ABC Wednesday: A is for Andy Pearce

On the evening before the start of the annual Victorian Extravaganza Weekend, the lifeboat "Andy Pearce" was towed onto the slipway where it remained for the whole weekend. The Mersey class "Andy Pearce 12-006" arrived at Llandudno on 15th November, 1990 and after a week of intensive crew training, she was placed 'on station' on 23rd November. It is capable of operating at up to 17 knots (31 km/h) and can be launched from a carriage but can also lie afloat or be slipway launched when required. Its propellers are fully protected from damage when launching or in shallow water by partial tunnels and two bilge keels. Its low height can be further reduced by collapsing its mast and aerials which then allows it to be stored in a boathouse. A sealed cabin gives it a self-righting ability. Power comes from two Caterpillar 285hp turbo-charged engines. It carries 1,110 litres (290 US gal) of fuel to give it a range of 240 nautical miles (440 km). It has a crew of six and can carry a X Boat inflatable which it can deploy at sea. Its survivor compartment can carry 43 people, but more than 21 prevents self-righting should the boat capsize.

The All-weather Lifeboat 'Andy Pearce' cost approximately £455,000.00 to build and was provided out of a legacy from Mr Andrew Pearce, plus other gifts and legacies. Andy Pearce successfully carried out her first rescue on 17th April 1991 when she was launched in early darkness to rescue two men in difficulties off the Rhos-on-Sea breakwater. The two men, in a 25' converted ships lifeboat, had been in trouble at the boat's mooring because of a strong north westerly wind (more than 40 mph) and a four foot swell. Both men were taken abroad the lifeboat unharmed and landed safely at Deganwy.

After use the lifeboat is towed back through town to the lifeboat station. Llandudno Lifeboat Station is the only lifeboat station in the UK to have its boathouse located in the middle of town. Whereas most lifeboat stations are situated next to the sea for obvious reasons, Llandudno Lifeboat Station is situated in Lloyd Street, almost equidistant from both of Llandudno's shores. The reason for this unique situation goes back to 1861 when the boathouse was positioned so that the boat could be towed equally quickly to either North Shore or West Shore.

The current boathouse was constructed in 1903. A new lifeboat station is currently being built at Craig-y-Don where a larger boat can be accomodated.

For more information visit the lifeboat website.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Reflections at Droylsden Marina

Droylsden Marina lies off an arm of the Ashton Canal that used to lead to the now lost Hollinwood Branch.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections.

Kitten at New Islington

A couple of weeks ago I was exploring the marina at New Islington which caters for boats on both the Ashton and Rochdale Canals but without providing an access between them. As I was there a little kitten appeared and started its own investigation of me.

I'm not sure whether black cats are supposed to be lucky or not but afterwards I made my way through Ancoats heading for a main road. As I cut across the area I encountered a large group of mainly adult males chanting "We are going out" coming towards me. I crossed the road and headed away from them. A few moments later I heard them running up the street followed by police cars with their sirens wailing. I was a couple of streets away and photographing an old church and a derelict pub by then. It was obviously all kicking off and my thoughts were to get away from the vicinity. There was a young couple nearby who had also been taking photographs of the buildings. Their car was parked nearby and I asked them for a lift out of the area. Fortunately they agreed and dropped me off near Piccadilly railway station.

I later heard on the news that they were so-called football fans and the police "kettled" them. See the news report on Manchester Evening News. I guess in the end I was indeed lucky.

A contribution to
Weekend Reflections;
Scenic Weekends;
Saturday Critters;
Camera Critters.

Reflections on the Ashton Canal

A gaggle of geese swim past an old narrowboat on the Ashton Canal between Portland Basin and Guide Bridge.

A contribution to
Weekend Reflections;
Scenic Weekends;
Saturday Critters;
Camera Critters.

Zozagardo at New Islington

The New Islington Marina is centred on Old Mill Street in an area of Ancoats, Manchester, that has seen considerable urban regeneration since the Millennium. The marina services both the Ashton Canal on one side and the Rochdale Canal on the other, although there is no direct connection between the two canals.

The Zozagardo is a 57ft, metal-hulled narrowboat from the River Weaver that has been based at the New Islington Marina since 2011.

The large central basin off the Rochdale Canal has a number of permanent moorings.

Some narrowboats have been moored at New Islington long enough to develop their own canal-side garden.

A contribution to
ABC Wednesday;
Wednesday Waters;
Skywatch Friday.

ABC Wednesday: O is for Orinoco Goose

The Orinoco Goose is a 5-star, 69ft long, 8-berth narrowboat that operates out of the Anderton Basin.

Seen here on the Ashton Canal at Portland Basin by the junction with the Peak Forest Canal, it is probably doing the circuit known as the "Cheshire Ring".

A contribution to
Water World Wednesday;
ABC Wednesday.

N is for Narrowboats

This narrowboat is called Tinkerbelle and is moored on the Ashton Canal just east of Portland Basin.

On the left past the moorings is Cavendish Mill, a Grade II* listed former cotton spinning mill built between 1884 and 1885 for the Cavendish Spinning Company. It ceased spinning cotton in 1934 and was then used for a variety of purposes before it was converted into housing in 1994.

There is no towpath beyond this point as the canal was closed until the turn of the 21st century when the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was restored and re-opened. The canal now passes through a tunnel under the Asda supermarket.

A contribution to Water World Wednesday and ABC Wednesday.

The Fishing Community Memorial, Fleetwood

The Fishing Community Memorial featuring parts of a trawler was created in 1987 and revamped in 2004.

The first of three inscriptions reads:

"Past this place, the fishermen of Fleetwood have sailed for generations while their families have watched from the shore. Their courage and comradeship under hardship is a living legend. This memorial depicting equipment from a trawler, was placed here in recognition of the great contribution which the men and women of the fishing community have made to the life of Fleetwood"

The second reads:This memorial was devised by
DAVID PEARCE
and designed by
RICHARD GILLINGHAM
with research by
COUNCILLOR BEN JACKSON.
It was donated by
ROBERTSONS of FLEETWOOD
and the site was prepared by
WYRE COMMUNITY SERVICES
with the assistance of
WYRE BOROUGH COUNCIL.
Unveiled by
COUNCILLOR ANTOON VINK MAYOR of WYRE
Decmber 1987
The third reads:
THE REAL PRICE OF FISH IS THE LIVES OF MEN

The Fleetwood based trawlers listed here came to grief on fishing operations at the cost of life. Many other Fleetwood fishermen have been killed or injured in ships great or small in peace and war from Morecambe Bay to beyond the Arctic Circle

BELOVAR 4/12/13, All Hands (10), N. of Barra Head
DORIS 21/1/14, All Hands (10), Isle of Coll
CLARA BELLA Feb 1914, All Hands (13), Iceland
FANNY Feb 1917, All Hands (10), Hebrides
SWAN 7/3/21, 6 Lost, Off Lands End
ANGLE 8/1/24, All Hands (13), Isle of Man
ANIDA 18/10/24, 9 lost, Isle of Islay
CORMORAN 12/1/26, 7 lost, Islay
SALMONBY 23/3/26, 11 lost, North Sea
GAUL 3/4/26, 7 lost, Tiree
CARTEGENA, Jan '28, All hands(12), Irish Sea
BRIARLYN, 13/2/28 8 lost, St Kilda
MALAGA, 18/10/35, All Hands(12) Irish Sea
WINOOKA, 15/3/36 3 lost, St Kilda
KODAMA, 4/12/36, All Hands (12), West Scotland
SAN SEBASTION, 10/1/37, 4 lost, Islay Sound
BOSTONIAN, Jan '38, All Hands(12) S of Barra Head
EXMOUTH, 9/3/38, 3 lost, Islay
ALCAZAR 12/8/38, 7 lost, Irish Sea
WELLVALE, September '39, All Hands(12), Hebrides(U-Boat)
CRESWELL,November '39, 6 lost, Hebrides (U-Boat)
SULBY, November '39, 5 lost, Hebrides (U-Boat)
WILLIAM HUMPHREYS, Nov '39 All hands (13, Hebrides (U-Boat)
BARBARA ROBERTSON, December '39, One lost, NW Scotland (U-Boat)
MERISIA, 26/1/40, All Hands (12) Isle of Man
LOWDOCK, March '40, 11 lost, Humber Estury
OONA HALL, 28/5/40, 8 lost, Irish Sea
THOMAS DEAS 6/2/41, All Hands (12), Humber Estuary
KINCORTH 12/6/4, 3 lost, Anglesey
LADY LOVE, 30/8/41, All Hands, Iceland (U-Boat)
KING ERIK 8/9/41, All Hands, (U-Boat)
NORDALE, 15/1/42, 5 lost, Mull of Galloway
GALLINULE, 14/3/42, 3 lost, Skerryvore
HONDO, 29/11/42, All Hands, Off Barra Head
LOIS, 5/1/47, 1 lost, Iceland
BENGHAZI 24/4/47, 2 lost, Firth of Lorne
DHOON, 12/12/47, 3 lost, Iceland
GOTH, 16/12/48, All Hands(21), Iceland
MICHAEL GRIFFITHS, 31/1/53, All Hands(13), Off Barra Head
HILDINA, 1/12/53, 6 Lost, Muckle Fugga
EVELYN ROSE 31/12/54, 12 lost, Sound of Mull
RED FALCON, 14/12/59, All Hands (19) Skerryvore
A contribution to Blue Monday.

ABC Wednesday: J is forJutland Street, Manchester

Still cobbled (or more accurately stone-sett), Jutland Street is supposedly the steepest street in Manchester. It leads off Store Street and crosses the Ashton Canal before ending on Ducie Street.

Here is how it looked in 1996. Photograph © Aidan O'Rourke and used with permission.

This is the view looking down towards Store Street from the top of the canal bridge.

Looking east from the bridge is Paradise Wharf on the Ashton Canal. The narrowboat "Moorhen" is moored by the canalside apartments at the end of an aqueduct which carries the canal over Store Street towards Great Ancoats or as it now prefers to be called, New Islington.

Looking west from the bridge is Ducie Wharf where the Ashton Canal ends by turning right under Ducie Street into the Rochdale Canal. The towpath here under the shelter of the highrise apartments are home to a number of Manchester's rough sleepers and their canine companions. Beyond the car parks on the left is Piccadilly Station.

A contribution to
Outdoor Wednesday;
Water World Wednesday;
ABC Wednesday;
Skywatch Friday;
Weekend Reflections.

Swans with Cygnets at New Islington

The New Islington Marina is centred on Old Mill Street in an area of Ancoats that has seen considerable urban regeneration since the Millennium. The marina services both the Ashton Canal on one side and the Rochdale Canal on this side, although there is no direct connection here between the two canals. In the background is a large apartment block in a converted mill and known as the "Chips" building.

Hardly visible (click on image for full size version) on the left hand side shrouded in scaffolding is the distressed Ancoats Dispensary which began life in 1828 as the Ardwick and Ancoats Dispensary on Great Ancoats Street. It moved to this building on Old Mill Street in 1869, in order to serve the influx of people who came to the Ancoats area during Manchester's industrial hey-day. The hospital finally closed its doors in 1996 and the dispensary building is the last remaining in the area. A group Ancoats Dispensary Trust was formed in 2012 with the aim of saving the building.

A contribution to
Weekend Reflections;
Scenic Weekends;
Saturday Critters;
I'd rather b birdin;
Camera Critters.

Two swans at Bowness on Windermere

The MV Swan is a sister ship to MV Teal. She was constructed by Vickers Armstrong of Barrow-in-Furness on behalf of the LMS railway. The vessel made her maiden voyage on June 24th 1938 when she carried delegates to the 37th Annual Conference of the Municipal Tramways and Transport Association on a charter from Lakeside. Swan and Teal operate today under the Windermere Lake Cruises flag.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections;
Scenic Weekends;
Saturday Critters;
Our World Tuesday;
Wild Birds Wednesday.

Shadow Shot Sunday: Fleetwood Ferry slipway

This is the slipway at Fleetwood leading down to the ferry that crosses the river Wyre to Knott End on Sea.

When I blogged about Knott End on Sea back in October 2007 I wrote

There are plans to dredge the river to allow even bigger ships to use the Port of Fleetwood.

Ferries had operated from Fleetwood to the Isle of Man from 1876 to 1961, and again periodically from 1971. However, in recent years the service had been restricted to once or twice per year. From 2004, Stena Line provided some passenger accommodation on its thrice daily service to Larne in Northern Ireland. However, Stena Line withdrew the service at the end of 2010.

Now the only ferry is the Wyre Marine service across the river.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Weekend Reflections on the Ashton Canal

(Click on image for full size version)
This view is from bridge #29 of the Ashton Canal, a footbridge which links the towpath on the left to the Portland Basin Museum.

The canal basin is home to several families of Canada geese.

On the left is the packhorse bridge over the entrance to the Peak Forest Canal.

In the background is Junction Mill chimney. The octagonal chimney, 210 feet (64m) high with an unusual tulip-shaped top was built in 1867 to serve Samuel Heginbottom's cotton-spinning mill which operated from 1831 to 1930. The mill itself was eventually demolished and replaced in recent years with canalside apartments called "Boatmans Walk". In 2000 the chimney was bought by Tameside Council and restored.

In the right foreground is Lilith a restored wooden canal boat based at the Portland Basin.

I had just taken this photographer when I turned round to see what became an encounter with a squirrel which story I posted here last Sunday.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections and Scenic Weekends.

Monday Murals: More in the Piccadilly Tunnel

Last week I showed you an official mural of the Manchester Rose in the Piccadilly Tunnel which carries the Rochdale Canal under this part of the city.

(Click on image to view full-size version)
Beyond the lovely official mural is Lock #85 where someone is about to the open the gate for their narrowboat to enter. On the opposite wall, away from the towpath, are a number of "unofficial" murals or street art.

One lies under a police notice and is likely to be temporary.

(Click on image to view full-size version)
Next week I'll show your more of the lock and a rather nicer "unofficial mural".

For contributions from other lovers of wall art visit Monday Murals.

Monday Murals: Manchester Rose 2002

(Click on image to view full-size version)
This is the centre panel of a mural inside the Piccadilly tunnel through which the Rochdale Canal passes.

(Click on image to view full-size version)
For many years, the tunnel below Piccadilly, which includes Lock 85, had been a neglected and menacing area. In 2002/3, in readiness for the re-opening of the whole Rochdale Canal, the tunnel area was improved, with better lighting, dark recesses blocked off by panelling and a new walkway avoiding the need to walk around the edge of the underground area. The new mural brightens the panelling.

(Click on image to view full-size version)
The mural celebrates in art the cultural heritage of Manchester, from the industrial revolution through to the Commonwealth Games. Its centrepieces are renditions of the Commonwealth Games 2002 logo and the canal boat 'Manchester Rose 2002', emphasising the importance that year played in rejuvenating the city's 20 mile waterway system.

More information on the Pennine Waterways website.

A contribution to Monday Murals.

Return visit to Southport

There is an old bridge over the Marine Lake at Southport. When we were there last year we looked across the lake from it towards Funland. If you are energetic you can hire a rowing boat and explore the lake using elbow power. Alternatively you could take the leisurely way and board the paddle steamer Southport Belle. Do click on the photogarph to enbiggen it so you see more clearly the landward section of Southport Pier with some benches on it but no-one walking thereon for some reason. Behind it is the start of the newest bridge across the lake - you can see a car crossing it.


The Marine Way Bridge was opened in 2004. We can see the Southport Belle just disappearing underneath it. There seems to be a lot of pedestrians on the bridge. The reason for this is that the landward section of the pier was closed. There was a hole in it. Read the story of the hole in my post of September 7th 2011.


So having crossed the newest bridge we were in time to see that rowing boats or paddle steamer are not the only way to get on the lake - you could choose an exhilarating ride on a jet-boat. Here it is shooting under the Marine Way Bridge towards the pier.

For more bridges visit Sunday Bridges at San Fransico Bay Daily Photo.

ABC Wednesday:Y is for Yachts

I found these yachts parked by the road opposite St Catherine's Sailing Club on Jersey.

More photographs from the island can be found on Jersey 2010.

Visit ABC Wednesday for more Y posts.

ABC Wednesday F is for Fairlie Old Pier

Glen Sannox at Fairlie Pier, Summer 1957.

Nigel Mykura writes

This is the Glen Sannox Clyde steamer docked at Fairlie pier south of Largs. The wooden pier is no longer there though its remains can be seen on satellite photos.

The Glen Sannox was the first ro-ro (roll-on, roll-off), ferry of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company and this was her first season on the Fairlie/Arran run. She also went to Millport on Cumbrae and lots of other Clyde routes. Before the Glen Sannox cars were run on to the ferry using two dodgy planks of wood. Trains ran from both Kilmarnock and Glasgow to connect up with each sailing of the Arran ferry. The number of passengers using this link often required two trains for each sailing on each route. The services from Glasgow also frequently split with one section going to Fairlie Pier Station and the other one to Largs.

I don't remember the size of the pier as the last time I was there was 1963, but I am guessing that this photo was taken from another ferry approaching or leaving the pier. All of the people on the pier are staring at something to the south of the pier, presumably the steamer the photographer was on. There appears to be propeller wash from the second ferry in the right foreground.

There is now a modern jetty just to the north of this position which is not extant. It is also interesting that despite it being high summer, two of the four men on the pier are wearing flat caps and long overcoats. The small green van on the pier appears to have the word SIMPLEX on the side. Already loaded onto the Glen Sannox (or just about to come off) is a red railway freight box car with British Railways in yellow lettering on the side. There is a set of chain slings attached to the box-car indicating trans-shipment by crane at some point. The only recognizable cargo is a load of gas canisters on the trailer on the pier.

Fairlie Brodick Pier 1967.

I travelled on the ferry between Fairlie and Brodick on Arran in 1967. On my page Fairlie not Arran I describe how I discovered that I'd taken a photograph of Fairlie rather than Brodick. The page carries that picture and other shots of the village by later photographers.

I thought this other of my 1967 photos (that had "Brodick" scribbled in pencil on the back) was taken from the ferry looking across the pier at Fairlie and away from the village.

I've just discovered that this one is actually of Brodick Pier. A fuel depot has been built where the cars are parked.

So the one I thought was right was wrong and the one I thought was wrong was right.


Remains of Fairlie Pier.

Thomas Nugent writes

Only one truncated wooden pile was visible at this fairly low state of the tide. There are more piles under the water, but these were not visible today (19th June 2010).

The building in the background is a sewage pumping station which was built in the 1990s in the style of a Victorian railway shed in order to blend-in with the surroundings.

Remains of Fairlie Pier.

The old MOD jetty is visible in the background.


Pier Road.

Virtually all trace of the pier is gone. It was located at the end of the railings.

Some reminiscences of Fairlie can be found on my earlier post Fairlie 1967.

More information on the village can be found on the Fairlie Parish Church website.

For more F posts visit ABC Wednesday.

The photographs by Nigel Mykura and Thomas Nugent are licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Weekend Reflections:The Canal at Woodley

A couple of days ago I had a short walk around Woodley and took some photographs of the Peak Forest Canal.

This was taken from Bridge #12 looking across to what was originally an iron foundry.

You can see the reduced but uncropped full colour original on Geograph where you'll also find more information about the canal.

The opposite view looking towards Bridge #12 from Springlynn's factory can be seen on sithenah.

Check out more weekend reflections at Newtown Area Photos.

ABC Wednesday:O is for the Orion

After I'd taken some photographs the other week near Christie Hospital, I walked towards Withington looking for further photo opportunites and came across The Orion.


From its sign it would appear to have been named after a ship.

If the uboat.net site is to be believed, "HMS Orion" was a light cruiser of the Leander class, launched in 1932 and scrapped in 1949.

According to another website it was part of the British West Indies squadron based in Kingston, Jamaica.

In trying to find out what the connection might be with this South Manchester pub, all I managed to come across was a posting on the Curious Fox website where someone asks

Any information or pictures sought on the ORION INN on Burton Road, Withington, a public house that is still standing today. The inn is still standing today, and my 2x Gt grandfather John Norbury was landlord there in the 1870s/1880s along with his father George Norbury. John was apparently also the parish clerk, and served in the navy on the HMS Orion, which is presumably how the inn first got its name. Would be interested in contact with anyone with a connection to the pub past and present, and especially of any old photos of the Orion Inn around the turn of the century (1900) or earlier. Would also like to talk to anyone who has a Norbury connection in Withington during this period as John and his wife Martha had a number of children.

which rather begs the question - was the pub still called the Orion in the 1870s?

Edit: Since first posting this I've been sent this link to the full history of HMS Orion on the Naval History website.

For more O posts visit ABC Wednesday.