Portland Basin - visit 2
Had some family around at the weekend and, because it wasn’t the barbecue weather we’ve been promised, we took them to the free museum at Portland Basin in Ashton-under-Lyne. We’ve been before but knew they’d enjoy it. But there were suprises in store for us too…..
The industrial heritage and history of Tameside is always there (and very interesting too - particularly since I knew as a kid some of the places shown in the video!) But the mini exhibition as you walk in changes from time to time and, until next January, is about dolls. Dolls! Marvellous! My namesake, Barbie, was there of course - but also Sindy dolls and Pippa dolls from my youth; cabbage patch dolls (ugly, ugly) and some of the first ‘mama’ dolls as well as more modern day ones.
There was lots of info to look at and, something I didn’t pick up on last time (don’t recall seeing them anyway), were the miniatures - of houses, different shop interiors, gardens, etc. The attention to detail was absolutely brilliant and I was fascinated to learn a little more about how these were made.
After a good old trot around the place, we went into the award-winning cafe for tea and cakes. Not a cheap excursion but mighty fine! Apparently the scones were delicious and beautifully presented with cream, strawberry jam, fresh strawberries and a dusting of icing sugar. I opted for the carrot cake - eat it or climb it! It was enormous and beautifully moist. Almost spoiled the evening meal I slaved over a hot stove to prepare ….