We recently went up to the village of Longnor, which is a typical Peakland village situated to the furthest northern corner of the Staffordshire Moorlands before its border with Derbyshire, to meet some friends for lunch.
First we had a coffee in the Longnor Craft Centre which is housed in the old Market Hall which is in the Market Place.
The Market Hall
Then we ventured up the little lane at the back of the market place.
The cottage above is called Lambton Cottage which may give you some idea as to where you have seen it before. It was used as the inn in Lambton where Elizabeth Bennet and her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner stayed when they toured Derbyshire in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
Further up the little lane, and below some details picked out along the lane.
Date stone over Lambton Cottage
Sign on a building that is now an artist's studio and gallery.
Heart's tongue fern and wall rue growing on a wall in the lane.
At the back of the cottages on the lane is the church.
There are some very old and interesting grave stones in the churchyard. Especially the one below.
In memory of William Billinge born in a cornfield at Fawfieldhead in this Parish in the year 1679. At the age of 23 years he enlisted into his Majesty's Service under Sir George Rooke and was at the taking of the Fortress of Gibralta in 1704. He afterwards served under the Duke of Marlborough at the ever Memorable Battle of Ramillies, fought on the 23 May 1706 where he was wounded by a musket shot in the thigh. He afterwards returned to his native country and with manly courage defended his Sovereign's rights at the Rebellion in 1715 and 1745. He died with a space of 150 yards of where he was born and was interred here the 30 January 1791 aged 112 years.
Billited by death, I quartered here remain when the last trumpet sounds I'll rise and march again.
Above is the tombstone for three of the daughters of Thomas and Hannah Wood who all died when they were 21 years old. Mary in 1833, Ann in 1834 and Hannah in 1836. How very sad, one wonders why such a thing should happen. It somehow reminded me of the Brontes.
We had lunch at a pub called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. It was very busy and the people serving the food told us they were in the process of changing ownership. I hope whoever takes over doesn't change the inside as it was fascinating and I wish I'd taken some photos but didn't like to as there were so many visitors in there and it seemed intrusive. There were wonderful old photos on the walls and a collection of old clocks plus the table we sat at and those either side of us were glass topped with display cases underneath containing the most wonderful array of objects. Things like cigarette cards, old bus timetables, fountain pens, spectacles, badges and medals and so many other interesting objects.
I loved this sign outside The Cobbles coffee shop in the village, we didn't go in this one and I didn't take photographs as it was being painted on the outside. Spruced up for the coming season, I expect.
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