Still Travelling

We’re not still travelling – we’ve been at GB’s for a couple of days - but my blog has yet to catch up with us…

Last Saturday morning, with the sun still shining, we made our way to Grasmere.  On the radio there were reports of major flooding throughout the country but the River Rothay showed no signs of being too full.

I think this Morris Minor was parked here last year. 

The Church at Grasmere is named after St Oswald, a 7th Century Christian King of Northumberland, who is said to have preached on the site. It is the parish church of Grasmere, Rydal and Langdale, and each township has its own separate gate into the churchyard.  The nave is 13th Century. 

The North aisle of the church, almost as big as the nave, was added in 1490 for the residents of Langdale. 

The nave holds several memorials but the one most people come to see is that of William Wordsworth who lived at Grasmere for much of his life until his death on 23rd April (St George's Day) 1850 at the age of 80.  He and Mary have a simple tombstone in the churchyard, now one of the most visited literary shrines in the world.

Just think, these beams were trees when King John signed the Magna Carta, the Mongolsv under Genghis Khan were conquering Russia, the Spanish and Portuguese were trying to expel the Moors from the Iberian peninsula, and Thomas Aquinas was writing his Summa Theologiae.

GB likes his Mr Whippy ice cream but I think that’s a bit ambitious. 

 

When we first came to The Lakes in the early 1960s one could not see Thirlmere from the road; it was screened off by the trees.  Now many of the Scots Pine have been harvested and the view is vastly improved. 

There is also a parking place at the head of the lake which people take advantage of to photograph the lake and the nearby mountains.

Including Helvellyn, the third highest peak in England at 3,117 ft.

I’m sure Keswick didn’t have a giraffe last year!

One of my favourite inn signs.

Street musicians.

The view of the Moot Hall and market from the Pillar House café window.

Can I interest you in some grapes?

The Moot Hall.

I wouldn’t mind having a lottery win to buy some original works of art here. 

Blencathra.

I guess this could be the end of the sunshine for the day….

It will be Scotland in the rain for tomorrow’s posting.