Comments

Sam Knox
Awesome shot.
I've lost count of the number of times I've driven this stretch of motorway in the dead of the night.
I can visualise the spot where you have your tripod set up too.
Funny to think that I've driven past that spot so many times, and there could have been someone up there with a camera capturing my tail lights as I went streaking past.

I had heard that story about the farm house too, and thought it was brilliant, but I heard the story with a slight twist.
I was told that in years gone by - maybe as much as 200 to 300 years ago - the house was owned and lived in by a blacksmith.
On one occasion, the kings royal procession was making its way across the moors, and found itself in sudden need of a blacksmiths services, ans a great number of the horses needed to be re-shod.
The story goes that the blacksmith in this house did the work and refused payment simply because it was for his king.
The king refused to let this act of kindness generosity and patriotism go unrewarded, so he issued a royal decree protecting the house and the family and descendednts of the blacksmith.
As the story goes, the king declared that so long as a member of the blacksmiths family continues to live in that house, no-one will ever be able to remove them from it.
When the builders came to evict the 1960's resident so they could build the motorway, he produced the historic royal document awarded to his great great grandad, and told the builders to sling their hooks.

I don't know if there's any truth to this version of the story. I don't even remember who told it to me. But I think about it every time I drive past that we house.

CMP73
I like that story. I'm prepared to believe it.

sjbmuse
Lovely shot, I too know this road well as my partner lives in Blackpool and we're always shuttling backwards and forwards.

The BBC series Motorway last year said that there was no truth in the story about the farmer not moving, it was all down to the ground not being suitable and I seem to remember a program about them on Radio 4 last year. It's a lovely urban myth though.

Jay_Ell
Blacksmiths, kings, royal processions, decrees and acts of kindness - all from a photograph. Shows that it was worthwhile making the journey to get the shot. A marvellously evocative photo.

duncmc
Liking that one Carl! The crop/angle really makes it – great thumbnail too.

tonecoach
beautiful views over the pennines, I used to go to Liverpool every year when my Dad drove us, it took us 5 or more hours and we watched the motorway being built, now it takes 2, but I still enjoy travelling over this stretch... tone...

Cookie_lady1
wonderful capture - it would be nice if the stories were true but still a great piece of engineering.

chris875
Great shot Carl really is a good shot, i like this better than the first one. its a great story behind how the farm house has remained in place. i guess we will never know the true reason but who care's i like the myth :)

debonair bridge
Great shot. The angle is funky but the headlights have come out brilliant