Enjoying retirement
In The Red Rose County
We were in Preston to have the car serviced and took the opportunity to have lunch at The Ginger Bistro in Fulwood, Preston where my nana and grandad used to live. Unbeknown to the team at Ginger Bistro someone had entered them for the Food Awards 2022. They were even more surprised when they won not only the North West category but also 'Best Cafe Bistro in England'. The food was delicious and unusual, service terrific, and prices low. Good choice! We then walked along to Nooklands the private road where my granddad's house was and here's the house. Even after all these years, and with a new estate built on the country lanes behind the house where we used to go bird nesting, it seemed an idyllic spot. It's still called Chestnut Bank although the huge chestnut tree to the right of the gateway where I used to get my conkers has evidently gone. and at the other end of Nooklands here is one of the pair of posts. The Chief Constable called this Joe Crowley's pillar because of the number of times he hit and damaged it on his boozy way home. Those were the days. Catching the bus back into the centre we walked through the impressive covered market which was just closing, and admired and were yet again surprised at some of the quality buildings in Preston. After picking up our car I did something I have been wanting to do for a long time and that was visit the Cavendish Arms at Brindle a little village outside Preston. The countryside drive was fabulous, and the pub and its setting did not disappoint. This was the pub I drove my Grandad to dozens of times from Manchester when I was learning to drive. He was very well known there and indeed we spent one Christmas there with the publicans. This was where he won a gravel pit in the village in a game of gambling.......he lost it on a later date of course. It's not now run by the Baxendale family but by a small chain based in Chorley. However the history of the place (it used to be the manor house of the village) was evident everywhere. I have tried to find out about this panelling in one of the small characterful rooms which was part of Annie Baxendale's accommodation, but without success. Pretty impressive and probably from an Abbey closed at the Dissolution - it looks Tudor or older. there were also some pretty impressive badges in the plasterwork....... and many stained glass windows like these where we were sitting. The pub had a nice garden and the side of the building was quite substantial too. All in all a visit which gave me a lot of pleasure and brought back many happy memories. We had a little stroll round the village and had a look at the Church of St James...surprisingly it was open and we had to explain we were not there for the 6.30pm service! The glass is some of the finest in the diocese and dominates the interior as you can see. The lady whom I took to be one of the Churchwardens switched on a panel light to show us some of the medieval glass..... The churchyard particularly with its setting with views all around was beautiful..... and the village very pleasant. The drive home past Houghton Tower and through Samelebury Bottoms ( a brilliant name, I wished we lived there) encompassed some of the most idyllic countryside you could wish to see. All in all a really good day.
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August 2023
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