Today was another crazy day. We started off for Maryport a small town on the Irish Sea. It has an archeological site of a large Roman fort and beacon tower at the end of the Solway Firth – which separates England from Scotland – and where many Roman artifacts have been located. The museum is a small local one, but interesting. We also walked down the Sea Brows, which is a lovely walk atop the cliff next to the sea. Cathy and Betsy walked down to the sea, since it was low tide. Lots of walkers and lots of dogs. A nice, quiet town with friendly folks and friendly dogs!
We moved on to Caldbeck, an unusual very small hamlet with a great pub (has an international reputation) where we had lunch. The little towns here are different from ours. They have a real local sense of identity and they are mildly surprised by tourists from beyond the UK, but they put up with us. One couple stopped by our table to wish us well and indicated that they had heard our accent and knew we were from the US. At that time, a large tractor was moving through town with a load of haylege. It was quite a moment.
From there we went to Hutton in the Forest, the family seat of the Hutton Family. Very rich, large landowners, whose ancestor married our Huddlestun and gave us the Hutton John property we visited yesterday. The rest of the family resided at this large manor house with incredible gardens. We walked the gardens and saw practices I identify with Thomas Jefferson’s gardens at Monticello. Very 18th century. The Huttons imported trees and plants from all over the world, including many from North America (which I identify as Canada but could have been the US). Some incredibly large Sitka spruces, planted there 1740 or so. The care of the gardens continues, an incredibly labor-intensive activity but it provides us with a great experience.
We followed with a visit to the Anglican church in Greystoke, about half way between Hutton in the Forest and Hutton John. We found several Huddlestun graves and a corner of the church which was dedicated to the Huddlestun family. Even though this church has moved from Catholic to Anglican, and the Huddlestun family has made a similar journey, it is clear that this church was very close to our Huddlestun family in Cumbria. There is a memorial to one set of Huddlestuns who went to India to seek their fortunes, and seem to have found it, but also died there. So the church corner is a memorial to them by those who remained in UK.
Stone in the Greystoke cemetery bearing a heart between two fleur de lis. Kate had shared with us that the heart is a sign of staunch Roman Catholic faith and following. Hutton John has heart-shaped windows that remain to this day. No name remains ledgable on this stone, but surely whoever this stone speaks for had an abiding faith and a strong heart for England.
We ended today in pubs in Keswick and then back to our friendly and comfortable inn, Sweeney’s Kings Head on Thirlmere. Another busy but fascinating day. It is something to see your family in the leadership position within the community, even though the community is small and widely separated. Our entire visit so far has been within the incomparably beautiful Lake District of northwest England, full of fells (their term for small mountains) and valleys, rushing streams and thousands of sheep. In fact, walking through sheep pastures is one of the joys of the area, as many people come here just to walk and enjoy the countryside. Public walkways are provided through various sheep and other pastures, so that anyone can do it. Cathy and Betsy celebrated our last night in this area by walking across several pastures to a glorious stream falling through many waterfalls down the steep fell behind the inn. So far, no sheep injuries are reported. Mary
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