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View from the top of the bank c 1915

Day-to-day life in the village

"You can't sneeze at one end of the village, without someone saying "Bless you" at the other!" is how one resident jokingly described Blanchland's community, still close-knit into the 21st Century.

People who are used to the anonimity of a big town or city may find the village 'grapevine' an uncomfortable encroachment on privacy, but isolated communities have always pulled together and supported one-another through difficult times. On sunny days when things are going well, it's harmless gossip over the shop counter; but through the dark days of hardship or tragedy it provides comfort and strength.

In this section we look at different aspects of daily life in Blanchland, and how the qualities that made it so special in the past live on to this day.