3 Birth of an Empire Ch 3 The seed is germinated

The seed is germinated

They set out for home.

Joshua loaned his coach and driver to take them all the way; using the public coach facilities

would require several changes; at Leeds, Harrogate, Ripon, Leyburn and Hawes, followed by a

long walk to their respective homes.

On the coach, the two men were discussing the plans for the intended factory to suit Joshua's

ideas.

Percival said "We would need two warehouses, one for the new raw wool from the market and

another for cloth awaiting delivery; We have a stream running through which we can use to our

advantage with water power on both sides. All the preparation along one side with the weaving

and finishing on the opposite, all the raw materials enter by the back gates, finished cloth to

leave by the front gates, line things up so that one process follows onto the next as far as

possible, scouring to carding then into spinning"

Alice chipped in "It alright for you to make plans for the factory, but we have been talking, Mary

and I" "How do you know this will be a success, it is a massive undertaking, it could fall fat,

never get going, If we sink everything in this we will have nothing to fall back on; to Joshua and

Beatrix this is a venture they just put up a piece of land and money, if it fails they still have a

house and some other income, what they are putting in is stuff they have inherited" "What we are

saying let us think before we jump with no return"

Ebenezer answered her "You are absolutely right Alice we have our farm and you the forge and

all its equipment, we will hang on to those as an insurance, the children are well capable of

taking over

"The children will take over they want to Martha is working in the solicitors office she has

already had some headed letter paper printed with Percival Ward and Son, as the heading " Said

Percival "John and Arthur are both working with us and, if I may say doing a grand job,

Elizabeth and Martha both have jobs locally, between them they could take over the businesses.

So, if the worst does happen, we have home and work to return to"

Alice replied "We will have to have a conference with all of us together, see what they have to

say"

Mary joined in "I will have a word with Arthur and Elizabeth first, you should approach John

and Martha as well, just to put them in the picture Alice"

Percival "We can re convene our meeting with our parents there, as it concerns them also, Both

our homes and livelihoods will be taken care of Joseph is an apprentice to Bainbridge's coaches

the younger ones can come with us, where they will be found jobs but not on the factory floor,

all the time; there will be some time for them to learn how the factory works, there is nothing

worse than a boss who doesn't understand how things work"

The journey through the countryside to Leeds passing small fields separated from each other

with a mixture of hedges and dry-stone walls and a small coppice, here and there

They stopped at the coaching station in Leeds to water the horses and stretch their legs

From Leeds past the site of the new St. James's Hospital the road was less smooth, across the

'Golden Acres' with the wide spaces of corn fields, At the village of Harewood they stopped for

the driver to fix the brakes in preparation for the steep descent to the valley floor, with a further

stop to reset the brake; across the river Wharf, which now had been confined by stone walls and

a new bridge, replacing the wide ford.

Another stop at the Pannel Inn to rest the horses before they tackled the steep ascent into

Harrogate., The four passengers were requested to alight at the bottom of the bank, and walk up

to ease the strain on the horses, another reason though not mentioned was safety in case of

mishap and the coach ran uncontrolled backwards down the banks.

They pulled up to rest the horses on the stray, an area on common land where sheep were

allowed to roam, though cattle had long been forbidden. Building work was under way for a

hotel to accommodate visitors to the Spa Baths and the recently opened Spa Hospital.

Now the Stray was an open area of smooth lawn like grass; planted with trees, not yet mature

with shady arms.

An area where Genteel Ladies, with their face whitened by the absence of sun and a daily pinch

of Arsenic; would take the air, dressed in their ankle length crinolines and parasols to shade the

sun, their feet unseen, they looked to be floating over the ground as they walked with short

gentle steps

Nannies in their dark blue, grey or green uniforms, with their charges in large coach-built

perambulators, meeting to pass and receive the local gossip before returning for lunch made by

the family cook, and to pass on the tit bits to those who showed an interest, until cook chivied

them on their way.

The journey resumed. Through Ripley with its Castle on to Ripon, through a mixture of orchards

and corn fields. Pulling up in the market square opposite the cathedral, where the town crier by

tradition blows the 'Evening Horn' at sunset to warn those working in the fields to return home

before the way through the boggy land was lost in the dark.

On to Leyburn, passing the remains of the thirteenth century Cistercian Jervaulx Abbey

Leaving Leyburn, up Wensleydale, With another walk for the passengers at Aysgarth.

The land now changed, drystone walls (built from random stone picked from the ground)

replaced the thorn hedges. Fields separated by the same walls, sheep instead of cattle.

Through Hawes to Apperset.

Percival and Alice took the driver in, they had a spare bed, stables for the horses, a covered space

for the carriage and equipment to ensure everything was in order for the return journey

That night Arthur and Elizabeth wanted to know 'What it was like where they were going to

move to'

Mary said "We were going to tell you what we have thought; It looks an exciting and inviting

venture, it could in time turn to be very profitable for all of us; but it may not get going in which

case we would lose everything. Joshua is using inherited money to fund the venture. In the event

it failed he has his own work to fall back on, we would have nothing" at this both Arthur and

Elizabeth's faces fell "does that mean you are not moving mummy" asked Elizabeth

"No love it doesn't. What we thought, Daddy and me also Percival and Alice. That we could go

to work there. Here we have the animals and farm to see to Arthur could do that, he does most of

it himself now and daddy used to do it by himself, you Elizabeth can continue to work in town,

apart from cooking the evening meal there should not be much housework; you would of course

have the household accounts. When Arthur has the sheep sheared, he won't need to take the

fleece to market all that we produce would not keep the factory going but you would be payed the

going rate without the expense and bother of looking for sales. The spinning wheel and hand

loom would also be left here. How does that sound?

Arthur was first to speak "I had been thinking on those lines and for the same reason, I think

Elizabeth would agree with me; at least I would hope so"

"Yes, I would be with you in that, there are quite a few brother and sister's working farms round

here so we would be just the same as them"

They then told them of the walk to Widdale Great Tarn

The walk to Widdale Great Tarn

Arthur and Elizabeth left the house, taking their dogs with them, out side Arthur said "I think I

will go for a walk up Widdale Beck, then up to Great Tarn, to give me space to think"

Elizabeth replied "I think that is a good idea, can I come with you? Oh there's Martha and John,

should we ask them to come with us?

A "Well why not they will be staying as well, so what they think will affect us, we can come to a

unified solution" He called out to them "Hey you two we are off up the beck to think things out,

do you want to come with us?

John replied "Yes why not, we are in the same boat, better we put our heads together now rather

than later"

John and Arthur set out in the lead, down the side of the humpbacked bridge to the beck side and

set out in single file up the narrow path, with the two girls following.

As they walked in silence they watched the clear water bubbling over and around the rock and

stones,

Arthur said "I don’t fancy living in a town and working in a factory, I think That I would miss

places like this, although for you John once you are in the forge with the fire going and hot irons

to shape, one foundry would be much like any other, a hot place to be in summer, but nice and

warm in winter, not like on the fell tops, where you have to accept whatever you are sent, winter

or summer"

John replied "It isn't so bad in summer, we can have the doors open and do get a few minutes

now and again in the open air, we often have the doors open in winter, a horse to shoe, or when

making a bracket that has to fit exact, shape it try it make adjustments.

Martha joined in "It's alright for you two living outside, we both work in an office, so it would be

just the same, except when we finish work, we wouldn't have this to relax in and we may live

closer to work, and they will have dance halls where we could meet some nice young men"

Elizabeth's dog, Ruby, stopped ears pricked listening to something. Elizabeth watched and

listened. A faint bleating of a sheep high up on the rocky hill side. It wasn't the normal bleat,

more one of fear. "Go on the Ruby, find it" Ruby ran off up the hillside in the direction of the

sound. The other dog, Patch, was also standing awaiting instructions "Go on Patch you find it"

then she called to Arthur "The dogs have heard something up on the screes, I think we should go

up and investigate"

Arthur told the others what was happening "Come if you want but the ground is rough, you can

continue or wait here a while, We will just see what the problem is then return"

When they reached the spot there was a sheep fast between two rocks, trapped by its body, its

feet off the ground "It must have lost its footing and slipped, I will have to push her up then you

can push her forwards, that should release her" Arthur said

With the sheep released they returned to the path and continued the walk

Martha asked "How did you know there was a problem? Ruby never barked she just stood

looking up the hillside"

E "No they don't bark, at times just a short yap, but I could see her ears pricked up, listening,

also she was looking up the hill, her body stiff and attentive, she knew it was not a normal noise

something unusual, that is the way they react. There is an understanding between the handler

and the dog. The handler is the manager and the dog likes to please the handler.

I got my fist dog at the age of five, a b***h pup - female I called her Betty; Granddad taught Arthur how to train her; I just petted her, then they taught me how to control her; the words and

whistles"

M "So you are a shepherdess then?

E "Well yes you could say that. I have some medals and certificates; Best girl under 11; 13; at

ten I got a second dog and won the best under 15 boy or girl with two dogs. I go out now when

we are rounding them up. Granddad takes mine out regularly to keep them in trim: gran dad Can

handle all our dogs, they never play up when he has them.”

They had reached to top of the beck, where the path split, they turned to go up the stony fellside.

Now in line abreast, the steepness of the hillside taking their breath. At the top of Widdale Scar

they stopped for breath "Lets go over to Great Tarn"

They walked across the Rough open moorland to a rocky outcrop on the top of Great

Knoutbrerry Hill.

John said "Gosh it is like being on top of the earth, with everything being bellow us" "Haven't

you been up here before? Asked Elizabeth "No" He replied "I have never had the inclination to

go on the hills"

Arthur "Gran dad comes round here almost every day. Over there is the Moorcock Inn at the

junction of the road down Garsdale to Kendal and over Malerstang Common to Kirk by Stephen;

Buttertubs Pass to Swaledale: over Hawes and down Wensleydale; over that hill to Stalling

Busk; Ribble Valley; and Dent Dale. Down in front is Great Tarn. Lets go down there now"

At the side of the tarn Arthur said "Gran dad showed me this place, its a good place to sit and

think, or just sit and have your lunch. I take it you are all with staying here and keeping the farm

and forge going. I know why dad wants to go, He was looking for something, he has most of the

last year cloth still to sell, the factories are producing something like it far cheaper and faster

than we can. This Stubbley fella has money and land; also another job, his wife has a big shop in

the town that sells everything, so they are not without. What he wants is some one to run a

woolen textile factory and an engineer to fettle the machinery, he found them in our parents.

What I want is for us to keep what we have here going. I think gran and granddad would like us to do that and would help in any way they can. Our gran dad had a daily walk over all our land day by day and yours looks to do lots of odd jobs in the foundry. We have to find what grans would say. Anybody anything to add"

M "Its just the domestic stuff like cooking, I have never cooked a dinner or baked a cake stuff

like that"

E "Yes that's it with me I will ask gran if she can help and teach us to cook, like she taught mum.

Let you and me get them together and have a word, see what they can do"

On the way down Elizabeth slipped on a loose stone and turned her ankle; it was too painful to

walk on, specially on the steep rough ground

John said "We will have to carry you"

E "I am too heavy for you to carry me"

Without a word John held her with his right arm round her back, then with his other arm lifted

her by the knees "Who says you are too heavy? Elizabeths two dog ran up growling, hackles

raised and teeth bared

Elizabeth called to them "Ruby, Patch, Good dogs, quiet, laydown" The dogs backed off "Good

dogs"

John set her down and Elizabeth made a fuss of them all the time saying "Good Dogs who's a

good dog"

Then to John "Hold your hand out for then to sniff, ruffle the fur behind their ears, now let then lick your hand,

Now you are a friend, they will remember you"

J "Climb on my back and I will give you a piggy back ride."

John bent for her to climb onto his back; with an "Hold tight" He set off down the hill, closely

followed by the two dogs

Elizabeth could feel his shoulder muscles flexing as he walked

Once they were down to smoother ground he let her down Martha came over "How was that?

E "It saved my ankle. He is strong that brother of yours; I could feel his shoulder muscles /, they

felt as big as my legs"

M "Yes they are. He is using them every day> I watched him at the annual fair, at that stall

where they all try to hit the bell, John had a slack jacket on. The guy was seeking another victim

and began to taunt John. He kept his jacket on and took the hammer, he played with it, to see

how heavy it was, the the guy started to taunt him again. John held the hammer in one hand

when all the others has used two, one big swipe and he was the first to ring the bell, Then! He

said set it up again this prize is for my girl friend. He rang the bell again with his left hand, Give

the girl both prizes he said and just walked off.

On returning home both girls approached their grandma's to ask for help with the cooking; both

grandma's gave similar answers:

“I would be happy to help, I can cook for you and you would be welcome to help any time, or even to do your own cooking . But the kitchen is mine, you will be allowed in but the boys would have to be invited and they must clean up their own mess.”

Annual Fair

Following her 'Piggy Back' ride Elizabeth couldn't get over the feel of John's muscly shoulders

September saw the annual Autumn Fair in Counterset, Brian who worked in the office asked her to go with him. She didn't know anything about him, and he didn't look the type to go for country pursuits, more for propping himself up by a bar, she put him off by saying she though she would be having jobs to do at home.

Later she caught up with Martha "A lad in the office has asked me to go to Counterset fair, I want to go but not with him, they have a sheep dog trial, where you can enter on the day and I thought of taking Ruby and Patch and enter both would you and John want to come? It would be a help for someone they know to look after the other dog while we are competing"

E "No I don't want to be alone with him just now; let me get to know him first, any way would John want to be alone with me, has he said something?

M "No, only that you seem to be interesting, I will ask him if he wants to come with us, I will come with you,“

John brought round their horse and trap, Martha was seated behind the driver(John). Elizabeth was wearing a tweed skirt made from took out a picnic basket with food and drink a dog dish and water in a pop bottle: she was wearing a tweed skirt from her fathers loom and hand knit woolen jumper and a tweed woven head scarf [looking very much like someone not from the countryside but one who liked to dress the part}.

Arthur came at the last minute, "Have you room for a little one and a dog?

"Jump in" John said

"That's it, lets go" Martha said.

Elizabeth left John and Arthur to see to the horse, Martha joined her with Ruby and Patch on a length of twine through their collars

E "See if I can book in for the dog trials.”

At the stewards desk she requested where the dog competition was "Sheep or gun?

"Sheep please"

"Sheep two places to my right"

"Sheepdog trials, can I have your names and those of your dogs"

"Elizabeth Worth; Ruby and Patch"

"Are you a shepherd?

"No I am an accountant, in Hawes"

"Are you sure? Have you taken part in sheep dog trials? They are demanding and you do need to be in control of your dogs"

"I have done dog control classes, and they do obey my commands perfectly"

"Are you entering for two 'one dog' events or the two dog competition?

"Could I enter them both for a one dog and again enter both for the two dog one?

"If you think they will be up to two competitions we don’t have a great uptake for the two dog event from ladies"

"Yes! They will be up to both"

"Right Two ladies one dog event and one all comers two dog event"

"Dogs are over in the field over there"

There were two other ladies already waiting

"Are you in the ladies event? With both dogs"

Yes and in the all comes two dog event"

"Two dog event? That is so difficult, one of mine always runs off . Where are you from any way? We are from Swaledale"

"Oh I work in Hawes, I am in training as an accountant; I have a cousin lives in Swaledale somewhere, Reeth or Richmond, begins with 'R' any way"

The two ladies gave each other a smile, much as to say 'No competition here'

Elizabeth turned to Martha "You go and tell John I have entered, so he can go and enjoy himself"

Martha had been watching the other ladies faces, keeping to the theme she replied

"Yes Lady Worth, I am quite sure he will find some entertainment"

Martha met Arthur on his way to sign in for the one dog event, She told him about the events Elizabeth was entered for and the two ladies from Swaledale "Oh I had better go and wish Lady Worth good luck then"

Arthur saw the three ladies awaiting their event which was due to commence as the last competitor in the junior event finished, he called "Good luck Lady Worth"

"Thank you Arthur and to you; enjoy yourself while you can"

Elizabeth had drawn to go number one and four

The announcer called her to the mark.

"Elizabeth Worth and her dog Ruby, I understand she is a local accountant, I hope she is as good with her dog control as she is with figures"

She released Ruby's string lead and sent her out to the left hand side with the command "Come bye" to send her out to the left (all the others has chosen to go right),

Ruby had no sight of the sheep until she was almost on top of them

Elizabeth whistled for her to keep left, she was behind the sheep before they saw her and set out towards home.

Ruby guided them through the gate and between two parallel fences to imitate a bridge; Into the shedding ring, where a marked sheep had to be separated, Elizabeth signaled with her whistle. Then on to the sheep fold. One sheep made an attempt to break away, but Ruby saw it and turned towards it. The sheep rejoined the flock.

The other two ladies followed, but leading out to the right

Elizabeth followed the same route with Patch that she had with Ruby

Arthur had been watching, "Why did you go left"

"There is a mound between the dog and the sheep, so if you keep left the dog comes out behind them and starts them off in direction of home"

A "Thanks I will follow your lead"

In the two dog event Elizabeth sent both dogs left. Stopping Patch behind the mound, sending patch round to appear to the sheep on the right hand side behind them.

At the end of the competitions Elizabeth had first and second in the ladies event. She decided to hand her second prize to the lady in third place

"You have been in competitions before haven't you?

"Well one or two, but not for quite some time"

"Where are you from? We haven't seen you before".

"We live just outside Hawes, we have a bit of rough moorland to practice on, I take two dogs with me every time I go out, you need two out on the fells. Arthur is my brother"

They had just announced his second place in the men’s event

Elizabeth got a third in the open 'two dog' event

John had heard her name called out on the tanoy and came to watch her then again in the two dog event.

"I don't know how you manage to control the dogs from where you are standing and guide them to select one animal out of the group"

John was recognized by the man on the "Ring the bell" side show he gave him a free go, the man pleaded with him to have a go just to show that it could be done and the rig wasn't fixed "I have met many who could do it but never any one single handed before"

"It comes with my job at the Blacksmiths, I am hammering hot iron every day"

Monday morning at work Brian stopped her "I thought I had heard your name called out on the tanoy at Counterset, I thought you were doing some work at home"

"Well yes I was going to, but others had different plans and took over"

"Why did they call your name out?

"Oh they had decided to take the dogs and join in the sheep dog trials, so I took my two and entered for three trials"

"You do sheep dog trials then"

"No I have two dogs, dad has some sheep and I help him with them, I use my dogs to drive and control them, We just entered for a lark, to see how well we could do"

"How did you do"

"I took first and second in the ladies open class, there were only three entries, two ladies from Swaledale, I got third place in the two dog open class and my brother got a second in the one dog men's open class"

Bringing in the sheep ___________________________

Martha said to Elizabeth "I liked the walk to Great Tarn I have never been up there, in fact I have never been on any of the fell tops. Just to think of you going up there and often alone do you think Arthur would let me go with him?

E "I will ask Arthur for you and see what we can arrange"

Elizabeth asked Arthur if he could arrange another trip for Martha

"Marth said she liked the walk to Great Tarn and would like to know a bit of how we worked, she - they had never been on the fell tops before, all John knows is bashing iron, and nothing really about country life"

A "Yes they can help, let us make it the second weekend in November, then you two girls will be off work. We will be bringing the flock down to winter pastures, the extra hands would be useful, best prepare them for some rough walking and warm clothes, can be chilly up there in November "

They met at first light; two men from local farms had come to help. "Has the blacksmith left his warm fireside to com and work with us outside in the cold" One asked;

John replied "Bet you wouldn't swap me jobs in the summer, any way I have to come out of the warm to shoe your horses in rain and snow on occasion"

"Aye every man to his job, but we haven't seen you out on the fells before have we"

"First time for everything an' I wanted to see how you lots put time in"

Trivialities over the set off up the path alongside the stream, It was a five mile walk up to the forest fence. Ebenezer and Arthur and the two visiting farmers, set out alongside the forest fence, taking their four dogs with them, leaving Elizabeth and Her gran dad plus the two guests. Elizabeth gave Joseph the footpath to follow back, Herself would be half way between the foot path and the crag top, Martha volunteered to take the path underneath the crag when she was told that Arthur would eventually work his way to the top and then the two would join up, John would cover the area between herself and Joseph. She would work the dogs across the area between the crags and the footpath.

They got a shout from Arthur all was ready.

Slowly they walked back towards home Shouting, blowing whistles to disturb the sheep, many hidden among the rocks under the crags. The two dogs, running sniffing the air chasing stubborn sheep from their hiding places. Elizabeth keeping an eye on everything, to keep the line straight, and keep the sheep moving in the right direction, occasionally one animal would attempt to escape back into the swept area, soon picked up by one of the dogs and returned to the slowly moving and increasing flock.

"There's Arthur" She called to Martha and pointed upwards. Arthur saw her point and waved back,

The crags were now coming lower and less craggy,

Martha made her way toward Arthur "Don’t come too close" He called "We have to keep the gaps covered else we will have a break out.

Elizabeth signaled Joseph to go along and open the gate and let the flock into a a pasture close to home. Then as Joseph left for John to take over the place on the footpath. Now the pace slackened Arthur took Martha through the open gate to help channel the animals across the road into their new pasture for the night

___________________________________________

Christmas

Christmas fare began mid September with baking Christmas fruit cake and fruit Christmas pudding.

Everybody took a turn at the mixing "Come here and give this a stir for me" as people deliberately passed by

Two round cake tins and a smaller loaf tin were lined with grease proof paper, the mixture spooned into them, some left over mixture was put into cup cake liners to make the obligatory 'samplers'

Once in the oven, they were not to be disturbed except for the removal of the samplers

Around the end of November they baked Stand Pies

Spiced chopped Pork with a bold egg in the center, in a wet pastry case with a glazed pasty lid.

Once cooked they were wrapped in grease-proof paper and stored in the larder.

Christmas Eve

At the farm the afternoon was spent in preparing bales to be used for feeding over the following festive days, feed for chickens and checking all fences and gates.

In the forge the fire was damped down to preserve fuel, but ready to blow up if the need arose. The surrounding area was cleaned and tidied

The family gathered round the cooling forge with a toast of sherry, this time the Worth's were invited

The ladies had mad a few bites to eat, they had a punch bowl and mulled wine.

About eleven o'clock, they began to sing carols; people from the village began to call in on their way to the chapel for the midnight service

At eleven thirty by tradition, they brought in a (much used) baby doll was carried in and laid in a box of straw to a rendition of 'Hark the herald Angels sing"

A toast to the baby Jesus and more carols; 'Silent night'; 'God rest ye merry gentlemen'.

Following the carols they made their way to the village chapel for the midnight service

As they left the chapel there were flurries of snow

Christmas Morning

At the farm they were all up early, there was a light covering of snow

The men had the stock to check, cows required milking, and chickens feeding

Jobs completed, every one washed and a change of clothes, in readiness for the Christmas dinner around mid afternoon

The ladies had the meal to cook; beginning with roasting the meat; Leg of pork, goose, or chicken, with stuffing, cranberry sauce and Brussels sprouts.

Followed by a fruit Christmas pudding; Christmas cake with a slice of cheese, more mulled wine and home made ales.

Boxing Day

There were flurries of snow from first light

Farm life went on as usual . Stock to check and feed

By lunch time the snow was coming down thicker and beginning to drift in places

Arthur said "I think we should collect the sheep from Cotter Rig before it gets too thick"

Elizabeth replied "You are right we don’t want to be going up there digging them out of drifts, I will go over and see if John and Martha would like to come with us"

As they walked to Cotter Rig Elizabeth asked John if he wanted to take Patch with him and see how he got on with him John asked about the control words.

Arthur and Martha set out up Cotter Rig and began to drive the sheep towards the road

Elizabeth and John stayed by the road, when they saw the sheep coming over the hill, Elizabeth opened the gate out into the road “I will stay here with Ruby; You take Patch down to the Hardraw Road to stop them from taking that turn; you shouldn’t need to give him any instructions, just being there will stop them. Wait there until I come and we can follow them in. Arthur will get in front and Martha will follow with us.

New year dawned wit a heavy fall of snow eighteen inches deep in the farm yard Arthur went out to check on the near by stock.

When he returned there were traces of snow up to his waist “it has drifted and filled in the road up to the wall height, if you need to go to town today we will have to go on horse back, or dig the road out”

Mary “We have enough food stuff in stock for a few weeks, if we are careful, It will just be the girls and Joseph getting to work”

Ebenezer “If we cant get out there will be many others in the same predicament, there will only those living in the town who will get in to work for a few days”

Ebenezer, Arthur, Elizabeth and after much pleading to be allowed to go Frank; got ready to go out to search for sheep sheltering under walls and would now be buried in the drifts, Mary had made up two flasks of hot sweet tea for them to take.

Ebenezer took Frank; Arthur and Elizabeth made another team.

“We could have called on John and Martha and split them between us” said Elizabeth, Arthur replied “Aye we could have, perhaps if we have to go out tomorrow we will; I can take Martha, you can have John, he seems struck on you, since he carried you down from Widdale Moor”

“Maybe he is I hadn’t noticed, you seem keen on Martha”

“Aye I do like her”

The wintery weather went on until mid- February with days of warmish sun shine, only to be followed by overnight snow.

The road down to the river bridge had not been cleared they had no reason to go that way, all the animals had been brought back closer to the farm.

The last day was horrendous. They woke to heavy continuous snow, blown by a gale force wind; towards evening. Things began to calm down; overnight there was a clear sky. The following day all the drinking troughs were frozen over and required to be cleared. It was a cold easterly wind, the sort that finds any chinks in you clothing. Melt water was dripping from shed roofs and the frozen spoutings and drain pipes

Ebenezer remarked “There’s going to be a right mess as this lot goes i’ve been all round the farm unblocking the drains out of the yard the water should now drain out onto the fields, we will have to clear a gully down the road towards the bridge, well part way at any rate”

Next day they were joined by John, Martha and Joseph,“Can we clear a way into town? Asked John

Arthur “I Hope you are not expecting us to clear the whole way for coaches, We can go on horse back to town and take a couple of shovels just I case we need them, what else had you in mind?

As Ebenezer had predicted there were floods everywhere; across fields from the swollen River Ure, and run off from the land