It is almost impossible to walk anywhere, in this area, without encountering a bridge of some sort. Most are not as ancient and lovely as this one, which was built in the 14th century - it was almost certainly a replacement for an earlier one.
Although it looks quite large that is just an illusion. In reality it is a small bridge built over a stream on a salt route and is just large enough to permit one packhorse to cross at a time. It is definitely too small for a cart to use. Salt would be transported from the coast and traded.
Most of the ones I come across are in beautiful settings, but are not beautiful in themselves.
This one is crossing the same river as the one above, just a few hundred yards further along. The river bends and twists through the fields, so a typical walk will see me cross it three or four times.
When I take photographs of the watermill I am usually standing on yet another bridge, quite a strong little bridge, because it is part of the lane which runs along there. Not terribly photogenic, but it works hard. I must take a photograph some time.
We are being promised plenty of sunshine and temperatures of more than 20C, in the next day or two. Fingers crossed.
Meanwhile, today is very chilly and there is a strong wind blowing. No rain though.
I am planning to fill the kitchen with warmth and the smell of baking.
My beloved Rayburn will be taken out in the next month or two. It is a solid fuel one. Unfortunately age is catching up with my husband and I. All that tree felling, log hauling, sawing and chopping has been great fun and wonderful exercise, but the constant flue cleaning, soot, and need to keep the fire burning, and we have to admit defeat. The Rayburn has been wonderful, a real workhorse and I have loved cooking with it over the last twelve years.
What people don't tell you about is that you have to lift the extremely heavy top plate off each month, sweep down all the soot and do the same with the water heating section at the back, sweep everything into the firebox - creating dust and sooty havoc all the way. Every few months we also have to add in cleaning the chimney and sweeping it down the same way.
When that has all been done, no matter how carefully, the whole of the kitchen must be cleaned because tiny particles of soot and dust get everywhere.
A range cooker will not be the same - and it definitely won't heat the water or the radiators. It is a time of change. We have to be practical.
Sniffle.
I thought I would miss our Rayburn when we moved away from the smallholding but although I miss the independence regarding fuel I don't miss the dust and the amount of wood we needed to haul for Rayburn and woodburner. At least with the LPG range I can still use the hob if the electric is off and LPG is available in lots of different places
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue, that is good to know. We have been staking out an area for an LPG tank, checking safety distances, etc. It all gets a bit daunting - the expense of it all, in particular. Sensible head says that it really is time, for so many reasons. I take heart that you are happy with your LPG range.
DeleteThat first stone bridge looks like a few we have here. Some have last a thousand years.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot of work with the Rayburn. Bet you love the new stove.
Hello Linda, Old stone bridges have a special beauty, don't they. I certainly won't miss the work involved and who knows, perhaps I'll think the range cooker is even better for baking...maybe!
DeleteElaine,
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Yes, time marches on for us all. And wood-fired appliances certainly are messier than the other kinds. But I understand your mixed feelings. Wood for fuel has its advantages, too.
--One day a man down at the village asked his wife why she couldn't bake beans as good as my wife's. She was sore about it, but every Saturday he would complain that his beans weren't as good as the ones he had up at our house. His wife finally asked my wife, and mine said, "It's the fire. You can’t bake beans in an electric oven." J. Gould. 1947. The House that Jacob Built.--
Thank you for the photos of the bridges. You are right -- some of them were in lovely settings, but not necessarily attractive, themselves. The salt route bridge is genuinely attractive, as well as interesting in its immense age. In the U.S. things dated to the 14th century are native American artifacts.
I wish you the best in your added child-care duties, as well as your cook stove replacement project.
Hello Brett, I replied to this earlier - but our power went down and the comment was lost in the ether. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to use my Rayburn, it has been a wonderful experience, apart from the mess etc.
DeleteI have the two books on my wish list - and with a birthday on the horizon I hope to have them in my book pile before too long!
So far the child care is going well, thank you. I just feel a little unsettled because we have fairly major building work (and mess) going on in the house right now, but I know things will settle down and we will all adapt to, and enjoy, the new regime!
Delightful bridge and country side photos.
ReplyDeleteLove a meandering river!!!! So natural and not tampered with, by humans. Long may it meander!!!!
Love another picture of your kitchen!!!!!! I "grab" it. Put it on my desktop. Enlarge it. And I am almost right there, in your kitchen!!! :-)))))
And a dutch door. that is how you keep the pets, in the kitchen area! ,-)
I am happy that you have come to the wise decision, about all the necessary work, entailed in having and using your Rayburn.
I need to look up the difference between a Rayburn and an Aga.... If there is one. Perhaps an Aga is simpler than a Rayburn? Just for cooking, and not for so much heating of water and etc.
Necessary changes. A bit depressing. But wise. So the Wisdom, has to overcome the bit of 'down' feeling. Say I, that is. :-))))))))))))
Hello Luna, The kitchen looks very different right now - swathed in dust sheets and filled with dust and rubble - and this isn't even the start of the Rayburn removal, it is a different project entirely. Toby and the cats are not amused.
DeleteLuckily the sun is shining, so I have had the three of them out in Owl Wood. The little bit of sunshine and less chilly temperatures are prompting the flowers and trees to become active, it is teetering on the brink of becoming beautiful again.
Rayburns are the workhorse ranges, this particular one heats up to 15 radiators, almost limitless hot water and can be used for cooking, too. Aga is the one which is absolutely the best for cooking and is a very definite status symbol. I considered having one, way back, but opted for the workhorse version instead - ever practical!!
I am just feeling a bit like a hen with clipped wings - between my feet, dodgy back, four hours of my time being whisked away each day and all the changes. But I will adapt and all will be well. Don't worry.
What a lovely walk that must be! I look at that first, old bridge and wonder at the men and strength it must have taken to move those huge, heavy stones into place. I imagine it will be quite different to go from your Rayburn to a modern cooker - but I am with you on the maintenance and cost thereof!
ReplyDeleteHello Susan, There are very few of those old salt bridge remaining, so it is quite special and very much appreciated. Whenever I feel glum about the Rayburn going I just have to remember the mess of maintenance. I'll miss it for a while, but I must embrace the change!!
DeleteWe have come to the stage where we are having to think practical, sensible (wot ME?!) thoughts (over moving) so I can sympathise with your having to get rid of the Rayburn. We have an oil-fired Hergom stove in our kitchen, and it is the heart of the home in winter. Ours was solid fuel but gobbled up wood or anthracite like there was no tomorrow (it used to do part of the central heating, as well as provide hot water). We crumbled after a year and had it changed over to oil (cheap at the time) and whilst the oven was only good for warming plates afterwards, we still had hot water (ran the central heating separately then). I can't imagine being without it.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your new Range will prove to be efficient and enjoyable to use.
I enjoyed your bridge photos. The bridges in our valley are all heavy metal ones. I must take a walk down to the tiny church near Pontargothi and photograph the pretty stone one there.
Hello BB, The solid fuel Rayburn's are brilliant at doing what they were designed to do, and it has always attracted people to stand there warming themselves after a spell outside on a chilly day - I don't think they will get the same comfort from the range cooker. Luckily my daughter also has one, she lives just across the garden, so if I feel the need to hug a Rayburn I can always go and hug hers!
DeleteI hope the viewing went really well and that you have some good news soon, it is a long time to be living in a kind of limbo with your home up for sale. Fingers crossed.
I would love to see the stone bridge, when you have the time.
I surely enjoy old bridges and woodland walks ... Thank You for sharing.... In reference to you Rayburn:Practical is sensible .. and while the new ones don’t look nearly as warm and cosy ..They do the job so quickly with little clean -up..The only difference is the love of cooking ... I like to take my time and enjoy the cooking and the new elements prepare in half the time....Live and learn in this modern age (ha ha) ..I’m sure you will be delighted.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right, Zaa. I will adapt, and then wonder what the fuss was about! the big cleaning job will not be missed.
DeleteI love that our country is so steeped in history and you cant turn around to much with out falling over something historic.
ReplyDeleteI am all for practical and if something is making life harder than it needs to be, then it is good to go for the changes that are needed. And this gave me the images of Barbara in the tv series of the Good Life, where she is cleaning the range is black all over with the soot and then in another where she cooks the enormous loaf of bread. such a lovely programme I wish they made more like. so gentle.
I love those programmes, Sol. As you say, gentle - and why not? I'm spending quite a lot of time weighing up the relative merits of various ranges right now - cream v red or black, just like when I look at cars.... ;-)
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