Arriving at Lostock Gralam

In Cheshire.

Review of 2024 : July

The second half of the year, the weather was not that good but i did manage to visit Buckinghamshire for three weeks in a row! Firstly, i revisited Monks and Princes Risborough in some terrible rain. Then i went to Denham, ticking off the Golf Club railway station and walking to the other station. Finally, i went to Great Missenden, a place i have only travelled through before but not stopped at until now.

Switching to Warwickshire, i also visited Kenilworth to update my railway station images.

Project Deblogification/Rhapsody reached an important milestone when the Calling At railway station blog was switched to archive mode only and new content would only be appearing on my new website from now on. Three other blogs would follow suit over the next few months.

Song of the month was "calling" by Immortal Girlfriend.

Model layout progress

There has been some progress at last with the new layout. I have decided to ditch the mini-loop plan and instead have a small end-to-end layout with a small terminus. A layout plan has been finalised and is starting to come together. I am trying a few different techniques with this layout including using a ballast mat. Hopefully, progress will continue into the new year.

Review of 2024 : June

We reach the half way point of the year. The month began not with a rail adventure but a coach adventure! I wanted to try the FlixBus so took it down to London and explored the City of London. I was back on the rails the following week, updating my images at Bermuda Park and Bedworth stations. I also took some photos at Stafford.

Later in the month i revisited Henley-in-Arden, also to update my station photos. Finally, i also revisited Ambergate and took some photos along the Cromford Canal.

There we go, the first half of the year now completed. Let us see what awaits in the second half.

Song of the month was "ordinary world" by Motion Epic.

Warwickshire Places (30) : Ufton

The village of Ufton is in the centre of the county between Leamington Spa and Southam.

The village was known as Ulchtune in the Domesday Book, the name may be derived from Ulla who was a Danish chief in the area during pre-Norman times. Ufton was granted to Coventry Priory in 1043 and remained in monastic hands for most of the subsequent centuries until the Reformation. In later times much of the manor was owned by Oxford University's Balliol College though was not very valuable land.

The parish church of St Michael has 13th century origins though much of the current church is 14th and 15th century. 

In modern times Ufton has won an award for being the best village in Warwickshire. Ufton has no railway station though the Grand Union Canal passes to the north of Ufton.