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Ah for a place in the country!
We compare rural bliss with life downtown ... but expect some surprises.
Those stereotypes about roses round the door and grey grimy towns aint always true you know!
Roses round the door, a beck at the bottom of the garden, birds twittering outside. It sounds idyllic and it would be if it was true. Rural life may sound like bliss but its not all rosy-faced kids, jam-making and communing with nature.
 | | Fell ponies behind Murton Fellgate |
Take Murton, a small fell-foot village just outside Appleby. It looks like the perfect rural retreat. But theres no shop, no post office, no pub, no school and there isnt even a bus service to get you to town. When it snows, the roads are a nightmare, and then there are the problems you would never anticipate. Pam Lawrence has some very friendly rabbits who seem determined to bury under the house and up into her bedroom!
 | | Pam and her dog ... not a natural rabbiter! |
Village life has changed over the years. When Harry Beadle first moved here in 1936 there was a healthy social life in Murton.
There was a Reading Room for farm workers with a billiard table, darts and cards and you could go to a dance nearly every night of the week. Its a far cry from today.
Even the pub at nearby Hilton closed last year so its far harder for locals to get together over a pint for a bit crack.  | | Harry Beadle in front of Murton Pike |
There were six farms in Murton back in the sixties but there are just two left today.
Many of the barns and outbuildings in the village have been renovated and bought up by people from as far afield as Essex, Kent and London. Hear Harry Beadle talking abouthis mumwho couldpoach pheasants even though she only had one leg!
You often hear of problems between so called off-comers and locals but in Murton there seems to be a pretty good rapport between the two.
Most folks accept that village life has to change. Farming has declined and its inevitable that newcomers will move into such a pretty area.
Theyre also well aware that people from out of the county generally bring good ideas, enthusiasm, and a welcome injection of cash.
 | | Alan Ormrod at the Fellgate |
One way that people manage to keep abreast of whats going on in the village is through 'The Villager', an extremely comprehensive newsletter edited by Alan Ormrod. It includes potted histories of everyone new moving into Murton which is perhaps another reason why locals and newcomers get on so well. Theres no mystery and no secrets!
One woman arrived in the village to find that everyone already knew all about the PhD shed just finished. Which sounds about par for village life: people tend to know what youre doing before youve even done it!
Dont move to the country under the illusion that youll bathe in space and privacy. You wont. Hear Alan Ormrod talking aboutThe Villager And as for that peace and quiet? Well the worst thing about living in Murton for 13 year old Adam Waite is the noise. All those tractors waking him up at 7 in the morning.
Our hearts bleed! His sisters hate the fact theres no shop and no bus.  | | Anna, Adam and Amy Waite |
For most folks in Murton, though, the lack of a shop, post office and pub is just the reality of village life in 2002.
Most people have a car and nip into Appleby every day, anyway.
And the peace, tranquility and strong, friendly community more than make up for no bus and a short journey to get the shopping. More >> Life Downtown | 
