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In the footsteps of the Romans In the footsteps of the Romans
(7 months later)
The county awakes to its first snow textured landscape of the winter. A scant covering, on unfrozen soil, but enough for the children to tumble out into snowballs, snowman building and careering down north facing slopes on a variety of contraptions; that is until they rub the snow away.The county awakes to its first snow textured landscape of the winter. A scant covering, on unfrozen soil, but enough for the children to tumble out into snowballs, snowman building and careering down north facing slopes on a variety of contraptions; that is until they rub the snow away.
Harper’s Brook is a significant tributary of the Nene, winding south-east from Corby, down a shallow valley, past Brigstock, Sudborough and Lowick, before jagging north and joining the Nene at Aldwincle. Between Sudborough and Lowick the valley floor is mostly still grazing land. One field contains a couple of dozen young Suffolk rams, thick set, black legs and head, and characteristically long and droopy black ears. They loaf about in little squads, watching us with mock disinterest.Harper’s Brook is a significant tributary of the Nene, winding south-east from Corby, down a shallow valley, past Brigstock, Sudborough and Lowick, before jagging north and joining the Nene at Aldwincle. Between Sudborough and Lowick the valley floor is mostly still grazing land. One field contains a couple of dozen young Suffolk rams, thick set, black legs and head, and characteristically long and droopy black ears. They loaf about in little squads, watching us with mock disinterest.
At Lowick the valley is dominated by the pale yellow stone of the substantial and elegant St Peter’s church tower. It has an octagonal “lantern” top storey, like the better known Fotheringhay church, but this structure is surrounded and braced by four large, pencil sharp turrets, one on each corner of the penultimate tower storey.At Lowick the valley is dominated by the pale yellow stone of the substantial and elegant St Peter’s church tower. It has an octagonal “lantern” top storey, like the better known Fotheringhay church, but this structure is surrounded and braced by four large, pencil sharp turrets, one on each corner of the penultimate tower storey.
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A new agricultural enterprise nestles next to Lowick – row upon row of straight, tensioned wires, over which are draped the crooked and curled brown stems of grape vines. This is perhaps not as unusual as it at first feels; vine pollen has been found in Roman deposits at Wollaston, a site just a few miles upstream on the Nene. While wine production in the UK more or less ceased in the first half of the 20th century, there is now a scatter of midland vineyards that stretches north, even into Yorkshire. Some of the vineyards have been operational for 15 years or more, including one just three miles away from the Roman vineyard site at Wollaston.A new agricultural enterprise nestles next to Lowick – row upon row of straight, tensioned wires, over which are draped the crooked and curled brown stems of grape vines. This is perhaps not as unusual as it at first feels; vine pollen has been found in Roman deposits at Wollaston, a site just a few miles upstream on the Nene. While wine production in the UK more or less ceased in the first half of the 20th century, there is now a scatter of midland vineyards that stretches north, even into Yorkshire. Some of the vineyards have been operational for 15 years or more, including one just three miles away from the Roman vineyard site at Wollaston.
Humans will adapt to a climate change by replacing crops that get harder to grow with others that are better adapted to the new conditions. Time will tell if vines and wines become a major part of Northamptonshire agriculture, but it is good that people are venturing and skills are being developed.Humans will adapt to a climate change by replacing crops that get harder to grow with others that are better adapted to the new conditions. Time will tell if vines and wines become a major part of Northamptonshire agriculture, but it is good that people are venturing and skills are being developed.