Along with Middleton-In-Teesdale, Barnard Castle is one of the two principal towns in beautiful Teesdale. Whilst being a local shopping centre; it also is home to one of the most fantastic ruined castle Barnard Castle and the even more magnificent Bowes Museum with its magical silver swan. More modest in scope though none the less beautiful… Continue reading The Buttermarket of Barnard Castle
Category: Cool Britannia
Going to my first NFL game at Wembley Stadium, London
A few days ago I managed to get to see my very first live-action NFL game at Wembley Stadium, London. Normally Wembley is the home of Football but for a month or so eat autumn, it becomes the home of American Football! I’ve watched American Football or NFL since around 1982 when it first appeared… Continue reading Going to my first NFL game at Wembley Stadium, London
A close look at a grave of a Pirate or is it?
Huddled on the the battered coast of Northumberland you’ll come across many an ancient ruin, castle or church. There is more than enough to spend an hour or so at St Aidan, so named after the saint who died on the spot in 651AD. I first visited this church around 40 years ago and still… Continue reading A close look at a grave of a Pirate or is it?
An eerie journey along old Corpse Roads
Can anyone believe that I have written Halloween (related posts for 7 years now. When I started this blog I thought I’d be lucky to still be going in a month. As with everything else, I always try to keep my Halloween posts grounded as I think that makes them more realistic and also more… Continue reading An eerie journey along old Corpse Roads
Paying homage at the tomb of the Venerable Bede
If like myself you have anything like a passing history in old Anglo-Saxon history or even history itself, the works of Bede are something to behold. I always find it a bit boring I suppose that so many people think of British history as being Stonehenge, Romans, Vikings, a bonkers king who kept killing his… Continue reading Paying homage at the tomb of the Venerable Bede
A peek inside possibly the second smallest home in the U.K.
In my line of work I spend a lot of time walking round palaces, great houses and cathedrals but last week I had the opportunity to revisit one of the smallest houses imaginable in the beautiful Lake District in the country of Cumbria. What makes this house extra special is not just its tiny size… Continue reading A peek inside possibly the second smallest home in the U.K.
Murky Moor photos
I’ve been away for a few weeks giving a long tour of parts of north east and north west England and having returned I have found my wordpress to stubbornly refuse to fully function on my iPad or even let me log in on my computer. As such, I’m forced to do a simple post… Continue reading Murky Moor photos
To be on Tenterhooks in Spitalfields
Have you ever heard of the phrase “on tenterhooks”? It has come to mean being in a state of tension, uneasiness, anxiety, or suspense, and that is because tenterhooks were once very common sights indeed. Tenterhooks aren’t the big hooks you might see in a meat market or butches but are instead related to the cloth… Continue reading To be on Tenterhooks in Spitalfields
An old plan of Piccadilly Circus Underground Station.
I’m away on a 2-week tour in the near future and so this shorter than usual post is just to help fill the gap before, during or after I come back. The incredible print below is of Piccadilly Circus Underground Station and dates from the late 1920’s. It illustrates the multitude of tunnels needed to… Continue reading An old plan of Piccadilly Circus Underground Station.
The Restoration of the Aldgate Pump of Death!
I’ve no doubt included photos and mentioned in passing the old Aldgate water pump which used to be right next to an eastern gate of the old Roman wall surrounding the city of London. Aldgate Well was first mentioned all the way back in the thirteenth century during the reign of King John. It possibly… Continue reading The Restoration of the Aldgate Pump of Death!
Stephen Liddell 