Replacing a photo from Apr-15 with a better version.

 

Named: "Princess Salma Bint Abdullah".

 

This aircraft was delivered to the CIT Leasing Corporation and leased to Royal Jordanian Airlines as JY-BAC in Oct-15. Current (Sep-18).

Amroth is a village, parish and community 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Located on Carmarthen Bay, Amroth is noted for its long sandy beach which stretches the length of the village. It regularly earns a Blue Flag award. and is the south-to-north start of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Amroth is within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

 

The name is Welsh, and probably means "on (the brook called) Rhath".

 

The beach stretches the whole length of the village and at extreme low tide, the petrified forest, destroyed when sea levels rose 7,000 years ago, can still be seen. Fossilised antlers, nuts and animal bones and Neolithic flints have been discovered.

 

The parish, which appeared as Amrath on a 1578 parish map of Pembrokeshire, was an important anthracite coal mining area until the end of the 19th century. Slight remains of mines and tramways are still visible. Ruins of Amroth Castle still remain, and one mile inland is the Anglican parish church of St Elidyr, which is a grade II* listed building.

 

Amroth Castle stands on the north side of the unclassified coast road east of the village of Amroth. It is surrounded by a high wall with an entrance archway at the south-western corner. The present building is a 19th-century country house built in the style of a mock castle which possibly replaced a small stone castle dating from the 12th century. The gatehouse is much restored. The ruinous remains of the house are a grade I listed building.

 

After passing through several hands the castle was used as a lunatic asylum in the 1850s. Converted back to a private house in the 1880s it was later owned and occupied by Owen Colby Philipps, the shipping magnate who bought the White Star Line and was created Baron Kylsant of Carmarthen and Amroth in 1923. It passed to his daughter Nesta, who had married George Coventry, grandson of the 9th Earl of Coventry. They moved out in 1930 when George inherited the Coventry title and estates.

 

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs west along the coast from its start at Amroth. This national trail has since 2012 also formed a part of the Wales Coast Path which continues eastwards from Amroth over the headland of Telpyn Point towards Pendine. Amroth is also the southern terminus of the Knights' Way, which runs north to St Davids Cathedral. A section of the Cistercian Way also passes through.

 

Amroth is an electoral ward and a community in Pembrokeshire, which includes Amroth, Crunwere, Summerhill, Stepaside, Pleasant Valley, Wisemans Bridge, Llanteg and Llanteglos. The ward elects a councillor to Pembrokeshire County Council and up to twelve community councillors to Amroth Community Council.

 

The beach which stretches the length of the village earned a Blue Flag award in 2020 and the eastern end has had a lifeguard for part of the summer. Public toilets are available at either ends of the village. The main car park is managed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

 

Pembrokeshire is a county in the south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and is otherwise surrounded by the sea. Haverfordwest is the largest town and administrative headquarters of Pembrokeshire County Council.

 

The county is generally sparsely populated and rural, with an area of 200 square miles (520 km2) and a population of 123,400. After Haverfordwest, the largest settlements are Milford Haven (13,907), Pembroke Dock (9,753), and Pembroke (7,552). St Davids (1,841) is a city, the smallest by population in the UK. Welsh is spoken by 17.2 percent of the population, and for historic reasons is more widely spoken in the north of the county than in the south.

 

Pembrokeshire's coast is its most dramatic geographic feature, created by the complex geology of the area. It is a varied landscape which includes high sea cliffs, wide sandy beaches, the large natural harbour of Milford Haven, and several offshore islands which are home to seabird colonies. Most of it is protected by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and can be hiked on the 190-mile (310 km) Pembrokeshire Coast Path. The interior of Pembrokeshire is relatively flat and gently undulating, with the exception of the Preseli Mountains in the north.

 

There are many prehistoric sites in Pembrokeshire, particularly in the Preseli Mountains. During the Middle Ages several castles were built by the Normans, such as Pembroke and Cilgerran, and St David's Cathedral became an important pilgrimage site. During the Industrial Revolution the county remained relatively rural, with the exception of Milford Haven, which was developed as a port and Royal Navy dockyard. It is now the UK's third-largest port, primarily because of its two liquefied natural gas terminals. The economy of the county is now focused on agriculture, oil and gas, and tourism.

 

Human habitation of the region that is now Pembrokeshire extends back to between 125,000 and 70,000 years  and there are numerous prehistoric sites such as Pentre Ifan, and neolithic remains (12,000 to 6,500 years ago), more of which were revealed in an aerial survey during the 2018 heatwave; in the same year, a 1st-century Celtic chariot burial was discovered, the first such find in Wales. There may have been dairy farming in Neolithic times.

 

There is little evidence of Roman occupation in what is now Pembrokeshire. Ptolemy's Geography, written c. 150, mentioned some coastal places, two of which have been identified as the River Teifi and what is now St Davids Head, but most Roman writers did not mention the area; there may have been a Roman settlement near St Davids and a road from Bath, but this comes from a 14th-century writer. Any evidence for villas or Roman building materials reported by mediaeval or later writers has not been verified, though some remains near Dale were tentatively identified as Roman in character by topographer Richard Fenton in his Historical Tour of 1810. Fenton stated that he had "...reason to be of opinion that they had not colonized Pembrokeshire till near the decline of their empire in Britain".

 

Part of a possible Roman road is noted by CADW near Llanddewi Velfrey, and another near Wiston. Wiston is also the location of the first Roman fort discovered in Pembrokeshire, investigated in 2013.

 

Some artefacts, including coins and weapons, have been found, but it is not clear whether these belonged to Romans or to a Romanised population. Welsh tradition has it that Magnus Maximus founded Haverfordwest, and took a large force of local men on campaign in Gaul in 383 which, together with the reduction of Roman forces in south Wales, left a defensive vacuum which was filled by incomers from Ireland.

 

Between 350 and 400, an Irish tribe known as the Déisi settled in the region known to the Romans as Demetae.  The Déisi merged with the local Welsh, with the regional name underlying Demetae evolving into Dyfed, which existed as an independent petty kingdom from the 5th century.  In 904, Hywel Dda married Elen (died 943), daughter of the king of Dyfed Llywarch ap Hyfaidd, and merged Dyfed with his own maternal inheritance of Seisyllwg, forming the new realm of Deheubarth ("southern district"). Between the Roman and Norman periods, the region was subjected to raids from Vikings, who established settlements and trading posts at Haverfordwest, Fishguard, Caldey Island and elsewhere.

 

Dyfed remained an integral province of Deheubarth, but this was contested by invading Normans and Flemings who arrived between 1067 and 1111.  The region became known as Pembroke (sometimes archaic "Penbroke":), after the Norman castle built in the cantref of Penfro. In 1136, Prince Owain Gwynedd at Crug Mawr near Cardigan met and destroyed a 3,000-strong Norman/Flemish army and incorporated Deheubarth into Gwynedd.  Norman/Flemish influence never fully recovered in West Wales.  In 1138, the county of Pembrokeshire was named as a county palatine. Rhys ap Gruffydd, the son of Owain Gwynedd's daughter Gwenllian, re-established Welsh control over much of the region and threatened to retake all of Pembrokeshire, but died in 1197. After Deheubarth was split by a dynastic feud, Llywelyn the Great almost succeeded in retaking the region of Pembroke between 1216 and his death in 1240.  In 1284 the Statute of Rhuddlan was enacted to introduce the English common law system to Wales, heralding 100 years of peace, but had little effect on those areas already established under the Marcher Lords, such as Cemais in the north of the county.

 

Henry Tudor, born at Pembroke Castle in 1457, landed an army in Pembrokeshire in 1485 and marched to Cardigan.  Rallying support, he continued to Leicestershire and defeated the larger army of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. As Henry VII, he became the first monarch of the House of Tudor, which ruled England until 1603.

 

The Laws in Wales Act 1535 effectively abolished the powers of the Marcher Lords and divided the county into seven hundreds, roughly corresponding to the seven pre-Norman cantrefi of Dyfed. The hundreds were (clockwise from the northeast): Cilgerran, Cemais, Dewisland, Roose, Castlemartin, Narberth and Dungleddy and each was divided into civil parishes; a 1578 map in the British Library is the earliest known to show parishes and chapelries in Pembrokeshire. The Elizabethan era brought renewed prosperity to the county through an opening up of rural industries, including agriculture, mining and fishing, with exports to England and Ireland, though the formerly staple woollen industry had all but disappeared. 

 

During the First English Civil War (1642–1646) the county gave strong support to the Roundheads (Parliamentarians), in contrast to the rest of Wales, which was staunchly Royalist. In spite of this, an incident in Pembrokeshire triggered the opening shots of the Second English Civil War when local units of the New Model Army mutinied. Oliver Cromwell defeated the uprising at the Siege of Pembroke in July 1648.  On 13 August 1649, the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland began when New Model Army forces sailed from Milford Haven.

 

In 1720, Emmanuel Bowen described Pembrokeshire as having five market towns, 45 parishes and about 4,329 houses, with an area of 420,000 acres (1,700 km2). In 1791 a petition was presented to the House of Commons concerning the poor state of many of the county's roads, pointing out that repairs could not be made compulsory by the law as it stood. The petition was referred to committee.  People applying for poor relief were often put to work mending roads. Workhouses were poorly documented. Under the Poor Laws, costs and provisions were kept to a minimum, but the emphasis was often on helping people to be self-employed. While the Poor Laws provided a significant means of support, there were many charitable and benefit societies. After the Battle of Fishguard, the failed French invasion of 1797, 500 French prisoners were held at Golden Hill Farm, Pembroke. From 1820 to 1878 one of the county's prisons, with a capacity of 86, was in the grounds of Haverfordwest Castle. In 1831, the area of the county was calculated to be 345,600 acres (1,399 km2) with a population of 81,424.

 

It was not until nearly the end of the 19th century that mains water was provided to rural south Pembrokeshire by means of a reservoir at Rosebush and cast iron water pipes throughout the district.

 

Throughout much of the 20th century (1911 to 1961) the population density in the county remained stable while it rose in England and Wales as a whole. There was considerable military activity in Pembrokeshire and offshore in the 20th century: a naval base at Milford Haven because German U-boats were active off the coast in World War I and, in World War II, military exercises in the Preseli Mountains and a number of military airfields. The wartime increase in air activity saw a number of aircraft accidents and fatalities, often due to unfamiliarity with the terrain. From 1943 to 1944, 5,000 soldiers from the United States Army's 110th Infantry Regiment were based in the county, preparing for D-Day. Military and industrial targets in the county were subjected to bombing during World War II. After the end of the war, German prisoners of war were accommodated in Pembrokeshire, the largest prison being at Haverfordwest, housing 600. The County of Pembroke War Memorial in Haverfordwest carries the names of 1,200 of those that perished in World War I.

 

In 1972, a second reservoir for south Pembrokeshire, at Llys y Fran, was completed.

 

Pembrokeshire's tourism portal is Visit Pembrokeshire, run by Pembrokeshire County Council. In 2015 4.3 million tourists visited the county, staying for an average of 5.24 days, spending £585 million; the tourism industry supported 11,834 jobs. Many of Pembrokeshire's beaches have won awards, including Poppit Sands and Newport Sands. In 2018, Pembrokeshire received the most coast awards in Wales, with 56 Blue Flag, Green Coast or Seaside Awards. In the 2019 Wales Coast Awards, 39 Pembrokeshire beaches were recognised, including 11 awarded Blue Flag status.

 

The Pembrokeshire coastline is a major draw to tourists; in 2011 National Geographic Traveller magazine voted the Pembrokeshire Coast the second best in the world and in 2015 the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park was listed among the top five parks in the world by a travel writer for the Huffington Post. Countryfile Magazine readers voted the Pembrokeshire Coast the top UK holiday destination in 2018, and in 2019 Consumers' Association members placed Tenby and St Davids in the top three best value beach destinations in Britain. With few large urban areas, Pembrokeshire is a "dark sky" destination. The many wrecks off the Pembrokeshire coast attract divers. The decade from 2012 saw significant, increasing numbers of Atlantic bluefin tuna, not seen since the 1960s, and now seen by some as an opportunity to encourage tourist sport fishing.

 

The county has a number of theme and animal parks (examples are Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, Manor House Wildlife Park, Blue Lagoon Water Park and Oakwood Theme Park), museums and other visitor attractions including Castell Henllys reconstructed Iron Age fort, Tenby Lifeboat Station and Milford Haven's Torch Theatre. There are 21 marked cycle trails around the county.

 

Pembrokeshire Destination Management Plan for 2020 to 2025 sets out the scope and priorities to grow tourism in Pembrokeshire by increasing its value by 10 per cent in the five years, and to make Pembrokeshire a top five UK destination.

 

As the national sport of Wales, rugby union is widely played throughout the county at both town and village level. Haverfordwest RFC, founded in 1875, is a feeder club for Llanelli Scarlets. Village team Crymych RFC in 2014 plays in WRU Division One West. There are numerous football clubs in the county, playing in five leagues with Haverfordwest County A.F.C. competing in the Cymru Premier.

 

Triathlon event Ironman Wales has been held in Pembrokeshire since 2011, contributing £3.7 million to the local economy, and the county committed in 2017 to host the event for a further five years. Ras Beca, a mixed road, fell and cross country race attracting UK-wide competitors, has been held in the Preselis annually since 1977. The record of 32 minutes 5 seconds has stood since 1995. Pembrokeshire Harriers athletics club was formed in 2001 by the amalgamation of Cleddau Athletic Club (established 1970) and Preseli Harriers (1989) and is based in Haverfordwest.

 

The annual Tour of Pembrokeshire road-cycling event takes place over routes of optional length. The 4th Tour, in April 2015, attracted 1,600 riders including Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman and there were 1,500 entrants to the 2016 event. Part of Route 47 of the Celtic Trail cycle route is in Pembrokeshire. The Llys y Fran Hillclimb is an annual event run by Swansea Motor Club, and there are several other county motoring events held each year.

 

Abereiddy's Blue Lagoon was the venue for a round of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2012, 2013, and 2016; the Welsh Surfing Federation has held the Welsh National Surfing Championships at Freshwater West for several years, and Llys y Fran Country Park hosted the Welsh Dragonboat Championships from 2014 to 2017.

 

While not at major league level, cricket is played throughout the county and many villages such as Lamphey, Creselly, Llangwm, Llechryd and Crymych field teams in minor leagues under the umbrella of the Cricket Board of Wales.

 

Notable people

From mediaeval times, Rhys ap Gruffydd (c. 1132-1197), ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth, was buried in St Davids Cathedral. and Gerald of Wales was born c. 1146 at Manorbier Castle. Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) was born in 1457 at Pembroke Castle.

 

The pirate Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart) (Welsh: Barti Ddu) was born in Casnewydd Bach, between Fishguard and Haverfordwest in 1682.

 

In later military history, Jemima Nicholas, heroine of the so-called "last invasion of Britain" in 1797, was from Fishguard, Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton GCB, born in Haverfordwest, was killed at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and Private Thomas Collins is believed to be the only Pembrokeshire man that fought in the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879.

 

In the arts, siblings Gwen and Augustus John were both born in Pembrokeshire, as was the novelist Sarah Waters; singer Connie Fisher grew up in Pembrokeshire. The actor Christian Bale was born in Haverfordwest.

 

Stephen Crabb, a former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Secretary of State for Wales, was brought up in Pembrokeshire and is one of the county's two Members of Parliament, the other being Simon Hart,[90] who served as Secretary of State for Wales from 2019 to 2022.

Replacing an earlier photo taken 21-Jun-16 with a better shot 25-Jun-16.

 

Recently repainted in the Thomas Cook Group's new corporate livery.

 

First flown with the Airbus test registration F-WWYG, this aircraft was delivered to Airtours International Airways and leased to their Danish subsidiary, Premiair, as OY-VKG in Jul-00. The Airtours Group was renamed MyTravel Airways in May-02 and Premiair was renamed MyTravel Airways A/S.

 

The aircraft was wet-leased to Garuda Indonesia Airlines for Haj Pilgrimage operations between Dec-03/Mar-04 and again between Dec-04/Feb-05. In May-05 it was leased back to MyTravel Airways UK for the summer season, returning to MyTravel A/S at the end of Oct-05.

 

The aircraft was wet-leased to Garuda Indonesia Airlines again for a Haj Pilgrimage operation between Dec-05/Feb-06, and between Nov-06/Feb-07 and Nov-07/Jan-08. In May-08 the MyTravel Group was merged into the Thomas Cook Travel Group and MyTravel Denmark was renamed Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia. More Haj Pilgrimage leases for Garuda Indonesia were operated between Nov-08/Jan-09 and Oct/Dec-10.

 

The Thomas Cook Group UK ceased operations on 23-Sep-19, taking Thomas Cook Airlines UK with it. Thomas Cook Scandinavia continued operating at a reduced capacity and was sold to Norwegian Consortium at the end of Oct-19. It was renamed Sunclass Airlines on 01-Nov-19.

 

This aircraft was withdrawn from service and stored at Copenhagen in Mar-20 when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit the world. In Feb-21 it was sold to TVPX Aircraft Solutions as N349UK and ferried to Istanbul-ISL, Turkiye for maintenance with Turkish Airlines.

 

In May-21 it was sold to Turkish company ULS Airlines Cargo and registered in San Marino as T7-ULS. It was immediately leased to San Merino Executive and operated as a 'Preighter' with seats and carpets removed. The aircraft was wet-leased to Garuda Indonesia Airlines for a Haj Pilgrimage operation between May and early Aug-23 (with seats & carpets refitted!).

 

It was returned to ULS Airlines Cargo in Oct-23 and sold to CAM Cargo Aircraft Management as N803CM. It was stored at Istanbul-ISL awaiting 'P2F' freighter conversion. The aircraft was converted to full freighter configuration with a main deck cargo door in Mar-25 and leased to ULS Airlines Cargo, Turkiye as TC-GOU in Jul-25, it operates cargo services on behalf of Turkish Airlines Cargo. Current, updated 24-Dec-25.

(Replaced with a slightly rotated version.)

Wells Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England, dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, whose cathedra it holds as mother church of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Built as a Roman Catholic cathedral from around 1175 to replace an earlier church on the site since 705, it became an Anglican cathedral when King Henry VIII split from Rome. It is moderately sized for an English cathedral. Its broad west front and large central tower are dominant features. It has been called "unquestionably one of the most beautiful" and "most poetic" of English cathedrals.

 

Its Gothic architecture is mostly inspired from Early English style of the late 12th to early 13th centuries, lacking the Romanesque work that survives in many other cathedrals. Building began about 1175 at the east end with the choir. Historian John Harvey sees it as Europe's first truly Gothic structure, breaking the last constraints of Romanesque. The stonework of its pointed arcades and fluted piers bears pronounced mouldings and carved capitals in a foliate, "stiff-leaf" style. Its Early English front with 300 sculpted figures is seen as a "supreme triumph of the combined plastic arts in England". The east end retains much ancient stained glass. Unlike many cathedrals of monastic foundation, Wells has many surviving secular buildings linked to its chapter of secular canons, including the Bishop's Palace and the 15th-century residential Vicars' Close It is a Grade I listed building.

 

The earliest remains of a building on the site are of a late-Roman mausoleum, identified during excavations in 1980. An abbey church was built in Wells in 705 by Aldhelm, first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Sherborne during the reign of King Ine of Wessex. It was dedicated to St Andrew and stood at the site of the cathedral's cloisters, where some excavated remains can be seen. The font in the cathedral's south transept is from this church and is the oldest part of the present building. In 766 Cynewulf, King of Wessex, signed a charter endowing the church with eleven hides of land. In 909 the seat of the diocese was moved from Sherborne to Wells.

 

The first bishop of Wells was Athelm (909), who crowned King Æthelstan. Athelm and his nephew Dunstan both became Archbishops of Canterbury. During this period a choir of boys was established to sing the liturgy. Wells Cathedral School, which was established to educate these choirboys, dates its foundation to this point. There is, however, some controversy over this. Following the Norman Conquest, John de Villula moved the seat of the bishop from Wells to Bath in 1090. The church at Wells, no longer a cathedral, had a college of secular clergy.

 

The cathedral is thought to have been conceived and commenced in about 1175 by Reginald Fitz Jocelin, who died in 1191. Although it is clear from its size that from the outset, the church was planned to be the cathedral of the diocese, the seat of the bishop moved between Wells and the abbeys of Glastonbury and Bath, before settling at Wells. In 1197 Reginald's successor, Savaric FitzGeldewin, with the approval of Pope Celestine III, officially moved his seat to Glastonbury Abbey. The title of Bishop of Bath and Glastonbury was used until the Glastonbury claim was abandoned in 1219.

 

Savaric's successor, Jocelin of Wells, again moved the bishop's seat to Bath Abbey, with the title Bishop of Bath. Jocelin was a brother of Hugh (II) of Lincoln and was present at the signing of the Magna Carta. Jocelin continued the building campaign begun by Reginald and was responsible for the Bishop's Palace, the choristers' school, a grammar school, a hospital for travellers and a chapel. He also had a manor house built at Wookey, near Wells. Jocelin saw the church dedicated in 1239 but, despite much lobbying of the Pope by Jocelin's representatives in Rome, did not live to see cathedral status granted. The delay may have been a result of inaction by Pandulf Verraccio, a Roman ecclesiastical politician, papal legate to England and Bishop of Norwich, who was asked by the Pope to investigate the situation but did not respond. Jocelin died at Wells on 19 November 1242 and was buried in the choir of the cathedral; the memorial brass on his tomb is one of the earliest brasses in England. Following his death the monks of Bath unsuccessfully attempted to regain authority over Wells.

 

In 1245 the ongoing dispute over the title of the bishop was resolved by a ruling of Pope Innocent IV, who established the title as the "Bishop of Bath and Wells", which it has remained until this day, with Wells as the principal seat of the bishop. Since the 11th century the church has had a chapter of secular clergy, like the cathedrals of Chichester, Hereford, Lincoln and York. The chapter was endowed with 22 prebends (lands from which finance was drawn) and a provost to manage them. On acquiring cathedral status, in common with other such cathedrals, it had four chief clergy, the dean, precentor, chancellor and sacristan, who were responsible for the spiritual and material care of the cathedral.

 

The building programme, begun by Reginald Fitz Jocelin, Bishop in the 12th century, continued under Jocelin of Wells, who was a canon from 1200, then bishop from 1206. Adam Locke was master mason from about 1192 until 1230. It was designed in the new style with pointed arches, later known as Gothic, which was introduced at about the same time at Canterbury Cathedral. Work was halted between 1209 and 1213 when King John was excommunicated and Jocelin was in exile, but the main parts of the church were complete by the time of the dedication by Jocelin in 1239.

 

By the time the cathedral, including the chapter house, was finished in 1306, it was already too small for the developing liturgy, and unable to accommodate increasingly grand processions of clergy. John Droxford initiated another phase of building under master mason Thomas of Whitney, during which the central tower was heightened and an eight-sided Lady chapel was added at the east end by 1326. Ralph of Shrewsbury followed, continuing the eastward extension of the choir and retrochoir beyond. He oversaw the building of Vicars' Close and the Vicars' Hall, to give the men who were employed to sing in the choir a secure place to live and dine, away from the town and its temptations. He had an uneasy relationship with the citizens of Wells, partly because of his imposition of taxes, and he surrounded his palace with crenellated walls, a moat and a drawbridge.

 

John Harewell raised money for the completion of the west front by William Wynford, who was appointed as master mason in 1365. One of the foremost master masons of his time, Wynford worked for the king at Windsor, Winchester Cathedral and New College, Oxford. At Wells, he designed the western towers of which north-west was not built until the following century. In the 14th century, the central piers of the crossing were found to be sinking under the weight of the crossing tower which had been damaged by an earthquake in the previous century. Strainer arches, sometimes described as scissor arches, were inserted by master mason William Joy to brace and stabilise the piers as a unit.

 

By the reign of Henry VII the cathedral was complete, appearing much as it does today (though the fittings have changed). From 1508 to 1546, the eminent Italian humanist scholar Polydore Vergil was active as the chapter's representative in London. He donated a set of hangings for the choir of the cathedral. While Wells survived the Dissolution of the Monasteries better than the cathedrals of monastic foundation, the abolition of chantries in 1547 resulted in a reduction in its income. Medieval brasses were sold, and a pulpit was placed in the nave for the first time. Between 1551 and 1568, in two periods as dean, William Turner established a herb garden, which was recreated between 2003 and 2010.

 

Elizabeth I gave the chapter and the Vicars Choral a new charter in 1591, creating a new governing body, consisting of a dean and eight residentiary canons with control over the church estates and authority over its affairs, but no longer entitled to elect the dean (that entitlement thenceforward belonged ultimately to the Crown). The stability brought by the new charter ended with the onset of the Civil War and the execution of Charles I. Local fighting damaged the cathedral's stonework, furniture and windows. The dean, Walter Raleigh, a nephew of the explorer Walter Raleigh, was placed under house arrest after the fall of Bridgwater to the Parliamentarians in 1645, first in the rectory at Chedzoy and then in the deanery at Wells. His jailor, the shoe maker and city constable, David Barrett, caught him writing a letter to his wife. When he refused to surrender it, Barrett ran him through with a sword and he died six weeks later, on 10 October 1646. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the choir before the dean's stall. During the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell no dean was appointed and the cathedral fell into disrepair. The bishop went into retirement and some of the clerics were reduced to performing menial tasks.

 

In 1661, after Charles II was restored to the throne, Robert Creighton, the king's chaplain in exile, was appointed dean and was bishop for two years before his death in 1672. His brass lectern, given in thanksgiving, can be seen in the cathedral. He donated the nave's great west window at a cost of £140. Following Creighton's appointment as bishop, the post of dean went to Ralph Bathurst, who had been chaplain to the king, president of Trinity College, Oxford and fellow of the Royal Society. During Bathurst's long tenure the cathedral was restored, but in the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, Puritan soldiers damaged the west front, tore lead from the roof to make bullets, broke the windows, smashed the organ and furnishings, and for a time stabled their horses in the nave.

 

Restoration began again under Thomas Ken who was appointed by the Crown in 1685 and served until 1691. He was one of seven bishops imprisoned for refusing to sign King James II's "Declaration of Indulgence", which would have enabled Catholics to resume positions of political power, but popular support led to their acquittal. Ken refused to take the oath of allegiance to William III and Mary II because James II had not abdicated and with others, known as the Nonjurors, was put out of office. His successor, Richard Kidder, was killed in the Great Storm of 1703 when two chimney stacks on the palace fell on him and his wife, while they were asleep in bed.

 

By the middle of the 19th century, a major restoration programme was needed. Under Dean Goodenough, the monuments were moved to the cloisters and the remaining medieval paint and whitewash removed in an operation known as "the great scrape". Anthony Salvin took charge of the extensive restoration of the choir. Wooden galleries installed in the 16th century were removed and the stalls were given stone canopies and placed further back within the line of the arcade. The medieval stone pulpitum screen was extended in the centre to support a new organ.

 

In 1933 the Friends of Wells Cathedral were formed to support the cathedral's chapter in the maintenance of the fabric, life and work of the cathedral. The late 20th century saw an extensive restoration programme, particularly of the west front. The stained glass is currently under restoration, with a programme underway to conserve the large 14th-century Jesse Tree window at the eastern terminal of the choir.

 

In January 2014, as part of the Bath film festival, the cathedral hosted a special screening of Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ. This provoked some controversy, but the church defended its decision to allow the screening.

 

In 2021, a contemporary sculpture by Anthony Gormley was unveiled on a temporary plinth outside the cathedral.

 

Since the 13th century, Wells Cathedral has been the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Its governing body, the chapter, is made up of five clerical canons (the dean, the precentor, the canon chancellor, the canon treasurer, and the archdeacon of Wells) and four lay members: the administrator (chief executive), Keeper of the Fabric, Overseer of the Estate and the chairman of the cathedral shop and catering boards. The current bishop of Bath and Wells is Peter Hancock, who was installed in a service in the cathedral on 7 June 2014. John Davies has been Dean of Wells since 2016.

 

Employed staff include the organist and master of choristers, head Verger archivist, librarian and the staff of the shop, café and restaurant. The chapter is advised by specialists such as architects, archaeologists and financial analysts.

 

More than a thousand services are held every year. There are daily services of Matins, Holy Communion and Choral Evensong, as well as major celebrations of Christian festivals such as Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and saints' days. The cathedral is also used for the baptisms, weddings and funerals of those with close connections to it. In July 2009 the cathedral undertook the funeral of Harry Patch, the last British Army veteran of World War I, who died at the age of 111.

 

Three Sunday services are led by the resident choir in school terms and choral services are sung on weekdays. The cathedral hosts visiting choirs and does outreach work with local schools as part of its Chorister Outreach Project. It is also a venue for musical events such as an annual concert by the Somerset Chamber Choir.

 

Each year about 150,000 people attend services and another 300,000 visit as tourists. Entry is free, but visitors are encouraged to make a donation towards the annual running costs of around £1.5 million in 2015.

 

Construction of the cathedral began in about 1175, to the design of an unknown master-mason. Wells is the first cathedral in England to be built, from its foundation, in Gothic style. According to art historian John Harvey, it is the first truly Gothic cathedral in the world, its architects having entirely dispensed with all features that bound the contemporary east end of Canterbury Cathedral and the earlier buildings of France, such as the east end of the Abbey of Saint Denis, to the Romanesque. Unlike these churches, Wells has clustered piers rather than columns and has a gallery of identical pointed arches rather than the typically Romanesque form of paired openings. The style, with its simple lancet arches without tracery and convoluted mouldings, is known as Early English Gothic.

 

From about 1192 to 1230, Adam Lock, the earliest master-mason at Wells for whom a name is known, continued the transept and nave in the same manner as his predecessor. Lock was also the builder of the north porch, to his own design.

 

The Early English west front was commenced around 1230 by Thomas Norreys, with building and sculpture continuing for thirty years. Its south-west tower was begun 100 years later and constructed between 1365 and 1395, and the north-west tower between 1425 and 1435, both in the Perpendicular Gothic style to the design of William Wynford, who also filled many of the cathedral's early English lancet windows with delicate tracery.

 

The undercroft and chapter house were built by unknown architects between 1275 and 1310, the undercroft in the Early English and the chapter house in the Geometric style of Decorated Gothic architecture. In about 1310 work commenced on the Lady Chapel, to the design of Thomas Witney, who also built the central tower from 1315 to 1322 in the Decorated Gothic style. The tower was later braced internally with arches by William Joy. Concurrent with this work, in 1329–45 Joy made alterations and extensions to the choir, joining it to the Lady Chapel with the retrochoir, the latter in the Flowing Decorated style.

 

Later changes include the Perpendicular vault of the tower and construction of Sugar's Chapel, 1475–1490 by William Smyth. Also, Gothic Revival renovations were made to the choir and pulpitum by Benjamin Ferrey and Anthony Salvin, 1842–1857.

 

Wells has a total length of 415 feet (126 m). Like Canterbury, Lincoln and Salisbury cathedrals, it has the distinctly English arrangement of two transepts, with the body of the church divided into distinct parts: nave, choir, and retro-choir, beyond which extends the Lady Chapel. The façade is wide, with its towers extending beyond the transepts on either side. There is a large projecting porch on the north side of the nave forming an entry into the cathedral. To the north-east is the large octagonal chapter house, entered from the north choir aisle by a passage and staircase. To the south of the nave is a large cloister, unusual in that the northern range, that adjacent the cathedral, was never built.

 

In section, the cathedral has the usual arrangement of a large church: a central nave with an aisle on each side, separated by two arcades. The elevation is in three stages, arcade, triforium gallery and clerestory. The nave is 67 feet (20 m) in height, very low compared to the Gothic cathedrals of France. It has a markedly horizontal emphasis, caused by the triforium having a unique form, a series of identical narrow openings, lacking the usual definition of the bays. The triforium is separated from the arcade by a single horizontal string course that runs unbroken the length of the nave. There are no vertical lines linking the three stages, as the shafts supporting the vault rise above the triforium.

 

The exterior of Wells Cathedral presents a relatively tidy and harmonious appearance since the greater part of the building was executed in a single style, Early English Gothic. This is uncommon among English cathedrals where the exterior usually exhibits a plethora of styles. At Wells, later changes in the Perpendicular style were universally applied, such as filling the Early English lancet windows with simple tracery, the construction of a parapet that encircles the roof, and the addition of pinnacles framing each gable, similar to those around the chapter house and on the west front. At the eastern end there is a proliferation of tracery with repeated motifs in the Reticulated style, a stage between Geometric and Flowing Decorated tracery.

 

The west front is 100 feet (30 m) high and 147 feet (45 m) wide, and built of Inferior Oolite of the Middle Jurassic period, which came from the Doulting Stone Quarry, about 8 miles (13 km) to the east. According to the architectural historian Alec Clifton-Taylor, it is "one of the great sights of England".

 

West fronts in general take three distinct forms: those that follow the elevation of the nave and aisles, those that have paired towers at the end of each aisle, framing the nave, and those that screen the form of the building. The west front at Wells has the paired-tower form, unusual in that the towers do not indicate the location of the aisles, but extend well beyond them, screening the dimensions and profile of the building.

 

The west front rises in three distinct stages, each clearly defined by a horizontal course. This horizontal emphasis is counteracted by six strongly projecting buttresses defining the cross-sectional divisions of nave, aisles and towers, and are highly decorated, each having canopied niches containing the largest statues on the façade.

 

At the lowest level of the façade is a plain base, contrasting with and stabilising the ornate arcades that rise above it. The base is penetrated by three doors, which are in stark contrast to the often imposing portals of French Gothic cathedrals. The outer two are of domestic proportion and the central door is ornamented only by a central post, quatrefoil and the fine mouldings of the arch.

 

Above the basement rise two storeys, ornamented with quatrefoils and niches originally holding about four hundred statues, with three hundred surviving until the mid-20th century. Since then, some have been restored or replaced, including the ruined figure of Christ in the gable.

 

The third stages of the flanking towers were both built in the Perpendicular style of the late 14th century, to the design of William Wynford; that on the north-west was not begun until about 1425. The design maintains the general proportions, and continues the strong projection of the buttresses.

 

The finished product has been criticised for its lack of pinnacles, and it is probable that the towers were intended to carry spires which were never built. Despite its lack of spires or pinnacles, the architectural historian Banister Fletcher describes it as "the highest development in English Gothic of this type of façade."

 

The sculptures on the west front at Wells include standing figures, seated figures, half-length angels and narratives in high relief. Many of the figures are life-sized or larger. Together they constitute the finest display of medieval carving in England. The figures and many of the architectural details were painted in bright colours, and the colouring scheme has been deduced from flakes of paint still adhering to some surfaces. The sculptures occupy nine architectural zones stretching horizontally across the entire west front and around the sides and the eastern returns of the towers which extend beyond the aisles. The strongly projecting buttresses have tiers of niches which contain many of the largest figures. Other large figures, including that of Christ, occupy the gable. A single figure stands in one of two later niches high on the northern tower.

 

In 1851 the archaeologist Charles Robert Cockerell published his analysis of the iconography, numbering the nine sculptural divisions from the lowest to the highest. He defined the theme as "a calendar for unlearned men" illustrating the doctrines and history of the Christian faith, its introduction to Britain and its protection by princes and bishops. He likens the arrangement and iconography to the Te Deum.

 

According to Cockerell, the side of the façade that is to the south of the central door is the more sacred and the scheme is divided accordingly. The lowest range of niches each contained a standing figure, of which all but four figures on the west front, two on each side, have been destroyed. More have survived on the northern and eastern sides of the north tower. Cockerell speculates that those to the south of the portal represented prophets and patriarchs of the Old Testament while those to the north represented early missionaries to Britain, of which Augustine of Canterbury, St Birinus, and Benedict Biscop are identifiable by their attributes. In the second zone, above each pair of standing figures, is a quatrefoil containing a half-length angel in relief, some of which have survived. Between the gables of the niches are quatrefoils that contain a series of narratives from the Bible, with the Old Testament stories to the south, above the prophets and patriarchs, and those from the New Testament to the north. A horizontal course runs around the west front dividing the architectural storeys at this point.

 

Above the course, zones four and five, as identified by Cockerell, contain figures which represent the Christian Church in Britain, with the spiritual lords such as bishops, abbots, abbesses and saintly founders of monasteries on the south, while kings, queens and princes occupy the north. Many of the figures survive and many have been identified in the light of their various attributes. There is a hierarchy of size, with the more significant figures larger and enthroned in their niches rather than standing. Immediately beneath the upper course are a series of small niches containing dynamic sculptures of the dead coming forth from their tombs on the Day of Judgement. Although naked, some of the dead are defined as royalty by their crowns and others as bishops by their mitres. Some emerge from their graves with joy and hope, and others with despair.

 

The niches in the lowest zone of the gable contain nine angels, of which Cockerell identifies Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel. In the next zone are the taller figures of the twelve apostles, some, such as John, Andrew and Bartholomew, clearly identifiable by the attributes that they carry. The uppermost niches of the gable contained the figure of Christ the Judge at the centre, with the Virgin Mary on his right and John the Baptist on his left. The figures all suffered from iconoclasm. A new statue of Jesus was carved for the central niche, but the two side niches now contain cherubim. Christ and the Virgin Mary are also represented by now headless figures in a Coronation of the Virgin in a niche above the central portal. A damaged figure of the Virgin and Christ Child occupies a quatrefoil in the spandrel of the door.

 

The central tower appears to date from the early 13th century. It was substantially reconstructed in the early 14th century during the remodelling of the east end, necessitating the internal bracing of the piers a decade or so later. In the 14th century the tower was given a timber and lead spire which burnt down in 1439. The exterior was then reworked in the Perpendicular style and given the present parapet and pinnacles. Alec Clifton-Taylor describes it as "outstanding even in Somerset, a county famed for the splendour of its church towers".

 

The north porch is described by art historian Nikolaus Pevsner as "sumptuously decorated", and intended as the main entrance. Externally it is simple and rectangular with plain side walls. The entrance is a steeply arched portal framed by rich mouldings of eight shafts with stiff-leaf capitals each encircled by an annular moulding at middle height. Those on the left are figurative, containing images representing the martyrdom of St Edmund the Martyr. The walls are lined with deep niches framed by narrow shafts with capitals and annulets like those of the portal. The path to the north porch is lined by four sculptures in Purbeck stone, each by Mary Spencer Watson, representing the symbols of the Evangelists.

 

The cloisters were built in the late 13th century and largely rebuilt from 1430 to 1508 and have wide openings divided by mullions and transoms, and tracery in the Perpendicular Gothic style. The vault has lierne ribs that form octagons at the centre of each compartment, the joints of each rib having decorative bosses. The eastern range is of two storeys, of which the upper is the library built in the 15th century.

 

Because Wells Cathedral was secular rather than monastic, cloisters were not a practical necessity. They were omitted from several other secular cathedrals but were built here and at Chichester. Explanations for their construction at these two secular cathedrals range from the processional to the aesthetic. As at Chichester, there is no northern range to the cloisters. In monastic cloisters it was the north range, benefiting most from winter sunlight, that was often used as a scriptorium.

 

In 1969, when a large chunk of stone fell from a statue near the main door, it became apparent that there was an urgent need for restoration of the west front. Detailed studies of the stonework and of conservation practices were undertaken under the cathedral architect, Alban D. R. Caroe and a restoration committee formed. The methods selected were those devised by Eve and Robert Baker. W. A. (Bert) Wheeler, clerk of works to the cathedral 1935–1978, had previously experimented with washing and surface treatment of architectural carvings on the building and his techniques were among those tried on the statues.

 

The conservation was carried out between 1974 and 1986, wherever possible using non-invasive procedures such as washing with water and a solution of lime, filling gaps and damaged surfaces with soft mortar to prevent the ingress of water and stabilising statues that were fracturing through corrosion of metal dowels. The surfaces were finished by painting with a thin coat of mortar and silane to resist further erosion and attack by pollutants. The restoration of the façade revealed much paint adhering to the statues and their niches, indicating that it had once been brightly coloured.

 

The particular character of this Early English interior is dependent on the proportions of the simple lancet arches. It is also dependent on the refinement of the architectural details, in particular the mouldings.

 

The arcade, which takes the same form in the nave, choir and transepts, is distinguished by the richness of both mouldings and carvings. Each pier of the arcade has a surface enrichment of 24 slender shafts in eight groups of three, rising beyond the capitals to form the deeply undulating mouldings of the arches. The capitals themselves are remarkable for the vitality of the stylised foliage, in a style known as "stiff-leaf". The liveliness contrasts with the formality of the moulded shafts and the smooth unbroken areas of ashlar masonry in the spandrels. Each capital is different, and some contain small figures illustrating narratives.

 

The vault of the nave rises steeply in a simple quadripartite form, in harmony with the nave arcade. The eastern end of the choir was extended and the whole upper part elaborated in the second quarter of the 14th century by William Joy. The vault has a multiplicity of ribs in a net-like form, which is very different from that of the nave, and is perhaps a recreation in stone of a local type of compartmented wooden roof of which examples remain from the 15th century, including those at St Cuthbert's Church, Wells. The vaults of the aisles of the choir also have a unique pattern.

 

Until the early 14th century, the interior of the cathedral was in a unified style, but it was to undergo two significant changes, to the tower and to the eastern end. Between 1315 and 1322 the central tower was heightened and topped by a spire, which caused the piers that supported it to show signs of stress. In 1338 the mason William Joy employed an unorthodox solution by inserting low arches topped by inverted arches of similar dimensions, forming scissors-like structures. These arches brace the piers of the crossing on three sides, while the easternmost side is braced by a choir screen. The bracing arches are known as "St Andrew's Cross arches", in a reference to the patron saint of the cathedral. They have been described by Wim Swaan – rightly or wrongly – as "brutally massive" and intrusive in an otherwise restrained interior.

 

Wells Cathedral has a square east end to the choir, as is usual, and like several other cathedrals including Salisbury and Lichfield, has a lower Lady Chapel projecting at the eastern end, begun by Thomas Witney in about 1310, possibly before the chapter house was completed. The Lady Chapel seems to have begun as a free-standing structure in the form of an elongated octagon, but the plan changed and it was linked to the eastern end by extension of the choir and construction of a second transept or retrochoir east of the choir, probably by William Joy.

 

The Lady Chapel has a vault of complex and somewhat irregular pattern, as the chapel is not symmetrical about both axes. The main ribs are intersected by additional non-supporting, lierne ribs, which in this case form a star-shaped pattern at the apex of the vault. It is one of the earliest lierne vaults in England. There are five large windows, of which four are filled with fragments of medieval glass. The tracery of the windows is in the style known as Reticulated Gothic, having a pattern of a single repeated shape, in this case a trefoil, giving a "reticulate" or net-like appearance.

 

The retrochoir extends across the east end of the choir and into the east transepts. At its centre the vault is supported by a remarkable structure of angled piers. Two of these are placed as to complete the octagonal shape of the Lady Chapel, a solution described by Francis Bond as "an intuition of Genius". The piers have attached shafts of marble, and, with the vaults that they support, create a vista of great complexity from every angle. The windows of the retrochoir are in the Reticulated style like those of the Lady Chapel, but are fully Flowing Decorated in that the tracery mouldings form ogival curves.

 

The chapter house was begun in the late 13th century and built in two stages, completed about 1310. It is a two-storeyed structure with the main chamber raised on an undercroft. It is entered from a staircase which divides and turns, one branch leading through the upper storey of Chain Gate to Vicars' Close. The Decorated interior is described by Alec Clifton-Taylor as "architecturally the most beautiful in England". It is octagonal, with its ribbed vault supported on a central column. The column is surrounded by shafts of Purbeck Marble, rising to a single continuous rippling foliate capital of stylised oak leaves and acorns, quite different in character from the Early English stiff-leaf foliage. Above the moulding spring 32 ribs of strong profile, giving an effect generally likened to "a great palm tree". The windows are large with Geometric Decorated tracery that is beginning to show an elongation of form, and ogees in the lesser lights that are characteristic of Flowing Decorated tracery. The tracery lights still contain ancient glass. Beneath the windows are 51 stalls, the canopies of which are enlivened by carvings including many heads carved in a light-hearted manner.

 

Wells Cathedral contains one of the most substantial collections of medieval stained glass in England, despite damage by Parliamentary troops in 1642 and 1643. The oldest surviving glass dates from the late 13th century and is in two windows on the west side of the chapter-house staircase. Two windows in the south choir aisle are from 1310 to 1320.

 

The Lady Chapel has five windows, of which four date from 1325 to 1330 and include images of a local saint, Dunstan. The east window was restored to a semblance of its original appearance by Thomas Willement in 1845. The other windows have complete canopies, but the pictorial sections are fragmented.

 

The east window of the choir is a broad, seven-light window dating from 1340 to 1345. It depicts the Tree of Jesse (the genealogy of Christ) and demonstrates the use of silver staining, a new technique that allowed the artist to paint details on the glass in yellow, as well as black. The combination of yellow and green glass and the application of the bright yellow stain gives the window its popular name, the "Golden Window". It is flanked by two windows each side in the clerestory, with large figures of saints, also dated to 1340–45. In 2010 a major conservation programme was undertaken on the Jesse Tree window.

 

The panels in the chapel of St Katherine are attributed to Arnold of Nijmegen and date from about 1520. They were acquired from the destroyed church of Saint-Jean, Rouen, with the last panel having been purchased in 1953.

 

The large triple lancet to the nave west end was glazed at the expense of Dean Creighton at a cost of £140 in 1664. It was repaired in 1813, and the central light was largely replaced to a design by Archibald Keightley Nicholson between 1925 and 1931. The main north and south transept end windows by James Powell and Sons were erected in the early 20th century.

 

The greater part of the stone carving of Wells Cathedral comprises foliate capitals in the stiff-leaf style. They are found ornamenting the piers of the nave, choir and transepts. Stiff-leaf foliage is highly abstract. Though possibly influenced by carvings of acanthus leaves or vine leaves, it cannot be easily identified with any particular plant. Here the carving of the foliage is varied and vigorous, the springing leaves and deep undercuts casting shadows that contrast with the surface of the piers. In the transepts and towards the crossing in the nave the capitals have many small figurative carvings among the leaves. These include a man with toothache and a series of four scenes depicting the "Wages of Sin" in a narrative of fruit stealers who creep into an orchard and are then beaten by the farmer. Another well-known carving is in the north transept aisle: a foliate corbel, on which climbs a lizard, sometimes identified as a salamander, a symbol of eternal life.

 

Carvings in the Decorated Gothic style may be found in the eastern end of the buildings, where there are many carved bosses. In the chapter house, the carvings of the 51 stalls include numerous small heads of great variety, many of them smiling or laughing. A well-known figure is the corbel of the dragon-slaying monk in the chapter house stair. The large continuous capital that encircles the central pillar of the chapter house is markedly different in style to the stiff-leaf of the Early English period. In contrast to the bold projections and undercutting of the earlier work, it has a rippling form and is clearly identifiable as grapevine.

 

The 15th-century cloisters have many small bosses ornamenting the vault. Two in the west cloister, near the gift shop and café, have been called sheela na gigs, i. e. female figures displaying their genitals and variously judged to depict the sin of lust or stem from ancient fertility cults.

 

Wells Cathedral has one of the finest sets of misericords in Britain. Its clergy has a long tradition of singing or reciting from the Book of Psalms each day, along with the customary daily reading of the Holy Office. In medieval times the clergy assembled in the church eight times daily for the canonical hours. As the greater part of the services was recited while standing, many monastic or collegiate churches fitted stalls whose seats tipped up to provide a ledge for the monk or cleric to lean against. These were "misericords" because their installation was an act of mercy. Misericords typically have a carved figurative bracket beneath the ledge framed by two floral motifs known, in heraldic manner, as "supporters".

 

The misericords date from 1330 to 1340. They may have been carved under the direction of Master Carpenter John Strode, although his name is not recorded before 1341. He was assisted by Bartholomew Quarter, who is documented from 1343. They originally numbered 90, of which 65 have survived. Sixty-one are installed in the choir, three are displayed in the cathedral, and one is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum. New stalls were ordered when the eastern end of the choir was extended in the early 14th century. The canons complained that they had borne the cost of the rebuilding and ordered the prebendary clerics to pay for their own stalls. When the newly refurbished choir opened in 1339 many misericords were left unfinished, including one-fifth of the surviving 65. Many of the clerics had not paid, having been called to contribute a total sum of £200. The misericords survived better than the other sections of the stalls, which during the Protestant Reformation had their canopies chopped off and galleries inserted above them. One misericord, showing a boy pulling a thorn from his foot, dates from the 17th century. In 1848 came a complete rearrangement of the choir furniture, and 61 of the misericords were reused in the restructured stalls.

 

The subject matter of the carvings of the central brackets as misericords varies, but many themes recur in different churches. Typically the themes are less unified or directly related to the Bible and Christian theology than small sculptures seen elsewhere within churches, such as bosses. This applies at Wells, where none of the misericord carvings is directly based on a Bible story. The subjects, chosen either by the woodcarver, or perhaps by the one paying for the stall, have no overriding theme. The sole unifying elements are the roundels on each side of the pictorial subject, which all show elaborately carved foliage, in most cases formal and stylised in the later Decorated manner, but with several examples of naturalistic foliage, including roses and bindweed. Many of the subjects carry traditional interpretations. The image of the "Pelican in her Piety" (believed to feed her young on her own blood) is a recognised symbol for Christ's love for the Church. A cat playing with a mouse may represent the Devil snaring a human soul. Other subjects illustrate popular fables or sayings such as "When the fox preaches, look to your geese". Many depict animals, some of which may symbolise a human vice or virtue, or an aspect of faith.

 

Twenty-seven of the carvings depict animals: rabbits, dogs, a puppy biting a cat, a ewe feeding a lamb, monkeys, lions, bats, and the Early Christian motif of two doves drinking from a ewer. Eighteen have mythological subjects, including mermaids, dragons and wyverns. Five are clearly narrative, such as the Fox and the Geese, and the story of Alexander the Great being raised to Heaven by griffins. There are three heads: a bishop in a mitre, an angel, and a woman wearing a veil over hair arranged in coils over each ear. Eleven carvings show human figures, among which are several of remarkable design, conceived by the artist specifically for their purpose of supporting a shelf. One figure lies beneath the seat, supporting the shelf with a cheek, a hand and a foot. Another sits in a contorted manner supporting the weight on his elbow, while a further figure squats with his knees wide apart and a strained look on his face.

 

Some of the cathedral's fittings and monuments are hundreds of years old. The brass lectern in the Lady Chapel dates from 1661 and has a moulded stand and foliate crest. In the north transept chapel is a 17th-century oak screen with columns, formerly used in cow stalls, with artisan Ionic capitals and cornice, set forward over the chest tomb of John Godelee. There is a bound oak chest from the 14th century, which was used to store the chapter seal and key documents. The bishop's throne dates from 1340, and has a panelled, canted front and stone doorway, and a deep nodding cusped ogee canopy above it, with three-stepped statue niches and pinnacles. The throne was restored by Anthony Salvin around 1850. Opposite the throne is a 19th-century octagonal pulpit on a coved base with panelled sides, and steps up from the north aisle. The round font in the south transept is from the former Saxon cathedral and has an arcade of round-headed arches, on a round plinth. The font cover was made in 1635 and is decorated with the heads of putti. The Chapel of St Martin is a memorial to every Somerset man who fell in World War I.

 

The monuments and tombs include Gisa, bishop; † 1088; William of Bitton, bishop; † 1274; William of March, bishop; † 1302; John Droxford; † 1329; John Godelee; † 1333; John Middleton, died †1350; Ralph of Shrewsbury, died †; John Harewell, bishop; † 1386; William Bykonyll; † c. 1448; John Bernard; † 1459; Thomas Beckington; † died 1464; John Gunthorpe; † 1498; John Still; † 1607; Robert Creighton; † 1672; Richard Kidder, bishop; † 1703; George Hooper, bishop; † 1727 and Arthur Harvey, bishop; † 1894.

 

In the north transept is Wells Cathedral clock, an astronomical clock from about 1325 believed to be by Peter Lightfoot, a monk of Glastonbury. Its mechanism, dated between 1386 and 1392, was replaced in the 19th century and the original moved to the Science Museum in London, where it still operates. It is the second oldest surviving clock in England after the Salisbury Cathedral clock.

 

The clock has its original medieval face. Apart from the time on a 24-hour dial, it shows the motion of the Sun and Moon, the phases of the Moon, and the time since the last new Moon. The astronomical dial presents a geocentric or pre-Copernican view, with the Sun and Moon revolving round a central fixed Earth, like that of the clock at Ottery St Mary. The quarters are chimed by a quarter jack: a small automaton known as Jack Blandifers, who hits two bells with hammers and two with his heels. At the striking of the clock, jousting knights appear above the clock face.

 

On the outer wall of the transept, opposite Vicars' Hall, is a second clock face of the same clock, placed there just over seventy years after the interior clock and driven by the same mechanism. The second clock face has two quarter jacks (which strike on the quarter-hour) in the form of knights in armour.

 

In 2010 the official clock-winder retired and was replaced by an electric mechanism.

 

The first record of an organ at this church dates from 1310. A smaller organ, probably for the Lady Chapel, was installed in 1415. In 1620 an organ built by Thomas Dallam was installed at a cost of £398 1s 5d.

 

The 1620 organ was destroyed by parliamentary soldiers in 1643. An organ built in 1662 was enlarged in 1786 and again in 1855. In 1909–1910 an organ was built by Harrison & Harrison of Durham, with the best parts of the old organ retained. It has been serviced by the same company ever since.

 

Since November 1996 the cathedral has also had a portable chamber organ, by the Scottish makers, Lammermuir. It is used regularly to accompany performances of Tudor and baroque music.

 

The first recorded organist of Wells was Walter Bagele (or Vageler) in 1416. The post of organist or assistant organist has been held by more than 60 people since. Peter Stanley Lyons was Master of Choristers at Wells Cathedral, and Director of Music at Wells Cathedral School in 1954–1960. The choral conductor James William Webb-Jones, father of Lyons's wife Bridget (whom he married in the cathedral), was Headmaster of Wells Cathedral School in 1955–1960. Malcolm Archer was the appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers from 1996 to 2004. Matthew Owens was the appointed organist from 2005 to 2019.

 

There has been a choir of boy choristers at Wells since 909. Currently there are 18 boy choristers and a similar number of girl choristers, aged from eight to fourteen. The Vicars Choral was formed in the 12th century and the sung liturgy provided by a traditional cathedral choir of men and boys until the formation of an additional choir of girls in 1994. The boys and girls sing alternately with the Vicars Choral and are educated at Wells Cathedral School.

 

The Vicars Choral currently number twelve men, of whom three are choral scholars. Since 1348 the College of Vicars had its own accommodation in a quadrangle converted in the early 15th century to form Vicar's Close. The Vicars Choral generally perform with the choristers, except on Wednesdays, when they sing alone, allowing them to present a different repertoire, in particular plainsong.

 

In December 2010 Wells Cathedral Choir was rated by Gramophone magazine as "the highest ranking choir with children in the world". It continues to provide music for the liturgy at Sunday and weekday services. The choir has made many recordings and toured frequently, including performances in Beijing and Hong Kong in 2012. Its repertoire ranges from the choral music of the Renaissance to recently commissioned works.

 

The Wells Cathedral Chamber Choir is a mixed adult choir of 25 members, formed in 1986 to sing at the midnight service on Christmas Eve, and invited to sing at several other special services. It now sings for about 30 services a year, when the Cathedral Choir is in recess or on tour, and spends one week a year singing as the "choir in residence" at another cathedral. Although primarily liturgical, the choir's repertoire includes other forms of music, as well as performances at engagements such as weddings and funerals.

 

The cathedral is home to Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society (WCOS), founded in 1896. With around 160 voices, the society gives three concerts a year under the direction of Matthew Owens, Organist and Master of the Choristers at the cathedral. Concerts are normally in early November, December (an annual performance of Handel's Messiah) and late March. It performs with a number of specialist orchestras including: Music for Awhile, Chameleon Arts and La Folia.

 

The bells at Wells Cathedral are the heaviest ring of ten bells in the world, the tenor bell (the 10th and largest), known as Harewell, weighing 56.25 long hundredweight (2,858 kg). They are hung for full-circle ringing in the English style of change ringing. These bells are now hung in the south-west tower, although some were originally hung in the central tower.

 

The library above the eastern cloister was built between 1430 and 1508. Its collection is in three parts: early documents housed in the Muniment Room; the collection predating 1800 housed in the Chained Library; and the post-1800 collection housed in the Reading Room. The chapter's earlier collection was destroyed during the Reformation, so that the present library consists chiefly of early printed books, rather than medieval manuscripts. The earlier books in the Chained Library number 2,800 volumes and give an indication of the variety of interests of the members of the cathedral chapter from the Reformation until 1800. The focus of the collection is predominantly theology, but there are volumes on science, medicine, exploration, and languages. Books of particular interest include Pliny's Natural History printed in 1472, an Atlas of the World by Abraham Ortelius, printed in 1606, and a set of the works by Aristotle that once belonged to Erasmus. The library is open to the public at appointed times in the summer and presents a small exhibition of documents and books.

 

Three early registers of the Dean and Chapter edited by W. H. B. Bird for the Historical Manuscripts Commissioners – Liber Albus I (White Book; R I), Liber Albus II (R III) and Liber Ruber (Red Book; R II, section i) – were published in 1907. They contain with some repetition, a cartulary of possessions of the cathedral, with grants of land back to the 8th century, well before hereditary surnames developed in England, and acts of the Dean and Chapter and surveys of their estates, mostly in Somerset.

 

Adjacent to the cathedral is a large lawned area, Cathedral Green, with three ancient gateways: Brown's Gatehouse, Penniless Porch and Chain Gate. On the green is the 12th-century Old Deanery, largely rebuilt in the late 15th century by Dean Gunthorpe and remodelled by Dean Bathurst in the late 17th century. No longer the dean's residence, it is used as diocesan offices.

 

To the south of the cathedral is the moated Bishop's Palace, begun about 1210 by Jocelin of Wells but dating mostly from the 1230s. In the 15th century Thomas Beckington added a north wing, now the bishop's residence. It was restored and extended by Benjamin Ferrey between 1846 and 1854.

 

To the north of the cathedral and connected to it by the Chain Gate is Vicars' Close, a street planned in the 14th century and claimed to be the oldest purely residential street in Europe, with all but one of its original buildings intact. Buildings in the close include the Vicars Hall and gateway at the south end, and the Vicars Chapel and Library at the north end.

 

The Liberty of St Andrew was the historic liberty and parish that encompassed the cathedral and surrounding lands closely associated with it.

 

The English painter J. M. W. Turner visited Wells in 1795, making sketches of the precinct and a water colour of the west front, now in the Tate gallery. Other artists whose paintings of the cathedral are in national collections are Albert Goodwin, John Syer and Ken Howard.

 

The cathedral served to inspire Ken Follett's 1989 novel The Pillars of the Earth and with a modified central tower, featured as the fictional Kingsbridge Cathedral at the end of the 2010 television adaptation of that novel. The interior of the cathedral was used for a 2007 Doctor Who episode, "The Lazarus Experiment", while the exterior shots were filmed at Southwark Cathedral.

 

An account of the damage to the cathedral during the Monmouth Rebellion is included in Arthur Conan Doyle's 1889 historical novel Micah Clarke.

 

The cathedral provided scenes for the 2019–2020 television series The Spanish Princess.

 

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 27-Jul-17 + DeNoise AI 26-Oct-22.

 

Named: "Athens".

 

Leased from/operated by Germania on behalf of Azzurra Air.

 

A very early B737-700 (Line No: 98) first flown with the Boeing test registration N1786B in Aug-98. this aircraft was due for delivery to Pembroke Capital Aircraft Ltd for lease to Transaero Airlines (Russia) as N102UN. However, the lease was cancelled.

 

The aircraft was registered to the Boeing Airplane Company as N102UN in Sep-98 and stored at the Boeing factory at Seattle-Renton, WA, USA. It was finally delivered to Pembroke Capital and leased to SAT Fluggesellschaft (Germany) as D-AGEY in Dec-98.

 

It was immediately sub-leased to Germania. The aircraft was wet-leased to Azzurra Air (Italy) in Mar-01 and returned to Germania in Jan-04. In Mar-04 it was wet-leased to Maersk Air (Denmark). The sub-lease was surrendered in Feb-05 when the aircraft was leased to Maersk direct from SAT Fluggesellschaft and re-registered OY-MLY.

 

Maersk Air was merged into Sterling European Airways in Sep-05 and the aircraft was returned to the lessor in May-06. It was leased to GOL Transportes Aereos (Brazil) as PR-GIF later that month. It returned to the lessor in Apr-16 and was permanently retired at Tucson, AZ, USA. It was last noted still at Tucson in Nov-16, derelict and still in basic GOL livery.

 

Note: The registration D-AGEY was later re-issued on another Germania B737-700 (c/n 28013/682) between Apr-13/Oct-14

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 27-Oct-17, plus Topaz DeNoise AI 30-May-23.

 

Fleet No: '5648'.

 

This aircraft was delivered to Northwest Airlines as N548US in Aug-96. Blended winglets were added in May-07. Northwest was merged into Delta Airlines in Oct-08.

 

After 29.5 years in service the aircraft was permanently retired at Victorville, CA, USA in Nov-25. Updated 18-Feb-26.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version, plus Topaz DeNoise AI 10-Apr-24. Slightly blurred!

 

Named: "Luiz Vaz de Camoes".

 

First flown with the Airbus test registration D-AVZI, this aircraft was delivered to TAP Air Portugal as CS-TJF in Jan-01. Current, updated 10-Apr-24.

Replacing an earlier digital photo with a better version 27-Dec-24.

 

This aircraft was delivered to PIA Pakistan International Airlines as AP-BGJ in Jan-04. It was withdrawn from service and stored at Karachi, Pakistan in Jul-24. Stored, updated 27-Dec-24.

Replacing those very tired looking omnidekkas since brand new, a smarter looking Pink line takes place in the roads around Bilborough and the city centre. Think pink as you can guarantee a smooth ride with free wifi and USB onboard. And a perfect day to photograph these as they look super smart.

 

no. YN19 EFO

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version, plus Topaz DeNoise AI 10-Aug-21.

 

-Delft Blue Daybreak- Netherlands World Tail livery.

 

This aircraft was delivered to British Airways as G-BGDF in Mar-80. It was sold to a lessor in Mar-90 and leased back to British Airways. It was returned to the lessor in Oct-00 and stored the following month.

 

The aircraft was re-registered N902PG in Mar-01 and re-registered again as N954PG in Jun-01. It was leased to Aerolineas Argentinas as LV-ZYG in Nov-01. The aircraft was permanently retired at Buenos Aries-Ezieza International, Argentina in Mar-09.

 

Note: The aircraft was disassembled in 2012 and moved by road Jul-13 to Villa Martelli in Buenos Aries where it was reassembled and displayed at the Tecnopolis Fair in new blue & white Aerolineas Argentinas livery. It was disassembled again and moved by road 09-Apr-14 to Moron where it was reassembled and repainted in fictitious 'Sudamerican Airlines' livery to appear in an episode of the Argentine TV Show 'Showmatch'. In Jul-14 it was moved back to the Villa Martelli

Replacing an earlier digital photo with a better version 26-Mar-23.

 

On the tail you can just make out the Goodjet logo under the thin layer of paint.

 

First flown in Oct-90 with the Airbus test registration F-WWIY, this aircraft was delivered to GATX Leasing and leased to LACSA (Costa Rica) as N482GX in Dec-90, it was wet-leased to Aero Quetzal in Sep-91 and returned to LACSA in Oct-91.

 

It was returned to the lessor in Jan-95 and leased to Air Charter (France) as F-GLGN in Feb-95. It was returned to the lessor in Nov-98 and stored. The aircraft was leased to Air Europe SpA (Italy) in Apr-99 and returned to the lessor in Apr-01.

 

Then it was leased to Canada 3000 Airlines as C-GVXH. Canada 3000 ceased operations in Nov-01 in the aftermath of the 911 terrorist attacks in the USA. The aircraft was returned to the lessor and initially stored at Toronto, ON, Canada.

 

It was moved to Toulouse, France in Apr-02 and re-registered F- GKCI the following month. It was re-registered F-WKCI in Aug-02 before being leased to Transair Sweden as SE-RCG in Oct-02. On delivery to Transair, it was immediately wet-leased to Goodjet (Norway).

 

Transair Sweden ceased operations for Goodjet in Dec-02 due to a US$ 3 million debt (they were declared bankrupt in Jan-03). Goodjet also ceased operations and were declared bankrupt the same month!

 

The aircraft was repossessed by the lessor and stored at Bordeaux, France. It was leased to Free Bird Airlines (Turkey) as TC-FBE in Nov-03. It was returned to the lessor and stored at Goodyear, AZ, USA in Oct-11. The aircraft was sold to AeroTurbine Inc as N216AT and permanently retired. It was broken up at Goodyear in late 2012.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 09-Apr-14.

 

Operated as a freighter by Baltic Airlines, it's seen here still in the basic livery of Manx Airlines, it's previous operator.

 

This was quite a late build Viscount which first flew in Aug-59. Originally ordered by Trans Australia Airlines as a Viscount 816, it should have become VH-TVR but the order was cancelled before delivery.

 

It was initially stored and then converted to a type V.836 in Apr-60 and sold to the Union Carbide Corporation for executive operation as N40N in May-60. It was sold to the Royal Australian Air Force in Aug-64 as A6-435 and operated for five years until it was sold in the USA in Nov-69 as N40NA to the Alda Corporation.

 

It returned to Australia the following month as VH-EQP with Jet Air Australia and was sold to the Brins Finance Corporation in Sep-70 and sold on the same day to Gates Aviation Turbine Propeller Sales.

 

In Jun-71, continuing it’s ‘executive’ role, it was sold to The Sultan of Oman’s Air Force serialled ‘501’. In Sep-78 it was sold to Royal Swazi National Airways as 3D-ACM but the sale was never completed and the aircraft stayed in Oman until Mar-79 when it was sold to British Midland Airways in the UK as G-BFZL.

 

The aircraft was briefly leased to BMA subsidiary Manx Airlines in Oct/Nov-83 and then leased to them again in Nov-85. In May-86 it was sold to British Aerospace (BAe), leased back to BMA and sub-leased to Manx Airlines, all on the same day.

 

It continued in service with Manx until it was returned to BAe in Nov-88 and immediately leased to Baltic Airlines. It was briefly sub-leased to Manx Airlines again in Apr/May-90 (when this photo was taken).

 

In May-90 Baltic Airlines was merged into British Air Ferries who changed their name to British World Airlines in Apr-93. In Apr-97 it was sold to Heli-Lift Ltd and leased to their subsidiary Heli Jet Aviation.

 

In Mar-98 it was transferred to their South African division as ZS-NNI and was later stored at Lanseria, South Africa, until it was sold to Trans Inter Congo in Nov-02 as 9Q-CGL. In Apr-03, now 44 years old, it was written off in a take-off accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Replace 13 descriptions

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 16-Apr-17, plus Topaz DeNoise AI 06-Jan-24.

 

Japan Airlines had some of their late-build B747-100's built with the -300 series stretched upper deck for use on high density domestic services. KLM were the only other airline to have some of their B747-200's modified to 'SUD' standard.

 

First flown with the Boeing test registration N6009F, this aircraft was delivered to JAL Japan Airlines as JA8170 in Mar-86. When JAL split the company into Domestic and International divisions in Jan-04 it was transferred to the International division.

 

The aircraft was sold to Orient Thai Airways as HS-UTQ in Dec-06 and it was transferred to their subsidiary company 'One-Two-Go by Orient Thai' in early 2007.

 

The company ceased trading in Jul-08 and the aircraft was permanently retired and stored at Bangkok (DMK), Thailand. It was broken up there in Jul/Aug-10.

 

The forward fuselage, including the upper deck, was transported by road to the Bangkapi District of Bangkok where it joined the fuselages of two of One-Two-Go's MD-83's. It was noted still there in mid 2016.

Christie was one of Barbie's oldest friends, debuting in the late 1960s. Sadly, she slowly faded from Barbie's world and was replaced by Nikki sometime in the mid 2000s. However, my love for Christie will always remain. She was an integral part of my childhood, and a staple in my doll collecting journey. Christie could never be replaced in my eyes. From the time I got my first Christie doll at around six/seven years old up, I was captivated. She's always one of my personal favorite friends of Barbie to find at flea markets and secondhand stores. I also seem more inclined to shell out a chunk of change for Christie, perhaps because my love for her is rooted so deeply.

 

It all began in the mid 1990s, when I purchased my very first Kelly doll with my allowance money. Colleen and I mutually opted to get Barbie's brand spanking new little sister. We saw her for the first time on a shopping trip with mom and dad (I believe it may have been at the mall). In toy section, we found ourselves enamored with Barbie's baby sister. There were only two options--Bathtime Fun and Bedtime Fun Kelly. I was automatically drawn to the African American versions. Their beautiful skin color stood out in the sea of predominantly blonde dolls. Since Colleen was set on getting the blonde Bedtime Fun Kelly, I decided I would select the Bathtime Fun doll. I thought it would be more sensible for us to buy different Kelly dolls, that way we wouldn't both have identical outfits/accessories. But unlike Colleen, my Kelly was the AA variant. I admired the adorable photo on the back of Kelly's box on the way home in the car. She was advertised with a stunning African American Barbie. I was smitten with this Barbie too, and wondered if she was a real doll or one simply used for advertising (yes, even as a young kid I quickly realized that not all toys used for promotions existed). I decided in that moment that I wanted to get a big sister for my brand new Kelly, who I dubbed Kelsey.

 

I scrounged up my allowance money for what felt like an eternity so I could get a sister for my beloved Bathtime Fun Kelly. Kelsey was an instant hit at our house. Even Colleen preferred her over the Bedtime Fun Kelly she'd picked out. Seeking Colleen's approval and affection, I let her play with Kelsey. I thought that this would bribe her into playing dolls with me instead of separately. She too became part of my quest to get an African American Barbie. Back then, we mostly had secondhand Barbies or store bought Disney characters. There wasn't much diversity between our two modest collections. She thought it would be exciting to find an AA Barbie too. Christie seemed like the most obvious choice. She was available in inexpensive beach lines, that I could save up for in a reasonable amount of time. That's precisely why my very first Barbie sized African American doll was Pearl Beach Christie, photographed here. I honestly wasn't too picky about which doll I got. Basically it was a "whoever I can afford first" situation. Christie just so happened to be at the store on that day I finally had saved up around eight dollars. She too became an overnight sensation. Colleen and I played with Bathtime Fun Kelsey and Pearl Beach Christie in our secondhand Fold 'n Fun House. For a time, it was our favorite "game" we played. We even put our allowance funds together to purchase Splash 'n Color Steven, so Christie could have her actual boyfriend. Of course things got out of hand as they always did, and eventually Christie was dumped for my flea market rescue Dentist Barbie. But despite her de-throning, Christie remained one of my favorite, most special dolls in my childhood collection. Don't be fooled by her short hair cut--it was meant from a place of good intentions, but my younger self didn't have the foresight to see that it was a bad idea.

 

The addition of Pearl Beach Christie changed the way I bought dolls forever. It sounds like a dramatic statement, but it is true. While I did enjoy Barbies prior to owning Pearl Beach Christie, I saved up my allowances for Disney characters most of the time. I think I was drawn to their diverse head molds, skin colors, and facial screenings. When I tapped into the world of Christie, I was hooked. She was truly the first doll I collected. I procured more and more Christie dolls as the years wore on. Some of my earliest besides Pearl Beach were Glam 'n Groom and Happenin' Hair. Sadly I do not own either of those Christie dolls anymore...well at least not my original childhood ones. I went through a phase of feeling like I needed to purge my doll collection. I arbitrarily chose dolls to give away. Both of those Christie dolls ended up being rehomed to Dad's coworker, who had a daughter close to my age. But I could not part with Pearl Beach Christie, not for the world. Almost immediately I had regretted my decision to part with them. Happenin' Hair Christie had been a doll I picked out for my eighth birthday, alongside Generation Girl Chelsie. Glam 'n Groom was a Christie I splurged all my allowance money on impulsively when I first saw her at Walmart. She was actually my favorite of my first few Christie dolls for aesthetic reasons. Glam 'n Groom had the most amazing afro hair. Her tight ringlets made quite the statement, plus I adored how her dog Keeley matched. She also sported an ultra glamorous, purple velvet ensemble.

 

Almost as soon as I had bid goodbye to the dolls I gave away, I set out to replace them. This proved to be much harder than anticipated, especially when it came to the Christie dolls. She was not stocked at as many stores as Barbie's Caucasian friends. This meant less kids owned her in the first place. So even getting her secondhand would prove to be a quest. I wasn't able replace Happenin' Hair or Glam 'n Groom as a child, unlike say Workin' Out Barbie who I found almost immediately after I got rid of her. I made up for this loss by expanding my Christie collection to include other dolls. I'd say the second wave of collecting them hit when I was about eleven years old. My mom passed away in August of 2002, after losing a battle with cancer. Dad's way of dealing with the death was to always be out of the house. He bribed me and Colleen by offering to take us to toy stores and flea markets every weekend. I think subconsciously I gravitated towards picking out Christie dolls as a way to overcompensate for getting rid of Happenin' Hair and Glam 'n Groom. It was during the first two years after losing Mom that my Christie collection exploded. I found the majority of them for discounted prices at KB Toys. But some Dad shelled out the full monty for at places like Walmart, Target, or even Toys 'R' Us (which was known for marking toys up by a few dollars).

 

I was fortunate that my favorite toy store, KB Toys, was notorious for carrying over stocked or unwanted toys. Since many AA dolls are sold in their own special assortment, KB Toys was inundated with them. That's probably why I had so much luck building my Christie collection at the time. Some of the dolls I got on those weekend excursions were Rain or Sun, Sunsation, Rio de Janeiro, Dance 'n Flex, and Chair Flair. But as I mentioned before, our toy shopping was not just limited to stores. Dad also took Colleen and me out to a variety of flea markets on Sundays. This proved to be the perfect venue to procure out of date Christie dolls. I found Purple Panic and the simplified KB Toys release of Hollywood Nails Christie around this same time. What set my Christie purchases apart from most of the other dolls I was getting was the fact that I didn't always intend to play with them. I simply wanted to own Christie dolls. Back then, I didn't recognize this as collecting her. I had this notion that collecting meant keeping dolls in boxes with the intent to resell--a hobby that had no joy or personality, and one which made dolls miserable. But in all honesty, I was a budding collector. I had bought other dolls in the past, simply because they were "cool," without ever intending to play with them. However, Christie was one of my first targeted interests, much like Disney dolls. If I had not made such a purposeful effort to buy Christie dolls whenever the opportunity struck, I wouldn't have ended up with nearly as many of them. They weren't as easy to come by as say Teresa. While I did have more Teresa dolls, that was unintentional on my part (she wasn't remotely hard to stumble upon at stores or at secondhand venues). For that reason, I would consider Christie to have been my favorite friend of Barbie, from a collector stand point, ever since I was a kid.

 

Many years passed, and as I became a teenager I stopped playing with and collecting dolls. This was due to the shame I felt based on the notion that dolls were childish. Nobody ever told me I was "too old" for them, but I put the pressure on myself to conform to societal expectations. Five years in the grand scheme of life isn't much. But when you are a teenager, five years is like a lifetime. I finally delved back into dollies at the start of 2011. It was never meant to become my lifestyle again, but dolls quickly took over...and I wasn't mad about it at all. Those five years made me forget so much, even though my deep connection to my plastic friends was still very much there. So I made the foolish mistake of purging dolls once again. Some of my Christie dolls took a hit--Dance 'n Flex and Chair Flair. I found myself in that same situation I had nearly ten years before. It was instant regret...but I learned something valuable. I realized I should stop pruning my collection needlessly because I had some arbitrary idea about how many dolls was the "proper" amount to own. Any purging I would do in the future, I resolved, would be done with much more forethought and an actual reason. I set out to not only rediscover my love for dolls, but also to rebuild my pruned collection.

 

I still have yet to replace all my Christie dolls I gave away over the years. But I was lucky enough to find Happenin' Hair, still sealed in her box, at a consignment shop in 2012, alongside Bead 'n Beauty. I ogled Bead 'n Beauty every time I saw her at stores as a kid, I just never got her for whatever reason. While I am always on the hunt for those familiar faces, I have found luck scoring different Christie dolls. Many of my adult purchases were still boxed. I had a streak of finding beach Christies during those early years. I found Sparkle Beach, Sun Sensation, and Tropical Splash all in close succession. I am extra fond of beach themed Christies since they remind me of Pearl Beach. I couldn't believe it the day we stumbled upon Share A Smile Christie at the local flea market, for just a few dollars, also mint in box. Share A Smile Becky was one of Colleen's personal favorite dolls growing up. So we were both overjoyed to find the Christie from her set. Several of my favorite secondhand finds over the years have been WNBA, Jam 'n Glam, and Cut 'n Style Christie. All were from collections I either had or wanted to have as a child. Needless to say, I'm always ecstatic when a random one pops up in a large lot of dolls we've purchased. Whether they were practically brand new looking, like WNBA, or in shambles, like Cut 'n Style, finding a Christie doll is always a treasure.

 

It's funny how even though everything in life seemingly changes, how at the core we remain so much the same. I might be a fully grown woman now, but I still see dolls very much through the same lense as a kid. I don't overanalyze it--if a doll speaks to me, I add her to my collection. There isn't always a rhyme or reason to it. The main difference is that I have amassed much more knowledge about dolls, and I know how to properly restore them (rather than relying on primitive techniques like hair cuts to fix frizz). I was quick to rediscover my passion for Christie dolls. But having more information about her fueled that fire. Now I know that Christie dated back all the way to the late 1960s. You can imagine how my jaw dropped the first time I saw photos of Malibu Christie in one of my collector books. While it is a pipe dream, I still hoped to find a very old Christie doll someday. Sadly, it's hard to find any African American dolls from the 80s and earlier. They were even more scarce back then. But whether they are the newest incarnation or one from my childhood, Christie will always be Christie to me.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 20-Sep-22 (DeNoise AI).

 

This aircraft was originally ordered by Presidential Airways as N415XV but the order was cancelled. It was first flown with the British Aerospace test registration G-BPBT in Jan-89.

 

It was converted to a B.Ae 146-200QC ('Quick Change') with a main deck cargo door in May-89 and could be used in either the passenger or cargo role.

 

It was leased to Ansett New Zealand in Oct-89 and re-registered ZK-NZC in Jan-90. The aircraft was withdrawn from service and stored at Christchurch, NZ in Jul-99. It was sold sold to Titan Airways (UK) as G-ZAPN in Sep-99.

 

It was wet-leased to British Airways Citiexpress between Aug/Dec-02. The aircraft was damaged at Manchester UK when it was hit by a set of steps during high winds on 15-Dec-02. It was repaired and returned to service on 13-Jan-03.

 

The aircraft continued in service with Titan Airways until it was withdrawn from use in Mar-13 and sold to Pionair Australia later the same month.

 

The aircraft was converted to a permanent cargo role and operated by Skyforce Aviation as VH-SIF in May-13. It returned to Pionair Australia in Aug-13.

 

It was noted still in service with Pionair in Jan-22, and still in its last Titan Airways basic livery (black rear fuselage/tail with the big sun and stars!). However, it's now shown in most databases as 'stored'. It's now 33 years old. Updated 20-Sep-22.

  

This is meant to go with my Shelby Cobra when I'm finished :-)

 

I got the idea for doing the logos brick-built from Ryan Link

 

Thanks for rendering Blackout!

 

Looks best when either far away or small

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version, plus Topaz DeNoise AI 03-Aug-24.

 

Named: "City of Hazrat Shah Jalal (R.A)".

 

This aircraft was delivered to Singapore Airlines as 9V-SDF in Nov-79. It was leased to VARIG Brasil as PP-VMR in Dec-79 and returned to Singapore Airlines as 9V-SDF in Nov-80.

 

It was sold to Biman Bangladesh Airlines as S2-ACQ in Nov-83 and was permanently retired at Dhaka, Bangladesh in Sep-11 after 32 years in service. Used as a spares source, it was eventually broken up at Dhaka in Feb-17.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 08-Feb-22 (DeNoise AI).

 

Named: "Greta Garbo".

 

First flown with the Boeing test registration N1786B, this aircraft was delivered to the original version of Lauda Air in Jun-01. Lauda Air was merged into Austrian Airlines in Oct-04.

 

It was fitted with blended winglets in Oct-08 and remained in full Lauda Air livery until it was repainted into Austrian Airlines livery in Jan-10 and was re-named "Hochschwab" in May-10.

 

After only 11 years in service the aircraft was ferried to Kemble, UK in Jun-12 and permanently retired! Updated 08-Feb-22.

 

Note: The registration OE-LNO was re-used on a DHL Boeing 757-200F in Feb-22.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 26-Dec-21 (DeNoise AI).

 

A dull December day in Manchester.

 

First flown with the Airbus test registration F-WWBZ, this aircraft was delivered to the Orix Aircraft Corporation as G-OOAA in Mar-92 and leased to Air 2000 the following month.

 

It was returned to Orix in Oct-00, re-registered N291MX in Nov-00 and leased to Mexicana. It was repossessed and stored at Mexico City when Mexicana ceased operations in Aug-10.

 

The aircraft was due to be leased to the 'new' Mexicana in early 2011 but the finance didn't materialise and the aircraft remained stored at Mexico City. In Aug-11 it was ferried to Marana, AZ, USA, sold to Evergreen Trade Inc and permanently retired. The registration was cancelled in Oct-11 and it was eventually broken up.

The K50 is intended to replace the Tsar-class, as that design was found to be heavily flawed. However, the good features were borrowed from the Tsar-class, like its bridge that gave an excellent view on the battlespace.

 

The ship is based on the Pearl battlecruiser's hull, but modified to meet the needs of battleship. This class is supposed to fill out the gap between the said battlecruiser and The Divine superbattleship.

 

It utilizes many new features that makes it lighter and cheaper. Firtsly, it has only three turret versus the usual four of other nations' battleships while still having the same number of cannons. With one less turret a lot of weight was saved due to less machinery and a shorter citadel, this way more weight could be used for armor. At standard load it has a displacement of 38,230 t.

 

Armor

 

The ships' armor protection was designed to break up 16-inch (406 mm) shells from a distance of 15,000–20,000 meters and the primary armor plates made of Krupp cemented armor (which reduces spalling) are backed up by splinter bulkheads intended to contain any shell fragments.

The ship's waterline armor belt is 305 mm (12 in) thick and tapered to a thickness of 100 mm (3.9 in) at its bottom edge; above it is a strake of 229 mm (9.0 in) armor. The main deck armor is 104 mm (4 in). The turrets are protected with an armor thickness of 305 mm on the face, 230–190 mm (9.1–7.5 in) on the sides, and 152 mm on the roof. The barbettes of the second turret is protected by armor 305 mm thick, while the casemates of the 150 mm guns are protected by 37 mm armor plates. The sides of the conning tower are 369 mm (14.5 in) thick.

 

Propulsion

 

K50 is equipped with four steam turbines, each of which drove one propeller shaft. The turbines were designed to produce a total of 91,000 shaft horsepower provided by oil-fueled boilers. The ship could carry 5,000 long tons of fuel oil, giving her a range of 10,200 km at a speed of 16 knots. The ship exceeded her designed speed of 26.5 knots during her sea trials, reaching 26.7 knots .

  

Armament

 

K50 class' eight 50-caliber 41-centimeter guns are mounted in three turrets, one twin and two triple superfiring turrets fore and aft. Numbered one through three from front to rear, the hydraulically powered turrets give the guns an elevation range of −2 to +35 degrees, giving them a maximum range of 30,200 m. The rate of fire for the guns is around two rounds per minute.

The ship's secondary armament of 18 150 mm guns is mounted in four twin turrets and the rmaining in casemates. These guns have a maximum range of 20,500 metres and fired at a rate of six to ten rounds per minute. The gun between the turrets might be replaced with a torpedo launcher from the Plunderer class to give the ship more versatility.

Anti-aircraft defense is provided by eight 84 mm high elevation guns, eight 40 mm guns in two quad turrets and eight 25mm guns, six in twin turrets and two as single mounts.

  

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 22-Oct-21 (DeNoise AI).

 

This aircraft was delivered to Linjeflyg (Sweden) as SE-DNI in Dec-91. It was wet-leased to LOT Polish Airlines in Apr-92. Linjeflyg was merged into SAS Scandinavian Airlines in Jan-93 and the aircraft was returned to SAS in Mar-93.

 

In Apr-93 it was leased to BMA British Midland Airways as G-OBMY, returning to SAS in Sep-98 it was immediately leased to Sterling European Airlines as OY-SEG. It returned to SAS in Apr-99 and was leased to Lithuanian Airlines as LY-BFV later the same month.

 

The aircraft was returned to SAS, sold to a lessor and stored in Feb-00. It was leased to British Airways as G-GFFD in Jun-00. It was returned to the lessor in Nov-08 and stored at Belgrade, Serbia. It was moved to Istanbul-SAW in Oct-11 prior to an expected leased to Aeroflot-Don.

 

The lease didn't take place and the aircraft remained stored at Istanbul until it was leased to Kyrgyzstan Aircompany as EK-37501 in Apr-12. The aircraft was permanently retired and stored in Oct-17.

 

I also have a photo of this aircraft with BMA British Midland Airways as G-OBMY at...

www.flickr.com/photos/kenfielding/6315570370

 

and with Lithuanian Airlines as LY-BFV at...

www.flickr.com/photos/kenfielding/6317952687

Replacing an earlier scanned phoro with a better version, plus Topaz DeNoise AI 30-Jul-24.

 

Taken into a low sun on a misty Manchester Morning.

 

First flown as G-PRIN in Nov-89 as a standard B.Ae 146-200, this aircraft was converted to a 'QC' version with a main-deck cargo door in May-90 and delivered to Princess Air in Jun-90.

 

It was repossessed by British Aerospace in Feb-91 and re-registered G-6-148. It was leased to Air UK as G-BTIA in Mar-91 for 2 months, returning to British Aerospace in May-91.

 

It was leased to BAF British Air Ferries the following month. They briefly sub-leased it British Airways in Jun-92 before returning it to B.Ae in Sep-92. It was leased to Safair (South Africa) as ZS-NCB in Oct-92 and returned to B.Ae Asset Management in Feb-95.

 

The aircraft was stored until it was leased to Titan Airways as G-ZAPK in Apr-96. It was sub-leased to Meridiana in May-96 for 1 month and Titan Airways bought it in Feb-97.

 

As well as being used on Titan's own charter services it was leased to Jersey European Airways (Mar/Jun-97), CityJet (Jan/Dec-01), British Airways Citiexpress (Jun/Aug-02) and Scot Airways (May-05/Aug-06). It was retired by Titan in Nov-13 and stored.

 

It was due to be sold in Australia to Skyforce Aviation as VH-SJF but that didn't happen (Skyforce Aviation ceased operations in May-15 but was later rebranded as Pionair).

 

It remained stored until it was sold to Pionair Australia as VH-SAZ in Nov-17. Still in Titan Airway black livery with the orange sun and Pionair titles. The aircraft seems to operate intermittently and was parked at Cairns, QLD, Australia in Nov-21. It was back in service by Aug-22. Stored again, date unknown. Updated 29-Jul-24.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 12-Mar-17, and DeNoise AI 09-Nov-22.

 

All Nippon and JAL were the only airlines to order the shorter range version of the Boeing 747-400, the -400D (Domestic). The most obvious difference was that it didn't have winglets.

 

This aircraft was delivered to ANA All Nippon Airways as JA8960 in May-93. It was sold to a lessor a few days after delivery and eventually sold back to ANA in May-05.

 

The aircraft was in service for 21 years and was permanently retired at Tupelo, MS, USA in Mar-14. It was last noted still at Tupelo in Oct-14 and was subsequently broken up.

Go Ahead WY have had this Procters branded Volvo B7RLE on the Leeds - Wetherby X98/99 over the last few days, seen here in Oakwood, Leeds. There is a wonderful recess mounted post box here at the junction with North Lane to the right of the bus.

Replacing an earlier digital photo with a better version 04-Jan-22 (DeNoise AI).

 

Operated for British Airways by franchise partner Loganair.

 

First flown with the Saab Aircraft test registration SE-G16, this aircraft was delivered to the AMR Leasing Corporation and leased to AMR Eagle Inc (American Eagle) as N595MA in Dec-90. It was sold to another lessor on delivery and leased back to AMR Eagle.

 

It was sub-leased to Metroflight the same day and operated on behalf of American Eagle. Metroflight was merged into Simmons Airlines in May-93 while operations for American Eagle continued.

 

The aircraft was returned to the lessor in Mar-97 and leased to Northwest Airlines in May-97. It was sub-leased to Mesaba Airlines and operated on behalf of Northwest Airlink. It was returned to the lessor in Dec-98 and stored.

 

The aircraft was leased to Loganair as G-LGNB in Jul-99 and operated on behalf of British Airways. It was returned to Loganair in Oct-08 and immediately operated on behalf of FlyBe Airlines. It returned to Loganair in Sep-17.

 

It was returned to Jetstream Aviation Capital as N34216 in Dec-22 and ferried to Springfield, MO, USA in Feb-23. The aircraft ferried to London, ON, Canada for maintenance in Mar-23 and returned to Springfield in Apr-23 for storage.

 

At the beginning of Sep-23 the aircraft was ferried to St. Hubert, QC, Canada and leased to Pascan Aviation as C-FRCV later that month. It was stored at St. Hubert before finally entering service on 06-Aug-24. Current, updated 07-Jan-25.

Replacing an earlier digital photo with a better version 06-Mar-24.

 

Named: "St. Secundinus / Sechniall".

 

First flown with the ATR test registration F-WWEC, this aircraft was delivered to GECAS and leased to Stobart Air as EI-FMK in Dec-15. It operated mainly on behalf of Aer Lingus Regional.

 

It was returned to Stobart Air in Oct-19 and returned to the lessor the following month when it was stored at Dublin (Ireland). It was leased to VoePass Linhas Aereas (Passaredo Linhas Aereas) as PR-PDO in Jan-20.

 

The aircraft was returned to AerCap as OE-IHG in Sep-22 and stored at Dinard, France. It was leased to Emerald Airlines in Feb-23 and ferried to Exeter, UK in early Mar-23 for maintenance.

 

The aircraft was transferred to Emerald Airlines UK as G-CMMK in late Mar-23 and is operated on behalf of Aer Lingus Regional in full Aer Lingus livery. Current, updated 18-Aug-23.

"Amstel House, also known as Dr. Finney House, is a preserved building in New Castle, Delaware, United States, built in the 1730s. The decline of New Castle in the 19th century meant that many owners of homes could no longer afford to make changes to them, which is why so many buildings were preserved. That changed, however, when New Castle was "rediscovered" during the Colonial Revival phase of the 1920s and 1930s and old buildings began to be torn down and replaced by new construction.

 

In 1931, to protect New Castle's heritage, a group of concerned citizens raised funds to buy the Amstel House, which faced an uncertain fate. This was the town's first formal preservation effort. Shortly thereafter the group evolved into the New Castle Historical Society which, in the 75 years that have followed, has worked closely with the city and other civic organizations to save, preserve and restore many of the town's historic architectural treasures.

 

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

 

New Castle was originally settled by the Dutch West India Company in 1651 under the leadership of Peter Stuyvesant on the site of a former aboriginal village, "Tomakonck" ("Place of the Beaver"), to assert their claim to the area based on a prior agreement with the aboriginal inhabitants of the area. The Dutch originally named the settlement Fort Casimir, but this was changed to Fort Trinity (Swedish: Trefaldighet) following its seizure by the colony of New Sweden on Trinity Sunday, 1654. The Dutch conquered the entire colony of New Sweden the following year and rechristened the fort Nieuw-Amstel ("New Amstel", after the Amstel). This marked the end of the Swedish colony in Delaware as an official entity, but it remained a semi-autonomous unit within the New Netherland colony and the cultural, social, and religious influence of the Swedish settlers remained strong. As the settlement grew, Dutch authorities laid out a grid of streets and established the town common (The "Green"), which continue to this day.

 

In 1664, the English seized the entire New Netherland colony in the Second Anglo-Dutch War. They changed the name of the town to "New Castle" and made it the capital of their Delaware Colony. The Dutch regained the town in 1673 during the Third Anglo-Dutch War but it was returned to Great Britain the next year under the Treaty of Westminster. In 1680, New Castle was conveyed to William Penn by the Duke of York by livery of seisin and was Penn's landing place when he first set foot on American soil on October 27, 1682. This transfer to Penn was contested by Lord Baltimore and the boundary dispute was not resolved until the survey conducted by Mason and Dixon, now famed in history as the Mason–Dixon line.

 

Prior to the establishment of Penn's Philadelphia, New Castle was a center of government. After being transferred to Penn, Delaware's Swedish, Dutch, and English residents used to the relaxed culture of the Restoration monarchy grew uncomfortable with the more conservative Quaker influence, so Delaware petitioned for a separate legislature, which was finally granted in 1702. Delaware formally broke from Pennsylvania in 1704. New Castle again became the seat of the colonial government, thriving with the various judges and lawyers that fueled the economy. Many smaller houses were torn down and replaced in this era. In February, 1777, John McKinly was elected the first President of Delaware (a title later renamed "Governor"). During the Revolution, when New Castle was besieged by William Howe, the government elected to move its functions south to Dover in May, 1777. McKinley was captured by the British and held prisoner for several months. New Castle remained the county seat until after the Civil War, when that status was transferred to Wilmington. Three signers of the Declaration of Independence were from New Castle—Thomas McKean, George Read, and George Ross.

 

The 16-mile (26 km) portage between the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay saved a 400-mile (640 km) trip around the Delmarva Peninsula, so this brought passengers, goods, and business to New Castle's port. In the years following the Revolution, a turnpike was built to facilitate travel between the two major waterways. Later, New Castle became the eastern terminus of the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad, the second-oldest rail line in the country, launched in 1828 with horse-drawn rail cars, then converting to steam power when an engine was purchased from Great Britain in 1832. The line traversed the Delmarva Peninsula, running to the Elk River, Maryland, from where passengers changed to packet boats for further travel to Baltimore and points south. This helped the New Castle economy to further boom; however, by 1840, rail lines were in place between Philadelphia and Baltimore, which had a stop in Wilmington, thus leaving New Castle to deal with a substantial decline in traffic and revenue.

 

The decline in New Castle's economy had the long-range fortunate effect of preventing most residents from making any significant structural changes to their homes. So, the many buildings of historic New Castle look much as they did in the colonial and Federal periods.

 

New Castle has a tradition, dating back to 1927, of tours of historical homes, churches, and gardens. These tours, called "A Day in Olde New Castle", are usually held on the third Saturday of May. Householders dress in colonial costumes and an admittance fee is collected which is used toward the maintenance of the town's many historic buildings. In June the town holds its annual Separation Day celebration.

 

On April 28, 1961, an F3 tornado hit the north side. Although no fatalities or injuries occurred, it was the only tornado of this magnitude ever recorded in Delaware." - info from Wikipedia.

 

The fall of 2022 I did my 3rd major cycling tour. I began my adventure in Montreal, Canada and finished in Savannah, GA. This tour took me through the oldest parts of Quebec and the 13 original US states. During this adventure I cycled 7,126 km over the course of 2.5 months and took more than 68,000 photos. As with my previous tours, a major focus was to photograph historic architecture.

 

Now on Instagram.

 

Become a patron to my photography on Patreon.

Replacing an earlier digital photo with a better version 28-Feb-22 (DeNoise AI).

 

First flown in Feb-93 with the Airbus test registration F-WWCD, this aircraft was delivered to Balair / CTA (Switzerland) as HB-IPN in May-93. It was transferred to Swissair in Dec-95.

 

It was sold to a lessor in Nov-98 and leased back to Swissair. It was returned to the lessor in Aug-99 and sold to A.I. Financial Services (Airbus) as F-WIHP in Oct-99.

 

The aircraft was leased to Air Caledonie International as F-OIHP in Mar-00 and returned to AIFS in Jan-03 when it was stored at Marseilles, France. It was leased to CSA Czech Airlines as OK-YAC in Jun-03 and returned to the lessor as M-ABCX in Sep-10.

 

It was leased to United Airways (Bangladesh) as S2-AFF in Oct-10. They were an odd company, offered a poor service with a lot of delays and cancellations.

 

The aircraft was withdrawn from service at Dhaka, Bangladesh in Jun-15. United Airways ceased operations in Mar-16 and on the day they closed down all their aircraft were unserviceable! It was last noted still at Dhaka in Nov-16.

Estamos substituindo cartas por e-mails, radio por televisão, livros por livros de internet, a realidade por computador... Iremos substituir as pessoas pelas máquina?

 

we're replacing the letters for e-mails, the radio for the television, books for internet's books, the reality for the computer... Are we going to replace people for machines?

 

minha internet não poderia estar pior!

Konica Waiwai + Agfa Vista 200

 

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Feel free to follow my instagram for more film photos update !!

My ig : swyh_44

Chevrolet replaced the long-running C4 Corvette in 1997 with the new C5. As well as all-new, but recognisable styling, the C5 debuted a number of key innovations in its hydroformed inner structure.

 

All C5 Corvette's had power, the initial LS1 5.7L pushrod V8 producing 257 kW (345 hp), enough to push the Corvette to 282 km/h.

 

There were three body styles for the C5 generation Corvettes:

 

A) the Coupe (shown), which featured a removeable targa-top panel, and had an opening liftback luggage area,

 

B) the Hardtop, which was a notchback coupe-style, fixed roof panel, and

 

C) the convertible.

 

The Corvette plant is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and I was fortunate to have a Plant tour in 2001. Though the production rate is relatively low, the plant is clean and modern. The National Corvette Museum is located not far way. The area is in a beautiful part of the US, and close to the amazing Mammoth Cave.

 

The model here is shown in orange - not an available factory colour for the the C5 generation Corvette - though there have subsequently been many custom painted examples. I chose orange though, having recently built the somewhat underwhelming LEGO Technic Corvette in this colour.

 

Other C5 Corvette models are planned to follow.

 

As for most of the models built his November, the Chevrolet C5 Corvette is a major redesign of a previously created model. In LUGNuts there was a build challenge named 'Redo or Redemption' just for this type of build.

 

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 21-May-17, plus Topaz DeNoise AI 03-Jan-26.

 

With additional small 'Sky Cruiser' titles.

 

The Boeing 747-446D was specially built for Japan Airlines and used on hi-density Japan domestic services. It had quite a few differences like no long range tanks and the most obvious, no winglets.

 

This aircraft was delivered to JAL Japan Airlines as JA8907 in Mar-93. It was sold on delivery to a lessor and leased back to JAL.

 

When JAL took over JAS Japan Air System in Apr-04, it divided the company into Domestic and International divisions. JA8907 was transferred to Japan Airlines Domestic. The aircraft was sold back to JAL in Mar-05.

 

In Oct-06 the Domestic Division was merged into Japan Airlines International. It continued in service until Aug-10 when it was sold to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest as N893DB.

 

The aircraft was permanently retired at Walnut Ridge, AR, USA. It was noted still stored at Walnut Ridge in Sep-11 and the registration was cancelled in Apr-12.

With Halton Transport having met its demise, various operators have filled the gaps. Arriva have replaced many service runs, including parts of servcies 14A, 61, 62 and 200, Warrington's Own Buses have taken on parts of service 62 and some college work, Stagecoach have taken on some schools work and Ashcroft Travel have taken on services 26/27.

 

Warrington's Own buses have drafted in additional vehicles from far and wide, including a trio of ex Transdev Lancashire Volvo B7RLE / Wright. 227 (BD12TEJ) is seen in Runcorn old town working a former Halton service 62.

Lengths of cut up rail lay awaiting disposition after being replaced on the Norfolk Southern track along Highway 247 in Warner Robins, Georgia.

 

Replaced the 1x10 tiles on the front with another row of cheeses. Looks much better.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 12-Mar-17, although the negative has deteriorated (yellowed) over time.

 

Taken from the glass fronted viewing terrace at Las Palmas with some reflections!

 

A UK airline based at Manchester, Av8 Airlines (Aviate - gettit?) was yet another airline that didn't last. Initial services were operated using this leased Icelandair B767 on long-haul flights Manchester / Dublin / Cape Town using Icelandair's AOC. Operations were started in Nov-03. The plan was to have a B767-300ER for long-haul and a B757-200 for inclusive tour flights from Manchester to southern Europe. They took delivery of the B757 (G-OAVB) in Nov-03 and it flew regular training flights but never entered revenue service. Their own AOC was granted in Mar-04 but was rescinded almost immediately as the parent travel company couldn't raise the necessary CAA Bond. They ceased trading in early Apr-04 and the B757 was returned to the lessor.

 

This aircraft was delivered to SAS Scandinavian Airlines as SE-DKX in Oct-91. It was sold to the Sunrock Aircraft Corporation in Jan-94 and leased back to SAS. At the same time it was transferred to SAS Norway and re-registered LN-RCL. The aircraft was returned to the lessor in Nov-03 as N365SR.

 

It was leased to Icelandair the following month and immediately wet leased to a new UK company, Av8 Airlines. They ceased operations in Apr-04 and the aircraft was returned to Icelandair.

 

In Dec-04 it was wet leased to NEOS (Italy) for the winter, returning to Icelandair in Apr-05. It was wet-leased to SBA Santa Barbara Airlines in Nov-06, returning to Icelandair in Sep-08.

 

After major maintenance at Tel Aviv the aircraft was leased to Travel Service Airlines (Czech Republic) in Dec-09. In May-09 it was sub-leased by Travel Service Airlines to Kabo Air (Nigeria), still operated by Icelandair. The aircraft returned to Travel Service Airlines in Dec-09 and was returned to Icelandair in Apr-10.

 

In May-10 it was wet-leased to SBA Santa Barbara Airlines again, returning to Icelandair in Feb-11. It had a major maintenance check at Guangzhou, China and was dry leased, long term, to Air Niugini as P2-PXW in Apr-11. Now 31 years old, it continues in service. Updated 29-Oct-22.

 

Note: The registration TF-FIB was previously used on an Icelandair B737-400.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 03-Oct-21 (DeNoise AI).

 

'jmc AIR' sometimes leased aircraft in the USA during the UK winter season. This was leased to Ryan International Airlines and operated for Apple Vacations. It's seen here about to depart Manchester for the USA.

 

Another long and complicated history... First flown with the Airbus test registration F-WWBQ, this aircraft was delivered to GECAS and leased to Airworld (UK) as G-BXKC in Dec-97.

 

It was wet-leased on delivery, to Ryan International Airlines (USA) and operated on behalf of US Tour Company 'Apple Vacations'. It returned to Airworld in Apr-98.

 

Airworld was merged into Flying Colours Airlines in Nov-98 and the aircraft was again wet-leased to Ryan International on behalf of Apple Vacations in Dec-98 and returned to Flying Colours in Apr-99.

 

This aircraft was repainted in 'jmc AIR' livery in Oct-99 and then wet-leased to Ryan International in Dec-99, again operating for Apple Vacations. At the end of Mar-00, Flying Colours was merged with Caledonian Airways (Mk:2) for form 'jmc AIR' (see below) and the aircraft was returned to 'jmc' in Apr-00.

 

The operation was repeated between Dec-00/May-01, Nov-01/Apr-02 and Dec-02/Apr-03. 'jmc AIR' was renamed Thomas Cook Airlines in Mar-03. For the next four European Winter seasons (Dec-03/Apr-04, Dec-04/Apr-05, Dec-05/Apr-06 and Nov-06/Apr-07), the aircraft was wet-leased to Bredan Airways (doing business as USA 3000 Airlines).

 

It was returned to GECAS in Jan-08 and leased to Vladivostok Avia as VP-BFX a few days later, It was returned to GECAS in early 2014 and stored at Shannon, Ireland. In Apr-14 the aircraft was leased to Hamburg Airways. Hamburg Airways ceased operations in mid Dec-14 and the aircraft was returned to GECAS at the end of the month when it was again stored at Shannon.

 

It was sold to Sunrise Asset Management Inc and leased to Allegiant Air as N229NV in Apr-15. Current, updated 15-Dec-22.

 

Note: The 'JMC' in 'jmc AIR' is the initials of Thomas Cook's son John Mason Cook! Who knew!! Well, no one really! The name and the livery were an advertising man's dream, but an airline man's nightmare. The general public (and half the travel trade) had no idea what it meant, what it stood for and what it's history was. It wasn't the greatest success and three years later 'jmc AIR' was renamed Thomas Cook Airlines.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version, plus Topaz DeNoise AI 09-Nov-23.

 

This aircraft was delivered to Aeroflot Russian Airlines as CCCP-86054 in 1983. It became RA-86504 in 1992 when the Russian Federation was formed.

 

It was withdrawn from use and broken up by 2006.

The Ferrari 308 series of three models replaced the Dino as the lowest rung of Ferrari ownership.

 

The first model, the Dino 308 GT4 as it was known, was a 4-seat model, styled by Bertone. The car was powered by a new 2.9 L V8 engine.

 

The second and third cars were styled by long-term partner Pininfarina, and resembled a somewhat smaller 365 GT4 BB. The two versions reflected the layouts seen in the Dino model - a Berlinetta known as the 308 GTB, and a targa-top model known as the 308 GTS.

 

The first couple of years of the Berlinetta saw the body produced in fibreglass, replaced by steel once the targa model began production. The early glass cars, due to their light weight and powerful engines are more collectible than later cars.

 

The 308 GTB & GTS underwent a number of modest cosmetic changes during their lifetime, along with changes in engine fuelling and valvegear. This resulted in various power outputs as the engine were influenced by emissions technology and countermeasures.

 

The Ferrari 308 GTS Targa model shown here featured in the TV series Magnum PI, set on Hawaii during the 1980s. The car was regularly updated to the newest model, so different seasons see slightly different cars.

Replacing an earlier scanned slide with a better version 19-Mar-15 (DeNoise AI 17-Sep-22).

 

Named: "City of Newcastle".

 

Delivered new to Hunting Clan Air Transport as G-ANRS in Jun-55, this aircraft was leased to MEA Middle East Airlines as OD-ACH in Oct-55. It didn't stay as OD-ACH for long as it was sub-leased to BEA British European Airways as G-ANRS again the following month.

 

It returned to MEA as OD-ACH at the end of Mar-56 and was returned to Hunting Clan as G-ANRS in Sep-57. It was soon off to the Middle East again 2 years later when it was sold to Misrair-Egyptian Airlines in Aug-59 as SU-AKY. Misrair merged with Syrian Air and became part of United Arab Airlines in Aug-60.

 

The aircraft was stored at Cairo for a while before it was bought by British Eagle International Airlines and became G-ANRS again in Mar-65. It was briefly wet-leased to Air France in Aug-68 and was stored at Liverpool in Nov-68 when British Eagle ceased operations.

 

The aircraft was sold to Cambrian Airways in Jul-69, flown to Cardiff and retired. It was disassembled and became a cabin services trainer. In Sep-76, the fuselage was donated to the Wales Air Museum and put on display at Cardiff.

 

The Wales Air Museum eventually went out of business and the aircraft was given to Cardiff Airport Fire Service in 1991. It was finally broken up in early 1996.

Replacing an earlier digital photo with a better version 05-Jan-22 (DeNoise AI).

 

A purpose built freighter, this aircraft was delivered to Singapore Airlines as 9V-SFI in Nov-00. It was transferred to Singapore Airlines Cargo when the company was set up in Jul-01.

 

The aircraft was leased to Great Wall Airlines as B-2433 in Aug-08. Great Wall Airlines was merged into China Cargo Airlines in Jul-11. It continued in service.

 

The aircraft was returned to Singapore Airlines Cargo as 9V-SFI in Oct-15. The Cargo Division was reintegrated into Singapore Airlines mainline in Apr-18. Current, updated 06-Jan-23.

Replacing an earlier digital photo with a better version 04-Jan-20.

 

Now with 'billboard' titles

 

Named: "Prince Sebastian".

 

This aircraft was delivered to Luxair Luxembourg Airlines as LX-LGU in Oct-98. It was sold to Champion Air LLC (Dale Ernhardt Racing) as N500DE in Oct-07. Current, updated 10-Oct-24.

 

Note: The registration LX-LGU was previously used on a Luxair Boeing 707-344B between 1987/1993 and is currently on a Luxair B737-8C3/SW since 2012.

Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 07-Aug-21.

 

-Delft Blue Daybreak-, Netherlands World Tail livery. Operated by British Airways franchise partner Maersk Air UK.

 

This aircraft was delivered to Maersk Air (Denmark) as OY-APB in Apr-96. It was leased to Maersk Air UK as G-MSKE in Apr-99 and operated on behalf of British Airways under a franchise agreement. The aircraft was returned to Maersk Air (Denmark) as OY-APB in Dec-01.

 

Maersk Air was merged into Sterling European Airlines in Sep-05. Sterling European ceased operations at the end of Oct-08 and the aircraft was returned to Maersk Finance in Oct-08. It was initially stored at Copenhagen, Denmark and move to Chateauroux (France) for further storage in Dec-08.

 

It was sold to the Orix Atlas Corporation in late May-10 as F-HCOA and leased to Air Mediterranee (France) in early Jun-10. They ceased operations in Feb-16 and the aircraft was returned to the lessor and stored at Lourdes, France.

 

In Jun-18 it was sold to Kalitta Charters II LLC (USA) as N375CK and ferried to Oscoda, MI, USA where it was permanently retired and used for spares. Updated 07-Aug-21.

Replacing an earlier scanned print with a better version 16-Aug-20, plus Topaz DeNoise AI 23-Apr-24.

 

Translift Airways, which later became TransAer International Airways was one of the original ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance & Insurance) airlines operating services for other airlines. The history below only shows major sub-leases but there were lots of 'one-off' and short-term leases in between.

 

I was dreading doing the history for this aircraft, it goes on for ever...

 

Named: "Caitlin Shligigh".

 

First flown in Apr-93 with the Airbus test registration F-WWIZ, this aircraft was delivered to the Orix Aircraft Corporation as N429RX in Jul-93 and stored until it was leased to Translift Airways as EI-TLE in Oct-93.

 

It was wet-leased to Leisure Air (USA) between Nov-94/Apr-95, TransMeridian Airways (USA) between Dec-95/Apr-96, Turkish Airlines between May/Oct-96 and TransMeridian Airways between Nov-97/Apr-97.

 

Translift was renamed TransAer in May-97 and became TransAer International Airways in Sep-97. The aircraft was wet-leased to Novair Airlines (Sweden) for 3 weeks in Nov-97, TransMeridian Dec-97/Apr-98, AirWorld (UK) between May/Nov-98, TransMeridian between Dec-98/Apr-99 and Britannia Airways between Apr/Oct-99.

 

The aircraft was returned to the lessor in Nov-99 (TransAer ceased operationa a year later in Oct-00). In Jan-00 it was leased to Airtours International Airways as G-BYTH. It was transferred to Airtours German operation, flyFTI (Frosch Touristik International) as D-ASSR in Apr-00 for the summer season, returning to Airtours as G-BYTH in Nov-00.

 

It was sub-leased to Skyservice Airlines (Canada) as C-GTDM in Dec-01. Confusingly, it was sub-sub-leased back to Airtours for the summer season in Apr-02. Airtours was renamed MyTravel Airlines in May-02.

 

The aircraft was returned to Skyservice Airlines (on paper) in Nov-02 and became G-BYTH the same day on return to MyTravel. It was transferred to MyTravel Lite in May-03 (MyTravel's attempt at 'low-cost' - it didn't work!) and was based at Birmingham (UK) for the summer season.

 

It returned to MyTravel Airways in Nov-03 and was sub-leased to Skyservice Airlines as C-GTDM in Dec-03, returning to MyTravel as G-BYTH in Apr-04. It was sub-leased to Skyservice again (as C-GTDM) between Nov-04/Apr-05 and between Nov-05/Apr-06.

 

As G-BYTH the aircraft continued in service with MyTravel. The MyTravel Group was merged into Thomas Cook Airlines in Mar-08 and it continued in service until it was returned to the lessor in Apr-10.

 

Later that month the aircraft was leased to Skywest Airlines (Australia) as VH-FNP. Skywest entered a franchise agreement with Virgin Australia in May-13, operating as Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.

 

The aircraft was withdrawn from service at the end of Apr-20 and stored at Perth, WA, Australia, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It remained stored at Perth until it was ferried to Sharjah and returned to the lessor in late Mar-21.

 

It was leased (or sold) to Olympus Airways (Greece) as SX-AQK in Apr-21 but never entered service. It remained stored at Sharjah, UAE. Now 32 years old, it's permanently retired and probably used for spares. Updated 25-Feb-25.

The Isle of Skye, is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated by the Cuillin, the rocky slopes of which provide some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the country. Although Sgitheanach has been suggested to describe a winged shape, no definitive agreement exists as to the name's origins.

 

The island has been occupied since the Mesolithic period, and over its history has been occupied at various times by Celtic tribes including the Picts and the Gaels, Scandinavian Vikings, and most notably the powerful integrated Norse-Gaels clans of MacLeod and MacDonald. The island was considered to be under Norwegian suzerainty until the 1266 Treaty of Perth, which transferred control over to Scotland. The 18th-century Jacobite risings led to the breaking-up of the clan system and later clearances that replaced entire communities with sheep farms, some of which involved forced emigrations to distant lands. Resident numbers declined from over 20,000 in the early 19th century to just under 9,000 by the closing decade of the 20th century. Skye's population increased by 4% between 1991 and 2001. About a third of the residents were Gaelic speakers in 2001, and although their numbers are in decline, this aspect of island culture remains important.

 

The main industries are tourism, agriculture, fishing, and forestry. Skye is part of the Highland Council local government area. The island's largest settlement is Portree, which is also its capital, known for its picturesque harbour. Links to various nearby islands by ferry are available, and since 1995, to the mainland by a road bridge. The climate is mild, wet, and windy. The abundant wildlife includes the golden eagle, red deer, and Atlantic salmon. The local flora is dominated by heather moor, and nationally important invertebrate populations live on the surrounding sea bed. Skye has provided the locations for various novels and feature films, and is celebrated in poetry and song.

 

A Mesolithic hunter-gatherer site dating to the seventh millennium BC at An Corran in Staffin is one of the oldest archaeological sites in Scotland. Its occupation is probably linked to that of the rock shelter at Sand, Applecross, on the mainland coast of Wester Ross, where tools made of a mudstone from An Corran have been found. Surveys of the area between the two shores of the Inner Sound and Sound of Raasay have revealed 33 sites with potentially Mesolithic deposits. Finds of bloodstone microliths on the foreshore at Orbost on the west coast of the island near Dunvegan also suggest Mesolithic occupation. These tools probably originated from the nearby island of Rùm. Similarly, bloodstone from Rum, and baked mudstone, from the Staffin area, were found at the Mesolithic site of Camas Daraich, also from the seventh millennium BC, on the Point of Sleat, which has led archaeologists to believe that Mesolithic people on Skye would travel fairly significant distances, at least 70 km, both by land and sea.

 

Rubha an Dùnain, an uninhabited peninsula to the south of the Cuillin, has a variety of archaeological sites dating from the Neolithic onwards. A second- or third-millennium BC chambered cairn, an Iron Age promontory fort, and the remains of another prehistoric settlement dating from the Bronze Age are nearby. Loch na h-Airde on the peninsula is linked to the sea by an artificial "Viking" canal that may date from the later period of Norse settlement. Dun Ringill is a ruined Iron Age hill fort on the Strathaird Peninsula, which was further fortified in the Middle Ages and may have become the seat of Clan MacKinnon.

 

The late Iron Age inhabitants of the northern and western Hebrides were probably Pictish, although the historical record is sparse. Three Pictish symbol stones have been found on Skye and a fourth on Raasay. More is known of the kingdom of Dál Riata to the south; Adomnán's life of Columba, written shortly before 697, portrays the saint visiting Skye (where he baptised a pagan leader using an interpreter) and Adomnán himself is thought to have been familiar with the island. The Irish annals record a number of events on Skye in the later seventh and early eighth centuries – mainly concerning the struggles between rival dynasties that formed the background to the Old Irish language romance Scéla Cano meic Gartnáin.

 

Legendary hero Cú Chulainn is said to have trained on the Isle of Skye with warrior woman Scáthach.

 

The Norse held sway throughout the Hebrides from the 9th century until after the Treaty of Perth in 1266. However, apart from placenames, little remains of their presence on Skye in the written or archaeological record. Apart from the name "Skye" itself, all pre-Norse placenames seem to have been obliterated by the Scandinavian settlers. Viking heritage, with Celtic heritage is claimed by Clan MacLeod. Norse tradition is celebrated in the winter fire festival at Dunvegan, during which a replica Viking long boat is set alight.

 

The most powerful clans on Skye in the post–Norse period were Clan MacLeod, originally based in Trotternish, and Clan Macdonald of Sleat. The isle was held by Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles’ half-brother, Godfrey, from 1389 until 1401, at which time Skye was declared part of Ross. When the Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, re-gained Ross after the battle of Harlaw in 1411, they added "Earl of Ross" to their lords' titles. Skye came with Ross.

 

Following the disintegration of the Lordship of the Isles, Clan Mackinnon also emerged as an independent clan, whose substantial landholdings in Skye were centred on Strathaird. Clan MacNeacail also have a long association with Trotternish, and in the 16th century many of the MacInnes clan moved to Sleat. The MacDonalds of South Uist were bitter rivals of the MacLeods, and an attempt by the former to murder church-goers at Trumpan in retaliation for a previous massacre on Eigg, resulted in the Battle of the Spoiling Dyke of 1578.

 

After the failure of the Jacobite rebellion of 1745, Flora MacDonald became famous for rescuing Prince Charles Edward Stuart from the Hanoverian troops. Although she was born on South Uist, her story is strongly associated with their escape via Skye, and she is buried at Kilmuir in Trotternish. Samuel Johnson and James Boswell's visit to Skye in 1773 and their meeting with Flora MacDonald in Kilmuir is recorded in Boswell's The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides. Boswell wrote, "To see Dr Samuel Johnson, the great champion of the English Tories, salute Miss Flora MacDonald in the isle of Sky, was a striking sight; for though somewhat congenial in their notions, it was very improbable they should meet here". Johnson's words that Flora MacDonald was "A name that will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour" are written on her gravestone. After this rebellion, the clan system was broken up and Skye became a series of landed estates.

 

Of the island in general, Johnson observed:

 

I never was in any house of the islands, where I did not find books in more languages than one, if I staid long enough to want them, except one from which the family was removed. Literature is not neglected by the higher rank of the Hebrideans. It need not, I suppose, be mentioned, that in countries so little frequented as the islands, there are no houses where travellers are entertained for money. He that wanders about these wilds, either procures recommendations to those whose habitations lie near his way, or, when night and weariness come upon him, takes the chance of general hospitality. If he finds only a cottage he can expect little more than shelter; for the cottagers have little more for themselves but if his good fortune brings him to the residence of a gentleman, he will be glad of a storm to prolong his stay. There is, however, one inn by the sea-side at Sconsor, in Sky, where the post-office is kept.

 

— Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.

 

Skye has a rich heritage of ancient monuments from this period. Dunvegan Castle has been the seat of Clan MacLeod since the 13th century. It contains the Fairy Flag and is reputed to have been inhabited by a single family for longer than any other house in Scotland. The 18th-century Armadale Castle, once home of Clan Donald of Sleat, was abandoned as a residence in 1925, but now hosts the Clan Donald Centre. Nearby are the ruins of two more MacDonald strongholds, Knock Castle, and Dunscaith Castle (called "Fortress of Shadows"), the legendary home of warrior woman, martial arts instructor (and, according to some sources, Queen) Scáthach. Caisteal Maol, a fortress built in the late 15th century near Kyleakin and once a seat of Clan MacKinnon, is another ruin.

 

In the late 18th century the harvesting of kelp became a significant activity, but from 1822 onward cheap imports led to a collapse of this industry throughout the Hebrides. During the 19th century, the inhabitants of Skye were also devastated by famine and Clearances. Thirty thousand people were evicted between 1840 and 1880 alone, many of them forced to emigrate to the New World. The "Battle of the Braes" involved a demonstration against a lack of access to land and the serving of eviction notices. The incident involved numerous crofters and about 50 police officers. This event was instrumental in the creation of the Napier Commission, which reported in 1884 on the situation in the Highlands. Disturbances continued until the passing of the 1886 Crofters' Act and on one occasion 400 marines were deployed on Skye to maintain order. The ruins of cleared villages can still be seen at Lorgill, Boreraig and Suisnish in Strath Swordale, and Tusdale on Minginish.

 

As with many Scottish islands, Skye's population peaked in the 19th century and then declined under the impact of the Clearances and the military losses in the First World War. From the 19th century until 1975 Skye was part of the county of Inverness-shire, but the crofting economy languished and according to Slesser, "Generations of UK governments have treated the island people contemptuously" --a charge that has been levelled at both Labour and Conservative administrations' policies in the Highlands and Islands. By 1971 the population was less than a third of its peak recorded figure in 1841. However, the number of residents then grew by over 28 percent in the thirty years to 2001. The changing relationship between the residents and the land is evidenced by Robert Carruthers's remark c. 1852, "There is now a village in Portree containing three hundred inhabitants." Even if this estimate is inexact the population of the island's largest settlement has probably increased sixfold or more since then. During the period the total number of island residents has declined by 50 percent or more. The island-wide population increase of 4 percent between 1991 and 2001 occurred against the background of an overall reduction in Scottish island populations of 3 percent for the same period. By 2011 the population had risen a further 8.4% to 10,008 with Scottish island populations as a whole growing by 4% to 103,702.

 

Historically, Skye was overwhelmingly Gaelic-speaking, but this changed between 1921 and 2001. In both the 1901 and 1921 censuses, all Skye parishes were more than 75 percent Gaelic-speaking. By 1971, only Kilmuir parish had more than three-quarters of Gaelic speakers while the rest of Skye ranged between 50 and 74 percent. At that time, Kilmuir was the only area outside the Western Isles that had such a high proportion of Gaelic speakers. In the 2001 census Kilmuir had just under half Gaelic speakers, and overall, Skye had 31 percent, distributed unevenly. The strongest Gaelic areas were in the north and southwest of the island, including Staffin at 61 percent. The weakest areas were in the west and east (e.g. Luib 23 percent and Kylerhea 19 percent). Other areas on Skye ranged between 48 percent and 25 percent.

 

In terms of local government, from 1975 to 1996, Skye, along with the neighbouring mainland area of Lochalsh, constituted a local government district within the Highland administrative area. In 1996 the district was included in the unitary Highland Council, (Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd) based in Inverness and formed one of the new council's area committees. Following the 2007 elections, Skye now forms a four-member ward called Eilean a' Cheò; it is currently represented by two independents, one Scottish National Party, and one Liberal Democrat councillor.

 

Skye is in the Highlands and Islands electoral region and comprises a part of the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency of the Scottish Parliament, which elects one member under the first past the post basis to represent it. Kate Forbes is the current MSP for the SNP. In addition, Skye forms part of the wider Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency, which elects one member to the House of Commons in Westminster. The present MP Member of Parliament is Ian Blackford of the Scottish National Party, who took office after the SNP's sweep in the General Election of 2015. Before this, Charles Kennedy, a Liberal Democrat, had represented the area since the 1983 general election.

 

The ruins of an old building sit on top of a prominent hillock that overlooks a pier attended by fishing boats.

Caisteal Maol and fishing boats in Kyleakin harbour

The largest employer on the island and its environs is the public sector, which accounts for about a third of the total workforce, principally in administration, education, and health. The second-largest employer in the area is the distribution, hotels, and restaurants sector, highlighting the importance of tourism. Key attractions include Dunvegan Castle, the Clan Donald Visitor Centre, and The Aros Experience arts and exhibition centre in Portree. There are about a dozen large landowners on Skye, the largest being the public sector, with the Scottish Government owning most of the northern part of the island. Glendale is a community-owned estate in Duirinish, and the Sleat Community Trust, the local development trust, is active in various regeneration projects.

 

Small firms dominate employment in the private sector. The Talisker Distillery, which produces a single malt whisky, is beside Loch Harport on the west coast of the island. Torabhaig distillery located in Teangue opened in 2017 and also produces whisky. Three other whiskies—Mac na Mara ("son of the sea"), Tè Bheag nan Eilean ("wee dram of the isles") and Poit Dhubh ("black pot")—are produced by blender Pràban na Linne ("smugglers den by the Sound of Sleat"), based at Eilean Iarmain. These are marketed using predominantly Gaelic-language labels. The blended whisky branded as "Isle of Skye" is produced not on the island but by the Glengoyne Distillery at Killearn north of Glasgow, though the website of the owners, Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd., boasts a "high proportion of Island malts" and contains advertisements for tourist businesses in the island. There is also an established software presence on Skye, with Portree-based Sitekit having expanded in recent years.

 

Some of the places important to the economy of Skye

Crofting is still important, but although there are about 2,000 crofts on Skye only 100 or so are large enough to enable a crofter to earn a livelihood entirely from the land. In recent years, families have complained about the increasing prices for land that make it difficult for young people to start their own crofts.

 

Cod and herring stocks have declined but commercial fishing remains important, especially fish farming of salmon and crustaceans such as scampi. The west coast of Scotland has a considerable renewable energy potential and the Isle of Skye Renewables Co-op has recently bought a stake in the Ben Aketil wind farm near Dunvegan. There is a thriving arts and crafts sector.

 

The unemployment rate in the area tends to be higher than in the Highlands as a whole, and is seasonal, in part due to the impact of tourism. The population is growing and in common with many other scenic rural areas in Scotland, significant increases are expected in the percentage of the population aged 45 to 64 years.

 

The restrictions required by the worldwide pandemic increased unemployment in the Highlands and Islands in the summer of 2020 to 5.7%; which was significantly higher than the 2.4 percent in 2019. The rates were said to be highest in "Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross and Argyll and the Islands". A December 2020 report stated that between March (just before the effects of pandemic were noted) and December, the unemployment rate in the region increased by "more than 97%" and suggested that the outlook was even worse for spring 2021.

 

A report published in mid-2020 indicated that visitors to Skye added £211 million in 2019 to the island's economy before travel restrictions were imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report added that "Skye and Raasay attracted 650,000 visitors [in 2018] and supported 2,850 jobs". The government estimated that tourism in Scotland would decline by over 50% as a result of the pandemic. "Skye is highly vulnerable to the downturn in international visitors that will continue for much of 2020 and beyond", Professor John Lennon of Glasgow Caledonian University told a reporter in July 2020.

 

Tourism in the Highlands and Islands was negatively impacted by the pandemic, the effects of which continued into 2021. A September 2020 report stated that the region "has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to date when compared to Scotland and the UK as a whole". The industry required short-term support for "business survival and recovery" and that was expected to continue as the sector was "severely impacted for as long as physical distancing and travel restrictions". A scheme called Island Equivalent was introduced by the Scottish government in early 2021 to financially assist hospitality and retail businesses "affected by Level 3 coronavirus restrictions". Previous schemes in 2020 included the Strategic Framework Business Fund and the Coronavirus Business Support Fund.

 

Before the pandemic, during the summer of 2017, islanders complained about an excessive number of tourists, which was causing overcrowding in popular locations such as Glen Brittle, the Neist Point lighthouse, the Quiraing, and the Old Man of Storr. "Skye is buckling under the weight of increased tourism this year", said the operator of a self-catering cottage; the problem was most significant at "the key iconic destinations, like the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing", he added. Chris Taylor of VisitScotland sympathised with the concerns and said that the agency was working on a long-term solution. "But the benefits to Skye of bringing in international visitors and increased spending are huge," he added.

 

An article published in 2020 confirmed that (before the pandemic), the Talisker Distillery and Dunvegan Castle were still overcrowded in peak periods; other areas where parking was a problem due to large crowds included "the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, the Quiraing, the Fairy Pools, and Neist Point. This source also stated that Portree was "the busiest place on the island" during peak periods and suggested that some tourists might prefer accommodations in quieter areas such as "Dunvegan, Kyleakin and the Broadford and Breakish area".

 

Skye is linked to the mainland by the Skye Bridge, while ferries sail from Armadale on the island to Mallaig, and from Kylerhea to Glenelg, crossing the Kyle Rhea strait on the MV Glenachulish, the last turntable ferry in the world. Turntable ferries had been common on the west coast of Scotland because they do not require much infrastructure to operate, a boat ramp will suffice. Ferries also run from Uig to Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist, and from Sconser to Raasay.

 

The Skye Bridge opened in 1995 under a private finance initiative and the high tolls charged (£5.70 each way for summer visitors) met with widespread opposition, spearheaded by the pressure group SKAT (Skye and Kyle Against Tolls). On 21 December 2004, it was announced that the Scottish Executive had purchased the bridge from its owners and the tolls were immediately removed.

 

Bus services run to Inverness and Glasgow, and there are local services on the island, mainly starting from Portree or Broadford. Train services run from Kyle of Lochalsh at the mainland end of the Skye Bridge to Inverness, as well as from Glasgow to Mallaig from where the ferry can be caught to Armadale.

 

The island's airfield at Ashaig, near Broadford, is used by private aircraft and occasionally by NHS Highland and the Scottish Ambulance Service for transferring patients to hospitals on the mainland.

 

The A87 trunk road traverses the island from the Skye Bridge to Uig, linking most of the major settlements. Many of the island's roads have been widened in the past forty years although there are still substantial sections of single-track road.

 

A modern 3 story building with a prominent frontage of numerous windows and constructed from a white material curves gently away from a green lawn in the foreground. In the background there is a tall white tower of a similar construction.

 

Students of Scottish Gaelic travel from all over the world to attend Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Scottish Gaelic college based near Kilmore in Sleat. In addition to members of the Church of Scotland and a smaller number of Roman Catholics, many residents of Skye belong to the Free Church of Scotland, known for its strict observance of the Sabbath.

 

Skye has a strong folk music tradition, although in recent years dance and rock music have been growing in popularity on the island. Gaelic folk rock band Runrig started in Skye and former singer Donnie Munro still works on the island. Runrig's second single and a concert staple is entitled Skye, the lyrics being partly in English and partly in Gaelic and they have released other songs such as "Nightfall on Marsco" that were inspired by the island. Ex-Runrig member Blair Douglas, a highly regarded accordionist, and composer in his own right was born on the island and is still based there to this day. Celtic fusion band the Peatbog Faeries are based on Skye. Jethro Tull singer Ian Anderson owned an estate at Strathaird on Skye at one time. Several Tull songs are written about Skye, including Dun Ringil, Broadford Bazaar, and Acres Wild (which contains the lines "Come with me to the Winged Isle, / Northern father's western child..." about the island itself). The Isle of Skye Music Festival featured sets from The Fun Lovin' Criminals and Sparks, but collapsed in 2007. Electronic musician Mylo was born on Skye.

 

The poet Sorley MacLean, a native of the Isle of Raasay, which lies off the island's east coast, lived much of his life on Skye. The island has been immortalised in the traditional song "The Skye Boat Song" and is the notional setting for the novel To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, although the Skye of the novel bears little relation to the real island. John Buchan's descriptions of Skye, as featured in his Richard Hannay novel Mr Standfast, are more true to life. I Diari di Rubha Hunis is a 2004 Italian language work of non-fiction by Davide Sapienza [it]. The international bestseller, The Ice Twins, by S K Tremayne, published around the world in 2015–2016, is set in southern Skye, especially around the settlement and islands of Isleornsay.

 

Skye has been used as a location for several feature films. The Ashaig aerodrome was used for the opening scenes of the 1980 film Flash Gordon. Stardust, released in 2007 and starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, featured scenes near Uig, Loch Coruisk and the Quiraing. Another 2007 film, Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle, was shot almost entirely in various locations on the island. The Justin Kurzel adaption of Macbeth starring Michael Fassbender was also filmed on the Island. Some of the opening scenes in Ridley Scott's 2012 feature film Prometheus were shot and set at the Old Man of Storr. In 1973 The Highlands and Islands - a Royal Tour, a documentary about Prince Charles's visit to the Highlands and Islands, directed by Oscar Marzaroli, was shot partly on Skye. Scenes from the Scottish Gaelic-language BBC Alba television series Bannan were filmed on the island.

 

The West Highland Free Press is published at Broadford. This weekly newspaper takes as its motto An Tìr, an Cànan 's na Daoine ("The Land, the Language, and the People"), which reflects its radical, campaigning priorities. The Free Press was founded in 1972 and circulates in Skye, Wester Ross, and the Outer Hebrides. Shinty is a popular sport played throughout the island and Portree-based Skye Camanachd won the Camanachd Cup in 1990. The local radio station Radio Skye is a community based station that broadcast local news and entertainment to the Isle Of Skye and Loch Alsh on 106.2 FM and 102.7 FM.

 

Whilst Skye had unofficial flags in the past, including the popular "Bratach nan Daoine" (Flag of the People) design which represented the Cuillins in sky blue against a white sky symbolising the Gaelic language, land struggle, and the fairy flag of Dunvegan, the Island received its first official flag "Bratach an Eilein" (The Skye Flag) approved by the Lord Lyon after a public vote in August 2020. The design by Calum Alasdair Munro reflects the Island's Gaelic heritage, the Viking heritage, and the history of Flora MacDonald. The flag has a birlinn in the canton, and there are five oars representing the five areas of Skye, Trotternish, Waternish, Duirinish, Minginish, and Sleat. Yellow represents the MacLeods, and Blue the MacDonalds or the MacKinnons.

 

The Hebrides generally lack the biodiversity of mainland Britain, but like most of the larger islands, Skye still has a wide variety of species. Observing the abundance of game birds Martin wrote:

 

There is plenty of land and water fowl in this isle—as hawks, eagles of two kinds (the one grey and of a larger size, the other much less and black, but more destructive to young cattle), black cock, heath-hen, plovers, pigeons, wild geese, ptarmigan, and cranes. Of this latter sort I have seen sixty on the shore in a flock together. The sea fowls are malls of all kinds—coulterneb, guillemot, sea cormorant, &c. The natives observe that the latter, if perfectly black, makes no good broth, nor is its flesh worth eating; but that a cormorant, which hath any white feathers or down, makes good broth, and the flesh of it is good food; and the broth is usually drunk by nurses to increase their milk.

 

— Martin Martin, A Description of The Western Islands of Scotland.

 

Similarly, Samuel Johnson noted that:

 

At the tables where a stranger is received, neither plenty nor delicacy is wanting. A tract of land so thinly inhabited must have much wild-fowl; and I scarcely remember to have seen a dinner without them. The moor-game is every where to be had. That the sea abounds with fish, needs not be told, for it supplies a great part of Europe. The Isle of Sky has stags and roebucks, but no hares. They sell very numerous droves of oxen yearly to England, and therefore cannot be supposed to want beef at home. Sheep and goats are in great numbers, and they have the common domestic fowls."

 

— Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland.

A black sea bird with a black beak, red feet and a prominent white flash on its wing sits on a shaped stone. The stone is partially covered with moss and grass and there is an indistinct outline of a grey stone wall and water body in the background.

 

In the modern era avian life includes the corncrake, red-throated diver, kittiwake, tystie, Atlantic puffin, goldeneye and golden eagle. The eggs of the last breeding pair of white-tailed sea eagle in the UK were taken by an egg collector on Skye in 1916 but the species has recently been re-introduced. The chough last bred on the island in 1900. Mountain hare (apparently absent in the 18th century) and rabbit are now abundant and preyed upon by wild cat and pine marten. The rich fresh water streams contain brown trout, Atlantic salmon and water shrew. Offshore the edible crab and edible oyster are also found, the latter especially in the Sound of Scalpay. There are nationally important horse mussel and brittlestar beds in the sea lochs and in 2012 a bed of 100 million flame shells was found during a survey of Loch Alsh. Grey Seals can be seen off the Southern coast.

 

Heather moor containing ling, bell heather, cross-leaved heath, bog myrtle and fescues is everywhere abundant. The high Black Cuillins weather too slowly to produce soil that sustains a rich plant life, but each of the main peninsulas has an individual flora. The basalt underpinnings of Trotternish produce a diversity of Arctic and alpine plants including alpine pearlwort and mossy cyphal. The low-lying fields of Waternish contain corn marigold and corn spurry. The sea cliffs of Duirinish boast mountain avens and fir clubmoss. Minginish produces fairy flax, cats-ear, and black bog rush. There is a fine example of Brachypodium-rich ash woodland at Tokavaig in Sleat incorporating silver birch, hazel, bird cherry, and hawthorn.

 

The local Biodiversity Action Plan recommends land management measures to control the spread of ragwort and bracken and identifies four non-native, invasive species as threatening native biodiversity: Japanese knotweed, rhododendron, New Zealand flatworm and mink. It also identifies problems of over-grazing resulting in the impoverishment of moorland and upland habitats and a loss of native woodland, caused by the large numbers of red deer and sheep.

 

In 2020 Clan MacLeod chief Hugh MacLeod announced a plan to reintroduce 370,000 native trees along with beaver and red squirrel populations to the clan estates on Skye, to restore a "wet desert" landscape which had depleted from years of overgrazing.