Wednesday 20 July 2011

Teatime at Cowan Bridge

Pete McCarthy in his book McCarthy's Bar states that you should never pass a pub with your name on it. On This theory, I felt obliged a couple of days ago, to stop at Cowan Bridge for a few moments. In fact when I spotted that they had a tea room, I realised that it was.......


.......Tea time



Cowan Bridge is not a huge village but it has a claim to fame in that the Bronte sisters (some of them anyway) went to school here for a year or so. By all accounts, their year in school there was thoroughly miserable and harsh. Maria Bronte returned from the school with advanced tuberculosis and died (apparently she is the inspiration behind Helen Burns in Jane Eyre) and her sister Elizabeth also died within two weeks of returning from the school. Anne Bronte was saved the misfortune of having to go to school here. The building below is where they lodged in very spartan conditions.


I imagine that this bridge is Cowan Bridge itself.

The water was gloriously amber.


That's it for this very brief blog. It's been a busy old time and there's lots to tell you about. There's the Folk 'n' Ale festival in Dumfries (now what better combination could you get), I was on my way to look at sculpture in Yorkshire with Bev here, so plenty of that, I passed by a great museum in Keighley, there's a bit of stravaiging in Edinburgh and, good grief, there's still stuff left over from Chester and that trip and lots more. Has anyone got any spare time they can give me. I'm off to Dunoon to visit the kids for a couple of days and after that it's the sculpture symposium here in Kirkcudbright, so hopefully you'll join me here to see several pieces of art being made before your very eyes. Tara for now folks.

11 comments:

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

That bit about getting sent off to school only to catch TB is terrible. Makes one think how fortunate we are these days...for the most part. Nice post. Now go out and find some time for yourself.

Shundo said...

With such a busy life, it's good to know that you at least get time for a cuppa now and again. I have never heard of McCarthy's Bar theory, but it is a very fine one. Unfortunately with my name, I am likely to be going thirsty...

The Glebe Blog said...

Red Rose Country Sandy.While stationed at Weeton Camp near Blackpool with H.M Forces we made many sorties into the area around Kirkby Lonsdale.A wonderful part of the world.
You've a busy life Sandy.My fortnight on the move begins soon.Ireland,Wales, England in that order but then I'll hibernate for the Autumn and Winter.
I'll bump into you one of these days.

Michael (Light-In-A-Box) said...

I've never come across a pub with my name on it! Spare time, I'm afraid I don't have any to spare! If you find some please send a little this way! Interesting color in that river.. Oh & that tea clock, awesome!

Sultan said...

Nice, I love the look of the village.

Poppy (aka Val) said...

Great blog as ever Sandy! I love the tea cup clock too. There is never enough time to do everything we want is there? Glad you are enjoying the summer :)

Sandy's witterings said...

Sinbad and I - school has perhaps gone a little too far in the easy direction now, but certainly far better than Victorian schooling methods.

Shundo, I've never seen a bar with my name on either. I live in hope but will content myself with having found an aptly named tea room.

I spent a little time in Lancashire myself (Accrington)- very pleasant people, as they are over the border in white rose country. We've nearly met, as I was just out of shot in one of your photos from last years Portpatrick folk festival (I'm only going to be there for the Friday night this time)

Michael, Water running of the hills is often this colour (it's the same here in Scotland)- it's probably run through peat at some point. Despite it's appearance the water is probably quite clean.

Thank Laoch, and Poppy, the tea cup clock is good isn't it (they must have some pretty good glue to hold them up there.

Ruthie Redden said...

Sandy, that looks like my kind of tearoom, i love the clock! see you over the next weekend!

Crafty Green Poet said...

lovely clock! The amber water almost looks as though someone has been pouring tea into it!

Sandy's witterings said...

Thank you Ruthie, I see in the wee pre arts and crafts trail exhibition and silent auction in the town hall, you have a picture.

Ah Juliet, there's a lovely idea. A river of tea. All I'd have to do is heat it up and add milk.

Zia Wolf-Sun said...

Well! This seems to be one of the few blogs I can leave a comment on at the mo :) Love that pic of you and the tea!!