A Walk Around High Bradfield

The sun was out again at the weekend so to take advantage of the good weather and to get some fresh air and a change of scene Mr P drove us to High Bradfield since it's nearby.  We went on the high road, passed the reservoir and soon we were in the village. Do you remember our last drive where you could see St Nicholas' Church and the village when we parked high up on the moors?

This time we stopped on the outskirts of High Bradfield before driving into the village.

I walked to the church passing the former weavers' cottages, the grander stone houses and the church gate keeper's house, also called The Watch House.

There were pumpkin displays on doorsteps here and there.

The flag was merrily flying in the wind.  It says "Yorkshire Born And Proud Of It".  Well, we're pleased to have two Yorkshire-born grandchildren and now a great-grandchild so we're content about that.  We love living in this part of Yorkshire too.

There's so much history recorded in the churchyard.  I look at the grave stones and reflect on the families buried there. 

On Saturday the church was open as there was an event taking place (a coffee morning in aid of a charity).  I felt sorry that I had left my purse with Mr P in the car where he was waiting so didn't go in and participate.  Instead I walked as far as the newer graveyard and spent some time in thought before turning back and retracing my footsteps.  It was a peaceful place standing there under the beech trees looking out across to the moors.

a Victorian postbox 

Some of the trees are a vivid red now.

a farm on the edge of the open countryside

a stone drinking trough opposite the farm buildings

There's another pleasant place where it's possible to walk among the beech trees.  I had to get back to Mr P waiting in the car parked at the bottom of the lane next to the church vicarage. I'm always grateful that Mr P drives us to these picturesque country spots not far from home.  Mr P had suggested stopping by the garden centre so that's where we went next. I'll post about that next time.

Thank you for your visit.  Have a good week!

Another Neighbourhood Walk

I try to get out for a walk as much as possible.  Last week had been cold and cloudy, but yesterday the sun was shining and there were blue skies so off I went taking the road up the hill to the Common and then onwards to the recreation ground and churchyard.  I wanted to see if the narcissi that had been planted some years ago by the Rangers that look after the Common were in bloom and also spend some time in the parish church grounds where I expected to see more Spring flowers. Here are some of the photos I took as I strolled along.

The narcissi were not in bloom, but clumps of miniature daffodils were.  There was a nice quiet place to sit for a while after my walk up the hill. There are views of the hills across the valley and at the back of me where I sat were the birch and oak woods of the Common.

After walking to the recreation ground that also belongs to the church I had another sit down.  There were a few dog walkers and across the grass I could see one of the volunteers who looks after the churchyard doing some tidying around the burial sites that surround the grassy recreation area.  Most of the graves are from the Victorian era in that part of the area.

This beautiful blossom was in the grounds of the almshouses.  I could photograph it because the tree had been planted near the surrounding stone wall and branches were hanging over it.

The daffodils and primulas were a joy to behold and there were a few snowdrops still blooming too as they are in our garden.

On the way home I noticed that the avenues of ornamental cherry trees that grow along our neighbourhood roads are just beginning to show their pink buds.   

Yesterday morning Mr P and I did some tidying up in the garden. Mr P turned over the soil in the raised bed and planted some pansies there and in a pot which I placed on the front doorstep. Our local daughter got them from the supermarket and brought them to us with our shopping that she does for us.  We're so thankful for the support we get from the NHS, other key workers, family, phone calls and practical gifts to keep us occupied that come in the post.  Also thankful that we're keeping well and reasonably mobile.  It has been a long haul as apart from going out for exercise and a couple of days further afield when it was allowed in the Summer we've been staying in our local area since January 2020 when Mr P had his hip replacement and time of recovery.  We're also thankful for the vaccination to protect us from the virus and look forward to our second one at the end of April.  We remember all those who have had a much harder time than we have had and continue to think of family and friends abroad.

Take care dear blog friends.  Thank you for your visit.

A village parish church

The parish church community still serves the area in different ways just as it has always done.  The church was built in the 1830s. Once there was a village school and this is now the church hall where different events and group meetings take place.  The alms houses continue to provide accommodation.  The church is responsible for an area which covers several acres, including a large field with public walkways, a graveyard and other burial areas.  For many years volunteers have regularly tended the graveyard and recently much of the area has been cleared of brambles and other undergrowth and invasive plants replaced with environmentally friendly alternatives, including new trees.  Hand-crafted benches have been placed at the far end of the field.

The old school and alms houses

The carving over the school room door is of an open Bible

                                                      The old carriage drive

Some of the monuments have trees growing through them which have had to be trimmed.

Others are partly covered in ivy which obliterates the writing carved on the stonework and damages the fabric.

All these beautifully-carved headstones, mainly Victorian, give details of the lives of parishioners and I find a walk around the graveyard interesting and thought-provoking.

The headstone of a local blacksmith.

The headstone of a cricketer. 

The grave of the two sisters who financed the building of the church.

As well as the new trees of oak, cherry and yew and the patches of wild flowers to attract insects and butterflies there are some beautiful, mature trees that give shelter and sustenance to the birds. It's good to see the hard work being done to keep this area of the village in good order.