Saturday, 5 July 2025

Market Day in Louth.

 Following on from my last post when I visited the Milliners Shop in Louth, Popcorn and I had a walk around the Market area and shops in Louth.

After leaving Ian Bennett,s Millinery shop we were back out into New Street again.
The Market Place is in the distance.



Various stalls at the market plus folk enjoy refreshments in the morning sunlight.


I always like to see hat stalls.

I can't resist this close viewpoint.

The plant stall was packed with lots of really good plants.



People sat in the shade alongside the market stalls.

A view along Mercer Row, various shops and businesses.

Swing 90 degrees to my right and there's the outdoor market with the old indoor 
Market Hall and clock tower.

Vegetables on this stall, he was doing a roaring trade.

Beautiful fresh produce from the Lincolnshire growers.

One of many alleyways and ginnels, there are many in Louth.


Enjoying some time in the sun.


Another of my strange choice of viewpoints.

At last, I got my customary "doggy shot", not many about that day! 

Boquete's of flowers on this stall. 

Gorgeous.

Walking away from the market, we had a stroll along Eastgate to the main shopping area.

Cars were backing up here, very busy and a pedestrian crossing just around
the corner is backing the traffic up.

This lady is doing a great trade selling cheeses.


A shop I may go back to and ask if I can take photo's inside.  On another day.

Another passageway but, on this occasion it was the sign for dogs ice cream  
that caught my eye.

Into Queen Street now, on our way back to the market area.  Some lovely Georgian
house along here.

The Turks Head, always popular.

And then back to Mercer Row and the market area.

Popcorn and I headed back to our car along New Street, we always start and finish
our walks here, my favourite place in Louth.

A last look behind us to the Market Place and then home for dinner.

Thank you for visiting my blog, hope you enjoyed Louth, we do.

Nikon Z6ii plus 24 - 120 lens.


Saturday, 28 June 2025

Ian Bennett, Milliner in Louth.

 I often go to Louth, as regular visitors to my blog will know.  On a warm evening in May a few photographer friends & I, plus Popcorn of course, had a stroll around Louth, to take a few photographs.  My favourite part of Louth is a short, cobbled street called New Street.  

Tucked away on one side of New Street is a really cool shop, cool in all senses of the word, Ian Bennett's Milliners Hat Shop.  (No relation to myself by the way).  I took a few photo's but of course the shop was closed.  So, I made the decision to return on a weekday and see if I could be allowed to take photo's of the interior and, hopefully Ian at work also.  Ian was most obliging and allowed me and Popcorn in.

It was one of the most intriguing photo visits I ever had, such an interesting place and a real treat to see a craftsman artisan at work.  

Ian Bennett's Milliners Shop in Louth, taken on my evening visit in May.

Red, white & blue are my favourite colour combinations so I had to take this.
Even with some reflections, which I actually like!


Then on to my return visit in June, this is New Street and Ian's shop is on the left.

A view inside and a range of hand created hats.


This one would be very suitable for Royal Ascot, I'm sure.

Looking out, through Ian's shop to New Street.

Another stunning creation, and a glimpse of a photo of our late Queen Elizabeth II.

Ian proudly displays a photo of Queen Elizabeth as he made hats for Her Majesty!!


This is Ian at work on one of his creations.


These are for shaping hats during creation, I don't know their correct name.
I should have asked, but Ian had customers.

Ian talking to a customer who required a hat to be created.

Ian makes/creates all kind of hats, here we see gentleman's Top Hats. 

Not only was Ian Milliner to our Queen, he is one of the only two Milliners in the world
still making hand made silk top hats!

And with my visit over, a final photo of this fascinating shop, tucked away in Louth.
It's no wonder I keep going back to Louth as there's always something new and interesting I
haven't seen before.  Thank you Ian, for allowing me into your intriguing shop.


Nikon Z6ii plus 24 - 120mm lens.

 


Sunday, 15 June 2025

The Chalets on The Fitties.

 Popcorn & I had a walk around the Fitties Chalet camp recently.  I post pics from there from time to time so took my camera along for an update.  Nothing really changes down there, so apologies to anyone who's seen the chalets before.

Below is a summary of the chalets, "borrowed" off the internet.

Humberston Fitties is a holiday park located in Humberston, Lincolnshire, known for its unique and historic chalets and bungalows. The Fitties, as it's called locally, is a charming holiday destination on the coast, with a history dating back to the inter-war period. The park features a variety of chalets and bungalows, some of which are over a century old. 

This chalet, like a lot of them, has been very well maintained and is very colourful. 


Like many of the chalets, it has a very appropriate sign.

Blue seems to be a popular colour.

A bit of blossom when we were down there. Forsythia?


A porchway in the shade of trees.

This is my favourite chalet on the Fitties camp.  It's owned by a dog lover, as the
various signs will show.


My favourite sign (the one below the wheel) which says "Dogs welcome, People tolerated"

It's worth viewing these signs large.


A general view in the Fitties Chalet Camp.

The next few pics are of humorous signs seen here & there.

This is my favourite sign, makes me chuckle whenever I see people reading it!



I spotted what I thought was some ladies doing craftwork.  After a quick introduction
from me they asked me in to see what they were making.



A lot of the items were pebbles and shells off the nearby beach which they painted
and crafted into various ornamental things.

I enjoyed a pleasant 20 minutes or so in conversation with them.
Popcorn enjoyed all the attention they gave him too!

I took quite a lot of photo's but I'll finish with this one of an old chalet undergoing
major renovation.  Most of the original chalets were built on a wooden framework. 

Nikon Z6ii plus 24 - 120 lens.