Posted 11 years ago
vetraio50
(756 items)
The Valentine's Series card numbered 2306 is a photo of the "Strid". The Strid is in an ancient mainly oak woodland along the River Wharfe in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales near Bolton Abbey. Over hundreds of thousands of years billions of gallons of water have gradually eroded the rocky bed of the river; the water action has gorged out a deep channel through which the waters of the river Wharfe are squeezed at an incredible force.
Just 750 feet upstream of the Strid the river Wharfe is around 80 feet wide, this narrows to about 20 feet at the start of the Strid, a series of deceptive waterfalls follow.
At its narrowest point the Strid is only about 6.6 feet wide and foolhardy visitors have attempted to jump across the roaring chasm.
But here's the catch: it is is 30 feet deep here!
Failure to complete the leap is invariably fatal.
There is no recorded incidence of anyone having survived a fall into the thundering waters of the Strid - which mercilessly sucks its victims into the underwater caves and eroded tunnels which lie hidden underneath each side of the rocky channel.
Needless to say, the Strid is an extremely dangerous place!
Wordsworth speaks of this danger in his poem of 1888 already quoted here on CW:
Young Romilly through Barden woods
Is ranging high and low;
And holds a greyhound in a leash,
To let slip upon buck or doe.
The pair have reached that fearful chasm,
How tempting to bestride!
For lordly Wharf is there pent in
With rocks on either side.
This striding-place is called THE STRID,
A name which it took of yore:
A thousand years hath it borne that name,
And shall a thousand more.
And hither is young Romilly come,
And what may now forbid
That he, perhaps for the hundredth time,
Shall bound across THE STRID?
He sprang in glee,--for what cared he
That the river was strong, and the rocks were steep?-
But the greyhound in the leash hung back,
And checked him in his leap.
The Boy is in the arms of Wharf,
And strangled by a merciless force;
For never more was young Romilly seen
Till he rose a lifeless corse.
Now there is stillness in the vale,
And long, unspeaking, sorrow:
Wharf shall be to pitying hearts
A name more sad than Yarrow.
THE FORCE OF PRAYER; OR, THE FOUNDING OF BOLTON PRIORY
Many thanks GARY 'n SEAN!
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! :) Great posting!!!
I know people like The Strid!!
I will call them that now.....
Many thanks KAREN.
Deep and dangerous waters!
Many thanks AGHCOLLECT!
Many thanks NUTSABOTAS!
Many thanks TOM61375!
You are very welcome, I always look forward to & enjoy your new additions! =)
Many thanks again Tom and to you too AIMATHENA 'n PHIL too!
My pleasure vetraio50! =)
Many thanks INKY!
Sad poem! But these post cards are England and they seem like wilderness of Alaska or something! I had not thought of England this way even though I have visited two times! I really enjoy these!
Many thanks DON 'n MIKELV!
To tell you the truth Don, many of these cards remind me of the Australian bush too!
Your very welcome Kevin!!
Many thanks VANSKYCOCK, LEAH, ANTIQUES IN NJ 'n PWCOLLECTOR too!
Many thanks ANTIQUES IN NJ!
Many thanks TONINO 'n POPS52!
Many thanks KERRY104546!
Many thanks BRACKEN3!
Many thanks LISA LIGHTING!
Many thanks GEO26E!
I love history and postcards are a great way to learn and remember, Thank You for posting and I will continue to return to the postcard category and enjoy.
Many thanks CAPERKIS & DLPETERSEN !!!
Many thanks NH10 !! !! !!
Oh to be so close to the woods !!! I envy you.
Many thanks VINYL & COULDBE !!!!!