<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Roland’s Travels & Notebook]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stories of my travels in England and notes on how to get more from life with less digital distractions. ]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png</url><title>Roland’s Travels &amp; Notebook</title><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:59:22 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[rolandstravels@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[rolandstravels@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[rolandstravels@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[rolandstravels@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[My Ellington Fountain Pen Broke]]></title><description><![CDATA[What happened?]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/my-ellington-fountain-pen-broke</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/my-ellington-fountain-pen-broke</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 09:01:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4026555,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Ellington Fountian Pen.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/196407107?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Ellington Fountian Pen." title="Ellington Fountian Pen." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0KOF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F84c3c52d-25e5-42b8-aad6-0844a6ec0de2_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">My Ellengon Fountain Pen. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>My regular readers know that I like to write with a fountain pen. I thought it time to give my newest fountain pen a clean. It&#8217;s easy to do, just flush them out and allow to dry. This is my Ellington pen that I reviewed last November. I was pleased with the pen and have been using daily until cleaning it. You can read the review below.</p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;0e064393-2c26-4574-b930-b26d9598770e&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Ellington Fountain Pen Review&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;A Quality Fountain Pen at an Affordable Price&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2025-11-12T16:01:09.058Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_lPt!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa253651a-c645-4561-a7d9-f5c0b5ad41ab_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/a-quality-fountain-pen-at-an-affordable&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:178180939,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:4,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p>I gave the pen a rest for a short while as I had inked an older pen whilst it was drying. The day came to refill the Ellington, it uses a cartridge converter, and there&#8217;s a problem. After inserting the pen into my bottle of Parker&#8217;s Quick Ink, the converter failed to draw up the ink. Upon examining the converter it could be seen that the plunger had broken off from the shaft. The shaft was moving up the barrel but could not draw any ink.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c2HR!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c2HR!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c2HR!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c2HR!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c2HR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c2HR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg" width="2528" height="1460" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1460,&quot;width&quot;:2528,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1238813,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;An ink cartridge converter from Ellington Pens which has broken. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/196407107?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F92a5542c-3e1a-4af7-a6f7-d77cee47fdc0_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="An ink cartridge converter from Ellington Pens which has broken. " title="An ink cartridge converter from Ellington Pens which has broken. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c2HR!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c2HR!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c2HR!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c2HR!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f0c13ef-7a62-456b-b599-ed89e7851880_2528x1460.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The broken cartridge converter, you can see the detached plunger. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>What happens next?<br></strong><br>Well, Ellington have a guarantee with their pens, so will they honour it? A company is only as good as its after sales service.</p><p>I sent an email as the website requests , along with a description of the fault, purchase details and a photo of the cartidge converter showing the detachment of the plunger.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://donate.stripe.com/00w7sLcop3DIcyc561eEo00&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Make a donation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://donate.stripe.com/00w7sLcop3DIcyc561eEo00"><span>Make a donation</span></a></p><p>True to their word, Ellington replied quickly and sent not one but two replacements. That&#8217;s probably because they sell cartridge converters in a box of two. Not only does the pen write well, I know can say with certain that the guarantee is genuine. A big thank you to Ellington Pens for their excellent service.</p><p>I do have for my readers a discount on Ellington Pens which I did explain in the initial review. I am delighted that the discount of 20% is still available and in addition to any offers you see on the website.</p><p>Go to Ellington Pens and if you use <a href="https://www.ellingtonpens.com?sca_ref=9921857.qYotZJSpQn">this link a 20% discount</a> is already calculated and it will take it off your order at the checkout. If you visit the website directly then please use the discount code: <strong>Roland</strong></p><p>I am sure you will enjoy writing with your Ellington Pen. They also do ballpoints, mechanical pencils, notebooks and more! All can be bought with the discount offer here.<br></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Ballpoint Pen]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's so common that we take it for granted]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-ballpoint-pen</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-ballpoint-pen</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 15:02:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Police Constable Jones took out his notebook. Using his trusty ballpoint pen, he wrote down the name of the man whom he had stopped in the street. He made notes and recorded what the man said.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" width="4608" height="3072" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:3072,&quot;width&quot;:4608,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;person writing on white paper&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="person writing on white paper" title="person writing on white paper" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611619899256-5e61d4c46df9?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxN3x8YmFsbHBvaW50JTIwcGVuc3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3Nzc0NzM5NDV8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@winu99">Owen Michael Grech</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p>For years, police officers have relied on a notebook and pen. I am sure that most of us never give a second thought to the humble ballpoint pen, often in the UK called a biro. They are cheap to buy, and every household must have many lying around on desks and in drawers. Billions have been manufactured over the years, and every day it&#8217;s said that 15 million are sold around the world.</p><div><hr></div><p><em><strong>Thank you for reading. It helps a lot if you give the article a heart, share it or comment.</strong></em> </p><div><hr></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-ballpoint-pen?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-ballpoint-pen?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>&#8220;The pen is mightier than the sword&#8221;, was first used by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839. The availability of a low-cost pen has done much good. The fact that children and adults can obtain pens so easily, and that they can write even on cheap paper, has proven to be a mighty thing. Until ballpoint pens came along, and were cheap enough for anyone to buy, fountain pens, or before those, dip pens were the option of a few. The pencil has been around for some time, but of course, it is easily erased and therefore not suitable for legal documents, or anything where tampering could be a problem.</p><p>The first patent for a ballpoint pen was on 30th October 1888. It was registered by John J. Loud. He wanted a pen that, unlike fountain pens, could write on rough surfaces. He produced a pen that could do that, but it couldn&#8217;t write on paper as too much ink flowed out from it. There proved to be no viable commercial use for Loud&#8217;s pen, and the patent lapsed.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Many tried to build on the idea of a ballpoint pen, but failed. The problems they faced were the accuracy of the fit of the ball and the ink flow. If the ball was too tight, it wouldn&#8217;t turn smoothly, causing the ink on the paper to be a hit or miss affair. If it was too loose, the ink, which was the same as fountain pen ink, would pour out too fast and mess up the paper being used.</p><p>Moving on a few decades, and in the 1930s, Laslo Biro, a Hungarian newspaper editor, thought about how he could improve on the idea of the ballpoint pen and get it to work. He worked on the ink. His brother, Gyogy, a dentist who had a good understanding of chemistry, joined him. Biro noticed that the ink used to print newspapers was thicker than pen ink and dried quickly. Gyogy got to work and formulated an oil-based ink that would work.</p><p>Biro filed a British patent on 15th June 1938. He and his brother fled Germany in 1941 to Argentina. In 1943, he filed a new patent for a pen, and a friend, Juan Jorge Meyne, joined him in business. The pen was called the Birome, made up of his name, Biro, and Me the first letters of Meyne. It was not a cheap pen and would, in today&#8217;s terms, be like buying a luxury item.</p><p>Meanwhile, over in England, a British engineer, Frederick G Miles, licensed the rights from Biro to make a ballpoint pen. Miles produced aircraft among other things. The ballpoint pen proved useful to the Royal Air Force as fountain pens at altitude in unpressurised aircraft were prone to leak. Miles marketed the pen under the name Biro. That name has stuck in Britain ever since, and many people will refer to all ballpoint pens, no matter who made them, as a Biro.</p><p>After the Second World War, many companies started to produce ballpoint pens, and one was to emerge that would change pen ownership for good.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aEcd!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aEcd!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aEcd!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aEcd!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aEcd!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aEcd!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/afb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3186150,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A blue Bic Crystal ballpoint pen. It is lying on a desk. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/195878307?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A blue Bic Crystal ballpoint pen. It is lying on a desk. " title="A blue Bic Crystal ballpoint pen. It is lying on a desk. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aEcd!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aEcd!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aEcd!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aEcd!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fafb90693-13b3-41c3-be28-c63b2ae040fe_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Bic Crystal Ballpoint Pen - The world&#8217;s best selling pen. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p></p><p>Over in France, in 1944, Marcel Bich and Edouard Buffard purchased an empty factory in Clichy, a suburb of Paris. They made pen holders and pencil cases. Later, Bich bought the patent from Biro for $2 million. He got to work and, using watchmaking techniques, designed a better process to make the small balls to fit in the pen.</p><h2>The Bic Crystal Ballpoint Pen</h2><p>In 1950, the iconic Bic Crystal was launched at the time known as the Bich Crystal. In 1953, the &#8216;h&#8217; was dropped from Bich. The pen was cheap to buy, even cheaper today as they cost a few pennies each due to faster production. Billions of Bic pens have been sold, many more than people alive. In September 2016, the 100 billionth Bic Crystal pen was sold.</p><p>The pen, with its clear barrel which allows the amount of ink remaining to be seen, the hexagonal shape which prevents it from rolling off your desk, and a useful cap, all make this pen attractive to buy. The barrel has a small hole that allows for the regulation of air pressure to ensure a steady flow of ink.</p><blockquote><p>The Museum of Modern Art in New York City (MoMA) recognised the Bic Cristal&#8217;s industrial design by introducing it into the museum&#8217;s permanent collection.</p></blockquote><p>There are many makes and styles of ballpoint pens available, some costing pennies to hundreds and even thousands of pounds. The quality of writing can vary, although it has to be said that the Bic Crystal writes very well. A pen with a little more weight can make writing less tiring than a pen that needs to be pressed harder on the paper. Pens that cost more will also use refills, which means that the pen can be used for many years, or even more than a lifetime, for a quality pen.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Buy me a coffee&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward"><span>Buy me a coffee</span></a></p><p>Sadly, with the proliferation of keyboards and smartphones, many rarely use a pen, even in schools. It has been noted that writing only on a keyboard is detrimental to our ability to learn and remember. In some countries, children are going back to handwriting their work and the use of keyboards has been greatly reduced. Let&#8217;s see if other countries take note. I am sure many will.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div class="directMessage button" data-attrs="{&quot;userId&quot;:64005320,&quot;userName&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;canDm&quot;:null,&quot;dmUpgradeOptions&quot;:null,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}" data-component-name="DirectMessageToDOM"></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[April 2026 Review]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here are the articles published in April]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/april-2027-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/april-2027-review</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 10:34:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Hello everyone!</strong></p><p>Thank you for reading <em>Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook</em>. Here is a roundup of the stories I published in April. I realise that many of you may have already read them, but please bear with me as a number won&#8217;t have. Reviewing past article also helps with backlinks to these stories which improves the chance of search engines directing more readers to the website. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" width="2895" height="3750" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:3750,&quot;width&quot;:2895,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;3D april calendar with pastel purple accents&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="3D april calendar with pastel purple accents" title="3D april calendar with pastel purple accents" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303624-446f55066c0e?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxhcHJpbCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc3ODkwMzU4fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@planetvolumes">Planet Volumes</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><div><hr></div><p><em>I always appreciate hearing from you so please leave a comment. Sharing and liking a post also goes a long way in helping the website to be found. - Thank you.</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/april-2027-review?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/april-2027-review?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div><hr></div><p><strong>April 5th</strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;51b758ba-47f7-4f10-82fe-7b6b2d22aa09&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&#8220;Where there is a path, there is history.&#8221;&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Walking the Postal Paths: A Heartwarming Journey Through Britain&#8217;s Rural Mail History&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-05T09:01:44.565Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5c81dfec-8529-42e0-9fc0-8abda819cde3_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/walking-the-postal-paths-a-heartwarming&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:192854990,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:6,&quot;comment_count&quot;:6,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong>April 8th</strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;dd33bdb7-4a0a-457b-8194-f074068da23e&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Fujifilm FinePix A400 Camera Test&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Is this now a vintage camera?&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-08T15:03:23.654Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/is-this-now-a-vintage-camera&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:193360185,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:6,&quot;comment_count&quot;:4,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong>April 15th</strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;e4dd5d07-30f7-44cb-b403-423948970563&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Last year I reviewed the Dingbats Wildlife Collection A5+ Notebook. You can read that review here.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Dingbats Earth Collection A5+ Notebook&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-15T12:38:49.215Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/65770414-df64-4e5a-bd2b-de8e818f25ae_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/dingbats-earth-collection-a5-notebook&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:194281785,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:2,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong>April 21st</strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;2755b1bc-f3fb-412f-8cd7-49fdd94c1f04&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;GB Racers Board Game - Review&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Back to Board Games - GB Racers &quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-21T14:56:46.193Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/back-to-board-games-gb-racers&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:194919295,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:2,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong>April 26th</strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;aa177afb-bf57-4fe8-98cb-3b387550139b&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;It&#8217;s amazing what we can find when we look at old maps. Much to my surprise, a map from 1886 showed that within a few hundred metres of my home, in Trowbridge, Wilthsire, there &#8230;&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Searching for The Old Cockhill Brick and Tile Works&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-26T09:02:33.719Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/searching-for-the-old-cockhill-brick&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:195334492,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:3,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong>April 29th</strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;4881db49-5700-48f7-9bdb-78e10b09a909&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;My first typewriter&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Typewriters are back in fashion&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-29T15:01:01.669Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/typewriters-are-back-in-fashion&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:195613490,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:5,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p>There are many more articles to come during May. If you&#8217;re not a subscriber yet, please enter your email address in the box below.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Typewriters are back in fashion]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's an analogue trend]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/typewriters-are-back-in-fashion</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/typewriters-are-back-in-fashion</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:01:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg" width="1456" height="1456" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1456,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:597769,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A manual typewriter from the 1970s A Brother 1350 Deluxe.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/195613490?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A manual typewriter from the 1970s A Brother 1350 Deluxe." title="A manual typewriter from the 1970s A Brother 1350 Deluxe." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k75K!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e4931b-5679-4061-8df9-05e15c128b63_1600x1600.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The Brother DeLuxe 1350 Automatic Repeat Spacer. Image found on Ebay</figcaption></figure></div><h1>My first typewriter</h1><p>I remember getting my first typewriter back in the 1970s. It was made in Japan by Brother and, like most typewriters manufactured, was built to last. By the 1970s, typewriters for home use had become smaller than their larger office counterparts.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Please leave a like by clicking the heart button, share the story with others and leave a comment. Any or all of these actions are appreciated.</em></p><div><hr></div><p>My typewriter had a red and black ribbon, and there was a clever mechanical option that a key could be pressed, and by the power of a spring, the carriage could be moved to a precise location. Electric versions were also now proliferating, and the golf ball typewriter had been invented and came onto the market in 1961. This did away with the strike bars that carried the characters that had to strike the ribbon and leave the chosen letter printed onto the paper. This increased the potential typing speed, as there were no strike bars to get jammed, or travel a distance before hitting the ribbon..</p><p>Many today are buying typewriters and using them. They like the analogue action of a well-made typewriter, particularly the all-mechanical models. The clunk of the typing action and the warning bell when the line is coming to an end give them a feeling of connection to the machine and ultimately the words being typed.</p><p>The actor, Tom Hanks, appreciates typewriters and has collected over three hundred of them during the past fifty years. He states that over ninety percent of them are in working order, a testament to how well built these machines were. It&#8217;s not unusual to find a typewriter over a hundred years old still in original working order.</p><p>Will typewriters make a comeback as much as vinyl records have? We wait to see, although, I don&#8217;t thinks they will revive the typewriter industry unlike vinyl which has been very successful and continues to grow. You never know, I might be wrong and in a way, I hope so.</p><p>Would I go back to using a typewriter? I remember the frustration of making a spelling mistake and having to get out the Tippex liquid, or Tippex correction paper, to cover the errant letters. This was a time-consuming process, especially for someone like me. My typing skills meant that the wrong key was often struck, and that still happens today. I try to touch type as much as possible, and on screen an incorrect letter is quickly corrected. If I were to use a typewriter, I would have to slow down considerably to avoid as many errors as possible. With a word processor, errors can be corrected later, without any Tippex! I will therefore be sticking to onscreen word processing.</p><p>The advantages of a word processor are many. Text can be moved, copied, and pasted, charts and images inserted, spelling and grammar checked, and much more. However, for some who just wish to type and enjoy the feeling that a typewriter brings, those extra features are not necessary. A mechanical typewriter has one huge advantage &#8211; no power is required. The operator is the power source, and so if you are in an off-grid situation, a typewriter will allow you to produce something that looks more professional than illegible handwriting.</p><h2>Brother DeLuxe 1350 Typewriter</h2><p>As I was writing this story, I thought I would check to see if I could find a photograph of my 1970s Brother typewriter. I am delighted to write that within a minute of a search, I found the photo below. For my search, I used <a href="https://duckduckgo.com/">DuckDuckGo</a> as I am cutting down on Google. This is the exact model with that extra red button on the bottom row that allows the carriage to be moved by spring power. I forgot about the lever on the left marked H - L. This allows the user to set the line spacing to high or low. Some folks who are buying these typewriters second hand mistakenly think, according to comments on Reddit, that it means Heavy and Light, referring as to how hard you press the keys. The model I once owned is the Brother DeLuxe 1350 Automatic Repeat Spacer.</p><p>In the late 80s, I did buy a battery/mains electric Canon portable. It had a tiny LCD screen to allow the user to type and see what was written before printing. It was very light to carry and virtually all plastic. It didn&#8217;t last long, and then I moved onto an early dedicated word processor and then computers.</p><p>I think it&#8217;s great that typewriters are coming back into vogue. I found a Brother, just like I owned, with the original case, in good condition, for &#163;39.99 on eBay. One seller is asking almost &#163;300! If you want to buy an old typewriter shop around, there are plenty of typewriters out there for you to buy. Just make sure you buy one that takes ribbons that are easily available and not one that uses cartridges that were less messy to change but probably no longer manufactured.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Buy Me a Coffee&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward"><span>Buy Me a Coffee</span></a></p><p>What are your thoughts on using typewriters? Are you old enough to have experience of using them in your work? Would you like to buy one now and go more analogue? Let me know by leaving a comment.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/typewriters-are-back-in-fashion/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/typewriters-are-back-in-fashion/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Searching for The Old Cockhill Brick and Tile Works]]></title><description><![CDATA[What evidence remains on this site?]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/searching-for-the-old-cockhill-brick</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/searching-for-the-old-cockhill-brick</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:02:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg" width="728" height="409.5" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2268,&quot;width&quot;:4032,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:728,&quot;bytes&quot;:5127270,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A brick wall close up with the text overlay: Searching for the old brickworks&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/195334492?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa4b57958-91e5-4bf0-9348-0b209a9313b4_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A brick wall close up with the text overlay: Searching for the old brickworks" title="A brick wall close up with the text overlay: Searching for the old brickworks" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!s2NB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F73b617b0-299f-40f1-af3f-7becd752fecf_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>It&#8217;s amazing what we can find when we look at old maps. Much to my surprise, a map from 1886 showed that within a few hundred metres of my home, in Trowbridge, Wilthsire, there was once a brick and tile works. The clay for the bricks was also excavated here from the hillside. Years ago, many brickworks were small in size and the bricks manufactured for local use. Towns were growing during the great industrial age as it moved into Victorian times. The site is now covered with houses, built around the mid-1970s, and so the question for me is: Is there any trace of the former use of this site?</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>Where was the Cockhill Brick and Tile Works, Trowbridge?</h3><p>The land in question runs next to a road called Cockhill, named after the area it passed through, and the site is now occupied by Cloford Close. Before we take a look to see what we can find, here is a brief history of the brickworks.</p><p>The 1841 Census lists a resident on the site as a brickmaker, and Kelly&#8217;s trade guide in 1844 lists a brickmaking business here. Therefore, it&#8217;s very likely that there had been bricks made on this site for at least some years prior to 1841.</p><p>In 1855 and 1859, a Post Office directory lists Walter Newth as a brickmaker, and in 1875, his son, Arthur Newth, is now listed as a brickmaker.</p><p>When 1889 comes around, the business was run by White, Nimrod and Sons, which might well have been the last of the brickmakers. This was likely as in 1901 the site was sold by its owner, along with some other property in Trowbridge. The land was part of Earl Manvers&#8217; estate whose ancestral home was Thorseby Hall in Nottinghamshire. Coincidentally, my mum worked for his descendants at Thorseby Hall in the 1940s. The third Earl died in 1900, so there could well have been issues over raising funds to pay death duties requiring land to be sold.</p><p>The sale particulars in 1901 listed that the site had a three-bedroom cottage divided into two dwellings, a brick kiln, and a brick drying shed. The cottage in that year was occupied by a local builder, Mr E Lindzay. He was instructed to fill in and level the ground where the more recently dug clay had been extracted.</p><p>Let&#8217;s get back to looking for evidence of the clay extraction and brickmaking. The kiln and shed have long gone, but there is geological evidence of extraction. When entering Cloford Close from Broadmead, it&#8217;s noticeable that although on a hillside, this area falls away below the level of Broadmead and Cockhill.</p><p>Turning left after entering the Close and walking a hundred metres or so, a bank of earth comes into view. The hillside has been cut into, and anyone not knowing the history of this site will probably never question why. Climbing the steps that shoutcut back towards Broadmead, I can look back at the old clay pit and see the noticeable drop in the level that the land would have originally been. You can see this in the photograph below. Although it&#8217;s often difficult to judge heights in photographs, it is a significant drop and would have produced plenty of bricks.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e8H7!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e8H7!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e8H7!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e8H7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e8H7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e8H7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/aba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3751765,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A bank of earth cut out by extracting clay at what is now Cloford Close, Trowbridge. This is the former site of the Cockhill Brick and Tile Works, Cockhill, Trowbridge, Wiltshire&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/195334492?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A bank of earth cut out by extracting clay at what is now Cloford Close, Trowbridge. This is the former site of the Cockhill Brick and Tile Works, Cockhill, Trowbridge, Wiltshire" title="A bank of earth cut out by extracting clay at what is now Cloford Close, Trowbridge. This is the former site of the Cockhill Brick and Tile Works, Cockhill, Trowbridge, Wiltshire" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e8H7!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e8H7!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e8H7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e8H7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faba99598-29f2-4a47-9f19-6ac7f3caf36e_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Heading towards the bank of earth, Cloford Close Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rNWv!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rNWv!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rNWv!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rNWv!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rNWv!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rNWv!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4404947,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Looking into Cloford Close, Trowbridge from Broadmead. WE can see that an eara has been excavated and now is a modern housing area. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/195334492?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Looking into Cloford Close, Trowbridge from Broadmead. WE can see that an eara has been excavated and now is a modern housing area. " title="Looking into Cloford Close, Trowbridge from Broadmead. WE can see that an eara has been excavated and now is a modern housing area. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rNWv!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rNWv!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rNWv!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rNWv!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0eefb4c1-dc6b-403b-91b4-deb00d39f8e5_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Looking down on where the clay has been extracted. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>Mr Lindzay and probably the builders of more recent times must have done a good job in filling in, as I have not heard of any problems with subsidence.<br></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Buy Me A Coffee&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward"><span>Buy Me A Coffee</span></a></p><p>What about Ivy Cottages? They were derelict for many years and have been renovated fairly recently and now occupied. The property, now back to a single dwelling, looks very much like it did when it was part of the brickworks; the modern replacement windows have been made to the same shape as the original wooden ones. I wonder if those bricks were made on this site? </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Newx!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Newx!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Newx!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Newx!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Newx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Newx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1964817,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A nineteenth century house which was once part of Cockhill Brick and Tile Works, Trowbridge&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/195334492?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A nineteenth century house which was once part of Cockhill Brick and Tile Works, Trowbridge" title="A nineteenth century house which was once part of Cockhill Brick and Tile Works, Trowbridge" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Newx!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Newx!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Newx!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Newx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ad1a606-1664-499b-b413-7ec17d0d6d2e_2605x1465.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Former Ivy Cottages, Cockhill, part of the Brickworks Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>I like to discover stories like this, especially when they are on my own doorstep. If you know of anything similar, perhaps where you live, please let me know in the comments.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/searching-for-the-old-cockhill-brick/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/searching-for-the-old-cockhill-brick/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Back to Board Games - GB Racers ]]></title><description><![CDATA[A motor racing board game for everyone]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/back-to-board-games-gb-racers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/back-to-board-games-gb-racers</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:56:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3833359,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A board game. GB Racers a motor racing board game by Appleton Games. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/194919295?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A board game. GB Racers a motor racing board game by Appleton Games. " title="A board game. GB Racers a motor racing board game by Appleton Games. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hrPO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd17272f0-4e16-4e0e-b874-e8d871fe9ae6_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><h1>GB Racers Board Game - Review</h1><p>In this digital age, it might surprise some that many people still prefer to play board games rather than video games. Whilst video games dominate the games market they do have their drawbacks. One of those drawbacks is having our eyes glued to a screen. It&#8217;s not good for them! Another reason is that they tend to be played either alone or online with people we never meet.</p><p>It might surprise you that the board games market in 2024 was worth $12.2 billion and is expected to grow to $20.6 billion in 2034. The increase is expected because more of us are increasingly getting tired of being on electronic devices and long for more physical things to do. In addition, we realise that we need to spend more time with others in person.</p><p>When I was younger there was no shortage of new board games coming onto the market, especially in the run up to Christmas. In recent times people have had to rely on the traditional board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble and Cluedo and let&#8217;s not to forget, snakes and ladders, Ludo and other age-old games. Chess, one of the oldest games on earth, is still played around the world by millions.</p><p>One of my friends, Anthony Balecke, loves to invent games. He has worked on many, but his pride lies in a motor-racing game which is in full production. It is based on F1 and is called GB Racers. The name of the game is from the Golden Ball a multi-sided die (plural is dice) that is used in addition to the usual pair of six-sided dice required in play.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vwkY!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vwkY!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vwkY!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vwkY!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vwkY!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vwkY!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2874686,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/194919295?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vwkY!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vwkY!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vwkY!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vwkY!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46cad778-b804-4427-9f87-5a4c8e18a30d_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>If you want to practice this game on your own - you can. It is designed for one to six players. Twelve cars race around the track and a championship is set up for up to six races. The races are quick and last from ten to twenty minutes, depending on the experience of the players. The more you play the faster you get.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6Kjc!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6Kjc!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6Kjc!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6Kjc!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6Kjc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6Kjc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:481942,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/194919295?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6Kjc!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6Kjc!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6Kjc!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6Kjc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8305cdd5-4a53-4f53-8f41-5161ed694eea_1986x1117.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The Golden Ball - a unique feature of the game. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/back-to-board-games-gb-racers?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/back-to-board-games-gb-racers?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>The game is designed so that everyone has an equal chance of winning and, unlike that soul-destroying ending in Monopoly, you can reverse your fortunes late on in the game. Anthony designed the game so that at no point do players feel rejected and are just waiting for the end to come. His brand is Appleton Games and the philosophy behind the brand is that throughout play, during a game he has designed, anyone can win.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xqRX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xqRX!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xqRX!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xqRX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xqRX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xqRX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2625142,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/194919295?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xqRX!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xqRX!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xqRX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xqRX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9268ede3-0555-4076-b917-fa1f9a95b3e8_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>If you want to take a look at the game, and it is beautifully packaged and produced to a high standard, here is the link to the website: <a href="https://gbracers.com/">GB Racers</a>. There is currently a price reduction for you and free delivery with the code FREEDEL10.</p><p>For full disclosure, I do not receive any payment, or commission in any way if you purchase GB Racers. Anthony did present me with a free game for my grandson which we play together. </p><p>If any businesses wish to stock the game, please get in touch with Anthony at Appleton Games using the <a href="https://gbracers.com/contact-us/">contact form</a>.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dingbats Earth Collection A5+ Notebook]]></title><description><![CDATA[Is the Wildlife Collection Notebook made by Dingbats any good? Find out in my independent review.]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/dingbats-earth-collection-a5-notebook</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/dingbats-earth-collection-a5-notebook</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:38:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/65770414-df64-4e5a-bd2b-de8e818f25ae_4032x2268.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zh2m!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zh2m!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zh2m!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zh2m!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zh2m!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zh2m!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic" width="1456" height="2588" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2588,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2108058,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A grey Earth Collection A5+ Notebook with a polar bear image embossed on the front.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/194281785?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A grey Earth Collection A5+ Notebook with a polar bear image embossed on the front." title="A grey Earth Collection A5+ Notebook with a polar bear image embossed on the front." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zh2m!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zh2m!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zh2m!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Zh2m!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18b2b4d2-56f1-49ae-a1b1-bda97e510cb5_2268x4032.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Dingbats Earth Collection A5+ Notebook.  Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>Last year I reviewed the Dingbats Wildlife Collection A5+ Notebook. You can read that review <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/rolandstravels/p/dingbats-notebooks-are-they-any-good">here</a>.</p><p>I purchased this Earth Collection notebook a couple of months ago and have just got around to the point of needing it. I like the A5+ size as it gives a little extra width to the pages. The size is 15.5 x 21.5cm (6.1 x 8.5in). <br><br>The paper, like the Wildlife Collection, is excellent. It is ideal for all pen types which is good for me because I use fountain pens and don&#8217;t want feathering or bleed-through. The paper lets me write smoothly and without causing any issues with my fountain pens. The notebook is 100% recyclable with a degradeable faux leather cover. There is a choice of colours and animal themes in the following sizes: A5+ A4+ A6 and A6+, subject to stock availability, in the colour of your choice. <br><br>The paper is cream coloured and is acid free. I chose the dot grid paper, but you can select lined, grid or plain pages. All the paper is made from sustainable sources and has the FSC approval.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bCg5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bCg5!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bCg5!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bCg5!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bCg5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bCg5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1730142,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The inside cover of the Wildlife Collection A5+ Notebook. It contains facts about the artic and wildlife spread across 2 pages.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/194281785?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="The inside cover of the Wildlife Collection A5+ Notebook. It contains facts about the artic and wildlife spread across 2 pages." title="The inside cover of the Wildlife Collection A5+ Notebook. It contains facts about the artic and wildlife spread across 2 pages." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bCg5!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bCg5!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bCg5!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bCg5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F831087bf-c116-48ec-91c3-ba2cc43e959a_4032x2268.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">A nice touch to go with this Artic edition. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>Dingbats are an eco-conscious company and dontate 2% of all UK sales to the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org">World Wildlife Fund</a>. The books are Vegan and this notebook has some differences to the Wildlife Collection, the first Dingbats Notebook that I bought. The notebooks are produced in Turkey, a nice change from China. </p><div class="directMessage button" data-attrs="{&quot;userId&quot;:64005320,&quot;userName&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;canDm&quot;:null,&quot;dmUpgradeOptions&quot;:null,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}" data-component-name="DirectMessageToDOM"></div><p>Like the Wildlife Collection, the Earth Collection has an expandable pocket inside the back cover and an elastic pen loop. It does however have two ribbon bookmarks rather than one. All the notebooks are stitched and truly open flat. In the Wildlife Collection the pages are perforated so they could be removed, but in this notebook there are no perforations. Both have an elastic closure. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y4jB!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y4jB!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y4jB!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y4jB!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y4jB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y4jB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1548875,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The expandable wallet inside the back cover of a Dingbats Earth Collection Notebook. The paper is covered with many cream coloured artic animals on a purple background.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/194281785?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="The expandable wallet inside the back cover of a Dingbats Earth Collection Notebook. The paper is covered with many cream coloured artic animals on a purple background." title="The expandable wallet inside the back cover of a Dingbats Earth Collection Notebook. The paper is covered with many cream coloured artic animals on a purple background." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y4jB!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y4jB!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y4jB!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!y4jB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4ad79bc6-c3a9-4c3a-b583-af4117a3d95c_4032x2268.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The expandable wallet. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>A few other differences concern the pages. In the Earth Collection they are numbered from page one after the &#8220;how to&#8221; page, a Tab Key, Colour Key/Dingbat Key and three index pages. These are all very useful for journalling, somewhat similar to Bullet Journalling, though it doesn&#8217;t have to be used specifically for this. Pages one to four are faintly marked out for anyone wishing to create a &#8220;Future Log&#8221;, something done in the Bullet Journal Method<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-1" href="#footnote-1" target="_self">1</a>.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/076feace-28e4-4ee5-8b53-06d4be7ff305_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a259a13f-e8c9-43cd-ac95-585e1e0ca296_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d46117ff-1c8d-414f-99fe-468b4c0554ed_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/00f775f3-592f-418d-8201-70f26187fd9f_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Click on photos to enlarge. Special Pages inside the Digbats Notebook. Photos: Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Pages pre-printed in the Dingbats A5+ Earth Collection Notebook.&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/97cb2320-d1b3-4bd0-bca9-d5fabd1ed6d8_1456x1456.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>In the &#8220;how to&#8221; section Dingbats explain a method similar to Bullet Journalling and have suggested some ways to organise this notebook if you were going to use it to journal. It&#8217;s very helpful and would work. Each page has a very faint semicircle, marked along the outer edge, where you can use colours to help you find things, according to the colour key you have assigned. </p><p>For clarity, I purchased this notebook from Dingbats and have no connection with them. This review is entirely independent. <a href="https://www.dingbats-notebooks.com">Here is the Dingbats Notebooks website</a></p><p>I really enjoy using Dingbats Notebooks and look forward to filling this new one. The quality is superb and the ethos of the company is to be highly commended. </p><p>Let me know if you use Dingbats Notebooks, or your experience with any other brand. </p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/dingbats-earth-collection-a5-notebook/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/dingbats-earth-collection-a5-notebook/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><p>Thank you for reading this story. If you haven&#8217;t subscribed yet, please use the subscribe button below. It&#8217;s always free to read all of my stories, with a paid option for anyone who wishes to help support what I do. Or you can use this <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward">Buy Me a Coffee link</a>. Please feel free to leave a comment.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Buy Me a Coffee&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward"><span>Buy Me a Coffee</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-1" href="#footnote-anchor-1" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">1</a><div class="footnote-content"><p>See my article on my Bullet Journal <a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/discovering-the-bullet-journal-a">here</a></p></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is this now a vintage camera?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Testing the Fujifilm FinePix A400 Camera]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/is-this-now-a-vintage-camera</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/is-this-now-a-vintage-camera</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:03:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1251948,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/193360185?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UAdA!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6f6da283-1c1f-4455-ab16-3ef452e60576_4032x2268.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The Fujifilm FinePix A400 camera. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><h1>Fujifilm FinePix A400 Camera Test</h1><p>It&#8217;s over seven years since Dad died. Mum, coming up to 95, is doing well and recently went through some of Dad&#8217;s old things. She gave me his digital camera, a Fujifilm FinePix A400 pocket camera. It&#8217;s small in size and easily slips into a pocket.</p><p>This camera must have been purchased around 2007 and so, by modern standards, is outdone in the amount of pixels it uses. This one is 4.1mp, whereas the modern replacements are around 12mp. That said, it should produce reasonable photos as long as they are not enlarged beyond a 12&#8221;x 8&#8221; print. Smaller sizes will be sharper.</p><p>I have decided to put the camera through its paces and see how it holds up in 2026. One thing I like is that it takes standard AA batteries, which means there is no need to buy an additional spare battery, as many cameras require. One issue today is that the camera uses an XD picture card to store the photos. These are no longer available, although plenty of used ones are for sale on eBay. They are charging as much as a used A400 would cost. Anyway, I have a card with it, which is fine for this test.</p><p>The first day I went to Bradford-on-Avon, as it&#8217;s very picturesque, especially in the lovely April sunshine. When I got home, I realised that I had the resolution set to normal rather than fine. You can see the results below.</p><p>Please click on the photos to enlarge, especially the ones in the galleries.</p><h2>Bradford-on-Avon Photos</h2><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7KDc!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7KDc!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7KDc!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7KDc!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7KDc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7KDc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:610497,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The box of a narrow boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. The name of the boat is Barbara McCellan in white writing on a red background. The boat is predominantly green. Photo by Roland Milward&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/193360185?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="The box of a narrow boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. The name of the boat is Barbara McCellan in white writing on a red background. The boat is predominantly green. Photo by Roland Milward" title="The box of a narrow boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. The name of the boat is Barbara McCellan in white writing on a red background. The boat is predominantly green. Photo by Roland Milward" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7KDc!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7KDc!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7KDc!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7KDc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffce3011b-6b28-422c-a37a-620f3bc8f269_2304x1728.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/19e507f2-b1d7-410c-92f2-e51054c2a5a3_2304x1728.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a54188cf-a39d-41b7-9472-f856377260e9_2304x1728.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a04b4f83-51b6-428f-affd-89a379032602_2304x1728.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0eb9a9db-6016-4adf-abac-bfeb2542cd65_2304x1728.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f644562d-1802-46a5-a8c8-43ea044093e0_2304x1728.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ae84627c-1dbf-4fd8-adaa-0b56a4f38c6c_2304x1728.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a461d5ef-df69-426c-93f5-87d10086ed9e_1728x2304.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/22f7e66f-d4af-47d1-b972-6071bd572434_1728x2304.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/dce3cf4b-6454-480d-a2d1-04753dd2dc68_1728x2304.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Bradford-on Avon photgraphed with a Fujifilm FinePIx A400 camera. Photos: Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A selection of of photos of Bradford on Avon. Wiltshire, taken on an old Fuji FinePix A400 camera. Photos by Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6d3e99ae-ff27-4e2d-abb3-98590404745c_1456x1454.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>The next day, the sun is shining, which, when it&#8217;s a bank holiday in England, is unusual. Taking advantage of the sunshine, I went into town, Trowbridge, and took a few more shots with the higher resolution.</p><h2>Trowbridge Photos</h2><p>It will be interesting to see how the camera performs in different lighting situations. It makes a change to have a camera in my hand rather than my iPhone. Of course, my iPhone can produce higher resolution photos, but the Fujifilm does have 3x optical zoom, which the iPhone lacks. Photos are easily imported into my MacBook using the cable or a card adapter. I prefer the cable as removing the card means the clock and date need to be reset, as they are under the battery cover.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_aZ-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_aZ-!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_aZ-!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_aZ-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_aZ-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_aZ-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:604996,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;An early 18th century 3 storey building, the former pub called The Kitcheners Arms, originally the King of Prussia. Photo: Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/193360185?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="An early 18th century 3 storey building, the former pub called The Kitcheners Arms, originally the King of Prussia. Photo: Roland Millward" title="An early 18th century 3 storey building, the former pub called The Kitcheners Arms, originally the King of Prussia. Photo: Roland Millward" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_aZ-!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_aZ-!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_aZ-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_aZ-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01c83c8c-ce00-4730-85f0-670b7b023388_2304x1728.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The former Kitcheners Arms. Early 18th century.  Photo: Roland Millward Fujifilm FinePix A400 camera</figcaption></figure></div><p>I am sure that during the coming weeks I will use the camera in addition to my iPhone, and I will post some more photos for you.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/is-this-now-a-vintage-camera?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/is-this-now-a-vintage-camera?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ead6c35b-b97e-4903-b9f6-910f2ed3a990_1728x2304.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8f5b62a0-b03a-4b5e-9358-6aca82152908_2304x1728.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c9f9a34c-fc64-4f13-940c-9e01682bf301_2304x1728.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2b85d930-f9b3-42e4-86ef-66fc1ac61e5f_1728x2304.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7a94bd40-1907-404d-a1ca-55edfec9b2a8_1728x2304.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/84e97eb6-3b76-4580-95ee-8e35c7180199_1728x2304.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7240b2ab-9a0c-4280-9a7c-5f824a66a0ec_1728x2304.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b6033126-21e5-4bc0-b8a2-34a1195b4d1a_1728x2304.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/78a1ce80-94fa-42eb-be10-803df452477e_2304x1728.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Photos taken in Trowbridge. Photos: Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A selection of photos taken around Trowbridge, Wiltshire&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/134e3be0-db0d-4f04-a5d2-150c7b9d9c2f_1456x1454.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>Thank you for reading this story. If you haven&#8217;t subscribed yet, please use the subscribe button below. It&#8217;s always free to read all of my stories, with a paid option for anyone who wishes to help support what I do. Or you can use this <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward">Buy Me a Coffee link</a>. Please feel free to leave a comment.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/is-this-now-a-vintage-camera/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/is-this-now-a-vintage-camera/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Walking the Postal Paths: A Heartwarming Journey Through Britain’s Rural Mail History]]></title><description><![CDATA[Book Review: The Postal Paths by Alan Cleaver]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/walking-the-postal-paths-a-heartwarming</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/walking-the-postal-paths-a-heartwarming</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:01:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5c81dfec-8529-42e0-9fc0-8abda819cde3_4032x2268.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!exTo!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!exTo!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!exTo!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!exTo!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!exTo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!exTo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2826166,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The book, \&quot;The Postal Paths\&quot; by Alan Cleaver stands end on in front ot an Apple Macbook Air on a desk.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192854990?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="The book, &quot;The Postal Paths&quot; by Alan Cleaver stands end on in front ot an Apple Macbook Air on a desk." title="The book, &quot;The Postal Paths&quot; by Alan Cleaver stands end on in front ot an Apple Macbook Air on a desk." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!exTo!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!exTo!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!exTo!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!exTo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F189ae9d4-b9bd-40f6-8c05-fca4a5da1b70_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The Postal Paths by Alan Cleaver</figcaption></figure></div><p><em><strong>&#8220;Where there is a path, there is history.&#8221;</strong></em></p><p>These are the opening words of the book, &#8216;The Postal Paths&#8217; by Alan Cleaver. I have just completed reading this book and I would like to share with you my thoughts.</p><p>Alan is a journalist and author living in Whitehaven, Cumbria in the far northwest of England and on the coast close to the beautiful Lake District National Park. He&#8217;s a man who loves walking and a chance remark by a farmer about a postman&#8217;s path set him on a journey to find out more. How many postman&#8217;s paths were there in the United Kingdom. What history would they reveal? Alan spent several years researching and tracing the routes of those posties who trudged miles a day across rural landscapes in all sorts of weather.</p><div class="directMessage button" data-attrs="{&quot;userId&quot;:64005320,&quot;userName&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;canDm&quot;:null,&quot;dmUpgradeOptions&quot;:null,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}" data-component-name="DirectMessageToDOM"></div><p>This book has been on my wish list and has recently been available in paperback. I happened to comment on a post on X that the book was on my wish list shortly before the paperback was launched. A follower and subscriber here on Substack, Mike Lambert, who lives in the USA, kindly purchased a copy online and had it delivered to me.</p><p>I must say, as a lover of history and indeed the history of the Post Office and Royal Mail here in the UK that I found the book fascinating. Alan has done much research and spent time meeting the descendants of those postmen and postwomen who trudged the fields, dales and hills on their post round. Country walking routes were replaced first with bicyles, where practical, and then with red post vans quite some time ago. As a result, there are few posties who once had a rural walking route still alive.</p><p>It&#8217;s great to read the stories of postmen who created these paths by taking shortcuts across fields and moorland to reach an isolated house or farm and deliver their mail six days a week. Many routes were about 20 miles long and had to be trod whether there was rain, hail or snow. Those postal workers took pride in their work and became an essential part of the rural community.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/walking-the-postal-paths-a-heartwarming?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/walking-the-postal-paths-a-heartwarming?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>They brought not only the mail, but would deliver newspapers, medicine, local gossip and more. The stories are heartwarming. The posties dedication - inspiring.</p><p>If you like history with the human connection and a literary tour described by Alan as he discovered the postal paths and walked them, then this book is for you.</p><p>You can follow Alan Cleaver on <a href="https://x.com/thelonningsguy">X </a>or <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/postalpathsguy.bsky.social">Bluesky</a> </p><p>Thank you for reading this story. If you haven&#8217;t subscribed yet, please use the subscribe button below. It&#8217;s always free to read all of my stories, with a paid option for anyone who wishes to help support what I do. Or you can use this <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward">Buy Me a Coffee link</a>. Please feel free to leave a comment.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><h3></h3><p><br></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[March 2026 Review]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here are the articles published in March]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/march-2026-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/march-2026-review</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:39:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong>Yet another month has gone by and now spring has sprung!</strong></em></p><p>I hope your new season had got off to a good start. Each month during 2026 I will add a month review story. Hopefully, you will have read the stories, but sometimes some readers may have missed the emails if they rely on reading them in their inbox. Linking back to previous articles helps with search engine optimisation, so that Google and others are more likely to present them as search results.  </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" width="2895" height="3750" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:3750,&quot;width&quot;:2895,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;March 2026 calendar with large blue 3D letters&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="March 2026 calendar with large blue 3D letters" title="March 2026 calendar with large blue 3D letters" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771199303790-d642b9a61b2b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxtYXJjaCUyMDIwMjZ8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzc1MDU3OTIxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@planetvolumes">Planet Volumes</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p><em><strong>Here we go!</strong></em><br><br><strong>March 8th</strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;a875e03b-0174-4043-a6e3-c933cc19a66e&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;It&#8217;s February 24th and at last &#8212; a day without rain and the sky is blue!&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Discover Bathford: A Sunny Village Walk Through History, Nelson Family Tombs, and the Bagless Vacuum Invention Site&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-03-08T10:02:28.756Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/discover-bathford-a-sunny-village&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:189555447,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:9,&quot;comment_count&quot;:8,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong>March 11th<br></strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;1aa6fa16-4a0b-4b88-9b6c-c22844b29f42&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Last year, I discovered The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society. Many of us are coming to realise that a handwritten letter carries far more value than an email or other electronic message. The a&#8230;&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-03-11T16:02:52.963Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-handwritten-letter-appreciation&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:189376207,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:4,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong><br>March 15th<br></strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;1a62039d-321f-4c05-9fad-87481f543708&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;I recently wrote about the village of Bathford, and I received a number of comments from subscribers. One of them, Andrew Eberlin , wrote that he had lived in Bathford for six years in the early noughties and that&#8230;&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Hidden in Plain Sight:&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-03-15T10:01:34.437Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9A5k!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08b903ba-c456-4ca0-9380-18b67cc44d66_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/hidden-in-plain-sight&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:190822594,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:9,&quot;comment_count&quot;:2,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong>March 22nd<br></strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;6ea4645c-4517-4604-80a4-af970a2e20a9&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;I am in the process of reading Roland Allen&#8217;s book, &#8220;The Notebook &#8212; A History of Thin&#8230;&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Rediscovering the Zibaldone&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-03-22T10:02:59.948Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/rediscovering-the-zibaldone&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:191490600,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:4,&quot;comment_count&quot;:4,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong>March 29th<br></strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;ac20ea33-d130-4e5f-a9b8-e7bf12b8d5ce&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;My Visit to Shoemakers Museum&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;lg&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Shoemakers Museum&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:64005320,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Proud Grandad. Travelling to interesting places in England and sharing them with you, along with ways to reduce our digital dependence.&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/72f1478f-eaf9-457d-b702-fc5b5ee5586c_1168x1170.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-03-29T09:02:30.133Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-clarks-shoemakers-museum&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:192315190,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:5,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:604441,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p>Thank you for reading my articles, it is really appreciated. A big thank you too, to everyone who is a subscriber and receives them in the email inbox or on the Substack app. </p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p><strong><br></strong>I always enjoy your comments which you can leave on the individual articles. if you would like to get in touch then, please use the Message button and it will open up your email.</p><div class="directMessage button" data-attrs="{&quot;userId&quot;:64005320,&quot;userName&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;canDm&quot;:null,&quot;dmUpgradeOptions&quot;:null,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}" data-component-name="DirectMessageToDOM"></div><p>Best wishes for a happy April. <br><br>Until next time - bye for now.</p><p>Roland</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Shoemakers Museum]]></title><description><![CDATA[The fascinating story of Clarks Shoes made in Street]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-clarks-shoemakers-museum</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-clarks-shoemakers-museum</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:02:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4799645,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Shoemakers Museum at Street in Somerset. Built alongside Clarks Shopping Village. The museum is modern and yet built into old buildings. In front is a green with trees. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Shoemakers Museum at Street in Somerset. Built alongside Clarks Shopping Village. The museum is modern and yet built into old buildings. In front is a green with trees. " title="Shoemakers Museum at Street in Somerset. Built alongside Clarks Shopping Village. The museum is modern and yet built into old buildings. In front is a green with trees. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y7WO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff9006b9c-c4b3-4cdd-8163-e92f162d1f2a_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption"> Shoemakers Museum. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><h1>My Visit to  Shoemakers Museum</h1><p>This week I took a trip to Clarks Village, a retail outlet in the village of Street, Somerset. Since my last visit, they have opened Shoemakers Museum, and it was too good an opportunity to miss.</p><p>Opened last year (2025), it has taken two years to complete. The museum is alongside the entrance to the Clarks Village when you enter from the main car parks.</p><p>Having visited the shops and had lunch at The Cornish Bakery, Mrs M and I decided we had time to visit the museum. We are delighted that we did. The museum is well laid out and tells the story of Clarks from 1825.</p><p>Cyrus and James Clark started out as producers of sheepskin rugs. This area of Somerset is still well known for sheepskin products, although in recent years the number of producers has greatly decreased. The Clarks had an idea to use the offcuts from their sheepskin rugs to create footwear. In 1842, the first Clarks shoes were called Brown Petersburghs and were sheepskin slippers. They became popular, and the company soon reached sales of a thousand pairs per month.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FKxz!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FKxz!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FKxz!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FKxz!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FKxz!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FKxz!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1900035,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A pair of brown sheepskin slippers in a display case. Made by Clarks these slippers launched the company into footwear.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A pair of brown sheepskin slippers in a display case. Made by Clarks these slippers launched the company into footwear." title="A pair of brown sheepskin slippers in a display case. Made by Clarks these slippers launched the company into footwear." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FKxz!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FKxz!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FKxz!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FKxz!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3851df02-2a97-4bd8-8796-90aea9aae757_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Sheepskin slippers that led to Clarks becoming the big name in footwear. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>The museum is laid out over two levels, and there is also a cafe and a fossil museum. The story boards and videos give you time to digest the story and see how Clarks grew to become a worldwide success. Shoes in Street and eventually a few nearby towns were exported far and wide. </p><p>When you enter the reception there is a small shop where you can start or end your tour, we chose the latter option. We worked our way around the museum in chronological order to learn how this Quaker family grew their business to the size that it became. I will give you details of the cost at the end of this story.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XIde!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XIde!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XIde!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XIde!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XIde!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XIde!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1793861,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The illuminated back wall of Shoemakers Museum. It is made up of buildings with their windows illuminated at night. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="The illuminated back wall of Shoemakers Museum. It is made up of buildings with their windows illuminated at night. " title="The illuminated back wall of Shoemakers Museum. It is made up of buildings with their windows illuminated at night. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XIde!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XIde!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XIde!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XIde!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F74c40bc0-6ed4-4533-9268-662f97025e4d_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The illuminated back wall provides an interesting atmosphere. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3RQp!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3RQp!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3RQp!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3RQp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3RQp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3RQp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1741082,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A display inside ClShoemakers Museum, Street. It shows how the Clarks family had a social conscience and helped those in need.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A display inside ClShoemakers Museum, Street. It shows how the Clarks family had a social conscience and helped those in need." title="A display inside ClShoemakers Museum, Street. It shows how the Clarks family had a social conscience and helped those in need." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3RQp!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3RQp!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3RQp!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3RQp!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F43a0393e-b140-459f-987a-789f7e21a5cb_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>The above photo shows how Clarks have had a social conscience and have people in their time of need. Click on the photo to enlarge it. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Vnej!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Vnej!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Vnej!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Vnej!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Vnej!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Vnej!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg" width="1456" height="2588" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2588,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1817803,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A information board in tShoemakers Museum showing that Quakers could not attend university until 1871.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A information board in tShoemakers Museum showing that Quakers could not attend university until 1871." title="A information board in tShoemakers Museum showing that Quakers could not attend university until 1871." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Vnej!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Vnej!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Vnej!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Vnej!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d67ff8f-d5e7-4a6a-8df7-bbf157004130_2268x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>It&#8217;s interesting that Quakers were banned from attending university until 1871. It shows that you don&#8217;t need to go to university to be successful. Many of the large and well known businesses have been started by Quakers during this time period, perhaps none of which would have been had the owners attended university. Maybe, there&#8217;s a lesson to be learned today.</p><p>Clarks were very keen on education and young apprentices, who were after all in today&#8217;s terms school-age children were sent to school. Two children would be employed for one job. They would take it in turns, one to be at school while the other was at the factory.</p><p>There are stories about some who worked in the factory. Below is Alf White, born in 1873, who started work for Clarks at just age 10 as an outworker. The board tells us that he completed his apprenticeship at age 16 and worked for Clarks until he retired. Not too many people these days work for one company all of their working life. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E-Ut!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E-Ut!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E-Ut!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E-Ut!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E-Ut!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E-Ut!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg" width="1456" height="2588" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2588,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2028615,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A photo of Alf White who worked for Clarks from age 10. Wearing has apron in older age he is sat working making shoes.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A photo of Alf White who worked for Clarks from age 10. Wearing has apron in older age he is sat working making shoes." title="A photo of Alf White who worked for Clarks from age 10. Wearing has apron in older age he is sat working making shoes." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E-Ut!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E-Ut!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E-Ut!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E-Ut!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F01626574-590b-45e0-9430-dc5388e22e8b_2268x4032.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Alf White. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!deRV!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!deRV!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!deRV!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!deRV!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!deRV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!deRV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1276723,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Display board Shoemakers Museum, Street.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Display board Shoemakers Museum, Street." title="Display board Shoemakers Museum, Street." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!deRV!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!deRV!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!deRV!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!deRV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F022f4b15-aaac-436b-b62a-9da20b9a75c7_4032x2268.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>After looking at the story and artefacts on the lower floor we head into the fossil museum. Alfred Gillett was a cousin of the founders of Clarks. Born in 1814, Alfred loved to collect and research fossils. Street is famous for fossils and Alfred built up a large collection. He also collected Clarks objects and the Alfred Gillett trust manages over 100,000 objects in their collection. </p><p>For those with children there are many features designed for them to explore and enjoy. That is true inside the fossil museum too. When en route to the fossils it seems that you have to pass through the toilets! The toilets are off the hallway but with doors open it looks like you&#8217;re actually in them before you go through the door to the fossil collection. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gkg-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gkg-!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gkg-!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gkg-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gkg-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gkg-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2324320,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A view of a number of cabinets in the Fossil Museum at Shoemakers Museum.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A view of a number of cabinets in the Fossil Museum at Shoemakers Museum." title="A view of a number of cabinets in the Fossil Museum at Shoemakers Museum." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gkg-!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gkg-!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gkg-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gkg-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F96c29755-8d3c-4c0b-84f3-89c34137faf0_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The Fossil Museum. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>We now make our way up to the next level using the lift in the main museum where we started our tour. </p><p>Up here is a reminder of what Clarks was like in more recent years. An area is set aside as a shop and children can dress up with the clothes provided to becomes sales assistants. It will great fun to measure their parents or siblings feet using the well recognised Clarks foot measure. The cash register in the far corner also works! Ting!</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KDHZ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KDHZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KDHZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KDHZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KDHZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KDHZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1713661,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A replica Clarks Shoe Shop at the Shoemakers Museum&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A replica Clarks Shoe Shop at the Shoemakers Museum" title="A replica Clarks Shoe Shop at the Shoemakers Museum" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KDHZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KDHZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KDHZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KDHZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff719f7db-5e24-487e-8eec-1730fd33cdb3_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">A replica os a Clarks shoe shop. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>You will find many of the old advertisements in picture and video format. Maybe you are old enough to remember some of them. A bank of shoes is also on one wall where you can check to see if you wore any of those shoes in the past.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoKb!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoKb!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoKb!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoKb!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoKb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoKb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2303090,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A wall of old advertising posters for Clarks Shoes at the Clarks Shoemakers Museum.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A wall of old advertising posters for Clarks Shoes at the Clarks Shoemakers Museum." title="A wall of old advertising posters for Clarks Shoes at the Clarks Shoemakers Museum." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoKb!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoKb!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoKb!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoKb!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6f7db00-e825-4d68-80ad-ad1bc2d67420_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Do you remember any of these posters? Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>We completed our tour and had a look around the shop, which has a selection of gifts and books to purchase as a memento of your visit.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rSCh!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rSCh!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rSCh!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rSCh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rSCh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rSCh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2195755,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The shop in the Shoemakers Museum, Street, Somerset.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="The shop in the Shoemakers Museum, Street, Somerset." title="The shop in the Shoemakers Museum, Street, Somerset." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rSCh!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rSCh!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rSCh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rSCh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff76ac3a2-21f3-418c-a362-f01cabc0ed77_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The museum shop. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>There is a cafe for visitors to enjoy, but having eaten not belong we started our tour we didn&#8217;t take advantage this time.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OqX-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OqX-!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OqX-!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OqX-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OqX-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OqX-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg" width="1456" height="819" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/cf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:819,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3183143,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The cafe at Shoemakers Museum, Street, Somerset. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/192315190?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="The cafe at Shoemakers Museum, Street, Somerset. " title="The cafe at Shoemakers Museum, Street, Somerset. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OqX-!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OqX-!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OqX-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OqX-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf77b53d-794e-440f-94a0-85d66a820915_4032x2268.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The cafe. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><h4>How much does it cost to visit Shoemakers Museum?<br></h4><p>The cost for an adult is &#163;12, although if you book online at least 24 hours ahead it reduces to &#163;10. The ticket is treated as an annual pass and on two visits you can ask for a free car parking ticket from reception. Under fives and essential carers are free, and children from &#163;5 online with a discount for a family pass. For details click this link for <a href="https://online1.venpos.net/VenPosJourneyUI/HomePageTileView?id=4345e308-16b9-4e3c-be0c-15ad7b9a9873&amp;locationId=1104&amp;mainWebPageId=4345e308-16b9-4e3c-be0c-15ad7b9a9873&amp;startId=4345e308-16b9-4e3c-be0c-15ad7b9a9873&amp;_gl=1*uhqowx*_gcl_au*Njc4ODI5NjczLjE3NzQ2MDU0MDE.*_ga*MTM1MjM2ODY4MC4xNzc0NjA1NDAy*_ga_P6KGH61HZQ*czE3NzQ2MjMxNDEkbzQkZzEkdDE3NzQ2MjMxODAkajIxJGwwJGgw">Shoemakers Museum Booking Page</a>.<br><br><a href="https://shoemakersmuseum.org.uk/">Here too is the link for more information on the main website.</a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-clarks-shoemakers-museum?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-clarks-shoemakers-museum?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>If you have any interest in shoes, industrial or social history, plus fossils then I can recommend a visit to Shoemakers Museum.</p><p>Thank you for reading this story. If you haven&#8217;t subscribed yet, please use the subscribe button below. It&#8217;s always free to read all of my stories, with a paid option for anyone who wishes to help support what I do. Or you can use this <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward">Buy Me a Coffee link</a>. Please feel free to leave a comment.</p><div class="directMessage button" data-attrs="{&quot;userId&quot;:64005320,&quot;userName&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;canDm&quot;:null,&quot;dmUpgradeOptions&quot;:null,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}" data-component-name="DirectMessageToDOM"></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div class="install-substack-app-embed install-substack-app-embed-web" data-component-name="InstallSubstackAppToDOM"><img class="install-substack-app-embed-img" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png"><div class="install-substack-app-embed-text"><div class="install-substack-app-header">Get more from Roland Millward in the Substack app</div><div class="install-substack-app-text">Available for iOS and Android</div></div><a href="https://substack.com/app/app-store-redirect?utm_campaign=app-marketing&amp;utm_content=author-post-insert&amp;utm_source=rolandstravels" target="_blank" class="install-substack-app-embed-link"><button class="install-substack-app-embed-btn button primary">Get the app</button></a></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rediscovering the Zibaldone]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why Paper Notebooks Still Triumph in a Digital World]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/rediscovering-the-zibaldone</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/rediscovering-the-zibaldone</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:02:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg" width="1456" height="920" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:920,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:632812,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/191490600?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOKU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68c26244-0347-4099-b64d-6ed087ba7c0b_2377x1502.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">A page from the <em>Zibaldone da Venice</em>, a 14th-century hodgepodge. (Image: <a href="http://brbl-dl.library.yale.edu/vufind/Record/4174999">Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library</a>)</figcaption></figure></div><p>I am in the process of reading <a href="https://substack.com/@rolandallen">Roland Allen&#8217;s</a> book, <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-notebook/roland-allen/9781788169332">&#8220;The Notebook &#8212; A History of Thinking on Paper&#8221;</a> for the second time (yes, it is that good!). It&#8217;s just over a year since I read it the first time, and as soon as I completed it, I knew that I would read it again to spend more time appreciating the value of notebooks in both past and current lives.</p><p>There is much to tell, but I will leave you to read the book for yourself. However, what comes from the book is the value of writing down our thoughts and other information in a notebook, even in this digital age. Somehow, I doubt that people like Leonardo da Vinci would have been so successful or well-known today had he been able to use digital notes instead of paper.</p><p>A word that stood out to me in Roland&#8217;s book (there is another Roland) is zibaldone. In the 14th century, paper was becoming more available and affordable, and the Florentines started to record business transactions on paper along with the start of double-entry bookkeeping. The business owners expanded this to include other records, and soon personal notebooks came into use.</p><p>The zibaldone was born. This notebook in Italian means a &#8216;heap of things&#8217; or &#8216;hodgepodge&#8217;. The plural for zibaldone is zibladoni to avoid any confusion. Many people started to write in their own zibaldone. They would keep personal financial records, write down quotations from books, recipes, use it like a diary, draw pictures, write down ideas, and much more. In other words, a &#8216;heap of things&#8217;, quite chaotic, not organised, and adding anything they chose to until the book was filled.</p><p>Today, we might be tempted to call a zibladone a commonplace notebook. Whilst that might seem logical, be wary of the ire of those who disagree. A commonplace book, as we know them, tends to be more organised and kept for more specific things, even though the subjects might be quite wide in topic. Commonplace books tend to be indexed to make finding the information more easily when required.</p><p>The use of zibaldone, and there are many ancient survivors to see today, shows the value of recording things in a notebook. The fact that today we can read the writings and drawings of people who died centuries ago is amazing. In that, I include Leonardo da Vinci, who left behind an amazing collection of notebooks that others benefited from, and even now we can do so.</p><p>I highly recommend reading Roland Allen&#8217;s book and learning the fascinating history of notebooks. We can all learn from those writers who kept a zibaldone and get back to writing on paper and recording our thoughts in notebooks.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/rediscovering-the-zibaldone?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/rediscovering-the-zibaldone?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>Thank you for reading this story. If you haven&#8217;t subscribed yet, please use the subscribe button below. It&#8217;s always free to read all of my stories, with a paid option for anyone who wishes to help support what I do. Or you can use this <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward">Buy Me a Coffee link</a>. Please feel free to leave a comment.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div class="directMessage button" data-attrs="{&quot;userId&quot;:64005320,&quot;userName&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;canDm&quot;:null,&quot;dmUpgradeOptions&quot;:null,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}" data-component-name="DirectMessageToDOM"></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hidden in Plain Sight:]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why We Overlook the History on Our Doorstep]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/hidden-in-plain-sight</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/hidden-in-plain-sight</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:01:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9A5k!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08b903ba-c456-4ca0-9380-18b67cc44d66_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I recently wrote about the village of Bathford, and I received a number of comments from subscribers. One of them, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Andrew Eberlin&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:14687932,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/282dc53b-cf47-408f-bb1e-300a9ca98a3c_512x512.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;ea10c7bf-fb50-488b-901a-f56161d95aff&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> , wrote that he had lived in Bathford for six years in the early noughties and that he wasn&#8217;t aware of much of the history I wrote about. Andrew&#8217;s comment has inspired this article.</p><h2>Do we take where we live for granted?</h2><p>It&#8217;s possible that we all can take for granted where we live. Some of my readers may well live in places where tourists from around the world come to visit, and yet don&#8217;t see the same beauty or find places as interesting as they do.</p><p>Is there a name for this phenomenon? I don&#8217;t know, but it certainly is a condition we can be prone to. When I started Roland&#8217;s Travels, I started digging into history on my doorstep, and it opened up a whole new perspective on where I live. There is so much history to uncover without going many miles. There are also views hidden away from those who choose to drive and stick to the roads. Walking opens up things to see and discover, and strangely enough, even in towns along main thoroughfares. By properly looking around as I walk, rather than concentrating on getting from A to B, I have discovered many things that open up more opportunities to learn and research for stories here on Substack.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p><strong>Here&#8217;s a recent example.</strong></p><p>Whilst visiting family in Chesterfield, I spotted a plaque on a wall which, as I approached it, looked interesting as it formed an old entrance. See the photos below. The sign told me that a hole in the wall was where chains were dragged across the road to stop traffic whilst trains crossed between the gas works and brewery - both long gone along with the train tracks. I showed my son-in-law, Craig, a lifelong Chesterfield resident. Whilst he recognised the entrance, he had no knowledge of what this was, and I am sure thousands of other locals don&#8217;t know either, even though thousands of vehicles pass it each day.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/08b903ba-c456-4ca0-9380-18b67cc44d66_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/739a2f35-251a-4dcb-88d8-77223e90e418_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;A relic of industry, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield Photos: Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Tow photos. A wall forming an entrance, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield. A ign on the wall above a hole shows that this was once a railway crossing. A hole in the wall is where a chain was dragged across the raod to stop road traffic crossing. Photos: Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b574fc41-0993-448d-9476-61031ebdf2f3_1456x720.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p></p><p>A check on <a href="https://www.railmaponline.com/">Rail Map Online</a> shows where the tracks used to cross and spread out into this former industrial area of Chesterfield. Of course, this opens up an opportunity for further discoveries if time permits! Chesterfield was once home to many industries, glass, pottery, engineering, and more due to the availability of coal, clay, and good transport links, first the canal, and then the railway.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/hidden-in-plain-sight?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/hidden-in-plain-sight?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>There are many relics of former industries and other human activities that can easily go unnoticed unless we train our eyes to look for the unusual. There are also many things that we might call &#8216;usual things&#8217; that we miss, simply taken for granted because we live in an area. We might use the term, &#8216;hidden in plain sight&#8217; to describe them.</p><p>Next time you take a walk, look around, up and down, and see what you can spot. Many shops have facades hiding once-beautiful houses that when we look up, we see that there is more to the building than the shopfront. Trowbridge town centre (my hometown) is full of such buildings, thankfully not destroyed in the 1960s rebuilding schemes that took place across the country.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A52m!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A52m!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A52m!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A52m!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A52m!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A52m!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3863107,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/190822594?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A52m!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A52m!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A52m!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A52m!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F85c80b55-5294-4493-82f1-b9559d6f2e15_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Lloyds Bank - Trowbridge, a former home of wealthy clothiers. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>Let me know in the comments (or message) if you spot or have spotted anything in your town that you never knew about until you took the time to look or research.</p><div class="directMessage button" data-attrs="{&quot;userId&quot;:64005320,&quot;userName&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;canDm&quot;:null,&quot;dmUpgradeOptions&quot;:null,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}" data-component-name="DirectMessageToDOM"></div><p>Thank you for reading this story. If you haven&#8217;t subscribed yet, please use the subscribe button below. It&#8217;s always free to read all of my stories, with a paid option for anyone who wishes to help support what I do. Or you can use this <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward">Buy Me a Coffee link</a>. Please feel free to leave a comment.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society]]></title><description><![CDATA[Keeping letter writing alive]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-handwritten-letter-appreciation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-handwritten-letter-appreciation</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:02:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg" width="1024" height="768" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/db27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:768,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:272024,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189376207?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QiAg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdb27f30f-5fa7-496c-bdb0-49f2294d62df_1024x768.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Last year, I discovered <em>The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society</em>. Many of us are coming to realise that a handwritten letter carries far more value than an email or other electronic message. The act of taking the time to handwrite and post a letter carries over to the recipient a certain amount of care and thoughtfulness that an email doesn&#8217;t. </p><p>The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society is promoting the value of letter writing in this electronic, always-connected world. It&#8217;s refreshing to be off-line once in a while, and reconnect with friends like we used to in the not-so-distant-past. </p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-handwritten-letter-appreciation?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-handwritten-letter-appreciation?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>I became member 1860 last April and the current live count on the website is now over 2000 and steadily rising. The Society has a strong social media following on <a href="https://x.com/letterappsoc">X (Twitter)</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/letterappsoc/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/letterappsoc/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/letterappsoc.bsky.social">Bluesky</a>. A popular feature on the social media channels is #PostBoxSaturday when photos of postboxes from around the country, and indeed the world, are shared using this hashtag. You get to see some very interesting photos and learn some postal history.</p><p>Here&#8217;s the postbox that started in all, and is in a beautiful position in Swanage, Dorset.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-rVa!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-rVa!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-rVa!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-rVa!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-rVa!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-rVa!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4783791,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A red mail box with views across the bay in Swanage, Dorset.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189376207?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A red mail box with views across the bay in Swanage, Dorset." title="A red mail box with views across the bay in Swanage, Dorset." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-rVa!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-rVa!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-rVa!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-rVa!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F707a668b-8bec-4a15-91fd-377825f42693_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>The Society&#8217;s website has six bullet points that tells what the purpose of why it was established.</p><ul><li><p>To inspire people to write handwritten letters to each other.</p></li><li><p>To unite letter writers in a bid to boldly cling on to the art of writing letters.</p></li><li><p>To put the fun and meaning back into writing letters.</p></li><li><p>To value the beauty of an individual&#8217;s handwriting.</p></li><li><p>To encourage anyone and everyone to put pen to paper and send a letter to someone special.</p></li><li><p>To gather together everything to do with handwritten letters in one place.</p></li></ul><p>If you would like to find out more about <a href="https://thehandwrittenletterappreciationsociety.org/">The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society</a>, please visit the website, and if you use any of the social media channels follow the account. You can find me on <a href="https://x.com/RolandMillward">X</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rolandmillward.com">Bluesky</a>.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Discover Bathford: A Sunny Village Walk Through History, Nelson Family Tombs, and the Bagless Vacuum Invention Site]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bathford walk with photos]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/discover-bathford-a-sunny-village</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/discover-bathford-a-sunny-village</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:02:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:5344115,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Cottages in Church Street, Bathford, near Bath. Built of Bath Stone. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189555447?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Cottages in Church Street, Bathford, near Bath. Built of Bath Stone. " title="Cottages in Church Street, Bathford, near Bath. Built of Bath Stone. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!LA6w!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fff6c1bdf-0da4-4a8f-b71e-bb426d28e98b_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Cottages in Church Street, Bathford Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>It&#8217;s February 24th and at last &#8212; a day without rain and the sky is blue!</p><p>For quite a while <a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/about">I</a> have wanted to explore the village of Bathford, and as its name suggests, it is close to the city of Bath. Today is ideal, although the early afternoon sun is still quite low in the sky, which makes taking photos a little more difficult. Many of the shots require me to have the sun behind me, otherwise the glare will ruin the outcome. </p><div><hr></div><p><em>If you&#8217;re not a subscriber yet, please click the button below. It&#8217;s free to read all my stories and receive them directly to your inbox or Substack app</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h2>Bathford - early origins</h2><p>This hillside village was known as Forde until the seventeenth century. At the foot of the hill, which rises steeply in the direction of Bradford on Avon, flows the River Avon, and hence would have needed to be forded to make progress to Bath, giving the village its newer name, Bathford. It has a long history, and around 940 C.E., King Edmund gave Forde to the monastery at Bath.</p><p>Like many English villages, Bathford has lost many of its public houses and shops. Today, it is served by one pub, the Crown Inn. The locals have formed a community co-op shop and caf&#233;, housed in a former pub, The New Inn, of which the earliest mention was in 1733. The shop opened in 1994.</p><p>I park my car in a convenient spot along Church Street. This is a very old part of Bathford and typical of many villages that spring up around the church. Taking note of the fine old stone cottages along the road back towards the church, I will tell you about some of them later. At the start of the lane, the old school near the church can&#8217;t be seen as it&#8217;s covered in scaffolding and plastic sheets. That&#8217;s one photo I can&#8217;t take! </p><h3>Bathford and the Tyndale Family</h3><p>St Swithun&#8217;s Church is set on higher ground overlooking the school and the former stable block, converted to a house, Bathford House. This conversion has been renamed Bathford House. The house was destroyed by fire in 1913. The original house was a rectory occupied in 1686 by John Tyndale, a relative of the martyr William Tyndale (d. 1536), who was famous for being executed for translating the Bible into English. The Tyndale family occupied Bathford House until 1779. It was leased to them from the dean and chapter of Bristol. The Tyndale family went on to occupy other properties in Bathford for many years. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GLpB!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GLpB!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GLpB!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GLpB!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GLpB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GLpB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4601612,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;  The former coach house clearly shows the outline of the old coaching entrance. It has been renamed Bathford House. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189555447?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="  The former coach house clearly shows the outline of the old coaching entrance. It has been renamed Bathford House. " title="  The former coach house clearly shows the outline of the old coaching entrance. It has been renamed Bathford House. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GLpB!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GLpB!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GLpB!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!GLpB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a94a9ee-1017-4d58-b036-b6f2fb808633_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Bathford House which is now the former coach house. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><h3>St Swithun&#8217;s Church</h3><p>There is something I want to see in the churchyard at St Swithun&#8217;s. Entering through the lych gate, there is a gentleman taking advantage of the dry weather and sunshine. He&#8217;s working hard pushing the petrol-powered mower to give the grass its first cut of the year. Even with a petrol mower, it&#8217;s tough going with the graveyard being on a hillside. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYWw!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYWw!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYWw!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYWw!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYWw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYWw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg" width="1456" height="2068" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2068,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3274623,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;St Swithun&#8217;s Church, Bathford bathed in sunshine under a blue sky with wisps of high-level cloud. The tower overlooks the lanscape leading towards the city of Bath. In the foreground are graves and a tree. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189555447?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="St Swithun&#8217;s Church, Bathford bathed in sunshine under a blue sky with wisps of high-level cloud. The tower overlooks the lanscape leading towards the city of Bath. In the foreground are graves and a tree. " title="St Swithun&#8217;s Church, Bathford bathed in sunshine under a blue sky with wisps of high-level cloud. The tower overlooks the lanscape leading towards the city of Bath. In the foreground are graves and a tree. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYWw!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYWw!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYWw!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XYWw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9abbd128-bd56-4ce3-97c1-08e3322f3b6a_2294x3259.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">St Swithun&#8217;s Church. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>With a rough idea of what I am looking for, I make my way up the hillside, heading left from the lych gate and to the east side of the church. Here I find what I am looking for. There are two tombs. They are old, and the inscriptions in the stone have worn away with countless times it has rained on them. Thankfully, in recent years, metal signs have been added to tell visitors who lie in these tombs. </p><p>In one of the tombs are the remains of Ann Nelson, the younger sister of Admiral Lord Nelson. She died on 15th November 1783 at the tender age of 23. Nelson was said to be deeply affected by her death. Next to Ann is her aunt, by marriage, Elizabeth Matcham, died April 8th April 1803, aged 74 years. See the photos below. Click on an image for the full-size view.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b3956181-05b2-4966-85c5-eceab64547d5_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/516283df-d471-408f-b7da-e644cd071073_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f57a5de9-d220-4fc0-b0bd-327f8d03e04e_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/dbd15342-c91d-4108-b0b5-342f78104b49_3024x4032.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/db85795f-b787-413a-9357-d95ef44b126d_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;The tombs of Ann Nelson and Elizabeth Matcham Photos: Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Photos of the tombs of Ann Nelson and Elizabeth Matchum at St Switun's Church, Bathford. &quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4d5d40a5-fe15-44cc-be29-2beec77a1a04_1456x1210.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>There are many old graves in the churchyard. With many of them grand affairs, it shows that many wealthy persons lived in Bathford during the past centuries. St Swithun&#8217;s church is old, but, like many churches, has been adapted and extended over the years, especially during the early 19th century. In 1870, the church was almost completely rebuilt, along with a new tower finished in 1880.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/551baf60-ebcb-40f8-a2d9-e8d8be7bbdc8_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0dac8ee3-b0f4-4053-a879-a072d4b8470b_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Photo: Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Graves in the churchyard at St Swithun's Bathford. &quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/aa550c87-b372-464a-8b35-2e1c4aa8004a_1456x720.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>Leaving the church, I walk back towards where I parked my car outside the Bathford Parish Hall. Before I reach the car, I make a detour into Pump Lane. The name gives a clue. Attached to the wall of Sycamore House, once the home of the Dyson family and the place where the bagless vacuum cleaner was invented, there is the old village pump.  </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9H07!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9H07!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9H07!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9H07!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9H07!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9H07!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:5133328,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot; The old village pump which is situated in the wall of Sycamore House in the background. The house is large house built in stone and was occupied by the Dyson family and the place where James Dyson invented the bagless cyclone vacuum cleaner. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189555447?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt=" The old village pump which is situated in the wall of Sycamore House in the background. The house is large house built in stone and was occupied by the Dyson family and the place where James Dyson invented the bagless cyclone vacuum cleaner. " title=" The old village pump which is situated in the wall of Sycamore House in the background. The house is large house built in stone and was occupied by the Dyson family and the place where James Dyson invented the bagless cyclone vacuum cleaner. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9H07!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9H07!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9H07!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9H07!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe5efe7b7-9ba1-4279-9e92-be2313cd1abf_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The old village pump and Sycamore House in the background. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>Just next to Pump Lane is Manor Drive leading to Bathford Manor House, which was built in the 1770s for the Tyndale&#8217;s after they surrendered their lease on Rectory House. Today, it&#8217;s private apartments, so I don&#8217;t walk along the driveway. Interestingly, in 1798, the house was acquired by Eleazer Pickwick, the family name that gave Charles Dickens&#8217;s inspiration for the title of his novel, Pickwick Papers, following a visit to Bath that he made. The Pickwicks were successful in business and ran a coach company. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iZI-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iZI-!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iZI-!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iZI-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iZI-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iZI-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg" width="1456" height="1031" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1031,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3187182,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Bathford Manor bathed in winter sunshine.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189555447?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Bathford Manor bathed in winter sunshine." title="Bathford Manor bathed in winter sunshine." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iZI-!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iZI-!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iZI-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iZI-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2952c30a-172e-4445-a43a-defe7edea6f1_3153x2232.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Bathford Manor. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>Some of the finer houses along Church Street are difficult to photograph due to the high Bath Stone walls. One of which is Eagle House, an 18th-century mansion acquired in 1753 by James Ferry, a silk mercer. Between the years 1942-1983, the house was owned by Somerset County Council and was used for delinquent girls and then an approved home/school for younger boys.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3adc3106-0097-4086-8316-e3be482e704e_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/97ed80c5-3522-4d49-883a-62b06f65ad95_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d7d31fcb-faf1-4a51-97a3-01f8b8a5105c_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0251dba3-1ce9-4b55-9470-f3d9d4cc8382_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a05590ac-a343-494d-bbfa-fbdfbd4f6efe_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1753fd1b-12b0-4ac1-aafd-92f5a687c54b_4608x3072.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Properties in Church Street including an old one of the original Post Office. Photos (excl old one) Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A selection of photos of homes in Church Street, Bathford. &quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/159127bb-c985-47f0-8965-3d60e7f8e72e_1456x964.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>The original post office, as has its replacement, has long gone, but there have been two over the years in Church Street, along with a provisions shop just before the end of the road near where it meets Bathford Hill. </p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b34fd0d8-63b0-49b2-b8ed-4289fe0c1f80_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a9770d8a-2dcc-4422-b291-920fc9a3d3fd_4347x2706.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Then and now. The old shop in Church Street. Photo: Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Two photos. Then and now. The old shop in Church Street, Bathford and how it appears today.&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f762b213-2b5f-4f58-ae30-cd592e20022e_1456x720.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>I turn left down the steep hill to see the Blind House, a lock-up from 1837 that at one time served as a mortuary until 1924. This blind house replaced one built in 1820. It contains two cells. On the right going down the hill is the entrance to Portals, a papermill, described as &#8216;global experts in security papers&#8217;. </p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ec1f2ce1-d0b8-477a-8f84-76696a31ea0f_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/80e5cf41-69b5-446e-aee7-0aa38854438d_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d1a60e37-b596-49af-b94e-c0f9b8d9dbb2_2822x3024.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;The lock up and Portals Paper Mill Photos: Roland MIllward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Photos of the lock-up in Bathford and the entrance to Portals Paper Mill.&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/527af386-e99b-42c3-8efa-8a441d5bea52_1456x474.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>The Portals website tells us that there has been a mill on this site for centuries, and one was recorded in the Domesday Book (1086).  The website tells us that:</p><p>Records show that paper was first produced on the site in 1809, and focus was mainly on the production of lightweight papers. Previously, the factory had produced corn, cloth, leather goods, flour, and even the famous Bath Oliver Biscuits.</p><p>Over the centuries, the mill was managed by a number of different owners before becoming part of the Portals Group in 1972. In 1973, the mill was converted to produce solely cylinder mould security papers, and to this day, it continues to be the only dedicated cylinder mould wood pulp security paper mill in the world.</p><p>It really is a long history of industrial occupation. </p><p>The road levels out on the valley floor, and next to Portals is the rugby club whose pitch still shows evidence of flooding. It lies next to the By Brook, which flows into the River Avon just a few yards further towards Bath. The last building at the bottom of the hill is the Crown Inn.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C93t!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C93t!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C93t!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C93t!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C93t!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C93t!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2757092,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The Crown Inn, Bathford. Cars parked in front.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189555447?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="The Crown Inn, Bathford. Cars parked in front." title="The Crown Inn, Bathford. Cars parked in front." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C93t!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C93t!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C93t!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!C93t!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F262a3434-2325-46ca-a853-5af25ecef35c_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The Crown Inn Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>This pub was a traditional seventeenth-century building which was refronted in the early part of the twentieth century. When the road from Bath to London was turnpiked (tolled) in the early 1700s, the meetings of the Turnpike Trust were held here. I hope the trust members didn&#8217;t allow the beer to cloud their judgement!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/discover-bathford-a-sunny-village?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/discover-bathford-a-sunny-village?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>Before I head back up the hill, I take time to see the old bridge over which the main road crosses and goes unnoticed by thousands of drivers. The bridge crosses the By Brook and was built in 1665 and can still cope with today&#8217;s heavy traffic. The ford was beside it and was still used up to the mid-1900s. Just beyond it is the railway bridge, one of Brunel&#8217;s for the Great Western Railway as it runs from Bristol to London via Bath.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5dc001f6-9c69-44d5-9001-3c011f9e0ed0_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4ed1e700-84a0-4f44-863b-2db8f466d87b_1893x3001.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Two bridges standing the test of time. Photos: Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The four hundred years old bridge crossing the By Brook, Bathford with its ancient arches supporting the modern road. Brunel's railway bridge further along crossing the same raod. &quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/32ee02fe-cf25-4ae2-a4f8-d0d4e78db3af_1456x720.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>It&#8217;s now time to head back up Bathford Hill to see the community shop, but before I pass a cottage clearly proud of its past with a stone sign showing that it was once a bakery. </p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8639f83d-6bd7-4286-9629-cb523f3033cc_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/777ef6d5-9c47-46f7-a5e5-1985defc4d78_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;The Old Bakery. Photos: Roland MIllward&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The old bakery, Bathford. &quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/704a685e-8b22-4ccd-9760-daf3e0694d3e_1456x720.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>I walk into the drive opposite Church Street to see a house, Titan Barrow built in 1748. The house has been altered over the following centuries but still retains much of its original grandeur. The house provides beautiful views over the valley in which the River Avon flows towards Bath. In 1953, it was acquired by the Whitehaven Trust and is a Christian Science House. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PaRB!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PaRB!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PaRB!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PaRB!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PaRB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PaRB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/be144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3765534,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The impressive gates to Titan House, Bathford. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189555447?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="The impressive gates to Titan House, Bathford. " title="The impressive gates to Titan House, Bathford. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PaRB!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PaRB!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PaRB!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PaRB!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe144111-d2a2-455c-95fa-a60e3d29c16f_3556x2667.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Titan House. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>The <a href="https://shopandcafe.weebly.com/">Bathford community shop</a> is now clearly in view. The shop is a local initiative and formed as a cooperative for the benefit of the village. It shows what can be done when people come together for the benefit of their community. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HAFy!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HAFy!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HAFy!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HAFy!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HAFy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HAFy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg" width="1456" height="1778" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1778,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3556103,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The Bathford Village shop on the corner of two roads, one to the left, the other to the right. The sky is blue. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189555447?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="The Bathford Village shop on the corner of two roads, one to the left, the other to the right. The sky is blue. " title="The Bathford Village shop on the corner of two roads, one to the left, the other to the right. The sky is blue. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HAFy!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HAFy!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HAFy!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HAFy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5447002a-e95a-4fd0-9997-86cd32b0464a_2746x3354.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The village shop. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>Other shops too were on the junction with Ashley Road, leading off to the left, further past the community shop. I decide to turn into Dovers Park, on my right, a more recent housing development, which is just off the start of the High Street. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5-fg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5-fg!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5-fg!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5-fg!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5-fg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5-fg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:4139103,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Former shops in Bathford. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/189555447?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Former shops in Bathford. " title="Former shops in Bathford. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5-fg!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5-fg!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5-fg!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5-fg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe4f67990-4dde-4834-81e0-6680317895ca_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Former shops. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>The High Street is a later edition to the village, having been created in 1759. Taking this route should provide me with an opportunity to take a photograph of Tyndale&#8217;s Bathford Manor House. Gratefully, a gap in the hedgerow allows me to take my photo. </p><p>There is so much more to tell about Bathford and every time I do research, it can open up another opportunity for a story. I decide it&#8217;s time to head back to my car and think about what to write, and also gives me some ideas for future stories. I am writing this a few days later, reflecting on what I have seen and discovered. It&#8217;s amazing how much history this small village contains. </p><p>Thank you for reading this story. If you haven&#8217;t subscribed yet, please use the subscribe button below. It&#8217;s always free to read all of my stories, with a paid option for anyone who wishes to help support what I do. Or you can use this <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward">Buy Me a Coffee link</a>. Please feel free to leave a comment.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/discover-bathford-a-sunny-village/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/discover-bathford-a-sunny-village/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div class="install-substack-app-embed install-substack-app-embed-web" data-component-name="InstallSubstackAppToDOM"><img class="install-substack-app-embed-img" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png"><div class="install-substack-app-embed-text"><div class="install-substack-app-header">Get more from Roland Millward in the Substack app</div><div class="install-substack-app-text">Available for iOS and 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type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579343580826-6323adb66545?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxmZWJydWFyeXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzIwOTg0MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579343580826-6323adb66545?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxmZWJydWFyeXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzIwOTg0MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579343580826-6323adb66545?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxmZWJydWFyeXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzIwOTg0MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579343580826-6323adb66545?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxmZWJydWFyeXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzIwOTg0MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579343580826-6323adb66545?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxmZWJydWFyeXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzIwOTg0MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579343580826-6323adb66545?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxmZWJydWFyeXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzIwOTg0MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" width="5472" height="3648" 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srcset="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579343580826-6323adb66545?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxmZWJydWFyeXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzIwOTg0MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 424w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579343580826-6323adb66545?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxmZWJydWFyeXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzIwOTg0MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 848w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579343580826-6323adb66545?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxmZWJydWFyeXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzIwOTg0MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1272w, https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1579343580826-6323adb66545?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxmZWJydWFyeXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3NzIwOTg0MDR8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@glencarrie">Glen Carrie</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><p>Another month has gone by &#8212; admittedly it&#8217;s a shorter one with its twenty-eight days.</p><p>Here is a list of the stories that I published here during February 2026. </p><p><strong>February 2nd <a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/overheard-in-the-hotel-lounge-i-wonder">Overheard in the Hotel Lounge: &#8220;I Wonder What the Temperature Is in Philadelphia?&#8221;</a></strong></p><p><strong>February 4th <a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/discovering-the-bullet-journal-a">Discovering the Bullet Journal: A Simple, No-Frills Guide to Getting Organised</a></strong></p><p><strong>February 15th Poll (Now closed): <a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/poll-which-is-your-favourite-period">Which is your favourite period of British history?</a></strong></p><p><strong>February 18th <a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/my-current-notebook-setup-third-year">My Current Notebook Setup: Third Year of Analogue Living in 2026</a></strong></p><p><strong>February 20th <a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/a-poem-about-me">A Poem About Me!</a></strong></p><p><strong>February 22nd <a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-rise-of-the-british-beach-hut">The Rise of the British Beach Hut: How a Humble Wooden Shed Became a &#163;500,000 Status Symbol</a></strong></p><p><strong>February 25th <a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/why-filofax-is-making-a-comeback">Why Filofax Is Making a Comeback?</a></strong></p><p>I hope you have enjoyed reading these stories. There are more to come in March, so if you&#8217;re reading this and are not yet a subscriber, please do consider clicking the button below. It&#8217;s 100% free! You will receive my latest stories directly to your inbox or you can choose to read them in the free Substack app. </p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div class="install-substack-app-embed install-substack-app-embed-web" data-component-name="InstallSubstackAppToDOM"><img class="install-substack-app-embed-img" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png"><div class="install-substack-app-embed-text"><div class="install-substack-app-header">Get more from Roland Millward in the Substack app</div><div class="install-substack-app-text">Available for iOS and Android</div></div><a href="https://substack.com/app/app-store-redirect?utm_campaign=app-marketing&amp;utm_content=author-post-insert&amp;utm_source=rolandstravels" target="_blank" class="install-substack-app-embed-link"><button class="install-substack-app-embed-btn button primary">Get the app</button></a></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Filofax Is Making a Comeback]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Surprising History Behind the Iconic Organiser]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/why-filofax-is-making-a-comeback</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/why-filofax-is-making-a-comeback</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:02:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3394652,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot; A personal-sized Finsbury Filofax lays open on a desk with a week to a page diary.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/188910093?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt=" A personal-sized Finsbury Filofax lays open on a desk with a week to a page diary." title=" A personal-sized Finsbury Filofax lays open on a desk with a week to a page diary." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2XsT!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa0dec417-69a1-4360-96f8-285b378acac8_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">My Finsbury Filofax  Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><h1>The Filofax Yuppies!</h1><p>Back in the 1980s, it was a common sight for the young, upwardly mobile (aka Yuppies) to be carrying a Filofax. It became a sign of being well-organised and successful. That look was replaced by the mobile phone, even though at first they were the size of a brick. </p><p>However, the Filofax (other brands are available) was not new to the 1980s. It had been around for decades and used by many in all sorts of occupations. Where did the Filofax get its start?</p><p>Ring binders, as we know them, were invented in 1886 by the German Friedrich Sonnecken. He also invented the necessary hole punch to make the system work. However, his invention and a couple of other binder systems before his were all about the storage of documents or the ability to change pages in them, reducing the need to print a complete new book or manual. </p><div class="directMessage button" data-attrs="{&quot;userId&quot;:64005320,&quot;userName&quot;:&quot;Roland Millward&quot;,&quot;canDm&quot;:null,&quot;dmUpgradeOptions&quot;:null,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}" data-component-name="DirectMessageToDOM"></div><p>It was in 1910 when a Canadian engineer, J. C. Parker, invented a loose-leaf system for adding a diary, notepaper, addresses, and so forth. Now, people could keep important information in one place, with the ability to add or remove pages as their needs changed. He founded the company Lefax and sold what we now call &#8216;personal organisers&#8217;. </p><h2>The History of Filofax</h2><p>Over in England, Lefax came to the attention of businessmen, Colonel Disney, William Rounce, and Posseen Hill. They founded the company Norman and Hill Ltd. on 6th December 1921. A number of years later, the company was renamed Filofax and produced its first personal organiser in 1930. The name Filofax comes from the term File of Facts. </p><p>Filofax bought Lefax in October 1992 and phased out the name Lefax by the late 1990s. At the time of purchase, Filofax had outgrown Lefax and was selling ten times more than its American rivals. </p><p>The Filofax organiser proved to be worth more than its weight in gold when, during WW2 in 1941, Filofax&#8217;s London office was destroyed. The secretary, Grace Scurr, made use of her Filofax. Every night she took it home, and it contained key information about customers and suppliers. That information saved the company at this dreadful time and allowed it to continue to operate.</p><p>With the advent of electronic organisers, and eventually the smartphone, perhaps one would have thought that a paper-based system like Filofax would have been killed off. Today, though, there is a resurgence of users for the Filofax, including me. Technology has its place, but it has its own issues. Many are increasingly tired of being tied to technology that is demanding of their time as it contains so many distractions. We all know that just a glance at a smartphone can lead to clicking on apps that we never intended to view. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4LJo!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4LJo!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4LJo!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4LJo!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4LJo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4LJo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2616442,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;An office dsk with a personal Finsbury Filofax standing on end slightly open with an Apple Macbook Air laptop in the background with the Filofax website on the screen.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/188910093?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="An office dsk with a personal Finsbury Filofax standing on end slightly open with an Apple Macbook Air laptop in the background with the Filofax website on the screen." title="An office dsk with a personal Finsbury Filofax standing on end slightly open with an Apple Macbook Air laptop in the background with the Filofax website on the screen." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4LJo!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4LJo!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4LJo!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4LJo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff2511ec1-814c-48a9-a5ba-3a7e6f578939_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>A paper organiser, like a Filofax, does not cause such distraction. It also works without batteries and never needs an operating system update or replacing because the manufacturer no longer gives support. </p><p>I love to use my Finsbury Filofax, which is personal size. A personal-size organiser has pages which are 95mm x 171mm (approx 3.75 x 6.75 inches). It&#8217;s probably the size that comes to mind when people think of Filofax. You can make three pages from an A4 sheet of paper.</p><p>Filofaxes are available in a number of sizes from the tiny Mini and slightly larger, Pocket, through to A4. Many options of pre-printed pages to insert into them can be purchased, such as diaries, to-do lists, finance planners, maps, and more. Of course, you can also make your own pages, and a search online will point you to those who produce templates that you can use. A website I visit a lot is Philophaxy<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-1" href="#footnote-1" target="_self">1</a>, where there is a lot of information on how to use your organiser.   </p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/why-filofax-is-making-a-comeback?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/why-filofax-is-making-a-comeback?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>In my Filofax, I have a diary which is a week to a page, a To-Do section, a section which contains blank pages where I write any notes, a section where I record or prepare for any meetings, next come lists which are anything that needs to be listed excluding to-do items. Finally, I keep some key contacts, just in case I were to lose my phone. These are all separated by divider cards.</p><p>The beauty of a personal organiser is that you make it personal to you. It is a file of facts and has the ability of helping you to plan your time. YouTube has many videos made by those who use them and they will give you some ideas if you&#8217;re new or want to get back into using a Filofax. Everyone has different needs. For example, some will require a diary with a page for each day, as they would have more appointments to track than I do. A larger size, A5 or A4, might be better for the busy office manager, executive, or those running their own business. </p><p>There are other brands of personal organisers. Some are made with cheap plastic covers, others very expensive leather. Keep in mind that cheap rings will fall apart. Please note that even with quality rings you should always open your rings using the two levers at the top and bottom of the ring mechanism. Don&#8217;t be tempted to open the mechanism by pulling the rings, as this can strain them preventing them from closing tightly. Filofax<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-2" href="#footnote-2" target="_self">2</a> has a range from under &#163;25 to over &#163;100. Of course, the price is dictated by size and the cover material. A leather one should last you many years. </p><p>Do you use a personal organiser? Let me know about it in the comments. Please feel free to share any tips or tricks. </p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/why-filofax-is-making-a-comeback/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/why-filofax-is-making-a-comeback/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><p>Thank you for reading this story. If you haven&#8217;t subscribed yet, please use the subscribe button below. It&#8217;s always free to read all of my stories, with a paid option for anyone who wishes to help support what I do. Or you can use this <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward">Buy Me a Coffee link</a>. Please feel free to leave a comment.<br></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div class="install-substack-app-embed install-substack-app-embed-web" data-component-name="InstallSubstackAppToDOM"><img class="install-substack-app-embed-img" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!krxi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a9861de-0b7a-4343-b771-ce00b6a44eae_1280x1280.png"><div class="install-substack-app-embed-text"><div class="install-substack-app-header">Get more from Roland Millward in the Substack app</div><div class="install-substack-app-text">Available for iOS and Android</div></div><a href="https://substack.com/app/app-store-redirect?utm_campaign=app-marketing&amp;utm_content=author-post-insert&amp;utm_source=rolandstravels" target="_blank" class="install-substack-app-embed-link"><button class="install-substack-app-embed-btn button primary">Get the app</button></a></div><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-1" href="#footnote-anchor-1" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">1</a><div class="footnote-content"><p>To visit Philophaxy - <a href="https://philofaxy.blogspot.com/">click here</a></p></div></div><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-2" href="#footnote-anchor-2" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">2</a><div class="footnote-content"><p><a href="https://filofax.com/">Filofax Website</a></p></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Rise of the British Beach Hut: How a Humble Wooden Shed Became a £500,000 Status Symbol]]></title><description><![CDATA[Would you buy one?]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-rise-of-the-british-beach-hut</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-rise-of-the-british-beach-hut</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 10:02:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2957056,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A row of brightly coloured beach huts at Lyme Regis. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/188390281?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A row of brightly coloured beach huts at Lyme Regis. " title="A row of brightly coloured beach huts at Lyme Regis. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!pv_1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F634d9561-0caf-4fbf-ad14-582293b20e33_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Beach huts at Lyme Regis.  Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>Whilst not entirely unique to the UK, the beach hut is very much part of the British coastal scene. Rows of huts, often brightly coloured, sit close to the rolling waves of the sea. In many places, the beach hut is only a few steps from the sea when the tide is in.</p><h1>The History of the Beach Hut</h1><p>How did the humble beach hut come to be? After all, these are only wooden sheds in a desirable location.</p><p>It all started with the bathing machines&#8212;a small wooden shed on wheels. Originating in the 1730s, the bathing machine was a place where bathers could change into their swimming costumes. The machines were wheeled up to the sea to allow the bathers to exit for their swim and enter from the sea to dry off and change back into their daily clothes.</p><p>The earliest use of the bathing machine was likely used by persons who would swim nude. The machine would allow them to get further into the sea and then quickly hide their body under the water, whilst the bathing machine hid them from the view of those on the beach. Beaches were segregated until 1901, and the decline of the bathing machine began.</p><p>With the coming of the Edwardian era, attitudes had changed, and many would now change on the beach under a coat or similar to protect their modesty. Many people today use a towel. The bathing machines fell out of use. Seizing the opportunity to recycle the machines, some would remove the hut from the frame and make use of it, creating what we know today as a beach hut. Some machines hung on as stationary changing rooms, but by the 1920s, they were almost extinct.</p><h3>How many beach huts are there in Britain?</h3><p>Today in Britain, there are around 20,000 beach huts along the coastline. They have become very popular for people to rent or buy. As a result, the cost of beach huts can often be more than the cost of a house in many areas. The record price for a beach hut was in Mudeford Sandbank, Christchurch, Dorset, reaching an eye-watering &#163;500,000 &#8212; yes, you read that right, half a million pounds for a shed! The average cost in 2025 for a beach hut was &#163;39,382. The lowest prices start from &#163;5,000, but many are in the &#163;75,000 - &#163;100,000 price range. See the link below for a website selling and renting beach huts<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-1" href="#footnote-1" target="_self">1</a>.</p><p>To rent a beach hut, you can expect to pay from &#163;30 to over &#163;100 per day. They are in demand, so be prepared to book early. Some local councils own beach huts, and you would rent directly from them. Private owners can also rent out their huts when they are not personally using them.</p><p>Owners of beach huts have to pay business rates as the huts are not treated as domestic dwellings. Most do not have an electricity or water supply, and overnight stays are generally not permitted. This can add up to a few hundred pounds per year to over one thousand pounds. It gets all very expensive for the pleasure of owning a wooden shed! Having said that, there is no shortage of would-be beach hut owners, and the popularity seems as high as ever, especially since the Covid lockdown era.</p><p>I must admit that when I walk past a beach hut I often have a tinge of envy of those who are able to sit inside their shed with the doors wide open and enjoy the sea view whilst enjoying a cup of tea. There&#8217;s often room to have deck chairs in front of a beach hut and read a book whilst doing the odd bit of people-watching. The beach hut provides a place of respite from the rain, or on that rarest of British occasions, a chance to take cover from the sun.  </p><p>Do you own a beach hut or would you like to? Have you rented one? Please let me know in the comments.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-rise-of-the-british-beach-hut/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/the-rise-of-the-british-beach-hut/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><p>Thank you for reading this story. If you haven&#8217;t subscribed yet, please use the subscribe button below. It&#8217;s always free to read all of my stories, with a paid option for anyone who wishes to help support what I do. Or you can use this <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward">Buy Me a Coffee link</a>. Please feel free to leave a comment.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-1" href="#footnote-anchor-1" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">1</a><div class="footnote-content"><p><a href="https://www.beachhuts4hire.co.uk/">Beach Hut Sales &amp; Rentals</a></p></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Poem About Me!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thank you Lis McDermott]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/a-poem-about-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/a-poem-about-me</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:25:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png" width="1024" height="608" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:608,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vDTK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8f8fc0ed-8452-4881-9ab0-0fe5fdca3090_1024x608.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">traveller</figcaption></figure></div><p>Back in January, I left a comment on a Substack note posted by Lis McDermott. Lis had mentioned many names in a poem and my not-so-common name was not mentioned. </p><p>Quite by surprise, Lis wrote a poem about me!</p><p>Here it is.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Let me introduce to a business acquaintance, Roland. <br>We&#8217;re both here on Substack, together bound<br>writing in our very different styles; he with pen in hand<br>extolling the histories of  villages and towns oft-renowned, </em></p><p><em>Waxing lyrical about the joys of writing with an ink pen,<br>Enjoying luxury and obviously with the patience of a saint,<br>A man of great restraint among thoroughly modern men,<br>who, at the thought of ditching their digital gadgets would faint</em></p><p><em>Travelling around this green and pleasant land <br>for sites of interest - hidden gems, Roland&#8217;s searches<br>lead to follies, towers, houses both small and  grand;<br>pubs, workshops and many beautiful local churches</em></p><p><em>For a good read, take a look<br>check out Roland&#8217;s Travels and  Roland&#8217;s Notebook.</em></p><div><hr></div><p>A big thank you to Lis. Please take a look at Lis&#8217;s Substack <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Lis McDermott&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:105756995,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/55d0ea03-b32f-4460-bb3a-b76a59e4db37_1500x1500.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;c08fd663-ef7a-40d9-9257-5301049a3b1a&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> and do subscribe to read her work. </p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://lismcdermottauthor.substack.com/&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Visit Lis McDermott's Substack&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://lismcdermottauthor.substack.com/"><span>Visit Lis McDermott's Substack</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Current Notebook Setup: Third Year of Analogue Living in 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's working well]]></description><link>https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/my-current-notebook-setup-third-year</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/my-current-notebook-setup-third-year</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Millward]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:01:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg" width="1456" height="1415" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1415,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:709499,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A hand holding a fountain pen hovers over the right hand page of a notebook lying open on a desk.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/186869831?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A hand holding a fountain pen hovers over the right hand page of a notebook lying open on a desk." title="A hand holding a fountain pen hovers over the right hand page of a notebook lying open on a desk." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!895y!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F21c47e69-dbca-4f28-bef1-dd681995b458_1631x1585.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>Time marches on, and I am now in my third year of making more use of analogue tools in my life. A big part of this is in the way that I use notebooks for various tasks, and I thought today that I would bring you up to date with my current system.</p><p>As with any new methods, we learn as we go. My use of notebooks has changed over the months and years, and may well do so in the future. Sometimes, that&#8217;s because our needs change, and at other times, we see ways to improve.</p><h3>My current notebook setup</h3><p>In January 2025, I started <a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/discovering-the-bullet-journal-a">Bullet Journaling</a> and purchased a Dingbat A5+ Wildlife Collection<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-1" href="#footnote-1" target="_self">1</a> notebook. It&#8217;s been a brilliant tool, and with plenty of spare pages, I have continued into 2026 in this notebook.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-CBQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-CBQ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-CBQ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-CBQ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-CBQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-CBQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:5083562,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A grey Dingbats A5+ Notebook, Wildlife Collection lying on a desk. &quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/186869831?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A grey Dingbats A5+ Notebook, Wildlife Collection lying on a desk. " title="A grey Dingbats A5+ Notebook, Wildlife Collection lying on a desk. " srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-CBQ!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-CBQ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-CBQ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-CBQ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6aa5061c-e22c-43c2-8e73-43d15493a22e_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Dingbats Notebook Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>I keep another A5 notebook, just a cheap supermarket purchase for research notes for stories or things I am just interested in. It&#8217;s kept on my desk upright with other notebooks between bookends, always ready for action. When this book is full, I will switch to a Filofax Refillable Notebook. This has the advantage of being able to remove or add pages anywhere in it and to store them if required and continue using the notebook indefinitely. Many of the notes I write like this will end up as stories on Substack, and once used, can mostly be destroyed.</p><p>Next on my list are the passport-sized notebooks from Flame Tree Publishing<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-2" href="#footnote-2" target="_self">2</a>. I reviewed this notebook, and you can read the review by following the link in the footnotes. To suit my purposes, I have three on the go.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g3IC!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g3IC!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g3IC!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g3IC!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g3IC!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g3IC!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:5200794,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;3 passport sized notebooks from Flame Tree Publishing. Purchased from Waterstones the covers feature paintings by Van Gogh.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/186869831?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="3 passport sized notebooks from Flame Tree Publishing. Purchased from Waterstones the covers feature paintings by Van Gogh." title="3 passport sized notebooks from Flame Tree Publishing. Purchased from Waterstones the covers feature paintings by Van Gogh." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g3IC!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g3IC!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g3IC!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!g3IC!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1e96d821-9331-4061-8711-0e01452c1919_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Three notebooks from Flame Tree Publishing. Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>One is for Roland&#8217;s Travels, and this I make notes of the things I need to see and photograph when visiting somewhere. It&#8217;s annoying travelling to write about a place and leaving only to have forgotten to see a particular feature and photograph it. I can also make notes in this book of things I see that call for further research before I write the story.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DF_k!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DF_k!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DF_k!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DF_k!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DF_k!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DF_k!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3505841,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;An opened notebook with handwritten text. Lying open on a desk.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/186869831?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="An opened notebook with handwritten text. Lying open on a desk." title="An opened notebook with handwritten text. Lying open on a desk." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DF_k!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DF_k!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DF_k!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DF_k!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F67106907-dd46-44ac-8e5a-7cd9c52ac9e2_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>The second one I keep is labelled &#8216;Words Learned&#8217;. When I come across a word that I need to check the meaning of, I record it in the notebook. If I don&#8217;t, although understanding the word at that precise moment of need, I will often forget it long-term. Writing a word down with its meaning helps me to retain it for future use.</p><p>My third notebook is titled &#8216;Commonplace&#8217;. This is my everyday carry, and anything that comes up I can make a note of it here. It could be anything from a phone number or an idea for a story to recording a conversation or important observation. Anything can be dumped into this book, and if appropriate, moved to another notebook or calendar later.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/my-current-notebook-setup-third-year?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/my-current-notebook-setup-third-year?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>On my desk is an A7 spiral-bound notebook just kept for adding tasks that I am working on at my desk. Perhaps an email requires me to pay an invoice, a quick note on the pad and I can carry on with what I am doing and that note will be acted upon when convenient.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hywD!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hywD!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hywD!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hywD!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hywD!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hywD!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3827542,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;An A7 spiral-bound notebook lying next to a computer keyboard on an office desk.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/i/186869831?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="An A7 spiral-bound notebook lying next to a computer keyboard on an office desk." title="An A7 spiral-bound notebook lying next to a computer keyboard on an office desk." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hywD!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hywD!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hywD!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hywD!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8fe49696-9717-4d10-b659-22adfa97b129_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">A7 at the ready! Photo: Roland Millward</figcaption></figure></div><p>My Filofax, Personal size, is my backup calendar. I do like to use my Apple Calendar<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-3" href="#footnote-3" target="_self">3</a> and the reminders that can be set within it. But, just in case, major appointments are on paper in case of electronic issues. This organiser is also where I keep my To-do list and ideas for future stories here on Substack. A few phone numbers are kept too, just in case my phone becomes lost, as these days there are very few numbers that I have memorised. It&#8217;s worth thinking about this!</p><p>I am finding that this system of notebooks is working well. It&#8217;s an enjoyable way to reduce my use of digital tools. As I have mentioned in the past, by using pen and paper, I have found that my memory has greatly improved.</p><p>How about you? Are you using notebooks in your life? Let me know in the comments.</p><p>Thank you for reading this story. If you haven&#8217;t subscribed yet, please use the subscribe button below. It&#8217;s always free to read all of my stories, with a paid option for anyone who wishes to help support what I do. Or you can use this Buy Me a Coffee link below.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Donate with Buy Me a Coffee&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rolandmillward"><span>Donate with Buy Me a Coffee</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.rolandmillward.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Roland&#8217;s Travels &amp; Notebook is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-1" href="#footnote-anchor-1" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">1</a><div class="footnote-content"><p>D<a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/dingbats-notebooks-are-they-any-good">ingbats A5+ Earth Collection Notebook Review</a></p></div></div><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-2" href="#footnote-anchor-2" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">2</a><div class="footnote-content"><p><a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/better-than-field-notes">Notebook review - passport sized from Flame Tree Publishing</a></p></div></div><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-3" href="#footnote-anchor-3" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">3</a><div class="footnote-content"><p><a href="https://www.rolandmillward.com/p/online-calendar-or-paper-diary">Online Calendar or Paper Diary?</a></p></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>