Wednesday, 17 July 2024

Half An Hour In Houghton

Houghton, near St Ives - the Cambridgeshire one, not that place in Cornwall -  half an hour to kill - lets find some photos



Centre of the old village - the Three Horseshoes Inn - a view down the St Ives Road 



On the corner - a soldier from the war memorial? - "July Events - Pizza My Heart"? - nice hanging basket anyway


Is that a real cartwheel?



"Beer of Houghton" - a real old style garage - not many of those left these days - Fuelcard Only, that goes back a bit



Fierce guard dogs - I don't think so!



An old AA sign - cars awaiting some tender loving care 



The leaning house on the corner - safe as houses



1590 - notice that the top doorstep is made from an old millstone



Flowers on the windowsill - sculpture in the garden



Colman's Mustard - the best you can get - at one time it was all you could get - just a metal sign on someone's shed



Full bloom - and half timbered



The village is rightly proud of its "community owned" shop



Man peers over wall with binoculars - thief hides below - Neighbourhood Watch - Houghton style



Sad news indeed - Love Lane is a dead-end!



I still haven't lost my fascination with windows



 A lamp post - the church spire - but that's not where we're going next.


Take care.


29 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous town. Thank you for picking out some of the highlights for us.

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  2. Hi John - well all I can say is ... that that is a delightful tour of a very pretty English village - wonderfully captured by you ... cheers and thank you - Hilary

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  3. You found some interesting things to photograph . I would have missed most of those.
    I reckon those old cars need more than TLC!

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  4. Me gusta mucho la primera foto y las plantas que adornan el pueblo.
    Que tengas un buen día.

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  5. You killed your half hour very well, John. Great whimsical narrative to accompany the pictures.

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  6. Quite an assortment that caught your eye. When I see things like that a photo comes to mind but never seems to happen.

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  7. Great glimpse of the village, John!

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  8. Thanks, John! You notice so many lovely details that many of us might just drive by and miss! Great job!

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  9. Well that was a wonderful half hour, so much to see and admire. I love the old AA sign I remember my dad joining. We had a motorbike and side car and as a child I was thrilled when the AA men used to put their hands up when we passed by on the road:)

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  10. Excellent half hour, finding beauty and thoughtful things to photograph. I must wonder at Three Horseshoes and the sad WW I soldier...perhaps the original owner, or?

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  11. That was a lovely way to spend a half hour. "Love Lane is a dead end" made me laugh. Thank you for that! (NewRobin13)

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  12. That's a very bright and clean village.

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  13. Thanks for that wonderful tour, John. The mustard sign is so elegant.

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  14. Such a pretty village to wander through. You made it a fabulous visit for us, too.

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  15. Wonderful set of photos...still haven't got on google earth....now another reason to get on.

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  16. The old petrol pump really caught my attention

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  17. It's always "3" Horsehoes isn't it? Never 6, or 27.

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    1. Not sure about this particular pub, but many Three Horseshoes were next door to the blacksmith's forge, so I suppose that the idea was that you popped in for a pint while your horse had its fourth shoe replaced

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  18. Those wonky half timbered houses fascinate me. I was in one. I cannot remember the name of it. but it was a huge old place and it was a windy day. The building swayed and creaked just as it has for hundreds of years...yet never fallen down.

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  19. I never thought about the history of the name The three horse shoes. Thanks for the explanation. A beautiful village. Much to see for those who take the time to look.

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  20. So many treasures that caught your eye. It looks a delightful place.

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  21. What a lovely village John - somehow you have manageed with your choice oc photographs to capture the spirit of the place. Thank you.

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  22. Beautiful place, that MGA has to be worth a bob or two if it is restored

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  23. It's amazing how much of the town you were able to capture, John, in only 30 minutes.

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  24. What a nice tour of the town, it's a beauty! Thanks for sharing.

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  25. Such a gorgeous town. I'm fascinated by that leaning house. How long has it been that way? As always, you captured all the beautiful flowers. Thanks for the tour!

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    1. Quite a long while in all probability. They built in those days with green wood which always warped to some extent. They thought it just distributed the load more evenly and actually made the buildings safer. Well, it's still here anyway!

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    2. 15th and 16th century according to the Register of Listed buildings and used to be an inn called the Black Horse.

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