Mary's Heights: Roman Fell

Above The Clouds

By Christopher Gelder

Sometimes when storms around me rage,
In Memory's Book I find a page,
That makes me long once more to stand,
Upon the Hills of Westmorland.
To me it was indeed a joy,
When I was yet a Mountain boy,
To climb the Mountain near my home,
And stand upon its lofty dome.

One morning in the long ago,
The clouds were dark and hanging low,
The mist came down the Mountain side,
As if the lofty peak to hide,
I waited for the clouds to lift,
And when at last I saw a rift,
Away I went up Roman Fell,
Along the path I knew so well.

The path was steep and very soon,
I saw the clouds come farther down,
They hung around me like a veil,
And almost blotted out the trail.
But I was happy when I found,
That farther up on Higher ground,
The clouds were light and brighter grew,
And soon the Sun came shining through.

Up on the Mount the scene was grand,
T'was like a glimpse of BEULAH LAND,
Though round its breast the clouds were spread,
The Sunshine settled on its head.
I knelt upon the hallowed turf,
For HEAVEN seemed to touch the Earth,
God seemed so near I humbly bowed,
And talked with HIM above the cloud.
Oh Pilgrim, on the Narrow Way,
If clouds surround you day by day,
The Sun is brightly shining still,
For those who climb up ZION'S HILL.
Press on and up HIS Grace abounds,
Oh try to reach the HIGHER GROUNDS,
Oh leave behind the misty shrouds,
And walk with HIM Above the Clouds.

Dear Lord today I humbly PRAY,
For Grace to walk the NARROW WAY,
Oh let me never, never fail,
To tread the Onward Upward Trail.
And when my Pilgrimage is o'er,
And mists are gone forevermore,
Oh let me rest where naught intrudes,
And LIVE with HIM Above the Clouds.

Looking back towards Hilton…

I was told by one of the residents during my visit to Hilton, that the main occupations of the people of Hilton in the 19th century were farming and mining. The hills around Hilton are rich in lead. Two mines in the area, Murton Mine and Hilton Mine, were worked by the London Lead Company. If you look closely in the photo above, you will see three people walking down the path. To their right is a lime kiln (shown below) which was used in the early 1800’s. Behind them on their left, near where the fence crosses the stream, is an informational sign describing the area. That sign is also shown below. Take the time to read the sign – it talks about our ancient ancestors.

I love the picture below because it clearly shows the fantastic stuff the whole mountain is carpeted with. The turf is soft and spongy to walk on. It must be delicious as well – at least the sheep like it!! When I got to the high parts and was climbing on all fours, I could grab onto the carpet and it was strong enough to hold my weight. On the way down the mountain I sat on the carpet and slid – it was like sitting on a pillow!