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Shirley (Derbyshire)
by catsholiday Shirley Village This small village is down one of two lanes off the A52 between Derby and Ashbourne in Derbyshire. The village has a population of only about two hundred and fifty at tops. I often thought about that as we drove around the USA and the little towns would have a welcome sign with their population on it, some only ... had 43 or 129 and I wondered if someone ran out to change it after each birth or death! WHAT A STRANGE NAME It is thought that the village name comes from the Saxon word for 'bright clearing' (sirelei) .The first recording of the use of the name Shirley was around 1250 when the Saxon lord Siwallis who lived in Shirley added de Shirley to his name. This family were crusaders and this is where the village pub takes its name ( Saracen's Head) . The Shirley family were granted the title Lord Ferrers and Viscount Tamworth in 1711 after many distinguished years of serving the country. They did live just outside the village in a lovely white house known as the Old Vicarage for years but the house has now been sold out of the family. THE PUB The village centre focuses on the pub, 'The Saracen's Head' built in 1971 and now a very popular gastro pub. When I first came to the village the pub was very different and still had the original farm buildings behind it including a pig sty and stables that my friend and I made into a meeting place for the other young teens in the village. These have now been converted into very nice self catering accommodation. Opposite the pub is a row of terraced houses which were apparently originally a barn but they look like Victorian terraces to me. You can tell they were originally a bar by the blocked 'breather' bricks which were used to ventilate barns in the past. They date from the 1800s I believe two are only one bedroom while a third is a two bedroom house but they are very pretty and are within the conservation area of the village. THE OLD RECTORY Behind these houses on the left as you look at them is the old Rectory which is a stone built house dating from the 1300s which was lovingly restored and looked after for many years by the same couple, it has since changed hands twice. It looks quite big from the outside but the ceilings and door ways are very low so if you are tall you do have to be very aware of this when visiting. Unless you know this house is there from the village it is really just seen as a high stone wall and hedge and cannot be seen unless you go down the driveway. ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH Continuing onwards to the left and next to the Old Rectory is not surprisingly the church of St Michael. The entrance to the church is through thick chunky wooden gates and passed an ancient yew tree and the grave yard which surrounds the church. For those interested in history there are some very old graves on which you can just still read the inscriptions. Both my parents are buried in the church yard; sadly my Dad is not with my Mum as step brother decided to put his mother in with my Dad. So he is with someone he was married to for five years rather than the person who gave him four daughters and was married to him for over thirty years but that is a long story! Things like this will be fascinating to historians in years to come. The church is a pretty building with a long history and many fascinating features inside as well. It was first mentioned in the Doomsday book in 1086 though not much of that building remains. The oldest part is the chancel arch and the oldest bell tower dates around the 1500s. I might be inspired to write a review on this at some time in the future. THE OLD SCHOOL AND TOWARDS PARK LANE Next to the church is the Old School which closed to pupils in around 1967 and is now two houses. One part was the former school master's home and the other part the original primary school. Almost opposite the school is another set of old terraced cottages which are just outside the conservation area. They are possibly farm workers cottages and I know for a fact that one of them is a tiny three bedroomed cottage as I lived there for a while with my two children. Upstairs the rooms all have sloping ceilings and the windows are at the height of your knees. Rushmore house was a former farmhouse but is now a family home with a very large garden and vegetable garden as well. Next door along the lane you come to the Old Stables which were pretty obviously once stables for this farmhouse. If you continued up Park lane you would go past a farm house then at the end of a very long drive near the lane is a semi detached house once the gardener 's and the groom's homes when the large house at the end of the drive was owned by the first the Lees of Lees Foundry in Derby and then Thorntons of chocolate fame. If you continue along this lane you come to the village cricket and football pitch where matches take place from time time to time against other villages. SHIRLEY WOODS At the end of this lane you come to a gate which leads into Shirley Woods owned by the Walker Okeover Estate. There was a beautiful manor house at the Osmaston village end of the woods but sadly it was demolished in the late 60s. Our house has a beam from the manor in the sitting room. The site is now used for weddings in the summer and a huge marquee is erected every year. It is a perfect site for a wedding reception with stunning views but I suspect it is not a cheap option. The woods are lovely to walk through with footpaths through different areas. An old water mill sits at the edge of the lake and looks very picturesque. It makes a great walk to go from Shirley Village through to Osmaston and if you are still full of energy you can walk on to Ashbourne but that is all along roads. BACK IN THE VILLAGE Returning to the village and on the right hand side of the pub is a little lane and if you look along the lane or driveway you will see a small barn which was the original village butcher's shop. The village also used to have a little Post Office which was in one room of the first house on the corner of derby Lane just near the old Telephone box. Sadly when the old lady who ran the PO retired the PO closed it and we now have no shop at all in the village. You can see where the old post box was bricked up in the wall and we now have a free standing box next to the telephone box. The telephone box is one of the original red boxes and our village has converted it into a lending library which is overseen by one of the residents. There is a bit of a controversy about the bakehouse of the village as some say it is a small building on Mill Lane whereas we were told it was a small building that was in our property until we sold our barn for a conversion to a house. I don't suppose anyone knows for sure but there was a fire place there and a village well was next to it which would have been handy. The Old Farmhouse on Derby Lane was originally three small two story cottages which were built in the 1500s and a third story was added in 1793 . The entire building is now one family home although there are still two sets of stairs and one cellar, the other has been filled in to ground level. This farmhouse had an orchard surrounding it and a really lovely proper farm yard with barns, pig sty and cow sheds but these were demolished apart from part of the barn next to the house. The 60s houses around to the back of this house were built when the buildings were demolished and using the orchard. I am sure planning permission would not be granted these days. There are many other interesting buildings and a lot of history in this small village which was once the property of the Walker Okeover family though now most of the houses are privately owned there are still a few owned by the estate. FAMOUS PEOPLE Once again it is rumoured that Bonnie Prince Charlie spent a night in the pub but he seems to have stayed in rather too many places so who knows? John Cowper Powys who was born in 1872 spent the first seven years of his life in the village when his father was the local vicar. If you read his life story the first chapter is entitled 'Shirley'. Walter Shirley was vicar of Shirley, became archdeacon of Derby and later became Archbishop of Sodor and Man . I wonder if he knew Thomas the Tank Engine? So there you have it a quick tour of our little village. If you are in the Ashbourne area looking for a nice walk then this is one I would recommend. If you like churchyards then again this one has some very interesting grave stones which tell a story of their own. The village itself has changed in the forty plus years I have lived or my parents have lived there, there are many more modern houses than there were and people have come and gone but it is still a nice village to wander around and look at the variety of houses and some of the lovely gardens. Thanks for reading. This review may be posted on other sites under my same user name ©Catsholiday Read the complete review |
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Whitby in general
by Doglovers Whitby for those that don't know is a seaside town on the East Coast in North Yorkshire and living in the North it is a place we visit at least once a year. The town is a port built up around the fishing industry and is famous for Captain James Cook who was born nearby and is where he started his seafaring career and is also ... the inspiration for Bram Stokers Dracula. Like many fishing ports the harbour area is lined with small cottages which date back to mediaeval times and which give Whitby its character. The town is divided into two parts the older East side which has the ruins of St Hilda's Abbey and St Mary's church and the West side which has its share of old cottages and terraces, but also has many properties built in later periods. Particularly of note is the Cresent which is full of Georgian grandeur , but sadly was never completed. It is a lovely place to visit and the approach from the South takes you up and down dale across the North Yorkshire Moors. Make sure your brakes are working as there are some very steep hills and watch out for the sheep who often wander off the heather covered moors onto the roads. You know when you are close to Whitby as the skyline is dominated by the RAF early warning satellite/radar structures at Fylingdales which once were in the shape of golf balls but have since been replaced by much more mundane structures. You will also pass Goathland which is of interest if you liked Heartbeat as it was filmed in this area. There are several routes into Whitby but we always take the route signposted Sandsend which takes you to the West Cliff , which is where you can find free car parking on the roadside and streets around the Crescent. Worthy of note is that disabled parking is not free in Whitby in pay and display car parks. There is also a lift to the beach from the West Cliff, which is essential if you are disabled particularly on the way back up as the terrain is very stee Whitby has some beautiful beaches some of which are dog friendly but there are restrictions (May to October I think). However beyond the beach huts on the West Side the restrictions are lifted and you can walk miles along the beach to Sandsend when the tide is out. It is a lovely walk and at the end there is a really nice café which serves great food. I can recommend the full English and the apple pie, On a nice day of course the miles of beach mean you can simply sit on the beach, or if you are brave swim in the sea. There are beach huts and deckchairs to hire and donkey rides if the fancy takes you. On the East side there is Tate Hill Beach which is small and sandy and dogs are allowed all year. As you would expect there are boat trips a plenty including those that want to go sea fishing. Take a trip to the East side and head up the 199 steps to the Abbey and Church ,worth a trip as the views are amazing and on the journey stop and take photographs of the panorama or the cottages down below. Deep breaths are required for the 199 steps but there are benches along the way. Or try the goat track that runs alongside the steps, but be warned you need to be like a mountain goat to reach the top. There is a tourist bus that travels around Whitby, it departs from the Harbour and you can get on and off wherever you wish and this will take you to the Abbey, if you don't fancy or can't make the 199 steps. St Marys church is lovely and worth a visit. The churchyard is very atmospheric and full of tombstones which have been weathered away as you would expect being at the top of a cliff. Years ago we attended a Church Service here and sat in the old boxed pews. The Abbey is in ruins and I must admit we have never got close up. There are lots of lovely walks around Whitby in all directions. If you feel energetic you can walk along the cliff on the Cleveland Way to Robin Hoods Bay, which is a very pretty spot. Less commercial and smaller than Whitby but be warned the walk down to the sea is very steep. Whitby has a varied selection of shops , on the East side lots of jewellery shops selling Whitby Jet pieces, lots of sweetie shops and plenty of places to buy ornaments paintings and photographs, plus some vintage clothes shops. On the West side Bothams the baker is worth a visit as the bread and cakes are lovely. In the back streets you will find some bric a brac shops but they are slowly disappearing and more Charity shops are appearing and Somerfield's is now a Poundland. A sign of the times sadly. Whitby does get very crowded so I would recommend wandering around early morning or early evening particularly on the East side where the streets are narrow and cobbled and it becomes a little challenging especially as the pavements are narrow. Whitby is full of character with small alleyways and passages to explore. On the East side the cottages are tall and narrow and tend to be 3 or 4 storeys high. Places to eat are plentiful and be prepared to queue if you want to visit the Magpie café which is definitely worth the wait. The queue starts early and they have had to form a waiting area on the other side of the road. Fabulous fish and chips, but I would not recommend their takeaway version. We tend to have dogs in tow , so usually try to find dog friendly places so haven't tried all the restaurants , but we have had lovely breakfasts at the cafés right on the end of the harbour ,one at the top of Grape Lane . Also try the cakes at Becketts on Skinner Street where they actively encourage dog owners and while you are scoffing the cake can browse the second hand books which are on sale. The staff are very warm and friendly and the atmosphere is very welcoming. Not open every day though unfortunately. Also I would recommend sharing the cake as the portions are very large. Places to stay are plentiful and there are masses of bed and breakfast establishments, cottages and apartments to rent and a couple of Hotels. We have stayed at the Royal which is the largest hotel and tends to cater for coach parties. We have stayed with family and so have sampled the entertainment on offer which includes bingo ballroom dancing and cabaret. Not normally my type of thing and better on some nights than others. The rooms vary but we had a sea view room the size of a ballroom. It needed refurbishing but we were out and about so wasn't an issue. The food was OK nothing to write home about. I am not selling the place but we did enjoy our stay with our family. We have stayed in various cottages all of which have been lovely, but now tend to favour the West side as negotiating the narrow cobbled streets to unload and load on the East side is rather stressful particularly with 2 dogs in tow . The Spa Theatre often features themed entertainment which includes 60's weekends where you will find Whitby full of ageing mods on their scooters. Dracula will take you around Whitby most evenings and starts his tour outside the Royal. Plus Whitby is now a mecca for Goths and runs a number of events during the year. Down by the harbour there are a couple of amusement arcades and some children's rides plus the Dracula experience. There are plenty of places to visit including Scarborough or further north you will find Staithes and Saltburn. We liked Saltburn as it has a lovely woodland park with an old railway running through and a vernacular lift to the top of the cliff, plus miles of beach. It has seen better days but we enjoyed the drive and our fish and chips plus a bracing walk. You can also take a trip on the Moorlander a steam train that will take you inland to Goathland and Pickering. It does serve lunch and dinner but based on our experience I would not recommend the food, however we did receive a full refund. It was a great shame but we paid nearly £100 for lunch for 2 and expected something special. Perhaps it was an off day! I would really recommend a visit to Whitby , you are at the mercy of our weather and if you do visit, be warned if it is misty and foggy , it tends to linger longer in Whitby - it must be the Dracula connection! We love Whitby and never tire of wandering round the streets, walking the beaches and coastal paths and tend to stay a few days or a week at a time. So five stars from me. 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Come into Play (Stone, Staffordshire)
by katygriff My sister in law first introduced me to come into play. With my daughter I find that when it is sunny outside I find so many things we can go and do to pass the time and have fun. Then when it is raining we feel stuck in the house so I was intrigued by this indoor play area. We arrived and the first thing I noticed is the cost is ... quite low. You pay for the children only so it cost me £3.50 for Lottie to go in. Then there is a huge area with chairs and tables and a cafe at one side. We went to the cafe first where they sell a range of drinks, sandwiches and hot food and a drink and sandwich with crisps cost me just under a fiver so not bad. The play area is huge. On the left is an area for slightly more grown up children although me and my friends took our babies with us and had fun there. Then on the right is the soft play area with a slide and tunnels and all sorts. The good thing about it is that you can go in too. So I was going through tunnels with Lottie and racing around. There are huge slides, ropes, swings, a massive area to run around, a gated area with basketball hoops and footballs and then a quiet area in the corner which is for drawing, dressing up and reading. We stayed for just over 3 hours and loved it. It feels perfectly safe there and there is a 2 lock system at the entrance so children cant just go and wonder outside. Then there is also a big car park and it is easy to find. The address is as follows; Whitebridge estate, Stone, ST15 8LQ. If you are having a rainy day and are bored it is the perfect place to go for your little ones. Lottie loves it and I have returned twice since with plans to go next week already. Enjoy. Kate 21 August - hi just a quick update for the review. Me and my sister went here last week and it's worth a mention that in the school holidays this place gets soooo busy! We still stayed an hour but it was mayhem so I would try early on in the day during the holidays. X Read the complete review |
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