Kirkby Stephen, England, United Kingdom
It’s not as though we’re fans of viaducts but these disused ones often have nice walks to them.
Decided the Lakes Area would be the attraction today.
On the way to Keswick (Kez-ick) we went via Bolton - just for you Richard, it wasn’t the BIG Bolton, only a little village, but we’re pleased we did as we past this mansion that had just as sad a past as a lot we'd seen in Scotland.
Crossrigg Hall: the contents of an Edwardian house, left untouched for more than a century and representing a 'time capsule' from a bygone age, are to be auctioned by Sotheby's next month, writes Malcolm Pithers, The Independent, (19th August 1994). The four-day sale from 13 September at Crossrigg Hall near Penrith in Cumbria, is expected to attract private buyers from around the world and raise about pounds 500,000. The hall will also be sold.
The auction will include the oil paintings and family heirlooms traditionally found in such grand houses but also personal items, such as 600 postcards, military and coronation cards, a rare Bing gauge 'O' model electric train dating from about 1910 and a rare 'gentleman's bicycle'.
There are pieces of Oriental and European porcelain, glass and silver, shooting accessories and a large collection of stoneware preserve pots, iron and copper cooking vessels. The housekeeper's room is stocked with pre-war provisions.
Crossrigg Hall, which has grounds covering more than 20 acres, is a rare and unspoiled example of a typical Edwardian English country house. It was built in 1853 for a Colonel Rigg, who made a fortune in East India trading. It was subsequently bought by a wealthy Middlesbrough industrialist, Joseph Torbock in 1912, who carried out extensive improvements.
Torbock, an iron-ore dealer during the late 19th-century boom, married into what was then regarded as high society. His wife was Florence Hoste Henley, heiress of the Henleys of Chard in Somerset.
After his death, his widow left the house untouched. So too did their sons, Commander Richard Torbock and his brother Cornish. They both died last year, their mother's bedroom untouched and their childhood toys still in the nursery. Neither brother married.
We were not impressed with the lakes area, felt it was like Queenstown, over run with tourists and tourist retailers, mostly outdoor clothing. It is an area rather like the South Island tho, a lot of walkers with their “sticks”, walking boots and mittens and woolly hats. We had an nice cream. Place was full of handbag dogs, and dogs on leads, two older ladies fawning over each other’s dog like you would children.
Turned around and went back to “our” area, near Penrith. We love driving thru the little country lanes looking into sheds and the stone walls are - well, almost boring!
Went to a place called Hartley, where we found the Podgill and Merrygill rail viaducts. They form (I think) a part of the Coast to Coast Trail. If not, then the coast to coast passes very close by. The Stainmore Railway closed to all traffic in 1962.
British Railways very quickly lifted the track, demolished Belah viaduct and other structures, leaving only the section from Hartley Quarry to Appleby (another gorgeous town), open to carry goods traffic until October 1974. This included a section of the South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway near Kirkby Stephen.
Headed home to Kirkby Thore and we passed thru the Warcop Training area, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warcop_Training_Area
Was a good day, but we definitely don’t like crowds or large towns/cities. - or spoilt dogs!
Kevin wants you all to know that he took a bet on the Ryder Cup, 16 - 12 in favour of Europe winning, he didn’t do to badly. Final score was 17.5 to 10.5
2025-05-22