Time future

He was a young, wiry lad, but he knew how to keep his fifty odd herd of cows under control and on the move. He was helped by his dogs, and a stick to prod a reluctant animal came in useful. Keeping them moving, always moving, was the thing. Allowed to graze from time to time at the sides of the wide rough track, but always moving on.

They had covered many days of walking since they set out from the borders of Scotland. And they still had a few days of walking left before they made it to the English markets in the south. At 10 to 12 miles a day it was hard, but he was tough and he was proud to be a drover.

Then it happened.

Just as he was approaching the turnoff towards Lambrigg, his next resting place, he was suddenly aware of something in the distance. Where there was a few minutes before, only fields, hillside and trees, there appeared, as if out of mist, a massive wall, but a wall with arches. So high was it that he had to crane his neck to see the top. He had never in his life seen anything like it. Then, as he stared, scarce able to believe his eyes, there was a rumbling noise and lots of steam and something like a long wagon moved across the top of the wall in front of him.

Just as suddenly as it had appeared, the whole thing disappeared and he rubbed his eyes, thinking he was tired and was dreaming. But he felt deep within him a strong sense of foreboding.

Then he heard another noise. This time it was behind him. As he swiftly turned, he found he was looking at another huge bridge, but this was white and looked like great lumps of stone. On top it it seemed like lots of huge insects were moving very quickly across the horizon, flashing past his eyes and into the distance. Now he felt a much greater fear.

In a few seconds, it was gone and the only sound was from the cows, still grazing by the side of the road. Shaken, dazed, he gathered himself together.

'Get a move on you lot, we have a few miles to go before dark.'


Time present and time past
Are both perhaps present in time future,
And time future contained in time past. T S Eliot


This is a typical drove road with the wide grassy verges and walls at each side. It is a road off the A685, not far from Sedbergh. Andy Goldsworthy built his arch here, as he liked the arches in the viaduct. The railway over the viaduct is closed, but behind me as I was taking the photograph is the M6. The road we are on went under it just a few yards back. It was the coming of the railway that was one of the factors that brought droving to an end by the mid 19th century. It was the building of motorways that helped to bring an end to many local railways. So the world moves on.