Taking a stroll
We've had some glorious weather here lately. And I try to take advantage of it by walking as much as I can. So Friday, after I finished at the library, I decided to walk home from the city centre. I took pictures as I walked and have posted them on Facebook. You can see them here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2039236&id=29803339&l=e89ed51b18
When I post photos on my Ashton Land website, I take time to research the history of featured buildings and locales. I didn't do that with these photos and it feels . . . wrong. It's like I'm failing viewers by not providing the who, what, where, when, why, and how.
The photos I posted are not all the photos I took, though. I have some shots of churches and pubs, too. But I'm saving those up and will publish individual albums of them later. But I want to share a story about St. Wilfrid's.
St. Wilfrid's was an ancient church in Preston that was eventually torn down. It was rebuilt in a new location in the 19th century. I had read about it in a blurb somewhere, but had no idea where it was located. As I strolled down Winckley Street on my way to Avenham Park on Friday, I noticed a sign indicating St. Wilfrid's was in the same direction. Shortly thereafter I passed by a wrought iron gate and just happened to notice a sign mentioning that the church was open. I stopped in my tracks, took a step backward, and peered through the gate. Was this St. Wilfrid's?
It didn't even look like a church. The gate opened onto an alleyway that could comfortably fit one car. I felt hemmed in by the tall buildings on all sides. A multi-story shop building loomed on the left. A sign on it gave the hours for St. Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Church, a parish of the Society of Jesus. Wow. St. Wilfrid's is a Jesuit church. I had no idea! I stepped through the gate and looked at the building to my right. Sure enough, it was a small church. Over the years, it was surrounded by other buildings, leaving it nearly hidden.
I snapped a couple of photos and looked longingly at the wooden doors before me. I wanted to go inside. But I ended up chickening out. Although a sign said the church was open to anyone until 5 that day, I just felt wrong wanting to go inside just out of curiosity. Next time, I'll find the courage. But today, I had a long walk before me and no desire to disrupt the sanctity of the church. I plan to do a tour of Preston churches before I head home. St. Wilfrid's has been added to the list.
The walk home was long (it took me 65 minutes at a pretty steady clip), but pleasant. Many people were enjoying the beautiful day in the park. My route took me into Avenham Park and along its main field toward the River Ribble. I then walked along the river through Avenham and Miller parks. Then I crossed the old pedestrian bridge into Middleforth Green and up the hill toward home. The route is somewhere around three miles, I think. Steve can say better than I.
Some observations from my walk:
A couple in their 30s were having a picnic on the riverbank. A blanket was laid out next to a picnic basket. They were returning to their spot from a little concession stand nearby. The man carried two cups and the woman carried . . . a tea kettle. Only the English would have a tea kettle on a picnic!
Once out of the park, I walked through an attractive neighborhood nestled against the riverbank. One cottage was named Ferry House. Before the bridge was built in the late 18th or early 19th century, a ferry used to shuttle people across the Ribble to Preston. I wonder if the ferry used to cross near here and the cottage was somehow attached to it. The cottage next door is called the Boat House, so who knows, really?
I miss a/c the most after I've done a long walk like this, because the last 1/8 mile or so is uphill . . . in the sun.
I have three weeks and three days until I fly home. I'm anxious to get home to Steve, but no longer worried that I won't get enough research done. With a welcome assist from Dr. Furdell, I have narrowed the focus of my thesis and have a pretty clear idea of what else I need to accumulate.
Famous last words, I'm sure. I imagine I'll think of something else I need when I actually start writing. I'll just have to cross that bridge when I get to it. For now, I'm relieved that the end of this trip is fast approaching and I'm actually going to be ready for it.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2039236&id=29803339&l=e89ed51b18
When I post photos on my Ashton Land website, I take time to research the history of featured buildings and locales. I didn't do that with these photos and it feels . . . wrong. It's like I'm failing viewers by not providing the who, what, where, when, why, and how.
The photos I posted are not all the photos I took, though. I have some shots of churches and pubs, too. But I'm saving those up and will publish individual albums of them later. But I want to share a story about St. Wilfrid's.
St. Wilfrid's was an ancient church in Preston that was eventually torn down. It was rebuilt in a new location in the 19th century. I had read about it in a blurb somewhere, but had no idea where it was located. As I strolled down Winckley Street on my way to Avenham Park on Friday, I noticed a sign indicating St. Wilfrid's was in the same direction. Shortly thereafter I passed by a wrought iron gate and just happened to notice a sign mentioning that the church was open. I stopped in my tracks, took a step backward, and peered through the gate. Was this St. Wilfrid's?
It didn't even look like a church. The gate opened onto an alleyway that could comfortably fit one car. I felt hemmed in by the tall buildings on all sides. A multi-story shop building loomed on the left. A sign on it gave the hours for St. Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Church, a parish of the Society of Jesus. Wow. St. Wilfrid's is a Jesuit church. I had no idea! I stepped through the gate and looked at the building to my right. Sure enough, it was a small church. Over the years, it was surrounded by other buildings, leaving it nearly hidden.
I snapped a couple of photos and looked longingly at the wooden doors before me. I wanted to go inside. But I ended up chickening out. Although a sign said the church was open to anyone until 5 that day, I just felt wrong wanting to go inside just out of curiosity. Next time, I'll find the courage. But today, I had a long walk before me and no desire to disrupt the sanctity of the church. I plan to do a tour of Preston churches before I head home. St. Wilfrid's has been added to the list.
The walk home was long (it took me 65 minutes at a pretty steady clip), but pleasant. Many people were enjoying the beautiful day in the park. My route took me into Avenham Park and along its main field toward the River Ribble. I then walked along the river through Avenham and Miller parks. Then I crossed the old pedestrian bridge into Middleforth Green and up the hill toward home. The route is somewhere around three miles, I think. Steve can say better than I.
Some observations from my walk:
A couple in their 30s were having a picnic on the riverbank. A blanket was laid out next to a picnic basket. They were returning to their spot from a little concession stand nearby. The man carried two cups and the woman carried . . . a tea kettle. Only the English would have a tea kettle on a picnic!
Once out of the park, I walked through an attractive neighborhood nestled against the riverbank. One cottage was named Ferry House. Before the bridge was built in the late 18th or early 19th century, a ferry used to shuttle people across the Ribble to Preston. I wonder if the ferry used to cross near here and the cottage was somehow attached to it. The cottage next door is called the Boat House, so who knows, really?
I miss a/c the most after I've done a long walk like this, because the last 1/8 mile or so is uphill . . . in the sun.
I have three weeks and three days until I fly home. I'm anxious to get home to Steve, but no longer worried that I won't get enough research done. With a welcome assist from Dr. Furdell, I have narrowed the focus of my thesis and have a pretty clear idea of what else I need to accumulate.
Famous last words, I'm sure. I imagine I'll think of something else I need when I actually start writing. I'll just have to cross that bridge when I get to it. For now, I'm relieved that the end of this trip is fast approaching and I'm actually going to be ready for it.
Thanks! I thought of you as I stood in the little alleyway, actually, knowing full well you wouldn't have hesitated. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'm on the quest for a pic of the odd chips. Unfortunately, the flavor contest is over (Cajun Squirrel didn't win - imagine that), so I'm hoping I'll find some old stashes somewhere. But you've given me an idea for a blog that I'm compiling photos for. So stay tuned. ;-)