Two of us started at 9.30 this morning for a jaunt in Cheshire. This is my friend’s first real ride, and I wanted to impress upon him the joys of cycling. Taking the usual road to Barton we soon reached Didsbury and Cheadle. At the ‘Bluebell’ just by Handforth we took the bylanes which at length led us to Prestbury. As we were feeling peckish we decided to stay for lunch here, and at the second time of asking we were comfortably ensconced in an Inn in the main street. After lunch we had a walk in the old Church, the inside itself is much restored although it dates back over 400 years.
Inside is a tablet to the memory of Charles Legh of Adlington Hall who was a great friend of Handel. The sexton took us to a Norman Chapel in the churchyard which dates back 1,000 years and contains stone coffins besides other relics. A gravestone is marked ‘to the memory of William Wyatt of Adlington, quarryman, who was shot through the body whilst taking the lead in an attack against two highwaymen at Shrigley, February 12th, 1848′. Another ‘In memory of Sarah Pickford, who died a bachelor in the 48th year of her life, 1705′. A Saxon cross, over 1,200 years old was also shown to us.
Pottering to Broken Cross we reached Gawsworth, and after an afternoon in the lanes around Congleton, we came to Alderley Cross for tea. Followed a two hour walk around the Copper Mines and the Edge, from where magnificent views were obtained. In the glorious sunset we returned home via Wilmslow, Handforth etc, arriving back in the twilight at 9.15pm
82 miles, 11.75 hours
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