AN “odd lump of stone” has been transformed into a new seat which now overlooks a stunning dale vista.
Stonemason Phil Townsend came up with the idea to create the seat.
It has now been installed on the side of the road at the top of Bail Hill, above and between Romaldkirk and Mickleton.
Mr Townsend explained: “I’m semi-retired now and using up odd lumps of stone that have been lying about in my yard for years.
“This one lent itself to being made into a seat, but at a third of a ton I needed machinery to put it into place.”
Mr Townsend turned for help to Cllr Ken Walton, a member of Mickleton Parish Council.
The parish council helped put down a slab base and paid for the seat’s transportation.
Mr Townsend, of Eggleston, hopes the seat will prove popular.
He said: “It’s been sited at a spot that has one of the finest views of Teesdale that I know, taking in the full sweep of the valley from Harwood to Barnard Castle – on a clear day.
“For folk who take the long steep walk up to the road along Bail Hill’s ridge, it’ll be a place to sit and have a breather, to pause and take in the beauty of this landscape.
“There are lots of places with more grandeur, more postcard appeal, but I never tire of this view, combining the homeliness of farms and villages below and the wildness of fells and sky above.”
He added: “I hope never to take it for granted, and with that in mind, I’ve carved a few words into the stone of the base, drawing attention to the view – and its value.”
Mr Townsend has made his mark across Teesdale through his work over the years designing sculptural stonework such as the pieces on display in Barnard Castle’s mini-golf course.
