Cheshire

I have wanted to get out for a night shoot for a while and the weather today was ideal for a trip around the Brunner Mond plants in the Northwich area. Operated by E.ON UK CHP Ltd, the Winnington Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant in Northwich, Cheshire, is the largest such scheme in the UK. The scheme supplies a total of 400MW of steam to two Brunner Mond soda ash works, at Winnington and Lostock. Its 130MWe output also supplies the needs of the two sites. Located at the Brunner Mond's Winnington site, the main CHP plant consists of two gas turbines, two heat recovery boilers, a steam turbine and stand-by boiler capacity. The CHP plant supplies steam & electricity into the site systems. A proportion of the steam used is returned to the CHP plant as condensate. The fuel for the Winnington plant is natural gas which is supplied through an 11km underground pipeline from the National Gas Transmission System at Nether Tabley to the Winnington site. The Lostock site is supplied with steam from the Winnington CHP plant via two 5km over ground steam mains. Upon delivery to Lostock, some of the steam is passed straight to the site processes. The remainder of the steam is passed through a steam turbine located on the site, and in doing so generates more electricity before it is sent into the site processes. Again, a proportion of the steam used is returned to the CHP Plant as condensate via a pipeline.

Part of the Winnington soda ash plant silhouetted against the evening sky when viewed across the River Weaver from Anderton Nature Park.

This little dyeworks is actually on Oxford Road at the rear of the Regency Mill which faces Chester Road. In 1889 it was operated by Peter Horobin, Silk Dyer, who had recently been declared bankrupt. In 1924 Harry Bullock & Samuel Thornhill were partners in business as silk dyers at the Chester Road Dyeworks, Macclesfield, trading as "Bullock & Thornhill".

Above the door at the premises of Wienholt, Pastrycook in Alderley Edge.

The premises the Alderley Edge pastrycook features a little terracotta decoration. After passing by in the car for many years I finally made the effort to stop and capture it on camera.

You would have thought that the die maker would have spelt the name of one of the principals correctly, but in this case Gardiner has become Gardener. In 1870 William Hammond went into partnership with his brother-in-law Robert Gardiner to work fireclay in Pott Shrigley and they established their brickworks on the north side of the Bakestonedale road opposite that of George Lambert. 1875 saw Mr Lawrence Gardiner succeeded his brother in the business. He died in 1886 and Mr Hammond took over the works entirely, so this firebrick must date from 1870-1886.

Type 24 pillbox alongside Bridge 13 at Middlecale 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. These days it performs peaceful duties as a garden shed/store for the adjacent moorings.

The uncovering of the wall facing onto the entrance to Palace Yard at the side of 34 Mill Street has stirred up quite a bit of public interest. A site meeting was held to brief interested local people councillors onthe likely history of what can be seen, and also what future works are to be undertaken. Andrew Ramshall, senior conservation officer, is seen here addressing the meeting. The poor state of the stonework requires the rendering to be replaced, but hopefully the evidence of the building history currently exposed will be recorded for posterity. It is possible that the 'date' stone will be left exposed. The provenance of tthe 'date' is doubtful, as it would almost certainly have been carved in roman numerals if it dated from the 15th century.

I thought they delivered parcels.

6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' in fresh green livery is still accelerating away from the Wilmslow stop as it passes Handforth with the Scarborough Flyer. Needless to say it was once again dark, dull, and wet.

The North Wales Coast Express from Crewe to Holyhead takes a very odd route in first heading for Manchester before going to Warrington and Chester. At an early stage in the journey A4 'Union of South Africa' is seen passing Nether Alderley, already 10 minutes late. On the other hand it was sunny!

The Bull and Gate on Waters Green, Macclesfield, closed as a pub some years ago and is now offices. The terracotta and round window reflect the rebuilding of the premises in 1927-28 by local firm George Rylance & Co at a cost of £4,400.

46233 'Duchess Of Sutherland' was at the head of this morning's Scarborough Flyer at Nether Alderley. In the last few minutes before the train arrived the sun broke through and at last we were blessed with a shot in bright light.

Art nouveau terracotta on the school at Over Peover.

46233 leans into the curve at Nether Alderley with the Scarborough Flyer.

More sunshine for the Scarborough Flyer this morning - twice in one year is almost unheard of for this train. 46233 is seen here going well at Chelford loops.

Company name at the former offices of much loved shipbuilderson Navigation Rd in Northwich. I would not be surprised if this was a product of the local firm of Jabez Thompson and Sons Ltd.

Last shot from my epic rail trip around Yorkshire. Stockport Station is almost deserted; just this lass waiting for the last train home.