This house is part of Coombes Moor, a hamlet of small, largely eighteenth- and nineteenth-century cottages in the Lugg valley, above the flood plain - the Moor itself - and before the steep hillside. Largely unproductive ground set aside for estate cottages. But looking at old maps I realised that the cottages themselves have shifted over time, been extended and demolished, joined with others, cleared completely. The hamlet used to be bigger and has a 'shrunken village' at its heart, the stone rubble in Michael's fields. Local people still remember the cottage in such a field, or near the Moor, or on the road. These cottages all have gardens which would have been productive kitchen gardens at one point.
The paddocks behind the house are divided into four equal smaller paddocks, knee deep in buttercups and daisies. On the old maps they are marked as gardens, perhaps even ornamental gardens, and I have wondered if anything of this garden archaeology has survived. With the longer grass an oval of moss has appeared in the paddock, perhaps an old horse pond or fish pond; and the trees there are apple trees, festooned (the only word) with mistletoe, and now apple blossom. The grass here needs cutting again, but I love the longer grass and would happily let it grow into meadow again. It is full of dandelions and clover and perhaps buttercups, and looks shaggy and natural, somehow sleepy. But if I leave it then the landlord will come round and strim it mercilessly, as he does with the top grass near the hedge.
Thursday 29 May 2008
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