Indian Summer

Over the past few days we have been having an indian summer, and the bees and butterflies have been out in force, feeding on the last of the nectar before winter closes in on us.

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Riverside Campus - the Inside

Since the new Riverside Campus is mainly used for the Schools of Education and Nursing, some of the classrooms are, to say the least, surprising, since they simulate primary school and ward nursing environments.

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Nantwich Brine Baths

Yesterday we went to the Brine Baths in Nantwich for a swim. They are probably the only outdoor brine pool in the UK, and are heated, though not to a very high temperature. The brine is because Nantwich, and most of that area of Cheshire, sits on huge salt deposits, which are exported all over Europe.

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Riverside Campus - the Outside

What is now the Riverside Campus of the University of Chester used to be called County Hall. It was, controversially, sold to the University by the then Cheshire County Council, with no local consultation whatsoever. Despite this, the University have done an impressive job in refurbishing it, and it now gleams more than it ever did under the auspices of the local authority.

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Ruabon Brick

Ruabon brick is used all over Chester, and has a distinctive red appearance. The brick is glazed, and therefore doesn't allow water to seep in and damage the brick, but that also made it more expensive, so some private houses have the more expensive Ruabon on the front, for show, and something cheaper at the back. Sadly the company that made them no longer does so, but they still make quarry tiles of a very high quality. You can read about the manufacture here: http://www.ruabonsales.co.uk/company-history.htm

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Conkers

It is now conker season, and, as any small boy round here knows, the best conkers are to be found in Water Tower Gardens.

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Chester Races Finale

Today was the final race meeting of the season, and racegoers turned out in force in all their finery. The horses ran fast and looked beautiful,  the sun did shine (a little), and the bookies, as usual, took money off everyone.

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St Paul's Church Boughton II

The murals in the church are especially beautiful, you can see a small part of them in the photos below, and the timber-framed roof was part of the revival of traditional and local styles of building.

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St Paul's Church Boughton I

Just outside the city centre, along Boughton, is St Paul's Church. Designed by John Douglas, it has beautiful stained glass windows and murals by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones.
The church website can be found here: http://www.stpaulschester.org.uk/

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Cheshire County Records Office

Down on Duke St is the County Records Office, which preserves and provides access to many thousands of records and printed items relating to the history of Cheshire dating as far back as the twelfth century, including such treasures as a Papal Bull from 1492. Anyone can go in to consult them, and it is free of charge. More about them at http://archives.cheshire.gov.uk/

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Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

The Liverpool  Philharmonic Hall had an Open Day last Sunday, with free concerts and films. We went along to see the beautiful art deco interior, and to watch the cinema screen rise up out of the floor.
You can find out what's on here:
http://www.liverpoolphil.com/?lid=14

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Connections

Chester is a wonderful location for public transport connections to other places. Yesterday I caught the train to Liverpool from the newly refurbished platform 7b.  - a train every 15 minutes and cheaper than taking the car, even for three of us. Just how public transport should be.

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Wirral Watercress

Yesterday there was a 'Celebrate Cheshire' event on at the Roodee, complete with local food stalls. One stand was from Wirral Watercress, and we bought some and ate watercress sandwiches for tea. Very good they were too. You can see more about them here: www.wirralwatercress.co.uk

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Miss Selfridge

At the back of the Miss Selfridge shop in Northgate St, behind an unmarked door, lies the remains of a Roman Hypocaust. If you ask the staff they will allow you to go in and see it, but people seldom ask because they just don't know it's there.

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Roman Strongroom

Just off Northgate St, underneath the market, is what remains of a Roman Strongroom. This would have been situated at the back of the Principia, which was the command centre of the legionary fortress, and would have been used for holding the treasures of the legion such as their standard (aquila) and the money used to pay the troops. Apologies for the photos, but it was difficult to get a good shot through the glass, and with very restricted angles..

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Damson Jam

Yesterday we went to a friends house and picked damsons from their tree (picked being a loose term - they were so ripe that you could shake the tree and they would fall into the basket), and today is the day for making damson jam, my favourite jam of the year. The house is full of the smell and I am huuungry!

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Booth Mansions I

On the other side of Watergate St, slightly further down, is Booth Mansions. Originally medieval, its' frontage was re-designed by a later architect, and he rebuilt it encroaching onto the street, as you can see from the photo. He was fined 10 pounds, plus an increase in taxes of 5 shillings per annum in perpetuity for doing so.

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Bravissimo

Halfway down Watergate St there is a shop called Bravissimo, which is actually two shops knocked together. The right hand shop has been reconstructed at some time, but the left hand half is much more interesting. It has an interesting fireplace and staircase, and some beautiful plasterwork.

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Billy Hobby's Well

Before the Grosvenor Park was created, it was a series of fields, and one of them was Billy Hobby's field, in which was a well. The well had a magical reputation in Chester. Chester maidens would stand with their right leg immersed in the water, wishing for husbands. A canopy was designed by the architect John Douglas, and it still stands in a secluded corner of the Park.

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Mercian Regiment March

Today there was a march through the city by the Mercian Regiment (the regiment into which the Cheshires were subsumed). It was one of their two marching days in the year, this one was to commemorate the Battle of Mons.

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HQ Building

Yesterday I went on a tour of the HQ building, and learned a few facts about it. The Council owns half of it, a further 25% is taken up by Abode Hotel, and the remaining 25% is residential, of which there are 2 units still up for sale. And there is a champagne bar up at roof level. Oh, and there are spectacular views over the river and race course.

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The Meadows

Near to the City Centre there is an area known as the Meadows, which are a flood plain for the river, protecting nearby houses from the overspill. Local farmers graze their cattle there, people walk their dogs, and there is a riverside walk. A beautifully peaceful place on a sunny day.

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Floral Clock - Not

When I first moved to Chester, more than 25 years ago, there was a floral clock in Grosvenor Park. It stopped working, and I think it was probably too expensive to fix it. Today it has been planted over with vegetables, including courgettes, beetroot, leeks and runner beans. I wonder if the old clock mechanism is still there underneath?

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Cruise

Chester has a couple of night clubs, and this is the outside of one of them. Before it was a night club it used to be a bank, and if you go round the back of the building you can still see the logo built into the brick. You can read more about it here: http://www.cruisechester.com/

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Roman Mosaic Floor

In the basement of Castle Galleries in St Michaels Row there are the remains of a Roman mosaic tiled floor, which you can go in and see any time they are open. The art gallery is worth a look as well, and you can read more about them here: www.castlegalleries.com and castlegallerieschester.wordpress.com

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Messing About On The River

In the summer there are rowing boats and pedalos for hire on the river, and plenty of tourists to hire them.

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Dust to Dust

This coffin is on the wall of St John's Church. A13th century coffin was found and placed in the wall on the orders of a 19th century vicar. Why? No-one knows.

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