Oldbury Cameos

Another walk around Oldbury yesterday centred on the very impressive electricity station and surrounding buildings and their security measures.

David and Francoise at Stretham

A really fun afternoon yesterday with David and Francoise at Stretham Pumping Station. Their costumes were amazing and, despite the very cold conditions, they managed to look relaxed and fully engaged for our various scenarios.

Granville Country Park, Shropshire

 Granville is a large and wildlife-diverse nature reserve. Nature is reclaiming it after centuries of industrial activity, which finally ceased when Granville, the last deep mine in the county, closed down in 1979, bringing to an end more than 700 years of coal mining in the area. The trees looked magical in the shifting light yesterday.

Edme Factory and Station at Mistley

EDME has been based on the same site in Mistley since  the late 19th century. Originally called The Condensed Wort and Brewer’s Meal Company, the business was renamed The English Diastatic Malt Extract Company in 1884, a mouthful that was eventually shortened to EDME Ltd in 1897. EDME has been a cornerstone of the community for over a century; some employees have family involvement in the company going back many generations. 

Mistley Station was opened by the Eastern Union Railway in 1854 and the brick-built two-storey Italianate station building  is Grade II listed.

Great Yarmouth - Gas Holder and Naval College

I noticed the gas holder on the skyline when walking on the beach so, on Sunday morning, we walked along to the Barrack Road Gasometer. No longer used but a Grade II listed building rebuilt here from a previous location in 1885. It has an external circular frame supported by columns which allowed the enclosed gas container to rise and fall on a floating water reservoir. We had been told about the Naval Hospital and ventured through the gates to have a look. We were greeted by a resident who gave us lots of details about the building and allowed us to take some photos - it is only open to the public generally on Heritage days. It is a Grade II* listed building completed in 1811. It was commissioned by the Admiralty to care for the sick and wounded of the Royal Navy's North Sea Fleet in its battles with the Napoleonic French Navy. It has also been used by the Army as a barracks and hospital, and has taken in casualties from the Battle of Waterloo and the Indian Mutiny. From 1863, the Hospital treated Royal Navy servicemen suffering from mental illness.In 1958, it became an NHS psychiatric hospital (St Nicholas Hospital) before closure in 1993 and sale for private development as houses and apartments.