Visiting the STEAM railway museum at Swindon, home of the Great Western Railway. #MondayBlogs

STEAM - The Museum of the Great Western Railway can be found in the restored Grade II railway building of the former Swindon railway works opposite the Swindon Designer Outlet.  The museum tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the Great Western Railway, often referred to by historians and railway fans as ‘God’s Wonderful Railway’.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (seen above) created the Great Western Railway network becoming regarded as the most advanced in the world.  Unfortunately its more comfortable wide gauge track was spurned by all the other railway companies in Britain.

My Monday Walk at Croft Castle

Croft Castle, set deep in the Herefordshire countryside, was built in Gothic style in the early 17th century.  Now belonging to the National Trust it stands on the foundations of the original medieval building which remained in the ownership of the Croft family for 1000 years. My walk at Croft castle was a lovely combination of house, church, walled garden and countryside.

The central courtyard is a haven of peace.

In the Gallery you can see the beautiful Gothic style chairs 

Jacobean panelling in the blue room.

The small church of St Michael and all Angels is a reminder of the settlement of Croft, now gone.

Within the sheltered walled garden are terracotta pots and a greenhouse full of produce.

There is a flourishing vineyard from which wine is made and sold on site.

And even in late summer there is plenty of colour.

Now visit the original Jo's Monday Walk. This week she is in Knaresborough

My Monday Walk in Ludlow

I always love reading Jo's Monday Walk so today I thought I would join in with a walk I had on a Monday two weeks ago in Ludlow.  It had been a wet weekend so we enjoyed being out in the fresh air on the Monday morning.

This lovely medieval town has to be entered through fortified gateways and is surrounded by beautiful countryside.