God's Own County

Zetland – Lifeboat Race

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Hortoris

Redcar Lifeboat
The Zetland is the ‘ Oldest Lifeboat in the World’ built in 1802 and still on display in Redcar. over 200 years ago Zetland was built by a Yorkshireman, Henry Greathead, from Richmond who set up as a boat builder and made the first lifeboat Original. The 11th lifeboat operated by the Teesbay Lifeboat and Shipwreck Society, she was christened Zetland in honour of the Lord of the Manor from Shetland. The Zetland remained in service until 1880 saving over 500 lives. In 1864 the RNLI took over the when a new boat Crossley was launched at Redcar. Zetland was hauled to the beach and ordered destroyed. However the townfolk so strongly resented this and it was hurriedly arranged that Redcar could keep the boat as long as she did not compete with the Crossley. For many years the work continued culminating in the rescue of the brig LUNA in 1880 when three lifeboats were required for the rescue.

Bibliography & References
Robinson, Vera, The Zetland Lifeboat Sullivan, Dick, 1978, Old Ships, Boats and Maritime Museums, pp. 18, Coracle Books
Phillipson, David, 1994, All her Glories Past: The Zetland Lifeboat, Smith Settle Ltd
Osler, A G, 2000, Mr Greathead’s Lifeboat: The creation of the first shore-to-ship rescue boat, Mariitme Life and Traditions, Vol. 5, pp. 16-29
Age of Sail Volume 2 by Chrysalis Books. Poem The Zetland
http://nationalhistoricships.org.uk/index.cfm/event/getVessel/vref/627

Old Hotels
Zetland Hotel was built after 1861 when the Stockton & Darlington Railway came to Saltburn. With a platform at the rear of the hotel it was one of the first railway hotels. There are many interesting pictures of Saltburn on the history web site.

Country Pursuits
‘The Zetland Hunt Country straddles the Durham / North Yorkshire border and covers about 400 square miles. Bounded by the River Wear in the North, The River Swale to the South, and Darlington to the East; the Western boundary is not defined as the land rises to the grouse moors which are not hunted.

Summer Drizzle in Whitby 1930

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Hortoris

Reports about Global Warming and the next Ice Age are used to fill the media but let’s look back 80 years or so.

Imagine you were setting off for your summer holiday in Whitby on the 21st July 1930. You think our poor summer weather is bad well you aint seen nowt. Poor isn’t how you spell it ‘Pour’ is what it did for four days solid with 5.2 inches in Danby and a massive 11.9 inches in Castleton.

Imagine calling out the life boats for a flood – 2 miles inland – that is what happened in Ruswarp on 23 July 1930 as converging floods threatened Whitby and all around. The Whitby Gazzette called it ‘a thrilling rescue’ but with wind driving at gale force and the inky blackness creating another onslaught of rain in an already saturated area consternation siezed people in their houses. Rain had been general over all the area, the Esk and Barnby Beck were full, the Ruswarp and Carrs covered in 2 feet of water. At Briggswath the bridge and road were swept away and a steam tug in the bay broke from its moorings. In the words of Bill Foggit the old weather recorder, ‘ the awesome power of the flood was more than matched by the indomitable spirit of the Whitby lifeboatmen. Up the raging Esk they came to rescue marooned families…..’

So when we bemoan our bad weather spare a thought for others who have been through storm and tempest without all the modern facilities we now enjoy.

Near Hull docks a ship carrying red paint crashed into another ship carrying blue paint – all the sailors survived but were marooned.

Who cares about apathy?

Wallace Arnold Old Coach Holidays

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Hortoris

Do you collect ‘Nobbies’, in the red livery of Norbert Dentressangle or ‘Stobbies’, in the green livery of Eddie Stobart on long road Journeys? It can keep me and children amused for miles and miles spotting and counting the lorries. What a shame that we can’t also collect ‘Wallies’ in the distinctive yellow coaching livery. Wallace Arnold has succumbed to corporate rebranding since 2007 by the new owners Shearings Holidays.

History of Wallace Arnold

Founded in 1912 by Wallace Cunningham and Arnold Crowe the holiday coach tour business developed until it merged in 1926 with an established charabanc operator R Barr (Leeds) Ltd. From 1930 Wallace Arnold ran daily coach services to Blackpool and even started its European tours to Germany. Such coach travel was still expensive and somewhat exclusive until it opened up after the Second World War. By 1948 Wallace Arnold had offices in 10 northern towns and must have run millions of people on mystery tours or trips to the seaside.
In 1959 the company expanded by buying the Kippax & District bus company and brought in double decker buses. By the end of the 1970’s coach holidays were loosing customers to cheap air package holidays and Wallace Arnold tried various diversifications including a venture with P&O called Coach & Cruise. With the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 many more European tours were put into the brochures and good quality coaches were operated.
So bearing this and lots of happy memories in mind perhaps it would not be appropriate to be calling out ‘there is a Wally’.

Dates for your Diary
August 2nd 2015 is the Trans-Pennine Run for pre December 1989 buses and coaches from Birch Services, M62, Middleton to The Stray, Harrogate (no part of the route is on motorway).

You can see more replica models of Wallace Arnold coaches by clicking on the photograph above.

Wallace Arnold VUB396H by Pimlico Badger CC BY-SA 2.0

Posted in Our Yorkshire, Transport and Travel | 1 Comment

Runswick Bay and East Coast Legends

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Hortoris

Time and tide wait for no man and clinging to the cliffs on the East coast can also be a precarious pastime. This book traces the activity around Runswick Bay. see also The Natural History of Runswick Bay.

In 1682 the whole cliff face at Runswick Bay collapsed into the sea taking all the village with it save for one cottage. A disaster fund helped build a new village that we know today as a picturesque fishing village and holiday spot still clinging to the cliff. Another landslide in 1858 destroyed a small iron-smelting works and the run off from the moors and the exposure to the sea regularly test the coastal defenses.

Runswick Bay has been inhabited since before Roman times as burial mounds found on the moors behind the village attest. How many Yorkshire ancestors landed in Runswick Bay with the Danes and Vikings en-route to York and places West? In the 17th and 18th centuries we know smuggling was rife but it is also clear the village revolved around the fishing industry from whaling to herring.
The life boat sadly moved to Staithes in 1978 but a rescue service still runs. There was also one occasion in 1901 when the old lifeboat had been manned entirely by women when their men in the ‘Cobles’ (local boats) were caught in a freak squall. (Perhaps I should have said womanned not manned). The old thatched Coastguard’s Cottage still stands at the edge of the village with the life-boat house and boat park virtually on the beach.

Witchcraft and Omens

Runswick Bay had strange superstitions including one that led to death by drowning. The Reverend Cooper of Filey discovered ‘a perfectly horrible superstition’ Continue reading →

Posted in Villages, Towns and Cities, Yorkshire Trips and Places | 3 Comments

Dry Stone Walls Man Made Wonders of Yorkshire

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Hortoris

Yorkshire has more miles of Dry Stone Wall than any other county and these walls are an outstanding feature of the Dales. It is quite a craft to build such a wall and the techniques have been passed down for generations.

dry-stone-wall by Dave_S. CC BY 2.0

When first considering the list of the man made wonders of Yorkshire I failed to think back to the efforts of our predecessors. So I apologise to those who thought I was ignoring the efforts of farmers and stone masons who have created an enduring feature of our Yorkshire landscape. Our dry stone walls.

photo: Tejvan

One of the attractions of dry stone walls are the rural form. Some straight lines, but mostly free form, twisting across the country.

In recent years, farmers have strengthened stone walls with ordinary wire fence. But, some grants have been made available to keep dry stone walls because of their cultural significance.

Dry Stone Walls and The Enclosure Acts

Continue reading →

Posted in Seven Wonders of Yorkshire | 1 Comment

Dallas or Doncaster?

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Hortoris

After the return of the 1980’s TV series ‘Dallas’ I thought it worth comparing Dallas to our own Doncaster.
Texas sees its self as an American version of Yorkshire. Well I suppose ‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ but surely Dallas can’t hold a candle to ‘Donny’ or Doncaster.

Doncaster was built as a fort by the Romans during the first century around 71 A.D. at a crossing point on the river Don. Caester is Old English for military camp. Dallas was founded in 1841 as part of the Republic of Texas but what is 18 centuries between friends?

The New Dallas TV Channel 5

In the Ewing family they may have (Linda Gray) or Sue Ellen but Donny has (Diana Rigg) or Emma Peel in the The Avengers and the bond-girl in ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. I know who would win that cat fight or come out top when acting.
Dallas may have endless oil but Doncaster has coal, rail and a trolley bus museum.
Dallas has a 12 year history followed by 20 years of absence on our TV screens. Doncaster once featured in an Emmerdale episode with a plane crash.
JR may be a tough cookie but we have our own Larry Hagman in the form of our elected Mayor – Peter Davis.

Dallas skyline by dherrera_96 CC BY 2.0

Odd and Interesting Facts

Dallas has the ‘Cowboys’ ‘Mavericks’ and ‘Stars’ (American football, Basketball and Ice Hockey respectively) whilst Doncaster has the Rovers.
The Doncaster Gold Cup was first run in 1766 and is the oldest regulated horse race in the world and the St Leger is the oldest classic horse race.
For those with a sweet tooth, Doncaster was the home of Butterscotch, Nuttalls Mintoes and Murray Mints

Doncaster Station by mattingham CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Is Everything bigger in USA

Dallas airport has a similar number of passengers to Doncaster Robin Hood at circa 3.7m per annum. That is with poetic license and if we ignore Dallas-Fort Worth airport which has 27.1m passenger movements and George Bush ‘Huston airport’ another 19.5m. (I put Huston in because like Robin Hood it was named for a folk hero?)
Texas may look on its self as God’s Own American State but we know Yorkshire is God’s Own County!

Posted in Villages, Towns and Cities, Wit and Humour | 1 Comment

York Railway Station History

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Hortoris

This weekend it was the 150 year celebration of the opening of the railway at Otley in West Yorkshire. Unfortunately it was also exactly 50 years since Dr Beeching took an axe to the line.

Still York retains its facilities and is the focus of our national pride in our predominantly Victorian railways.

History, York and Railways go together almost like fish, chips and mushy peas. Well the Railway station designed by Thomas Prosser and William Peachey in yellow stock brick with tone dressings, in a classical Italianate style must have been food for thought when it was opened in 1877.

At that time it was the Largest Railway Station in the World with 13 platforms and the marvelous glazed arching roof. All the platforms except 9/10/11 are under the large, curved, glass and iron roof. This North Eastern Railway building was the third station to be built in York as the first was opened in 1839 by the York and North Midland Railway on land previously occupied by a Hospital for Poor Women. Then it was developed by a second station built within the shell of the first by George Townsend Andrews in 1840 almost in time to coincide with the new postage stamp.

Another world first for York Railway station was the incorporation of a hotel within the buildings. Royal Station Hotel was named after Queen Victoria who reputedly had lunched there on her way by train to her Scottish estate at Balmoral Castle. The arrivals platform had a refreshment stand and there was an office for George Hudson.

Vision Of George Hudson – Railway King

Continue reading →

Posted in Yorkshire Facts - Interesting and Unusual, Yorkshire Folk, Yorkshire History and Heritage | 6 Comments

Clogs Get Morris Dancing in Otley

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Hortoris

The Buttercross Belles will likely be performing at the Otley Folk Festival 17th – 20th Septermber in Otley. Dust off your clogs or better still pop down and support your local side. There will be several sides from as far afield as Abredeen and Exeter. Below is a look at the local Otley based action.

Flash Company
Flash company famous for border, molly, appalachian and clog dancing, the Flash Company were formed 12 years ago from musicians and dancers from all walks of life. ‘Many had danced traditional Morris for many years and wanted to update the tradition to bring it to a new audience in a manner that people could relate to.
In order to do this, we have taken some ‘traditional’ dances and also written several of our own but perform them to more modern music, such as blues, jazz and rock and roll.
In no way is this meant to detract from the traditional teams that exist all over the world.’

Buttercross Belles
The Buttercross Belles from Otley are a well recognised womens North West Morris Dancing side.
They were established back in ‘1992 and have been practicing traditional North West Morris Dancing all over the UK and Europe since then. North West Morris originated in the Lancashire Mills during the Industrial Revolution and this is reflected in the figures of the dances and the use of the milling bobbins. We also dance with garlands and hankies which comes from the Cotswold style of dance.’ The buttercrossbelles

The Kitchen Taps
The Kitchen Taps also come from Otley and perform traditional Appalachian Dance to authentic Bluegrass and Mountain music.
They are well know for their lively and intricate routines, and have performed at festivals up and down the country for over 15 years. ‘The dancers are backed by their 4 piece band who play a range of bluegrass and old time music on traditional instruments. They are rightly proud of their complex, foot tapping tunes.’

Wharfedale Wayzgoose
Wharfedale Wayzgoose ‘Otley’s one and only mixed Border Morris side was founded in 1993 and first burst onto the public stage on May 1st 1994. Since then the side has grown in numbers and they have attended many major folk festivals throughout England, dancing with sides from all over England and the USA, Australia, Romania and France.
The side have traveled widely and been hailed as “true ambassadors of Morris” by the Open Morris (but the committee were drunk at the time!).
From dancing in a cellar, never far from a barrel of beer, the side grew and a bigger venue was needed, not to mention a bigger barrel of beer.’

Drum up some enthusiasm for this typical Yorkshire pastime.

Barbara Hepworth 1903-1975 and An Eternal Triangle

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Hortoris

Hot on the heels of the announcement of a sculpture triangle in Yorkshire I revisited a post from 6 years ago to find it still as appropriate now. ‘Celebrate 200 of the World’s greatest artists at four leading venues.’ some triangle but what can you expect from a sculptor!! Henry Moore Institute Leeds art gallery and the two better facilities reviewed below make up the

Barbara Hepworth sculptress and artist was a Wakefield lass attending the local Girls High School and then studying at the Leeds School of Art from 1920. She rattled through that course and then won a County scholarship to the Royal College of Art and studied there from 1921. A grant from the West Riding allowed her to study in Italy where she she married fellow artist John Skeaping.

Hepworth was in frequent contact with Henry Moore with whom she had been a student both at Leeds and at the Royal College. The two sculptors had vacations together where in 1937 she met Ben Nicholson and whent to live with him (over ‘t brush). They were later married from 1938 to 1951.
She was made a Dame in 1965, ten years before her death during a fire in her St Ives studio in Cornwall, aged seventy-two

Barbara Hepworth is best known for creating beautiful, flowing and rhythmic sculptures with holes. The materials used included wood, marble or bronze and the piece was often influenced by the organic shapes and contours of nature. There is a permanent outdoor exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in West Bretton near Wakefield. The Hepworth museum as part of the Tate in St Ives contains sculptures in bronze, stone and wood along with paintings, drawings and archive material.

A quotation by Barbara Hepworth resonates with me when I post short pages to the Gods Own County site, ‘Halfway through any work, one is often tempted to go off on a tangent. Once you have yielded, you will be tempted to yield again and again… Finally, you would only produce something hybrid.’

Continue reading →

Posted in Yorkshire Arts & Music | Comments Off

Funny and Comic T Shirts Slogans

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Hortoris

There’s a little riverside town name York that is noted for T shirts and fun – here are about 100 slogans and comic quips for your next T Shirt.

Who put the wet in Wetwang

Who put the naff in Nafferton

Who put the dint in Dent

Who put the or in Orgreave

Who put the Hor in Hornsea

It is a good job Scunthorpe is outside Yorkshire for this purpose.

At this seasonal time it is easy to reflect on the truism ‘there is no room at the bin’.

If you get a knock on the door by someone selling vacuums are they Jo Hoovers Witnesses.

For more slogans click the pictures to enlarge.

Unusual and interesting Yorkshire

‘I Never Knew That About Yorkshire’ from amazon

North Yorkshire Deliciously Moorish T shirt offer

Posted in Wit and Humour | 1 Comment

God's Own County

Zetland – Lifeboat Race

Summer Drizzle in Whitby 1930

Wallace Arnold Old Coach Holidays

Runswick Bay and East Coast Legends

Witchcraft and Omens

Dry Stone Walls Man Made Wonders of Yorkshire

Dry Stone Walls and The Enclosure Acts

Dallas or Doncaster?

The New Dallas TV Channel 5

Odd and Interesting Facts

Is Everything bigger in USA

York Railway Station History

Vision Of George Hudson – Railway King

Clogs Get Morris Dancing in Otley

Barbara Hepworth 1903-1975 and An Eternal Triangle

Funny and Comic T Shirts Slogans

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