The village of Muker in Swaledale was our next stop, and a pretty little place it is, too. The area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Agriculture has always been its basic driver, although in the late 18th/early19th century lead mining was an important source of employment. Nowadays, tourism helps and the village has a couple of teashops, craft shops and a pub. And how do you pronounce its name? I'm fairly sure it's 'Mooka'. There is a very strong, historic dialect in the area, still spoken by some older residents. Swaledale is locally pronounced 'Swardle' and the local dialect uses many specific local words, especially farming-related terms, and ancient words like 'thee' and 'thou'. There is concern that the dialect is dying out and I believe recordings have been made in an attempt to preserve it.
Lovely villages and doesn't this sun show them at their best.
ReplyDeleteI remember passing through while walking the Pennine Way in 1976, a summer very similar to the one we're having now. It doesn't look as though Muker has undergone any drastic expansion in the intervening years.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet-looking village!
ReplyDeleteIt feels drawn out of time. That first shot is particularly idyllic.
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