Through the fields to Handley
"I know this view better than any other on earth, it is the country of my heart" D.H. Lawrence
EYRIES FARM, NETHER HANDLEY
We arrived back in Derbyshire on a warm, clear day in June with not much more than a couple of suitcases to support our travels for the next year or so. Nowt but cashed up gypsies with no home to call our own but delighted to be back at Eyries Farm, part of which has been our summer home for the past 16 years.
July and August brought changeable weather but we set off several times a week for long walks in one of the delightful and secluded dales - the well known Dovedale and Lathkilldale or a round trip from Hartington via Biggin, Beresford and Wolfscotedale. If the weather was fine, there were many wonderful walks along the millstone grit Edges from Hathersage or Curbar where the moors were particularly beautiful in late summer when the heather came into bloom
The house, which belongs to Graham and Beth Shaw, is almost a second home and was much loved by my mother situated as it is close to our old family home and Apperknowle, the village where she grew up. We settled very happily into an English country life, returning most afternoons for "aperitifs" on the terrace, weather permitting. The house dates from 16 and previous owners have been carefully documented by Beth in her book "A History of the Handleys"
THE GARDEN AT EYRIES FARM
Beth is a passionate gardener and the extensive grounds are planted with a wonderful collection of both cottage garden favourites and unusual plants. A huge sycamore tree can be seen from the bedroom window, home to many birds and a beautiful sight in the early morning light.
THE SYCAMORE TREE
Most mornings we began the day with a walk in Stubbing Wood, a favourite from childhood days and especially lovely in the spring when the bluebells bloom beneath the beech, oak, hazel and holly. It is a special place and always lovely whatever the weather.
THE BLUEBELL WOOD
CARA'S OAK TREE, STUBBING WOOD
Some years ago Cara took up the offer of a free oak tree but quickly realized that it was unsuitable for her small London garden. She brought it to Derbyshire and we planted it at the edge of Stubbing Wood where we check it's progress each year. I have to admit that growth is very slow!
CARA AND VINCENT 2009
Vincent's birthday on 12th August is usually spent at Eyries Farm and when Cara was living in London, she always made the trip to be with us. This year we missed her now that she is living in Sydney.
GRAHAM AND VINCENT FIRING UP THE BARBIE
Over the summers we have enjoyed lots of barbeques out on the terrace with friends both local and from other parts of the UK or Oz and relatives. This year Phil Moxham and Sheila joined us for a few days of walking in the dales
VINCENT WITH PHIL & SHEILA ON THE CANAL PATH
COUSIN REINA AND JAMES
CARLA, MARCELLO AND VINCENT
Anna with Uncle John who celebrated his 90th birthday this year
HEATHER ON STANTON MOOR
Stanton moor is a small area above Birchover, the site of many neolithic burials and monuments, the most well known of which is the Nine Ladies standing stones. In late summer, it is covered by heather as are the surrounding areas of moorland which stretch from the Dark Peak into the vast areas of the Yorkshire Moors.
THE NINE LADIES STONE CIRCLE
VINCENT AND BETH ON STANTON MOOR
Dovedale is probably the best known of the Peak District dales and attracts crowds of people. We set off very early one morning before anyone else arrived and enjoyed the tranquillity of the hidden valley of the River Dove
ILAM SPIRES, DOVEDALE
HARTINGTON CHURCH - GARGOYLES AND GRAVESTONE
One of our favourite walks begins in the small village of Hartington. I noticed the gravestone in the churchyard with an inscription which reads "That things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life and rest in unvisited tombs" George Eliot. The walk of about 5 miles leads from the village green down Biggin Dale and along tranquil Wolfscotedale and Beresford Dale back to Hartington.
HERON BY THE DOVE, BERESFORD DALE
Well dressings take place throughout the spring and summer with each village dressing one or more wells. The custom dates back hundreds of years. Leaves, flowers, bark and seeds are pressed into damp clay to form pictures, often religious in nature, which may last up to a week depending on the weather. Youlgreave usually has about six well dressings which are always of a high standard and attract many visitors. A flower festival is often held in the village church at the same time, sometimes commemorating local people who have passed away during the year.
The railway through Monsale Dale, now a walking and bicycle track is the subject of this well dressing
HARDWICK HALL
THE HERB GARDEN AT HARDWICK HALL
One of the most beautiful historic houses in Derbyshire is Hardwick Hall, built by the redoubtable Bess of Hardwick, a contemporary of Elizabeth I and one of the most powerful women of the era. It was built in 16 on a high hill which now overlooks the M1 motorway. When we drive up from the airport in London, I always know I am nearly home when I see the outline of Hardwick on the horizon with the initials ES (Elizabeth Shrewsbury) etched against the sky above each tower.
A BORDER AT HARDWICK
This year I had the sad duty of bringing home my mother's ashes following her death in Perth in January. In her diary, she had copied down words from DH Lawrence who looked over the green hills and valleys of Derbyshire and said "I know this country better than any other on earth - it is the country of my heart" On a warm summer morning in July, I carried the small box across the fields and wood where we walked when I was a child to the cemetery at Dronfield. On the way we passed the empty patch of land in the village of Apperknowle where the small house, in which the family lived and where I spent the first two years of my life, used to stand.
CORNFIELDS
In what had been the garden, I found wild purple and yellow loosestrife growing and picked some for the grave
MUM AND UNCLE JOHN, 2008
Eyam is a well known village due to the story of the plague which is said to have arrived in a bale of cloth from London. Once villagers began to die, the vicar William Mompesson asked the people to voluntarily stay within the confines of the village to prevent the spread of the disease thus saving many lives. The story formed the basis of a successful novel by Australian writer Geraldine Brooks.
THE PLAGUE WINDOW, EYAM CURCH
FOXGLOVE AGAINST A DRYSTONE WALL
The landscape in the White Peak is characterized by a patchwork of green fields surrounded by drystone walls built from the local limestone, especially lovely in spring when the wild flowers bloom.
WILDFLOWER MEADOW
NORTH LEES HALL, HATHERSAGE
North Lees Hall is one of seven houses built by Sir Robert Eyre for his seven sons in and around the village of Hathersage. It is said to have been the inspiration for Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre after Charlotte Bronte visited it while staying at the vicarage. Little John, one of Robin Hood's band of outlaws is said to be buried in the churchyard in a grave over 7 feet long.
VINCENT ON CURBAR EDGE
The edges run through this part of Derbyshire and separate the green fields and the dales of the limestone country from the millstone grit and moorland of the Dark Peak. There are many wonderful walks across the moors and along the edges and one of our favourites begins at Curbar Edge.
WOODS BELOW CURBAR EDGE
In July Vincent spent a few days in Newcastle, Co Down staying with his Aunt Rita. He also caught up with old friends Peter and Danny and no doubt had a few pints!
Another weekend was spent with Rosie in Saxmundham, Suffolk where we were joined by Chris, an old school friend, and Jurg. Good food, wine and conversation - still crazy after all these years!
ALDEBURGH
BRAITHWAITE HALL
ABOVE WHARFEDALE
During the week we did a couple of long walks of about 7 miles, the first from from Bucken up the Roman road and across to Shap then down Wharfedale and the second starting at the beautiful ruins of Jervaulx Abbey. The small market town of Leyton was remarkable for the fact that it had real shops - chemist, hardware, bakery etc none of which was the usual high street chain store. The small supermarket sold wonderful local food and the Saturday market provided everything one could possibly need.
A VIEW OVER WHARFEDALE
LONDON
After a wonderful summer in the north of England, we spent three days in London visiting favourite galleries and museums and restaurants which Cara introduced us to on previous visits
JULIE WITH TWO FAMOUS GENTLEMEN
This sculpture, currently outside the Royal Academy was commisioned to commemorate
RACHEL AND VICTORIA, GREENWICH
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