Cheshire - 12 - Malpas coffee in the Old Fire Station and a visit to Whitewell Church which is indeed white

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Just for once we were trying to forget Covid . We were out for the morning . We found ourselves sitting outside a pavement cafe in the tiny village of Malpas in Cheshire . The cafe seemed almost continental and reminded us of many holidays abroad . We had sat under umberellas like this one in Madrid, in St Jean de Luz , many an Italian village , in Geneva - the list went on and on. The sun was shining and we could almost be abroad . I thought about all the blogs I had written about sunny squares in Florence, in Siena , in the Tuscan countryside . Wine drunk in gites in Annecy and Dinan . It seemed odd to be thinking about those blogs from years ago sitting on the High Street Malpas. The Old Fire Station looked open . Folks were sitting outside . We accidently drove past the usual car park and headed onto the Chester Road where we found the car park behind the New Fire Station . There was just a short walk into the village . Workers were busy banging away , repairing the Almshouses . The High Street was full of people, Some were posting letters outside one of the shops . Others were chatting outside the laundrette . It felt normal .

We called into the Old Fire Station . We waited outside and were invited in or we could sit outside . We felt that outside would be fine . It would remind us of holidays . We were greeted "How are you guys today ?" That felt nice . A bit of normality in this odd world . "What would you like to drink ?" We ordered a double espresso - no milk thankyou and no sugar . Cappacino for the driver . That felt really normal too. As we drank our coffees we were given a menu ."Are you eating with us ?" Yes we said - bacon sandwich for the driver , two rounds of toast made of Huxleys bread for me. Huxleys - a small independent shop across the road . I remember going over there times many for their home cooked boiled ham and beautifully cooked loaves . The High Street looked in some ways the same as it always did . But there were so many changes . The butchers had closed , the chemist had changed hands , the shop where I bought paintings was now a restaurant . We sat there talking about what I remembered . I knew no-one and thought I should know everyone . How odd time had changed so many things . The Old Fire station had closed . Not fit for purpose but luckily it had been repurposed as a lovely cafe , well used by the villagers and still paid homage to firemen with helmuts decorating the interior . We made a plan to return again . The bacon sandwich had passed muster , the coffees and the toast were treats .

With the sun shining I thought where can we go to next . Nowhere too far as there was too much to do at home . But as we were out it was a shame not to go somewhere . Whitewell was just round the corner . It seemed handy and I wanted to see the quaint church that I remembered from Christmases long gone . We left the main road and headed out down the narrow Cheshire lanes swiftly moving back into Wales . The church would be here somewhere . I had only been in the dark once one Christmas . We found the narrow lane which lead to St Marys - an unusual white church . The parish is known as Iscoyd and lies entirely in Wales . The church had a massive car park and we had it to ourselves . For some odd reason although the church is in Wales it is linked with Tushingham church in Cheshire England and Marbury . It should lie in the diocese of St Asaph but it does not . It lies in the diocese of Chester . I walked past what looked like an old French Market hall built entirely of wood with its roof of straw . I still had that holiday feeling . Somewhere in the vicinity are two wells which give their name to Whitewell. There has been a place of worship here from early times and Whitewell was a chapel of rest in 1570. The original chapel was black and white . A feature of rural Cheshire and the border land with Wales . The church collapsed in 1829 during renovations . The present building is cement washed white and was striking on this lovely sunny day . It was paid for by a Miss Congreve . Soem parts of the church were saved and reused . The roof timbers and oak panelling . A spire and clock were added in 1898.

I walked around the church which was firmly closed up for visitors . It is a pretty church , the door was surrounded with a garland . I wondered if there had been a wedding last week or was there one this weekend . Sadly I couldnt get in . I just had to walk around the building . The churchyard was pretty too . In the spring daffodils filled the mound that lay to the south of the church . The churchyard was looked after by the commonwealth Grave Committee as one grave was a war grave .

As I left after my circuit of the church and graveyard I met an elderly couple along the way. Neither acknowledged me . I walked on and arrived back at the car . It was time for home . Today felt good . For the first time in almost a year and a half we felt a freedom we had missed .

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Comments

[Home and Away]

I'm so pleased...
that you were able to experience freedom!

[JenGog]

freedom
Morning Bob Freedom just wish we had more of it . Looks like we will have to cancel September . France is one of the countries that the EU are saying is red so it is likely our government will close all travel again. USA to us OK at the moment but not sure it will last . We are reading and hearing a lot about Mississippi and Louisiana being hotspots for the virus and many refusing the vaccine . Religion/politics and I am not sure what else is the root cause . In Wales we are having no deaths and we are on the verge of booster doses in September/October . Life feels normal in some ways but even round the corner from us two people are Covid positive . I had a surprise this morning . I have been on Travelblog 10 years today . I cannot believe where the time has gone . Have you had any thoughts about how you are going to holiday now that Scotland is on the back burner until 2022? We may go up to Scotland for a week in September . Not sure yet . Plans and more plans and everything in the melting pot .