Kettlewell - St. Mary's Church

The church built in 1885 was one of a series - the first church on this site originated in 1120.

What I have always found unusual here are the types of gravestones - normal slabs cut by a mason but also lumps of rock cut out of the hillside and a plaque attached . Cheapness perhaps or a fashion statement / local custom ?? Anyone know ??

It is certainly a peaceful setting.

Very pretty area ...

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Slow Slow Slow .....

Downloading my blogs seems to be getting longer and longer - so a few amendments and deletion of widgets ...

Let's hope there is a speed improvement !!!

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Kettlewell - River Wharfe

The valleys of this region are known as "Dales" hence the name Yorkshire Dales.

From the old Norse word "Dalr"

Kettlewell lies in Wharfedale ...

Named after the River Wharfe which flows through the dale ... Seen here above. Looking quite tranquil for a change .

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Kettlewell - Cam Gill Beck

The word "Beck" is of Middle English origin and originates from the old Norse "Bekkr".

It is used in northern parts of England to mean brook or mountain stream.

Here Cam Gill Beck flows gently through Kettlewell to merge into the River Wharfe.

Not always a gentle stream it can be a raging torrent during heavy rain ..

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Kettlewell - Kings Head

Kettlewell's third pub can be found around the back streets - the Kings Head with it's distinctive black and white exterior.

Somewhere to stop on a hot day and quench your thirst ...

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Kettlewell - Village Store

No large supermarkets in Kettlewell - just a village store to provide all your needs ..

Yes the assistants at the door are scarecrows !!

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Kettlewell - Blue Bell Inn

Kettlewell has three pubs - here is one of the them the Blue Bell Inn.

To be found situated in the centre of the village ..

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Football - Premier League

Well this weekend with the start of the 2009/2010 Premier League has been waited by many with great expectation and hope ...

The Merseyside teams were well beaten = Liverpool lost 2-1 to Tottenham and Everton crashed out 6-1 to Arsenal.

Both Manchester teams had success - United with a Wayne Rooney goal beat Birmingham 1-0 while City the big big spenders this year beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 with goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland.

Burnley another Lancashire team newly promoted to the Premier League lost 2-0 to Stoke and I'm afraid their stay in this division may be a short one.

No doubt the newspapers tomorrow will be full of advice and predictions ...

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Kettlewell - Winding road ...

This winding road leads around the back streets of Kettlewell and takes us up to the church - typical houses of the region ..

All very quiet ... !!

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Stamford - Back alley ..

This back alley or entry as it is called where I lived is brightened up by the colourful display of flowers ...

Very pretty ...

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Stamford - Pub

Back to Stamford for a few pictures -

And another pub !

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Kettlewell - Busy centre ..

Here the busy little centre of Kettlewell with it's pubs and cafes .

Looking quaint and sleepy this village was 150 years ago a centre of lead mining - this industry has long gone but there are still traces of the miners activity on the moors and hills that surround the village.

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Manchester - Shambles

Back to Manchester for my next photo - the old Shambles .

These very old black and white timber buildings were jacked up and moved to this present location a few years back ..

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Kettlewell - Scarecrow Festival - More !!!

More scarecrow pictures from Kettlewell.

Dancing around the Maypole .. !!

Time to get wed .. !!

Swine flu control centre .. !!

Tug of war .. !!

Need a fireman .. !!

Plus many many more around the village ....

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Kettlewell - Scarecrow Festival

Kettlewell is about 60 miles from Manchester yet it is a different world - set in Wharfedale in the rolling hills and valleys of the Yorkshire Dales.

Every year since 1994 in order to raise funds for the local community a Scarecrow Festival has been held with a 100 plus scarecrows on display around the village.

This certainly attracts the tourists - today the first day of the Festival attracted quite a large crowd. I'm certainly glad I was there early morning at 9 a.m.

Here are a few of the displays you'll find ..

Busy gardening ... !!

House husband ... !!

Not sure .. !!

Racehorse and jockey .. !!

You'll find lots of information on Kettlewell at www.kettlewell.info

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Manchester - Urbis & Printworks ..

Another Manchester street scene - centre is the Printworks and to the left the Urbis.

I went in the Urbis just after it had opened and was rather disappointed that the " hands on " displays did not always work - perhaps things have changed !!

The old Printworks were what the name suggests - this is where Manchester's newspapers were printed - now a collection of bars and restaurants ..

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Manchester - High in the sky ...

Viewed from the rear of the Urbis centre is Manchester's answer to the London Eye. I'm afraid I for one will not be taking a trip up this wheel .. far to high for my liking.

Good views I would imagine ...

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Manchester - View

Looking towards St. Ann's Square - the Exchange with it's theatre on the left side and Beetham Tower in the far distance.

A smarter part of the city centre ...

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Manchester - Modern shops

You'll need some cash if you shop around here - very expensive - well for the likes of us poor pensioners !

This area was redeveloped after the IRA bomb caused so much damage in the city centre.

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Manchester - Old and New ......

The modern edifice of Harvey Nichols rises in the distance above the centuries old Manchester Cathedral.

Old and new ..... !!!

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