A Good Luck Symbol for all ye writers, scratchers and scribblers...

I found this sign over at Lanercost Priory.

I love it...hence the photo.

I don't mind anyone writing or scratching on this monument (as long as it is decent!).



Something which isn't regarded as too decent (nowadays) is this........



But they were regarded as perfectly acceptable by the Romans who saw them as good luck symbols meant to ward off evil. As you walk along the Wall you will see lots of them especially at forts.

Hunter Davies made a special attempt to find this one (the one in the photo) over at Chesters Bridge Abutment.

"It was one of the first things I searched for, but I was having no luck till the occupants of the land rover emerged, now that the rain had slackened. Three middle-aged workmen appeared with rakes and began sweeping the last of the autumn leaves, silently and separately, lost in their own thoughts. They were obviously council workmen. I said excuse me to one of them, where's the phallus. 'Follow me,' he replied, showing no surprise. 'Here's the fellow.' And he was a fine fellow indeed, plump and well formed, with two neat testicles, beautifully carved on a stone facing the river. 'Magnificent workmanship,' he said, beaming.

Transcribed from: p.66/67 The Chapter on Chesters, A Walk along the Wall (A Journey along Hadrian's Wall) by Hunter Davies. (First printed in 1974.)

Desert Island Drive #3

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This is the entrance to Lanercost Priory.

Again another view of the front of the Priory.

This is taken from the churchyard. The tombstone, in the foreground of the shot, is made from red sandstone which is a distinctive feature of houses in this part of Cumbria. Whilst at the Priory I was informed that it is unfortunate that many of the tombstones were made from the sandstone as it wears away (in the rain!) more quickly than most...

The tranquility of the Priory is unbelievable. It still bestows a great sense of peace.

This is a wooden bench located just outside the village, past the cricket ground and the school, beside the road. It is festooned with carvings of dragonflies, flowers, birds, ladybirds, fish, butterflies, rabbits, snails and snakes. It is a gorgeous, practical object.

Desert Island Drive #2

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The view, above, is taken from the 1724 Lanercost Bridge.

Facing eastwards towards the very picturesque village of Lanercost you again glimpse the Priory which has an amazing history. It is a 12th century Augustinian Priory built largely from stone taken from Hadrian's Wall. It became a prime target for the Border Reivers due to its proximity to the Scottish Border and the Wall. Two famous raiders or Reivers were Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. Edward I and his retinue stayed three times there, the last occasion for five months as he had fallen ill. The priory was one of the first to suffer in the dissolution of the monasteries. Henry VIII gave it to Sir Thomas, Lord Dacre (the illegitimate son of Lord Dacre of Naworth) and it became a family mansion. The male side of the family died out in 1716 and the weeds started to take it over. In 1740 what was left of the church was reclaimed and it is still in use as a church today.

One side of Lanercost Bridge.

A sign, beside the bridge, pointing to the nearby Naworth Castle.

Desert Island Drive #1

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I drive this "drive" quite often and it always fills me with great joy. This is why I have called it "My Desert Island Drive". (Blogger only lets me upload a certain amount of photos in one post so these posts all represent the entire drive.)

It follows the "Military Road" (B6318) and this particular bit is from Brampton to Birdoswald. Needless to say the views of the countryside combined with the winding country lanes lined with cottages and farmhouses just leave me lost for words every time I drive it. I hope these pictures go some way to convey their beauty.

The view of Lanercost Priory from just above Lanercost. As the road winds it way down from Brampton to Lanercost you see the Priory just over the drystone wall from the road.

On the way down to the village I drive under a canopy of dense foliage which fills me with childlike wonder. On my left hand side I see Lanercost Bridge (which strangely reminds me of an old Roman Bridge in Cangas de Onis, Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain...although this bridge in Cumbria is not Roman).

I was quite taken with this old sign at the Western end of the bridge. The road has its own bridge to take the strain from the old one built in 1724 for £493 by four local masons: Isaac Monkhouse, William Railton, Philip and Joseph Simpson (there were older bridges on this site which got swept away by ancient floods).