LONGFORD Derbyshire  UK

Situated 6 miles (10km) from Ashbourne and 11 miles (18km) to the west of Derby and set in beautiful and lush countryside the village and area of Longford is ideally situated to explore and enjoy the exquisite wonders of this location, and the Derbyshire Dales, all year round. The more you delve into what Longford and the area has to offer the more you will be enthralled; how is this for starters:-
  • The local streams and the the rich soil are strewn with smooth water washed pebbles and rocks that suggest a very long time ago this area was under water and that the water had been swift flowing for a very long time
  • Coming forward to human habitation times, the village and area has a strong Saxon history
  • The village of Longford and the area is bisected by a long straight road (Long Lane) which generally follows the line of the ancient Roman Road that led to a Roman garrison settlement at Rocester to the west of Longford
  • The historic and impressive St. Chad's church on the Longford Hall Farm estate contains numerous Norman elements that, as is typical for many old churches, have been added to and altered over many centuries. With the current church being dedicated to St. Chad, its origins or indeed some elements could even date back to the 7th century. Inside the Church are a number of fine alabaster effigies of de Longford family members that would date back from the 14th century (guess where the village and area of Longford derived its name?). 
  • There are numerous historic buildings and private residences in the Longford area including the 16th century Longford Hall and associated buildings, the old mill in Longford and a magnificent water wheel driven timber mill at the nearby picturesque Osmaston village on the famous Bonnie Prince Charlie walk (click on the links below)

Click on the link above for a Bonnie Prince Charlie summary
WINTER SNOW 2021 - SEE BELOW in the LONGFORD HALL FARM & the
ST. CHAD'S CHURCH SECTIONS
NOTE:   My page and sections on Longford, Longford Hall Farm, St. Chad's church and the Longford area will be changing constantly, to develop into a chronicle of the area, elements and events. PLEASE VISIT REGULARLY to view the latest changes to this part of my images showcase in particular....anyone local to Longford & the area who could suggest and recommend areas and elements that they feel I would enjoy capturing as a still image I would love to hear from you. Please contact me via the contact facility at the end of the site

For now, the Longford page will consist of the five sections (the 4 shown above with the 4 images & captions plus Liz's impressive gardens:-
  • LIZ's GARDENS
  • LONGFORD HALL FARM as a working farm
  • St. CHAD'S CHURCH AND GROUNDS
  • LONGFORD HALL FARM Holiday Cottages
  • WALKS AND ACTIVITIES AROUND THE ESTATE
    STARTING WITH:-
"NEWSFLASH"....for 2021
Delayed until summer this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, Liz is finally able to open her gardens to the public to visit from Saturday 17th July 2021.
Below, as a teaser, are images I took in her gardens in 2020. For 2021 she will be including major garden extensions to her front garden that includes a large landscaped and planted pond feature(with overhanging jetty) and nature adventure walkway...stay tuned for further details and images of works progress.

LIZ's FRONT GARDENS WORKS-2021
The following are progressive images of garden extension works for the July 2021 opening of Liz's Gardens to the public:-
LIZ's GARDENS...2020
At the start of 2020 I became aware of and have been granted unlimited access by Liz to what is for me a botanical paradise, a true style traditional old and large English walled garden, and one that is continually growing and diversifying, limited mainly by Liz's availability away from her generally seasonal farmwork duties. Prior to these gardens I have just dabbled with images from our own garden but Liz's gardens have totally blown me away and kept me flat out during late spring and all summer taking and working on hundreds of images. This marvellous resource for me has also provided me with many final images that I will use to "have fun"....play with abstracting selected images and their segments to produce images of a digital art/graphic nature.

Covid-19 meant that Liz was not able to open her gardens to the public as she was planning but with the relaxation of covid restrictions for 2021 (noted above) the public will be able to explore and enjoy her traditional walled garden, the new extended front garden and the range of plants that she is continually bringing-on for sale to visitors. Stay tuned for front garden progress updates and images.
Below, as a sample of what will be on public view from the 17th July 2021, I am showing a selection of Liz's garden 2020 images I took and have grouped into 2 categories....spring and summer and unfortunately they are not labelled or grouped with names/captions etc. (a later job for images that I will aim to place in the Flora section of my "NATURE" page.
LIZ'S GARDEN...SPRING 2020
LIZ'S GARDEN...SUMMER 2020
I was totally overwhelmed by the volume of blooms and images for summer, so much so that I spent all of autumn working on the backlog of images. Oh well...I at least have next autumn to look forward to for capturing autumn tone colours in the garden and around the farm.
AUTUMN IMAGES....POSTPONED NOW UNTIL AUTUMN 2021
LONGFORD HALL FARM...AS A WORKING FARM (most recent items first)
2021 SPRING LAMBING (WITH CAPTIONS)
PLOUGHING & DRILLING (sowing) for 2021 SPRING CROPS
WINTER SNOW 2021
Harvest of the Winter planted BARLEY...2020
WHEAT HARVEST...2020...mid September
RAPESEED HARVEST...end of September 2020
ST. CHAD'S CHURCH - LONGFORD
The church of St. Chad, located off Long Lane at Longford and on the Longford Hall Farm estate, can clearly trace its origins back to the period just after the Norman Conquest in 1066 and despite many alterations and additions since that time, numerous Norman elements still remain within the current building. St. Chad's now contains many fine stained glass windows, Saxon and early Norman artifacts, impressive alabaster effigies of 14th and 17th century de Longford family members, a striking 15th century tower as well as some fine memorials. Though the church grounds are no longer used for burials they do contain some fine gravestones and tombs, the grounds themselves being managed and nurtured as a natural habitat for native flora and fauna.
Like so many rural churches today St. Chad's has building fabric and internal environment issues that the active and caring parishoners are very admirably working towards addressing in order that the church of St. Chad - Longford becomes an integral and well utilised facility for and by the Longford community.
MAY 2021 - GRAVEYARD BLUEBELLS
EASTER 2021 - INSIDE St. Chad's Church
The following are a selection of Easter gardens produced by students at Longford Primary school-2021 placed in the church over Easter
St. Chad's Church ITEMS
WINDOWS
WINTER SNOW 2021
2021...Snowdrops & crocus
St. CHAD'S  late 2019
WINTER - 2019/2020
SPRING & SUMMER 2020 (covid-19 pandemic)
INTERIOR IMAGES...Pre Covid-19
LONGFORD HALL FARM...HOLIDAY COTTAGES
Situated 6 miles (10km) from Ashbourne and 11 miles (18km) to the west of Derby and set in beautiful and lush countryside the village and area of Longford is ideally situated to explore and enjoy the exquisite wonders of this location, and the Derbyshire Dales, all year round.
Longford Hall Farm offers two beautifully appointed and equipped cottages (below) for holiday letting thoughout the year. Click the website link button below to check on availability:-
LONGFORD HALL FARM'S....SOUTH LODGE
LONGFORD HALL FARM'S....ARDSLEY COTTAGE
WALKS AND ACTIVITIES AROUND LONGFORD HALL FARM
IMAGES TO COME...WATCH THIS SPACE

the Edutainer - IMAGES

If my images , and particularly the digital art abstractions, entice you to pause, study and even visualise unexpected objects and elements within the subjectmatter' as I find is the case, and that doing so both delights and entertains you, then I will be happy.

Make Contact
re. images
     rayheathphotography@edutainer.me.uk