From Langley Park To Memphis. I often draw inspiration from music for a blog title. It could be a line in a song or an album title and it doesnt even need to be from a band with whom I have some affinity. The title seemed appropriate for another wander around County Durham. The 1988 vinyl by the Prefab Sprout gang might have fallen off the radar somewhat, but is still credible 30 odd years on. The last County Durham blog on the heels of the Senior Advisor, saw us pass the milestone of 70,000 hits in total. Thank you to everyone, who has taken the trouble to read, view or even look at the odd photograph.
Lockdown has had many negatives, but a lack of time wasnt one. I hear the cries of anguish from those who have been home schooling. The time gives you plenty of time to think and one of those travel related thoughts related to American states. I counted in the dark, distant past, days, we had ventured to 33 of those states. A decent effort, if I say so myself and yes, Four Corners (for those of you who are familiar) was included.
Alas, Tennesse or indeed Memphis is not on the list and possibly will never be with the change in travel circumstances. I still count myself fortunate to have spotted Elvis though. He doesnt work in a chip shop, but sails a boat on Lake Ohrid, Macedonia, these days.
I had never been to Langley Park before this week either, so at least one end of the spectrum of the blog title has been Let the adventure begin.
I know what you were thinking after my Adventure and Langley Park. Where is correlation between the two? Langley Park has Diggerland! OK so there are 3 other locations in the UK, but anywhere that possess a location where you can race a JCB has to be adventurous. Diggerland is essentially a theme park, where the rides of having fun on construction equipment. Racing is not confined to just JCB. Dumpers trucks look to be just as much fun and very probably, a whole lot easier to handle.There are diggers small enough for little people to go on, amusements with a digger theme and a host of rides featuring... yes, diggers. The most impressive
from the perimeter fence was Spindizzy. Think adrenalin ride, where the participants are strapped in the actual gravel bucket. It spins one way for a num er of revolutions and then back. You could see a breath of relief from those on board, but then it went higher! Who needs Alton Towers? back to Langley Park later.
I started the day at Brancepath, a tiny and beautiful village just west of Durham. A row of immaculate stone cottages leads off the main road towards the entrance to Brancepath Castle. An old bench from the former, unused Railway Station guards the entrance. A stream of cars swung left yo play at the swanky golf club next door. Brancepath Castle is the original home of the Neville family.and dates from Norman times. The property was confiscated in 1570, after the family were involved in a plot to overthrow the Crown. Elizabeth 1 used it as a Tudor deer farm and Charles 1 sold it, when his coffers were looking a bit sparse. The present structure was funded by the Russells, wealthy local mine owners and bankers from Sunderland. The Castle was used by military in both World Wars. The
Durham Light Infantry finally left in 1962. The publishing family, Dobsons, acquired the Castle in 1978. The primary reason was to store the Company stock of books, after their lease ran out on their Notting Hill premises. How the other half live - run out of storage space, buy a Castle! a circuit of the adjacent St Brandons Church and the impressive stain glass window at the far end.
After the Brancepath excursion, I moved on to nearby Brandon. It was never going to be as pleasing on the eye, but disappointing that I could not get a decent look at their Northern League ground. The gates, hidden up a track behind the main street, were firmly locked. Esh Winning FC was next on my agenda.
