Blipmeet in New Lanark

I spend a lovely time today meeting up with a fellow blipper, Annie, at New Lanark where she is a volunteer. At the moment the Prestonpans Tapestry is on show there (till the 9th April)  and she arranged for us to be included in the tour. Sadly no pictures of the tapestry as they are copyrighted. But you can see plenty on the website. The tapestry is in fact an embroidery but like the Bayeux Tapestry that inspired this one, the name tapestry seems to have stuck. You can read more about the Prestonpans Tapestry here. It is the history of Bonnie Prince Charlie and how he won the battle with the English at Prestonpans. That's where the tapestry ends but sadly the story after that event took a rather more sad turn (if you're Scottish!).

After the tour and a lovely bowl of soup  we set off on foot to explore the Old Burial ground at New Lanark which involved a good climb (so typical of New Lanark) which was very much worth the effort. The graveyard is sort of eerie and full of atmosphere, surrounded as it is on all sides by very large trees. The gravestones are slowly sinking into the ground and the engravings on the remaining stones are hard to read but were very touching. This is Annie deciphering one such stone. You can just about make out the buildings of New Lanark in the background.

There is much fascinating history to be found there and Annie told me some of it. It's good to know that all these graves are properly documented for future generations as I guess it won't be too much longer before the actual inscriptions will be become impossible to read.

Annie treated me to tea and a hot cross bun at her home and then we walked to the old Lanark graveyard where she had blipped the above angel some time ago. I had fallen in love with this dainty little beauty immediately so we paid her a visit today. She is very small indeed and it's impossible to say what she is doing there as she doesn't seem to be associated with any particular stone.  As you can see she might be small (about 25 cm high) but she is perfectly formed!

And has a lovely face too!

There were many other fascinating old stones there but full investigation will have to wait for a future visit. This angel stands proud on top of the Murray chapel. I can't wait to visit again.

Thanks so much to Annie for giving me such a gorgeous day out!