Skipton’s Other Ecological Building Society

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Hortoris

skipton

Yorkshire folk have always been canny with their brass, so it is no surprise we have started some of the greatest building societies in the country.
Building societies can be traced back to the industrial revolution, when they were set up as small local organisations whose members pooled funds to allow them to purchase land and build houses.

Some are no longer with us but this is a few of the financial institutions we have created; Skipton, Leeds Permanent, Halifax, Huddersfield & Bradford, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Leeds & Holbeck, Bradford Equitable, Bingley Permanent, Bradford & Bingley, Scarborough, National Provincial.

Skipton formed its own society originally called The Skipton and District Permanent Benefit Building Society in 1853. It was founded by George Kendall and the Craven Herald reported “This Society differs from the old building societies, in this, that it is not established for the express purpose of building a certain street or row of houses, but what is much superior, it enables a man to build what he likes, where he likes, and as he likes; or, if a member prefers to buy a house, he can do so, and the Society, if they think the purchase a good one, will advance the money.”

So what of the other Skipton Society?

Well in fact it has its headquarters a few miles down the road at Steeton. The Ecological Building Society had a vision to set up a building society that specialised in properties that conveyed an ecological benefit in terms of construction, use of land or lifestyle. The idea was sparked at a Green Party Conference, following the experience of a Yorkshire solicitor, David Pedley. He had great difficulty in finding anyone willing to give him a mortgage on a property needing extensive renovation.

Someone asked the question “Why don’t we start a building society?” In those days it was possible to start one with just £5,000. Ten people clubbed together, put in £500 each and the Society was registered in December 1980, commencing trading in March 1981 from a tiny upstairs office in Cross Hills, West Yorkshire.
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Beverley Festival of Folk

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Hortoris

dutch 199
The Beverley Folk Festival 16 – 18 June 2017 is set to be another rip roaring success.
There is a long list of performers already booked to appear. As with other folk fests you also get ‘Pub Stuff’ in various hostelries around the town.

Beverley’s Folk Festival Pubs

  • The White Horse, or ‘Nellie’s’ to the locals, dates back to the 16th century and was the birthplace of the festival. I am told that the pub still uses the original gas lamps but that the beer is definitely not too gassy.
  • The Sun Inn as usual is a strong supporter of live music and fine beer. Cor shine a light.
  • Tiger Inn will be a roaring success.
  • The Forrestors Arms, Durham Ox, The Monks Walk, Hodgsons and down in the Westwood The Woolpack are all on hand for a good pint or three.
  • The Wold Top bar at the festival village will obviously feature the local brew.

 

After all this why not take a coach home. This Beverley bus was spotted in Volendam in the Netherlands at the week end. I hope all the trippers make it back home for the festival.

 

Some of the Artists who have appeared in recent festivals performances include:

Bernard Wrigley
Buzzcocks
Chumbawamba
Eleanor McEvoy
John Shuttleworth with ‘It’s Nice Up North’
Barbara Dickson
Ben Lawes
Blazin’ Fiddles
Bowie, Bliss & Cockerham
Charlie Dore & the Hula Valley Orchestra
Dave Burland
Dervish
Eddi Reader
Barbara Dickson,
Bootleg Beatles
Ralph McTell,
Wizz Jones

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Posted in Yorkshire Arts & Music | 1 Comment

Miscellany in Yorkshire

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Hortoris

Book Cover

We at Gods Own County have 400 pages of miscellaneous rubbish, pithy comment plus ideas on where to go and what to do when you get there.
On a good day we get that many readers but can cope with many more so link in your friends (or enemies we’re not proud).
For those wishing to extend their knowledge of Yorkshire from an armchair we can point you to :-

Answers to the following type of question?

  • What is a Yorkshire Fat Rascal?
  • Why has a song about hats and moors become the Yorkshire Anthem?
  • Where can you find Booze, Crackpot and the Land of Nod?
  • How did the white rose become Yorkshire’s emblem?
  • Which three Prime Ministers were born in Yorkshire?
  • Who are Yorkshire’s real Calendar Girls?
  • When is Yorkshire Day? (shame on you if you do not know go to the bottom of the class or Lancashire)

The answers are all in A Yorkshire Miscellany by Tom Holman

  • In the amazon blurb they claim it is an  ‘entertaining guide to this much-loved part of England and a celebration of its people, places, history and quirks.
  • Learn the lingo of Yorkshire dialect and how to cook specialities like Yorkshire Pudding, Parkin and Curd Tart.
  • Discover the secrets of building a dry stone wall and uncover the Yorkshire locations of famous films and TV shows.
  • Understand the history of famous Yorkshire icons like the flat cap and the Yorkshire terrier, and read about the lives of the greatest ever Yorkshiremen and women.
  • A Yorkshire Miscellany is crammed with intriguing facts and figures- a fascinating treasure trove to delight Yorkshire natives and visitors alike.

All available from amazon for less than £6.00

 

As a viable alternative wait until Gods Own County turns it’s attention on these miscellaneous subjects in future posts.

Posted in Books Club & Literary Work | 1 Comment

Buckden Yorkshire Dales

Posted on August 2, 2016 by tejvan

Cycling Yorkshire Dales

Fork in the road in Buckden. To the right, Leyburn. To the left, a tough climb over Fleet Moss to Hawes

Cycling Yorkshire Dales

A Date with History

A Classic car driving through Buckden.
Although the village of Buckden was founded in Norman times, the village lies on the route of the roman road from Ilkley (Olicana) to Bainbridge (Virosidum) where the Romans had a fort.
The bridleway known as Buckden Rake follows the path of the roman road, heading up through Rakes Wood towards Cray and then over Stake Moss.
Following a visit in 1650 from George Fox the founder of the Quaker movement nearby Hubberholme became a Quaker meeting House
There is a Quaker burial ground adjacent to Scar House cottage.
Lead mining was an early local industry.

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West Riding Centre of the Teasel Trade

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Hortoris

Teasels

Woven cloth needs fulling to raise a nap and Teasels were and still are used in this process. The peak consumption was in the 1830’s but Teasels are still used to create a pile on some products including tennis balls, stockings and billiard tables.

Teasels in History

  • Greeks helped provide the original name ‘Dipsacus‘ meaning ‘to thirst’. This is believed to refer to the way rainwater collects at the base of leaves where the leaf and the stem together form a little bowl.
  • Romans called it ‘Venus’s basin’ and early Christians in Ireland called it Mary’s basin’.
  • In the 12th century good traditional cloth relied on teasels from York, Beverley, Selby and Wakefield.
  • Leeds became a centre for dye and tenterers in the 14th century and Teasel growers and dealers were common in the area.
  • Between 1727 and 1820 the demand for broadcloth grew 11 fold and so did the need for teasels.
  • In 1812 Luddites attacked John Wood, Cropper and Oatland mill owner as he sought to mechanise fulling.

Teasel names and Equipment

  • Teasels are botanically called Dipsacus fullonum
  • The second part of its botanical name ‘fullonum‘ is derived from the term ‘a fuller’. Fuller is the old name for someone who used teasel to comb out wool.
  • In some places teasel is also known by the name ‘brush and comb’.
  • The Irish name Lus an Fhucadora translates as ‘Fuller’s Herb’.
  • Teasels are also called ‘Johnny-prick-the-finger’ because of the sharp spikes.
  • A ‘Stav’ is a 2’9″ cylindrical pack of teasels available for sale. A ‘Gleaning is 10 teasel stems and 30 make a stav and there are 45 stavs in a pack
  • A ‘Preem’ was a spiked tool and a ‘Spitter’ is a tool used to cut the tap root whilst ‘Spudding’ is weeding with a hoe.
  • ‘Ellum’ was a hut use for drying

 

Sources
Watsonia teasel teazel or teazle
Gardeners Tips

Photo by Jim Champion on flickr under creative commons license

Posted in Yorkshire History and Heritage | 1 Comment

Stained Glass Conservation In Yorkshire

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Hortoris

Stained glass is the long practices art of manipulating coloured light within an architectural context. York Minster is a great exponent of this art.

York minster stained glass

Disused medieval chapels in York are put to many uses but the Bedern Glaziers Studio is one of the more appropriate. The former chapel of the Vicars Choral, the Bedern chapel in York has been transformed into an open access conservation studio by York Glaziers Trust .

Here you can see conservation of the York Minster Great East Window originally made between 1405-1408 by master glazier John Thornton. It was removed from the Minster in 2008 for a 5 year restoration project. Cleaning the glass and repositioning dislodged pieces will be enhanced by the removal of mending leads from the past which disfigured the window. It will then be encased in clear glass and replaced in the Minster.

For over 40 years the York Glaziers Trust has been involved in a range projects all over Britain, working on glass from the 12th to the 20th centuries. Recently they were working on four large panels for the Victorian manufactured west window of Beverley Minster. The vast window which depicts figures and events connected with the early history of Christianity in Northumbria was influenced by AW Pugin.

Guided tours of the studio are available on Wednesday and Friday afternoon by pre-booking at the Minster. Group visits and Connoisseurs Tours are also available. An interesting and informative experience.
The largest number of panels is devoted to the Apocalypse, the events that will herald the end of the World and the Second Coming of Christ. The glass was removed in 2008 as a prelude to the major restoration of the east façade, providing a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to conserve and protect this medieval masterpiece.
Book Cover

Sources and Other Links

York Minster stained glass
From Anita363 on Flickr ‘The York Minster has some of the best surviving Medieval stained glass anywhere. It was protected during the Reformation, when many of the great cathedrals in northern Europe suffered major damage. The center panel traces the lineage from Jesse at the bottom and his son King David up to Jesus at the top, outlines by the twining green branches of the family tree. I like the way the sun is just visible.’

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Green Lanes of Yorkshire with Boats

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Hortoris

cow-calf

Green lanes is a term for grouping together the various sorts of tracks, bridleways, and footpaths without a sealed (metalled or tarmac ) surface. These Green lanes that traverse and enhance the Dales landscape and cater for recreation in various ways. Some green lanes are Roman in origin or medieval, used by drovers, locals and travelers over the centuries. They were not designed with modern motor traffic in mind nor have they been upgraded for recreational vehicles. According to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority ‘There are over 2,000 km of rights of way and over 100 km of unsealed Unclassified County Road in the Yorkshire Dales National Park‘

ilkley-moor-2-lane

This is an alternative way up Ilkley Moor it becomes less and less like a road and more like a track.

BOATS are ‘Byway open to all traffic’ and in the Yorkshire Dales National Park you can down load a list of these Boats. Boats allow recreational vehicles to use designated green lanes.

Disputes with Recreational Vehicles
At a Leeds court in June 2009 the Traffic restriction orders TRO’s on several green lanes was challenged by LARA (the umbrella organisation of recreational vehicle clubs including Association of Land Rover Clubs, the British Motorcyclists Federation and the Motor Sports Association)

mud-mastiles-lane

Mud on Mastiles Lane between Grassington and Malham. Cars prohibited beyond this point.

This Administrative Court restored four important green lanes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to recreational motor vehicle use. The quartet of byways, running between Settle and Malhamdale, Malham Tarn and Arncliffe Cote and Horton-in-Ribblesdale and High Green Field, will now be fully opened to drivers again (A Street Gate to Arncliffe Cote, B Harber Scar Lane, C Stockdale Lane F Gorbeck Road).

Other TRO’s remain in place at D The Highway, E Old Ing to Cam End via Ling Gill, G Horton Scar Lane / Foxup Road, H Cam High Road again available from Yorkshire Dales Org.

Both Sides of the Track
Green Lane users have a code of conduct and an organisation promoting sensible driving in the countryside ‘Glass’
Yorkshire Dales Green Lanes Alliance takes the other view ‘Campaigning to free the green lanes from off-roaders’ and vehicle use that is destroying the Dales green lanes.

So where do you stand on the issue? Recreational vehicles, 4by4’s and trials bikes can use Green lanes that are classed as Boats (in this summer boats may need boats) but can’t use footpaths and tracks with TRO’s. Add your comments below.

Posted in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes | 2 Comments

Roses for the White Rose County

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Hortoris

White Roses are not the only flowers I grow, quite to the contrary but White Roses are the best for obvious reasons. A lot of so called white roses are in fact cream or faintly tinged with pink, even the variety called  ‘White Rose of York’.  Madame Hardy above or the singles Ruga rosa Alba or Henry Hudson would suit Yorkshire tastes better and Iceberg is a clear white winner.

Joke? When God was handing out noses the Lancashire lad asked for a big red one because he thought he said roses – seems he ended up with both.

A great Yorkshire gardener and rose fanatic Geoffrey Smith sadly died a couple of years ago and I can’t find a rose dedicated to him. Alan Titchmarsh however has a ‘Shocking Pink ‘ rose to his name but the 10 suppliers I tracked down were all outside the county. Still Alan is one of our famous exports and is now an expat living in the south of England.

Whit Rose Varieties
Stephen F. Austin
Iceberg
Winchester Cathedral
Snowdrift
White rose carpet

This white begonia was raised in Harrogate and similar blooms will be on show at the  Harrogate Autumn Flower Show 18th-20th September 2009. Just a couple of unusual societies who will be present are the Streptocarpus and Hosta/Hemerocallis societies.

Geoff Boycott is a professional Yorkshireman and a cricket legend. A shame he was politically unsuitable to regain a position on Yorkshire County Cricket committee.
Book Cover

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Bridlington Facts – Interesting and Unusual

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Hortoris

Bridlington Groynes

Brid or Bridlington to give it it’s Sunday name is a popular seaside resort with sandy beaches and an interesting harbour. The Groynes are wooden defences that run out to sea and protect the sandy beaches from adverse weather.
The harbour is very tidal as the pictures below show.

Bridlington

As a family resort there are many amusements, rides and arcades. You can’t always rely on getting a prize in the arcades so you must have your fun from taking part.
To feed the kids there are more ‘chippy’s’ than you can shake a cod or haddock at.

Bridlington

Bridlington Market day at King Street is Wednesday but it is usually open Friday-Sunday in the season.

Night life for the adults includes the ‘Shades’ night club below as well as pubs and the Victoria Sailors and Working Men’s C& I Union affiliated club. Don’t sailors work then or are Victoria sailors different?

Bridlington

Sundry Facts

  • When the Domesday book was written Bridlington was named Bretlinton in the Howton Hundred. In Yorkshire we were more accustomed to use the Norse ‘wapentake’ to replaced several Anglo-Saxon hundreds.
  • A small fishing port grew up near the coast known as Bridlington Quay.
  • After the discovery of a chalybeate spring, the Quay developed in the 19th century to become a seaside resort.
  • The railway station opened on 6 October 1846 between the Quay and the historic town.
  • Victorian tourists visiting Bridlington needed entertainment and in 1896 the New Spa and Gardens were opened. The theater still holds audiences of 1000 and the Royal Hall 3000.
  • Leisure World boasts 3 pools, including a fun pool with waves, slides, rain storm effect and water features, a 25m training pool and a learner pool.
  • Neighbouring resorts include Flamborough, Hornsea and Withernsea with the RSPB bird watching site at Bempton Cliff just to the north.
  • The Bridlington “land train” goes all the way out to Sewerby and the gardens and Hall.

 

Bridlington Humour

If it’s the tourist season why can’t we shoot them?

Q. Why do only ten per cent of Bridlington men go to heaven?
A. Any more and it would be hell.

Read more Yorkshire Facts for the interesting and unusual.

Colours of the Seaside at Bridlington
Bridlington

The Bridlington carnival is a tradition highlight of the summer season, and is fun for all the family with a parade, entertainment, competitions and various shows including custom cars and a dog show. Visit  Bridlington on Sunday 7th August 2016 for this cliff top bonanza.

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Bempton Birds in Paradise Cliff Hanger

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Hortoris

bempton scarborough

Bempton Cliffs are a paradise for sea birds at this time of year, May. Nesting on the chalk cliff face the gulls are building nests and laying their young. The early starters are already hatching the chicks.

The crowds gather in one particular spot in the hope of seeing Puffins, the iconic bird found at Bempton. We saw three on the cliff and several flying shapes that seemed just like a puffin in flight. However I also spent a long time watching a Razorbill only to be told I couldn’t tell my Puffin from my pullover.

bempton scarborough

I know I need to invest in a camera with a better lens and a telescopic one to boot. Even with the best I can afford I would still be put to shame by some of the cameras on show by the other ornithologists (twitchers to most of us). Still they probably have photographs of birds not just cliffs and sky.

bempton scarborough

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