Not a Goldsworthy

When Goldsworthy was planning the Eden Valley Pinfold Project in 1996, he wanted to rebuild and place cairns inside nine pinfolds in local villages. Unfortunately he only managed six of them, as in three cases the villagers turned down his plans.

On Friday our walk took in two of these villages – Hartley and Winton. I had hoped to find the pinfolds on that walk, but failed, despite as I now realise walking right past one of them. This afternoon we went in search of them by car.

The one at Hartley is right by a stream. It is very neglected and overgrown and yet it is in the centre of the village. What a pity this one didn’t get rebuilt; it would have enhanced what is a very pretty village.

The one at Winton is the one pictured here. What a great position, just outside and above the village. Goldsworthy was particularly keen to work with this one because of its position and the commanding views of the hills. It too is looking neglected and very overgrown. What a lovely thing Goldsworthy would have made of it.

In his book, Goldsworthy talks about trying to persuade parish council members to let him work with this fold, to no avail. There really doesn’t seem to be any good reason for this refusal. However, I have since discovered that these two particular pinfolds have been Listed Buildings for a long time. I just wonder whether that was more likely the real reason he was not allowed to alter their character in any way. Although I would say he enhanced them, rather than anything else. And they don’t look very well cared for at all now.