Ancient field monument

The medieval Challinor Buttercross is one of those things that would normally be only found in a museum. Yet, here it is, just standing by itself, in an isolated field - though near to Cheddleton Railway Station.

I’m so glad that it hasn’t been carted off to a dusty municipal gallery. Yes, it is at risk of bad-weather and vandalism, but it’s wonderful that it’s just been left alone too.

A buttercross marked the spot where country people in years gone by would meet - to buy, sell and barter their goods. They often were the prelude to an established market-place.

Miniature railway

The North Staffs Model Engineering Club takes what it does extremely seriously. On the Brampton park at Newcastle, these men look after the miniature railway, which the kids love of course.

They can have a smile too though. This engine driver said to me “Do you want a ride on here? You’re not too old. Yet…”

World's ugliest stile!

Good grief. Is this the world’s ugliest stile?  Trouble is that it’s not the only one of this type in this area (Biddulph) – there must be half-a-dozen more of them.

Bloody horrible.

The weather is back to normal: grey skies again.

Jetty? Pier? Mooring?

I can't quite think what the purpose of this platform is, let alone what it is best described as (jetty? pier? mooring?).

It sits on the Staffs & Worcester canal at Acton Trussell, but is not near any house... Hmm.

I guess it could be a restful platform from which to watch the boats go by, but why didn't they just site the benches on the grass? Or is it a fishing-point?  It doesn't look strong enough for a mooring.

The leaning stones

There’s a huge problem in graveyards across this part of England: ancient standing gravestones are slowly collapsing and falling, and some people have been injured by them.

It’s a safety issue: and some authorities are insisting that all older standing stones be pulled up by the buried person’s descendants, and laid flat. I think that's a shame.

I’m not sure if these descendants in Upper Tean have cleverly forced this support under such a collapsing stone, or whether it’s got there, er, by accident. I think it’s probably deliberate.

The words on the stone say it holds Charlotte & John Travis. It's dated late nineteenth century.

Old post box - new use...

I just love this. Whoever bought the old post office building in Totmonslow to convert it into a private home decided not to break off all connections with the building’s former use.

The old post-box is cleverly re-used as a private letter-box. After all, that arrangement is bound to work well too!

Cyclist sun tan

It’s the warmest ever start to October, they say.  Naturally, we are all soaking up what the sun has to offer, even though it didn’t seem right to be getting a tan this late in the year.

And some of us just kept on cycling like it would be summer forever anyway.

Link: BBC Weather predicts hot October

Venerable old hall

I guess Keele Hall is a welcoming sight for the fresh-faced new students at Keele University as they turn up for their first week. I suppose it might remind them that a university education has been prized as something precious for many centuries.

However, actually, the university itself is a modern one, founded in 1951, so the rest of the university's buildings are the usual concrete stuff. This old mansion is simply the centre of the former landed estate, which was taken over by the education authorities in the 1940s. The hall is used for some teaching rooms though.

Still, it’s nice for those students to have something old and venerable around, something that is different to the concrete and glass on the rest of the campus.

Chestnuts & Conkers

As we’ve noticed already this month, there is more than enough fruit on trees this year. This chestnut tree is simply loaded.

And of course, all the kids (well, boys mostly) are scurrying about collecting the zillions of horse-chestnuts (aka conkers) that have fallen, preparing them for playground contests to come.

The annual Conker Fighting Festival at the Red Lion pub in Boundary (near Cheadle) falls on October 16th this year. It's a event when fierce rivalries surface...

Sandals & socks

Sandals and socks are a fashion mis-statement, I’m told, but this chap doesn’t seem to care. Why should he? He just wants to read his paper in the unexpected late September heat.