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.

Gargoyles' holiday

People are gearing up for the Halloween weekend. Even I have lots of invitations to ghoul-style parties and ghost walks.
Apparently Halloween, after being virtually a non-starter as a festival twenty years ago (on British shores) is now the third biggest holiday-excuse here - after Christmas and Easter.

Gargoyles, like these on St Edwards Church in Leek, will get the shivery recognition they crave over the next few days...

Gi-normous fungus

This fungus is huge – as big as a man’s head. I haven’t seen one as big as this for a while.

But what really impresses me is that it is growing on a tree in a residential road where every child in the district has resisted the temptation to reach up and pick it off!

Last of the summer

Birds strut across these stubble-fields in Hopwas getting the last of the seeds after the crop has been cut & baled. The sight is another symbol of the passing of summer.

I like the way the crop has been baled. The piles looked like mini-battlements, and ran in a line for half-a-mile. Perhaps the farmer had a sense of the dramatic.

Ipstones pomp

James Cope must have been quite a figure in the tiny Moorlands village of Ipstones during his lifetime.

This grand tomb memorial was built for his two wives (who both died before him), and then he was interred at this spot too, when he died in 1910.

I guess his family (or was it on his own posthumous orders?) then had the bust of James himself stuck on top.

It doesn't quite work, does it? Bit too pompous for modern tastes.

Bavaria in Staffordshire

This view could be one taken in Bavaria, or even the Czech Republic - but no, this is good old Staffordshire. I like taking visitors along the now-disused Alton railway line, and when I say "hey - look up at that!", they look up and - as they see this sight - their eyes widen...

Alton Castle - a neo-Gothic romance built in the 19th century - is owned by the Catholic Church, and is now private offices, so you can't go into it, though you can get close to it from the driveway in Alton village.

Quite a view, this one, aint it?

Spiky nature

Gailey Reservoir - the reeds have a spiky appearance.