I shall take you on a guided tour of my part of town. We are in the valley bottom, where the factories were built at the end of the nineteenth century. I don’t know what was there before. I haven’t seen any houses older than 1872. This area of the Chilterns has plenty of beech woods, which were used to make furniture, principally chairs. The process started in the woods themselves, as the Oxford Dictionary relates:
chair bodger A local name in Buckinghamshire for a chair-leg turner. Hence (chair-)bodgering, the action or process of chair-leg turning. 1911 G. ELAND Chilterns & Vale vi. 136 The men who thus work in the woods are called ‘chair-bodgers’. Ibid. 137 The purchaser then employs the ‘bodger’ to turn it [sc. a ‘fall’ of beech] into chair-legs. 1921 K. S. WOODS Rural Industries round Oxford II. i. 102 Most village turners or ‘chair bodgers’ confine themselves to the making of legs which they sell to the factories, mainly at High Wycombe. 1939 D. HARTLEY Made in England i. 23 The shed for bodgering jobs may be left standing the whole year.
Here’s a nearby hill, southeast of my house. The lads at bottom left are Polish. They are easily distinguishable from their English counterparts by their short haircuts and general eagerness to find work: picking up litter, road-sweeping, anything.
In this guided tour, we’ll end up at our house, in fact at the desk where this is written.
This will be an enlarged supermarket to complement the new shopping centre. It is ten minutes walk east from our house.
However, the local shops are here on Desborough road.
Here’s one of the local tyre depots seen from across a parking lot. But I was more interested in the clouds.
Another parking lot, again my head was in the clouds.Yet another parking lot, made available from a demolition. St Birinus Church in the background, where all the big West Indian funerals take place, blocking the traffic on the local shopping street (see above).
I like the Bridge Street Sawmills. They don’t waste money on smart frontage, but they are still in business.Our table and chairs from Ercol are exactly like theseThis one shows where the sawdust comes out from a local furniture factory. They don’t make furniture from scratch. There is only one factory in town which still does that, making solid wood tables, chairs and so forth. It’s Ercol.
The Saracen’s Head, a pub built in 1895. Since the district is now 95% inhabited by Saracens (Muslims) who don’t drink, its bars closed more than ten years ago.
The Saracen’s Head from the rear, with a view of The Pastures. As you see there is no pasture land there now. Our house is down at the bottom of the valley.
This old factory has been extensively “done up” (renovated).
This workshop stands opposite the derelict factory in the previous photo. In the foreground are things designed to sit on roofs, catch sunlight and take it down into illuminate interiors. They also make windcatchers, using an idea known for a thousand years to architects in the Middle East. They extract heat and stale air but unlike air-conditioning use no energy. The owner (pictured) is soon to retire. He doesn’t think anyone will take over this business (making fibreglass & plastic components). He can’t get any white person to work for him. They don’t like the hard work and the fumes. I nearly offered him my own services. But then I reflected that I don’t want to work in a factory and breathe acrid fumes either.This is now the largest factory building left in town I think, after the Broomwade factory was demolished in the last few months. That one was used for a scene in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Perhaps they built a sound stage in it. I hear that Johnny Depp nearly caused fainting of female staff at the local supermarket when he went there to buy a snack in between scenes.
This is taken from a dead-end part of our street. It shows the old school, now a community centre, with the old school yard in foreground.
Here’s another view of the old school, with Burt’s Hill in the background.
The factory opposite our house. It produces doors and laminated worktops, e.g. for kitchens.
View from our backyard, showing the row of houses adjoining ours.
Just after Karleen too down the dry clothes from the washing line. I love the trees. We’re growing tomato plants in the corner
Our backyard
View of the Pastures and our next-door neighbour’s backyard, from study windowthe same, 20 years later. Same neighbours, they’ve replaced their fence and hung lovely things from it. They used to look out on a multitude of bird-feeders, but gave up when they couldn’t keep out the delighted rats
where I wrote this postthe same, 17 years later
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30 thoughts on “In the Industrial Valley”
Totally enjoyed that trip Vincent, thanks for the tour. Nearest thing to being there. Thanks again.
Thanks Vincent, I read that! I also wanted to tell you that I snatched the photo of your desk and window, a masterpiece of Art that is!
Thinking, as you often were on your tour, about the sky, did it ever get stormy, was the day early and the activity burn off with the rising of the days sun?
Actually I took a copy of most of the pics Vincent to think about relative to some art things. They really show the area well and give me a sense of what I was saying on my blog to you, 'midtown'!
What we have instead of REAL 'villages' like yours is what were originally places of escape from diversity into homogeneity, suburbia usa…now however the diversity has slowly seeped out of the city and its 'midtown' areas into those suburbs, even under the watchful eye of the VC's.
I realize now you have an earlier post I haven't read, so off I go there, later Vincent.
Vicent, Thanks for thoughtful comments in my science of living blog. My responses are posted alongside.
When I clicked on your link I found four blogs and have not been able to locate where my original response went.
Glancing through your blogs it was apparent that you write very well and I shall certainly read through all or most of it in due course as time permits.
In the meantime it will be great to see you again in the science of living blog ( I have several others but they are not of much interest to most in general, each having a very narrow focus or niche)
Ashok, thanks for reminding me that it's hard to find my main blog out of the four displayed on profile. I have fixed that now. Any comments from Vincent on your blog or elsewhere will now point back only to A Wayfarer's Notes. Your original comments are to be found on this post.
Just finished reading through all four of your blogs Vincent, and have finished with a breathtaking tour of your town. Of all the views the one from your study window was most inspiring and I am certain you spot a mystery appear in that view from time to time.
Ashok, that is so true, I spot many mysteries: human, animal or inanimate. The sun rises over the hill; a bumble bee goes to its nest whose entrance is in a crack under a rooftile; two black cats fight on my neighbour's fence for the privilege of pretending to be my neighbour's pet; children, adults, drunks and drug addicts hang out in the children's playground; passers-by of all races, at all times.
No the chinese “take-away”, which I think you would call a “carry-out” is called Golden Sands.
And what you thought was a cherry tree is actually a bay tree, amongst other herbs hanging in troughs outside the kitchen door.
The cherry tree is faintly visible in the penultimate picture, the other side of the bench. I regret to say that my pride in it has gone for a vacation. It might come back, but the blossoms after flowering simply fell off without leaving any cherries. Perhaps it has to get a bit older before it can have babies, or maybe (as some people say) it's a male. If it doesn't perform in the next two years I may get rid of it. Sentiment is one thing, but there isn't much space in this yard.
Fascinating! I wonder, was that shop cut off on the right of the third picture a “golden buddha” restaurant? We have one in town here and I recognize the sign.
No one has yet mentioned your cherry tree in the fourth from last photo either. I imagined it to be taller, but now I see why you take such great care and pride in it.
Jim, yes most of the photos were taken on a day that threatened rain and in fact did rain. But some photos were taken yesterday, which also rained on and off. It is a rather cool August, quite typical for England. August is the traditional holiday time and has never been as reliable as June or July for hot weather. But the sea is warmer for swimming.
We don't really have a name for this part of town; neither a generic name like midtown nor a specific name as for a suburb. (I try not to mention town street or suburb names, so as to discourage search engines and give a bit of anonymity from neighbours etc.) A little detective work would easily pinpoint the location for anyone who tried, though.
But we never think of the place as a village. In fact with the new shopping centre and integral bus station (five minutes' walk away) we are now the place to come from miles around, so not a village at all.
Yes, I rather like the photo of my desk and window. It reminds me of a Vermeer interior, and has a large print of a Vincent van Gogh on the right hand side. But it was just a snapshot.
I always love to read these types of posts, both for the glimpse into lives, but also for what is chosen to show. It was a wonderful trip around your neck of the woods, Vincent. Thank you for sharing.
Indeed, Davo, I forgive you, and you are quite right. Then of course, the beauty of a blog is being on sovereign territory, where the author does what interests him, for he is under no contract to entertain his readers.
No, that isn't quite right either. It is a conversation, that is the way I see it.
These are excellent photos vincent. And thank you for all your encouraging comments. To respond to your last post, no, i don't think to much positive feedback will do me harm. I mean, not at this point, its not like I am showered with praises. But also, I think I tend to separate what someone may say positive about my work as a writer or an artist with who I am as a person. I realize that some terrible people can make great things, so regardless of the amount of praise I could theoretically receive, while it is meaningful to me, both in terms of increasing my confidence sharing what i do with others, as well as giving me perspective on what i do, since it is so hard to see one's own work fairly…man, what was i talking about? oh yeah, so while it is helpful and meaningful to receive positive feedback, I guess the harm that would come from too much praise, pride, hubris etc. would not, for me, result in a compliment on my external work. man. it is almost six am and this is now the second night with zero sleep. I feel as if i can't even keep a coherent narrative in my mind. I keep having to look back to see what i had been saying to see why I just wrote the last word i wrote or whatever. or whatevs.
oh, and just curious, you may have mentioned before, or I may know in my normal, non hypnotized weird state of sleep deprivation, but I was just curious how you came across my blog. Was it through the comments I was leaving on ray comforts blog?
On second thoughts, I'll continue here since you have deleted the initial comment I made on your post.
No it was not the comments on ray comfort's blog. Someone else's – it might come to me some time. Unless it was as a result of a google search. Sometimes I put down some keywords together with “blog”, to find something interesting.
I'm very interested in hypnopompic and hypnagogic things and also in questioning ordinary life and also in a general critique of accepted institutions and also in the subversion of everyday prejudice and reason.
These are some things I like about your blog as well as the spontaneous good writing.
i grew up in tilehurst, just outside of reading, berkshire, and went to primary school in a building not unlike the schoolhouse pictured in your town. the shopfronts on the old high street were much like the ones i frequented also and the light industry was very similar to the ones still working in reading when i was a boy.
in canada those buildings would have been knocked down years ago.
a wayfarer’s notes 
Totally enjoyed that trip Vincent, thanks for the tour. Nearest thing to being there. Thanks again.
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Oh didn't see this, just commented on yours. Did you read that you were the inspirer of my post?
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Thanks Vincent, I read that! I also wanted to tell you that I snatched the photo of your desk and window, a masterpiece of Art that is!
Thinking, as you often were on your tour, about the sky, did it ever get stormy, was the day early and the activity burn off with the rising of the days sun?
Actually I took a copy of most of the pics Vincent to think about relative to some art things. They really show the area well and give me a sense of what I was saying on my blog to you, 'midtown'!
What we have instead of REAL 'villages' like yours is what were originally places of escape from diversity into homogeneity, suburbia usa…now however the diversity has slowly seeped out of the city and its 'midtown' areas into those suburbs, even under the watchful eye of the VC's.
I realize now you have an earlier post I haven't read, so off I go there, later Vincent.
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Vincent,
I had fun on the tour, seeing things through your eyes that you see regularly.
Most meaningful for me was the sight of the desk you sit at to use the Internet.
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Vicent, Thanks for thoughtful comments in my science of living blog. My responses are posted alongside.
When I clicked on your link I found four blogs and have not been able to locate where my original response went.
Glancing through your blogs it was apparent that you write very well and I shall certainly read through all or most of it in due course as time permits.
In the meantime it will be great to see you again in the science of living blog ( I have several others but they are not of much interest to most in general, each having a very narrow focus or niche)
Regards and best wishes
ashok
[url]http://someitemshave.blogspot.com[/url]
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Ashok, thanks for reminding me that it's hard to find my main blog out of the four displayed on profile. I have fixed that now. Any comments from Vincent on your blog or elsewhere will now point back only to A Wayfarer's Notes. Your original comments are to be found on this post.
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Just finished reading through all four of your blogs Vincent, and have finished with a breathtaking tour of your town.
Of all the views the one from your study window was most inspiring and I am certain you spot a mystery appear in that view from time to time.
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Ashok, that is so true, I spot many mysteries: human, animal or inanimate. The sun rises over the hill; a bumble bee goes to its nest whose entrance is in a crack under a rooftile; two black cats fight on my neighbour's fence for the privilege of pretending to be my neighbour's pet; children, adults, drunks and drug addicts hang out in the children's playground; passers-by of all races, at all times.
LikeLike
No the chinese “take-away”, which I think you would call a “carry-out” is called Golden Sands.
And what you thought was a cherry tree is actually a bay tree, amongst other herbs hanging in troughs outside the kitchen door.
The cherry tree is faintly visible in the penultimate picture, the other side of the bench. I regret to say that my pride in it has gone for a vacation. It might come back, but the blossoms after flowering simply fell off without leaving any cherries. Perhaps it has to get a bit older before it can have babies, or maybe (as some people say) it's a male. If it doesn't perform in the next two years I may get rid of it. Sentiment is one thing, but there isn't much space in this yard.
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Fascinating! I wonder, was that shop cut off on the right of the third picture a “golden buddha” restaurant? We have one in town here and I recognize the sign.
No one has yet mentioned your cherry tree in the fourth from last photo either. I imagined it to be taller, but now I see why you take such great care and pride in it.
Thanks for sharing!
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Jim, yes most of the photos were taken on a day that threatened rain and in fact did rain. But some photos were taken yesterday, which also rained on and off. It is a rather cool August, quite typical for England. August is the traditional holiday time and has never been as reliable as June or July for hot weather. But the sea is warmer for swimming.
We don't really have a name for this part of town; neither a generic name like midtown nor a specific name as for a suburb. (I try not to mention town street or suburb names, so as to discourage search engines and give a bit of anonymity from neighbours etc.) A little detective work would easily pinpoint the location for anyone who tried, though.
But we never think of the place as a village. In fact with the new shopping centre and integral bus station (five minutes' walk away) we are now the place to come from miles around, so not a village at all.
Yes, I rather like the photo of my desk and window. It reminds me of a Vermeer interior, and has a large print of a Vincent van Gogh on the right hand side. But it was just a snapshot.
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Thank you for the lovely tour, I quite enjoyed it.
Was just looking at windcatcher designs yesterday, seems they are quite simple to integrate into a building if one bothers to think about it.
Most sweet cherries aren't self-pollinating, you need two or more. Tart cherries often are – I don't know which yours is.
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I love walking tours. Thank you for the peek into your world.
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I always love to read these types of posts, both for the glimpse into lives, but also for what is chosen to show. It was a wonderful trip around your neck of the woods, Vincent. Thank you for sharing.
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Great to see where you are, and looks like a nice spot to write.
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Looks like a Van Gogh painting on the wall of your study. Is it an original?
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Yes, Bob. It is an original poster of a Van Gogh exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art, which, if I am not mistaken, you gave to me 3 years ago!
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Thanks Hayden, Beth, Paul, Serenity for comments. I might do a tour of the inside of the house next.
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Forgive me, am much more interested in the mental journey and descriptions .. any idiot with a camera can post pics.
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Indeed, Davo, I forgive you, and you are quite right. Then of course, the beauty of a blog is being on sovereign territory, where the author does what interests him, for he is under no contract to entertain his readers.
No, that isn't quite right either. It is a conversation, that is the way I see it.
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Vincent, most important, I can't find your email, can you send me one so I can speak to you?
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Thankyou Vincent .. was being deliberately facetious and provocative. The pics are, indeed, an interesting peek into your part of the planet.
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These are excellent photos vincent. And thank you for all your encouraging comments. To respond to your last post, no, i don't think to much positive feedback will do me harm. I mean, not at this point, its not like I am showered with praises. But also, I think I tend to separate what someone may say positive about my work as a writer or an artist with who I am as a person. I realize that some terrible people can make great things, so regardless of the amount of praise I could theoretically receive, while it is meaningful to me, both in terms of increasing my confidence sharing what i do with others, as well as giving me perspective on what i do, since it is so hard to see one's own work fairly…man, what was i talking about? oh yeah, so while it is helpful and meaningful to receive positive feedback, I guess the harm that would come from too much praise, pride, hubris etc. would not, for me, result in a compliment on my external work. man. it is almost six am and this is now the second night with zero sleep. I feel as if i can't even keep a coherent narrative in my mind. I keep having to look back to see what i had been saying to see why I just wrote the last word i wrote or whatever. or whatevs.
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oh, and just curious, you may have mentioned before, or I may know in my normal, non hypnotized weird state of sleep deprivation, but I was just curious how you came across my blog. Was it through the comments I was leaving on ray comforts blog?
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oh, and really, these pictures are great.
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ok chris I am glad for your response but will continue by attaching my responses to your comments here to your latest post
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On second thoughts, I'll continue here since you have deleted the initial comment I made on your post.
No it was not the comments on ray comfort's blog. Someone else's – it might come to me some time. Unless it was as a result of a google search. Sometimes I put down some keywords together with “blog”, to find something interesting.
I'm very interested in hypnopompic and hypnagogic things and also in questioning ordinary life and also in a general critique of accepted institutions and also in the subversion of everyday prejudice and reason.
These are some things I like about your blog as well as the spontaneous good writing.
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Chris Almond: perhaps it was Paul Maurice Martin's blog that I saw your comments and linked.
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i enjoyed the package tour of english countryside. you are a nice tour conductor indeed. worth the price, i would say.
here it's for you: hugs (-:
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i grew up in tilehurst, just outside of reading, berkshire, and went to primary school in a building not unlike the schoolhouse pictured in your town. the shopfronts on the old high street were much like the ones i frequented also and the light industry was very similar to the ones still working in reading when i was a boy.
in canada those buildings would have been knocked down years ago.
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