Silloth and a new bridge in Carlisle

This update is a little more fragmented than usual because of lots of things happening this weekend.

Saturday morning was to be time for us, as we all put on our coats and went for a brisk walk along the seafront at Silloth.

Although a little breezy, it was very clear, and you could see all the way across the bay to Scotland.

Charlie found a new trick today and used me as a shield against the wind.

Every time he started to feel a bit cool he would walk on the downwind side of me, so I sheltered him from the sea breeze.

Right along the sea front we walked before returning once we had past the old wooden lighthouse.

Christ Church, Silloth

Passing in front of of the main church in Silloth, Christ Church, mum wondered if it was open.  We have been to the town so many times and Mum or Dad have never been inside.

Today was to be their lucky day, as the big wooden door swung open and a magnificent church was exposed.

Mum ventured in first whilst we stayed outside with dad. She returned after a short while with a smile and clutching a couple of leaflets, purchased via the usual slot in the wall honesty box.

She said that the church was very unusual and was built inside from bricks of two or three colours. Not at all what she had expected from the outside.

After dad had been inside, the two leggers admitted that it had the grand style of that seen in old Victorian public toilets or old public houses.  Which doesn’t sound to inviting but what do we know about culture:-)

Silloth Cafe

No trip to Silloth would be complete without lunch from the Silloth Cafe and chip shop.

Smokey sausage and chips for two please mum, with an extra small sausage for us please.

Whilst we waited outside with dad, he noticed on a bright orange sign, that if we were to come here tomorrow we could have had our Sunday lunch of Roast Beef, Yorkshire pud, potatoes and vegetables for just under £5.

We wondered if this was to take away and how you would stop the gravy leaking through the newspaper?

Queens Hotel ghost sign

We returned to the car to eat our chips, looking out across the bay and listening to the radio.

With our bellies full, dad was looking through the photographs and noticed that on one of the buildings pictures, was the feint outline of some text.

Further processing at home on the computer reveals what dad thinks are the words ‘ QUEENS HOTEL  MOTOR CARA ‘.  Sadly the last letters have faded.  Do you know what they were and what the advert was for?

Other stuff this week

Onto the other stuff from this week now, and Dad came home via the river path earlier in the week as he wanted to see how the new bridge across the River Eden was looking.

The Northern relief road is being built from the north of the City of Carlisle to the west, with the hope of relieving some of the traffic pressures from the town.

Using a very big crane, said to be the largest in Britain at 1200 tonnes, the first section has been lifted into place.

This is a massive building scheme for the city and one that has to take account of the area being an arterial waterway.

On the north bank it would appear that a number of very large corrugated tubes have been installed to allow water the pass downstream unhindered.

It is assumed the road surface will go on top of these.

If this is the solution to water backing up into the city then is would seem like a very cost effective and lateral solution to the problem.

Carlisle City boundary marker

On his way back from photographing the new bridge dad spotted this marker stone at the corner of a field.

Interestingly it is very much like the one we spotted at the rear of the main Carlisle cemetery back in September.

At the top of the marker, which stands about 1m tall, is a carved cross and the letters CC.

Do you know what they were for and do you know of any others around the City?

That’s all for now

Buster and Charlie