Happy Holidays

If I can add to my previous comment. My greatest recollection of Ireshopeburn is perhaps of the village blacksmith. The heat from the open fire as I stood at the door and watched. The smell of burning hoof, the hiss as the hot shoe was cooled before being placed on the horses foot and the clang,clang of the hammer on the anvil. People feature largely in these memories. Mrs philipson who lived on the Wearhead road and always visited the Armstrongs when new visitors arrived. She brought with her, her beloved kaleidoscope which she left for our amusement when unable to get out due to bad weather; which incidentally I can't recall; or to while away the evenings. She also left a plentiful supply of coloured sweet and chocolate papers to place in the aforementioned piece of apparatus in order to create the necessary pretty patterns. Mr Featherstone lived two doors from the Armstrongs and his front room was utilised as a shop for the sale of footwear. Mrs Featherstone; no relation; lived in one of the cottages adjacent to the stream which ran through the village.Consie Milburn lived part way up the bank on the Burnhope road near to the Dawson's farm. Consie was renowned for her homemade pies which whilst delicious, I always found somewhat peppery. She was also the organist at the methodist church at High House. She later lived next to the church at St.John's Chapel and ran The Milburn House guest house.

My Great Grandparents Mary and Joseph Ralph Elliott and my Great Aunt and Uncle, Millie and Jack Gardiner lived at Snapcastle in Ireshopebrun from 1930's to 1990's. Consie played the music at my Grandmothers funeral at St Johns in 1981.Love visiting the dale and still go there now even though all except 1 relative are gone.