Bidston Windmill, England

[dewmuw]

When I was a teenager I used to be forced by my school to go on 'Cross Country' runs passed this place - usually in the winter. I came to hate the place and not go back much. The area also has a bit of a reputation for flashers!

I decided to pay a visit over Christmas and got this shot.

I like the heavy contrast - but I'd be interested in your thoughts.

http://www.pbase.com/dewmuw/image/38263060.jpg

I also remember that when the windmill was working the miller tied his horse to the sails and a gust of wind threw it into the air and killed it.

[lomond]

Hi Damian,
The reflection of the windmill and sky in the water is gorgeous, I like it.
I also like a photo with a story, or some history behind it( shame about the horse though).

Cameron

[dewmuw]

Hi Damian,
The reflection of the windmill and sky in the water is gorgeous, I like it.
I also like a photo with a story, or some history behind it( shame about the horse though).

Cameron
Thanks Cameron, how's the back.

I wonder how many people, like me, have terrible memories of cross country running and steer clear of places as a result! :)

[RichardtheSane]

If only we had done corss country running with such nice scenery!

You captured that well, the shadow works because of the water to hold foregorund interest

If you ever go back I would like to see a shot with the windmil pushed a little over to the left in the frame :)

[lomond]

The back's just fine, thanks for asking Damian.

"Cross country running" what's that ??

I can cross my legs, sing some country and maybe run a bath, but not all at once.
School sports, my mind has gone blank.

Cameron

[stoneylonesome]

Well I'm glad you went back. What a terrific shot. :) :) :) Just to bring back FOND memories I trust you ran by. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[dewmuw]

If only we had done corss country running with such nice scenery!

You captured that well, the shadow works because of the water to hold foregorund interest

If you ever go back I would like to see a shot with the windmil pushed a little over to the left in the frame :)
Having broken my mindset about the place I am planning to go back in the morning to get the sun from the other angle.

Thanks for the tip.

[dewmuw]

The back's just fine, thanks for asking Damian.

"Cross country running" what's that ??

I can cross my legs, sing some country and maybe run a bath, but not all at once.
School sports, my mind has gone blank.

Cameron
Let me refresh your memory. It was something we did at school to allow teachers time to smoke behind the football changing rooms.

[dewmuw]

Well I'm glad you went back. What a terrific shot. :) :) :) Just to bring back FOND memories I trust you ran by. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Yeah in my vest and shorts to recapture the realism! :D :D :D

[RichardtheSane]

Let me refresh your memory. It was something we did at school to allow teachers time to smoke behind the football changing rooms.
LOL

How true is that?

Or allowed the teachers to let their sadistic tendancies fly!

[stoneylonesome]

LOL

How true is that?

Or allowed the teachers to let their sadistic tendancies fly!

Geez and all these years I thought it was just our teachers here in the States the did stuff like that. :rolleyes: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[LAWSON McCULLOCH]

What a lovely shot Damien, great reflections which i like very much.

[Littlenose]

lovely pic, i really like the way you've "found" the reflection :D

[marie]

When I was a teenager I used to be forced by my school to go on 'Cross Country' runs passed this place - usually in the winter. I came to hate the place and not go back much. The area also has a bit of a reputation for flashers!

I decided to pay a visit over Christmas and got this shot.

I like the heavy contrast - but I'd be interested in your thoughts.

http://www.pbase.com/dewmuw/image/38263060.jpg

I also remember that when the windmill was working the miller tied his horse to the sails and a gust of wind threw it into the air and killed it.all the things we were made do as children we seemed to hate Damian
but cross country running cries ' freedom' http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

running wild and free
I wish we had done it when at school & got away from heavy lessons for a while http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif




love the picture very much. beautiful shot


awful story about the horse
if it's true http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/tongue3.gif

I mean, a windmill moves in the wind
what did he expect http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

the horse must have been justa clothe's horsehttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

good way to hang out the washing http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif


any chance of getting a photo of the flasher hanging onto the windmillhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[lomond]

It doesn't seem to have been a lucky mill.

Quote from http://www.wirral.gov.uk/er/bidwind.htm

"The last miller to work in the mill was a Mr. Youds. Fortunately he did not meet the same fate as one of his predecessors. In those days there were two doors on opposite sides of the mill. As the sails could face any direction, and came close to the ground there were times when one door could not be used. The miller must have forgotten the position of the sails and he used the wrong door, was struck by the heavy wooden sail and killed."

Cameron

[dewmuw]

LOL

How true is that?

Or allowed the teachers to let their sadistic tendancies fly!
Oh yeah! Seemed to attract that sort of person in those days!

[dewmuw]

What a lovely shot Damien, great reflections which i like very much.
Thank you so much. Rain does have it's uses sometimes!

[dewmuw]

lovely pic, i really like the way you've "found" the reflection :D
One of those lucky breaks I guess! Funny though, as someone once said, "the harder I work the luckier I get!"

[dewmuw]

all the things we were made do as children we seemed to hate Damian
but cross country running cries ' freedom' http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

running wild and free
I wish we had done it when at school & got away from heavy lessons for a while http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

If only it was like that in truth! I wen to an all boys school and cross country was a chance for the bigger lands to terrorise us smaller lads! We'd also get chased by dogs, flasher and the games master! It always seemed to be hail stoning as well! :)



awful story about the horse
if it's true http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/tongue3.gif
I think it is likely to be one of those myths that has built up over the years. But it makes a good tale to tell the kids!


any chance of getting a photo of the flasher hanging onto the windmillhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gifSorry I didn't have my macro lens with me! :)

[dewmuw]

It doesn't seem to have been a lucky mill.

Quote from http://www.wirral.gov.uk/er/bidwind.htm

"The last miller to work in the mill was a Mr. Youds. Fortunately he did not meet the same fate as one of his predecessors. In those days there were two doors on opposite sides of the mill. As the sails could face any direction, and came close to the ground there were times when one door could not be used. The miller must have forgotten the position of the sails and he used the wrong door, was struck by the heavy wooden sail and killed."

Cameron
Another interestign fact is that just along from the windmill is the Bidston Observatory and Oceanography Centre. All of the world's tide times are calculated at this centre - although it is due to close this year.

[Genevieve]

Just to set everybodies mind at ease, there never was a horse killed by being tied to the sails of the windmill, tho one did brake it's leg bringing wheat to the windmill. The miller on the other hand was drunk when he walked into the sails and if you look on the stone beneath the windmill there are X's to mark where they found bits of him. sorry.
If you like the view of the windmill, next year you should come up and see the views from the top of it, We should have it open to visitors by June/July and the skyline is amazing and we will let you take Pics from the top. unfortunately, i didn't have a digital camera the last time is was up there but give me a few months and i'll be able to post some great views from the top.
Keep on clicking :)

[sparker1]

What an interesting thread.

Genevieve, welcome to the forum and thanks for the clarification. We can all rest easier knowing it was only the drunk that was killed by the windmill, and not the poor horse.

Marie, I should think you could get your own flasher. Come to think of it, you probably already have. (All in fun.)

dewmuw, if a photo is measured by the amount of conversation generated, this is a darn good one. I like it, but think a little lighter in the shadows would improve it.

[dewmuw]

Just to set everybodies mind at ease, there never was a horse killed by being tied to the sails of the windmill, tho one did brake it's leg bringing wheat to the windmill. The miller on the other hand was drunk when he walked into the sails and if you look on the stone beneath the windmill there are X's to mark where they found bits of him. sorry.
If you like the view of the windmill, next year you should come up and see the views from the top of it, We should have it open to visitors by June/July and the skyline is amazing and we will let you take Pics from the top. unfortunately, i didn't have a digital camera the last time is was up there but give me a few months and i'll be able to post some great views from the top.
Keep on clicking :)

I used to run past the windmill every week when I was running cross country from school (BI).

[Dimitri_V]

When I was a teenager I used to be forced by my school to go on 'Cross Country' runs passed this place - usually in the winter. I came to hate the place and not go back much. The area also has a bit of a reputation for flashers!

I decided to pay a visit over Christmas and got this shot.

I like the heavy contrast - but I'd be interested in your thoughts.

http://www.pbase.com/dewmuw/image/38263060.jpg

I also remember that when the windmill was working the miller tied his horse to the sails and a gust of wind threw it into the air and killed it.


Nice subject and forground,the sky is a bit too bright though.