Simon English
England Revisited

On a corner post next to track leading to farm near the Blackwell Bridge S.E. of Darlington.

On the same bracing fence post as I used in 1971. Some of the drawing pins that held the original flag are still there. The sheep wire has been replaced with three strands of new barbed wire but the wooden posts are original. They seem to have been made from quartered railway sleepers – very durable. Further south the fence becomes Hawthorne hedge which has grown up with a few bits of rolled bits of the original rusting sheep wire stuffed in holes.

Parallel to the fence is a row of five or six big old ash trees. In 1971 these supported another fence, the two fences bordering a track that ran north between the fields. The fence has gone and the track grown over but most of the trees still stand but the one nearest point 11 is now hollow and has bract fungi on the dead wood exposed where branches have fallen off. The tree furthest south in the line has been blown down and lies, roots exposed, and the smallest branches trimmed off.

The herd of Friesian cows that were in the east field and blew their steamy breath at me that cold morning in 1971 are still there, well not the same individuals but a herd of the same breed. Then there was an ash branch that hung over the track. After 40 years it had grown long enough to be well grazed by foraging cows.

At the north end of what was the track there is what looks like a new house/ barn conversion. To the west the fine house and garden that owns this land is being restored. To the east, in the hedge by the main road, is a World War 2 blockhouse that once guarded the south approach to Darlington. This is rather overshadowed by the new buildings and clatter of flags round the car dealership on the big new roundabout serving the upgraded road the acts as the eastern ring road. To the west the A1 and the A66M approach to Blackwell Bridge had already been built to Motorway standard by 1971.
Points 12 & 11