December 16th, 2016

Goostrey is a little town south of Manchester with a population of just over two thousand. As with many small English towns, the exact origins of the town have grown murky with time. In the Doomsday Book (completed in 1089) the town's existence is mentioned, although its name is given as Gostrel. A yew tree in Goostrey's churchyard has been dated to 1,200 years ago, meaning the town may have existed as far back as the Dark Ages, before the Roman Empire. Today, the quiet rural feel of the town is contrasted immensely by the nearby Lovell Telescope, built in 1957. However, somewhat counter-intuitively the telescope has helped Goostrey retain its quaint charm: most large scale building projects have been declined, as any excess radio interference would interfere with the telescope's precision. In the town, a pub called The Crown, which has been open since the 1800s, serves delicious fish and chips and local ciders. The pub has been called 'The Official Pub of The JBCA', and serves both international astrophysicists and Goostrey locals, both happy to have each other.

-E