Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

More images from my visit to the Catholic Cathedral, less close-up detail, more use of the wide-angle lens, and different treatments of the same subject in some cases for variety.

These first 3 images of the same subject, although from different angles, use;

1) Standard Processing
2) 'Classic Chrome' Film Simulation
3) Black and White Film simulation

The following images show the amount of colour that washes over the interior of the Cathedral.

Outside the building, the large Stained Glass slabs give an idea of the colour that awaits inside.

Cathedral Colour

I took the train into Liverpool to spend 90 minutes wandering round the Catholic Cathedral looking for colourful images, as this building is always full of wonderful colour from the light streaming through the stained glass windows.

As well as taking plenty of 'standard' images, I concentrated on finding colourful details, and here are the results!

Fuji X-T1, 10-24mm Fuji lens.

Snowy Mesnes Park

Although the snow was much thicker in the higher altitude of Winstanley, we ventured down to Mesnes Park in Wigan for some Wintery Victorian park scenes!

Fuji X-T1, 10-24mm Fuji lens.

Poolstock's Faded Glory

Poolstock, on Wigan's south-west, was once the major industrial area of the town, containing the River Douglas, the Leeds/Liverpool Canal hub and the large cotton mills that provided employment.

Nowadays the derelict factories, quiet waterways and crumbling infrastructure are barely noticed as the new bypass cuts through the once-busy area.

A plan to regenerate as the Wigan Pier Quarter is only a paper dream.

I've photographed this area previously, but not with a wide-angle lens that shows much more of the once-mighty structures.

Fuji X-T1, 10-24mm Fuji lens.

Faded Reflection

Cast Reflections

Boiling River Douglas

Goods No More

Go With The Flow

The Way Through

Where the Pier Worked

Pier Panorama

Red Brick Decay

Pier Light

Regeneration Begins?

Visit to the Loyal North Lancashire Regimental Headquarters

In the course of our research into our ancestors' Military past, Josie and I visited the Fulwood Barracks in Preston which is active Headquarters of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, one original regiment of which is the Loyal North Lancashires.

My First Cousin (x3 removed), John Hopkins, Private 13488, served with them throughout World War 1.

The Lancashire Infantry Museum is housed here, and we had to go through a rigorous security check and be issued with military passes to be worn and displayed at all times whilst on the base!
You can see how delighted we were!!

The Curator was very helpful and gave us 2 boxes of original documents to look through relating to the 8th Battalion, with which John served.
It was fascinating to hold and read documents written on the battlefields of WW1.

Josie studying documents

John Hopkins was a 'bad shot' and had to have extra shooting practice!!

The Nominal Rolls containing details of Next of Kin

Memorial to a fallen Captain

One of the most poignant typed Special Orders we found was the above, typed out to be read to the troops the day before 'a great battle'. It is full of exhortations and brave words designed to rally the troops, but in hindsight it became an epitaph for thousands of young men who would be slaughtered on the fields of the Somme in the worst days of the British army.

We also toured the Museum after our research which contains fascinating reminders and personal effects of soldiers from all the Lancashire Regiments and the many Wars and battles they have fought.

Chalk carvings from the Front

Regimental drumhead

LNLR entering Cambrai

LNLR 8th Battalion

LNLR 8th Battalion

Personal effects from the Front