“You’ll be tourists then!”

A day of talking to the locals, and very charming ones too! First a lady who said she was 84 and she came from Gloucestershire originally.  I said I spent the first few years in Stonehouse.  Her eyes lit up.  Doverow avenue.  You crossed two fields to walk to the station and I was afraid of the cows I continued.  I was awaking memories! Anyway she said we should visit the abbey.  She has relatives in Farnworth! (Not far from Bolton)

A bit further we were greeted by “You’ll be tourists then”. A charming man.  Lived here 54 years and loved it.  He told us to go back a bit to where he had seen me take the photo above and going past the church, St. Alkmund’s we would come to the ‘Bear steps’. Near ‘Grope lane’ and a very old part of town with lovely old half-timbered houses .

 We carried on down to the English bridge, same as yesterday and over to the Abbey.

There a lovely lady was giving out guides etc and we got talking about the Abbey and the contents.  

There was a lovely Stained glass window (Extra). The St Benedict window.  This was a Benedictine Abbey and is a reminder of Edith Pargeter ( Ellis Peters), author of twenty Brother Cadfael detective novels, centred on the Abbey. Designed and made by Jane Grey.

We walked along the walls to the Cathedral. Smaller and people were praying there so I didn’t like to go round and take photos.  On to the Dingle, where we sat and looked down at the gardens.  A little robin came close nodding at us, but we had no food! 

Talking of which we walked past St Chad (extra) down to the Market hall and there we had a lovely lunch.  Then a bit of shopping and finally I wanted to see the upside down crocodile!  (Extra)
Back to the Airbnb to warm up and rest!