Wiltshire - Burbage

Tuesday 17th May

After an afternoon of trains, we went home with Cynthia and Tom to their charming house and garden in Burbage.

Garden fountain

Cynthia at home in the kitchen

A wren happily feeding

Poppy- so bright

The house across the road started its life in Shakespeare’s time, as did many of the thatched cottages there.

Thatchers are still in high demand as these roofs need constant maintenance, but provide good insulation and such an atmoshere.

Thatched cottage

Thatched cottage

Tycklepenny Cottage

Wednesday 18th May 2011

Crofton Pumping Station

Not far away is another remarkable piece of machinery, the Crofton Beam Engine. We went with Cynthia and Tom on a day when it was not pumping, but still very impressive. The Crofton Pumping Station is three stories high, with the beams at the top.

Crofton Pumping Station

Canal boat

Opening the lock by people power

From the Kennett and Avon booklet:-
"The Pumping Station is 6 miles South East of Marlborough. It was built in 1807 to provide water to the summit of the Kennett and Avon Canal.

It houses two magnificent Cornish steam-driven beam engines, one of which (the 1812 Boulton & Watt) is the oldest working beam engine in the world, still in its original engine house, still doing its original job."

Their restoration and maintenamce is carried out by, you guessed it, by a loyal band of enthusiastic volunteers.

Two coal fires

There are two boiler coal fires, each providing steam for its own huge piston.

Cynthia marvels at the size of one of the pistons.

These drive the beams which operate the pumps.

I can see the fascination of restoring these 19^th century giants to working order. The miracles of coal, steel and steam are the origins of industrialisation which led to our current standard of living and the debt we are now paying to our planet for the priviledges we enjoy.

Boulton and Watt 1812

Remember James Watt? Same one.

The canal and railway line from the 3rd floor beam room

The water flows from the pumps into the 'leat' then to the canal summit.

Working Windmill


On the way home to Cynthia’s we visited an old windmill, also restored and in working order. (One up for windpower!!). It’s sails are unfolded on special days, and it’s grain grinding power released.

Two sail designs

It has two sail designs for different settings.

Sails furled

Caravan

.

The nearby Gypsy-like caravan opens as a shop on Summer weekends....

....and the two brick pizza ovens produce delicious lunches from the freshly milled grain.

Pizza Ovens

What do you think James?

Oxfordshire - Didcot

Wed 18th May 2011

 Ben's Uncle Tom is a serious Railway Buff. He has his own Great Western Rail in a shed in the backyard.

Great Western Railway in the back shed

Many engines take different routes on a real GWR timetable.

Unloading a container

Containers are unloaded,

Waiting on the platform

and passengers are cared for.

Turntable

Engines change line or direction on the turntable,

Delivery trucks

while delivery trucks are busy.

Main Street

The main street is relaxed,

Tom's signal box

 and Tom is always ready to change the signal.

So you won't be surprised to find us in the Didcot Museum Railway Yard, which we entered on Tom's private key.

Tom's wife, Cynthia (Ben's cousin) is also an enthusiastic member of the Railway Museum which has restored many engines and railway artefacts.

Didcot Rail Museum

Down the line

Both Ben and I were very much at home among all these beautiful old engines.

Engine

There were little ones,

....in working order

and big ones and some surprises like "The Atmospheric Railway".

The signboard explained:-

"This 22" diameter cast iron pipe is a relic of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's flirtation with Atmospheric Traction on the South Devon Railway.

A vacuum was created in the pipe to draw the trains along.

It was not a success.

The large steam pumps at the end of the pipe could not keep the vacuum because air leaked in at so many places."

Very sad, but no doubt hardly a glitch in that amazing 19th Century engineer's career. I will soon show you his Sounding Arch in Maidenhead.

And on to the Transfer Shed with Tom and Cynthia..

Where two gauges meet

Wide gauge

Here the entire load of goods from each train would be transferred by hand from the wide gauge train to the narrow gauge.

New 'old' engine

We were both very impressed by the work done by all these volunteers to present such an exhibition.

Devon Glorious Devon

Saturday 14th May 2011

We rented a car in Oxford and drove into the country. I'll leave Ben to describe it.

Spring in Devon

The English countryside, rolling hills woods and farms -Hedgerows and
villages- was looking superb in all its Spring glory. Fresh and well
manicured! This is typical of the whole southern region from Kent to
Cornwall. It captures the soul and brings back fond memories for us
both.

Busy beach at Beer

This area of South Devon (Colyton) is rich in history and famous from Roman times.

The quarry at Beer supplied stone from that time forward for notable buildings Churches and Cathhedrals.














We stayed with Ben's cousin Elizabeth and her father, Ben's Uncle Ron. The whole family made us feel very welcome on their picturesque Devon farm, Barritshayes. This sketch of the farm house is by Elizabeth.

Barritshayes

The farm sits among the hills with its own white horse

See the horse?

Spring has brought iris and poppies

Iris

Poppies

More poppies

Family Dinner

We enjoyed family dinners with Elizabeth and Gordon,

Uncle Ron

with Uncle Ron

and Aunty Vi

Aunty Vi

We visited Seaton

Sailing dinghy at Seaton

The coast at Lyme Regis

and Lyme Regis

 - enjoying tea by the sea

Tea

Icthyosauris

We found it's giant fossils, in the shop, not in the famous limestone cliffs.

We drove down the narrow lanes.....

Happy travellers

.....waiting for cows to pass.

Slow cows

How good to be in England in Springtime.