To get to the deserted hamlet of Thorns (see earlier posts) from the (modern) road you have to pass over a packhorse bridge at Thorns Gill that straddles Gayle Beck, one of the streams that sources the River Ribble. The bridge is believed to be at least 300 years old, a high arch made of rough limestone that appears to grow out of the rock on either side. The limestone river bed below is scoured and pitted with deeply eroded pools. There was little water in it when I was there. In limestone country the streams often disappear to flow underground in dry weather. The chasms show that sometimes the water must churn through the narrow ravine in a torrent.
The bridge from above is little more than six feet wide, with no parapet (so that the heavily-laden packhorses could pass over without hindrance). Imagine the jaggermen - the drovers, with a chain of perhaps twenty or thirty packhorses - traversing the bridge on a pitch black night in the depths of winter, having walked from Settle, perhaps, on the way to the market at Gearstones or even further to Hawes or Askrigg. The whole of this northern countryside was crisscrossed with similar trails, since goods were almost exclusively transported by packhorse from farm to market.
What a gorgeous shot of the bridge. Terrifying to imagine your scenario of leading a string of heavy-laden horses across in the dark.
ReplyDeleteWorking from dawn to dusk under a heavy pack load would for the horses or mules be more than enough. At nightfall they would be fed,watered and bedded down BEFORE the drover ate his own meal. They would certainly not risk broken legs to valuable animals by stumbling over stones in the pitch black darkness. The British Army in India also used the centuries old method of leading the horses down to water before feeding and bedding them down.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference between the "below" shot and the "above" one! Hard to believe these are the same place when just seeing these two shots. But the beauty of the construction was worth your descending down the slope to capture it.
ReplyDeleteThat first shot looks so isolated and gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed seeing the photos and reading the information on our camera club outing to the deserted hamlet of Thorns, Jenny.
ReplyDeleteThis place feels full of memory.
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