Summer holiday!!!!

This week's collection of photos are the first of a few that I took while on holiday back in August in The Peak District. This collection are from a great tourist attraction at Matlock Bath called "The Heights of Abraham" and "The Tram Way Musuem" in the village of Crich...
Jump to The cable cars from the road below Jump to Jess flying over the houses and tree tops Jump to Up, up and further up Jump to The view from the "Heights of Abraham" Jump to Riber Hall Jump to Our boys and Jess Jump to In the caverns Jump to Another cavern photo taken by Harry Jump to The cable cars coming through the trees Jump to Crich Tramway Village Near Matlock Jump to Stephenson Place Jump to The Red Lion Pub Jump to Looking down the cobble street Jump to The Printers Shop Jump to The old fashion sweet shop Jump to A Number 1 design telephone box. Jump to The Tardis Jump to Tram 45 Jump to A tram with a steam engine Jump to Tram 8
The cable cars from the road below

The cable cars from the road below

This is "The Heights of Abraham" cable car ride which takes you from the car park to the top of the summit where you will find loads to do. Sadly for me this was not going to be easy as I'm not very good with heights but I was going to be brave, and I was.
Jess flying over the houses and tree tops

Jess flying over the houses and tree tops

Here I was trying to take my mind off how far up we were by taking photos, Jess our dog wasn't fussed at all, in fact I think she enjoyed her ride looking out the car.
Up, up and further up

Up, up and further up

On your ride up to the summit you pass over the river and the road that run through the village of Matlock Bath. Lovely views and the sun was shining.
The view from the "Heights of Abraham"

The view from the "Heights of Abraham"

Once at the top and out the cable car there is plenty to do and see from the wonderful views, the caverns - which are a must see, there is a cafe, a shop, exhibitions, The Fossil Factory and The Prospect Tower.

Here we are looking across to Riber Hall which we believe was built around 1862 but now stands empty and derelict.

Riber Hall

Riber Hall

A close up of the house which has, as you can see here in this photo, the bottom windows boarded up. I do hope that this will one day be renovated.
Our boys and Jess

Our boys and Jess

Our 2 boys and the dog enjoying their holiday in the sun...
In the caverns

In the caverns

The next couple of photos were taken by my youngest son, Harry. He loved going in the caverns...
Another cavern photo taken by Harry

Another cavern photo taken by Harry

The cable cars coming through the trees

The cable cars coming through the trees

Now for a bit of history on bringing the estate back to life for the future.....

In 1974 the present owners took over the management of the estate and started to plan for the future. So during the years of 1978 and 1979 the transformation of the estate started and trees were felled, paths were rebuilt, fences added and there were plenty of old mine shafts so these had to be capped off. The public were visiting but not everyone enjoyed the walk to the top of the hill to see the attractions so they had to make something more of the site to keep tourist coming visiting here.

In 1983 they draw up plans for a cable car ride from the bottom to the top of the hill and it also include a shop, visitor centre and cafe, by September 1983 they had planning permission and work started. Trees were felled, foundations put in place and construction began including using a helicopter to build the huge towers that the cable cars would pass over on their wires.

On April 21st 1984 the cable car ride was open to the public.

I have to say it is a great day out. Other attractions include children play areas and many more things to see and do. If you stay near here it's a must. There's more information on "The Heights of Abraham " website.

Crich Tramway Village Near Matlock

Crich Tramway Village Near Matlock

We were staying in the village of Crich which is where this museum is, so we thought we would take a look. What a great place with over 60 trams in and around the site there is plenty to see.

This is one of the trams off for a trip along the quarry which you can ride on as much as you like.

Stephenson Place

Stephenson Place

Named after the famous George Stephenson who had close connections with Crich and still today some of the museum's tramway follows the mineral railway he built.
The Red Lion Pub

The Red Lion Pub

This building was rescued brick by brick from Stoke on Trent and was rebuilt here. Now it houses the upper deck restaurant and the lower deck major bar.
Looking down the cobble street

Looking down the cobble street

The tram here is waiting at the starting point of the ride on the line passing through the village out to the quarry end of the line and then a return back down the line. There are stopping points on the line to get off and explore.
The Printers Shop

The Printers Shop

Inside the printers shop there were many old artifacts and machines to look at. Our boys loved this little building.
The old fashion sweet shop

The old fashion sweet shop

This is what I would call a "proper" sweet shop with all the jars of sweets lined up along the shelves. Another shop our boys loved and by the looks of who's in the photo standing outside eating sweets so did my husband..... He did buy me some too!!
A Number 1 design telephone box.

A Number 1 design telephone box.

This is, I believe, the only A & B button telephone box still working on the British Telecom system in Britain and it was rescued from the grounds of Rochdale Hospital
The Tardis

The Tardis

Rescued from London where it stood on the North Circular Road and was used by the Metropolitan Police.

Jack and Harry standing outside waiting to go in and find Dr Who...

Tram 45

Tram 45

This Tram used to be used local to us, it started life in Southampton and was built in 1903.

This was the first tram to be acquired before the museum existed, it was saved from scrap in 1948 for £10.

A tram with a steam engine

A tram with a steam engine

This tram was built in 1885 by Beyer-Peacock and Co of Manchester. It was then exported to Australia but they weren't satisfied with it and returned it in 1890. It's said that it was to good to scrap so it was used to shunt vehicles on the railway.

The museum acquired it in the early 1960s. In 1985 it was used at The Centenary Event which was held at Blackpool, sadly now this vehicle in not in working order. This is one tram I would love to see working.

Tram 8

Tram 8

I sadly have no information on this tram but it is one of many in the exhibition hall and it just took my eye.

We had a great day here looking around and enjoying the rides on the trams. Sadly it was raining and it is an outdoor museum but it didn't stop us from having fun.... We did go there in August on our "summer" holiday!!!