Stan Laurel went to school in Gainford, that’s more than enough of a reason for a visit.
The church has a fine collection of cross slabs lining the porch walls
Inside the church a beautiful pair of carved stones
There is a dragon carving on the opposite face of the second stone, it is almost impossible to see the carving as the stone is close to the wall and fixed into the floor. A photograph of it can be seen here
The house next to the church has an impressive piece of garden architecture.
A path from the churchyard leads down to the Tees, its water stained with Pennine peat
A boulder, transported from the Shap Fells.
Peg Powler patrols the banks.
A wall blocks access to a broken Bailey Bridge, many of its boards are missing and one of the supporting columns has been washed away.
With no convenient river crossing, the distant dovecote will have to wait.
Return to the village, I stop to admire this lovely Festival of Britain bench.
Stan Laurel, a hidden dragon & peg powler Stan Laurel went to school in Gainford, that's more than enough of a reason for a visit.