Tonight was the official opening of the Chorley Photographic Society Annual Exhibition at Astley Hall, Chorley. Astley Hall has been the Annual Exhibition venue for many decades. The Society was in existence in 1895 and an exhibition was reported in the press in 1896. The venue is unknown and Astley Hall at that time was not available and was still in private hands. The exhibition runs until Sun 29 June 2014.
Another photographic display is in the Townley Parker room and shows Astley Hall images from the 1920s and the same view today.

Then and Now Exhibition

1920s view of the now missing
Astley Park Fox.

This morning I visited Port Sunlight and the Lady Lever Art Gallery. The main purpose was to see the Turner Exhibition (Turner: travels, light and landscape) which finishes on Sunday. I visited the gallery briefly last Monday on my bike ride but didn’t have time to go round it. After the Turner watercolours the rest of the museum gallery was probably too much to take in during one visit. The collection was put together by William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme (1851 – 1925)
He made his vast fortune from founding the soap and cleaning product firm, Lever Brothers, with his younger brother James in 1885. He began manufacturing Sunlight Soap and built a business empire with many well-known brands, such as Lux and Lifebuoy.
The Museum and Art Gallery is free (though donations are suggested) and photography is allowed (but no flash)

Images were used extensively to promote the products.

Lady Lever Gallery interior

The Turner exhibition

Viscount Leverhulme (1851 – 1925)

The model for Jeunesse Dorée (and for much of the artist’s work in the 1930s) was his close friend Kathleen (or Dorette) Woodward whom the artist met around 1928 at the Royal Academy where she was a model for the students. She eventually married the artist in 1947.

Jeunesse Doree

Spring (Apple Blossoms) (1858-9) by John Everett Millais (1829 - 1896)

Bubbles, originally titled A Child's World.
By Sir John Everett Millais
It became famous when it was used over many generations in advertisements for Pears soap.

Bust of Sir Walter Scott

Wells Cathedral by Turner. Painted around 1795 Watercolour on paper

bike on the train

Port Sunlight

Lady Lever Art Galelry and Museum
Port Sunlight

map of the route

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After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 the first ‘Empire Day’ was held on 24 May 1902. The 24^th May was chosen as it was the Queens birthday.

Children would recall the chant Remember, Remember Empire Day, the 24th of May.

In 1958 Empire Day was renamed as British Commonwealth Day, and still later in 1966 it became known as Commonwealth Day. The date of Commonwealth Day was changed to 10th June, the official birthday of the present Queen Elizabeth II.Though it is a now largely forgotten anniversary I thought I’d mention it as it is part of our history.

Roy and Kath with family and guests (photo taken Sun 18 May 2014)

Today (Tue 20^th May 2014) is the 70^th wedding anniversary of my Uncle Roy and Aunty Kath. Roy and Kathleen Wilding of Chorley were married on 20th May 1944. The celebration ‘do’ was last Sunday at St George’s Institute, Trinity Road, Chorley. Huge congratulations. The 70^th wedding anniversary is known as platinum and qualifies for a letter from the Queen.

Roy and Kath 18 May 2014

Roy and Kath 20 May 1944

Andy Hall in a brick lined passage

While out for a cycle ride I visited Firwood Fold near Bolton. The small stone cottages and cobbled streets give no indication of the importance of the location. No 10 Firwood Fold was the birthplace of Samuel Crompton (1753 – 1827) the inventor of the spinning mule, a machine that revolutionised the cotton industry worldwide. Over the window is the inscription ‘Birthplace of Samuel Crompton born Dec 3rd 1753’

Across from the house is 15 Firwood Fold, a 16th century Grade II listed building reputed to be the oldest inhabited house in Bolton.The photos compare the house from around 90 years ago to today.

10 Firwood Fold today

10 Firwood Fold

15 Firwood Fold, the oldest inhabited house in Bolton. Note the remains on an old cruck beam painted black

Woodfit Ltd., Kem Mill Ln., Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley has now been demolished.
In just one week the ‘then and now’ photos shows the demolition progress. I bought my kitchen worktop and most of the fittings from there.

It is 20 years ago today since the Labour leader John Smith died. Considering he was a politician I still had a lot of respect for him and remembered with shock when I heard of his sudden death. He is now in some excellent company as his grave is in the ancient burial ground of Reilig Odhráin on the Isle of Iona, Scotland. Also buried there are several Scottish Kings. On his simple gravestone are the words "An honest man’s the noblest work of God" by Alexander Pope.
I visited his grave last month.

Molinginginis

Seamus and Simon. I don't know the name of the dog.

Seen on the A858 between Stornoway and Calanais.

Deanston.
In 1845 Sir James Matheson commenced a land reclamation scheme on this site extending to 80 acrea.
In 1866 the Lewis Farmer's Society held their annual show here.
Deanston Village extended to 8 houses, the last one merged with Lochganvich in 1907.

The old Coffin Road to the graveyards of the west coast from the wet and peat bogs of the east to the pure white sands of Seilbost

Lews Castle Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Grounds of Lews Castle

Sunrise on North Harris

Ruined Chapel on South Harris

The Butty Bus at Leverburgh South Harris.
The place name derives from Lord Leverburgh of Bolton who used to own the island.