tarboat's photos

Not the most inspiring of images but there is a tale to tell. I was walking around the streets of Leek looking for interesting angles on industrial premises and was sizing up a possible shot between the buildings at the Tessenderlo chemical factory. Next thing I know there is this guy in a car coming out of the place telling me that since 9/11 it is illegal to take photos of industrial premises and that the police will be very interested in me. He said that security needed to be advised immediately that I was taking photos. Where do these people get their ideas from? I suggested that the police would be far more interested in their next cup of tea rather than in a guy taking photographs in a public place. He was having none of it and went off to get security. I just wandered off down the street to the next gate to take some rather more interesting shots of the place. Needless to say no police or security showed.

Whilst the Ruabon terracotta on Jackson's Tower is of a high standard, sadly the 'pointing' appears to have come out of a tube.

This fine Ruabon brick building on Parkgate Road in Neston was erected alongside his shop by the local chemist and postmaster George Jackson. There was once a clock in the tower but the chimes apparently clashed with those of the local church. There are some fine examples of Ruabon terracotta in the decoration on the building.

A dragonfly in my garden is a rare occurrence, whilst one that lands for long enough to be photographed is even rarer. This afternoon a female Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) spent a while feeding around the lawn before landing in the hedge where I was able to spend as long as I wanted taking pictures. :-)) Best viewed large.

A reminder of the late winter when the weather was better than it has been in summer 2007. Two of my favourite hills in the White Peak.

Local art discovered in a stone yard whilst on an expedition at Langton Matravers, Dorset.

Another of my views of Shutlingsloe, this time taken whilst out walking the unsealed road that runs up the Cumberland Valley in Wildboarclough. The sun finally broke through as I was returning towards Clough House Farm and the view was greatly enhanced by the fine clouds. Compare with the winter view.

Disused foundry exploration - a view across the loading area.

Dene Quarry, Cromford.

Pylons adjacent to the road at Monks Heath between Macclesfield and Chelford.

Close to the headwaters of the River Dane lies the remains of the adit leading into the Dane Bower Colliery. I would have thought that an entrance that close to the river was just asking to be flooded at some time.

Whilst heading off Shutlingsloe I had a sudden feeling that I was being watched ....................

It is amazing what passes for a garden ornament. The Elephant and Castle stands in the garden of Laundry Cottage in Peckforton. It was carved in the 1850s by John Watson, a stonemason who worked on Peckforton Castle. It is said that it stood in the garden of his cottage until it was demolished and was then moved to its present location. It is further suggested that the elephant was chosen as it featured on the family arms of the Corbetts, who owned Peckforton up to the 1620s.

Plenty of 1950s atmosphere at Consall station on the Churnet Valley Railway.

A bright but coolish sunny morning was ideal for a walk around Gun and Swythamley in Staffordshire. This view is to the north into Cheshire and shows Shutlingsloe in the centre and Shining Tor (highest point in Cheshire) right background.

Found on a recent walk, the light falling on this brick gives the impression that the frog is actually raised rather than indented. Rotate through 180 degrees and the truth is clear. The Redac brickworks at Huncoat near Accrington was closed in 1992.

Two SY class locomotives manouvering a large rail crane crane and concrete bridge section for erection on the Hengshan section of the Jixi mining railway near Zhangxin. This was one of those chance moments when I happened to be in the right place at the right time.

The only surviving major structures at the site of Willington Power Station are the five cooling towers laid out in an 'L' shaped ground plan. Today's clouds gave a feeling that the plant was still in service.