Double Header Part 2: Lymm Historic Transport Day!

Saturday's Macc-Pow is followed by Sunday's Lymm Historic Transport Day in nearby Lymm, half-way between Altrincham and Warrington! 

This is something very different but aligns with my sensibilities and aim of seeking new suitable events for making comics more visible away from the traditional comic-con venues. The festival is long-running inspired by Lymm's canalboat and transport heritage links and is a popular event on the local calendar.

This year for I believe the first time, they're having a 'Steampunk Section' co-organised by the team at the Portland Basin Steampunk Group and I'm very lucky to be included alongside a small but talented crew of traders, makers and vehicles!

I'm really looking forward to this as its a step into the unknown to see how my comics are received but I do like to challenge myself now and then! Being local its also too good an opportunity to miss and being with fellow steampunks, guaranteed to be fun, I've even bought a gazebo for the occasion!

If the event is anywhere as good as their fab looking posters then I'll be happy!

Tatton Park Moments of Reflection

Tatton Park's WW1 Commemorative Flame

The centenary of the outbreak of World War One has quite rightly been in the spotlight allowing everyone time for reflection either on their own or as part of an organised event.

For someone with a lifelong interest in history and military matters I too have spent much time reading and reflecting on the conflict and its legacy. This interest and my close connections with Tatton Park lead to me earlier this year joining a small research team and contributing to an exhibition held there to commemorate the war and its impact on the estate, its workers and of course the Egerton family.

The exhibition took its "We Will See it Through":Tatton Reflects 1914-1918 title from a rousing recruitment speech given by Alan De Tatton, at Knutsford town hall shortly after the wars outbreak - no mean feat given that at the wars declaration he was enjoying a spa break in Germany and initially held captive!

The preparation for the exhibition was both challenging and rewarding as we slowly uncovered many fascinating stories and from an original concern about whether we would have 'enough' material it soon became clear that the worry would be about what to leave out. Sadly, even in a sizable display room, there wasn't room to include everything but we included some fascinating exhibits both from Tatton's collection and through loans and donations from relatives of those connected with Tatton at the time.

Sadly I don't have any close-up pictures of the display items - sorry!

There weren't photos of some of the featured estate workers, so I provided these images

The children's colouring & reading table proved very popular!

The exhibition was appropriately opened on 4th August 2014, the centenary of course of Britain's declaration of war 100 years before. Coincidentally the date was also Maurice Egerton, Tatton's last Lord's, 40th birthday. Tatton had also been chosen as one of the focal points of the local council's WW1 commemorations, under its Cheshire East Reflects banner. This saw the installation of an eternal flame in its grounds which was lit by Tatton's MP, chancellor George Osborne in a special commemorative event on the 4th August which I attended.

 

As Tatton's 2014 season draws to a close, preparations for the forthcoming Christmas event are underway, meaning that our WW1 exhibition has now closed. Research though continues and it is planned that the exhibition will return, updated at a future date as commemorations reflect the wars duration.

Given the exhibition's closure and today's armistice date I thought it timely to show a few of the exhibition and the commemorative flame images here. Thanks again to everyone who contributed to the exhibition and for the many poignant visitor comments and memories received which gave a deeper meaning to this year's commemorations.  

Moments in Cheshire!

The truly picturesque Little Moreton Hall 6 May 2013

Well its been a bank holiday here in the UK and rather oddly the weather was great which doesn't happen very often so Mrs M and I embarked on a wee trip into darkest South Cheshire using our National Trust membership to visit Little Moreton Hall and nearby Biddulph Grange Gardens. A great little 'double-header', neither of which we'd been to before so happy to do a little exploring.

Little Moreton Hall is described as probably the best known example of timber-framed architecture in England which you can well believe, but when you seen its rickety higgledy piggledy tumbling frame for real you really wonder how on earth it can still be standing, I mean just look at it!

500 years old and still standing!!

Its earliest part dates from 1504 and its last extension around 1610, so depending where you are its between 400 and 500 years old which is just staggering - remember Columbus only discovered America in 1492 ! My imagination runs away from me when you think of everything this house and its occupants witnessed over that time, amazing. In fact the house was (I believe - not read all the guide yet!) almost singly occupied by the Moreton family over that period, until left to a second cousin in 1913 who lived there with his family until leaving it to the National Trust in 1937.

 

Little Moreton's 'Knot' Garden

The garden, grounds and house are not huge but interesting enough for half a day or so with a wonderful tea room and cake selection - so good we went back a second time after visiting Biddulph Grange - and the free tours are recommended as an informal informative way to hear about the family and the hall's history.

Bidduplh Grange

I can't tell you quite so much about Biddulph Grange, not being that knowledgeable about gardens and flowers etc, but its only a 15 minute drive from Little Moreton and houses a wonderful eclectic collection of plants, trees, flowers and shrubs from around the world.

It belonged to a James Bateman, a renowned Victorian horticulturist who over a 20+ year period developed the grounds to house a remarkable collection of landscaped gardens in themed global areas including China, Italy, Egypt, Woodland walk and even a Scottish Glen with many of them tucked away so part of the joy is discovering them for yourself as you walk around.

I couldn't help thinking it was all like the setting of an Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple adventure, just waiting to discover a body in the summer cottage or some secluded lawn!



Yes the body was found in the pyramid garden!

He Knows You Know!


















The gardens are in the grounds of the large imposing Victorian mansion but with the exception of the obligatory tea room and gift shop this didn't appear to be open which was fine as it was such a nice day weather-wise. 

 

Daffys in the woodland walk

I don't think we quite saw it all as there's so many interesting little sidetracks and paths taking you away and doubling round but we had a very enjoyable afternoon walking around, with the site being large enough to absorb the busy bank holiday crowds.

We're very fortunate to have so many varied properties close by and maintained by the National Trust with these both recommended for a visit but Little Moreton's tearooms appealed more!



Big Urn!