God's Own County

Dewsbury – Facts Interesting and Unusual

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Hortoris

Dewsbury Markets

Wednesday and Saturday General Markets in Dewsbury are still the largest and most renowned market in Yorkshire.

The open market boasts over 300 stalls and the permanent Victorian Market hall has a further 36. Amongst these permanent stalls is the famous ‘Tripe Shop’ shown above.

On Fridays there is a Second-Hand Market with an array of goods and around 100 stalls each week, a bargain hunter’s paradise.

‘If you love browsing and hunting out valuables then what better way to spend your Sunday morning than at the Car ‘Bootless’ Sale, 7.30am to 12.30pm? For sellers stall prices are £12.30 each and you can set-up at 7am on any available stall

Minsters In Yorkshire

Dewsbury is one of 4 minsters in Yorkshire. We all know York Minster and probably Beverley but Howden and Dewsbury Minsters were unknown to me.
Dewsbury Minster dates back to Anglo-Saxon times.The Christian Community has met to worship on the site of the minster since AD 627.
Now the Minster includes or is largely a heritage centre for the presentation of Anglo-Saxon sculpture and notable crosses.
There is a newly created pilgrimage chapel to St Paulinus.
Minsters differ from Cathedrals in that they are basically a monastery church or local collegiate church.
The minster houses “Black Tom”, a bell which is rung each Christmas Eve. There is one toll for each year since Christ’s birth, and this is known locally as the “Devil’s Knell”.

History of Dewsbury.

The population of Dewsbury in the Heavy Woolen District of Yorkshire is around 55,000.
Dewsbury has been an important trading area for centuries. The river Calder, canal links and the railway all helped.
There was a cloth market in Dewsbury from the 14th century. During the industrial revolution wool, cloth and textile engineering were major industries.
Large immigration took place from the Indian Sub-continent when people arrived to work in the textile industry. Their influence is now very significant in the area. Aishah Azmi a local school teaching assistant gained notoriety in 2006 by refusing to remove her full-face veil in the classroom.
Dewsbury Museum is located within the mansion house in Crow Nest Park.
Fourteen buses are stored in a small building in Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury as part of Dewsbury Bus Museum’s collection.
Tradition records that Robin Hood is buried in the 12 century Cistertian convent that is now part of Kirklees Park.
Bed manufacture is the main industry as textiles have dramatically reduced.

Crime Shouldn’t Pay

Karen Matthews shocked the country when she came up with the plot to use one of her children in a fake kidnapping to claim reward money.With Paul Drake, aka Michael Donovan, she was found guilty on charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, and perverting the course of justice and both were given eight-year prison sentences.
Mohammad Sidique Khan lived in Lees Holm Dewsbury and became a suicide bomber when in July 2005 with 3 others he detonated bombs on three London Underground trains and one bus killing 55 people and injuring over 700.
Several children aged 12- 15 were arrested in 2008 on suspicion of the murder of Amar Aslam. Amar was beaten so savagely that his body was initially unidentifiable.
On 2 January 1981 Peter Sutcliffe, then calling himself Peter Williams was arrested before being transferring to Dewsbury. A knife was discovered in the toilets at the police station and eventually Sutcliffe confessed he was ‘The Ripper’.
Not in the same league but Baroness Warsi has not been the sole of rectitude. First parliamentary expenses and then business dealings were questioned and the issues rumble on.

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World Coal Carrying Championship at Gawthorpe Again

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Hortoris

Every year the World Coal Carrying Championship is held in Yorkshire on Easter Monday. At Easter in Gawthorpe grown men l run the mile from The Beehive public house to the Royal Oak, known locally as t’Barracks , carrying a hundred weight sack of coal. The 54th World Coal Carrying Championship is scheduled for Easter Monday 2017. Bookings

According to the organisers this is how the World Championship came about ‘Reggie Sedgewick and one Amos Clapham, a local coal merchant and current president of the Maypole Committee were enjoying some well-earned liquid refreshment whilst stood at the bar lost in their own thoughts. When in bursts one Lewis Hartley in a somewhat exuberant mood. On seeing the other two he said to Reggie, ” Ba gum lad tha’ looks buggered !” slapping Reggie heartily on the back. Whether because of the force of the blow or because of the words that accompanied it, Reggie was just a little put out.‘’ Ah’m as fit as thee’’ he told Lewis, ‘’an’ if tha’ dun’t believe me gerra a bagga coil on thi back an ‘ah’ll get one on mine an ‘ah’ll race thee to t’ top o’ t’ wood !’’ ( Coil, let me explain is Yorkshire speak for coal ). While Lewis digested the implications of this challenge a Mr. Fred Hirst, Secretary of the Gawthorpe Maypole Committee ( and not a man to let a good idea go to waste) raised a cautioning hand. ” ‘Owd on a minute,’’ said Fred and there was something in his voice that made them all listen. ‘Aven’t we been looking fer some’at to do on Easter Monday? If we’re gonna ‘ave a race let’s ‘ave it then. Let’s ‘ave a coil race from Barracks t’ Maypole.’

2009 was the 46th World Coal Carrying Championship and the BBC claim these facts about world champions
1. Window cleaners, builders and farmers are the most successful at winning the title
2. The best weight for an entrant to be is 10st 7lb
3. Competitors need to have strong legs and lungs

The sponsors are H.B.Clark independent brewers of Wakefield so a fourth fact would be an appetite for beer.

Gawthorpe is between Dewsbury and Osset and also has a good May Day tradition. with dancing on the FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY EVERY YEAR. Gawthorpe itself can be dated back to the Romans and is believed to be named after a Viking Chief called “Gorky “. At the lower end of the village is an earth mound known as Fairy Hill. This is thought to be a Viking burial mound.

It is confirmed that a coal mine was established at Gawthorpe as long ago as 1366 during the reign of Edward III

Maypole dancing itself dates back as far as Richard II in England, and during the reign of Henry VIII reached most of the rural villages including Gawthorpe. Mayday itself became a public holiday until Oliver Cromwell (1649 – 1660) banned May Merrymaking and all such festivities. These were fortunately re-established by Charles II.

Photo credits
coal mens race 2 by SFB579 CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
coal female winner by SFB579 CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Posted in Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes, Yorkshire Trips and Places | Tagged beer, events, nostalgia, sport | 1 Comment

Fly Fishing for Yorkshire Anglers

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Hortoris

Open mouthed you may catch more than the odd fly on the river Aire but Yorkshire anglers know far better rivers to enjoy their sport of fly fishing.

Fly Fishing

Yorkshire Anglers is a commercial club with 35 acres of water in two reservoirs and over a mile of the river Wharfe. 15 miles from Leeds this intimate private fishery has brown trout and rainbow trout weighing 1.25 lbs and occasionally much more. ‘The waters leased by Yorkshire Anglers are hidden gems, tucked away in the midst of typically beautiful Yorkshire scenery and are a refreshing tonic to the numerous ‘muddy puddles’ masquerading as fly fishing lakes. The two reservoirs and a stretch of the River Wharfe provide ample scope for the discerning fly-fisher to test his skills against fish which very quickly wise up and start feeding naturally.’

Fly fishing lessons are on offer with Steve Rhodes and the Yorkshire based Go Fly Fishing . Yorkshire has some of the most famous fly fishing locations in the UK with the equally limestone Rivers Wharfe, Ure and Aire in the Yorkshire Dales where Grayling and Trout are available. From fly tying to lessons on technique would make an interesting day out or a fine present.

Angling Resourse and Associations

The Grayling Society promotes awareness, conservation and angling for grayling worldwide.
The Wild Trout Trust – is dedicated to the conservation of wild trout in Britain through the protection of their habitats.
The Anglers Conservation Association – (ACA) fighting against polluters to clean up our streams, rivers and lakes.
Salmon & Trout Association Western Yorkshire branch runs courses at Bolton Abbey and Grassington and there are branches for South Yorkshire, North and East and Swale, Ure & Nidd,
Nidderdale Angling Club has waters on the river and at Scarr House reservoir
Thrybergh Country Park in Rotherham is a council run water which offers fly fishing only for the Rainbows and Brown Trout that run to 5lb. The water is restocked on a regular basis. Tickets are purchased from the vending machines and offer plenty of alternatives including 7 day permits and also concessions. Plenty of parking and toilets including disabled ones.
Helwith Bridge Fly Fishery is located in the Yorkshire Dales close to the villages of Ingleton and Settle, just off the A65.
Malham Tarn fly fishing courses include residential weekends.

Let us know your favourite fishing spot or resource.

Flyfishing for Coarse Fish by Dominic Garnett
Pike, Rudd, Carp, Roach, Perch, Barbel, Chub, Zander, Dace, Tench and Bream are all covered in some detail in this new authoritative book.

Photo Credit
Angler_03 by getty CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Fly Fishing on the Big Hole River, MT by CircumerroStock CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Spring fly fishing by Beneath_B1ue_Skies CC BY 2.0
humpy_trout_fly_selection12_assorted_humpy_flies CC BY 2.0

Posted in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes | Tagged resourses, weekend | Comments Off

Langsett, Midhope Moor and Reservoir

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Hortoris

History For Walkers, Birdwatchers and Cyclists

Previously known as Penisale, Langsett first appears in a charter of 1252 which tells of an agreement, whereby Walter de Houdham granted his whole manor at ‘Langside’ to Elias de Midhope now an area named Upper Midhope. It held a weekly market on a Tuesday until this was transferred to near-by Penistone.
Langsett reservoir was built between 1889 and 1905. It is around a mile long and supplies water to Sheffield and Barnsley.

Bird Watching Langsett Reservoir and Moor

The habitat like many Pennine reservoirs is surrounded by conifer plantations. There is extensive open heather moorland to the southwest which can be seen from the Low Moor view point.
For timing the autumn is good for Red Grouse and birds of prey. Spring and summer show most of the breeding species.
Species include a large range of ducks, Teals, Mallards and Tufted Ducks. Owls and wood peckers can often be seen and the fringes of the fields and moors have breeding meadow Pipits, Ouzels and occasional Twites.
Access from the village via a minor road sign posted Strines & Derwent valley which passes over the reservoir dam where you can watch the reservoir birds. Then move on through Upper Midhope, turn sharp right and park near a sign Privilege Footpath for Low Moor and views of the moors and paths through the woods.

The Local Inn and Cafe

The yearly visit from Thurlston Brass Band to the Waggon and Horses takes place in June – (24th June 2012 from 12 until 5.)
Langsett independent film festival has been bringing people together for over 17 years to show and enjoy films at the inn.
The Waggon and Horses Inn is the watering hole of choice for walkers, birdwatchers, cyclists and local beer drinkers.
Langsett cafe has won cyclist cafe of the year chosen by local CTC members. ‘It serves good food at a very reasonable price and is very cyclist friendly.’

I like the vision of created by the Guardian ‘Gazing across the broad acres of Langsett Moor and the Thurlstone Moors towards the formerly “forbidden” Snailsden Moor at the head of the Holme Valley I was reminded of the words of Halliwell Sutcliffe (1870-1932). Though perhaps remembered best as a creator of historical romances, this son of the West Riding was a pioneer thinker on open access to the high country, for so long reserved exclusively for grouse shooting. He highlighted in A Benedick in Arcady the rules to be followed, tongue-in-cheek, by the “Complete Trespasser”. read the full article from a Country diary.

Photo and Other Credits
Langsett Reservoir by sheffieldhammer CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Moorland Grouse by timdifford ‘Photographs taken on a family stroll around Langsett Reservoir’ CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
IMG_0835 by http://underclassrising.net/ CC BY-SA 2.0 A ‘look at The Haunted House on a Hill overlooking Penistone and Holmfirth then onto Langsett Bank Woods Moor, and reservoir Sheffield’

Yorkshires top Twelve Birdwatching Sites

Walk 1 around the reservoir and history
Yorkshire Water Langsett, Midhope Moor and Reservoir Walking.
Share my Routes

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Visit Top Ten Gardens in Yorkshire

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Hortoris

As the winter months loom larger I have picked out some Yorkshire gardens that have all year round interest for visitors. Then follows a review of the floral and special gardens you can plan to visit from Spring. This selection have free entry for members of the Royal Horticultural Society but have varied charges for the public.

Autumn & Winter Gardens

Thorp Perrow Arboretum and woodland garden has dramatic foliage through autumn and thousands of naturalised daffodils to see in spring. The old and venerable trees look majestic at any time and within the 100 acres there are 66 ‘Champion Trees’, that is the largest of their kind in Britain. Additionally there are 5 National Collections of Walnut, Limes, Ash, Cotinus and Laburnum. The birds of Prey and Mammal centre provides extra interest particularly when the fly the Falcons.
Ripley Castle Gardens are open until 4.30pm all year but the woods and views are the main winter features. The walled gardens contain amongst other items a national collection of Hyacinth so the scent is something to look forward too in May.
Wentworth Castle Gardens near Barnsley are shown in the photograph above. A deal of lottery and other funding has been spent on this garden in recent years and the pleached trees and stumpery are something to behold. A series of gothic follies and other structures enhance the viewing but for the fit a walk in the adjacent parkland is a bonus. If there was a speciality it is the acid loving collections of Rhododendrons, Camellias and Magnolias.
Ripley Castle Gardens are open all year except Christmas day.

Year Round Garden Visits

Harewood House gardens close at the end of October so it may have to be on the list to visit next year. It will open again in February. It will be interesting to see how the new Himalayan garden performs next spring. I expect to see plenty of Primulas as well as the old favourites. If it rains you can always visit the house or look at the various garden sculptures from the tea rooms.
A boutique garden that opens for the old gardeners charity Perennialis York Gate Garden in Adel. Laid out as 14 separate gardens in less than an acre it is bound to give you some inspiration and ideas for your own garden. Only open Thursday and Sunday afternoons it is well worth making the journey to see.
Parcevall Hall Gardens are open to the public from April to October and have 25 acres of formal and woodland garden. Some of the views of Wharfedale are spectacular but for me the prize area are the Rockery and Herbaceous beds.

In February it is a quiet time to visit these gardens but as spring starts to break out it can be a rewarding activity.

If this inspires you to renovate parts of your own garden it is still not too late to plant some Tulips for flowering in Spring 2010 from Thompson & Morgan. Gold and purple tulips in flower at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens (open all year).

Other Yorkshire Gardens to Visit

Scampston Hall walled gardens are worth a visit at Malton North Yorkshire
Millgate House in Richmond is only open in winter by appointment.
Thorp Perrow is open all year except for special event days.
Burnby Hall Gardens have great water lilies in summer
Burton Agnes Gardens have good but complex opening arrangements. Before traveling to far check out your timings.
Wentworth Castle garden is open all year.
Brodsworth Hall gardens are open all year except over Christmas.

To add plants to your own garden consider

Posted in Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes, Yorkshire Trips and Places | Tagged gardening | 2 Comments

Trig Points Around the Ridings

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Hortoris

Trigpoints are the common name for “triangulation pillars” the UK mapping and triangulation system before GPS and Google Earth. There is a great Trigpoint website with map references pictures and search facilities. ‘These are concrete pillars, about 4’ tall, which were used by the Ordnance Survey in order to determine the exact shape of the country. They are generally located on the highest bit of ground in the area, so that there is a direct line of sight from one to the next. By sitting a theodolite (an accurate compass built into a telescope) on the top of the pillar, accurate bearings to nearby trigpoints could be taken. This process is called “triangulation”.

A major project to map out the shape of Great Britain began in 1936. The network of triangulation pillars, with accurately known positions, led to the excellent OS maps which we enjoy today. The coordinate system used on these maps is known as the “National Grid”, and it is essential that you are familiar with this system if you are to get the most of OS maps, or this website. ‘

Continue reading →

Posted in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes | Tagged locations, moor, walking | 2 Comments

Newly Haunted Bradford – Sunbridgewells

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Hortoris

Was the opening of the Victorian tunnels under Ivegate a good idea or have old ghosts and ghouls been released on the unsuspecting public. The Victorian tunnels have previously contained and constrained all sorts of undefined mysterious bodies best left alone from Little Fat Black Pussy Cats to Pretty Things to say nothing of many haunting noises.

The converted tunnels reopened off Centenary Square linking through 3 levels to exit in Ivegate. The former Berni’s Inn and Bier Keller were old name changes in attempts to suppress the atmosphere of the Grosvenor well known as a haunted pub.

How quickly will the ghostly spirits ensure the new name of Sunbridgewells need to alter to protect visitors from spooks and specters.

Graham Hall the renovator says “Well I hope it increases the footfall into Bradford, i.e. the night life………’ Mmm yes we see what he might mean. Still it is along time until Halloween and the goths, aliens and related monsters might keep away long enough for you to grab a meal or drink. However Bradford’s own ghosts are already in the fabric of the tunnels and you wont really be drinking alone.

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Make Your Own Homemade Soap

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Hortoris

Making homemade soap is a growing craft or hobby business that you can easily do from home. Have fun making your own soap at home and sell it at craft fairs, give it away as presents or use your own soap to replace your current brand.
Your Yorkshire grannie could tell you how to make soap from caustic soda and various fats but the method here is so simple that your work and time can be saved and your life made easy.

Easy Melt and Pour Method for Soap Craft

Can you bake? Then you can make your own soap!
The base for your homemade soap will be made from Melt and Pour soap. To this you can add essential oils and colourants (we said it would be easy).
Step by Step Guide
1. Lightly grease a mould such as a margarine carton.
2. Melt small pieces of the soap base over gentle heat. Keep at 50-60 degrees centigrade no higher. Use a bowl inside another like a bain-marie and keep a lid on to keep the moisture in. No need to stir.
3. When the soap is fully melted and a liquid mix in any colourant a little at a time. Then add your choice of essential oils. (10 ml of oils to 1 kg of soap base). Stir gently trying to avoid bubbles.
4. Gently pour the soap into the mould and leave to set for several hours or overnight. Do not freeze as this damages the texture.
5. When set remove from the mould, slice off any damage with a sharp knife or veg peeler and wipe with a damp cloth.
6. Cut into pieces, store in cling film and wrap.

Professional Touches for Your Soap Craft

Presentation can be very important. Consider how you will wrap or display your soap so it looks ‘the business’ even though you know it is homemade.
You may have chosen to use several smaller moulds rather that the large margarine tub that needs cutting. Slicing chunks is easier with a cheese cutter.
You can pattern the top of the soap as it sets with a stamp or by float herbs.
If there are bubbles on the surface of the soap as you pour the warm liquid into the mould you can ‘spritz’ the surface with alcohol to get a smooth finish.

For more help and recipes there are several books on the craft of homemade soap.

How to Make Melt & Pour Soap Base from Scratch edited by Mrs Kayla Fioravanti, Lesley Anne Craig and Dana Brown

Yorkshire Soap Suppliers

Supplies from craft shops or Amazon who also sell a ‘Soap Base Colour Kit. Five Water based Colours for Melt & Pour Soaps’

every one of http://www.austonleysoap.co.uk/ products, is proudly handmade from scratch, by ourselves, to our own carefully developed recipes. We believe the best produce is created from natural, ethically sourced ingredients. That’s why we use only the finest, natural plant oils and butters to create our skin loving soaps, bath and skincare products. We don’t believe in using unnecessary preservatives, synthetic colourants or harsh synthetic foaming agents such as SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate).

Each soap is handmade with love and includes lots of natural ingredients that will leave your skin feeling replenished and soft. https://yorkshiresoap.co.uk/soaps

Gorgeous natural soap and bath products, handmade in the Yorkshire Dales http://www.oakwood-aromatics.com/

Photo Credits
Soap Wrapping! by savor_soaps CC BY-NC 2.0
“Peace soap by burgundavia CC BY-SA 2.0

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Interesting Facts About The White Rose of Yorkshire

Posted on January 24, 2017 by tejvan

White Rose of Yorkshire.

The white rose of Yorkshire is the symbol for the House of York. From the fourteenth century it has also been the symbol for Yorkshire.

The use of the White Rose of Yorkshire goes back to Edmund of Langley in the fourteenth century, the first Duke of York and the ruling Plantangenets

The symbolism of the white rose is said to relate to the Virgin Mary, who was known as the Mystical rose of heaven. White is a common colour for purity in religious ceremonies.

During the wars of the Roses (Lancashire vs Yorkshire), the forces of Yorkshire fought the Lancastrians who had a Red rose as an emblem. (Why do all Lancastrians have red noses? Because when god was handing noses out they thought he said roses, so they asked for a big red one!)

The War of the roses was ended when King of England Henry VII united the warring factions and symbolically created the Tudor rose.

At the Battle of Minden 1st August 1759, Yorkshire troops from a Yorkshire battalion were able to pluck white roses from close to the Battlefield in tribute to their fallen comrades. Ever since Yorkshire day has been celebrated on August 1st.

The Yorkshire flag incorporates the stylised rose and it can be flown with the 5th leaf at the bottom for most areas or the top (for the East Riding)

The white rose has been or is still used by many different causes as well:

During the Second World War, German students who resisted Hitler’s Nazi Regime founded the White Rose league – a movement seeking to overthrow Hitler and his party.

The White Rose Universities is the group of Leeds, York and Sheffield universities.

White Rose business Awards for 2013 opens for application in March. It is managed by ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’.
White rose shopping centre is owned and managed by Land Securities and may feature hidden away in many Yorkshireman’s pension investments in some form.

The White Rose credit union operates out of Wakefield the capital city of Yorkshire.

Posted in Yorkshire Facts - Interesting and Unusual | 6 Comments

Vexillologist’s Flag Flying over Yorkshire

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Hortoris

Vexillology, meaning the study of flags, is intriguing and challenging, I am told by Associated Content. ‘Whether you focus on flags of nations, states, counties, cities, corporations or service groups, you need to be familiar with the basic vocabulary of vexillology. Staff is the correct term for the flag pole.’ Vexillologists cringe when they hear people say a flag is at “half mast” when honoring the deceased. The correct term is “half staff.” Unless the flag is flying from a ship’s mast. That is the only situation when “half mast” is accurate’.

Fascinating Facts about Flags

Flags are normally flown from 8am to sunset but if they are flown at night they should be illuminated.
No permission is needed to fly the national flags and they are excluded from most planning and advertising regulations (but flagpoles may not be).
It is improper to fly the Union Flag upside down.The part of the flag nearest the flagpole should have the wider diagonal white stripe above the red diagonal stripe.
Breaking the flag is a British tradition for flag raising. Hoist the flag while rolled up and secured with a thin piece of cotton or a slip knot. A sharp tug of the halyard then breaks the cotton and release the flag to fly free.

East Riding Flag

New Picture