Just found the above, it probably states how I feel. Monitoring our politician Josh on F/B today, and he has written a great deal of the people he has met and discussed issues with, and also how parliament works. Showing the long corridor which everyone has to go down to vote, they only have 8 minutes to do the run. He is like a child in a toyshop delighted with all he sees. I wish him well.
Andrew is already calculating the trip up to Midgeley Moor, it is just above Hebden Bridge not far to go, I wanted to see Miller's Grave, a rather large desecrated Bronze Age barrow but with an attached story of it being Miller's Grave.
Here is the story: Taken from Paul Bennet's Northern Antiquarian. I think it was found in the 1869 book by Watson - The History of Halifax.
“About ninety years ago,” he wrote, “that is, towards the end of the eighteenth century – one Lee, a miller, committed suicide in Mayroyd Mill near Hebden Bridge. The jury at the inquest held on the occasion returned a verdict of felo-de-se, and the body was buried at Four Lane Ends, the Rough, in Midgley. The fact, however, of the body of one who had laid violent hands upon himself, lying in unconsecrated ground at a point where the highways met, and at a spot which the inhabitants passed early and late, oppressed the people of the neighbourhood with an irresistible dread. Persons going to market and passing from village to village, feared and avoided the unhallowed spot, until the feeling increased to one of insupportable terror; and, in the night time, a multitude collected with torches to disinter the body. This was speedily effected and violence was even offered to the dead. A man named Mark Sutcliffe, and others, who attempted to prevent the exhumation, were stoned* by the mob, and the body was hurried to the cairn on Midgley Moor, where it was hastily interred. Here however, it was not allowed to rest; the isolation of the body, though buried in a lonely spot, was yet apart from the common cemetery where the dead lie together in their special domain; and this invested the surrounding district with a superstitious awe difficult to describe. The body was still too near the haunts of the living; and, to the perturbed imagination of the inhabitants, the unquiet ghost of the suicide constantly brooded over the hills. As this was not to be endured, the body was at last removed from the cairn, and finally buried in the churchyard of St. Thomas a’ Beckett’s, Heptonstall. Although the interment of Lee, at the cairn, has conferred upon the spot the name of the Miller’s Grave, it cannot be doubted that the large quantity of heavy stones which we find heaped together at this place…was piled up in distant times…”
It interestingly denotes the fear of suicides and how being buried at cross roads or special trees was the fate of the person who took his own life. It also paints the picture of how death was looked upon and the poor remains of the man eventually moved from pillar to post ended up in the church at Heptonstall. You can find photos of the rather untidy graveyard at Heptonstall here.
Also of course Sylvia Plath buried far from her homeland.
It is useful to know the origins of the quote about not caring about politics.
ReplyDeleteYes Andrew it must have been quoted many times.
DeleteOh how I agree with you Thelma. I have stopped watching the TV news but I will always be interested in politics and I despair when people say they cannot be bothered to vote and remind them what a privilege it is. There’s an old house on the crossroads into Petworth where hangings took place which gives me a chill when I drive past. There is also a newish small housing estate further along the road which was the site of the courthouse and prison. One of my book group friends lives in one of the new builds and is researching the history which she shares with the group when it is her turn to host. She’s turning up some fascinating stuff. Petworth is still a busy bustling market town and still intersected by two main roads (nigh impossible to bypass because of Petworth Park and the Shimmings valley which encircle the town) ) and has the most fascinating history and mostly it is well-documented by the Petworth Society. Such sad news from our friend Bovey Belle. Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how people experience 'evilness' in particular areas Sarah, whether because it is an unconscious act to attribute it to a particular spot or whether it really is. Yes it was very sad news about BB but I think she has the courage to be strong.
DeleteSometimes the politicians themselves don't appear to care about the issues outlined by Martha Gellhorn. Lets hope at least some of the new recruits to parliament manage to steer clear of the senseless squabbles.
ReplyDeleteIt is infuriating when they start slanging words across the floor in parliament John, sometimes it looks like a deliberate act to stop the passage of bills and just descend to the playground and bullying.
DeleteI just picked up Plath's The Bell Jar yesterday from my library as it was mentioned in another blog last week.
ReplyDeleteGosh, people can sure get up to some crazy ideas when they form a mob!
Fear is a funny thing Ellen and ignorance rather frightening, I think Plath was prone to depression and married to a man who played around, the mix did not go well. Sad really for both were clever.
ReplyDelete"Never underestimate stupidity in large groups." We are seeing that here, in spades, really. A few crazy ideas take root in a group, are validated, and trumpeted, and suddenly you've got a lot of people very upset about what amounts to a piffle. Nothing. Poor man.
ReplyDeleteGroup thinking can be dangerous Debby. We have just witnessed a terrible tragedy of a 17 year old running amok with a knife and killing three beautiful children and seriously injuring 6 others. But last night a far right group decided to enter the arena and spark controversy. You can see their motivation in inciting race hatred but what a wretched thing to do.
ReplyDelete