tarboat's photos

This building was erected in 1887 by Miss Eleanor Lowther, a member of the Lowther family who owned the village of Pott Shrigley during the 19th Century. It is said to have been built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee but whether it was meant to be some sort of community hall or something else I have been unable to find out so far. During World War 1, the building was let as a Coffee Tavern and Tea Room, and later, during World War 2, was used for storage of bombed out goods by a Manchester businessman. After a period of disuse it has been renovated and reopened as a coffee tavern. This business has successfully operated for a number of years and is popular with walkers and travellers exploring the area.

A heavily loaded coal train starts away from the loading bunkers and past the track gang at Erjing Mine on the Sandaoling system.

I am always on the lookout for terracotta figures and beasts on buildings and was delighted when a friend mentioned that he had seen this one in Buxton. It's a bit the worse for wear, with part of a wing and lower jaw missing, and also rather green with lichen. However it's still very handsome and a fine adornment for the house. I wonder where it was made?

Tarboat Junior is on the footplate as SY 0366 is seen south of the mine at Qiupigou with the return morning passenger service from Linghe.

Cowdale Quarry was opened by the New Buxton Lime Co c1901. The company was taken over by the Buxton Lime Firms in 1908 and shortly afterwards a bank of limekilns and a range of other buildings were constructed in concrete. The quarry and works closed in 1956 but most of the structures remain. This is the entrance to the powerhouse with the Buxton Lime Firms initials and construction date of 1909.

St Peter's was built in late 1891 and consecrated in January 1892 by John Frances the Lord Bishop of Chester. The kit was probably supplied by Francis Norton & Co., Liverpool and delivered by rail to Chelford Station from whence it was carted on a wagon with horses by Mr Thomas Capper who was a gardener at Jodrell Hall under Sir Edward and Lady Stockton, who are thought to have given the site for the church. In the 1920’s the vestry was extended and then in 1955-65 there were significant internal alterations including electric heaters to replace the coke boiler and an electric organ to replace the pedal bellows version. The rush seated chairs were replaced by pews and choir stalls from a bombed church in Birkenhead. The oil lamps were replaced with electric lights, leaving one original lamp as a reminder. A new wood block floor replaced the dry rot damaged original. It is now a listed structure and remains in regular use.

Clarke & Rea, Wilderness Brickworks, Gresford

A product of the Wrexham Brick & Tile Co, Kings Mills Brickworks, Wrexham.

Adamantine was one of the trade names used by Charles Davison & Co Ltd, Ewloe Barn Brickworks, Buckley.

Obsidianite was one of the trade names used by Charles Davison & Co, Ewloe Barn Brickworks, Buckley. One of their catalogues states: "There appears to be in the USA no product equivalent to Obsidianite manufactured by Charles Davison Co of Buckley, England (sic). The Adamantine quality can be used for chimney and flue building, and is of particular value in withstanding the action of acid laden gases. It is admirable for all kinds of foundation work, manhole linings and culverts. For places where wet conditions exist, Adamantine material is eminently suitable."

Mersey Ferry Royal Iris has just a few passengers for this trip to see the sights along the river. Seen from the mudflats below the derelict promenade at Rock Ferry. The serried ranks of terraced houses on the far shore ar at Dingle.

A look at the power station from the east side.

Lhoist Hindlow quarry plant. A compact site with two limekilns and hydrating plant with associated crushing plant and hoppers. The former Buxton to Ashbourne railway runs in the foreground. It is now just a stub running to Dowlow Quarry.

Early morning service arriving at Sanjiazi junction on the Tiefa Coal Railway. It was scenes such as this that made it so worthwhile getting up early when on trips to China.

The construction of the Stocks Reservoir was undertaken by the Fylde Water Board between 1921 and 1932. Stone for culvert arches and elsewhere in the works was obtained from Jumbles Quarry which was opened out high up above the reservoir site. A three foot gauge railway was constructed to move the stone and a standard gauge steam rail crane by Smith of Rodley was installed in the quarry. Stone for aggregate was first exposed here in September 1925 and larger stones were being quarried by March 1926. On completion of the reservoir the quarry was abandoned and now, nearly seventy years later, the tracks and crane are still there. Apart from the cylinders which have been removed, the crane is remarkably intact, probably due to the remote and inaccessible location.

Two-thirds of the locomotive fleet on the Lishu section of the Jixi Coal Railway is seen in front of the loading bunkers at the Pinggang Colliery.

Nineteenth century limekiln at the side of the Trough of Bowland road above Dunsop Bridge. The quarry that supplied the stone can be seen top left.

During a day of cloud and squalls it had been difficult trying to get shots of the shareholder's special service on the Churnet Valley line. The sun finally made a fleeting appearance late in the afternoon as I waited at the traditional position where the railway crosses the Caldon Canal at Consal Forge. I could hear the train in the station and could see the clouds scudding towards the sun. Would the train come in time? As it was, 80072 accelerated across the bridge, I got my shot, and a few seconds later the sun disappeared for good. Result! :-))