Ruskin's View, Kirkby Lonsdale

 Ruskin's View is a set of 4 pictures inspired by JMW Turner's A Painting of a Cumbrian Landscape, or better known as Ruskin's View. I took my pictures from a similar position as the original artwork was painted, 2 looking in the same direction, and another couple looking south east from the vantage point.

The picture became known more commonly as Ruskin's View in the late 19th century when art critic, social theorist, painter and poet made the following 2 descriptions of the view of the Lune Valley,

"I do not know in all my country, still less France or Italy, a place more Naturally divine"

and in 1875,

"one of the loveliest views in England, therefore in the world"

The picture by Turner showed the Lune Valley and Underley Hall northwards away from the churchyard of St Mary's. It was sold for over £200,000 in 2012, as i'll never have that kind of money for a painting I thought i'd do the next best thing and visit and photograph the scene. This is under threat now as the local town council tries to raise £1million to help repair the banking that supports the footpath and area known as Ruskin's View. The banking was severely damaged in 2015 by Storm Desmond and bad weather since has forced it's closure until the work can be undertaken. Hopefully it's not lost for good.

The pictures were taken on the 4th April 2015 with a Polaroid is2132 Camera.

The 2 pictures above show the Lune Valley in a south eastern direction.

The picture above and below show the valley in the same direction and from a similar position as Turner's painting.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Radical Steps, Kirkby Lonsdale.

 The Radical Steps at Kirkby Lonsdale are a set of stairs down from the area known as Ruskin's View, Nr St Mary's Churchyard to the banks of the River Lune. The steps are over 200 years old, they were built for Dr Francis Pearson in 1820 to divert a public footpath away from his land. He was said to be radical in his political thoughts, and because of this and local opposition to the reroute the steps became known as The Radical Steps.

The steps are quite steep and uneven in places, there are about 86 to navigate and are not suitable for disabled person's or people with walking difficulties.

The 4 pictures below were taken on the 4th April 2015 with a Polaroid is2132.

The wall that runs the length of the stairs means that quite often the steps can be damp and slippery even on dry days, the wall blocking sunlight and wind from drying the steps.

The River Lune is seen running along the bottom of the picture, the steps leading down to a path the runs alongside the river towards Devil's Bridge.

Clicking any image should open a link in another window to the un-watermarked, higher resolution version on Clickasnap.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.