Here is a wonderfully atmospheric and historically interesting oil painting on canvas of a walker enjoying Oliver Cromwell''s ''Long Ridge'' (modern day Longridge inLancashire. It is thought, that Cromwell himself gave name to this ''Long Ridge'', as he made his way to the Battle of Preston in August 1648 - although I am sure that this might just be a wonderful story from the mists of history - either way it is very poetic and romantic so I love it.The painting depicts a fellow and his dog walking to the summit of Longridge Fell ( the most southerly of all the fells) , as he is about to pass through a five bar gate which is lit beautifully in the sunshine. You can almost hear the skylarks calling as they hover above the heather.The painting is signed WADE in an artists monogram, and dated 1852 in red to the lower left of the picture.In the distance the Ribble Valley snakes slowly and lazily into the hazy blue distance, as the fields stretch out and a herd of sheep graze on...