On a morning like this, with rain cascading down outside, and all is gloomy and grey, most things – me included – seem to have seen better days. Let’s go for a walk and see what we can find. A virtual walk. It’s far to wet for anything else.
Let’s start off in the farmyard:
Geese don’t mind tatty: Hovingham, North Yorkshire The Cleveland Way, Yorkshire Tractor near Alnmouth, Northumberland
Beyond these farms is a country house, with mossy gates.

Perfect for Hallowe’en, don’t you think?
OK. Take off your boots now, and let’s go for a city stroll instead.
Skip in Barcelona A weathered wall in Newcastle A Ripon garage
Even towns have gardens. Harlow Carr is a marvellous RHS garden near Harrogate. They keep things immaculately … except in the Edwardian garden shed.
Harlow Carr, Harrogate Harlow Carr, Harrogate Harlow Carr, Harrogate
Lastly, let’s have a bit of a clean up. Here’s plenty of rubbish from the past found on a recent litter pick near a factory in Ripon. Perfect for Past Squares. Let’s find it by looking through The Square Window today (anyone remember Play School?)
That’ll do for one day I think. Time to go home and stay out of the rain.
The featured photo was taken in Seville.
Lens-Artists Challenge #168: Seen Better Days

Brilliant! Especially the Sleningford Hall one and the cobwebby window, redolent of one I took at Tyneham.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We all love a bit of cobweb at this time of year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ach…it’s a commercial scam
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, and geese don’t mind tatty! Of course they don’t
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too busy honking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😄😄😄😂
LikeLike
Oh yes, I remember the Playschool windows!
I LOVE the tractor!
And the pots… and tools… well, everything at Hadlow Carr is bound to be lovely – and your photos do them justice! I think I could send in a selfie for this title. :-(. !!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Couldn’t we all Emma? I real Bloggers’ Rogues Gallery. If you haven’t visited Harlow Carr, it’s a Must Visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yes – It’s on my Must Visit list already – I’m looking forward to it and will certainly make a visit… one day!
LikeLike
Be sure to tell me when you’re coming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will do! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the idea of a virtual walk. The farm gates pic has a superb atmosphere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. It certainly took my eye.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed date dry virtual walk, Margaret. Talk about past its best – that’s a great shot of the Seville decay.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The owner might not have been impressed to have his property showcased.
LikeLike
Loved the picture from Seville, so atmospheric.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope it hasn’t fallen down yet!
LikeLike
oh these are fabulous – who wants shiny and new when we can have character, experience and marvellous histories. I think the best is yet to come!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve got a long way ti go before you find out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t know about that – I’m married to someone older than you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even so …
LikeLike
STILL raining? Never! Looks to me like Seville needs some help. Love your cobwebby one too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a real autumny shot that one, isn’t it. And no longer raining. sunny and bright,
LikeLike
🌞🌞🌞
LikeLike
I love the whole gallery Margaret. I just scrolled up to find a favourite and didn’t find one 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thanks! That’s a great compliment coming from you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Past their best and all photographed to look attractive even the skip in Barcelona. It’s such a pity that we don’t see old humans in the same way as beautiful vintage or stylish antique.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we might be beginning to, in part thanks to photographers. I hope so. I’ve hit that spot.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We can, but hope.
LikeLike
All so atmospheric, very beautiful 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Characterful, non?
LikeLike
Tatty, old, battered… each of these shots has a story attached (alongside you’re clever virtual walk this morning). There’s so much more atmosphere in pictures of old, used, unloved things than in immaculate, shiny and new. Love this post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
P.S. Do hope the rain stops for you soon. It has stopped down here so fingers crossed for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has! Hooray! I celebrated with a nice long walk in which I half concussed myself falling over a tree root. Definitely past my best now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, thanks Sandra. It was fun to put together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Goodness, do take care. Can’t have you damaging yourself. Hope you went home and put your feet up with a cuppa to recover. Though somehow I doubt that you did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t at the time. I think I ‘should of’ though…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember Playschool! Great set of images. I love things that are showing a bit of wear and tear over the shiny and new. I like things and people that have lived a little and have the marks and stories to show for it. Hope the weather picks up for you soon, until then a virtual walk is perfect.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Actually, this was yesterday. Today is fabulous. And yes, ‘lived a little’ describes wear and tear so well.
LikeLike
There’s so much character in these ‘better days’ photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, as someone who’s past her better days, I like to think so.
LikeLike
Great images
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful shots. I love those photos of the gardening shed
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a picturesque place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love all these ‘past their best’ photos but especially Seville and the other city ones – just the sort of details I love to look out for!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The seedier the better eh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂 Yes, absolutely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your rainy day walk – so many interesting things to see and so much character! Who needs new!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Battered is best. And don’t tell anyone, but I wrote this yesterday. Today is glorious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And lovely terracotta pots too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the walk on a rainy day, Margaret. Though they past their best, you captured beautifully. I are looking forward to rain here…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have some of ours! Though ours is over now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🌧
LikeLike
You got some terrific photos from your walk. 😀 😀 Get dry and stay warm 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Luckily it’s pretty nice now. Thanks.
LikeLike
You found so many weathered and worn treasures on your walk! I love it! Your header image is wonderful. I also love the fence with the cobwebs. Perfect for Halloween!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought that one was season-appropriate. And one you’d never see in sunny Seville!.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
As always wonderful photos. I love a garden shed. Ages ago you asked about the Camping at A-V; it’s still going but a bit ramshackle at the moment. Sorry for my erratic responses. Very busy and I’m still struggling with WordPress
LikeLike
Can’t decide whether ramshackle is good or bad. Or whether your busyness is good or bad. WP has a mind if its own. We have, it seems, to live with it.
LikeLike
A terrific group of tattiness. I love them all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a connoisseur of tatty
LikeLiked by 1 person
It should be appreciated more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great selections. Definitely S.B.D.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes rusty, dusty and cobwebby can be beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should know!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hee hee, I resemble that remark! See my cobweb photo in 5 things I had to photograph for evidence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the mists of England. Thank you for the walk – pure joy for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re just about to launch into our misty season. We have three rivers hereabouts, so it’s Fog Central.
LikeLiked by 1 person
such rich pickings Margaret! Love it – but my favourite, (as you’d guess…) is the mossy gate with the spider web…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That certainly seem to have won on points.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had to go and read the comments in order to understand your reaction! Have to say that I loved all the pics, I’m a sucker for ‘old and destitute’!
LikeLike
Well Margaret, just count me glad it rained that day! You had quite a marvelous set of images in your archived – perfect for the challenge! I think the mossy gates were my favorite but there were so many contenders!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those mossy gates seem to have won hands down!
LikeLike
Weathered walls, cobwebs and rust … just perfect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, suitably past it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Back to ramshackle. It’s past its best and beyond shabby chic. There were a few Dutch and the occasional Belgian cars but a shadow of its former self. Hopefully it’s temporary. Very late in the day I have realised I need to use my iPad and not my phone to respond.
LikeLike
That’s such a pity. It used to be a delight. As to WP. That’s strange. I rarely use either my tablet or phone when blogging, but my phone is usually OK when I do.
LikeLike