Harrowfield Farms

Down the farm lane lie Harrowfield Farms: a mill by a pond, a farmhouse or two, fields of corn and field-stone, and a line of six scarecrows. The farmers work by day. At dusk the furrows open.

Bring a light, and bring friends. The heaps of stones in the Harrow field are not always stones.

Left: where Harrowfield Farms lies in the world (the lit box); click another place to go there. Right: the numbered circles are the landmarks listed below, and the small squares are where people live.

Landmarks

1. The third tine: The tallest tooth of the Old Harrow: four tiles of leaning dressed stone, moss on its north face, a ring of field stones round its foot.
2. The doll on the well: A child's straw doll sits on the well's rim, facing the fields. Its dress was blue once. Someone has tied its hair back with a bootlace so it can see.
3. Hobb's book of names: A flour-dusted ledger on a shelf inside the mill door, the miller's pencil tied to it with string.
4. The miller's board: A carved post by the field gate, tacked with notes in Hobb's square hand.
5. The old plough: A heavy iron plough lies at the south field's end, chains in the dirt. The share is bright, as if it was used last night.
6. The cart in the ford: A farm cart stuck mid-ford, one wheel jammed on the stones, the river talking round it.
7. The empty house: Dunn's house. The door is open and has been for a long time. Somebody sweeps the step.
8. The scarecrow line: Six scarecrows in a broken line across the far corn: Old Tom, Wet Tom, the Bishop, Mabel, Long Mabel and Gerald's cousin. Six. Count them.
9. The yard lantern: An iron lantern on a post in the miller's yard. Hobb lights it at dusk. The furrows don't like it.
10. The window candle: In the house's lane-side window, a single candle, lit every dusk for someone who doesn't come.