The view from Solsbury Hill is no longer what it was when it inspired a single by Peter Gabriel, former lead singer of Genesis, in 1977.
To the dismay of residents, it has been scarred by building and excavation, and next week Gabriel joins their fight to save what he calls “one of the most beautiful valleys in the West of England”. Just as appalled is the television presenter Jonathan Dimbleby, who sold the land on which the unapproved construction has taken place.
The Woolley Valley, where Gabriel once lived, is a mile from Bath, a patchwork of steeply sloping fields, winding lanes, farms and stone villages.
The Woolley Valley is indeed gorgeous…not quite as fantastic as the valley to Bradford on Avon past Avoncliff mind but pretty good.
Only one slight problem with the intro to this piece though.
The actual lyric is:
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Pendancy aside, where’s the condemnation of these idiots for their advocating theft of people’s private property?
“Just as appalled is the television presenter Jonathan Dimbleby, who sold the land on which the unapproved construction has taken place.”
Perhaps he shouldn’t have sold it then. Or retained a small piece and put a covenant on the rest to prevent construction. But then, it might not have sold with such restrictions.
s/pendant/pedant/
“s/pendant/pedant/”
In joke. From a Polly Toynbee piece…..