Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

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Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Having reached half-way, time for the half-time oranges.

Of the 92 Historic Counties of the United Kingdom 46 have had their day-ish in the FCF spotlight here
Todays County in the spotlight Part 1, the first 46.
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... hp?t=70838
In part 2 these Counties will be selected at random for their day in the spotlight
counties.png
KIck-off Next week all being well after our Half-time break

Regards Neil
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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by mickthemaverick »

Time to kick off the second half with the revised county list, thanks Neil, and my first dip into the pot reveiled:
Screenshot
Screenshot
the number 5 which gives us:
Screenshot
Screenshot
Clackmannanshire

A county which I'm guessing Neil may have visited last week?

So the county flag is very striking:
BFTW
BFTW
And its location within Scotland:
BFTW
BFTW
The places to look for:
BFTW
BFTW
Good hunting, I look forward to some nice tales :-D
Last edited by mickthemaverick on 26 May 2022, 22:24, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Didn't set foot in Clackmannanshire on our trip this time!

One of Clackmannanshire's Breweries is well known by the student of the FCF Off Topic Lounge.

Harviestoun often gets a mention for its Old Engine Oil Stout. The brewery is based in Avla Clackmannanshire.
https://harviestoun.com/pages/about-us


The current branding is this

Image
I think I prefer the previous bottles

Image

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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

The largest Alloa Brewery was part of Carlsberg-Tetley Alloa Ltd at its closure in 1998, but had a long history of brewing starting at Alloa in 1810, the brewery being taken over by Archbold Arrol in 1866. It was taken over by Ind Coope in 1951. Brewing ceased in 1998.

A current Clackmannanshire Brewery Williams Brothers based in Alloa, has an interesting story about Heather Ale and a chance to hear a little a bit of poetry from the pen of Robert Louis Stevenson at the beginning.



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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Our third Clackmannanshire Brewery is microbrewery Devon Ales based at the Mansfield Arms near Alloa and also at the Inn at Muckhart near Dollar Clackmannanshire. Listed on their website there is Devon Original 70/-, and Devon Pride 90/- along with a Thick Black Stout.
You often see "shillings used to describe beers" 60/-,70/-, 80/- and 90/-. The sort of quirky description I like.

I could look it up, but go on someone tell me off the top of their heads what the shillings signify and why do they use the term shillings :?:

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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Our registration area code for Clackmannanshire (1903–74) is

SL

Your mission should you decide to accept it is to find an image of a vehicle (pre 74) with the Clackmannanshire Vehicle registration code.

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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

There is more than one Forth Rail Bridge and this one is/was quite quirky

Alloa Forth Railway Bridge



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Last edited by NewcastleFalcon on 16 May 2022, 20:43, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by bobins »

NewcastleFalcon wrote: 16 May 2022, 18:21
You often see "shillings used to describe beers" 60/-,70/-, 80/- and 90/-. The sort of quirky description I like.

I could look it up, but go on someone tell me off the top of their heads what the shillings signify and why do they use the term shillings :?:

REgards Neil

Curiosity got the better of me and I looked it up. The 'Shiilings' notation relates to how much the various strengths of beers were taxed back in the 'olden days'. The higher the strength of the beer, the more the barrel was taxed - or rather, the beer duty was higher.

I can remember having bottles of beer with the shiilings notation on them, but for the life of me I can't remember what beer that was :?
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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

McEwans still do a 70/- and 80/- and Belhaven do a 80/- and a 90/-
ImageImage
Another of the famous Alloa Brewers names George Younger, has a brief story told here at breweryhistory,com
http://breweryhistory.com/wiki/index.ph ... 26_Son_Ltd

Nice pics of barrels for export

Image

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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by mickthemaverick »

My bible has come up trumps again! :-D
Own reference
Own reference
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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by mickthemaverick »

It's not often these days that an old railway is restored to use as part of the national rail network, but that is what happened in Clackmannanshire in 2008: :-D
BFTW
BFTW
Further information here
Last edited by mickthemaverick on 17 May 2022, 09:53, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

mickthemaverick wrote: 17 May 2022, 08:31 Further information here
That is what is known as the missing link Mick :-D

I'm sure Michael Portillo has been in the area. Alloa was and still is I think a bit of a bottle making centre. I'll see if I can find a link to the programme....if it exists!

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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

JUst flicked through my copy of "The Alloa and Hillfoot Advertiser" which confirms my recollection...
Available on the BBC I Player for the next 9 Months
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m ... to-culross
Great Coastal Railway Journeys Series 1 Episode 2: Leith to Culross

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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Cowden Castle North of Dollar in Clackmannanshire has what was described as the "most important Japanese Garden in the Western World."

The Japanese Garden at Cowden was created in 1908 but after 1955 was closed to the public and fell into dereliction. Cowden Garden has now undergone three years of intensive restoration. The garden was described in 1925 by Professor Jijo Suzuki as 'the most important Japanese garden in the Western World'. It is well worth a visit.
Geograph Stamped Image
Geograph Stamped Image
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Re: Today's County in the Spotlight:Part 2

Post by mickthemaverick »

NewcastleFalcon wrote: 17 May 2022, 09:13
mickthemaverick wrote: 17 May 2022, 08:31 Further information here
That is what is known as the missing link Mick :-D

I'm sure Michael Portillo has been in the area. Alloa was and still is I think a bit of a bottle making centre. I'll see if I can find a link to the programme....if it exists!

REgards Neil
Thanks Neil, corrected now!! :-D
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