Boyd's photo diary. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tue 31 Mar 2015
|
I drove via Oban to the small
lay-bye near Melfort. I wanted to see if I could identify the
location of a photo taken around 1900 of a stagecoach on the
'Pass of Melfort' In 1956 a reservoir was built across part of
the pass to supply a hydro-electric power station. The old road
is now a very muddy track but well worth a walk. |
|
 |
 |
|
Pass of Melfort carriage |
The same view today. I couldn't
stand on the exact spot because of dense undergrowth |
|
A mile down the valley I came to
the remains of the
Melfort Gunpowder Works.
It seems to have been built by
Harrison Ainslie & Co Ltd, Lindal, Ulverston, a mining and ore
company |
 |
|
|
Gunpowder Works
remains |
|
 |
 |
|
Gunpowder Works
remains |
The original Gunpowder Works now
form the Melfort Village of various dwellings and holiday homes.
There is also a shop and restaurant |
|
Sun 29 Mar 2015
|
The sun came out on my evening
walk along the canal but the old Lancaster canal length was
still full of puddles |
 |
|
Conventional photo of a lock at Johnson's Hillock |
|
The same photo processing in Topaz
software |
|
Sat 28 Mar 2015
|
This evening was a dark and rainy walk along the Leeds and
Liverpool canal at Town Lane.
I've just bought the Topaz plugin software so converted the image to
monochrome. |
|
|
|
Fri 27 Mar 2015
|
A trip to J.38 truckstop on the M6
at Tebay for tea. |
 |
|
|
|
Thu 26 Mar 2015
|
For some inexplicable reason the
Parish Council have removed the bordered flower bed by the
Leyland/Clayton reservoir memorial mound and moved it across the
road. |
|
The view this afternoon. |
The view on 4 Jan 2015 |
|
The new flower bed |
|
|
Tue 24 Mar 2015
I noticed workmen on site at the
old Hygienic Laundry building on Harpers Lane, Chorley this
afternoon. The main buildings were demolished in 2009 but part
of the first 1907 building has been left standing for the past 6
years. New houses will be built at the rear of the site but the
building now standing is to be refurbished with new walls. The
original company name of ‘CHORLEY AND DISTRICT HYGIENIC LAUNDRY’
was cut in the stone lintel over the door.
It was damaged during the 2009 demolition but thankfully the
workmen have rescued what remains and it will be rebuilt in to
the new refurbished building. It’s good to know a little bit of
Chorley’s heritage will be preserved. |
|
They plan to retain the roof for a new building |
|
Hygienic Laundry in 1910 |
|
Part of the original lintel stone is to be preserved
|
|
Sun 22 Mar 2015
|
On the cycle track along the old railway. From Kentallen to Oban |
|
As soon as I got home I went for a walk along the Leeds and
Liverpool canal |
|
Sat 21 Mar 2015
|
The small harbour at Lochalign
is where some of the evacuees from St Kilda landed in 1930. It
was near here that they set up new lives. |
Lochalign new harbour |
|
The St Kilda parliament before the 1930 evacuation |
|
Island and highland life in the 19th century |
|
Evening view from my camp above Kentallen and Loch Linnhe
|
|
Fri 20 Mar 2015
|
Catching the 09:45 ferry off
Iona to cycle across Mull. |
Calmac ferry at Oban |
|
Thu 19 Mar 2015
|
Wet and windy camp on Iona |
|
Wed 18 Mar 2015
|
After driving to Oban caught
the ferry to Craignure on the Isle of Oban then cycled across to
the Isle of Iona |
Calmac ferry at Oban |
|
17 miles to the ferry at Fionnphort and Iona |
|
Low water night work on the Iona ferry slipway
|
|
Sun 15 Mar 2015
It's Mother's Day so
walked to Withnell Fold to have a flask of coffee sat on Mum's
memorial bench. Mum died in 2010. |
Mum's memorial bench
|
|
|
|
Sat 14 Mar 2015
Drove to summit of
Loch Ogle and left car in car park on the east side. Walked up
the track to the transmitter mast near the summit. It was -4degC
when I arrived. I then headed Beinn Leabhainn then south to
Meall Buidhe. The weather was overcast and dull but at least it
wasn't raining. Once back at the car I had and easy drive home
' |
Meall Buidhe
|
|
|
|
Fri 13 Mar 2015
Drove via
Grangemouth to Blackness Castle. It was late morning when I
arrived and there was even warm sunshine. It’s my first visit
and I always like surprises. It was fascinating to learn that
the castle had been a Royal castle, garrison fort and state
prison. |
Blackness Castle, Firth of Forth,
Scotland
|
Built in the 15th century it was used as a state prison until
1707. It was besieged and damaged by Oliver Cromwell's army in
1650. From 1870-74 it was converted to an ammunition depot and
central depot for Scotland. It ceased that function after WW1. |
Blackness Castle ammunition store
|
|
View from Blackness Castle of the 3 Forth Bridges
|
I then drove via Crieff to Loch Lednoch. There was a small car
park and a few cars were already there. I walked up the glen and
up to the Reservoir dam. Lednock dam was built in 1957 for the
artificial loch, which provides the storage for St. Fillans
power station.
It is one of only two diamond-headed buttress dams in Scotland -
the other is at Errochty. Special attention was paid to the
design of this dam, as it is close to occasional earth tremors
on the faults associated with the Highland Boundary Complex,
which passes close by.
To the right I passed two tunnel inlets and one brings water
from the River Almond through about 3 miles of tunnels. I walked
over Tharsuinn and back to the car. |
|
 |
|
Walking up to the Reservoir Dam
|
|
Lednock dam built in 1957 |
|
View of Loch Earn from St Fillans |
|
Sun 08 Mar 2015
The Withnell Fold
Sports and Social Club walk started out under dark skies and
slight rain. By the half way point the clouds moved away to
reveal many magnificent views. The route crossed the Leeds and
Liverpool canal then via Marsh Lane to Brindle. At Top o’ th’
Lane we stopped to look at the site of the old Work House and
the plaque on the wall that commemorates it. Above Birchin Lane
and the M61 we stopped to admire the views out to the Ribble
Estuary. |
Above the M61 near Birchin Lane
|
|
The low afternoon sun helped to
illuminate the River Lostock culvert under the line of the old
Lancaster Canal. Then it was back on to the Leeds and Liverpool
canal at the Top Lock at Wheelton and an east walk back to
Withnell Fold Sports Club where tea, sandwiches and cake were
waiting. The walk was just over 6.5miles. |
|
About to enter the aqueduct. |
|
 |
|
We were treated to low sunshine as we passed under the River
Lostock culvert under the line of the old Lancaster Canal. The
canal was opened in 1803 but only carried barges as far as
Walton Summit. The rest of the route to Preston was completed by
tramway. The canal from Leeds was being constructed and
eventually connected with the Lancaster canal at Whittle Springs
in 1816. The Leeds and Liverpool canal was then completed,
making it just over 126 miles long. John Rennie (1761 - 1821)
was one of the engineers involved in the Lancaster Canal (1792 -
1803) and presumably this viaduct. He also designed London
Bridge, which was completed by his son George after his death.
|
|
The house used to be the Navigation Inn. Now on Town Lane,
Whittle-le-Woods. |
|
Sat 07 Mar 2015
|
A lovely evening sky on my walk along the Leeds and Liverpool
canal |
|
|
|
Fri 06 Mar 2015
Astley Hall, Chorley
is currently undergoing a major investigation of its structural
components. Investigations have revealed many historical feature
that were previously unknown. The first structure was built
around 1578 by the Charnock family and had been extended and
modified many times during following centuries. |
Charles 1st and family
|
|
Chorley Council arranged for it to
be opened to the public on Fri 6th March 2015 so that conducted
tours could take place to show the work being done. They plan to
re-open the hall in April 2015. Many thanks to Emily, Amy and
Geoff for conducting the tours. |
 |
|
Panels removed |
|
Appreciative audience |
|
Astley Hall |
|
Wed 04 Mar 2015
Evening drove to
Wigan Archaeological Society to talk by David Ratledge about
Roman Roads in Lancashire. Large use of LIDAR.
Below are examples of LIDAR images with all surface features
removed.
'
|
Chorley Little Theatre
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Sun 01 Mar 2015
A great gig by
Richard Herring at the Chorley Little Theatre. After making a
few hymn based jokes he was heckled by a lady who then walked
out. All he’d done was point out the absurd lyrics in some
children’s hymns. It was comedy gold.
The gig was 'Lord of the Dance Settee'
'
|
Chorley Little Theatre
|
|
|
|
The audience arriving |
Richard Herring on his dance settee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
