Chelford
& Steam Engine Rally
About six miles west of
Macclesfield centre, Chelford is locally famous for its Markets
where livestock, agricultural equipment, property, plants and
other domestic paraphernalia are auctioned. Also, where locally
famous car-boot sales and antique fairs are held.
It is probably the oldest
part of Chelford that is adjacent to this roundabout at the junction
of the A537 Macclesfield-Knutsford road and the A535 Homes Chapel-Alderley
Edge road. The yellow temporary road sign directs us down the
Holmes Chapel road to the Steam Fair.
To get to the Steam Fair
we must pass the Parish Church ...
... and the Church Cottages
adjacent, a truer centre of old Chelford than the roundabout.
Although billed for steam
the show actually had more internal combustion vehicles than steam
driven ones. This handsome rig was not an exhibit or a competitor
...
... it was there to take
away these vehicles presumably purchased at the auction sale that
was being conducted on part of the large site of Astle Hall that
is made available for this popular event. To my inexpert eye these
look like vehicles of a trans-atlantic origin.
Not so in the motorcycle
competition, not a Harley-Davidson in sight. There was, however,
an Italian scooter giving a slight European flavour.
In the static display of
bicycles not all were petrol powered there were some venerable
'velocipedes' like this 1930 Raleigh looking almost in a rideable
condition.
Getting steamed up. These
are more like the vehicles I had expected to see. Steam-Rollers
and steam traction engines. As a lad all road-rollers we called
steam-rollers. Steam-rollers were getting replaced by motor-rollers
but it was much more exciting to come across the steam version
with its noises and smoky smells. It looks like a quarter scale
model here raising steam for the parade.
Judging hadn't yet taken
place on the steam-driven road vehicles, but this must surely
be in contention for the highest award.
Fresh polished paintwork
gleaming, brasswork burnished and sparkling and even the coal
looked fresh scrubbed!
Another contender could
be this steam-coach taking paying passengers for a tour around
the site.
Another group of paying
passengers about to board their non-steam-driven helicopter for
a wider tour from the site.
Another opportunity of taking
to the air in a roundabout way.
Young sharpshooters getting
in some practice ...
... and a young enthusiast
looking at a dream machine. "That's what I want for Xmas,
Grandad!"
Continued
in Part II
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