7 Quirky Yorkshire Places to Visit

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Hortoris

As Monty Python had it what have the Romans ever done for us? ‘All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?’ Reg must have been a Yorkshireman in the ‘Life of Brian’.

York Cold War Nuclear Bunker

  1. York Cold War Bunker is the most modern and spine chilling of English Heritage’s properties. The York Cold War Bunker in Acomb York uncovers the secret history of Britain’s Cold War. read more
  2. Stanwick Iron Age Fortifications in Forcett North Yorkshire exposes an excavated section, part cut into rock, of the ramparts of the huge Iron Age trading and power-centre of the  most important tribe in pre- Roman northern Britain the Brigantes. Some 4 miles long, the defences enclosed an area of 766 acres. Following the Roman conquest the Brigantian centre moved to Aldborough the Roman Site (also worth a visit at Boroughbridge YO51 9ES ).
  3. Piercebridge Roman Bridge’s stonework foundations are now marooned in a field. The bridge once led to Piercebridge Roman Fort.
  4. Wheeldale Roman Road A mile-long stretch of enigmatic ancient road amid wild and beautiful moorland, still with its hard core and drainage ditches.
  5. Wharram Percy Deserted Medieval Village is the most famous and intensively studied of Britain’s 3,000 or so deserted medieval villages. Wharram Percy occupies a remote but attractive site in a beautiful Wolds valley.
  6. Burton Agnes Manor House A medieval manor house interior, with a rare and well preserved Norman undercroft and a 15th-century roof, all encased in brick during the 17th and 18th centuries.
  7. View artworks held by the National Trust and discover tales and 18th-century architecture on a visit to Maister House in Hull. Visit during Hull’s UK City of Culture year.
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7 Yorkshire Castles to Visit

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Hortoris

Image result for cliffords tower gods own county

We are not a warring race but Yorkshire folk have always defended their territory. Here is a selection of castles from former glory days that are now visitor attractions worth your time exploring.

  1. With its 3,000 year history, stunning location and panoramic views over the Yorkshire coastline, Scarborough Castle is one of the finest tourist attractions in the North.
  2. Skipsey Castle is an impressive Norman motte and bailey castle dating from before 1086 and among the first raised in Yorkshire. Earthworks were used to create a fortified ‘borough’.
  3. The castle is not the oldest part of Conisbrough as St Peters Church is the oldest building in South Yorkshire dating from AD 650-700. However by the time of the Norman conquest the manor was held by King Harold. In the 16th century the castle suffered neglect and eventually became a ruin but now happily benefits from some restoration. In the view of many Conisbrough Castle is unique.
  4. Unlock 900 years of life at Helmsley Castle, an essential site for any visitor to the market town of Helmsley in the North York Moors National Park.
  5. Middleham Castle is a fascinating place to visit in the Yorkshire Dales. Once the childhood home of Richard III you can relive the Castle’s illustrious history and unlock the deeds of its great owners. ‘My horse my horse a kingdom for a horse’ by William Shakespeare Richard III – appropriate for Middleham with it’s racing stables.
  6. Spofforth Castle is a ruined hall and chamber of a fortified manor house of the powerful Percy family, dating mainly from the 14th and 15th centuries. Its undercroft is cut into a rocky outcrop.
  7. Richmond Castle has breathtaking views of the Yorkshire dales on the coast to coast path. Richmond Castle is one of the finest tourist attractions in North Yorkshire.
  8. From Clifford’s Tower the stunning view you get of the historic city of York that makes Clifford’s Tower one of the most popular attractions in Yorkshire. Some gory stories are told on York ghost walks.

Contribution from English Heritage – keeper of all these castles and many other prominent Yorkshire sites.

 

 

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7 Outdoor National Trust Yorkshire Sites to Visit

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Hortoris

The National Trust (NT) looks after more than Old Buildings. In its care it includes moor and coast, farm land and country estates many of the best of which are in Yorkshire. Get a dose of good fresh Yorkshire air at one of these seven.

    1. Malham Tarn Estate is a National Trust property in North Yorkshire, England. The estate is located in the Pennines and lies between Wharfedale and Ribblesdale. It covers 2,900 hectares and includes around 65 hectares of woodland
    2. Hardcastle Crags is a wooded Pennine valley in West Yorkshire. At Gibson Mill you’ll find the National Trust Weaving Shed Café serving delicious ethical and locally produced food.
    3. The Pennine Way goes 270 miles from the Peak District to the Scottish Borders. The route goes through the NT Marsden Moor Estate, down the Wessenden Valley and across Black Moss and then along Millstone Edge. Try it using Nordic walking
    4. ‘Brimham Rocks’ and so does the rest of Yorkshire! But as you may know Brimham’s varied and dramatic natural landscape makes it the most diverse landscape in Yorkshire for climbing.
    5. For the coast try The Old Coastguard Station  in the NT centre at the edge of the sea in Robin Hood’s Bay. The  village will help you discover what makes this part of the Yorkshire Coast so special. Hands-on models and fascinating displays tell the story of the area’s distinctive geology and the impact of the elements, local wildlife and the secret history of smuggling.
    6. The National Trust offer lots of footpaths for you to explore at Hudswell Woods, near Richmond. Either  wander along the river or be a little more adventurous and head into the woodlands.
    7. Rievaulx Abbey is an English Heritage site but the NT maintains one of Yorkshire’s finest 18th-century landscape gardens at Rievaulx Terrace. It containing two temples to explore including the lavish interior of the Ionic Temple and you can discover how the rich society of Georgian era spent their time
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Otley Pubs as Was

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Hortoris

Reborn as Wetherspoons – Trevor Wallis old youtube

Reborn as Woolpack Music and Arts Venue

To be reborn with a history

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Ripon 3 Interesting Buildings

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Hortoris

‘When someone in the RAF family needs help, the charity they turn to is the Royal Air Forces Association’. This is an old photo of RAFA HQ in Ripon. Other local branches, amongst 400 UK wide include Thirsk, Bedale and Harrogate.

The old office of ginger beer manufacturer W Wells and Sons. In the window the Ripon race adverts are updated annually

The clock on Ripon Cathedral is always right – if you look at it from this position!

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The Halifax Slasher not Barkisland and Ripponden Slasher

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Hortoris


Halifax folk dancing Stick men not Sword men

In November 1938 Gertie Watts and Mary Gledhill, were attacked by a man while walking in Old Bank Lane, between Barkisland and Ripponden. Local papers at the time christened it the Halifax Slasher case probably because the Barkisland and Ripponden Slasher wasn’t punchy enough (that is the old tabloid/broadsheet press for you).

In 2017 that true case formed the basis for a new book by Benjamin Myers
Book Cover

These Darkening Days by Benjamin Myers a modern tale with ‘a series of unexplained vicious attacks occuring in a small northern town renowned for being a bohemian backwater.’ We can all guess where that is supposed to be. The story has a bachground from research into the Halifax Slasher and has been called part of the ‘rural noir genre’

Quoted sources include, The Haunts of the  Halifax Slasher by Tim Chapman published in the ‘Strange Attractor’ journal and ‘Weird Calderdale’. Do not get hysterical about the Halifax Slasher because it is believed that most if not all the original cases were based on group hysteria.

I have just finished reading the book and it is on the way to the chrity shop. I think someone else will also get enjoyment from this light but entertaining read.

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Favourite York Churches to Discover

Posted on August 12, 2017 by Hortoris

St Cuthberts

York St Cuthbert St Helen on the Walls and All Saints Peasholme is some mouthful of a name for a Church Administrative unit. Now working with St Michael le Belfrey, St Cuthbert’s is currently applying for planning permission to improve the external appearance of the surrounding grounds. Who said this Administrative unit was not in use today. Reputedly the oldest parish church in York it was reconstructed by Saxons using roman masonry.

Viking Dig

St Saviour’s Church, St Saviourgate which like many other churches in York has been re-purposed and is now put to a community and educational use. If you use a snickelway down the side of Fibbers in Stonebow you get an unusual view of St Saviour’s church demonstrating how in medieval times the church was built on a  hill.

St Michael le Belfry

St Michael’s le Belfrey was rebuilt between 1525 and 1537, during King Henry VIII’s break with Rome. John Forman, the Minster’s master mason was responsible for the Tudor gothic style with renaissance influence. It was, and still is, the largest parish church in the city, originally serving a wealthy community of merchants and craftsmen. Furnishings are nineteenth century, pews and reredos with 14th century glass in East window. Guy Fawkes was baptised at this church. It is within a few yards of The Minster.

Olaves Gate

This Marygate church, St Olave’s, was badly damaged during the Civil War. The font dates from 1673 and there is some medieval glass in the center of the east window

The Parish church of All Saints in North Street is my favourite church in York although there are many to choose from. All Saints is renown for it’s medieval stained glass windows that date from as early as 1330. The octagonal tower and spire were built around 1390 and is the second tallest in York after the minster. The 12 bells in the tower were used to ring 1260 changes in less than an hour in 2007 and this is commemorated in the bell ringers area.

To create your own tour of York churches you could also visit:

  • Holy Trinity Goodramgate,with box pews and an entrance through a small leafy garden in the heart of the city.
  • St Mary Castlegate for pre-conquest masonry,
  • Holy Trinity Micklegate part of a Benedictine priory church founded in 1089,
  • St Helen St Helen’s Square is named after the mother of Constantine the Great ,
  • St Martin-Le-Grand Coney Street which was badly bombed during the second world war.

See also Gods own County top ten West Riding Churches and top North Riding Churches

Posted in Yorkshire Facts - Interesting and Unusual, Yorkshire Trips and Places | 1 Comment

London for Yorkshire Folk

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Hortoris

London

This is t’missus swimming with Dolphins on the Thames.

Local fish and chips turned out to be Eels and mash so we didn’t recon much to that.
As for the price of Beer!!! I know this is the capital but it’s punishment.
Still near Tottenham Court Road tube the is an Angel with reasonably priced Sam Smiths in an Edwardian pub setting that hasn’t been spoilt be refurbishment for yonks.

As they say you can always tell a Yorkshireman in London – but you can’t tell him much. With all the tourists asking us for directions it was worse than York on a bank holiday.

Note Ferrets are frowned on in London but Fayed flogs fancy ferrets at Harrods.

Pubs

  • The Yorkshire Grey is a favourite pub in Fitzrovia. It’s a Sam Smith’s pub so the beers are reasonably priced and the bar staff are very pleasant for southerners and Australians.
  • The Cittie of Yorke Holborn grade ll listed Sam Smiths watering hole.
  • Duke of York  Harrowby Street Marylebone reopened in March 2017
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Corn Dolly Bradford’s Best Boozer

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Hortoris

 

In our pagan past it was believed that the spirit of the corn lived amongst the crops and that the harvest made it effectively homeless.

Corn Spirit was supposed to live in the plaited straw  or corn doll  until the following spring to ensure a good harvest. Straw idols have been made for centuries under the name of Corn Dolls.

The idols in this Bradford pub are the landlord and his selection of beers and lunchtime banquets of pie and peas, hot beef in sandwiches or Yorkshires. You might thing the idle in the pub are tax office escapees but I couldn’t possibly comment. (It is on the old trolley bus route to the real Idle!)

Reverting to the ‘pagan’ theme this is a pagan advert for an ale at the Corn Dolly, probably brewed in the Pagan Place Pendle.

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Philip Davies MP for Shipley 2005-20xx?

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Hortoris

or woman scribbled this graffito.’

 

A ‘singular’ politician Philip Davies is a candidate in the June 2017 Westminster election. Like other former members of parliament, by rights he should not currently be titled MP.

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