Fridaythorpe to Thixendale Road, near Thixendale Gritts, Yorkshire Wolds.

For sale details below.

3rd August 2020.

Lovely meanderings to Fridaythorpe found me stopping at Thixendale Gritts, above Thixendale village. I saw the field gate, the view beyond to a very distant Whay Dale and a suggestion of buildings called simply, South Side Buildings. On the way down this narrow single track road I was surprised to see a huge articulated wagon behind me, A Colley Volvo. I pulled over and let it pass. Here I walked George along a lane leading to Paradise Cottages. It is a quiet, narrow lane, at the time of my visit a pea field was maturing on one side of the road and on the other a field of wheat. Strangely the wheat field was bordered by a 10 yard belt of Barley which I thought was odd, perhaps it was for game cover? Perhaps it had  something to do with a wet autumn which prevented sowing of barley earlier. It may be spring barley, sown, as many farmers have had to do, due to the weather. The price could be low this year due to a glut, as well as lack of demand  as the pandemic has closed many hospitality venues. Walking down this quiet lane I spotted an intriguing field gate. It was made from iron and looked extremely old and rusty. Along the top where the two halves met, a minor decoration of coiled metal made a pleasant finishing touch. The local large building, Thixendale Gritts ( click the link to see some lovely old maps and sale details from 1919 ) was created as a farm in 1795. I would not be surprised to find out that the metal gates are of a similar vintage.

I set up and started to paint.

A postman pulled up in his red post office van at the head of the lane, opposite me, delivering some mail. It looked like advertising leaflets.  He was a typical postman Pat, saying he was lucky and had a beautiful round, driving around God's own county ( as Yorkshiremen are apt to say ). The road is quiet, occasional cars would pass, only one cyclist braved the steep hills and then a man stopped. After collecting his mail, and looking rather disappointed to have made the effort just to find junk mail, he came over and we talked briefly before he had to go. Then two dog walkers came and chatted before they too, disappeared down the same lane opposite. After finishing the painting I fed George, then took him for a gentle walk towards Thixendale. The verges are beautiful. The wind had dropped and the sun shone brightly, back lighting scabious, violet blue cranesbill, and purplish red headed greater knapweed. We passed a field of stubble where I saw the Volvo, parked up a hundred yards from the road. It was being loaded with huge cuboid bales by a bright yellow telehandler, a vehicle fitted with spikes, which were inserted into the bales before transporting them to the wagon. The road dropped steeply towards Thixendale village, rooftops shining between steep, wooded, verdant hills. Looking over the distant undulating hills I could see a patchwork of shapes and colour. Bright green spring barley bordered straw coloured wheat fields which rolled and tumbled down the hillside. Yellowhammers were exuberantly singing and all was well with the world, for a moment, at this time, the essence of summer was overwhelming.

Far Summered Dales.

Rise and fall,

Waves rolling

Down gentle swells, of

Green and gold,

Sun brightened, then

Cloud shadowed.

 

Sailing high above,

A kite looks down

At mewing buzzards, a

Silent,

Searching, 

Silhouette

 

A Colley waits

On a straw sea,

Being attended to by a 

Buzzing

Bright yellow, 

Telehandler,

With it's twin stings.

Tall Yorkshire Fog,

( Holcus Lanatus...maybe )

Stand,

Seeded heads stooping, over

Sky blue scabious, and

Meadow cranesbill and

Docks' rusty spikes.

A man stops,

Parks his car, and calls across,

"You can see the sea from here,....Just....On a clear day " ,

We talk, but then,

Jobs to do,

He rushes away, down the lane.

Two dog walkers appear,

So we chat,

And,

Wanting to be included,

The dogs join in.

Then they too,

Disappear,

Along the lane

Heading for Paradise.

Large 24 x 18 inch

Oil on canvas

£300

Available soon, will need to fully dry and be varnished.

Email me to reserve this original painting.

Knapweed

Looking down to Thixendale village.