No.33 The Old Ways

The little town, where the little girl lived, had a pathway that was called “The Green Road”. It wasn’t a pathed road. There was no cobbles or tarmac on it. It was a dirt track overgrown with grass and with thick hedgerows and trees on both side, almost completely overgrown in the summer. A road that went straight up the hill out of the valley and into the country side.

It was an ancient road created by centuries of travellers taking the most direct route in and out of the side of the town, down to the bridge that crossed the river. No doubt the invention of motorised vehicles, which were too big and heavy to use what became a foot bridge, were the reason that stretch of road fell into disuse. The road was left to wildlife and recreational walkers.

The little girl liked to visit the Green Road. She imagined the people of the past that walked to and from the town or rode in horse drawn carts bringing goods to sell in the market. Were they excited to be coming into town from the farms and villages? How busy with that steep road on market days? Did the horses struggle to pull the laden carts? Maybe the people got off the carts and walked to make it easier for the horses? And how very muddy it must have been during the winter months!