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| 1888 map showing the position of God's Spring |
I was thinking of changing the name of this blog to "Historical Enquiries" or "Past Times" but I swear I will return to 2020 in the very near future so please bear with me.
Yesterday your intrepid historical correspondent walked up an old moorland track called Jumble Road. It was a chilly day and he wore his padded Hull City manager's jacket - the one that is normally only worn in winter months.
Jumble Road meets the equally rough Houndkirk Road at a lonely moorland crossroads. There your undaunted reporter turned left, heading for Thieves Bridge - close to the spot where two remote cottages once stood. Yesterday, a small herd of cattle were gathered there including calves. One should always be wary when walking by new calves. Their seventy five stone mothers can often be protective in an aggressive way. Every year a dozen people are killed by cows on this island - usually when calves are present.
Bravely, that determined correspondent negotiated his way through the herd and then turned left down a little trodden path that weaves its way through moorland vegetation and over rocks to this place:-
It was easier to find than I had imagined. It is called God's Spring and I had never been there before. Pure water bubbles from under the rocks that hide the exact source. Nobody knows why it is called God's Spring but it is likely that the "God" in question is not the recent one that freely inhabits The Bible. Archaeology has uncovered several ancient sites in this vicinity and it is more than likely that God's Spring was a holy place as most natural springs were in that misty past. Anyway, it is apparently referred to in that manner by several antiquarians so who am I to dispute that supposition?
It was a short outing. When I got back to Houndkirk Road I sat on a rock and watched the cattle. A mountain biker rode by in his obligatory helmet, sports goggles and day-glo body suit. Then a friendly Chinese man with a rescue dog stopped for a socially distanced chat while the long-legged dog watched the much bigger animals close by. He was probably thinking, "Jesus! They are bloody big dogs!"
Then I walked back to silvery Clint, still dozing in the lay-by where I had parked him - at the bottom of Jumble Road by Sheephill Road. I opened the gate for another mountain cyclist - a young man called Sam who lives across the road from us. We talked briefly and then I debooted myself before driving home. Mission accomplished. I had found God's Spring.
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| Tumbledown wall by Jumble Road |
Yikes! I would never be intrepid enough to walk through a herd of cattle. You are very brave YP.
ReplyDeleteI love that name - Jumble Road. Where did that come from?
I also love that name but I have no idea where it came from. Another mystery.
DeleteBut has God found you ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't think God believes in me.
DeleteDid you drink any of the water?
ReplyDeleteNo I didn't but one commenter on Megalithic Portal said this:- "I go here regularly and have been drinking the water after testing it with a TDS meter - it seems very pure. A lovely quiet spot to sit for a while."
DeleteI am a little puzzled as to how a TDS meter assures him that the water is safe because you'd have to know what the solids are but presumably if the total dissolved solids level is very low indeed then it's likely to be. Yet another thing I know so little about. Google here I come.
DeleteI had no idea what a TDS meter was.
DeleteTest of Drink Safety! Actually Graham is right, could still be full of heavy metals or pesticides.
DeleteMmm...up there on the moors I am confident there would be no pesticides.
DeleteLovely photos. God's spring seems like a good place to visit right now. It's nice that you have so many beautiful places to visit, so close by.
ReplyDeleteWhen you think about it, what we have been going through is not God's Spring but Satan's Spring!
DeleteThat puts a whole different bounce to that Spring! Wow!
DeleteBeautiful, beautiful photos. I hope to one day visit your part of the world and see some of these places for myself. And I really love all the old stone walls. We don't have those around here.
ReplyDeleteIf international travel is ever okay again I will be happy to be your guide Jennifrr. And if you are interested we will visit Chatsworth House too. American people often like to go there.
DeleteI love the stonewalls photos YP.
ReplyDeleteI took several wall pictures but that one was the best - the light was just right.
DeleteIt is. It would look good in a calendar.
DeleteI wonder if God's spring is the fountain of youth. That would be really awesome.
ReplyDeleteIf it is I must go back to collect a few gallons of spring water. As I am as old as you I believe I will need several bottles.
DeleteI'm very happy to go with you on your historical blog rambles.
ReplyDeleteNext time please could we have salami and cucumber sandwiches? I didn't much like the pickled trout.
DeleteI enjoy your historical walks. I have always been fascinated by Springs and have seen and drank from many. Usually the water is very pure and good from a natural Spring. I once lived near a city in Arkansas (Hot Springs) that has natural hot springs. I have drank the water as is comes hot from the ground. They also have Bathhouses where people come from far away to soak in the water claiming that helps many body aches and pains. I love your photograph of the rock wall and dark skies!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your interesting reflections and encouragement Bonnie.
DeleteThanks, I liked this outing. Long ago I had a friend who lived in a tumble down house in Tennessee. The house had a natural spring in the back that flowed so hard it supplied all the water to the house, and the excess flowed from the holding tank down the side of the mountain.
ReplyDeleteWas your friend perchance called Dolly Parton?
DeleteMaybe it's called God's Spring because it's up in the hills and thus closer to God?
ReplyDeletePerhaps...who knows? The answer is lost in the mists of time.
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