Wells-Next-the-Sea, Norfolk, Part 2

I can't believe that it is over 2 months since I posted, so many reasons which I will not bore you with. Maybe blog posting for 11 years and Facebook and Instagram has got something to do with it!

I love Wells-Next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk Coast. It has the history of the ships that brought their wares to the warehouses,

an interesting seaside town

the old fishing boat that is now a seafood cafe

the fishing boats

the channels that have to be dredged 

the massive golden sands when the tide is out

with calm channels to swim in

and the basking seals to admire.
Can't believe that this was a year ago this month.
Still more to come on this area - hope you enjoyed.

Hebden Bridge on the Pennine Way in Yorkshire

Taking you to Hebden Bridge today. This town sits on The Pennine Way The Pennine Way was the first, and is probably now the best-known of all the UK’s National Trails. This long-distance footpath begins in the heart of England, the Peak District, and weaves its way north through the Yorkshire Dales, the Cheviots and onwards to the border with Scotland, forming what is often described as the "spine" of England.

Being born and bred in Lancashire this was a well known place to me in my teenage years.

The town developed in late medieval times as a river crossing and meeting point of pack horse routes.

Textiles have always been important in the area for centuries, but it was not until mechanisation and steam power were introduced from the late 18th century, that Hebden Bridge began to grow significantly.

The arrival of the canal and railway attracted industry to the valley bottoms, but with limited flat land and a growing army of textile workers, dwellings were ingeniously built on the valley sides, giving the town it's characteristic "double decker" housing.  

Local bus stop

There are foot paths with signs like these all across England and when walking on them I have always thought of the generations of folk that have walked on them for centuries, especially when these were the main routes across the countryside.

A dry stone wall falling down - very unusual

The sign Haworth seen here is the town where The Bronte sisters lived

So another virtual walk thanks to son Peter

Wymondham, Norfolk, Part 2

In winding up my current postings on Norfolk and the second part of Wymondham I'll begin with the Abbey

Wymondham Abbey is the town's Parish Church

It is called and Abbey as the present church was once attached to a monastery founded in 1107 byWilliam d'Aubigny, the royal butler.

The east end of the church (now ruined) was where the monks worshipped.

Some of the restoration work currently taking place   

It is partly in ruins because in 1538 King Henry VIII

closed the monastery. The monk's church and living quarters were gradually dismantled and the materials sold off.  

Certainly a work in progress

The central nave still has it's original round Norman arches built of stone from Caen in France.

During the 1400s the roof was raised and the north aisle rebuilt and enlarged. The bell towers were re-built with one at the east (for the monks) and one at the west for the parish. 

The great organ was installed in 1793

and the gilded screen behind the main alter was added in the last century as a memorial to the people killed in the Great War of 1914-18.

It was Harvest time when we were there. Not something you see much of these days

Now onto something very different

The historic railway station, no longer in use was built in 1845 on the Norwich to Ely line. The station and it's section once employed over 100 staff,

providing a frequent rail link with Norwich, London, Cambridge, the Midlands and the North West.

The award winning station has now been restored and it's buildings house a restaurant and tea room. 

Interesting how it has been fitted out as a reminder of the trains of bygone days

There is of course a modern railway line now close to here.

Well we did not stop to snack as we had quite a long and steep walk back to the market place and preferred to wait until

we arrived back at the Market Place

where we sat outside at the Mad Hatters Tea Shop

before resuming our journey home.

Hard to think now that this was back in October when it was sunny and warm for the time of year.

Since then we have experienced the wettest Winter on record.

At least we can be thankful that we did not experience the devastating flooding that parts of the country did.