Everything has been about Exploration Extra over the last few weeks, my gallery covering the rest of the country having maintained the sudden surge of activity that had surfaced during the back end of May. The West Midlands hasn't remotely had a look in as the pictures have come from Cheshire, Bristol and Scotland instead...
Indeed, there have been distinct batches into which the new arrivals have grouped themselves. The Scottish contingent hinges upon Castle Douglas as part of my Southerness 2022 holiday album; the Imperial Bar and Crown Hotel slot in with pub potential whilst adjoining the second of those is the Crown Garage, a base for MOTs and vehicle repairs. Sprinkle in a Queen Street cottage with a bright green door or a Barry Smart newsagents shopfront straight out of the 1970s and you have a recipe for a rare rummage north of the border.
Back in England, let's sashay on down to Somerset and the holiday resort of Burham-on-Sea. The Reeds Arms Wetherspoons and a giftshop gable are made very welcome but my main focus here is on railway heritage, with signalling stanchions and a stationmaster artwork recalling when the town had its own seaside terminus. The passenger service was mostly withdrawn in the 1950s but is still fondly remembered by older Burnham residents.
Inching our way up the west coast brings us to the maritime city of Bristol, although it's the suburb of Clifton that claims my concentration this time around. You're never stuck for pubs in that neck of the woods so the Lansdown, Steam Beer Hall and Victoria are a mere drop in the ocean among the selection available, plus there's a hint or two of Clifton Down railway station as served by suburban trains on the Severn Beach Line. Perhaps my favourite Clifton landmark is the White Ladies Picture House, showing films to Bristol residents since the early 1920s.
I'll conclude if I may with a Chester compendium drawn mostly from my Rail Rover explorations of 2022. Grey Friars, White Friars and Steele Street ensure street sign representation, then we have the Albion pub for vintage Shellmex petroleum branding. The Cross Keys supplies lanterns and lettering whereas St John's Church has ruined walls enclosing a current place of worship. The city also supplements my Colwyn Bay collection from 2018 by gathering Gowy narrowboat namebadges and a Northgate Bakery nugget. Until next time, enjoy the photos!
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