God's Own County

Fireworks in Barnsley – 1868 Explosion

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Hortoris

This is a sad tale from October 1868 when an explosion wrecked a Barnsley fireworks factory killing eleven men, women and children.

On Taylor Row there was a plot of land with a small detached building licensed for the making of fireworks and storing gunpowder. George Norris a local hairdresser and business man owned the firework business employing over 30 people often young children. He extended the firework assembly into another unlicensed building divided into 4 sheds. On the morning of 8th October 1868 everything went !bang!

Maria Cooper was a trusted worker with firework experience gained in the midlands. On the fateful morning she complained that the ‘chemical mixture’ for filling the fireworks was too damp. Seemingly she spoke her intentions of drying the ‘composition’ of nitre, sulphur and charcoal over an open fire. The inevitable happened and firecrackers started to explode. Bodies were throw about and some escaped with clothes on fire only to die later. Up to 20 youngsters survived despite various burns and injuries.

At an inquest Maria Cooper was found to have died from her recklessness in placing ‘composition’ in a tin on a stove where it exploded. The verdict was manslaughter by Maria Cooper against the other 10 who died. Among the dead were the owner George Norris and Bill Bywater the foreman and children of 11, 12 and 14. Norris lived long enough to be taken home and make futile protests about the incident. The youngest fatality was 9 year old George Yates who had only worked at the factory for a few weeks.

Yorkshire Fireworks Suppliers
Fireworks by bayasaa CC BY 2.0

Posted in Yorkshire Facts - Interesting and Unusual | Comments Off

Grubs Up – Come and Get It

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Hortoris

For those with a sweet tooth out table tennis club provided handsomely. The pork pies were an added bonus.

If you want to keep up with local developments on all things foody check out some of these links

Hello Yorkshire

Eating isn’t cheating but beer may be

Them Apples

I also liked The Caked Crusader but it hails from London and involves DIY cooking.

Is that a quiche I see in the corner? – no its egg flan!

As Yorkshire folk know a flan should have a crust not be a sloppy mess – google take note

Posted in Food and Drink & Yorkshire Products | Comments Off

Yorkie Ware™ The Mugs

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Hortoris

I am not over keen on the name ‘Yorkie’. It smacks of a dog and I do not think that is what Yorkie Ware™ have in mind from their Moorland Pottery.

Another beef, but a minor one, is the super mug I got for Christmas said God’s Own Country which Yorkshire obviously is although I like God’s Own County for personal reasons. (What can they be? ed.)

The biggest beef is that the Pottery is in the Potteries or Burslem Stock on Trent to be exact and that aint in Yorkshire. Further exploration shows how naff some of their ‘Yorkshire sayings are: Yorkshire Born And Bred, Yorkshire Lad, Yorkshire Lass I’m a Yorkshire Yummie, Eeby Gum, The Lass Out Of Yorkshire, The Lad Out Of Yorkshire, Trouble At Mill ,On Ilkley Moor Baht ‘ At, Grandad can fix Out?’ (surely ‘Owt’)

Still I am not vindictive and will help promote Yorkshire themed branded businesses. If there is an interesting brand story let us know.

York Boats

Lendle bridge is a good place to go boat spotting. Boaty McBoatyface in red and blue livery – be careful not to get marooned!

Posted in Food and Drink & Yorkshire Products, Yorkshire Business and Money | Comments Off

Wisden on Yorkshire and Yorkshire on Wisden

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Hortoris

Yorkshire lad Duncan Hamilton has produced a tour-de-force for Wisden and a compilation about all that is great about Yorkshire Cricket.
This season is shaping up to be great year too so expect another edition soon but buy a first edition from Amazon

The blurb on the book undersells the county a bit……’Yorkshire County Cricket Club is by far the most successful county cricket club in history.’

The facts are made to speak for themselves……’Since the County Championship was constituted in 1890, Yorkshire has in addition to one shared Championship, won it outright on 30 occasions and Yorkshire cricket supporters take great pride in the county’s cricketing history’.

The characters get a reasonable billing……….’As well as the club’s successes, there have been 42 Yorkshire players chosen as Wisden Cricketers of the Year. Many have been world-class cricketers such as Wilfred Rhodes, Len Hutton, Fred Trueman and Geoffrey Boycott, with distinguished England careers.’ Do not forget Yorkshire man Jim Laker who never played for his home county.

Yorkshire cricket seems to have helped to keep Wisden in business…………..’Many thousands of Wisden pages have been filled with Yorkshire cricket, Yorkshire cricketers and Tests in Yorkshire.’

What is the book about? ‘Wisden on Yorkshire is a fascinating journey mixing great matches, personalities, feats, controversies and unusual occurrences. Presenting the best Yorkshire information from the Almanack archives,

Focus on the iconic Yorkshire players, such as Truman and Boycott
Cricketers of the Year and Obituaries.
The County’s history, highlighting significant years and extracts from reviews of those years.
Fascinating stories of both the highs and lows in the club’s history.
Colour plate section containing superb classic images.
Detailed records, match reports and scorecards.

We also recommend reading Slipless In Settle: A Slow Turn Around Northern Cricket by Harry Pearson is a book on Yorkshire Village and League cricket that will give you a wry smile or three.

‘A witty rumination on Yorkshire cricketers and the nature of manliness … very good indeed … offers some chucklesome insights into the personalities involved’ — We’ll Get Them in Sequins traces the style & ups & downs of Yorkshire cricket through seven cricketers from George Hirst (1871 – 1954) through Sutcliffe, Verity, Trueman, Boycott, and Gough to Michael Vaughan (1974 – ) using this to illustrate changes in the ideas of manliness through that time.

Posted in Books Club & Literary Work, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes | Tagged sport | 1 Comment

Boozy Flowers of the Dales

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Hortoris

Flowers can make fine wines. Try Dandelion or Elderberry flowers for starters.
My preferred beverage is Nettle beer (if real ale is not available of course).

If you do not want to grow and brew your own then why not go for a walk. I don’t mean to be funny but the Flowers of the Dales Festival is arranging a ‘Boozy Flower Walk from Ingleborough as part of a large programme of events. Start and finish at the Tan Hill Inn! What could be better.
During Ingleton folk festival the Tan Hill Inn hosts the comic song competition. Worth a visit if you can get in it is generally packed.

The Festival for the Flowers of the Dales 2016 is running from March to October with 100’s of events.

Bat walks, photography classes, Keasden flowers, Hackfall bluebells, and painting flowers at Malham are just some of the events.

I have just discovered other Boozy walks planed for 21 May in Swaledale, 11 June in Austwick, 16 July Wharfedale and 20 August in Wensleydale

You probably wont see these flowers on your boozy walks but you can drink in the colour from this photograph.

Moan

If you visit the Welcome to Yorkshire web site and search for boozy walks you get a list, the top 4 of which are in LANCASTER. Have we moved the boundaries at last. If not why are we wasting Yorkshire promotional brass on foreign places. Don’t bother linking

Posted in Yorkshire Trips and Places | Comments Off

Knot a Knott or Not

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Hortoris

This post is ‘not’ yet well read. So if I say ‘get knotted’ I am expressing contemptuous rejection not suggesting you should get married.

Knot garden creating a series of small rooms by using a low hedge.

Knotted wrack, Ascophyllum nodosum at low tide on the south-east side of Loch Eriboll.
With thanks to shandchem creative commons license on flickr

Knot

Knot hole in a not whole piece of wood.

A loose knot or a slip knot, not much use for tying up this boat

A flight of knots not taking to the air also called Seixoeira or calidris canutus.
With thanks to jwerde creative commons license on flickr

When not traveling on water speed is not measured in knots but by plane or ship knots count as speed. Sailors used to make their speed measurement with a knotted rope

Knotweed from Japan but now burrowing deep into British soil if give half a chance. Root it out if you can! It is strong enough to break through concrete and not what you want in your garden.

In a branch of mathematics there is Knot theory but not for those with Dyscalculia. See Warwick University Knot theory for more elucidation.
Not Joke

Arnside Knott is the lowest Marilyn, a hill with over 150 m of topographic prominence. A Marilyn is a low knott or hillock, not a Munroe.

Garden Games ‘Get Knotted available from Amazon’

Posted in Wit and Humour | Comments Off

David Hockney Bradford Born Painter

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Hortoris

David Hockney RA exhibition of 82 Portraits and 1 Still-life can be seen at the Royal Academia from 2 July – 2 October 2016

This representation of David Hockney’s work reflects many of his interests and insights.
His mother Laura is the central theme as she remained throughout her life.
The photo-collage method was created in the 1980 whist David was touring America and his collages of the Grand Canyon and Zion Canyon, Utah are on display at Salts Mill Saltaire.
These collages challenge conventional ways of looking at art and are just one of the innovations David has brought to the public’s attention. David has been keen to engage with his audiences in colourful and communicative ways.

Mini Biography

Born in Bradford on 9th July 1937 of Bradford parents.
‘From an early age David Hockney had a desire to be an artist. At the age of 11 he won a scholarship to Bradford Grammar school. In the
first year he purposefully came last in the form so that he would be able to study art – (reserved for non academic boys)
At the age of 16, he was able to leave and devote himself to art. He studied at the Bradford School of Art then The Royal College of Art in London.’
He was a conscientious objector during national service.
His brother Paul Hockney was one time Lord Mayor of Bradford.
After London life, post college David moved to New York and then Santa Monica in California where he produced much of his Oeuvre including swimming pool series and paintings of lithe young men.
Read more at Biography online

Current Works

Hockney’s largest painting, ‘Bigger Trees Near Warter’, which measures 15’x40′, was hung in the Royal Academy’s largest gallery in their annual Summer Exhibition 2007. It is currently on display at York Art Gallery until 12 June 2011.
The work is the largest David has produced and “is a monumental-scale view of a coppice in Hockney’s native Yorkshire, between Bridlington and York. It was painted on 50 individual canvases, mostly working in situ, over five weeks last winter.”
In 2008, he donated this work to the Tate Gallery in London, saying: “I thought if I’m going to give something to the Tate I want to give them something really good. It’s going to be here for a while. I don’t want to give things I’m not too proud of…I thought this was a good painting because it’s of England…it seems like a good thing to do” The Times

Other Hockney Bits

Hockney’s Garrow Hill is a depiction of the rolling Yorkshire Moors, streams and patchwork fields. It will be used at the Chelsea Flowers show by Kate Dundas and Esther Kilner as the inspiration for their garden exhibit.

Art in Yorkshire is a celebration in 19 galleries throughout Yorkshire of works from the Tate collections.

The Hockney Gallery in Saltaire has many works on display and a large range of products available to purchase. I particularly like the early opera sets on the top floor.

Me Draw on i-pad was an exhibition in Humblebaek Denmark until 28 August 2011

Sources

Biography on line
Picture from memaporg on flickr under creative commons license Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic
David Hockney official web site with current projects
Hockney Rebel

Posted in Yorkshire Arts & Music | 5 Comments

On Top of Ilkley

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Hortoris

During the hot spell of April 2011 Ilkley was been a top spot to walk and sunbathe. Following the wet winter 5 year later the moor is very squelchy but still a place for a good top notch walk.

To get on top of Ilkley you need to be prepared for a bit of a climb. The town is at river level as you would expect with the River Wharfe running just below the church and main street.

Places on Top of Ilkley

The cow and calf rocks are the view point from which this photo was taken.
The views from White Wells, Gill Head or Keighley Road also require a mountain goat walk. It is well worth the effort!
The Tarn is a more accessible view point.
Further along the moor edge you can’t beat Addingham Moorside for valley views.
On the Northern bank of the Wharfe is Langbar and Beamsley beacon.
Parts of Middleton Wood look down on Ilkley (like the Middleton residents).

Looking down on White Wells and Ilkley from Gill Head. The Twelve Apostles stone circle is just over the brow after walking from Dick Hudsons the pub that should be called the Fleece.

The houses you can see on Parish Ghyll Drive are on the 17th most expensive street in Yorkshire with the average home costing £573,000 according to research by Lloyds TSB in January. The top ranked street in Yorkshire, on top of Ilkley, is Bracken Park, Scarcroft, in Leeds, where the average home costs £871,000.
It struck me as a nice end of day shot to round off a walk on top of Ilkley Moor.

Posted in Yorkshire Trips and Places | Comments Off

Conviviality at Rhythm and Booze Your Offie

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Hortoris

Rhythm and Booze born in Barnsley ‘and one of Yorkshire’s finest Offies.’

Walking into a Rhythm and Booze off-licence was like walking into a cosy, but extremely well organised Aladdin’s Cave. I am partial to an occasional tipple and their wine selection is wide and good value. I was put on to our new local shop by members of the bowls club who are a set of winos (only kidding hic!).

Encouraged by the initial success of the Armthorpe branch in Barnsley they opened in Doncaster, Wakefield, Otley, Sheffield, Ripon, Hull and recently in Garforth. Lots of Yorkshire off licenses in other words.

The sale of a batch of 26 Rhythm & Booze stores signaled the end of the road for the chain founded by the Swaine family in 1993. Just two years after Bibby – which also owns Costcutter – paid £3.8 million for the 68 shops and rebranded the Bargain Booze, it has said that the chain is not part of its long-term plans. Conviviality Retail bought the 26 stores and plans to convert them into Bargain Booze or Wine Rack stores.

It must refresh the parts other offies can’t reach because Conviviality is buying Bibendum the wine wholesaler.

Help Protect Your ‘Offie’.

Patronise Rhythm and Booze not sterile Tesco, Co-op or similar supermarkets.
Shop at your local off license or it may have to close down.
Times are always tough for smaller players in a competitive field and they need your trade.
Drink Canada Dry or at least drink your Offie dry.

It strikes me that many retailers are breaching the trades description act.

Boots do not sell boots, Body Shop stocks no bodies and Selfridges don’t.
Mountain Warehouse isn’t a big warehouse, Millets is for the birds, Burtons have gone for one.
You don’t go to Currys for a Curry
B&Q only have Q’s no Bees
I can’t see the French Connection to Iceland when they are both in Yorkshire
Superdrugs are Majestically available in Oddbins but will your Mothercare
Top Shop is at the bottom of the high street, (enough this is getting silly ed) .

Posted in Food and Drink & Yorkshire Products | Comments Off

JWM Turner in Yorkshire

Posted on May 2, 2016 by tejvan

It is said that ‘The beauty of Yorkshire’s landscape moved the great British painter JMW Turner to tears’. No surprise there then for Yorkshire folk who are lucky enough to live and travel in the county.

“Turner loved Yorkshire and visited around 70 places across the county, sketching and painting – a great example of dramatic and inspiring Yorkshire’s landscapes” Garry Verity Welcome to Yorkshire.

Considering just one location we can see JWM Turners abiding interest in Yorkshire. Hackfall Woods was famous as one of the finest and largest wild gardens in Britain where Turner’s many sketches resulted in two finished watercolours. Today it is much-loved hidden gem. In the car park, you could see a copy of Turner’s painting displayed alongside that of local artist, Ian Scott Massie who was commissioned to capture the same landscape three centuries later. More of Turner’s work is on display in the nearby Masham Gallery.

Turner has been the inspiration of numerous artists. His large body of work is a resource for both authors and painters much of which is controlled by the Tate Gallery. Jane Sellers talks of the painter William Cowen, who she tells us, “was born in Rotherham and became a drawing teacher in Sheffield.”

Posted in Books Club & Literary Work, Yorkshire Arts & Music | Comments Off