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A thread about an unexpected discovery in the Vale of St Johns, West Cumbria
The valley footpath had a sign in the middle of a field
but the tree on the knoll beckoned 
The valley footpath had a sign in the middle of a field
but the tree on the knoll beckoned
So I followed a faint indentation in the grass and over the brow of the slope found this
Wrens flitted in and out of the holes in the highest wall
Troglodytes troglodytes
Troglodytes troglodytes
There was a total stillness about the ruins
Mossy gardens had colonised protruding stones
A gatepost looked down a track towards the farmhouse which perhaps replaced this substantial farm which nestled under a crag
The gate leads onto the corpse road between the fell church and the valley
The gate leads onto the corpse road between the fell church and the valley
To be continued when I get home to the iPad pics
The iPad pics take a wider view of the ruins
Several groups passed along the corpse road on the other side of the intake wall and not one person stopped or looked over the gate, though the ruins are clearly visible on the way down from the church
The end wall gives the impression of a fortified dwelling
This was a place chosen carefully for human habitation, but the people have gone
The space is eloquent with their absence
The space is eloquent with their absence
Mossy intake wall onto High Rigg, gate, and reused stone from the building
Human structures organically connected with the landscape
Human structures organically connected with the landscape
Looking back at the ruins from the track, and away towards the church, Skiddaw and Blencathra
Conclusion
This passage is towards the end of James Rebanks ( @herdyshepherd1 )‘s new book English Pastoral
His farm is over the steep fells to the east of this valley
We are all trying to find our way home
Vale
This passage is towards the end of James Rebanks ( @herdyshepherd1 )‘s new book English Pastoral
His farm is over the steep fells to the east of this valley
We are all trying to find our way home
Vale
