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Dunham Massey

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Dunham Massey is a Nation Trust property in Cheshire; a hall and park near the village of the same name. It is one of the top ten National Trust sites, and the only one of ten that had an increase in visitors during COVID.  The last time I visited was the day before I got married, over 30 years ago, with my mother, aunt and sister. Since then they have built a fancy new visitors' centre at the entrance from the extensive car park. There is a small lake, fancifully called the moat, but I suspect was constructed as a mill race. Standing beside it is an oak tree that is over 500 years old - older than the estate! The path leads to the back of the stables. The hall dates to 1616, though it was remodelled three times since. The stables states it was built in 1721. The other side of the stables. From here you can see the house itself. The brick facade looks much more modern than 1616; part of the later remodelling I guess. From the front of the house, a number of paths radiate outwards. ...
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Boroughbridge

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Boroughbridge is a small town in North Yorkshire, until recently on the A1, and indeed it owes its prosperity in earlier years to the fact it was a convenient stopping point for people on the road from north to south. It is believed at one time 2000 cattle a day passed through the town - one can only imagine how it used to smell... The A1 now passes it by to the west, and thankfully the cattle are long gone. Usually a small town or village is attractive because there is a consistency in style across all the buildings; in Boroughbridge it is the variety that makes it special. Wiki lists around 70 listed buildings in the town and surroundings.  The road crosses the River Ure. This is the view from the bridge looking up river at the site of the Battle of Boroughbridge, where Edward II defeated a band of rebellious barons led by the Earl of Lancaster, in 1322. You can see the river has gone round a small island. On the right, in the distance is a salmon ladder, built 1767-176...
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Leicester

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It was a rather grey- and cold - weekend when I visited the city... Leicester is the largest city in the East Midlands, and eighth largest in England. There was an Anglo- Saxon fort here, and later a Roman fort. The River Soar which flows northwards through the west of the city to meet the Trent. Much of its journey through the city is through industrial - or former industrial areas - but to the north is Abbey Park, where it looks its best. The abbey that gives the park it name no longer exists, besides the enclosing wall, seen on the left above. A rather nice bridge leads to what is now a cafe; the abbey was to the right. A statue stands in front of it - just about visible in the photo - of Cardinal Wolsey who died in the Abbey on his way to York. Abbey park is Leicester's premier park, and has a number of interesting features including the friendship garden... ...and a lot of geese. It is bounded on the southeast by the canal. Much of the river from Leicester onwards was made nav...
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