Cross Keys

Today was another Penrith based day and another confirmation of one of the positive bits of being able to move back into the north of the county. I’ve been able to retain my supervisor and fortunately he’s on it. Realising the mood of the moment we decided to go for a route march in some fresh air for a bit of reinvigoration and airing of aggravations.
We passed the Cross Keys, which is close to one of William Wordsworth’s ‘spots of time’. Thomas Parker had a drink here before he was murdered by Thomas Nicholson who was subsequently hanged in chains nearby. It’s believed that part of the gallows became a beam in the pub. The young William was only five when he came across the rotten gibbet and was terrified. Here’s the relevant bit from The Prelude ...

‘I remember well,
That once, while yet my inexperienced hand
Could scarcely hold a bridle, with proud hopes
I mounted, and we journeyed towards the hills:
An ancient servant of my father's house
Was with me, my encourager and guide:
We had not travelled long, ere some mischance
Disjoined me from my comrade; and, through fear
Dismounting, down the rough and stony moor
I led my horse, and, stumbling on, at length
Came to a bottom, where in former times
A murderer had been hung in iron chains.
The gibbet-mast had mouldered down, the bones
And iron case were gone; but on the turf,
Hard by, soon after that fell deed was wrought,
Some unknown hand had carved the murderer's name.
The monumental letters were inscribed
In times long past; but still, from year to year
By superstition of the neighbourhood,
The grass is cleared away, and to this hour
The characters are fresh and visible:
A casual glance had shown them, and I fled,
Faltering and faint, and ignorant of the road’