Kirkharle (2023)
Our visit to Kirkharle was serendipitous. After leaving the Kielder Forest Drive, as described in my last post, we pulled off the main road in search of a café, following the signs to Kirkharle Courtyard. We had no idea what this place would turn out to be: the birthplace of landscape gardener Lancelot “Capability” Brown (1716-1783). The café was very good, but there was far more to explore.
We started by taking the path to St Wilfred’s Church, passing the monument to Robert Loraine who was barbarously murdered by Scottish raiders in 1483. Oops! These days Scottish raiders are better behaved.
After passing some pretty cottages we came to the church where Capability Brown had been baptised.
The font, though interesting, is not the one which would have been used for young Lancelot, having been transferred from elsewhere in the 19th century. The cover is 20th century.
Overall, the church has a pleasing simplicity. As well as the font I particularly liked the altar frontal created in 2016 to mark the tercentenary of Capability Brown’s baptism and inspired by his landscape designs.
After visiting the church we headed to “The Vision” – a view down a pathway laid on the track that Brown is likely to have walked on his way to school each day. This led to the lake which, in keeping with his desire for his landscapes to represent a living environment, is natural rather than manicured.
We were so glad we decided to turn off here! After our visit, we continued our journey to Bramham in West Yorkshire to stay with friends for a few days.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Lovely scenery and church. (Suzanne)
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Thanks, it was beautiful.
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What a delightful discovery! The church interior looks beautiful. I also like the natural landscape by the lake.
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Thanks, Natalie, it was. We thought we were just going to a cafe for a quick lunch and were delighted to find out how much more there was.
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How interesting to come across this. It’s fun to find somewhere connected to someone you already knew about.
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A stroke of luck!
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How fascinating! I’d never given much thought as to where Capability Brown was from. There’s something so pleasing about stumbling across somewhere like this.
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It seems nobody had! We were delighted to stumble across somewhere so nice.
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A lovely place to stop. Beats the services any day!
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By miles!
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What a lovely journey stop. I really like the top of the font. Like everyone I didn’t know that Capability Brown 🤎 came from Northumberland, I assumed he was from down south.
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I know, me too! We were really happy to come across this place.
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That was definitely worth a visit!
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A real find!
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Hi Anabel – looks to be a delightful stop off point … I’d never heard of it – but glad they’ve created a cafe, so one can look around Capability’s designs … and then friends ahead for a relaxing time. Cheers Hilary
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No, we had not heard of it either and were very pleasantly surprised at what we found.
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That’s lovely. I’ve never investigated his past… wonder why not?
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Me neither!
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Nice place Anabel.
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Yes, it is! Lucky to stumble across it.
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Looks a lovely place. And good weather. Bob. BSS
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Yes, we were lucky on both counts.
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Not only do you always find cool places to visit — you also find places with cool names! 😀
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True!
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That is a lovely lake!
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Very pretty! And nice reflections.
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What an interesting visit. I have never heard of Kirkharle in spite of visiting the area often.
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It was a complete surprise to us!
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Always to go off on a side explore, you can find the most interesting things
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Exactly! You can sometimes find the best things when you’re not really looking for them.
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Often turns into the highlight of the trip
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Indeed!
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Fascinating visit and discovery. Hope you found a lovely café to sit and enjoy that beautiful countryside.
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We did, the cafe was very good.
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He almost has hero status in these parts, Anabel xx
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I can see why!
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I had no idea that Capability Brown was a Proper Northern Lad. Though he did enough work at this end of the country.
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Seems to be a surprise to everyone! Including this Northumbrian Lass.
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Unedjicated, us.
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Should of studied harder 😉.
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We should ‘of’.
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What an interesting place to visit, Anabel! Like some others, I didn’t know that he was Northumbrian
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No, it was a complete surprise to us too. Great place to stop.
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Excellent!
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I wouldn’t mind a dip in that lake right now.
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You might find it a tad cold right now!
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Lovely find Anabel and such an interesting place to visit. Love all the detail in the church
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I really liked the church – not too fussy, and with interesting modern additions like the font cover and the altar cloth.
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What an interesting visit, Anabel. I think its nice sometimes to take a step backwards and see where people have come from. I loved the baptism font, and the lake which looks so peaceful
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Thanks Brenda – it was interesting, and all the better for being unplanned.
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What an interesting place Anabel, fate certainly had a helping hand in finding it. I love the first photo – that sky is gorgeous – and the font cover with the eagle. It never fails to amaze me how many gardens Capability Brown is said to have designed – it’s a wonder he ever got any sleep!
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Yes, he was very busy! And I had no idea he was a Northumbrian.
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