Rural, Very Rural

A Memory of Eastry.

I'm guessing this is looking east from the Lower Street area over meadows and a cornfield with the Children's Homes to the right and the line of trees marking the brow of the hill of the Lynch. There was a pathway across that horizon. The word Lynch may even date back to old English before Anglo-Saxon times. On this chalky soil it can get very dry and the water goes down to the springs that emerge at the foot of Lower Street's Buttsole or at the bottom of Brook Street. From there is a little stream where we went for long walks along the brooks. We used to get tiny fish and other little water creatures. When the new water 'treatment' plant was installed there, we young boys were advised by the workman, "Better not drink that any more son!" The basis was .... you don't know where it's been. Far beyond the horizon is Northbourne and the word Bourne is another ancient word to do with water or a stream. The chalk landscape is typically steep scarp and gentle dip beyond. When the watertable is close to the surface then streams or ponds develop. The Lynch development was a way to retain water in the dry times and to drain it away in the wet seasons. Thus we find either pleasant meadows for livestock or cornfields. I am unsure of this exact location but the line of trees along the horizon give me a clue. It was certainly worth walking along that pathway with cool shade and views to either side, east or west. Perhaps these days our counsellor wouldn't let us go for countryside walks.