Cheltenham Spa – March Part 2

On the second weekend Maggie and Andy visited us at the caravan site.
We had very good weather during our two weeks, but this particular day was an exception as it was cold and wet. We went geocaching in the afternoon, but the enthusiasm waned and so we headed back to the warmth of the caravan.

This is the Montpellier area of Cheltenham and if you look  closely you will see the caryatids in between the shops. The other caryatids that I know of are on the Parthenon, Athens!

 

Cheltenham Ladies College – one of their buildings

Column detail

Facades of Cheltenham

Balloons in Cheltenham High Street

There are many Notable Cheltonians and one is made very aware of them as you wander around Cheltenham. In Wikipedia they list 50 notables. Some of the more famous are Gustav Holst, composer,  Arthur ‘Bomber Harris’ commander of Bomber Command and Brian Jones founder of the Rolling Stones.

Statue of Edward Adrian Wilson in the town centre.   Born Cheltenham 1872,        died Antarctica 1912.

Jenner Gardens named after Edward Jenner (1849-1823), the inventor of vaccination.

        

We went into Gloucester twice on the 94 bus. It only took 25 minutes to the centre. We have been a few times before, but it is always nice to have a look around the magnificent cathedral and the regenerated dock areas.

      

Two new works of art.

Sue at the docks

The docks

Carved details in and around the cathedral

Oldie Photo

California 2001 – Monterey area

Cheltenham Spa – March Part 1

The first Cheltenham Guide in 1781 described a visit to the town as "a journey of health and pleasure". According to legend the first medicinal waters were discovered when pigeons were noticed pecking at salty deposits which had formed around a spring on the present site of Cheltenham Ladies College.

In 1788 King George III came for five weeks to take the water cure; he was followed by many aristocratic and distinguished figures of the period, and Cheltenham's transformation into a fashionable resort began.

We stayed at Briarfields, a privately run site, to the west of Cheltenham and almost next door to GCHQ. No tours available!

  

Motor caravan rally in our row

View across the site

One reason for choosing this site was that it was close to Cheltenham centre and the bus stopped outside the site.
The bus went to Cheltenham and Gloucester and ran every 10 minutes.
There are some very upmarket shops in Cheltenham.

Sue window shopping

Unusual shop facade

 

The Courtyard Shops

 

We had been told that we could have a meal at the nearby Gloucester College, catering section, so we booked in. It’s a very good experience starting with reserved parking. The food and service were excellent – we can recommend it. They also had a Hair and Beauty section, but I didn’t think I needed their services.

 

As with all our trips we did plenty of geocaching. Here we are at the top of Leckhampton Hill where there are some caches.

At the top of the hill

The Devils Chimney

 

One of the old quarries

Music in the ‘car’ park

There was a geocaching event at a pub in Cheltenham during our first week. We decided to go to meet some of the people who had put out some of the local caches. It was a good evening and interesting to meet such a mixed bunch.
One set of geocaches is based on these hexagonal Penfold Pillar boxes (dating from 1866-79) of which Cheltenham has eight.

Geocaching in Pittville Park.

 

On our return to Ringwood I had a shock to find that money had been taken (illegally) from our bank account. The money was taken through Orange phones (not sure how), but it is a known scam. I contacted my bank and they were fantastic, by the end of the same afternoon they had credited the money I had lost (about £112). I still have to receive some paperwork for their fraud department, but what could have been a lot hassle was soon sorted out.
Motto: check your statements carefully!

Oldie Photos
Hash House Harriers
If you look hard enough you could be on it.

1996 Mohnesee

Holland

Part 2 coming shortly.