Sunday 28 April 2019

New life for pilgrimage route


The Two Saints Way, a 'pilgrimage' footpath through Staffordshire and Cheshire, has a new website.
Created only a few years ago, the route links Lichfield Cathedral to Chester Cathedral - by way of the historic Primitive Methodist Chapel at Englesea Brook.

In the background, you can see some rape fields - their custard-yellow crop is especially bright and prominent throughout the county this year

Sunday 21 April 2019

Water for the monks


Staffordshire has its own Buddhist monastery - the Wat Mahathat just outside King's Bromley - and monks come from Thailand to study here.
The institution priides itself on its openness and there are public gatherings and meditation sessions here.

Today, hundreds gathered on the site for the festival of Songkran, when water is poured over the hands of the monks by those attending.

Friday 19 April 2019

Mine in the hill


One of the entrances to the old Dale Mine - a 200 year old lead-& zinc-ore mine.  It lies in the wild Peak District; and faces the better known Ecton copper mines, which are on the hill on the other side of the river.
It is astonishing that it still survives so well.

Friday 12 April 2019

Book-knot in roof


As readers of this blog will know, I 'collect' sightings of the Stafford Knot, the symbol of the county.
This one is depicted inside (or on?) a book, and is among a number of symbols - which can all be found up in the roof-ceiling at Cheddleton Church.
But why is it depicted on/in a book?

Friday 5 April 2019

Remembrance for Christina


One of the most brutal murders remembered in this county is the rape & killing of Christina Collins by two men in 1839.
Her body was discovered in the canal at Rugeley; and so she is buried in the town, not far from where she was found, even though she was not from this area at all.

As her family was not rich, this, her gravestone, was paid for by strangers: local people disturbed and horrified by the "end of the unhappy woman".
Even to this day, people leave flowers so that crimes against women may not be forgot.