Normanton Road.

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Normanton is an area of Derby, to the south of the city centre. The modern community grew out of an ancient village once known as Normanton-by-Derby and Normanton is thought to have been one of the original sites of Viking settlement;  Normanestune (Norseman's Settlement).

The main thoroughfare linking Normanton with the city centre is Normanton Road, but I think you would be hard pushed to find many Norsemen settled here today. You would, however find plenty of other nationalities because Normanton is the heart of Derby's ethnic community.

The main demographic of the ethnic community is Asian and the shops around here reflect that.

...catering for body and mind.

This is just one of four fashion/fabric shops.

Pak Foods is one of two major grocers and is always full of people. On the day I visited, the Derbyshire Constabulary were out on the streets conducting a Policing Matters consultation exercise; gathering local opinion on the way policing is conducted, finding out what people know about the Safer Neighbourhood team and gauging how people feel about different crimes as a problem in their locality.

This Asian solicitor deals with another aspect of the law; giving aid and advice on matters ranging from immigration to personal injury to taxi licensing (a lot of Derby's taxis are driven by people from ethnic minorities!).

Normanton Road also has a couple of training centres; this one specifically for Asian women.

Although the main concentration of Asians here come from India and Pakistan, there are also those from the other parts of Asia, including Turks,

nations which have re-emerged from the Soviet Union,

and a small representation of those who originate from South East Asia.

The Asian population encompasses people from three major faith groups; Islam, Hindu and Sikh. All three have places of worship close to Normanton Road.

The closest is the Derby Mosque, which is set back from the road behind only one other building.

Ironically, the building behind which the Derby Mosque was built is this one; the New Life Christian Centre, a vibrant multi-ethnic Christian church which includes many members from an Afro-Caribbean background.

Slightly higher up the road is this place of worship...

Although this area is predominantly Asian, the expansion of the European Union has seen the borders of the UK opening up to a new group of people; Eastern Europeans. Since the second world war, Derby has had a thriving Polish Community, but that has mushroomed and spread in recent years, as is reflected here.

I hope that those who read my Littleover post, 2 weeks ago, have enjoyed seeing the contrast between two parts of my city; which is relatively small in comparison to some of the biggies in the UK. (In the 2001 census, Derby was ranked just 18th in the country.)

Meanwhile, I will leave you with the smiling face of a lovely lady who stopped for a chat outside the Mosque.

She told me that walking round Normanton felt like walking in India or Pakistan, so I asked her where she came from (expecting Pakistan to be the probable answer).

She replied...

"I'm from Holland. I'm Dutch."!!

LOL - Got me fooled then!

Four lions

Determination

Vigilance

War

Peace

At the four corners of Victoria Square lie four lions. Two guard the corners of the Shipley College building, while the other two guard the corners of Victoria Hall.

Both buildings were constructed by Sir Titus Salt as part of the model village for the workforce of his Saltaire Mill. The Victoria Hall was built in 1869 as a centre of recreation, culture and learning, while the building now occupied by Shipley College was once the school.

Carved from sandstone by Thomas Milnes of London, the lions are named Determination and Vigilance, War and Peace.

Yes, I'm in Saltaire! (or at least, I was last weekend)

More specifically, the photograph yesterday was taken from Victoria Road, Saltaire, looking over the college allotments and the railway line, to Salt's Mill, which was built in 1853 by Victorian industrialist Sir Titus Salt; a new mill on a greenfield site to escape the terrible slum conditions of Bradford and Leeds.

This photo is of the New Mill, built in 1868, between the Leeds Liverpool Canal and the River Aire.

I'll be posting a small selection of photos of Saltaire over the next few days, but for a much more comprehensive view of the town, browse the archives of this photo blog by JennyFreckles (who actually lives here!).

Where am I?

Last weekend, I took a trip up north to visit Sacristan.

On Sunday, we were out with the Walking Group, but Saturday was spent doing a bit of domestic stuff, a bit of New Wine preparation and taking a stroll round his neighbourhood (which may look curiously familiar to a few readers!)

Anyone recognise where I am?

80

It was my aunt's 80th birthday last week. A few of us met up and went out for dinner at the Duke of York in Pomeroy; a tiny little place in the High Peak of Derbyshire.

It was a lovely sunny day and a good time was had by all.

Up here, you really can see for miles.