The gorgeous village of Harrold

Robin wanted to go to Harrold Bridge in Bedfordshire for the day because he’d been told it would be a good place to go canoeing. So we went with Hugo and Xavier. It turned out to be the most lovely English village, on the bank of the river Ouse and surrounded by water meadows. In the centre of the village, there was a village green, with a circular stone 19th century lock-up (no longer in use) and a building with a roof, but open to the elements, that is known as the Buttermarket. Whilst Robin and Hugo battled it out in the swollen river, by the millhouse, Xavier, Rufus and I explored the village. In one street, there was a stream running down the side of the road and all the houses had little stone bridges over the stream to their front doors. The style of church spire in the village and surrounding area is very lovely, a tall, sharp elegant shape (as different as it is possible to be, from the dumpy little tower of our own St Leonard’s in Sandridge). These lovely spires that can be seen for miles around are pierced by windows that become smaller and smaller as they go up the spire.
At one point Xavier suggested we sit down on the bench in front of the Harrold community centre, so as I could see The Oakley Arms pub right in front of us I grabbed the opportunity to quickly sketch the view. Soon after, having rolled over several times in the river, Robin and Hugo had had their fill of canoeing, so I suggested lunch at the Muntjac pub just round the corner of the view in the picture. After a tasty lunch we headed home, but I’m sure we’ll be back as it seemed to offer a perfect combination of canoeing, walking and sketching opportunities.

205mm x 145mm pen and watercolour in delicious Roberson watercolour sketchbook