The Panopticon Atom

In case you are still wondering about the Panopticon Atom seen a couple of days ago, here is an explanation.

Design by Peter Meacock with Katarina Novomestska and Architecture Central Workshop.

Pendle's Panopticon, 'Atom', rests on the hillside above Wycoller village in Wycoller Country Park. Constructed in ferro-cement with a surface coating of metal-based paint, it is both a striking contemporary viewing point and shelter from which to enjoy Pendle's glorious scenery, and an intriguing and beautiful object which can be viewed from afar. From inside, its circular viewing spaces frame spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.

Wycoller is a historic settlement dating back beyond 1000BC. It has close links with the Brontes, and Charlotte is thought to have been a frequent visitor. In 1973 the village was declared a conservation area and the surrounding 350 acres of farmland were designated a Country Park. Wycoller has several unusual architectural features, including seven small bridges that cross Wycoller Beck, and an 18th-century five-aisled barn, now converted into a visitor centre.'

Day 7 Skipton Canal

Our last day in Haworth, so we celebrate with fish and chips at Bizzy Lizzy in Skipton and very nice they were to. Then we took a walk along the canal.

Why is this the only photo I have of the fish and chip resturant?
Everything in the plaice [ get the pun?] was fish shaped, furniture, flooring and even the doors.

A very pretty canal walk

Where canal and river run side by side

Lots of boats moored and some for sale.

Taken from a bridge walking back to the car.

I also managed to complete my second hat, photo taken when we arrived back home after a great holiday in Yorkshire.

Day 6 NT Gawthrope and the Atom

Searching through the National Trust book I find Gawthorpe Hall is only about 15 miles away, so we decide to visit. The guide says it is open from 11am, we arrive just after 11 to find they have changed the opening time to 12 midday. A visit to cafe is a problem as a coach load has also arrived for the 11am opening and have decided to wait in the small cafe. We buy drinks and cake and sit outside, it's a bit breezy today but not too cold.

Gawthorpe Hall has a stunning collection of textiles amassed by Miss Rachel B Kay-Shuttleworth, who died in 1967.
She was a remarkable woman who worked to improve social welfare throughout her life and truly believed creativity was beneficial to wellbeing and happiness.
The collection includes lace, quilts, costume, embroidery and much more.
It was well worth a visit and there was a collection of wonderful bobbin lace which I found really interesting.

Gawthorpe Hall

The textile collection

This is my kind of desk!

Tiny hand worked hexagons

Part of the costume display

 

Wonderful view from the window 

Chris standing in the "egg"

On the way back to the cottage we passed a sign to A Panopticon Atom, having no clue we stopped to take a closer look. It looks like a giant egg with holes in it! I need to do some research into this, unless you know what it is?

View through one of the holes

Day 5 wool and cinema

Having got on so well with my hat knitting I thought I would have a go at another. I downloaded a free pattern on Ravelry all I need now is the wool!
A quick www search and I find a wool shop called The Wool Shop in Keighley which is only five minutes away. Wow what a treat the shop is stacked to the gunnels with wool of every description, I feel bad only wanting a couple of balls, but with no projects planned I don't want to buy more than I need. Chatting to the owner he tells me he has a customer travel from Braintree every couple of months just to stock up on his wool. Braintree is 175 miles away!

Wool

Wool

and yet more wool

After a quick lunch back at the cottage we head to Halifax and the cinema to watch Victoria and Abdul. I loved the film and Judi Dench was brilliant as always.

The evening is spent starting work on my second hat.

Day 4 knitting, reading and the NT

After the past couple of busy days we decided to have a day 'at home'. Chris had a book to read and I planned to knit.
When we arrived here in Yorkshire I decided to have a go at using a circular knitting needle for the first time and make myself a hat. Not content with getting to grips with the circular needle I thought it would be a challenge to do some colour work in the hat and choose a Panda design called Pandamonium by Karin Michele.
The last time I did any serious knitting with more than one colour was when I was 17 and made myself and then boyfriend matching jumpers! I've hardly touched a needle since except for some recent sock knitting.
Pleased to say I have now completed the hat with a row of black and white pandas around the edge and cannot wait to find another project using my set of circular needles that I acquired free with a magazine subscription at Yarndale.

Panda hat ready for the cold weather

The novelty of having a kitchen and oven means I have been happy to cook meals every day, and today we had duck, roast potatoes and mixed veg... yummy.  Time for a walk!

Looking through the National Trust book we found a property close by and headed off to walk the grounds. East Riddlesden Hall is very picturesque with its duck pond in front of the building ( slight guilt we had just had duck for dinner!)

The 17c Manor House was very dark with its wood panelled walls, and although everything inside the house was just dressing, none of the original furniture, it was very atmospheric. A little too dark for my taste. Outside was made up of a number of different garden areas, herbs, formal lawns, wild garden, a maze, children's play area etc. We have been enjoying some pleasant weather so it was nice to just wander through the grounds.

Sorry not sure what happened to the photos they seem to have disappeared!

Day 3 Worth Valley Railway

Sunday was the only day we could enjoy the Worth Valley railway, and what a treat. We boarded the train at 11.45 at the start of the line in Keighley for the five mile trip to Oxenhope.
The railway is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, a real journey 'back in time'.
Originally the trains were used to haul tons of coal up the Valley to the woollen mills. There are still a few examples of Mills which brought wealth to West Yorkshire that can be seen as we chug along.
In 1962 the railway was closed only to be reopened six years later by the KWVR Preservation Society.

Our train from Keighley to Oxenhope

Ready for the journey

An unexpected delight just outside the station at Oxenhope was a meeting of the local Morris Minor club. This brought back memories of my very first car, a Morris Traveller.

The buffet carriage was serving a selections of drinks and food, I indulged in a cream tea while Chris had a sausage sandwich, we both had a drink while we waited for the return journey.

We travel next to a pretty valley and babbling brook

The ticket collector

Many films have been made using the trains and carriages, the most well known being the Railway Children. At Ingrow we left the train to explore the engine sheds... wow... such a lot of incredible carriages many marked with the films they had been used in. Even Cliff Richard on his 'Summer holiday' had been filmed in one of them, but also The Hound of the Baskerville and many many more.

In one of the railway sheds I spot Ann

We stop here for cream tea and sausage sandwich!

Love the old gas lamps

The train to take us back along the track

We wait at the signal box for a train to pass in the opposite direction

A visit to the Carriage museum

There are Railway children walks and places to spot where the original film was pictured.

Some carriages are very grand

This is my idea of luxury travel

This luxury compartment is even en-suite

Back on the train for the last section of railway

Such nostalgia

Back to the start of our journey

Day 2 Yarndale

I am so looking forward to today, my first visit to Yarndale, the wool show to beat all wool shows!
We arrive in good time but it takes us half an hour to get through the gate due to the vast number of people and the bag searching.

Once inside it is hard to know where to go first there is so much to see, including one or two pens with real sheep in. I wonder what they are thinking seeing all these people and all this wool!

I buy a couple of gifts for Christmas presents and treat myself to a magazine subscription that has a set of needles as a free gift... just the sort I was planning to buy.

After a couple of hours on my feet we find a seat and Chris brings us a drink and slice of shortbread, just what the doctor ordered. Re-energised we tackle a few more displays and stalls before heading for 'home'. The cuppa goes down well.

Photos will be added when I get home! Are you ready for the  mass photos?

sheep great us as we enter the Auction Mart

Where to go first?

A wonderful display of banners

I chat to some lacemakers

Chris finds a Unicorn

I find an enormous crocheted mandala

Socks socks

And more socks!

Lots of wool for dying and spining

I just love these knitted birds

Colourful mandalas

Think this was the felting stall

Settee covers made from dressmaking patterns

Yet more mandalas

Christmas is coming

POSH socks made from Alpaca wool, SOOOO soft.

Tiny miniatures

.





































After a couple of hours on my feet we find a seat and Chris brings us a drink and slice of shortbread, just what the doctor ordered. Re-energised we tackle a few more displays and stalls before heading for 'home'. The cuppa goes down well.