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Our European Adventure 2018
  • DeanandLindasTravels
  • DeanandLindasTravels

Our European Adventure 2018

A 6 month trip on a shoestring Les mer
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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende

    Snowshill Village

    6. juli 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    The village is small, quaint, and contains a church, a pub, and not much else. It is called Snowshill because it is on a hill that receives snow.

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende
    Dunkirk Mill, converted into housing
    2

    Nailsworth: A Wool Town

    7. juli 2018, England ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    The valleys around Stroud (just north of Nailsworth) once had about 150 woolen mills. There are a few in Nailsworth that offer tours, to show the process of making West of England woven felt, which was dyed "Stroud Scarlet" and made into military uniforms.

    First we learned the how weaving was done, from using hand looms in cottages, to larger cottage looms, and finally powered looms in factories.    Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende
    Fulling machine pounds the wet cloth under the hammers
    One of the original water mill that powered the machinesWater-powered fulling machine-this one squeezes the cloth, instead of pounding itHand teasel versus teasel machineTeasels growing in a garden

    Wool Cloth Finishing, Steps 1-2

    7. juli 2018, England ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    On the second tour, we learned about how cloth was finished by felting techniques using water-powered machines. There are three steps.

    Step one: The material is basted together into a loop, and put through a Fulling machine. The machine soaks the cloth in water with a small amount of soap (they used Fuller's earth in the old days), and then pounds it. This shrinks, softens, and loosens the fibers, and the cloth becomes thicker.

    Step 2: After the cloth is dry, the nap is raised using dried plants called teasels. It used to be done by hand, of course. Manufacturers have not found or invented anything better than the dried plant, so they are still used today.    Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende
    Cross-Cutter cuts off the excess nap, making an even finish
    The first lawn-mowerEgypt Mill

    Wool Finishing Process: Step 3

    7. juli 2018, England ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    The third step is shearing the excess nap to make it an even thickness. It used to be done by Shearmen using heavy shears. This was the best paid position in the wool industry. Then a Cross-Cutter machine was developed for this process, powered by the water wheel.

    Edwin Budding, a mechanic for the mills in Stroud invented the lawnmower using the same type of rotary blade used in the Cross-Cutter.

    Another mill in Nailsworth, the Egypt Mill, has been converted into a popular hotel and restaurant.    Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende
    Our boat is the little one next to the stairsGoing through the swing bridgeThese smaller locks are manually operatedJust some of the many narrowboats moored hereA typical canal boat, with solar panels, satellite, and flower pots

    Costwold Canals, Saul Junction

    8. juli 2018, England ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Canals were built in the 1700s-1800s all over England, usually to connect one river with another. The Gloucester-Sharpness canal was built to bypass a treacherous part of the River Severn. We took a cruise on a small canal boat to see a working canal and some narrow-boats. Most of the traffic is recreational now.

    Most of the boats along the canal sides are treated like RVs with their own subculture. Many are being used for the whole season. They can stay for two weeks free in a spot, then they have to move, but not very far. And it's great that there are no biting bugs here!    Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende
    Concrete freighter reinforcing the bank
    We enjoyed a 10-15 minute walk along the towpath to the ship graveyard.Dean talked to a fishermanSign is not very confidence-building!

    Purton Ship Graveyard: A New Purpose

    8. juli 2018, England ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    The River Severn is difficult to navigate due to tidal changes. At the area near Purton, the banks were eroding and threatening the canal walls. Between 1909 and 1965, about 30 old unneeded ships (the oldest was 1863) were beached to try to stop the erosion. They would run the ships aground during high tide and winch them further up the bank. Then when the tide receded, they would cut holes in the hulls and allow plants to grow into them. Eight of the ships were 1940s concrete freighters, designed to haul grain, but they were too damp for that purpose.Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende

    Aberdulais Tin Works, Wales

    10. juli 2018, Wales ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Wales was the leading producer of tinplate in the Victorian era (1830s-1900). We enjoyed hearing how tinplate was made: Iron is rolled into thin sheets, folded, and re-rolled several times, then cleaned with acid, dipped into tin, and finally oiled and polished.

    The falls were really beautiful at one time, evidenced by paintings, but the area was dynamited to obtain stone for building a canal. It is still a pretty area, though.    Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende
    Woven straw ceiling lining, helps keep thatched roof in placeSaggy bed--needs the ropes under the mattress tightened!

    1610 Farmhouse at St Fagans

    10. juli 2018, Wales ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    Much of Wales has its own language, but this farm was from the Southeastern peninsula, which has always spoken English. The house is red to protect against evil spirits. The barn is attached, but on many farms, the barn and the house are one building, with a common door in the middle.

    This house has more than one upstairs bedroom, meaning that the farmer was well off. Look at the woven straw mats lining the ceiling--that was unusual. They are tied to the timbers and to the thatched roof, to keep the roof in place in case of storms.    Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende
    Tailor's shopWork area of tailor's shopHardware storePosing at a Victorian loo!

    Recreation of a Village

    10. juli 2018, Wales ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    A lot of work went into putting these displays together! In the General store, most of the items are copied from the ones they were able to find.

    On the right side of the store is a cast iron Victorian urinal. There were no public toilets until the Public Health Act of 1848, and virtually none for women. The British term "Spending a penny" came from the cost of using the public toilet.Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende
    Workmen's Institute
    Workmen's Institute Dance and Social roomToll BoothTanneryCockpitInside of the Cockpit

    More Welsh Heritage Buildings

    10. juli 2018, Wales ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    In 1916 the Workmen's Institute was built for the coal mining community, for their social, educational and cultural activities.

    The Toll house was a one room building, with a business end, and a living quarters. It was very unpopular among rural people. In the 1843 Rebecca Riots, many toll gates were destroyed by men wearing dresses and blackening their faces to disguise themselves.

    Late 1700s Tannery, where leather was made--the process took 18 months and was very smelly!

    1600s cockpit: after cockfighting was outlawed in 1849, it became a pig weighing center, and more recently, a garage.    Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende

    Iron Workers' Terrace Houses

    10. juli 2018, Wales ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    The six houses and their contents and gardens are displayed at different periods of their history, from 1805 to 1985. Each home contains a living room and small kitchen. A steep circular staircase next to the fireplace takes you up to the bedroom. A small pantry with a second bedroom above are located at the back.Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende
    Many of these are fake windows, just to make everything look balanced.View of the Cotswold escarpment from the front of the houseRobert Parsons, Texan architect, who restored the house and gardensLook closely at the trim--Robert Parson's own design with cattle skulls!

    Newark Park, National Trust

    11. juli 2018, England ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    The National Trust preserves historic homes, gardens, and other special places in the United Kingdom. We joined when we went to Snowshill, since we will be in the UK for the summer, and we have time to take advantage of the membership. We can get in to all these places for free, so once we've been to 4 or 5 of them, the membership has paid for itself.

    Newark Park was a Tudor hunting lodge that was added onto, becoming a Georgian manor. Over the years it fell into a terrible state before it was bequeathed toThe National Trust. In 1970, a Texan architect began living in it, paying rent of one pound per year, and restoring the house and gardens.    Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende

    Gloucester Victorian Docks

    12. juli 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Gloucester is on the canal system, and is the farthest inland port in England.
    The Britannia Warehouse (the one on the right) was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt using the same bricks.

    The pleasure boat, Queen Boadicea II, was one of the little ships used during WWII to rescue the stranded soldiers and sailors at Dunkirk. We just saw that movie since arriving in England. It makes everything much more real when we are here.

    The Sailors' Chapel is right at the docks, where many a sailor has prayed before departure, and given thanks for a safe return.
    .    Les mer

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende
    1

    Gloucester

    12. juli 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    As we walked around, we thought, "What a nice city!" It was very clean, locations were easy to find, and altogether pleasant!

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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Reisende

    Gloucester Folk Museum

    12. juli 2018, England ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    This building was a Tudor merchant's house, built in the 1500s. The interior is shown as it would have been in those days, with its beams exposed and painted designs on some of the walls.

    It includes an exhibit on the pin factory that operated in this building from 1745-1853. It really never crossed our minds how pins were made, and we found it interesting.

    There was also an exhibit of bridal gowns and how the styles and traditions changed.    Les mer

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