Every so often whilst dad is furtling around on the interweb he spots something unusual or of note that he did not know about in our local area.
Today was one of those occasions and, as a result, we ended up going to Brampton about 10 miles from the city, in search of the Capontree monument.
Our destination came about in a strange way following a search for walks around the reservoir at nearby Castle Carrock.
To cut a long story short, the web search brought back a walk that featured the monument. A monument dad did not know about or even where it was.
Travelling out of the city and past the airport we turned off the A69 and headed towards Brampton and the usual road we take towards Talkin Tarn.
Around half a mile up this road is a side road to our right Capon Tree Road.
Driving down past the half million pound houses we parked the car right in front of the memorial situated at the end of the lane.
With the constant buzz of traffic hauling up the A69 on the other side of the hedge we left the car and started to explore.
Capontree monument
The history of this well weathered monument dates back to 1904 when it was erected by public subscription.
It is not clear why it was erected in 1904.
The monument is in memory of the hanging of six of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s men in 1746.
The condemned men, it is recorded, were dragged through the streets of Brampton on a hurdle, a wooden frame, to the Capon tree, where they were hanged, drawn and quartered on 21 October 1746.
During the 1745 Jacobite Uprising, Bonnie Prince Charlie made Brampton his headquarters.
Carved into the front of the Capontree monument is the following text: This stone is placed to mark the site of the ancient capon tree under whose shade the judges of assize rested and upon whose branches were executed October XXIMDCCXLVI for adherence to the cause of the Royal line of Stewart.
Colonel James Innes – Forfarshire Regiment
Captain Patrick Lindesay – Kilmarnock Regiment
Ronald Macdonald – Clanranald Regiment
Thomas Parr – Manchester Regiment
Peter Taylor – Manchester Regiment
Michael Dellard – Manchester Regiment
On the reverse is the following carved text : Erected by subscription 1904. Hugh Jackson, Chairman Brampton Parish Council Henry Penfold Hon Sec and Treas.
A new metal or slate plaque has been screwed to the base of the monument erected by the 1745 Association in 2004. Following footpaths
Spotting a footpath sign to our right, we leave the Capontree memorial behind us and we follow the path up and over a small hill which exits onto a road.
Thinking on his feet, dad decides that we go left with the aim of heading towards the town of Brampton.
Always on the lookout for new sniffs, we follow a new path after a few hundred metres that leads into a field full of golden crops.
We both asked to be picked up so we could see our surroundings.
The grass was higher than us and it tickled our tummies as we walked through it. It was great fun as we found all sort of new sniffs heading to and from the adjacent hedge and into the field.
As the sun dried the crop, and you listened carefully over the top of the nearby road you could hear the crackle of the drying seeds almost ready for harvest.
It is really sad that many dog owners do not clean up after their animals.
When we see signs like this one on the right it really makes us wonder what has driven the two legger to install such a notice.
We always ensure mum has a handful of biodegradable nappy bags in her pocket and some tissue wipe every time she leaves the house ahead of a walk with us.
Having a few plastic bags has also helped out when she has spotted some berries in the hedgerow or as a temporary bowl filled with water from a tap or public loo sink.
Unusual building
Sadly our path along the edge of the field came out at the busy A69 and with not a break in the traffic we decided to return back towards the village.
Coming upon this unusual building we stopped for a few moments and tried to work out what it may have been for.
Eight small wooden doors opened into a stone built building with a very ornate vent stack at one end.
The doors were about 1m tall so not really human size, so could they possibly be a storage door, maybe for coal.
Do you know what this building is or was? let us know via the comments area below please.
Mum, being the age she is, said they were Hobbit houses, but we could see no Bagginses or Tooks!
At last we find Brampton
Our walk seemed to have gone on for ever as we travelled up and down loads of paths and lanes on our tour of Brampton.
Passing the old brewery, we noticed that many leaves had started to fall onto the paths, a sure sign the autumn winds and the cold winter is on the way. Thinks! Did it ever leave?
Our walks, are often quite random as we try and experience as much as possible whilst we are out of the house. Between the town and the old brewery is the telephone exchange.
A standard white building with a flat roof and the compulsory engineers vans parked outside.
Nothing strange in this apart from a sign indicating that behind this building, tucked away from sight is a remembrance garden operated by the Co-op.
Situated at the end of the lane and in a lovely quiet setting is the Murray Croft Remembrance Gardens.
We stay with dad whilst mum takes a look around the well kept gardens.
Sprouts
We end on a very positive note as we have found a new source of sprouts. Missing from our diet for quite a number of months we spotted some, actually Charlie just stopped and looked up to the tray, in the display outside the fruit and veg store in Brampton.
Refreshed with water and sprouts in our tummies, we started back up the hill towards the car in our circular walk around Brampton.
Until next time Buster and Charlie