Roadtrip to Manchester - April 2025
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| Roadtrip to Manchester - April 2025 | |
| Our week-long roadtrip was going all the way to Edinburgh, but we also had a stop in Manchester. We drove 341 km in 6 hours and 20 minutes driving. Avg speed 53.8 km/h. We drove across the bridge into Wales and then through Chepstow along the Wye Valley road to Monmouth and then up the A49 to Delamere. This is not the fastest route to Manchester as the M5 and M6 are pretty direct, but this is the road Rob's family took when they went down to this part of the world to visit a boxer (dog) breeder they were friends with (see the page about the Chepstow/Forest of Dean camping trip). It was interesting to see how much has (not?) changed in the 50 years or so since then. It was also a chance to stop and visit some of the places that they had just driven through in the past as usually there was a certain rush to get there or back - sometimes with a box full of puppies in the back of the car! | |
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| The first stop on our way north was in Hereford, mainly because it was time for a tea break. We parked Percy at a handy car park at the edge of town and walked around for a bit. We found this lovely bridge across the River Wye. Rob enjoyed the calm view and time to reflect and pose for the camera. | |
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| A few steps away we found a cozy restaurant called De Koffie Pot. The interior was rustic with lots of fun decorative items on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. We treated ourselves to a cup of tea and some toast. It was time for Elevenses, after all. | |
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| In a small backstreet we found this plaque marking the house where Nell Gwynne was born in 1650. It indicated that she founded the Chelsea Hospital and that she was the mother of the first Duke of St Albans. They didn't mention that she is best known for being a longtime mistress of King Charles II. I suppose one doesn't share that on a brass plaque on a wall for all to see. | |
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We wanted to also go see the Hereford Cathedral.
They started building it in 1079.
It is famous for having the largest library
of chained books in the world
with about 1,500 books.
- the most famous one being
Mappa Mundi: a medieval
map of the world created
around 1300.
I guess there was quite a bit of book theft from libraries back then - seeing there was a need to chain the books to the shelves. | |
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| Hudson Stonework Ltd has been a resident of the Cathedral Close for over 10 years. Being a classic stonemason is a rare occupation these days. However, they are important in restoration and conservation at the many cathedrals around the UK. | |
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Sir Edward Elgar lived in Hereford from 1904 to 1912.
Next to the Cathedral, there is a statue of him leaning
casually on his Sunbeam bicycle. He called his bike "Mr Phoebus".
On the plinth it is written: "This is what I hear all day the trees are singing my music or I am singing theirs." | |
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We learnt by our own mistake of trying to navigate by spires in Hereford.
There are so many of them. The include All Saints Church
built ca. 1330. It was restored in 1996 and is now a church and a
community venue.
Then there is St Peter’s church which was founded in 1087 and heavily restored in 1888. Then there was the war memorial on St Peter’s Square was unveiled in 1922. | |
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| We were on a roll looking for old buildings, so we also dropped by the Town Hall built in 1904. Then the aptly named half-timbered "Old House" built in 1621. It started off as a butcher’s shop and residence, then a bank, and now a museum. | |
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| We were also looking for some link to Hereford cattle breed. We found a large Hereford bull statue next to the Old House. Hild wanted to pose with the bull so we could send it to Hege and all her Hereford cows, bulls, and calves. | |
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| On the A49, Rob saw a road-sign that was famous - in his eyes: Yorton, Clive and Myddle! He used to look for this sign every time he travelled up or down the A49. It was usually driving south that it was pointed out, but the corner was still recognizable driving north. Rob was very proud he could remember it - albeit with the help of Google Maps to get the general area! | |
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It was time to drive further north, and we headed off along A49.
Timing meant that we could enjoy lunch in Delamere Forest.
Our favourite lunch spot is now setting up our table in Percy's
rear door. We had brought everything from the fridge and enjoyed
a sandwich and, yes you guessed it, a cup of tea.
The view wasn't that great as we just parked at the large Whitefield car park. Still we were just there for the food. We expect to be back to explore more another time. | |
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| This is the famous Widnes-Runcorn bridge (not the Sydney Harbour Bridge!) which is the first bridge over the Mersey. In recent years a new bigger bridge has been built a bit further up the river, but this is still the best! They have had to put a toll on this bridge as well as the new one so that people will use the new one, buy it has upset people because you can only pay on-line and if you don't pay within 24 hours you get a fine! | |
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| This is the playgrounds field Liz, Martin and Rob played in as kids. There only used to be a slide, set of swings and a couple of roundabouts in those days. Kids are spoiled now, although I bet they don't have as much fun as we did! The Rec was just a couple of turns from where we grew up - across the dual carriageway road that we used to cross all on our own as kids - how did we survive! | |
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| And this is this house Rob was born and lived in for years - 27 Maple Crescent. He doesn't remember the trees in the front garden, but he very famously tipped himself out of his pram while was sitting outside underneath the window in the front. This is his excuse for his nose looking like it does, but this seems unlikely. | |
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| Farnworth Church of England primary school was where Rob went from 9-11. There used to be a dining room and canteen just on this corner that was Rob's first classroom - they got to break 30 minutes early for lunch each day so that the tables could be set for eating. If it was wet (a common problem in the North-west of England) the class would sit together in a corridor in the main school and the teacher would read a book. This was where Rob first experienced The Hobbit by Tolkien - Hild is blaming his teacher for a lot that has happened since! | |
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| This is the school where Richard (Rob's Dad), Martin and Rob went to from the age of 11 to 16. Liz went to the girls' school which was along side this (and which has now been demolished), but by the time Rob was there it was mixed girls and boys. The trees seem bigger, but the railings and the school seem the same. | |
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| St Luke's is just along Pit Lane from Farnworth School and is a very old church - 1178 is the date we used to be told. Rob went there with the school a few times each year and Martin and Jacky were married there among other notable occasions. The Ring O Bells is the pub across the road from the church - not sure how old the pub is, but the original might not be a lot younger than the church…. | |
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| This rather nondescript piece of wall played a role in other ways than just marking the edge of the garden of No 1 Glencourse Road. Rob and Gary used to sit there on the way home from school as their conversation (argument?) had rarely finished by then and Rob live across the road at No 2, whereas Gary lived on the next street over. Vivienne (Rob's Mum) often saw them there when she wondered why they weren't home yet. | |
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| Across the road from the Wall. | |
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| Rob was surprised to see the chimney and four (of the original 8) cooling towers still standing at Fiddler's Ferry Power Station having heard that these had been demolished recently when the power station was decommissioned. As one of the largest coal-fired power stations in the UK it had been a feature of the skyline for many years so it was actually quite comforting to see them still there. | |
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One day we chose to ride the rails like hobos - as we often do. We
discovered how easy it is to use their tram network from outside our
hotel to downtown. One trip ticket is quite expensive, but a day pass is
well worth it even if you will only do two trips.
Metrolink uses a bee as a logo. We thought it was a modern choice, but Rob did some research and discovered that it has been an iconic part of Manchester's coat of arms since the 1800s. An often-repeated phrase is that “everyone in Manchester is as busy as bees.” | |
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| There are many canals filled with water throughout the city. Buildings that had clearly been industrial have been renovated to become apartment blocks where we would enjoy living. Modern and old buildings are found side by side. | |
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| At Picadilly Gardens we saw another statue of Queen Victoria and one of James Watts the Scottish inventor and engineer. Many of his inventions made Manchester industry possible - including leading to it being called Cottonopolis. The bronze statue is a copy of his statue in Westminster Abbey. | |
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| We meant to take a photo of yet another Tim Hortons cafe, and we also caught this funny commercial for the next season of the Simpsons... "I will not miss season 36!". | |
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| There are many beautiful buildings to be seen including these ones on Shambles Square near the Cathedral. | |
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| Manchester Cathedral is big and very ornate even on the outside. It was built in 1421 and gained cathedral status in 1847. | |
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| Media City UK was within easy walking distance from our hotel. We saw the modern architecture of BBC and ITV and others. The ITV studios also included Coronation Street sets. | |
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| During our at Media City, we visited BBC's Blue Peter Garden. Rob was excited to see a statue of Petra the dog - a Border Collie and German Shepard mix. She was on the show from 1962 until 1977. | |
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| One section of the park had the Gold Badge Walk with plaques for guests who showed great expertise in their field and as inspiring role models. There were many and we took photos of a few such as: Nick Park, Steven Spielberg, JK Rowling, and Tim Peake. | |
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The amazing Millennium Bridge spans the Manchester Ship Canal, and we enjoyed studying it.
It has four hosting mechanisms so that the bridge can be lifted up for ships to pass.
Pudsy the Bear was also nearby - the mascot for BBC's annual Children in Need appeal. | |
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We were fortunate enough to enjoy an Old Trafford Stadium tour. Needless
to say, Rob was over the moon about his first visit to the stadium after
being loyal fan since birth. Even Hild was excited about the experience.
Around the outside of the stadium we saw statues of the important persons: Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby, and Jimmy Murphy. | |
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| We got to sit in the stadium seats and through the tunnel down to the pitch. | |
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| The pitch was beautiful and surprisingly green and steep slopping at the edges. Rob was just smiling from ear to ear. | |
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We also got to sit in the dugout. Rob was quick to try out the manager's chair,
although Ruben Amorim typically does not sit down during the game.
The guide told us that the TV commentary team sits high up in the rafters. It is almost hard to see how anyone could sit up there! At least they have a good view. | |
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| We visited the changing room and got to sit in the players' seats and study their shirts. Rob chose Jonny Evan's shirt. Hild chose Ella Toone. | |
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| In the Press Room we had our photos taken - with Ruben Amorim - or was it our imagination (or their technology)?! | |
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Postscript: What a fabulous day!! | |
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April 2025