All Roads Lead to the Lake District (part III)
May 21, 2008Buildings, fixtures and fittings
I suppose the more isolated an area the more vernacular the style of buildings, building were built to a specific style because they worked well, the local workforce knew how to build them and the building materials were readily available, its what gives an area its distinctive look.
Apologies to this family, for posting a photograph of their undergarments on the washing line across the ‘tinternet‘, it’s the house we are supposed to be looking at.
Farm buildings
This is Yew Tree Farm, as well as a working farm, it is a guest house and a cafe, it makes my heart sing, it is a business that is run with such finesse and attention to detail it is a joy to behold.
I went in the cafe for a cup of tea and a sit down, the tea is sold in half or pint mugs, you can see why this establishment has a place in my heart; the ladies in the cafe sold me a pasty, ‘just baked, fresh out of the oven’ I could write a whole blog post on this culinary delight, but a synopsis will have to do. The pastry, firm yet melt in the mouth, the filling, stuffed full of veg; potatoes carrot and marrowfat peas, farm reared lamb, with a hint of mint,served with home made chutney, eat one of these and you will never buy a ‘Gregg’s’ pasty ever again.
Fastened to the wall of the porch of Yew tree farm is the original back door of the farm, dating to C1720
I was going to say that it is it’s simplicity of its construction that appealed to me, but closer inspection shows it to have been, what I imagine for it’s period, to be ‘top of the range’, piece of joinery and a bit ‘posh’ for the average Lakeland farmhouse C1720. The face of the door is three planks of oak wide, studded with oak pegs, through to a second layer of smaller oak boards,
it is carved with a diamond pattern, (not easy to see on the photo) and the original hinges are to match.
Once upon a time some one would have been very proud of such a fine door.
Beautiful photography, as always. I didn’t even notice the washing.
I’ve really enjoyed looking through your Lake District photos and reading the commentary
Lovely area to take photos! (near my birthplace, too…). I check on the lakelandcam dot co dot uk site often as Tony (an ex-postman) puts pics up daily of his walks in the Lake District.
What a fantastic door on the Yew Tree Farm! How wonderful it is that it’s been cared for so that we can learn about the craftsmanship of that era.
Just curious, did the teacher write on Joe’s forehead in jest??
Yes Gol, it was very much in jest, and whilst I wasn’t with him at the time other parents were, but it could easily have been misinterpreted, couldn’t it?
I have to say the instructors had a magical mix of skills, a sense of fun, safety aware, encouraging and the ability to push the kids just that little bit further than they thought they could go, and if that wasn’t enough they could charm the parents as well!
Although no one was going to charm me into gorge walking!
More fabulous photos - how do you do it? I love your focus on the details. What a wonderful door!
Fabulous old door, isn’t it? I only had a ‘brief’ look at the house you mentioned!! lol.
I would be proud of such a fine door, too.
Wonderful photos.
What a fascinating entry, with some wonderful photos! Your pasty description is so vivid that I can almost taste it. It sounds perfect, especially with a ‘proper’ mug of tea! Thanks. xx
Oh Mrs. Uhdd! I came up for air after a week in a dungeon working on a couple of projects and found myself in the Lake District! So I made a cup of tea and looked, and looked, and looked.
Last September I visited Hawkshead, Yew Tree Farm, and other wonderful Cumbrian places with a group of friends. My photos remind me of the beauty of the landscape - they just don’t show it so that anyone else could see it . . .
Thank you for yours! (Now I have to make something nice from the Herdwick yarn I brought back from Yew Tree.)