WME Flickr Focus - August 2025

Followers of the West Midlands Exploration photostream on Flickr could be forgiven for thinking I've taken a sabbatical in terms of my usual local remit. Although I have been steadily churning out new additions with commendable regularity, the 'West Midlands' aspect of my output has definitely drifted of late, hence Exploration Extra continues to hold sway over all incoming updates...

That's just the nature of the beast with how my archival arrivals get organised, so for the third month in a row I am not reporting one single arrival from Birmingham, the Black Country or surrounding shires. I'm sure you'll agree that the situation is forgivable when you get the likes of Loughborough, Leominster or Llandudno instead though - let's review which prized pictures made it through my tough selection process in August.

For starters, it's a big hello from Headingley where I raided my May 2022 back catalogue for all manner of local street signs; Ash Road, Bainbrigge Road, Langdale Gardens, they're all there. Street art is also very apparent (with an appropriate nod to the Burley Banksy) so you can ponder alien beings alongside Leeds Rhinos references, plus if you're a fan of stadium lighting the White Rose-themed example from Headingley cricket ground itself might just float your boat. Nearby Kirkstall also made the cut thanks to the (Drink and) Be Grateful mural down by the Abbey Road water fountain.

I've wangled a fair few photos out of Wales over the last few weeks and that trend happily holds true courtesy of Haverfordwest (a railway platform running-in board with company from a war memorial dragon), Llandudno Junction (a Black Cat bus stop plus a very early morning welcome sign offering) and Llandudno the town (an 1898 date on the Imperial Buildings). I'm arguably most pleased about two Llanrwst remnants though, namely the Seion Chapel and the wonderfully nostalgic frontage of the town's former Milk Bar.

Not to be outdone by its Celtic cousin, Scotland gets in on the act thanks to content from Kirkcudbright. Rusty quayside chains are no stranger to my stream it's true, but a brooding war memorial warrior and the signage for the Steam Packet Inn are worthy of inclusion. If you factor in Kirkcudbright Parish Church and a duo of A-road pointers then it makes for a handy little bunch of Scottish stuff to supplement my Southerness album.

Closer to home but nevertheless beyond the boundaries of my typical West Midlands focus come highlights from Herefordshire and lumps of Leicestershire. The cider-making county contributes lovely Ledbury with its stilted Market House, not forgetting lashings of Leominster as represented by Priory embroideries, railway station murals and Pinsley Road markers. As for Leicestershire, I give you Littlethorpe's Old Inn and a Hinckley quartet comprising the Prince's Feathers pub, St Mary's Church, The Crescent shopping development and more art. The cone bats of Thorpe Acre and Brush factory logos ensure a little dose of Loughborough lingering, and I somehow suspect Exploration Extra will dominate for a month or two yet...