Look at the charming old bridge at West Tanfield. Keep looking. You’ll spot it eventually. A close-up shot is not an option.
It’s been around since 1734. JMW Turner sketched it in 1816. Tour de France riders hurtled over it in 2014. It’s a fine place to stand and look at a Proper English Village View.
But today, I had a surprise. I saw a small clump of toadflax had chosen to grow on the very top, just where I was leaning over. A fine addition, I thought.
Enjoyed your pictures thank you.
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Good – thanks.
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a stunning addition I’d say 🙂
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It cheered me up, certainly.
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Always amazes me how plants do this . . if we tried to get them to grow there it would never work!
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What a lovely spot! Turner didn’t often get it wrong. And I love your little flurry of toadflax! 🙂 🙂 Have a great day!
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You too. And it turns out this plant isn’t native, but comes from the Mediterranean.
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How thoughtful of that toadflax!!
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Definitely a fine addition to the bridge wall.
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A beautiful addition, Margaret. Though it didn’t really need anything to improve that gorgeous view
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It didn’t, did it? But it’s quite small and self-effacing.
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Idyllic and so quaint. I think I would feel pressured in living there.
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I wonder why? It’s a great little village, not at all touristy or above itself. Just a nice friendly, mixed community lucky enough to be in a lovely spot.
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I probably didn’t explain that comment well enough, Margaret. As it looks so proper, I think I would not fit in, as there would be pressure to uphold certain standards of behaviour – English etiquette and such like. Having said that, I would love to visit, but just could not live in such a place full time. I would be frightened of “breaking the china.” Do you get what I mean?
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It’s a properly mixed community with all kinds and conditions of inhabitants. You’d be welcomed. Its chocolate-box looks from the vantage point of the bridge don’t tell the whole story.
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I will take your word on that, Margaret. And it is absolutely a chocolate box town.
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A charming place.
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I’ve just found this in Spam – how rude of WordPress! And of me not to reply. Thanks, yes, it’s a favourite spot.
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No worries! It happens to me too. Thanks
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Hi Margaret, can you drop me your email of phone number please. We’d like to invite you to our Zoom call at the weekend. You can send to me on travelwithintent@gmail.com Thanks
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A fine view for the tourists – when they eventually return????? (Sorry it’s rather grey here today in Suffolk and it’s definitely not helping with the mood!)
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It’s not Tourist Central at all, which adds to its charms. Sorry you’re feeling low. I hope this will pass – fairly soon.
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Thanks – it’s my own fault – listening to David Copperfield and although I know Dora dies it is sadder than I remember. I must say it is being read extremely well by Richard Armitage.
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Ah! That’s the problem. Mine is The Mirror and the Light. I’m half way through and am treating it as Homework, not a pleasure.
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Noooooo – I had to stop. I got towards the end, they have Cromwell in the tower and it’s like reading about your pet puppy being tortured. Told my sister I will resume and finish when times are generally less ghastly.
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That’s a lovely spot!
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It is. And it has no ideas above its station: it’s just the village up the road. Two nice pubs – one with a garden by the river, and a great village shop.
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Lovely to see toadflax in those beautiful northern hills. You have certainly had the good weather while we were rained on! Loved the photos on Gouthwaite reservoir. You make me long for those very dramatic places and we would have been back with family and some Pennine walks on the Manc side. Still no complaints yet and hope all goes well for you.
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It does thank you. Your Pennine scenery ain’t going anywhere so I hope you’ll be able to enjoy it again before too long.
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Good, I will enjoy, whatever the weather and reckon when we get back it will have to be for a while.
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That is one lovely view. Quite Ludlowish. And I once wrote a post about toadflax. A very unassuming plant which seems to have found a space or two in my own garden. https://cornwallincolours.blog/2016/09/21/in-my-garden-wandering-sailor/
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Oh, I like your tale better than my tale, which was that it was deliberately imported by a London chap who like his garden, in about 1640. We’ll go with yours.
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☺️
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Wonderhul little village, perfect setting. LOVE IT…. Gorging on Escape to the Country series on YouTube for lack of hols in June….
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We seem to be bucking the trend, and barely watching TV, Netflix, YouTube et al at all. But perhaps our time will come.
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The toadflax is a fine addition – a plant with a view.
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A feisty little plant, enjoying its moment in the sun.
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