heritage

Lancaster: City of the past

/ mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

My home city of Manchester is a heady mix of historical architecture and shiny new skyscrapers.

Travel north by train for an hour and you’ll reach Lancaster, a historic city that owes a great deal to its past… CONTINUE READING BELOW

Tap/click first image to view gallery

From Lancaster train station it’s just a short walk to the city’s imposing castle, which was also a prison until as late as 2011.

Dark walls and deep crenellations give way to charming old houses around Castle Hill, some of them quaintly crooked, others with vine-covered porches.

As I wandered around the city centre on a sunny day, the dark sandstone of historical buildings persisted. There wasn’t a whiff of any new architecture, let alone the lofty glass and steel we have here in Manchester.

Lancaster may have an old shell, but it’s a thriving place filled with coffee shops, food stalls and everything needed by modern city dwellers. There was a pleasant hum of life walking around its historic streets.

Lancaster is also blessed with an old waterway and it’s well worth a diversion to wander along its towpath and under some low-slung bridges – they’ve been there some time too!

Link to mikeosbornphoto's Instagram account

Lancashire: A glorious getaway

/ mikeosbornphoto / Leave a comment

Lancashire is a county of northern England blessed with a beautiful coastline, forests, waterways and heritage towns.

My home city of Manchester was part of Lancashire until 1974, so there’s a natural pull to day trips which are close to home.

I’ve often explored the county’s glorious countryside, which offers an escape from the big city. Here’s just some of what I’ve captured on camera with plenty more still to see.

Where should I go next in Lancashire? Please leave your comments below

Tap/click first image to see gallery

Link to mikeosbornphoto's Instagram account

Stockport: Discovering the Old Town

/ mikeosbornphoto / Leave a comment

Stockport is just a short train ride away from Manchester but it’s taken me five years to explore the historical Old Town.

It’s bristling with beautiful architecture, from the imposing St Mary’s church, an elaborate Victorian glasshouse that houses an indoor market, to the magnificent Art Deco Plaza cinema and theatre. Come and take a look… READ MORE BELOW

Tap/click first image to see gallery

The old town is made to explore on foot, although be prepared for some steep stairways and uphill sections.

It’s now made for day trippers, with independent shops to explore and cafes to enjoy. Everyday outlets are all concentrated in the cheerlessly modern Merseyway mall which is best avoided.

You should also wander down to the area where you can visit Stockport’s air raid shelters and see the hat museum’s totemic chimney. There you’ll find the 1930s splendour of the Plaza and can glimpse the town’s impressive railway viaduct.

If you think Stockport is just the rail stop before Manchester, then think again. It was a pleasure to visit and I’ll be heading there again.

Stockport town centre sign

Link to mikeosbornphoto's Manchester photo shop

Stately Cheshire

/ mikeosbornphoto / 8 Comments

Tatton Park is a grand mansion with sumptuous grounds which was once home to a very privileged family. But these days, it attracts thousands of visitors and is an excellent day trip from Manchester. 

There are formal gardens, water features and even an old potting shed to explore, while an orchid show was a dazzling side attraction. The house is exquisitely decorated. Photography is permitted but the light is kept very low, which may have proved to be an unexpected advantage…

Click first image to view the gallery

Click to enlarge

The Duke’s backyard

/ mikeosbornphoto / 13 Comments

This is a magnificent garden tucked between the suburban sprawl of London and one of the world’s busiest airports, Heathrow. It is Syon Park, part of the Duke of Northumberland’s estate, also consisting of a sturdy and impressive stately pile – not to mention a fantastic ‘greenhouse’.

It was a partially sunny day drilled by a cold wind with the threat of rain. But these are beautiful grounds to capture, from the magnificence of the Giant Rhubarb at the water’s edge, to a whole host of flowering plants and natural details. Apart from the older couple seated and enjoying the peace and quiet, I had the run of this London gem.

Click first image to view the gallery

The Photo Shop