White lady mystery

The ‘White Lady’ print has a central pride of place in this reception room in the old part of the county council buildings. 

The lady is clearly of the eighteenth century but – despite her prominence in this room -, no one is quite sure who she actually is.

I rather like these history-mysteries.  There are far more of them than people think.

Bishton colours

Bishton Hall, home to the Stafford Northcote family (and a Catholic prep school) - in its autumn colours

End of harvest times

The pub sign for the New Inns at Kiddemore Green induces a real feeling of relaxation - and a need for a cooling drink.  Especially at harvest time. 
Perhaps that's the point....
Or, that is to say, was the point.  The New Inns has gone the way of so many country pubs.  It has now closed.

Watching the street

It bothers me very greatly that surveillance cameras are now ubiquitous.

This is a back-street in a densely-housed area, yet, despite that, it seems that this this location has no choice but to be observed by this seeing-eye, Big Brother style. 

But maybe the people of Shelton welcome it.  I don't know.

Queen Vic in the flowers

More than 100 years after her death Queen Victoria still stands highest in Newcastle under Lyme.
Statues of royalty are in fact few and far between in North Staffordshire, though the area does celebrate many of its industrialists (and sportsmen) with public statues, as well as, of course, its war dead. So this image of Queen Victoria seems a bit of an anomaly really locally.

The municipal gardens in the virtual centre of the town are beautifully groomed. This year the theme is of the Peacock Butterfly.

Hot and unbothered at the water

In the heat, one just automatically heads to water.  This is why a nineteenth century reservoir and combined sewage treatment works (true) is now a popular day out for north Staffordshire families in the summer.
Like any large lake - artificial or not - there is a boating centre, but most people just come here simply to hang out. And, apart from having a cup of tea at the visitor centre at Tittesworth Reservoir, or stretching one's legs with casual walk around the shore, there really is nothing much else for non-boaters to do.
So, the water itself is the attraction.
Actually, it’s a pretty restful place.  One can see the attraction.

Girls in tablecloths

The venerable Abbots Bromley Girls School was one of the early institutions in this country to educate girls, and it has been independent for over 140 years.

The residents get a treat each year with the Jerusalem Heights aka Commemoration Day Procession, which sees the youngsters process from the school premises through the village along to the church.

The pupils walk not in order of age or year-group, but in order of height, and wear white veils fringed with light blue (unofficially referred to as "the tea-towels") which makes it all rather endearing.
It's not dramatic enough an event to draw tourists, but local residents do stand and smile, as well as parents.

The members of the school choir (see pictures) get to wear an additional ankle-length white veil (unofficially referred to as "tablecloths").  As they go, they wave banners and sing the hymn "Jerusalem my happy home".  

Slightly batty, but then so many English customs are!

UPDATE  Sadly, the school closed its gates for the last time in 2019, so there will be no more such processions

Battle marker

This rather unprepossessing marker shows the spot where the only significant batle of the Civil War took place in Staffordshire - the Battle of Hopton Heath. It's also in a rather undistinguished spot, as much of the site is covered by ugly Ministry Of Defence buildings.
Still, it was down to the effort of a concerted local campaign that this marker was finally erected and unveiled in March 2003, on the exact 360th anniversary of the battle.

As for the battle itself, both sides claimed victory.