Foxfield

The day after the solo Macclesfield trip we had a family day out to Foxfield for their classic car show. With Mum and the two poodles in tow, it was just the sort of short visit to a relatively small railway that made the experience bearable for everyone. It was also a chance to catch up with Nick and Eva, friends from university days who also live in Stoke.

First stop was the miniature railway, who are now the custodians of the track from the ELR.

Phil Civil is turning out some very nice minimal rolling stock.

Whilst Gigi and mum clearly enjoyed the ride, the same can't be said of poor Candy, who I had to carry on and off the train, which isn't easy with a full grown standard poodle. The museum is home that rare beast, a local NSR loco. It is just a shame it is so hard to take photos in such a restricted space.

Lunch was a decent bacon bap each, and a good pint of beer from the very small real ale bar.

The car show highlighted a trend of recent years, with newer cars outnumbering older ones and very few pre-war cars.Mum did at least get to be reunited with a Standard Vanguard.

After that, we had time for a quick trip to Oakamoor for a dog walk, and, in my case, a chance to take more photos of the old limekilns as research for Gerralt Rd.

The Silk Route

My father's side of the family are descended from Huguenot immigrants. They were clockmakers who eventually moved to Leeds and the locomotive works, before a branch moved to Birmingham to work on the steam trams.

Another industry the Hugenots worked in was weaving. In various towns and cities, like Coventry and Leek, you can still see houses with large windows on the upper floor to illuminate the looms.

Macclesfield's fortunes grew from the increased industrialisation of silk weaving and so after the exhibition I made for the Silk Museum.

Well, not directly. It was the week of Pizza Express's 60th anniversary, so I had to have lunch in one for old times' sake. I thought my then-girlfriend was so sophisticated when she introduced me to the original Pizza Express in Soho in the early nineties. For years, the Veneziana was my go-to order. Sadly, it is no longer on the menu.

After what turned into a very leisurely lunch ,I headed into the historic centre of the town,

The Silk Museum itself is fascinating. Unfortunately, I just missed the last tour of the Day of Paradise Mill, where they demonstrate the process.