Above the Village, a photo from Lancashire, England

Photographer's Note

Good Morning Everyone,

I'm sure you will recognise this as a drystone wall, quite common in the area where I live.

The drystone walls (as suggested in their name) are carefully built to stand strongly without the use of mortar or cement. The capping stones are important to protect the inner parts from the weather.
Quite often, they would have small, square gaps to allow sheep dogs easy access when rounding up sheep.

The walls, though very expensive to make nowadays, historically were a cheap way of dividing land for the farmers. (That was at a time when there were many people working on a farm). The stone was readily available and cheap.

Nowadays, stone walls are becoming targets for stone thieves. The capping stones (which were often shaped into semi-circles) have become desirable inclusions for modern gardens, hence the stones from the walls become a target for unscrupulous thieves.

As yet, we still have many that are complete, though maybe in need of a little restoration!

From this high vantage point you can see how the village fits snuggly into the valley.

I dedicate this photograph to Malgo, who always tells me how much she likes these walls.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

Fis2, pierrefonds, ikeharel, PaulVDV, CMJC, COSTANTINO, aliabazari, ChrisJ, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

kasianowak (17676) 2022-04-09 1:35

Hi Bev
You skillfully included the wall both as the main subject and the foreground interest to showcase the beauty of the surrounding countryside. Lovely colours and marvellous weather.
I read your note with great interest. I had no idea people would steal those stones! How annoying.
Have a nice weekend
Kasia

Fis2 (172023) 2022-04-09 2:10

Witaj Bev!
A very nice landscape, view makes impression.
I like stone wall.
Good framing composition and light.
Have a nice weekend.
Well done.
Krzysztof

holmertz (103694) 2022-04-09 2:29

Hello Bev,
The walls are quite beautiful and get even more impressive and valuable when learning how they were built. Don't stones have any DNA that could make them traceable if stolen? ;-)
These walls make a great foreground, similar to what any regular work of art would do, but we also get a beautiful view of the gentle hills and fields surrounding your village,
Kind regards,
Gert

pierrefonds (115624) 2022-04-09 4:42

Hi Bev,

The diagonal line of the stone wall is giving dynamism to the scene. The point of view is showing the details of the stone wall and of the fields. The light is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Silvio1953 (223027) 2022-04-09 4:54

Ciao cara Bev, great view of nice village, lovely composition with wall in FG, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful natural colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

ikeharel (114691) 2022-04-09 5:14

Hello Beverley,
Good explanatory note about the stones-walls, something we see all across England, mostly ancient built structures, men-made to protect from winds and erosion - but also divided lots for the use of local landlords to collect their fees (So I once learnt).
Good view across the moors in beautigful green under bright daylight.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

PaulVDV (63530) 2022-04-09 8:18

Hello Beverley,
I've always found dry stone walls to be a very special thing in the landscape. Simply because we don't have them at all.
I had no idea that the stones of the walls would be stolen by thieves.
Actually, this is a part of the architectural and cultural heritage of the countryside that one steals.
Above the wall we find a beautiful green undulating landscape.
Best regards, Paul

Tue (93530) 2022-04-09 11:09

Hello Beverley,
It is such a wonderful English landscape with those green rolling hills with some groups of trees and houses. The old stone wall is well included in the foreground as well and the sunlight was perfect.
Lars

ifege (49539) 2022-04-09 21:21

Hi Bev
A good example of drystone walls and well composed with the background fields. They are popular around where I live so I must find some suitable ones to post as well.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (117884) 2022-04-09 22:18

Hello dear Beverley and have a nice day
and a happy sunday s evening....
original version
these constructions made of stones
are really eye-catching...
Thanks for the description
that the drystone walls are
carefully built to stand strongly
without the use of mortar or cement
regards
Costantino

mkamionka (75197) 2022-04-09 23:22

Hi Bev,
Lovely composition with the stone wall making such an interesting foreground while having a fantastic panoramic view stretching behind.
I have a feeling that the picture has overwhelming amout of the green which is especially visible in the sky, but maybe it was like that on this day.
Great view found in your local area,
M

jemaflor (148306) 2022-04-09 23:42

Hi Bev,
Nice landscape well photographed, nice photogenic result with this wall and stones on the Fg, good perspective effect, lovely warm light, tfs.

emka (158932) 2022-04-10 0:20

Hello Bev, Thank you so much for the dedication :). An interesting note about these walls. I had no idea that the stones can be stolen. What I also liked were the small gates. Charming landscape.
Have a nice Sunday

MAlgo

abmdsudi (95869) 2022-04-10 1:42

Hi Beverley
It's beautifully composed image from this wonderful part of the world with the very old stone walls blend in so well in this lovely countryside. There抯 such a skill in laying these stones accurately and then passed down through the generations of local farmers for field boundaries. I love the fresh green colour. Great images & appreciate your useful narratives.
Beet regards

lousat (140046) 2022-04-10 2:00

Hi Bev,in fact isn't a first time for this view but i like a lot the part and the note dedicated to the drystone walls, still there after a lot of years, a very nice winter memory made in the usual top quality! Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

aliabazari (23335) 2022-04-11 6:34

Hello Beverley
A beautiful view of this stone wall and the farms behind it. Clarity and lighting done well. Beautiful shot. I liked your text.

jmdias (116579) 2022-04-11 10:48

bev

these rocky fences are part of the rural identity of this region and are so beautiful. in brazil there is something similar in the colder region of brazil. excellent image showing the fields in the horizon too.

take care

jorge

ChrisJ (172436) 2022-04-12 20:00

Hello Bev

A better view of the moss encrusted wall featured yesterday. Good sharpness and a lovely rustic view in the bg. Tfs!

mcmtanyel (69310) 2022-06-24 21:12

Hello Beverly,
Beautiful, green countryside. These stone walls are adorable. Did you really have to carve your name on the wall?
Regards,
MT