Brough in shadow
I hadn’t planned to join Becky’s latest Square Challenge, NovemberShadows, but when I looked at some of the images from last week’s trip I thought, why not? So here I am, better late than never, on the second last day.
Last week we broke a journey to Yorkshire with a night in Brough in Cumbria. In this we were joining a long tradition because the village’s claim to fame lies in its 18th-19th century importance as a coaching town for the England-Scotland run. More than ten inns catered to the stagecoach trade – we stayed in one of those remaining, now The Wilding, shown in the photograph above and highly recommended. The other structure is the historic clock tower built in 1912 to commemorate the Coronation of King George V, the upper section of which incorporates the 17th century well head.
Historically Brough is formed of two areas – Market Brough, with its long main street, and Church Brough which is centred on Brough Castle and St Michael’s Church. Walking between the two we found one of Andy Goldsworthy’s sheepfolds, Brough Cone Pinfold (2001). It was in the grounds of the local nursery school so we couldn’t get a closer look than this shadowy view.
Brough Castle is a spectacular medieval ruin on the site of the Roman fort of Verteris. The earthworks represent an 11th-century castle, but the visible remains date from the 12th century onwards. Here’s a gallery of shadows within and without.
The oldest parts of St Michael’s Church were built of sandstone in 1150, though most of it is 14th and 16th century.
Finally, I could not forget Jude’s Bench Challenge Anniversary, so here’s one just for her. A bench – with a shadow of course.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Like the tree casting shadows, and the one underneath through a window. Very creative Anabel.
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Thanks Denzil – that was one each! John took the tree shadow and I took the window frame.
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Hi Anabel – I haven’t been there for 50 or so years … one of my mother’s cousin’s married into a farming family from that area, and is one of the people who had to change their name to inherit back in the early 1900s I guess – we had another in Wales who had the same demand made of them. Interesting way of inheriting title and land … I’d love to visit again – it’s a beautiful area. Cheers Hilary
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That’s an interesting family connection. It is a beautiful area – the castle, although a ruin, was much more substantial than I had expected.
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How beautiful!
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A lovely historic village. Exploring ruined castles is one of my favourite things.
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Have visited Brough Castle a couple of times and would love to stay at The Wilding. It was used for wedding guests at a wedding i went to in July, I stopped in Kirkby Stephen. X
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The Wilding was great – the staff were lovely and so friendly.
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Many of these were excellent for presenting as squares. There was so much atmosphere in many that I felt transported in place and time!
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Aw, lovely – thanks Eilene!
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I’m glad you decided to join in because these images are beautiful. What a pretty place and you did find some great shadows too.
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I did, didn’t I? The weather was perfect for it.
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I am glad that the roads were ice free. It is quite a time since we went along the A66 but you make me think that we should get out and about more to enjoy the many fine towns around us.
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I remember all these places from childhood journeys – I’m sure I could recreate the route from NE England to the West of Scotland without thinking too hard. I’m also sure it would take much longer than today’s A66 / M74 journey!
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What an interesting place – would love to go there – fascinating stuff.
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It was very interesting. Despite having driven past it many times I had never visited the castle.
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Thank you for the really interesting post with super photos. I had to check on Wiki to see where it was and how to pronounce it! Love all the cloudscapes especially the square photo taken from the castle.
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Ah yes, that tricky ough syllable! At least 4 or 5 different ways of pronouncing it.
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This place definitely looks Worth a Detour. I wonder why we never have?
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The castle and the church are lovely and worth an hour or so. There’s not much in the main part of the village. We used to drive through it when I was a child before the A66 bypassed everything but I don’t think we ever stopped then.
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Gorgeous photos Anabel. Love the skies though I imagine it was a very cold day! Hope you were wrapped up warm. What a wonderful wall behind that bench and I also noticed the benches outside the Wilding.
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You are right, I hadn’t thought about those benches. Yes, it was bitterly cold, but it made for beautiful light. Snow on all the hills when we came down the night before but fortunately the roads were clear.
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I need a map! I can’t even picture where this is, but I love the ruins. Always better late than never, Anabel xx
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It’s on the A66 on the way to Scotch Corner. Yes, I’m the coo’s tail as we say here!
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I especially enjoy the view framed by the deep window 🙂
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Thanks – my favourite too!
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I’m glad you thought to share these for the challenge, they work very well, especially the castle shots. I love that one with a view through the window – the light in the sky is lovely and a great contrast with the shadows within!
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Thank you Sarah. The shot through the window is my favourite – the square opening was just perfect.
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Shadows are mysterious to me. They have no physical substance, yet there they are!
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And their shapes can be so disconcerting.
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hee hee I am irresistible aren’t I 😉
this is a wonderful post on Brough, and you have outdone yourself on the shadow squares
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Oh, totally! Lots of shadows in the rest of the trip, but I draw the line there, one post is your lot.
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one is all I need 😀
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Never even heard of it, yet it was once famous. Good history. I used to find places like that on solo bike rides, once famous villages or hamlets that had something special happen to them, like a great explorer or discoverer of something, yet the world has moved on and completely forgotten about it. Nice winter scenery shots. Bob. BSS.
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Thanks, Bob. I knew of it because in the ‘olden days’, before everything was bypassed by the A66, Brough was one of the little towns we would pass through on the way from the north of England to visit our grandparents in Greenock. I doubt we ever stopped there though, that was usually Gretna, so I’d never visited the castle. The cold, bright conditions made some lovely pictures.
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Some lovely shadow photos here, I like the pinfold and the view from the shadowy window looks almost like a painting.
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Thanks, Eunice – I was pleased with that one! The view framed beautifully.
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