Just four miles out of Sheffield, Hathersage is a substantial village set in the lovely shelter of The Hope Valley. St Michael's Church is located just outside the main village - a brisk walk away. Famously, the churchyard contains the grave of Robin Hood's loyal lieutenant - Little John whose cottage was close by.
Above, I spotted that lone daffodil when I was perusing the graves in the churchyard extension. I guessed that I could achieve an eye-catching image with the church spire and an old yew tree as the scenic backdrop. Though I say it myself, I think it worked.
Below, you can see the same church snapped from Baulk Lane with some crows in flight. The house on the left is the old vicarage. It was here that the writer Charlotte Bronte stayed for three weeks in the summer of 1845. She was visiting her old friend Ellen Nussey whose brother Henry was the vicar of Hathersage for three years. Charlotte and Ellen got to explore some of the nearby countryside together. It is pretty clear that those three weeks impacted upon the creation of "Jane Eyre" which was first published in October 1847.
Our spring weather has been quite perfect in recent days. On Tuesday, I decided to scratch an itch that had been in my mind for quite a while. When driving out of the city towards Fox House, I had frequently spotted a lone gatepost on the skyline and I wanted to get close to it.
Clint was duly parked by Blacka Moor Plantation and very soon I was vaulting clambering over a chained five bar gate into rough pastureland. Up the slope and I soon arrived at the finger of gritstone .
Out there, most of the drystone walls were tumbledown affairs. At the edge of one field, I spotted a large sarcen-like stone laid upon its side. It made me wonder if it had once been a standing stone, toppled by early farmers who sought to tame the wild landscape of Houndkirk Moor.
There are several significant ancient sites in the immediate area and just two hundred yards away, old maps suggest the presence of an ancient standing stone called "Fingerem Stone" but nobody knows anything about it. No sighting of it has ever been written down as far as I know. It's so tantalising.
Very interesting walk. Your first pic with the daffodil does indeed work.
ReplyDeleteThat first photo is indeed eye-catching. Even more, I like the second photo with the crows in flight.
ReplyDeleteGreat walk with gorgeous photos, too.
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed a beautifully composed shot of the daffodil, yew tree and church spire. I bet you had to lie on the ground to get it too, didn't you.
ReplyDeleteGreat that a built up country still has wild undeveloped areas.
ReplyDeleteThat daffodil/tree/church spire is a wonderful photo and I like the crows taking wing over that building too. Be careful with your clambering, please.
ReplyDeleteCould it not have been a gatepost, like in the photo above it?
ReplyDeleteMysterious!
ReplyDeleteI am with Kelly in that I like the photo with the crows in flight even more. But the daffodil is certainly an eyecatcher.
Clambering over a chained gate? I would not dare to, unless it was to ensure my own safety - for instance, getting away from a herd of cows eyeing me suspiciously.
Of course crows flying over a church grave yard. Good timing or clever use of AI.
ReplyDeleteOh, in an effort to spell the name correctly, in my head I spoke the name Fingerem. Maybe someone with some knowledge will read this post and offer their knowledge about the stone.
I love the photos, so very English or even Yorkerish. But in reality the real England is in our cities and towns. Old stones are scattered all over the moors, they all hold secrets of long ago.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best places to be on a sunny day.
ReplyDeleteMention of Fingeram Stone here, https://www.thenorthernantiquarian.org/2009/11/24/ciceley-low-ring-cairn/
ReplyDeleteYou sure do have some really interesting places to walk. Places in which generations before have walked too.
ReplyDeleteYou have some lovely countryside around you and the weather ecently has been a real incentive to walk. Nothing but urban sprawl around me, as I explain in my recent post.
ReplyDeleteA nice daily wander.
ReplyDeleteA lovely walk on a Spring day. I have a few daffodils blooming now too!
ReplyDeleteWhat tantalizing bits of history, so much unknown.
ReplyDeleteAs always I enjoy your photos of the countryside. The daffodil and church spire are well done, but I really love the murder of crows flying over the old vicarage:) Who doesn't love a good murder?
ReplyDeleteThe church spire reaching to the sky and the daffodil trumpet reaching to the sky...an artsy vibe to your photo. This is another one of your lovely walks enjoyed from afar.
ReplyDeleteLovely - the daffodil is very cheerful but my favourite is the second photo. I do hope you weren't trespassing when you climbed over that chained gate!
ReplyDeletenice walk - great pics...... good to see you going off the beaten path a bit to look something up - love it
ReplyDelete