So I thought I would show you five random things that I have noticed in Eastham Village.
For many years I have used this beautiful village as I cut through, so it wasn’t until we moved here last summer that I started to properly look around.
This old style telephone box actually contains, a telephone. I know it seems obvious but I think it’s quite a rarity nowadays.
This doorway or gateway has been elaborately bricked up at sometime. It looks quite mysterious just there in the wall, I am expecting Miss G to be inspired at some point and write a story about it.
The village cross stands opposite the war memorial. The Christmas tree occupies the space next to from early advent and is usually decorated by the village children.
This clock is on the outside wall of an office. It looks really quite old and has Rockferry, as made famous for about two minutes by Duffy, to Liverpool on the clock face.
This sculpture can be found in the edge of The Country Park. If you click on the picture you will see that the edge is decorated with starfish and sea shells, it’s so pretty and set back from the road, lots of visitors must miss it.
This time last week we had a ramble through the village. Today I thought we would have a peak at the church, come and see!
It is called St Mary’s Church and dates from the late 13th early 14th Century. The Vicar is a lady called Rev’d Beth Glover, she is admired throughout the village, think Vicar of Dibley and you are on the right track.
This is such a traditional looking gate and is often decorated in the summer months for weddings. It always reminds me of the country wedding in Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Through the gate there are lots of really quite topsy turvey gravestones. Many are too old to be able to identify any dates on them. Some from the 1700’s, look quite new by comparison.
This is the trunk of a Yew Tree which is near the church door. It is so old. There are records dated from 1152 that tell when the Abbot and Monks of St Werburgh received the Manor of Eastham, the villagers entreated the new owners “to have a care of ye old yew”. In 1988 four experts dated the tree as being about 1600 years old – amazing!
The Sundial is beside the Yew tree. It dates from 1798 and is also Grade II listed.
Within the walls there is this statue of The Madonna and Child.
That concludes Eastham Village in 6 pictures for this week.
This is the view from my kitchen window. This tree is so old that it is the subject of a Tree Preservation Order. Therefore, between that and the Grade II listing on The Chapel, we are hopeful that our view will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. We are so very lucky!
However our neighbours literally around the corner may not be so fortunate. I know some of you have local connections and so thought you might be interested. There are plans afoot to build an oil refinery on land directly next to a residential area, on the banks of the Mersey, scarily close to people’s homes. The area is smack bang in the middle of the beautiful village and the glorious country park.
It’s not a fair game – Banksy
Please don’t think that this is a typical ‘not in my back yard’ rant, it really isn’t! It is not about house prices. This is about Eastham village, which is a conservation area, I have begun to highlight the treasures of it here.
This is about health implications, safety concerns and environmental issues. This is about green spaces that are being erroded and children growing up surrounded by poisonous air that no body can see. This is about protecting our heritage and what is left of England’s green and pleasant land.
I think the community are realistic that it will be built close by, indeed there is land a little further along the coast that is already used in such a way, but is some distance from residential properties. This particular proposal would put it virtually on doorsteps!
I know this sounds like a plot from The Simpsons, Mr Burns doesn’t live here, it is a serious threat!
So it was with these concerns that we found ourselves at a meeting in the local scout hut where it was decided that the “Eastham Fights Back” group is to be reformed, because yes, these poor people have had to fight this sort of threat before. But once more they have come together to fight for what they believe is right!
It was heartwarming to see so many people there. It really is amazing how much knowledge and expertise is to be found in this tiny community.
If this resonates with you, PLEASE could you sign this petition and pass the link on;
Today I thought I would have a Wednesday wander around our local village in 6 pictures, come with me!
Until 1972, Eastham was in the county of Cheshire and Chester is the only city in Cheshire. This sign is in the heart of the village.
The Old Reading Room used to be a Chapel. There is a solicitors based there now.
The War Memorial dates from 1924. It has the names of those lost in both world wars inscribed on it. The sculpture at the front is of a fallen soldier who is looking up towards the bronze figure of Christ on the top, touchingly he is being held up by a comrade.
The school and former Master’s House is dated from 1852. It was the local school up until a few years ago. It is used by the church now and, was opened recently when the church held an exhibition for local schools about the Second World War.
This building was originally Eastham House Lodge and later known as The Old Post Office. It is now a house on the corner of a busy junction.
Here you could get ‘Signwriting and Sign making’ done !
I don’t think it is used for anything now but I love the simple and obvious description, no concerns about global branding.
Thank you for coming along there is lots more to see, shall we do it again next week?
