Wonderful Weekend Two, Too

Beautiful Buxton Bus-let

On Wednesday last (11th January) fbb was in the audience at the Windsor Fellowship (Seaton United Reformed Church). The speaker was the Minister, Ian Kirby, who was showing slides of his multifarious expeditions round the country. Some snap were from Derbyshire; Buxton to be specific.

Ian did not "take the waters" but did take a picture of this:-

It's a milk float, of course, done up to look like an open top bus, but with no seats on the "top deck". It is staffed by folk in "period" costume and offers tours of the spa town.

Spookily, the very next day, the bus appeared very briefly in an episode of "Antiques Road Trip".  Presented Tim Wonnacott merely said "strange bus" as the very mini vehicle passed the camera.

It looks like an 8-seater.

The proprietors call is a "Victorian Tram" and a variety of tour is offered depending on dates and seasons.

The Pudding Tour seemed attractive to fbb, for reasons not entirely clear. (?)

This special tour combines some of the best of Buxton. We offer you the experience of the lower town of Buxton explaining the rich history which features Roman settlers, royal prisoners and reveals the possible site of a Roman amphitheatre. Customers on this tour will receive a voucher to partake in a pot of tea for one or a filter coffee and a “Buxton Pudding” at Hargreaves teashop!

But at £12 a head for the tour, fbb might just buy the pudding!

Unlike at nearby Bakewell, there is no such thing as an official "Buxton Pudding", but the Original Buxton Pudding Company seeks to revive the concept of traditional UK puds, now so disparaged by the Food Police. Yummy yummy!

Bridport at Beaminster

But where, pray is the public hall? fbb managed to turn into Fleet Street, noticing that it was called Fore Place.

In passing, he spotted a sign to a car park ...

... but when the outskirts of the village were passed it was a case of turn in the school car park ...

... (empty of cars), retrace the route so far taken and try again. In a slight panic, fbb asked a local yokel. "That would probably be in the Town Hall," he opined, "by the car park."

O silly fbb. Fancy not knowing that this venerable pile was formerly the Town Hall and is now known as the Public Hall.

And how remiss to miss the massive missive leaning against the wall!

fbb did suggest to a very nice man that clearer signage might help. But fbb handed over his £3 (not £33!) and had a superb hour or so in a small but beautifully formed "do".

Here are a few snippets with a full report held over until tomorrow. Here is a cut down, but recognisable, Airfix Church.

A man doing something strange with his wagons.

A wonderfully low cost full-size snack bar.

A layout inside a coffee table ...

... that runs automatically. A gorgeous vegetable garden ...

... and note, unusually, brownish grass during a period of hot weather! Of course, Thomas, Annie and Clarabel were there and youngsters (of all ages) were invited to drive the train. Nice touch.

And an "N" gauge model based loosely (very loosely) on the former Longmoor Military Railway ...

... and loads of military stuff.

But there was one layout which was really very different from all the others on display. fbb thinks that even a non railway modeller will be fascinated, especially if he/she is of "mature" years.

That is saved for tomorrow.

 Next heritage model blog : Monday 16th January