~{nilheadimage~=142931~}
We're still on a quest to track down Nottinghamshire's ~{purplepost~=1353~;text~="thankful villages"~;target~=maplebeck~}. Today's little focus of gratitude was Wigsley.

The village was mentioned in the ~{link~= https://www.hugofox.com/community/wigsley-village-13420/home# ~;text~=Domesday Book~;target~=wigsley~} of 1086, but its Anglo-Saxon name suggests it has still more ancient origins.

It's a quiet little place now, with no church of its own, and no pub, shop, or playing field.

But it was probably very different during World War II, when the RAF Wigsley Aerodrome was in operation: "Used primarily for training heavy bomber air crews, over the course of the war the base was home to various types of bombers, including Hampdens, Manchesters, Stirlings, and the famous Lancasters. Upon the cessation of hostilities, for a short time RAF Wigsley was put to use as a Displaced Persons’ Camp housing mainly Eastern European refugees."

~{nilimage~=142945~;dir~=V~;alt~=airfield~;caption~=Wigsley also made aerial history during World War I~}
~{nilimage~=142943~;dir~=V~;alt~=harby~;caption~=Neighbouring Harby, sadly the site of another ~{link~= https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/153779 air crash ~;text~=air crash~;target~=aircrash~}, in 1957~}
~{nilimage~=142944~;dir~=H~;alt~=chapel~;caption~=Wigsley has no church, but there is -- or was -- a chapel~}
It was a super-grey, cold, foggy day when we did this walk. The world looked like a sepia photo, with just the foreground hand-tinted.

~{nilimage~=142919~;dir~=H~;alt~=harbychurch~;caption~=Looking towards Harby~}
~{nilimage~=142938~;dir~=H~;alt~=drain~;caption~=Wigsley Drain~}
But the splashes of colour stood out even more markedly in the prevailing gloom:

~{nilimage~=142930~;dir~=H~;alt~=wheels~}
~{nilimage~=142934~;dir~=H~;alt~=aircraftcrossing~}
~{nilimage~=142940~;dir~=H~;alt~=apples1~}
~{nilimage~=142918~;dir~=V~;alt~=apples2~}
~{nilimage~=142941~;dir~=H~;alt~=yellowfield~}
~{nilimage~=142942~;dir~=V~;alt~=mangoldwurzel~}
Part of our route followed the former Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast railway line, now part of the Sustrans network.

~{nilimage~=142935~;dir~=H~;alt~=tunnel1~}
~{nilimage~=142937~;dir~=H~;alt~=tunnel2~}
Very enjoyable, despite the rawness. Three thankful villages down; just one to go...