A Trip To The Blacksmith

i would love to be able to speak with you margaret as i also have ridden this same route for years and also went to the same blacksmith fantastic memories wish we could open the bridleway back up as new farm manager has erect gates across it

Hi Karen, what a shame they have put gates across the bridleway, I don't live in the area anymore, but surely I would have thought it would be a popular route for riders heading for the Wrekin, as we did. Has it not been used for a while? could it be classed as a old cart route/drovers road, back in the fifty's I remember the children from Uppington walking to Donnington school in all weather. In my time the land was run by Norman Crow of Beslow Farm and I think Everall's from Uppington, Mr Crow was a gentleman Farmer, he would let us children go anywhere so long as we kept to the Headland when crops were growing and we shut all gates after us, if we didn't, well he knew our parents.

Aparently they say it is not a bridleway but i have found an old map dating 1882 where i have found a right of way coming out at Beslow Farm from Horn cottages it's amazing how so many people from different generations and from different areas called it a bridleway, when it was diverted people obviously used it and called it a bridleway and it was passed down over the generations my riding instructor Barbara Preece told me it was a BridleWay and i rode it with her as a child up until 2000, Margret would Love to know how you came to know it as a bridleway? As Barbra is not with us anymore to ask as i will be fighting this for her and others for the future as charlton hill through to uppington via Beslow was her favourite ride. My friend said he used to drive down there and you could get straight through if there is any other memories of this would much be appreciated many many thanks.