The two fields in the background and the tiny triangular croft in front are owned by Hannah Grace.
This cosy three-cornered enclosure possesses enhanced interest, having once with its garden belonged to the late John and Mary James. The public highway is just beyond its Northern Wall. It leads to the fells on the right and to the left to Renwick, Croglin and other villages.
At the bottom of the hill may be faintly seen the main entrance to the homestead.
To the left after passing through the gateway is a vegetable garden with a thatched outhouse at the further end. Notice also the fine old apple tree and the useful grindstone, The four sheltering sycamore trees were planted by Hannah the wife of Anthony Watson.
On the right opposite the garden is the conspicuous and commodious general barn, which was built about 1825, by Anthony and his sons ------ one of the first of many evidences to be found "far and near" of the building propensities and skill of the Watsons through several generations. Turning round the end of the barn we go up the yard having the stables, haybarn, byre, dog house etc on our left. These outbuildings on which the afternoon sun is casting the shadow of the barn were erected before that edifice having been at the end of last century, the first additions to the dwelling house. At the top or East End of the barn is the circular track for the thrashing machine horses.
This was devised by the lamented Joseph Wells about fifteen years ago. The railings on the high wall are a safeguard from
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the road below. Near them are two trees, which were planted in his youth by Anthony’s son Christopher aforesaid. The larger is a sycamore the other an English oak. Poultry are sunning themselves close to. Sloping upwards from those two sentinel trees is an adjacent kitchen garden, its thorn hedge and bank a protection from the public thoroughfare. On the other side of this garden and separating it from the larger one in front of the house is a continuation of the farmyard, A level cart road which joins the highway on the right, and now before we take loving note of the house itself and its trimly kept front garden, let us stand near the railings and look away, full twenty miles to the Cumbrian Group of mountains those everlasting hills on which no doubt John Watson and his help meet often gazed more than 150 years long past. Words fail us in which adequately to describe the landscape and portray our feelings as we view it over. For grandeur and the sublime it is almost unsurpassed. In the far background the well known Saddleback, Mell Fell, Carrick Fell and Skiddaw compete for the horizon. Between us and those haunts of the tourist is a fruitful tract of country 400 miles in area, dotted here and there with countless smiling villages and farms, and watered by meandering brooks and rivers. In August and September this expanse is carpeted with waving fields of golden grain contrasting with the emerald tints often dulating pastures and plantations. About twelve or fourteen miles off may be seen historic Penrith Church and the stately Lowther Castle. Nearer home is the fertile and beautiful valley of Eden and
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far-famed Lazonby Fell. Over Barrock Peak to the right (see Scotts Heart of Midlothian) we search for merrie Carlisle and yearn for a sight of the Solway. At a slightly higher altitude these healthy longings may be satisfied, another day all being well.
For the present as gladdened and exhilarated with the view we reluctantly withdraw our eyes, let each of us encourage nobler aspirations still and say with Abraham Barber (1687) "Thou who hast given me eyes to see and love this sight so fair, Give me a heart to find out Thee, and read Thee everywhere"
Thus uplifted and with a temporary adieu to the friendly upland of Scale Rigg, only a mile from us in the foreground with its home welcoming fir tree landmark, we turn from the charming scenery to objects of immediate greatest interest --- the house and garden of our ancestors.
Like the roads and paths the principal garden is unfortunately not shown in the picture, only a birds eye view could accomplish that. You can however distinctly see its Southern boundary well adorned with geological specimens from moors and quarries roundabout. This wall was built for the late Joseph Wells by his brother-in-law Joseph Watson about sixteen years ago. Of this garden out of sight what else may be said to aid the eye of the mind? From some of the alien dwellers in that far off land of the Southern Cross where the fauna and the flora are of such gorgeous hues, the simple old-time perfume of Hannah Grace’s plants may by comparison
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