tarboat's photos

One of my favourite buses at the 2015 Potteries Transport Rally and Running Day was this former Coppenhall's of Sandbach Foden PVFE6 belonging to Malcolm Sample. The Metalcraft bodywork was built in Newcastle-under-Lyme for this lovely 1948 vehicle.

The former Marble Hall Hotel, 68 Vauxhall Road, Liverpool, boasts fine terracotta faience on the exterior. The brewery is advertised on the side and front faces along with their Blue Label beer. There is also a Threlfall's mosaic on the floor in the entrance porch: 'MARBLE HALL ... THRELFALL'S ... HOTEL'. Threlfall's Brewery Company had breweries in Liverpool and Salford. The company was active between 1861 and 1967. John Mayor Threlfall bought the Lupton and Adamthwaite Brewery in 1861. The company was registered in Liverpool in 1888. In around 1895, Threlfall's bought the Blue Lion (previously White Lion and Apollo) public house on Cook Street in Salford and built the Cook Street Brewery. The company took over Chester's in 1961 and Threlfall's operated the Cook Street site as Chesters and Threlfalls Brewery, while Threlfalls continued to brew in its Liverpool brewery. The Threlfall's group included West Cheshire Brewery, Birkenhead Brewery and Mackies off licences. Whitbread took over the group including the Moorhouse's soft drinks company in 1967 and the Salford site became surplus to requirements in 1999. Whitbread closed the company's head office, brewery and bottling plant in Trueman Street Liverpool in the early 1980s. In 1967 Threlfall's was the eighth largest brewery in the United Kingdom, and the largest in North West England and after the takeover, Whitbread a predominantly southern based business, became the second largest brewery business in the United Kingdom.

Type 24 pillbox alongside Bridge 46 at Danes Moss on the Macclesfield Canal. This was one of the defensive structures along Stop Line No.6 which ran, mainly along canals from Tamworth to south-east Manchester.

Stone store at the Clitheroe cement works. The machine on the right is referred to as a r"eclaimer" or "stone harrow" and keeps the stone moving down the heap and levels it across the floor.

There are some things that are a must-see in our household, and the British Lawnmower Museum in Southport is one of these. The building is stuffed with every conceivable make and model of mower and there is a well informed commentary to accompany your visit. 5 Stars every time!

A tiny cottage hidden away in the hamlet of Rhes-y-cae. In the scattered lead mining communities around Halkyn Mountain this was no doubt once someone's home.

The Brookfield opened in 1938 and closed as a cinema in 1957. Since then it was used as a car repair workshop, restaurant, gym, and club,but most of these did not last long. After standing empty for some time it has now been demolished for a new supermarket and other retail units. These stairs led off the foyer to the delights of the upstairs ballroom amongst other things.

A second view of the glint at Sandy Lane near Bewdley with WD 90733 passing during the recent photo charter on the Severn Valley Railway. A great finale to an excellent day of photography

This large Nissen hut at Penhale near Millbrook in Cornwall is not long for this world after many years of neglect. In spite of this it is still used by the farmer who owns it.

My daughter suggested a trip to the High Edge Raceway near Buxton to watch the banger racing today. As well as the racing the crowd was treated to a demonstration by a couple of monster trucks that ended with this seven-ton beast crushing a few cars. It made very quick work of this task!

The things you find in the middle of a roundabout! Sadly only a replica at Castlefields Roundabout, Dawley.

Large tins of beer at the Brains brewery in the centre of Cardiff.

The dust rises as a lorry passes the bitumen coating plant at Pentre Halkyn quarry.

A long disused intermittent limekiln hidden away in a Welsh woodland. This would have been charged with raw materials and then after the burning was complete the lime and ashes were removed from the top. The tunnel at the front is simply to allow control of the draught during burning.

Stanlow oil refinery seen over the Castner Kellner chemical works at Runcorn. The Mersey estuary intervenes between the two areas of chemical production.

This crane base Wheelock Wharf bears the cast name of the manufacturer. Richard Kitchin of Scotland Bank Iron Works at Warrington. During the 19th century the works specialised in the manufacture of weighing machines, cranes, turntables and water cranes.

WD 90733 is east of Bewdley heading towards Kidderminster on the recent charter on the Severn Valley Railway.

Motor boat with butty in tow approaching the locks at Malkin's Bank on the Trent & Mersey Canal.