Another Place

Saturday 31^st August

Today’s pedometer reading is 9.54 k’s

Last night was our first stay in a B&B on this holiday and it was a delightful experience. The owners of Belle Green were great hosts and told us that Beatrix Potter had stayed at Belle Green during some renovation work at Hilltop. Breakfast was served in a small but beautiful room overlooking the garden. Once again Andrew had a full English breakfast…he needed sustenance for the 75 k drive to Liverpool! Before leaving we visited Hilltop, our 4^th National Trust property. We had a wander around the village where Beatrix used many of the buildings and other landmarks as inspiration for her stories and illustrations.

The red letterbox above is featured in Peter Rabbit’s Almanac (February)

The Tower Bank Arms is where we enjoyed a drink and dinner last night 

but it also appears on page 18 of ‘The Tale of Ginger & Pickles’.

There are 35 buildings and landmarks on a trail around the village & we visited most of them!

We arrived at the ticket office about 15 minutes before it opened as suggested by the owners of the B&B. You can’t book ahead and there is timed entry…we were entertained while we waited by four quite mature American ladies (perhaps in their 70’s) who are touring around the UK in a big black van…they were hilarious. I hope we continue to enjoy our retirement as much as they are.

Hilltop

We were the first group to visit the house this morning and I don’t mind admitting that I was quite overwhelmed and even felt a bit teary…everything in the house except the carpets and curtains has been left just as it was when Beatrix was there. It’s just as if she has stepped out for a walk. There are attendants in every room that tell you little snippets as you go…I loved the bedroom with it’s very small four poster bed complete with a canopy. Beatrix picked out sections of the pattern in the fabric to embellish with embroidery and the effect is stunning. There is a fireplace in the room with a lovely wooden hearth and William Heelis (her husband) had it engraved with the date of their wedding anniversary…very romantic. All through the house there are copies of her books placed  next to items and views that appear in the illustrations. The garden complements the house perfectly…we both took HEAPS of photos.

                                           I really felt like I was in Mr McGregor’s garden

After a short but picturesque drive through the most southerly portion of the Lake District…

…it was a very quick drive on the motorway to Liverpool. We stayed at Crosby Beach about 10 k’s north of the city centre of Liverpool because I wanted to see Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ statues at low tide. After checking into the hotel we walked to the beach and couldn’t believe how windy it was and how fabulous the statues are.

‘Another Place’ is a massive installation on Crosby Beach that consists of 100 cast-iron figures, moulded from the artists own body. The life-size figures are dotted along three kilometres of the Crosby shore, sparse in some areas and getting more congregated as they reach the sea front. All of them are looking out to sea, staring at the horizon in silent expectation. At high tide some of them are fully submerged while others are still well out of the water.

The work is seen as a poetic response to the individual and universal sentiments associated with emigration - sadness at leaving, but the hope of a new future in another place.

It’s REALLY windy & we’re a bit worried about our planned ferry ‘cross The Mersey trip this afternoon.

We then jumped in the car and headed into central Liverpool…it was even windier & so decided to abandon the ferry ride…we just sang the song made famous by Gerry & the Pacemakers as we walked along side the Mersey to Albert Dock!

The ferry

This historic port on the River Mersey…once handled 40 percent of the world’s trade but its extensive docks and quays gradually fell into dereliction in the 1970’s & 80’s. Now after major regeneration of the area, the rough and tumble waterfront has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s renovated warehouses, world-class museums and art galleries are lovely to wander through.

Albert Dock

We spotted this vintage ice cream van as we left the dock area to walk into central Liverpool to look for ‘The Cavern’…can you see someone dressed up as Marge Simpson? There was a group of about 20 women all dressed up as cartoon characters and one with a veil…it was a hen’s night. 

 Over the course of the next few hours we saw several groups dressed in various themes including one lot in very skimpy cheerleader uniforms! I think Liverpool will really rock tonight... tt's Saturday after all.

                    It’s me…outside ‘The Cavern’ where ‘The Beatles’ played some of their earliest gigs.

It’s me again with John Lennon in Mathew Street.

In Liverpool the buskers sing Beatles songs…it makes a pleasant change from the bagpipes.

Before we left home  we watched a documentary about The Royal Liver Building on the banks of the Mersey and that was our next destination…Andrew took loads of photos, here are a few…

Opened in 1911 it was one of the first buildings in the world to be built using reinforced concrete, the Royal Liver Building stands at 90 m (300 ft) tall. It was the tallest storied building in Europe from completion until 1934 and the tallest in the UK until 1961.

The building is crowned by a pair of clock towers: as a ship passed along the river, mariners could tell the time from these. The clock faces are 7.6 m (25 ft) in diameter, larger than those of Big Ben. During hours of darkness, the clock dials are illuminated.

One of the Liver birds

There is a Liver bird atop each clocktower. According to popular legend, they are a male and female pair, the female looking out to sea, (watching for the seamen to return safely home) whilst the male looks towards the city (making sure the pubs are open). In fact, they were indeed designed to watch the City (Our People) and the Sea (Our Prosperity).

Good night everyone…don’t you love the four poster bed we’re sleeping in tonight!