St Anne

Ambergate's parish church.

Cromford canal

A bridge on the Cromford canal in Ambergate.

Ambergate

The Derbyshire village of Ambergate is located where the river Amber joins the Derwent.

Canal towpath, the canal is on the right!

Information
County:	Derbyshire
District:	Amber Valley
Population:	5,013 (2011 census)

The village was originally a tiny hamlet known as Toadmoor until the 19th century, derived from "T'owd moor" in the local dialect. Amber Gate was originally the name given to a toll gate on the Nottingham Road, the railway station which opened in 1840 was called Ambergate. These new transport links and the growth of industry helped the village grow from a population of 206 in 1851 to 1,794 a century later. The parish church dedicated to St Anne was built in 1792.

Another transport link through Ambergate was the Cromford Canal. Nowadays the canal is unnavigable through Ambergate and indeed drains to a trickle in the village. The A6 road passes through the village.

Ambergate was once an important transport interchange. The railway station was a triangular one with lines to Leeds and Pye Bridge as well as the sole remaining line (and single platform) to Matlock.

In latter years Ambergate became known for pioneering telephone technology. The first electronic telephone exchange in Europe was in Ambergate, later it had the first TXE2 exchange, which for a long time was a backbone of the British telephone system.

House on the A6

The Peacock

Pub in Long Buckby.

Old tow

Vintage towing lorry spotted near Long Buckby.

Long Buckby castle

Now just the earthworks remain.

St Lawrence

Long Buckby's parish church.

Long Buckby

Long Buckby is a village in the west of Northamptonshire.

Village sign

Information
County:	Northamptonshire
District:	West Northamptonshire
Population:	4303

Long Buckby has a history dating back to the Danelaw, in the Domesday Book it is listed as Buchebei. The origin of the name is unknown though may be derived from Bucca's Farm. The Normans built a castle in the village in the 12th century, the only trace remaining being earthworks and a ditch. Also dating from the 12th century is the parish church dedicated to St Lawrence.

Long Buckby became a centre for the wool industry and later shoemaking. Near to the village is the hamlet of Long Buckby Wharf where the Grand Union Canal flows and was a great spur to industry in the 19th century.

Nowadays the village's workers mostly commute elsewhere. Long Buckby railway station is a stop on the West Coast Main Line.

Long Buckby fire station

Preeshenlle United Reformed Church

Another church in Gobowen.

Old sign

A sign well overdue for replacement.

All Saints

All Saints Church in Gobowen.

The Cross Foxes

A pub in Gobowen.

Gobowen

Gobowen is a village in the far North West of Shropshire and on the Welsh border, near to Oswestry.

Gobowen

Information
County:	Shropshire
District:	Selattyn & Gobowen
Population:	3270 (2011 census)

The village grew up around a Norman motte and bailey castle and was originally called Bryn-y-Castell (Castle Hill). The village name was changed to Gobowen, which is possibly derived from the old Welsh for Owen's mine (gob).

The catalyst for Gobowen's growth were the railways in the 19th century. The Shrewsbury and Chester Railway wanted to build it's route through Oswestry but were denied permission to head through the town, so instead they built the line through Gobowen, the station opening in 1848.

Gobowen's main church, All Saints, was opened in 1928. Originally it was a daughter church of a parish church in nearby Hengoed, though in 1981 All Saints became the parish church. Preeshenlle United Reformed Church was built on the Eastern edge of the site of the castle.

Gobowen railway station

Fields of green

A field next to the village.

Book box

An old telephone box, though these days contains books not a phone.

Drive carefully

No joy riders please.

St Mary the Virgin

The Bearley parish church. Of all the churches i have visited in the shires this is one of my favourites.

Bearley

Bearley is a village in Warwickshire about eight kilometres North of Stratford-upon-Avon. The land around Bearley is mostly farmland, including a vineyard. Bearley has a small amount of light industry and retail but most people will work elsewhere in surrounding towns and cities.

Timber framed house near the church

Information
County:	Warwickshire
District:	Stratford-upon-Avon
Population:	724 (2011 census)

Bearley was recorded in the Domesday Book as Burlei, the name is derived from the Old English for a woodland clearing near a fortified place. The oldest building in the village is the church dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, parts of the nave dates from the 12th century including a blocked doorway and the chancel from the 13th. However, the church was largely rebuilt in more recent times with extensions and remodelling in the early 19th century.

Near Bearley is the Edstone Aqueduct of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. This is the longest aqueduct in England and crosses the North Warwickshire railway line. Bearley's railway station is on the Leamington-Stratford Line.

Bus shelter in Bearley

Signalbox

Somewhat newer than the Victorian architecture seen earlier this week is Harrogate signalbox.

Retail therapy

Victorian style shopping in Harrogate. Apart from the motor taxis of course.

Harrogate railway station

Various bridges cross the tracks.

Fine buildings

Harrogate has no shortage of examples of fine Victorian (and later) architecture as is usual with a spa town.

Harrogate

Harrogate is a spa town and administrative centre in North Yorkshire.

Down the street in Harrogate

Information
County:	North Yorkshire
District:	Harrogate
Population:	73, 576 (2011 census)

Harrogate has Medieval origins, the name may be derived from Harlowgate, the way to Harlow. Or it could be derived from old Norse. Harrogate began to grow after the discovery of spring water in the 16th century. Visitors soon flocked to the town to sample the spring waters. Like other spa towns, Harrogate saw a great deal of expansion and civic building during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Harrogate declined in popularity during the Interwar period, however during the Second World War the large hotels in Harrogate were able to accommodate civil servants evacuated from London. Harrogate is now a prosperous town though many inhabitants work in towns and cities elsewhere such as Leeds.

Harrogate is served by Harrogate railway station which opened in 1862.

Queen Victoria monument