Midday drink with canine friend

On the pivotal intersection of Roman Dere Street and Stanegate near the Tyne crossing, Corbridge played a vital role in every Roman campaign in northern Britain. The first forts here were founded c. AD 79-85 during the campaigns into Scotland under Agricola; the third in association with Hadrian’s Wall; the last used during the campaigns of Antoninus Pius in the mid-2nd century. Corbridge then became a busy garrison town.

The extensively excavated remains include a fountain house with an aqueduct, a pair of granaries, and walled military compounds containing barracks, temples, houses and a headquarters building with a belowground strongroom. You can even walk on the original Stanegate Roman road, which predated Hadrian’s Wall and passes through the centre of the site.
View of Corbridge Roman site-granaries and fountain site

Corbridge-undergound strong room looking north. Room at top of stairs may have been the shrine, centre of religious life for the garrison.
The granaries looking north.

Overview of site looking S.W.
Granaries

Reconstructed windmill at Whitburn

Limestone coastline at Whitburn. This is being eroded.

Angel of the North-It was the vision of Gateshead Council to create a landmark sculpture at the entrance to Tyneside, which culminated in The Angel of the North. Its wide, open arms greet visitors as they reach Gateshead, whether they come by road or rail.
Angel of the North in profile. Dot at bottom right is a person.

Causey Arch, built in 1725-6 is the oldest surviving single arch railway bridge in the world. It spans the gorge of Causey Burn.
Hand blown glass window at Pockerley Manor, Beamish Museum

Domestic scene inside Pockerley Manor, 1825

Burnt out stage coach in pond. Apart from being somewhat surreal this is meant to signify the transition from road transport to rail when many stagecoaches became redundant and were dumped.
Steam Elephant 1825. It is possible to have a short ride.

Steam Elephant or Locomotion

Another view of the Steam Elephant ready to roll.


Band stand c 1913. Very colourful.


Shoeing a horse
Replica early 20th century bus.

Thomas the Tank Engine? In need a heavy restoration.

Miners cottages.

Inside a miner's cottage c 1913.

Inside miner's cottage
Colliery scene, a reminder of the North East's heavy industrial past.
View of English pub

River Wear with Victoria Viaduct in distance.
The Bridge was designed by T.E.Harrison and patterned on the Roman bridge at Alcantara in Spain. It was officially opened on the Coronation Day of Queen Victoria in 1838 although it did not actually open to traffic until 1839. For many years it carried the main railway line from Newcastle to London until the main line was routed through Durham in 1872. The route over the Victoria was closed in 1991. It has been suggested that the line may be reopened in the future.

View of Penshaw Monument.
One of the North East's most prominent landmarks, Penshaw Monument was built in 1844 in honour of the first Earl of Durham, John George Lambton. Penshaw Monument was modelled on the Thesion, the Temple of Theseus in Athens. Penshaw stands magnificently above the city on a limestone hill in the middle of the Great North Forest and affords views as far afield as Durham Cathedral and the North Pennines.
Looking out from the Penshaw monument


Another view of the River Wear with Victoria Viaduct
Victoria Viaduct, opened 1839
Old clock at top of former stable block at Beamish Hall Hotel

Views of Beamish Hall Hotel. This dates back to about the 1200s and has been completely refurbished as a hotel. Excellent value!

Labels: N.E.England heritage tour

posted by Catswhiskers @ 3:49 AM  0 comments

Lonely tree at Glen Almond

Inside house in Clearance Village, Glen Almond


View of Glen Almond, Perthshire. Valley of the Almond River, Perth and Kinross, central Scotland, North of Crieff.


Sun through the trees at Glen Almond

Drummond Castle Garden


Drummond Castle from garden



Scenic drive to Drummond Castle and Garden


Roman fort at Ardoch, near Braco, Perthshire.

Ardoch Fort is considered to be one of the best preserved earthworks relating to the Roman army in Europe. The most dramatic feature remaining is, undoubtedly, the defensive earthworks to the north and east sides of the fort. (See picture)

The old Pack Horse Bridge which stands alongside the present bridge over the River Knaik. Braco is located 10 miles south of Crieff on the A822.

Labels: Perry and Gayle

posted by Catswhiskers @ 9:18 AM  0 comments

View of Glasgow from the Clyde

Ben and Sarah Parsonage's Bridge (over the Clyde).


Cacti inside the Winter Gardens

Tropical foliage within the Winter Garden's


Queen Victoria silhouetted against the sun


Doulton Fountain (1888) by A E Pearce. The largest terracotta fountain in the world was created for Glasgow's first Great Exhibition and later removed to Glasgow Green.


The People's Palace and Winter Gardens were built in 1898 on historic Glasgow Green for the benefit of the industrial working people of the east end.


Picture of the Green in sunlight. Note vertical iron poles.

More detailed picture of iron poles. These were erected to hold washing lines at a time when the working people used communal facilities for washing -and drying-clothes.



Stunning architecture at Templeton's Carpet Factory (1889). Glasgow's most colourful brick building-a bit of Venice marooned in Glasgow!

Labels: Glasgow Green

posted by Catswhiskers @ 8:41 AM  0 comments

Drummond Castle Gardens, Perthshire

First laid out in the early 17th century and re-designed and terraced in the early 19th century. The gardens seen today were replanted during the 1950's, preserving features such as the ancient yew tree hedges and the copper beech trees planted by Queen Victoria to commemorate her visit in 1842. At the centre of the gardens stands the John Mylne Sundial, erected by the 2nd. Earl of Perth in 1630.

Kilmarnock Town Centre


View of famous Royal Bank building in Kilmarnock town centre-with statue of Robert Burns.


18th century Old Kirk at Kilmarnock




Glasgow's Necropolis-last resting place of Glasgow's "great and the good".


Inside Glasgow's oldest house, Provands Lordship, 15th century.


Hogback grave marker at Govan Old Church., Glasgow.
The hogback stones are the largest known examples of a type of house-shaped gravestone that appeared throughout the areas of Norse settlement in northern England and southern Scotland. The collection of cross-inscribed grave slabs is the largest in Scotland. Although they share various stylistic traits, each cross is unique.


Carved stone inside Govan Old Church.
Carved in the 9th and 10th centuries the Govan stones form one of the largest collections of Christian sculpture in Scotland but nobody really knows who they commemorate or why they were otherwise created. One strand of opinion suggests that Govan was a burial place used by members of the royal house of Strathclyde, which maintained its independence until the 10th century.


Stained glass at Burrell Collection


Exhibit at Burrell Collection




Exhibits at Burrell Collection, Glasgow

Presented to Glasgow in 1944 by the millionaire shipowner Sir William Burrell, the Collection was amassed over 80 years of his life and is outstanding in its wealth and diversity.

3000 of the 8000 items are displayed at any one time in the specially constructed building which was opened in 1983.

Internal view of House for an Art Lover



Internal view of House for an Art Lover.

Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, House for an Art Lover represents one of the most exciting pieces of recent research on Glasgow's most famous architect and provides an excellent resource for visitors as a cultural attraction and exclusive private dining venue.



Internal view of House for an Art Lover



Garden at House for an Art Lover



Garden at House for an Art Lover, Glasgow



Charles Rennie Mackintosh's House for an Art Lover, Glasgow



Art Deco architecture (1930s) in Glasgow



Quaint house at Crail, Fife Coast
View of Crail Harbor

Lifeboat rescue at Anstruther

View of St Andrew's Cathedral

View of shoreline at St. Andrew's with castle



Two golfing fanatics (!!) at Swilken Bridge, Old Course, St Andrews

View of Old Course, St Andrews

Abernethy Tower, Perthshire dates probably from the 9th or 10th century, with 11th century alterations. It is 72 feet high and only 8 feet in interior diameter, with walls 3 1/2 feet thick. These Round Towers served the Celtic clergy as steeples and watch-towers against Viking invaders . There are still 76 of them standing in Ireland. The original purpose of the Abernethy Tower was defense but later it was used as a belfry and a beacon.



Community garden at Glenfarg
Bar at Dunkeld pub


Centre of Dunkeld


Queen's View, Perthshire looking towards Glencoe


Blair Castle (Duke of Atholl)

Woodland garden at Blair Castle


Woodland walk at Blair Castle

Edradour Distillery, near Pitlochry.


Marching bands at Pitlochry prior to commencement of Highland Games

Letter Farm near Dunkeld, very good 4 star B&B

Loch of the Lowes wildlife centre near Dunkeld

Wallace Monument and Braveheart statue near Stirling


View of Stirling and countryside from Wallace Monument



Two supporters of Kilmarnock Football Club (soccer)


Hogback grave marker at Luss Churchyard-about 1000 AD

View of Ben Lomond with Loch Lomond


Colorful garden at Luss Village


War memorial at Luss

View of Glen Coe. This area is famous for its scenery and the massacre in 1692.


Loch Ness (south) from Castle Urquhart


Loch Ness (north) with Castle Urquhart


Heather in bloom near Drumnadrochit (Loch Ness)


View of Inverness looking north

Clava Cairns, near Inverness, these date back to about 3000BC

Re-enactment guide at the Crannog Centre, Loch Tay


View of Loch Tay towards Ben Lawers


View of the Crannog at Kenmore. This is typical of dwellings on the Loch about 2000 years ago.



Croft Moraig Stone Circle near Kenmore. This dates back to about 3000BC

Labels: Perry and Gayle

posted by Catswhiskers @ 2:05 AM  0 comments