There are some steep hills in our area with views across the Loxley Valley. The last time I walked here was on a sunny day before Christmas. It's easy enough to stroll down, but harder to climb back up!
At the top of the hill is the primary school, an interesting old house with stables and Loxley Common or Chase.
There's a local legend that 'Robin Hood', (Earl of Loxley), who is said to have been based on a real person, originally came from the Loxley area. Although he's more associated with Sherwood Forest it's a possibility since Loxley Chase now called Loxley Common was part of a wooded area used by the nobility for hunting and covered a distance as far as Nottinghamshire.
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| The school |
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| The stables |
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| A mounting block on the village green |
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| An old water trough |
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| The horses are well wrapped up for the Winter |
We took a drive along the Loxley Valley last Sunday, which turned out to be the best day of the week with the weather. It started out quite dull, but dry and then we had a few hours of sunshine.
We drove up onto higher ground passed Damflask Reservoir which has a water outlet into the River Loxley.
Some farmland looked relatively dry in sheltered areas, but on exposed, higher areas the land looked
waterlogged. Looking in the opposite direction towards the moors the blue skies and sunshine gave a different impression. We continue to hope for better weather and the farmland to dry out.
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| St. Nicholas' Church, High Bradfield |