BRADFORD ON AVON

Being one of my favourite places that I have ever visited. I have stayed in Bradford on Avon in 1989, 1990 & nearby on several other occasions since. Here are some of the many pictures taken.

Old Saxon Church

1989. This is the Round House Bed & Breakfast were I was booked in to stay at, but when I got there the building work had not been finished. Peter & Priscilla my hosts have notified me advance it would be touch & go. So I was taken next door to Ivy Cottage which they were renting. My room was massive, it nearly took all of the 1st floor. After a great week there I headed off to Weymouth, saying to Peter & Priscilla, I would come next year to see the finished house.

1990. No scaffolding, it must be done. Yes it was ! It had now been renamed Bradford Old Windmill, to reflect it's past use. Everything had been done to a very high standard & I enjoyed my week of luxury. As well as the round rooms, one bedroom had a water bed, something new at that time !

From the bridge, it does not look very high up on the hill side, but it is. So one day I decided to walk up that hill, taking photos as I went. 

It's on the level at the moment, but just you wait a moment.

Nearly there, just turn right, were the car is.

Made it. Phew ! Priscilla was there with a nice cool drink, Thanks !

Priscilla & Peter 

View from the gardens

14th Century stone Tithe Barn, it's 168ft. long. (51 metres)

Three pictures taken in 2010, after I had called in on Priscilla & Peter.

Kingston Mill, now being converted in luxury apartments. 

But were has the clock gone from the corner of the building?   

    It has been taken down, because it had been neglected & 

it had to go. Shame on them ! 

If you would like to stay with Peter & Priscilla here is their web site.

http://www.bradfordoldwindmill.co.uk/home.htm

MATLOCK FROM ON HIGH

This 2002 photo of Matlock was taken from the public footpath in front of Riber Castle & I always said I would go back & re-take this shot on a better day. So this September, eleven years later, on a Sunday morning I said Matlock, so off I went. The sky wasn't perfect, but it was a sunny day. 

Riber Castle from the park in Matlock taken in May 2002. The Castle had been a shell since the 1950's, but from 1960 to 2000 the ruin was a fauna reserve and wildlife park. 

It's still not a perfect picture, at least it's better than my 1st attempt. Now armed with a zoom lens distance is no problem.

Matlock Town's football ground. You could watch the whole match from up here for free with a good pair of binoculars.

The award winning Victorian Hall Leys Park from Riber Castle

The Hydro on Matlock Bank, was built by John Smedley, a Victorian mill owner, philanthropist & builder of Riber Castle. The Hydro offered a world famous water cure until it closed in the 1950s. Today it's the headquarters of Derbyshire County Council. 

The Castle is now being converted into apartments, which has been a slow process since 2009. So if you have 3/4's of a million pounds (sterling) to spare, you can buy one of the Towers !

If you wish to see Matlock from this view point, Can I ask you, please if you going by car, to be courteous were you park, as there are very few places to park in the village. So if you can park before the village, it's only a short walk by the cottages & up the hill via the footpath to this point.

Update 5.11.16

I revisited Riber Castle & Matlock in October of this year, so I have added these three photos to the post. 

Hopefully this one is spot on ! The autumn colours of the trees are just starting to taking place.

There's a lay-by just to the left of the gatehouse where you can see this view of the castle, strangely I had not been down the road to this point before. 

View of the castle from Matlock Archives, taken with the zoom lens of a compact camera, hence it being not very good quality. With the look of it, it shouldn't be too long now that folk will be living in the castle !

If you would like to read more about Riber Castle, I have added 3 links.

http://www.derbyshirelife.co.uk/out-about/places/riber_castle_8211_life_at_the_top_1_1648101

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/riber-castle-matlock-derbyshire.t71302

http://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/mag/reflections/riber_asaschool.htm