Outibridge in the Upper Don River Valley

 

This morning was sunny so it was just the right day for a drive and a walk.  Mr P was happy to drive us to an area which is still not far from where we live.  As usual he sat in the warm car and I went for a short walk and took some photos.

This time the drive was along the Upper Don River Valley to the village of Outibridge (pronounced by the locals as "oo" not "ow") and then along some country lanes that overlook Wharncliffe Crags. The name of the place gives the clue to the terrain there. There are ancient woodlands on a rocky escarpment as well as newer tree plantations with good walking trails, but they'll have to wait for another day when it's less muddy underfoot.

Back in Outibridge there's a pretty public park, walks along by the river and one or two independent businesses.  As there's a one-way road system around the village we didn't go by the shops to see how they're getting on in these difficult days.  

The public park and the village are surrounded by hills that are covered by tree plantations.  The woods stretch along the Upper Don River Valley.

crab apples are still clinging to a crab apple tree

ivy and copper beech leaves

I believe these are turkey tail fungi at home on an old tree trunk.

This pine tree, presumably dead, has carvings of wildlife.  

There's a memorial garden in one corner of the park with a war memorial plaque and bench like the one in our local village of Bradfield.  

I'll leave you with some views of the farmland overlooking Outibridge and this friendly horse who was happy to pose for the camera and thankfully well covered up against the cold and wet weather we've had lately.

Thank you once more for your visit.  Have a good day!

Ancient local farmhouses

The countryside we drove through last week was once the ancient seat of the Worrall family. There are several substantial dwellings sheltered by the crest of the hilltop and surrounded by other farm buildings. All the farmhouses have interesting historical features.

This farm has windows with stained glass panels in them and a chimney stack with emblems of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem because the property and land had once been owned by a local priory, The Priory of St. John of Jerusalem, dissolved in Tudor times, then owned by wealthy local nobility, patrons of the Worralls.

This house and farm was the former manorial home of one branch of the Worrall family. The open pediment over the front door and an ancient barn still containing four sets of oak cruck timbers indicate that it was an important dwelling. There are only one or two cruck barns in the area that have survived and this one is well-preserved.

Illus. Bob Warburton 

In a cruck building the weight is carried on pairs of timbers called cruck blades which rise from the

the ground base and meet at the apex of the roof.  The wood for the blades is selected from

naturally bent trees. The structure is strengthened by the cross beams.

It was an interesting experience to see these architectural features and learn about the history of this farming community in former times. 

Out in the local countryside

Some of you will remember the guided group walk with a local historian on English Heritage Day last September to see some old farmhouses in our area.  I've been wanting to return that way, but the weather hasn't been suitable until this week.  Today we decided to take a drive there rather than go on a longer trip, as planned, because of the possibility of more snow storms.

It was not a day for walking the footpaths or lanes where there were patches of snow and ice.

There were diversions where some tracks over the heights were still icy.

We passed a complex of buildings, a former farm that is now rented out.  Our daughter once rented rooms there. It's a lovely place to live in the warmer months as there are wonderful views across to the reservoir. However, one day when she was driving to work in snowy weather she skidded down a hill and ended up in a field.  It could have been worse as she could have crashed into a stone wall.  She eventually moved nearer to the city.

However, there are one or two working farms in the area as well as a few other isolated cottages.

It's not surprising that many of the larger farmhouses have high, solid wall to counteract the bitter winds during the cold months of the year.

This is the inside of the courtyard which we were privileged to enter when we went on our tour.

I'm looking forward to another walk in this beautiful area on a warmer day than today. There are many interesting historical features associated with these farms that we were told about on our group walk which I will write about another time.

Down the lane: daffodils

On the way to a local garden centre today. I glimpsed the golden yellow gleam of daffodils growing on the bank in a country lane and we stopped to take a walk.  In a day or two more of them will be in bloom to remind us that Spring will soon be here.  The owners of the cottage have planted them for all to enjoy. On the hillside chickens roam freely and eggs are for sale. At the nearby garden centre we browsed around and bought some seeds.

Heritage Open Days Weekend Walk

Last weekend was the annual Heritage Open Days event which celebrates England's heritage and culture by offering free access to places that are usually closed to the public or charge for admission.

I joined a group walk in one of our local dales to visit old farmhouses,  some of which are still working farms, led by an historian who has written about the area.

The meeting point was at a distinctive landmark monument, which, in fact, is a water tank for a farm. (The farmhouse is in the wooded area). It was then embellished by one owner to include a roof and obelisk.  Made of local stone, the structure doesn't look out of place in the rural landscape. The date carved on it is AD 1856.

It was a lovely day for a walk.  As usual I'm bringing up the rear with one or two others who were taking photographs.

This is one of the farms we visited with solid stone walls and interesting doors, windows and ventilation openings in the barns and outhouses.

                                                                           The farmyard

                                               The farmhouse with a date plaque for 1697

We appreciated the fact that the owners enabled us to visit farms that are not usually open to the general public who walk in this beautiful area.