White Moss Common lies at the southern end of Grasmere parish. William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy loved the area. I am fortunate to live at White Moss House, bought by Wordsworth for his son, Willie in 1827. The Wordsworth family lived at White Moss until the 1930s, a time when there were only two buses a day and very few cars on the A591 road, by which the house is located.
As a child in the 1950s I remember family outings from my home in Lancashire to White Moss for walks and picnics. At the time there was only space to park two cars in the car park.
In recent years the car park at White Moss has expanded enormously. On sunny days hundreds of people park to enjoy the beautiful walks to Grasmere beach, to climb Loughrigg Fell, or to walk around Rydal Water. Many of the paths have been rebuilt to allow access by wheelchairs and push chairs.
On a Bank Holiday weekend the car park is usually full to overflowing. Sometimes cars queue to find a space.
Friday 8 May 2020 was the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. The usual Mayday holiday was moved to the VE weekend. The weather was beautiful- dry, warm and sunny. The White Moss Car Park was empty. We had all been told to “Stay Home, Save Lives, Protect the NHS” because of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The road outside my house was very, very quiet. Police patrolled the car park and stopped cars and motorbikes that they suspected of travelling to the Lakes on “non essential business”, something the government had banned.
I took photographs of the empty car park, and whilst doing so chatted to police in a patrol van. Moments later they set off with lights flashing to check on a passing pair of people on motorbikes.
The A591 is the main road though the lakes. It can be very busy and noisy to live near. This weekend the road has been very quiet. Whilst is it lovely to sit in my garden and hear the birds, I am really looking forward to a time when the road is busy again, the car park is full, and Covid -19 is just a memory.
Sue
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What a lovely, reflective piece Sue. Isn’t it interesting how the absence of things (traffic, noise, people) conjures up memories and creates different opportunities, experiences (listening to the birds; chatting to the police; a quiet and sunny bank holiday). Reading this today, ten days after you wrote it, time has moved on again, as guidance changes. Still looking forward as you say to Covid-19 itself being a memory.
Further west from Grasmere & White Moss, towards the Solway, I remember as a child in the 50s my Great Uncle Walter driving us about on holiday jaunts (very slowly, little other traffic) and the landmarks that my Gran used to let us know we were “nearly there” — Drumburgh castle, a tree leaning across the country road “like an old man with a beard”. I live out this way myself now and still find myself looking out for him, leaning across the road!
Replying to Sue’s – Empty Carpark post “I am really looking forward to a time when the road is busy again, the car park is full…”
Be careful what you wish for!
Only todays overcast weather is giving the car parks, the roads, the police and the many rangers who have been trying to manage them – as well as the local residents – a well needed rest from the chaos and noise of the last couple of weeks.
Let’s hope for a little more respect in the coming months.