25 July 2020

Taddington

Taddington is a village in the limestone country between Bakewell and Buxton. Historically, it developed in a ribbon-like, linear manner, clinging to the old A6 road but as road traffic on that major artery  increased, the village won itself a bypass. This was completed soon after the second world war. A beneficial consequence is that the village is now a safe, sleepy backwater.

I parked Clint in Taddington yesterday and soon found myself hoofing up to Sough Top where I discovered the old triangulation pillar I had seen marked on my map. It was half-hidden in a barley field. See the picture at the top.

On to Fivewells Farm. Close by there are the remains of a Neolithic chambered burial cairn. It must have been quite something in its time. I only found out about it when I got home but I will certainly visit it before too long.
On quiet upland lanes untroubled by motor vehicles I plodded on to the village of Flagg. The lanesides were alive with butterflies, bees and different types of wild cornflower - blue against the landscape with a hint of purple.

Through Flagg and up to Nether Wheal where a grumpy man was welding something in a shed. You could tell he resented walkers taking the public footpath through his property but like all landowners he is powerless to challenge public rights of way. It's a precious freedom for ramblers nailed down by the laws of the land, It is a right that I cherish like treasure.
On to Over Wheal passing hummocky ground that speaks of ancient lead mine workings then along grassy Bare Jarnett Road all the way to Taddington Mere - once an important watering hole for beasts of burden.

And so back down to Taddington. I crept up behind Clint. Happily, he was unaware of my stealthy  approach. He was singing an old song he must have heard on the radio. It's by Gary Numan:-
Here in my car
I feel safest of all 
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars.
And then at the top of my voice I yelled "BOO!"
Inquisitive ass in Flagg

30 comments:

  1. Did the donkey and you have a conversation about drystone walls? Super photos.

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    Replies
    1. He gave me an IQ test. Apparently, I'm a donkey too. Just call me Neddy.

      Delete
  2. Sweet donkey but the barrow looks interesting, would it be this?

    http://www.stone-circles.org.uk/stone/fivewells.htm

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    Replies
    1. Yes. That is the one Thelma. I already feel rather sad that it is now very unlike what it once was. It must have been quite a sight.

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  3. YP, (or should I say Neddy?)I do hope no-one saw you when you crept up behind Clint and shouted BOO!! Don't you know you could be reported to the appropriate authority for such a churlish act? I don't actually know which authority, but there is bound to be one!
    Excellent photos again, so maybe Clint will forgive you for frightening him!

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    Replies
    1. Perhaps The Mental Health Authority? Thanks for caling by again from sunny Spain CG.

      Delete
  4. The colour of those flowers really stand out. I love pretty, wild things. Nice ass by the way.

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  5. Those flowers above the cornflowers are wild chicory, very pretty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I was better at identifying flowers.

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  6. I love the donkey. They are full of character, aren't they.

    I am pretty sure the flowers are scabious or to give them their common name, pincushion flower.

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    Replies
    1. Chicory, first photo. Scabious,second photo!

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    2. Thanks for considering this Christina. You may well be right.

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  7. The first thing we see is that wee obelisk on Sough Top, *half hidden in a barley field*, with the God's eye view of limestone country. The last, that inquisitive and exquisite creature, Baalam's ass. Beauty is a riddle as Dostoyevsky said.

    Alfred Kazin called his journals A Lifetime Burning In Every Moment; and your posts have this quality, the bright flame of being.

    W.H. Auden the great magician of English lyrics, wrote a poem, In Praise of Limestone. I will be seeing your photo whenever I pick up Auden.
    Old Wystan would have stood for hours by the lead mines at Wheal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I observe that simply by being inside your skull you must experience regular fireworks displays as associations, connections, echoes and memories cascade from the firmament. It is interesting how different brains work so differently.

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    2. *Ach, life's strange.*

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  8. I want to pet that donkey’s velvet nose.

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    Replies
    1. Well you can! Just fly over here and I will take you to Flagg.

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  9. Nice ass.

    I just couldn't leave that one, it was the long hanging fruit:)

    The flowers are lovely and you are so lucky to have public foot paths. We have roads and fields with barbed wire fences and then some designated wild areas with paths but no rambling law. Sigh.

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    Replies
    1. Our network of paths is a treasure that few stop to cherish.

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  10. Our original marker were wooden pegs. Most of them were used for firewood by the aboriginal. Okay , I should back up. Before settlers and homesteaders had arrived the surveys were done.

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    Replies
    1. The Europeans were carving up somebody else's cake.

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  11. Why would someone be keeping a donkey? are they still used as working animals? He's very cute

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There were two of them. It is a good question but I don't know the answer.

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  12. I do hope you saluted the grumpy welder with a wave or a cheery "Hello".
    What do you say for way of greeting?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. (Friendly wave and broad smile) "Hello! Does the public path go through here?"
      "What?"
      "I said: Does the public footpath go this way?"
      "Yeah!"
      "Okay. That's good. Thank you!"
      (Thought bubble: "Miserable sod!")

      Delete
  13. I was surprised yesterday to turn a page of the Mail/ Saturday's magazine and find a large photo of the "Bosh " boys! Double page spread no less....those boys are really going places. You must be so proud. Even I feel proud of them because I " know" you !! ( I will never be a vegan though)

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    Replies
    1. I will never be a vegan either Frances but I will happily eat vegan or vegetarian meals. Thanks for this publicity news. Shirley and I had no idea they were in "The Mail" yesterday.

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  14. The third photo is scabious (the flower) with painted lady butterflies -- as you probably already know. I haven't seen a painted lady yet this year, so I'm glad you're getting them up your way.

    You're so fortunate to be able to get around in Clint and take these walks. I wish you'd taken the grumpy man's picture just to spite him.

    ReplyDelete
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