October afternoon in Cartmel Village

It's a lovely autumnal afternoon. Skies are a little overcast but the weather's fine and so I thought we'd visit the village of Cartmel in my county of Cumbria (north west England) and take a little walk around the old streets.

Cartmel is dominated by the ancient Priory which was built by Augustian monks in the 12th century. It is a wonderful old building that watches over the higgledy-piggledy cluster of houses that make up the village.

It is quite easy to slip back in time in Cartmel and imagine yourself living in the past but I'm afraid the many cars parked haphazardly sadly spoil this illusion.

I would be quite happy to live in any of the old village houses.

I love the pretty aqua shade of paint used at number 9, and just look at those window boxes.
 

Most house have no front gardens but to reach this little cottage you must open a pretty white gate nestling under an arched hedge of carefully clipped evergreens.

This little place used to be one of my favourite shops in the village but it closed several years ago and is now a private dwelling (and a very pretty one too).

If you lived in this little waterside home you could sit and dream all day on your terrace and throw the occasional morsels to passing ducks.

There are old properties tucked around every corner. Being of great age they often require major renovation work which seems to be what is happening here.

No two cottage are alike. Most are private homes but there are just a few shops.

Is this pretty bow window a shop or a home I wonder? Is that doggy real or is he a toy dog being offered for sale. Let's take a closer look ....

.... just as I thought...

he's a real dog, watching the world go by.  

I wonder what the little fellow is thinking.

Before leaving we'll take refreshments at the Kings Arms, an old hostelry that will have fortified many a weary traveller over the centuries. 

The afternoon sun has now dipped below the rooftops and I can feel a distinct autumn chill in the air. I think it's time to return to the car and head for home.

We'll go through the medieval gatehouse which once formed one of the entrances to the monastery.

As we pass more 'postcard pretty' cottages I fear you will hear me complain about the rash of wheelie bins that now blight our British streets and front gardens. Not so long ago our bins were concealed in back yards and emptied weekly but sadly not any more. Refuse collection is now done fortnightly and bins on wheels (wheelie bins) must be deposited at the front of properties or they will remain unemptied. This poor little cottage seems to be standing guard over a wheelie bin collection point.

 I love this vintage metal sign which dates from the 1930s.

Properties in Cartmel aren't offered for sale very often. I envy the new owner of this house. What a wonderful place to live.

Before we leave the old village let me tempt you with this old garden summerhouse adjoining the river. It conjures up images of afternoon tea and games of croquet on the lawn.

As always our car is parked under the old blue cedar tree in the shadow of the mighty Priory. The clock has just struck four and it is sadly time to leave this lovely place. I hope you've enjoyed your visit.

Until next time,
Eli

Comments

[Martha]

So beautiful. I love the cottage guarding the bins! If it is only every fortnight that the bins gather, I suppose I could "suffer" and live there!!
♥

[Joan K]

Eli, thank you for these beautiful shots ... I think my favourite is the garden summerhouse, but followed very closely by the blue cedar trees.

Joan in Winnipeg, Canada (a transplanted Mancunian)

[MissJulep]

Gorgeous & very relaxing!! I want to BE there!!

[Paula]

Dear Eli,

Thank you for sharing your beautiful England! I enjoyed my visit immensely! Cartmel Village is such a lovely and charming place. I can see why you like to visit it. I enjoyed reading the history you shared, and all of the lovely photos! I must admit, the one with the precious Westie is my favorite!!! He is such a handsome fellow, and I, too, would love to know his thoughts!

The aqua painted door is lovely and the window boxes are beautiful! How wonderful to live next to the water! It is so sad about the wheelie bins, but their name is certainly cute! Thankfully we just have to put ours at the curb once a week. The cottages are so beautiful, that I can easily overlook the bins. The old buildings and homes are simply amazing. Thank you so much for sharing.

Love, Paula

[Rhondi]

Oh Eli
I enjoyed my visit to Cartmel so much. There is no place I'd rather visit than a charming little town in England. I love the house, the winding roads, the gardens. I'd love to just sit in that pub, enjoy the atmosphere and have a lager and lime. You ar so lucky to live in such a beautiful place.
Thanks for taking me along too!
Hugs, Rhondi

[Penny]

We went to Cartmel this summer, and had a lovely time. However, we were driving out from the car park at the same time as the fair was arriving. Anyone looking at those narrow streets must realise that getting articulated lorries - with trailers - through the village was not particularly easy!

[Maggie]

Oh Eli, thank you for sharing your visit to the little village of Cartmel with us! It is lovely and your commentary was just like being there!
I adore the aqua door, the wee doggie in the window and the summerhouse,too.
I would love to play croquet on the lawn if only our garden weren'y so lumpy and hilly!
Sorry for being absent for so long but now I am back and getting back into the swing of things.
I must read all of the past entries so off I go!
xxx
Maggie

[Julie]

What a pretty place - I must make a visit, there are so many places in England I would like to visit....!

[Sabine]

What a lovely virtual walk I had! The little dog looks very happy, watching the world go by.

[Janine W]

Oh Eli it is all so quaint and beautiful and I can only imagine how old everything is - and the pic of the priory gave me goosebumps!! Thank you so much for sharing with us, you truly live in a beautiful country !! and you have such a way with words too xoxoxo

[Marqueta]

Dear Eli,

Thank you for sharing a charming bit of geography with us, yet again! I was shocked to discover that you have the same "wheelie bins" that we do :) . A woman needs to start designing some pretty ones; do you think it would work?

I would have had a hard time not kidnapping the little fellow in the window. Scotties used to be my favorite little dog, till I picked one up and realized how heavy they are! Westies look more my size.

Have a beautiful day,

Love,

Marqueta

[clarice]

There is just not anythign around you that is not stunning !!! beauitufl. Clarice

[Julie Old Crow]

there's an award waiting for you on my blog!

http://yummyminiaturefoods.blogspot.com/

I always have a good time here, checking out the blog entries but especially knitting those penguins!

Julie Old Crow

[Redwood House]

Hi Eli,
looks like a lovely day out in a lovely village. Hope there was a tea room to have tea and cake in.
Yes there is certainly a feel of autumn in the afternoons now, I actually like the chill in the air, lighting the wood burner and putting the kettle on for hot drinks.
I could give the little white doggy a home I'm sure Jenny would enjoy a furry friend.
Hope all is well with you and your family.
Jan

[Selia Renzetti]

Dear Eli,
I would love to live by the stream and throw morsels to the passing ducks. Everything is just simply charming. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful part of the world.
Blessings,
Selia