Chatsworth -- Home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire

We visited Chatsworth, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. There were so many gorgeous rooms and we'll bore you to tears with all our pictures when we get home. I thought the girls would like to see party of the fancy shoes and dress display -- Pride and Prejudice was filmed here as was the Duchess.


One of many beautiful rooms.

So, the Duke met us at the window -- funny enough he wears Dockers just like Richard.....

The animals.... at Rosemere

The Buckley's home is called Rosemere. They have about 3 acres with lots of things to keep them busy -- including Tom the turkey.


And Holly -- one of three horses (Brig and Fudge being the other two). This is Elaine's grand-daughter Hannah with her horse.

And goosey goosey gander - where does she wander....

and about 20 chickens, some lay blue colored eggs.

The Buckleys of Buxton

Above is a picture of Elaine and Keith Buckley's home where we stayed for 3 days while they toured us around the country side. The left hand side was the original house and the right hand side the original barn. It's close to 200 years old.

They have, among other things like horses and chickens and ducks, -- a cattery where they board cats in posh enviorns -- even Cate's Harry would feel like a King.

The back yard view of the property.

Back of the house with a lovely conservatory.

Blackpool Post #2

And since we had one tram that was a boat, we must also have a train!

The entire boardwalk is lined with these marquees depicting everything from Alice in Wonderland to Noddy.

This is an alien space craft display..... there are different heads revolving in the top of each one.

Ah, buses!!

Blackpool

We finished up wandering around Derbyshire and then headed for Blackpool on the West coast. We arrived in time to see the "illuminations" as they call them. This was a Friday and so there were fireworks as well.
Blackpool has a Tower that they erected to have as an observation outlook.

Here's a tram car dressed up as a boat. It's hard to describe the bazaar scene of Blackpool, it's game arcades, cotton candy places, T-shirt and whatnot shops -- the sights and sounds of one big carnival and gloriously tacky. The street runs at least 3 miles long and all lit up.

Heeeeer's Mooky - Britian's favourite clown!

Hopewell Derbyshire

After our day in Gorton, it was time to meet up with my genealogy pen-pal Elaine and her husband Keith. They picked us up at our hotel in Manchester and we immediately took off touring the countryside. Our first stop was Hopewell and the Blue John stone quarry. The abandon castle is atop the town -- as you can see, very Norman in appearance.

Typical old English town -- lovely stone buildings all around.



Elaine and Richard walking up the street in Hopewell.

Everything is hundreds of years old -- this church dates back to the early 1500's. You can see that the pews had doors on them (no escapees!)

Gorton Manchester

Day two in Manchester takes us on a bus out to Gorton, the suburb of Manchester where Robert Tomkinson and Alice Coleshill lived and were married in 1909 at St. Phillip's church.

Altar of St. Phillip's Church of England, Gorton

The marriage of Robert & Alice is just the 5th entry in the church record book. The building was complete in 1909 and Alice and Robert were married in September 1909 and left for Canada the next day.

The organ at St. Phillip's church, Gorton

Side chapel at St. Phillip's church, Gorton.

The warden happened to be there when we were scouting about and invited us in and not only gave us a tour but dug out the first parish record book so that I could photo the marriage entry. The church is celebrating it's 100th year anniversary this year and they are trying to repair dry rot and generally improve the appearance of the church. They have a minister only every 4th Sunday. The congregation is about 80 when all are present but averages about 20 each Sunday. I would say it is in a general state of decline inside but their are many willing hands trying to restore it. The warden herself was interesting -- tank top on with tattoos up both and around her neck. Hmmmmm....