A packed house - Folklore of the Sandstone Trail January 23rd

Bob Welch writes

 

As regards the meeting on Thursday last we had a packed house, or least we nearly ran out of chairs, of somewhere around 55 people to hear Johnny Gillett speak on "Legends of the Sandstone Trail". 

I am not sure where I start to describe the evening's events apart from to say that it was amazing.

Johnny is a Storyteller and his performance weaved ancient legends about the area with his own interpretations of the landscape and how it might have formed in ancient times. As such he explained how he had come to write 2 books around old local folk tales, one on Cheshire and one on Staffordshire. 

His formidable skills as a storyteller had the audience enthralled for well over an hour.

Cheshire Local History Association

The Society is a member of this Association and Doug Haynes is on the Executive Committee. The Association have recently published their new programme. Please click on CLHA Programme. I understand members of TB&DHS are welcome at these events. Of particular note is the talk by Peter Willis on 'Memories of Tarporley' to be given as part of the AGM on 15th April in the Done Room, Tarporley.

Peckforton Castle visit

About 20 members enjoyed a tour of this Gothic mansion on December 12th. Peckforton Castle was built of local sandstone between 1844 and 1850 for John Tollemache, the largest landowner in Cheshire at the time. Although its design is that of a medieval castle, it was built as a family home. The Tollemache's main house is however Helminghall in Suffolk and Peckforton was used only occasionally by the family. Since 1939, the Castle has been used as a hostel for children and then a film set, and is now a luxury hotel. Members had the chance to see all the main rooms, the cellar, now a bar, the private chapel and the restoration work following the major fire in 2011.The intriguing visit was completed by a bar meal.

For more details of the Castle see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peckforton_Castle#Later_history_and_present_use and http://www.peckfortoncastle.co.uk/

Pictures to follow

Folklore of the Sandstone Trail January 23rd

Our next meeting will be a talk by Johnny Gillett. Johnny is a storyteller and will engage us in folklore of Cheshire including stories about Beeston Castle, old Nell of Bunbury and Robin Hood's Tump.

As usual 7:30pm Tiverton Village Hall and all welcome.