It was in the village of Birstwith in Yorkshire, England that Emily celebrated the Valentine’s Day of 1980. She had been touring the English countryside during a fortnight vacation and decided to linger in the village.
The medieval wool trade thrived here. There was an open park area that was redolent of its past history and fields of flowers waving in the February breeze. Residents lingered all about the park sharing ice cream and gossip because the weather had already turned warmer.
Railroads brought change to this sleepy hollow and an increased population. The speed and smoke of modern times does not change the ideal of a quiet village where neighbors know one another.
Emily was staying at a miner’s cottage which had become a bed and breakfast. The cottage had been decorated in all things Valentine and breakfast included heart-shaped pancakes and sausages. The cottage was thatched and secluded just past red rose bushes that would burst in profusion soon.
Emily planned to buy some quaint Valentines at a local shop just down the main street. The shop was situated between the Methodist church and an inn. Serving the Irish Guinness and pork pot pies. The church tower was built of the pale local chalk clunch in 1876.
She had reservations at Watercress Lodge for afternoon tea and to tour the classical manorhouse made of bricks using local clay. She found this village to be enchanting and just perfect to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Wordsworth’s “solitary hills” loomed above the village stone houses and many cottages. Sheep grazed on the banks of the slow stream. Cottage gardens were everywhere with lilies and potatoes sharing the space.
No one can seem to remember how Pudding Bag Lane got its name. Immigrants had introduced farming to Britain around 4,000 B.C. Farmers ploughed the soils with ox-drawn ploughs raising barley and wheat. Roman influences can still be seen with the village roads, fields and some Roman baths.
Emily so enjoyed her afternoon tea with its strawberry scones, cremes, hot tea and various desserts. She walked around the cobbled lanes and remembered her sweetheart back in Philadelphia. They would meet upon her return and share another Valentine’s Day then. She and Edward were discussing a possible marriage later that year. After two years of courtship, she felt it was the right decision. They both were teachers with the same values and manners. Both straight arrows.
The origin of St. Valentine’s Day might have begun with an ancient Roman festival. The Lupercalia had the young choosing partner names from a box. Or it might have begun with two early Christian martyrs named Valentine. Samuel Johnson wrote in 1755 “Now all nature seem’d in love. And birds have drawn their valentines.”
Enjoy this season of hearts and cupids and flowers and laughter.