Especially if you go to get your eyes tested at Barnard castle

No, it was law. Immoral law which deserved to be broken, but that is no consolation to the millions who suffered greatly by going along with it.

To hear one of the most shameful periods in our legal history being brushed off as couple of months of half hearted barely observed lockdown is pretty disturbing.

Please point to the law.

Because you are just making stuff up now.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/pdfs/uksi_20200...

Restrictions on movement

6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.

Guidance was to not travel unless you had to.

Driving around still happened, as some of us need to do it to support systems. There were plenty of lorries and cars on the road.