Saturday afternoon in Warwick

Saturday is market day in Warwick and the square and surrounding streets were full of stalls selling everything from cheese to horse-brasses, vinyl to bird food.  The council building at the top of the square is a 1960's or 1970's addition and pretty unappealing but it does have these rather clever metal bird sculptures in front.

Warwick has two ancient gateways, each with a chapel on the top.  

This Tudor building is Lord Leycester's house - now the home of one of Warwick's many tea rooms.

These unique houses are in the road to the town entrance to Warwick Castle.

We did not go into the castle today but admired the lovely view of it from the town bridge.

We then walked along Mill Lane to view the castle from below.

At the end of the lane is a cottage with a beautiful riverside garden, open to the public, which we first visited some 25 years ago.

Stowaway?

This afternoon it was pouring with rain and so we decided to spend some time sorting out clothes and other items to go back to the US.

Once the suitcase was laid out ready to be filled. Sophie was soon in there and trying it out for size...

Coelogyne Cristata

There is, of course, no way that I would have known the name of this amazing orchid had I not checked with the experts in Shillington!

It is hard to get a sense of it from this one photograph, taken in Dad-in-law's greenhouse.  It is several feet across and 

needs to be carried between two people if it goes to an orchid show!

Green fingers and patience are definitely needed to keep this specimen (and the other 200 plus orchids in the collection) in   tip-top condition..

St Mary's, Hitchin

This morning we went into Hitchin to have a look around.  It has been years since we have been there and unfortunately we picked the wrong day - on a Wednesday there is no market and some of the smaller shops close for the day.

St Mary's church is in the centre of the town, in its own grounds and is an impressively large parish church.

The view of the church across the river from the market is a particularly tranquil scene.

Evening Light in the Churchyard

There are a few bluebells growing under the trees in the churchyard.

The trees are now in leaf and the grass very vibrant.

The sky looked like rain, but it has stayed fine.

Bakewell Pudding

Setting off from Longnor this morning the weather was dull but we decided to call in to Bakewell to have a look around, en route to Shillington.

There was a market in full swing and the town was busy with visitors and locals.

We passed several shops claiming to sell the  'original' Bakewell Pudding but opted to try this one, served hot with custard.  It was made of flaky pastry with a layer of jam and on top a sweet egg custard mix.  

It was quite different to the usual Bakewell Tart - although that was also on sale with a number of variations!

Happy Easter!

This morning, after participating in the Longnor Woods annual egg throwing contest (we didn't win), we drove into Buxton to have a look around.

A band was playing in the bandstand at the Pavilion Gardens.

On the river a duck was shepherding her large brood - we counted 12 ducklings.

The Opera House is very grand - we would have liked to have seen inside..

In the shopping arcade, formerly the treatment baths, some of the original equipment was on display.

Oh yes, and David and I did participate in some water therapy in the hot tub!