One year later (minus a week) we revisited Jodrell Bank in order to see the new First Light Pavilion which is located within the arboretum. It was still under construction on our previous visit.

Inside the First Light Pavilion will be a spectacular exhibition,  in which visitors can engage with the stories of the amazing scientists and engineers who have worked at Jodrell Bank over the years, and whose stories continue today.

This innovative and interactive new gallery will include displays, objects and artefacts from the site’s rich history and will incorporate the fabric of the original 1957 surface of the Lovell Telescope. Archive footage and large-scale projections will animate the exhibition and bring the past to life.

A beautiful new 130 seat auditorium will also feature, housing an immersive projection space where visitors will be able to watch an animated history of Jodrell Bank. *

Our first stop was Oswestry to pick up a friend of Mr C. The in-car SatNav then took us on an unexpected (un)magical mystery tour through never ending traffic queues. The conversation and laughs we had made up for the inconvenience but I regretted not picking up my portable SatNav which is far better at route planning. When we arrived at Jodrell Bank, 45 minutes later than we planned it was time for lunch, which we enjoyed in the First Light café.

After lunch we walked to the Lovell Telescope and explored the Space Pavilion before it was time for our pre-booked Dome Show. We all thought that the show was rather bland and lacked something. The interactive gallery and display in the other half of the Dome made up for this, the exhibits drew us in to explore the history of the Lovell Telescope and explorations of Space. We will be back to explore the gallery in more detail on a future occasion.

We had afternoon tea including ‘naughty cakes’ and browsed the shop before leaving (empty handed) on our homeward journey. The SatNav behaved itself and took us in the direction we had expected to travel on our outward journey!

*Quoted from the Jodrell Bank website in 2021

As I was drifting in and out of sleep Mr C arrived with a morning cup of tea, then a few minutes later he returned, announcing ‘I have news for you. We are going out for the day’.

He had chosen Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire which he had checked to see if it was open. I hastily drank my tea and got ready to set off for our Sunday adventure. The in-car SatNav took us on a circuitous route adding nearly half an hour to its predicted journey time. We arrived at Capesthorne to find only a few cars and the people getting out of them dressed in their Sunday Best. It looked like a private function might be taking place. This turned out to be the case and the site was closed for visitors. The lady we spoke to was most apologetic, explaining that this should have been on their website (later Mr C realised he had checked a different website).

By now it was time for lunch so we had a quick rethink and chose plan B, Biddulph Grange Garden. We found its car park full. The prospect of a long queue for the café with prepacked corporate offerings and probably paper plates and cups was less than appealing. As we approached the garden I had noticed a sign to Biddulph Grange Country Park which has a recently opened café. We relocated our car and then set off on a walk to find the ‘Hideaway’ café, which is hidden. The café was delightful, our sandwiches (tuna mayo) were prepared to order and served with a side salad on ‘real plates’. The weather was glorious so we were able to eat them outside under the dappling light of the trees.

Over lunch we discussed plan C… Mr C was not in the mood for a walk around the park so we chose to visit Jodrell Bank. I was amazed how much the site has changed since my previous visit in 2009. The Lovell Telescope was tracking pulsars just above the horizon so was in the perfect position for us to enjoy it at its most spectacular. I also enjoyed seeing ‘The First Light Pavilion’ (disguised as a hill), which is currently under construction within the arboretum gardens. The Jodrell Bank website explains:

Inside the First Light Pavilion will be a spectacular exhibition,  in which visitors can engage with the stories of the amazing scientists and engineers who have worked at Jodrell Bank over the years, and whose stories continue today.

This innovative and interactive new gallery will include displays, objects and artefacts from the site’s rich history and will incorporate the fabric of the original 1957 surface of the Lovell Telescope. Archive footage and large-scale projections will animate the exhibition and bring the past to life.

A beautiful new 130 seat auditorium will also feature, housing an immersive projection space where visitors will be able to watch an animated history of Jodrell Bank. The auditorium will also serve as a unique new venue for events, evening lectures, live link-ups, planetarium shows, workshops, and plenty more.

We had a slow journey home due to a traffic build up near to Holmes Chapel. Then later when we were almost home the road was closed between Hodnet and Shawbirch leading us to detour our journey along country lanes. The sun was setting and the scenery was delightful. Our Fine Dining at Chez Nous, duck with cherries and cubed potatoes was a little later than planned but well worth the wait.

Arthur Rimbaud

The culmination of all the drama of Holy Week. On Easter Sunday (appropriately known as Resurrection Sunday), Jesus rose from the dead and, in the days to come, appeared to his astonished followers to tell them the good news: the power of sin and death was broken, and all who believed could find forgiveness and be made right with God.

Matthew 28:1-10 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Has Risen

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

*the last picture was from a different source than the rest of the series; The Cambridge Picture Bible (no publication date inside the cover, but it was given to me as a Christmas gift in 1968)

For more of this weeks PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.

When I visited Jodrell bank over the Easter weekend there was a lovely walkway around the radio telescope and as you can see it was a lovely day to take a walk.

Wishing you all a lovely bank holiday weekend