A few views around Wingfield Manor

The clocks went  back this weekend so we set off at 0:700 am. It was Ikes turn this week and we went up to have a look around the footpaths through Wingfield Manor. It used to be open to the public years ago and i have been there with my mum & dad and later with my kids. Unfortunately these days its by appointment only and on the first Saturday of the month through the summer. Geoff had planned a walk around the Mamor and we parked in a layby right next to the old entrance up to the farm.

First view of Wingfield Manor

Wingfield Manor was built around 1450 for Ralph de Cromwell, 3rd Baron Cromwell, then Chancellor of England, on the site of a 12th-century castle and was bought by the second Earl of Shrewsbury. The design was the inspiration for Hampton Court Palace in London.For full history have a look athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingfield_Manor

Wingfield Hall on the right

View from the track

Lovely autumn colours

Rob

Rob & Ike inside the old tin shed

View inside the Tithe Barn through a hole in the wall

I think its a while since this moved.

View from the top of the track

Ike & Rob

New house being built

Are these mushrooms?

Geoff

All of us

2  Robs

Ike at the entrance to an old Quarry where it is said the weapons for the Pentrich revolution were stored.

Rob

Another view of that new build

Wingfield Manor

Crich Memorial Tower

Ike & Geoff

Rob

Black & White treatment for this scene.

Wingfield Manor

Breakfast time under an oak tree

Holly berries

This is the base of an old tree

Is this a Derbyshire Panda

Geoff wading through the water.

Nice little plant

Geaff

Remains of an old Lime Kiln at Park Head

Marker stone at the junction ot the main road and a bridleway

Rob & Ike heading back to the car.

 This was a lovely walk in an area we hadn't been to and very enjoyable. Even Geoff hadn't been around part of this route.
See you next week.

Black Rocks & Bole Hill

Geoff had his daughter Sally & partner staying with him this week so there were 6 of us this week in 2 cars, Robs & Geoff's. We just went somewhere local off to Black Rocks and a circular route around Cromford Moor. We parked beside the cemetery just alongside the Black Rocks car park and set off in a clockwise direction.

This weeks route around Cromford Moor

Old Nissan hut

Willersley Castle built for Sir Richard Arkwright but he died before it was completed. In 1791, when the building was approaching completion, a fire broke out and severe damage was caused to part of the interior of the castle. Although the damage was repaired, Arkwright died in 1792 before the building was completed. In 1796 his son, Richard Arkwright junior, moved into it with his family, and the Arkwright family lived there until 1922..The estate was bought in 1927 by a group of Methodist businessmen, and in 1928 it opened as a Methodist Guild holiday centre..Between 1940 and 1946, i.e. during World War II, it served as a maternity hospital run by the Salvation Army, having moved out of East London.Today it operates as a Christian Guild Hotel.

Geoff stripping off

Brian Ike & Rob

Sally

Sheep Pasture Engine House

Geoff & Sally

The Sheep Pasture Incline runs from Junction beyond Cromford to Black Rocks, and has a gradient of 1 in 9. It is hard to imagine trains lumbering up this hill, but they were pulled by means of a cable winch from the engine house at the top. Looking down

Looking up towards the engine house

Remains of an old derrick crane

Sally

Weird branch on this tree

Where the trail passes under the Sheep Pasture incline

God rays in mono

God rays given a bit of treatment to look like a sunrise.

Sally

Crich Memorial tower across the valley

Ike, Brian, Geoff, Sally & Rob

Lovely little cottage with its minder sitting on the wall

An impressive doorway

Breakfast time  at the zoo

Billy

The kids

Feeding time

Quaint cottages

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Very patriotic 

Spitfire weather vane

Elf weather vane

Old quarry face across the valley

Middleton Top Engine House

This was a nice walk with some pleasant company, just over 5 miles with a steep section rising over 350 feet. It was still quite dark when we arrived hence the lack of early pics. It soon warmed up and made a really enjoyable walk.
See you next week