Awesome Award

This rather engaging fellow was an unexpected surprise from Tina at Life is Good.

I'm delighted to accept and would encourage you to take a look at her blog; she has a way with words!

Of course awards always come with rules and the rules attached to this one say I have to pass it on to six bloggers who I find 'awesome'. Eeeep! That means I have to CHOOSE!!! And that means I will have to leave some people out! O'eck! That's hard!!

First instinct; follow the example of awesome blogger Cheryl @ Deckside Thoughts! Cheryl wouldn't dream of following the rules just because someone said she ought to. She'd say

"Why the hell should I?" 

I suppose I could always give it to Cheryl and see what she does with it - but Tina beat me to it!!!

RATS!!

Think again!

OK. I'm going to do a semi Cheryl and just award this to one person. After all, I'm reckoning that you aren't going to have heaps of spare time to trawl through six new blogs; no matter how brilliant I think they are, so  I'm going to stick with one.

Looooooooooooong pause here while I decide WHICH one!

Decision made:

Alan from News from Nowhere, because he is a master wordsmith and has a fascinating line in randomness!

 

But honestly, I have a collection of blogs listed on my sidebar and they are the ones I try to read every time they post - because I think they are worth reading! If you want another five, take your pick!

 

Meanwhile, normal service will be resumed tomorrow :)

 

A potted history and the climb up the tower

The Anglican church of St Michael and All Angels, Church Broughton, dates back to the early 14th century. Of course, like the vast majority of our old churches, it has had bits added. The tower is sporting a rather impressive set of pinnacles, some huge gargoyles and a dinky little spire, all of which date back to the Victorians.

Nevertheless, stepping through the main door, the interior of the church has that typical stillness of a place which has been sacred for long ages of time; where generations of worshippers have come to pray and hear God's word, give thanks for new life and mourn the loss of friends departed, celebrate the high seasons of the year and seek guidance in their own personal troubles.  

The thick stone pillars give a sense of solidity; having stood the test of time (though I bet they're a real pain when the church is packed for a special occasion and the only seat left is that one right behind...)

The choir stalls line the sides of the chancel and at the top is the communion table (or altar depending on your churchmanship). Normally this would have stuff on it; candles, maybe flowers and an altar cloth,  but the day I visited was Good Friday and the altar had been stripped as a sign of mourning.

By Easter Sunday, the church would be full of colour; the window ledges decorated with floral displays to mark the most special day in the Christian calendar.

Meanwhile, through a small doorway behind me, a treat awaited! Past the bell ropes, hanging down to the small room in the foot of the tower, and to the right, the spiral stone staircase was waiting.

Stop one on the journey upwards was to see the clock workings. Checking back on my first picture, this was about the half way mark. If you look carefully, you may just be able to see the date, 1864, and the inscription 'William Wilkes, Francis Wragg, Church Wardens.

The current day warden told me that they used to have to get someone in from Derby to service the clock, but they now had a clockmaker living in the village and he was happy to perform the service for them.

Next stop above the clock was the bells. The peal consists of six bells, the last one having been added in memory of Corporal William George Neal DWR (Duke of Wellington Regiment) who have his life in the second world war.

The bell workings had been recently serviced, free of charge, by a band of travellers who made it their mission to tour the country performing that task!

And finally, the last stop! The top :)

Church Broughton

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.

Find the letter to see where I've been.

C is for Church Broughton

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

CHURCH BROUGHTON, a parish in the hundred of Appletree, in the county of Derby, 10 miles to the W. of Derby. It is situated on a branch of the river Dove, and contains the township of Sapperton. The North Staffordshire railway passes within a short distance. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Lichfield, worth £228, in the patronage of B. Broadhurst, Esq."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)

Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]

I'm sure the 'living' is worth a great deal more than £228 today and unfortunately, the North Staffordshire Railway is no more, but Church Broughton is still a delightful place to visit.

On the edge of the village is the local primary school.

This is for children aged between 5 and 11 years. It's a small school (though by no means the smallest in Derbyshire), having just three classes (one infant and two junior). From here, most 11 year old children will transfer to the John Port Secondary school in Etwall, with a few opting for Queen Elizabeth Grammar in Ashbourne.

Right next door, is the field for football and other outdoor games; for the use of both the school and the community.

Moving further into the village is the pub. I haven't been here for a little while, but the last time I came, I enjoyed a very good meal. The atmosphere inside is pleasant too.

A little further on again is the Methodist Chapel; a small brick built church constructed in 1828.

While, nearing the other end of the village, there is the Anglican church of St Michael and All Angels.

On the top of the church tower, there is a weather vane. For many years this church was presided over by clergy belonging to the Auden family; relatives to the poet WH Auden. Legend has it that, whilst visiting one day, WH Auden decided to amuse himself by using the weather vane as target practice, eventually succeeding in scoring a hit.

Unfortunately, I didn't learn this story until after I had taken a trip up the tower, but if I zoom in a bit and you look carefully...

...is that a dint in the middle of the cockerel's belly?

While I was in the church, I was fortunate enough to bump into one of the wardens who had come to repair some cracked concrete in the churchyard. He showed me all round the church, told me a little of its history (including the W.H. Auden story) and took me up to the top of the tower.

I took loads of photos - too many for one post - so tomorrow, I will continue with the rest; photos of the church, the bells, the clock workings and the views.

But maybe I'll just leave you with one view from the top...

...looking over the roof of the nave, towards the old and new vicarages and the countryside beyond.

"Look what I found in my loft last week!"

My aunt lifted this down from her loft last week. I was wondering if you can identify what it is.

At first glance, it seems grey and just a tad dull, but when you look closely, aren't those shades incredible? The colours are subtle, but they cover a surprising range!

And I love the swirls and turns; overlapping and curling.

The construction was incredibly delicate and intricate, while the whole thing was as light as a feather.

The photo below gives an indication of its size.

Difficult to believe that something so beautiful could have been made by a stripy, flying insect with a vicious little sting!

At the end of the day

Believe it or not, these views were photographed from virtually the same spot (just below Rock Hall Cottage in The Roaches) within a couple of minutes of each other; just looking in different directions!

and closer.

And, turning slightly towards the west.

A lovely end to the day!

An outstanding mountaineer & a man of grit

Built in 1862, Rock Hall Cottage was originally the residence of the Roaches estate gamekeeper, and the last keeper to have lived here is thought to have raised a family of 12 children in this small dwelling. When the estate was sold off, the hut spent a few years in private ownership; lived in by a couple who desired peace, quiet and an escape from the negative aspects of daily modern life. However, the property began to fall into disrepair and in the 1990s a joint venture between the Peak Park Board and the British Mountaineering Council saw the it being converted into a climbing hut which can be hired out to any members of the BMC.

The renovation of the hut was spearheaded by the Don Whillans Memorial Fund. Don Whillans (18 May 1933 – 4 August 1985) was an English rock climber from Salford in Lancashire (now Greater Manchester); a working class lad who changed the nature of the sport from a pastime enjoyed by only the wealthy elite, to an activity loved by people of all backgrounds.

Climbing was a natural progression from his childhood pastime of walking the Pennines, and mountaineering followed on from his abilities as a climber; including a number of expeditions with, the better known, Chris Bonnington (with whom he was considered an equal in terms of climbing technical ability).

The Roaches was one of his favoured climbing spots and the route he particularly enjoyed was The Sloth; an overhang on the Upper Tier of the rocky outcrop, above and to the left of Rock Hall cottage. It was whilst climbing here that he met his wife, Audrey, who opened the hut in 2003.

It was in Rock Hall Cottage that Mark and his friends were staying. What a view to wake up to each day! 

Solo

A climbing solo (as you would expect) is a route climbed alone. People who solo say that it is the free-est form of climbing with no interruptions to place gear, no hampering ropes; just climber and rock.

It is of course, also the most dangerous!

Ben was confident that this route was within his capability and he went up it with ease.