Five at Trentham

We popped to Trentham Gardens early this morning to renew our yearly passes before the queues started to build up at the reception desks.  Afterwards we went for a stroll around the lake and had morning coffee in the gardens.

We saw loads of butterflies, bees and dragonflies buzzing around the flower beds. Also swallows flitting over the lake.

Here are five of the things we saw as we wandered around.

 Female black swan with her three cygnets.

 Gorgeous butterflies

 Bright and colourful summer flowers

Sunflowers and Red Hot Pokers.

Delicate wild flowers

These were buzzing with insects and blue damselflies, all impossible to catch on camera of course.

We also found a new 'mermaid' fairy in one of the fountain ponds.  There are one or two new fairies to be found in the gardens and several little ones with wings attached seeking them out.

It was lovely to be out in the fresh air.

Lanchester

I'm still back at the end of June and catching up with posts on our visit to the North East. 

On our way to Beamish Museum we diverted  from the route via Chester-le-Street because there was a big international cricket match there.  As we drove towards Beamish via Stanley we realised we would pass through the village of Lanchester.  I'd recently been doing some family history research for a friend and some of her 19th century ancestors had left the copper mines of Devon and Cornwall and travelled to County Durham to find mining work at places like Kyo and Tansfield which were then in the Parish of Lanchester.

We decided to stop and have a quick look around. 

We crossed the main road from the village centre with the intention of taking just one or two photos but the church was open so we couldn't resist popping inside.

Inside people were very friendly and a lovely man took us around the church and pointed out some interesting features.  He even popped into the vestry to look up the names I'd been researching.

All Saints church dates from the mid 12th century and probably replaced an earlier Saxon church.  Lots of the stones used for building came from the nearby Roman fort,  Some of the pillars in the North aisle are from the fort too.   The alter rail is Jacobean.

The pews were made in the late 1930s by Robert Thompson, the mouse man of Kilburn.

I managed to spot a mouse!

The font was made of Frosterley marble.

Stone in the doorway of the South porch with medieval cross carved into it.  There was a cross each side of the ancient door.

In the porch were many remains from the Roman fort including the altar above.

Above and below a couple of street views. 

I thought it was a charming village with a few shops and restaurants along the main street.

The library used to be part of the old Lanchester workhouse.  When we were walking back to the car park we spotted what looked to be a lovely restaurant.  We decided it looked suitable for a meal for a birthday treat (not mine) on the way back to the hotel from Beamish Museum.

It was a wonderful experience.  The restaurant seemed very popular with all age groups, the staff were very professional and attentive and the food was so good.  We shared a large pizza which was served with a tasty, dressed salad.  As it was a special day we had a desert each too. 

Aboard the Trincomalee

I'm taking you back to the twenty seventh of June and our few days away in the North East.  It seems such a long time ago and yet it is only a month since our visit.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool houses the HMS Trincomalee as well as an historic seaport and the Museum of Hartlepool.

The Trincomalee is the oldest warship still afloat in Europe.

The ship was commissioned in 1812 and building began in 1816 by the Wadia family in then Bombay, India.

It was built in teak rather than oak.  The stock of English oak had been depleted by shipbuilding during the Napoleonic Wars.

View of the ship from the cafe window.  We stopped for a quick, late lunch before looking around both ship and quayside.

The Captain's Table

Life aboard ship for the ordinary sailors.

 The sleeping quarters

Cannons and wadding

The ship's wheel

Along the quayside were various recreated shops and offices all relating to everyday life on a typical port of the late 18th century.

You could wander into all the different houses, businesses and shops.

All the guides were wearing 18th century costume which added to the atmosphere.

I loved the shop fronts the one above was a maker of wax figures of 'Celebrated characters in all stations of Life'.

The shops above were those of a Swordsmith and a Naval Tailors, let's look inside.

Being measured for a naval uniform at Lascelles and Godfrey established 1761.

Making a sword at Jeremiah Vendon and son.

In the ale house two candidates ripe for being press-ganged into service.

In his sumptuous home the Captain is looked after by his man servant.

Whilst his family play in another room.

Above some of the notices around the quayside offering a variety of goods and services.

Also on site is the Museum of Hartlepool which is well worth visitng whilst you are there.

July Garden

We've been spending lots of time at home working and sitting in the garden until it started to get too hot during the day.  Evenings have been wonderful.  We've been sitting outside watching the sun go down, watching the last birds and butterflies flying across the garden and swifts soaring overhead.  I did try to take photos but most of the photos I took have been like the one below.  Nice clouds though and blue skies.

As it gets darker the foxes appear, three cubs rolling and chasing at the top of the garden one eye on each other and one on us.  

After ten o'clock moths appear then bats flit about.  We never stay out late enough to see the badgers although a couple of weeks ago we heard them snuffling under the bedroom window and snook downstairs, I saw one of them really close up, there were four of them rooting around.  I was so thrilled to see a live badger as I've only ever seen them stuffed in museums or squished on the road.

Below are a few photos of flowers in the garden 

Asparagus Pea.

 Red Bergamot - just coming into flower.

Soon to be pink echinacia

Golden Hop

Hardy Geranium - Ann Folkard

Houttuynia

Lemon Scented Geranium

Leucanthemum? Perhaps?

They have been there since we came here over twenty years ago.

Not sure what this flower is - looks a bit like a fried egg from a distance.

Verbena Bonariensis - the bees and butterflies love this.

Sweet Peas

This time last week we had just one flower now I need to go out and pick a few for the house.

Bistort

Nasturtium

Hypericum

 Last but not least the pink rose has loved the warm weather.

I've never seen so many flowers on this bush which has also been in the garden since we first moved here.