within two days in Zaltbommel, where I can witness it passing by…
Today’s stroll, in sunshine, was from Yeovil Country Park to Barwick Park (& House) in Somerset UK. There were a lot of photo opportunities, be warned…
Welcome to Yeovil Country Park…
Barwick Park. Three Follies - Fish Tower
The Rose Tower
Jack The Treacle Eater (Don’t ask…) & Some detail
…and finally, Barwick House…
We moved in around 15 years ago and, as you can see, renovations are nearing completion
.
.
.
.
17 Likes
A day out in South Kensington
Royal Albert Hall
One of the figures outside the Royal School of Mines
One of the many rotary aircraft engines in the Science Museum
Harpsichord in the Royal College of Music museum
10 Likes
Whenever I see The Albert Hall I never fail to think of Terry and Arthur in Minder. Amazing building.
Been digging through old photos today. I forgot that I had this picture of my great grandfather, taken at the beginning of the First World War. My grandad is the child in the wee bubble above his head…along with my great grandfather’s wife.
I found some additional details about him online, that I had long since forgotten.
Samuel was born in the 2nd quarter of 1887 in Stockham, Runcorn, (now Murdishaw).
He was the 6th and youngest child to Thomas and Ann Basnett, nee Houghton. Sam’s siblings, in age order, were Priscilla, Eda, Thomas, James and Daniel.
In early 1911 Sam married Mary Ellen Smith from Runcorn and the 1911 census shows Sam as a canal porter living at Norton Villa, Norton.
In WW1 Sam served from 1914 to 1920, originally as a gunner with the R.G.A.(Royal Garrison Artillery) No. 24241. Sam later became a Lance-Corporal in the Military Foot Police No. P 14342 MFP. Sam was awarded the British War Medal for his services.
“In 1914 the Corps of Military Mounted Police and the Corps of Military Foot Police had a total establishment of nearly 5000 men. During the retreat from Mons, The MPs were busy dealing with soldiers who, through exhaustion or the general confusion of battle, had either lost or become detached from their units. By operating straggler posts, the MPs were able to return soldiers to their units. The work undertaken by MPs was not all carried out behind the lines and sometimes they came under heavy fire. During this conflict the Military Police suffered 375 casualties.
In 1936 Sam became a member of the newly formed ex-servicemen’s club.
Sam died in the district of Runcorn in June 1967 aged 80.
Sam’s Wife, Mary Ellen died in September 1950 in the district of Runcorn.
I was born in 1962, so have no memory of Mary Ellen, but I have vivid memories of going to Sam’s bungalow and spending time with him. As a matter of fact our current home is less than 100 metres away from where Sam lived until his death.
The below photo was taken around 1959/1960. Sam is on the right of two of his brothers. He is exactly how I remember him from when I was a small child.
I always find these old pictures very poignant. The colourised version is not great, but it does give the image some life and help to give a different perspective on these people photographed 60+ years ago and now long gone.
13 Likes
MANY years ago I collected follies, more accurately pictures of. I remember making a special trip to Barwick Park to find Jack The Treacle Eater, couldn’t resist the name
2 Likes
The sign of the intellectual, seeing the Albert Hall and only thinking of Proms , queuing round the side for the gallery
Ah nostalgia, we organised trips to the Proms from the brewery. Can you imagine a bunch of hairy a ***ed brewers promenading , the Romford Brewery Glee Club, beer at the Prospect of Whitbey on the way 
2 Likes
Until 10 days ago i didn’t know “Jack” existed, it’s definitely an unusual beasts. The mix of construction techniques & materials makes for a really bizarre structure, that said, the doves like it.
Follies are by definition over the top or bizarre it’s sorta the reason, I got hooked over 30 years ago. I was driving a lot for a living and covered Yorkshire to the West country and everywhere between . I had a great time diverting on the way home to find follies
It cost me a fortune in film and OS maps
I looked yesterday and can’t find my pics 
They got digitized from slides but looks like lost
Recommended reading (especially no.2)
Who said audio fans were normal
1 Like
