Rotary Ramble No.8

The day dawned bright and clear.........wait a minute, no it didn't, it was blowing a blizzard when we met outside Ramside's Golf Club and took the brave decision to set off, lead on this occasion by 'she who must be obeyed' or the Inner Wheel President or 'wor lass'.

Ploughing through the drifting snow we made our way up the golf course, strangely deserted, to the Ramside Farm, from which there would have been a lovely view Northwards but for the white out. On then to Pittington and the Black Bull Crossroads.

The village of Pittington, made up of the original settlement - Low Pittington, High Pittington and Littletown. It is in the parish of Pittington which once extended to Durham in the west, Easington in the east, Houghton-le-Spring in the north and Kelloe in the south. The village nestles at the foot of Pittington Hill which is situated four miles south west of Durham. Its name derives from Pitt or Pytta, being the name of the chieftain and his clan, and Dun - the Hill. In the 12th century it was known as Pitting dune.

We made our way down Lady Peace Lane [of which more later] to St. Lawrence's Church.The parish church of St Lawrence, Hallgarth was originally built in 1050 and was at one time the only church between the river Wear and the North Sea. It was largely rebuilt in 1846-7 by Ignatious Bonomi. There is a rich variety of Norman and early English architecture with traces of a Saxon edifice. Inside there are 12th century wall paintings depicting the consecration of St Cuthbert by Archbishop Theodore, and Cuthbert's vision at the table of the Abbess at Whitby. Unfortunately, the church is only open at certain times in the Summer, so we had to content ourselves with a stroll round the Churchyard, girding our frozen loins for the return walk.

Also in the church there is a tablet 'To the Memory of Mary Ann Westropp', who in her 18th year, on the eve of Sunday, 8th August 1830, was cruelly murdered. The beautiful young maid met her lover at Hallgarth Mill where the murder was committed. Her lover was executed at Durham on Monday, 28th February 1831. The ghost of Mary Ann is said to walk on Lady Peace Lane, and her cries were heard, borne on the wind, as far as High Pittington - but none claim to have seen her.

We were more interested in finding a warm haven and at last the Golf Club hove in sight, with a warm welcome from our support crew Mike Parker and Olwen Fife.

Snow ? Blizzards ? Ice-storms ? Hail ? We laugh in the face of such feeble attempts  - nothing stops the Rotary Ramblers !

Martin Leake