Twyford in Derbyshire was not a place I’d heard of. When I got there I understood why. It’s a quiet place, just the church, Hall, a few cottages and a farm.
This made it very easy for me to find where my picture of the day was painted. I’m looking for a cottage adjacent to the river but when I look downstream I can only see Twyford Hall. I take the photograph and walk to the church. On the way I see the twin of the cottage in the picture but it’s too far inland and perpendicular to the river. Either a cottage once stood where the Hall is or artist George Robertson used his artistic licence to move it.
An interesting fact about Twyford is that it once had a chain ferry across the river. It was in use until 1963. I suddenly realise that my next location listed only as River Trent Derbyshire is on the other side of the river at Willington. George must have taken this ferry across.
It’s a long way round ending with a bone shaking ride down a very narrow lane. If a tractor comes the other way I’m in trouble. I arrive, more nettles to contend with and I’m on the opposite bank looking over at Twyford. I can hardly believe the scene in front of me, nothing has changed here. Everything is the same as it ever was, apart from the view of the disused cooling towers in the distance…
