Berwick-upon-Tweed is an interesting English town near the border with Scotland, with three bridges crossing the Tweed. There are the Elizabethan Town Walls, Ramparts, Barracks, a ruined castle and quaint passageways like Dewars Lane, which dates back to medieval times. This is what it looks like today.
The white building on the right at the end of the passageway is now a Youth Hostel, Art Gallery and Bistro. It was built in 1769 and was originally a granary. Its fantastic tilted walls are the result of a fire in 1815, after which it was propped up rather than being rebuilt. It was used for storing grain up until 1985 and was then left unoccupied, gradually becoming derelict. It has recently been restored by the Berwick Preservation Trust.
The artist L S Lowry sketched it in 1936 on one of his many visits to the town and it is now part of the town’s Lowry Trail. Below is Lowry’s pencil drawing of the Lane.
And here is my sketch:
See more Saturday Snapshots on Alyce’s blog At Home With Books.
Such a narrow street, is it because there were less people and vehicles during Medieval times? Fascinating.
LikeLike
You haven’t said that your hairdresser is across the road and the lane can be seen from it.
LikeLike
Wow, that crooked or tilting wall is fascinating. Propped up, you say? Why doesn’t it fall down? Kind of close quarters in that lane. Might make me a little uncomfortable.
LikeLike
This is a fascinating shot. Just so much beautiful history where you live.
LikeLike
Beautiful sketches! I love the old medieval stonework and alleyways. I took several similar pictures on our trip to Germany last year.
LikeLike
That’s a great series of images of the lane. I love your sketch- it’s great.
LikeLike
I love the way you showcased the photo and the sketches…and btw, yours is awesome!
You have so many wonderful historic buildings, villages, etc. What fun!
Here’s MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT
LikeLike
Great shot, and an interesting history lesson 🙂
LikeLike
That is a great pic and love the pencil pic of it too. You are artistic!
LikeLike
I’ve never seen a place with buildings built so close to each other. Maybe you should be an artist, I like your drawing more than L S Lowry’s .
LikeLike
Very nice! It looks like your talented in drawing as well as photography.
LikeLike
Loved that street and both the sketches!!!
Here is my Saturday Snapshot post!
LikeLike
I love old parts of a city — they are always filled with the most interesting details! Nice shots!
LikeLike
I love it! Three takes on one spot … such a neat approach to this snapshot meme!
LikeLike
As an aside … do you know the famous painting of Petra? This view reminds me of that painting ….
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/petra/gallery/rediscovered.php?img=1&page=rediscovered/index
LikeLike
Aren’t little English towns the best? So many little beautiful places in which to get lost. Makes me want to go back!
Here’s my Saturday Snapshot.
LikeLike
Very nice drawings! Those buildings look so odd though, leaning back like that!
LikeLike
Hi Margaret,
Lovely picture and sketch, the light falling on the buildings at the top of your picture, lend it much more depth and warmth, than I am sure it would have had in Medieval times, but I love it.
We have just spent the day completing a couple of ‘Treasure Trails’ around a place called Bradford On Avon, a small market town just down the road from us, in Wiltshire. We discovered many small alleys and passageways, similar to your one in Berwick, parts of a town which is so close to us and yet which we have never really explored.
An interesting post, thanks
LikeLike
I love these posts where you show us glimpses of your world; and what a marvelous drawing!
LikeLike
Wow, this sounds like an amazing place to explore! It’s so neat to know the history of buildings.
LikeLike
I really enjoyed this post, and it reminded me of an afternoon I spent walking around in a small village in Bedfordshire trying my best to kill all my camera batteries. When a friend saw how many of the old cottages had “wonky” walls, she told me she’d be afraid that the building would collapse. I feel that those old buildings will be around long past the time that I’m gone!
LikeLike
Oh, I love your sketches. I wish I could do drawings of the places I visit, but I can’t translate what I see into anything meaningful and recognisable on paper. My father did lovely sketches of buildings and landscapes, my mother does beautifully detailed water colours (and so did her mother), while both my daughters can paint and draw. Sadly, the family’s artistic gene has passed me by.
LikeLike
Whenever I read a mystery novel set in old England, I picture lanes like this in my mind and it makes the scary scenes much more frightening. I can imagine the darkness in small lanes and not knowing who might be lurking there. Very interesting that the building was simply propped up!
LikeLike
I love streets and alleyways like that! I’ve yet to visit Berwick-upon-Tweed, but hope to one day.
LikeLike