Archive | August, 2009

Blea Moor Bog a Bleak Outlook

By on August 7, 2009 in Wit and Humour, Yorkshire Trips and Places

bleamoorbog

From the Station Inn at Ribblehead, Gents get a view that may or may not be available to Ladies visiting the same establishment. Blea Moor Bog is in full view and then you can look out of the window.

For affectionadoes of the Settle to Carlisle Line here are some facts about its construction and location

  • The construction started in 1869 and took 7 years of almost exclusive hand construction.
  • The ground was so soft ‘a bog-cart with a barrel instead of wheels was some times used. Horses often sank to their bellies in the soft ground …’  for more read The Navvyman ‘The Long Drag‘.
  • Ribblehead Viaduct has 24 arches and the tunnel under Blea Moor is over a mile long.  On the line there were 325 bridges 21 viaducts and 13 other tunnels.
  • The Settle-Carlise web site  with lots more information and timetables can be seen  on and the even more informative S-C Railway.

Look out for Steam Specials that run through summer at weekends. Alternatively take Shanks’ (porcelain) pony or your car and stop off at Blea Moor for the bog!

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Headingley Ashes

By on August 6, 2009 in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes

headingley 2608355999_e720857ddeHeadingley early in the season by Patrick Smyth

As the England team come to Headingley to start the 4th 2009 Test and the 24th Ashes Test  on this ground England are looking for an eighth win. Australia boast eight wins to England’s seven, while a further eight matches have been drawn. The ground is part way through a major redevelopment but the playing surface looks grand.


Amazing Feats and Triumphs in Headingley Tests

  • It is hard to believe it is 32 years since Geoff Boycott scored his 100th first-class hundred at his home ground in 1977.
  • Don Bradman stands tallest among those who have graced the Headingley turf, having scored 963 runs in just four Tests at an average of 192. The 334 he made in 1934 on his first Test appearance at the ground included 309 runs in a day, and he scored another triple century in 1938. Returning in 1948 Don Bradman scored an unbeaten 173 to a final-day pursuit of 404 to help Australia chalk up one of the eight wins.
  • Fred Trueman was the hero in 1961 when in one spell he claimed 5-0 on the way  to match figures of 11-88.  Having bowled Richie Benaud, he consoled (or is it sledged) him in inimitable style saying   “Don’t worry, sunshine. It would have knocked over even a half-decent batsman.”
  • Imagine Headingley in 1981 with England forced to follow on 290 runs behind and 135 for seven in the second innings and yet contrived to win by 18runs. Ian Botham’s scored an unbeaten 149, and pushed the score up to 420 leaving Australia chasing 130 to win on the last day. Enter Bob Willis with a spell of 8-43 in 15 overs and our tight victory.

The scene is set for another epic battle with our old foes those Yorkshire men in exile the Aussies. The Western Terrace is no more but the support will be there. Let us hope for a great game and an England victory despite the lack of Yorkshire born talent in the England team.
The only weather forecast I have seen is that there will be ‘no change in the changeable weather’ so no draw I hope.

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James Herriot of Thirsk and Askrigg

By on August 4, 2009 in Books & Literary Work, Villages, Towns and Cities, Yorkshire Trips and Places

Book Cover

Christopher Timothy was one of three actors to play Alf Wight the real James Herriot. This picture was taken in the garden of Alf’s Thirsk house and surgery that is now a gem of a museum and testament to Veterinary surgery and  James Herriot memorabilia.

Staffed by several garrulous local ladies my weekend visit was a bigger pleasure than I expected even though the market town was thronged due to the local Thirsk races.

Link to buy the DVD or books from Amazon.

James Herriot books were printed in over 20 languages and spawned feature films and the long running TV series set in the Yorkshire Dales. Filmed largely around Askrigg the real vets practice was in Thirsk but it was the Yorkshire farmers and families that provided the stories that made the series so popular. Alf’s real son Jim Wight has written an affectionate and illuminating biography of his father The Real James Herriot ‘A thoroughly entertaining book, well written by the man who knew “James Herriot” best, his son.It brings to life the man behind the stories and his son has described with love and affection the man who was his father.’ from a review by K E Beckett.

Askrigg in Wensleydale was the home of Skeldale House for theTV series, where vet James Herriot lived. The Kings Arms made many appearances as the Drover’s Arms as did the village’s tall houses and narrow, cobbled streets that are centred around the 13th centuary St Oswald’s Church. Askrigg was noted for hand knitting and clock making and there is an ancient bull-baiting ring still set in the village square next to the market cross and stone pump. Both Thirsk and Askrigg are well worth a trip or weekend away.


Mrs Pumphrey and Tricky Woo from The World of James Herriot.


Lotions and potions from the dispensary at The World of James Herriot in Thirsk.

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Packhorse Bridges

By on August 3, 2009 in Our Yorkshire, Photos, Yorkshire History and Heritage

Built like a Packhorse bridge over the Leeds Liverpool canal this bridge has the traditional narrow, one horse wide masonry arch and low parapets so as not to interfere with the horse’s panniers. It is at the junction of the now defunct Bradford Canal and was opened in 1774. The canal and the bridge carried industrial revolution products too and from Bradford. Despite many problems with the water flow into the canal it was a commercial asset until it closed in 1922 due to the high cost of pumping water back to the head of the canal.

Pleasure craft now float under this fine old bridge heading towards Shipley.

The Roman fort of Olicana now known as Ilkley, once guarded this strategic crossing of the Wharfe, on the legion’s road to Boroughbridge (Aldborough). This packhorse bridge was built in 1674 close to the Roman built ford across the river Wharfe. It is an unusual bridge as it is wider than many packhorse bridges and would allow two loaded pack animals to pass on the bridge. It is closed to traffic but you can wheel a cycle across.

Packhorse bridges were generally built on the trade routes that formed major arteries across Great Britain and there are many more examples to look out for in Yorkshire.

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Whitby Swings Open 100 Year Old Bridge

By on August 2, 2009 in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire History and Heritage, Yorkshire Trips and Places

This is a 100 year old view from Whitby’s famous wooden Swing bridge. A centenary celebration of the building of the Swing Bridge and reopening in 1909 will take place on 8th August 2009 between noon and 7.30pm. There will be Bridge decorations, period costumes, indoor photo displays of building work, and a re-enacted Opening ceremony. Whitby does this sort of thing very well so expect Marching bands, static life boat display, street theatre, Sea shanties and a Full sail past with modern and older local traditional craft.

Whitby Pannett Art Gallery is also holding a week long art exhibition featuring the bridge.

The swing bridge joins the two communities East and West of the river Esk together. It has been the scene of rivalry in the earlier part of the last century, where gangs of youths would contest the bridge with ” t`other side o` watter dogs “. Now a days it is drinkers from pubs at either side of the river that contest the quantity of ale to be supped. The original bridge was first mentioned in 1351 and used to lie to the landward side of the present one, roughly aligned with Baxtergate. Centuries ago, houses on wooden piles overhung the river above and below the bridge. Each section of the bridge swings independently and the bridge is staffed 2 hours each side of high tide. Many visitors get to see it in full operation or even queue good naturedly in the resultant traffic.

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Green Lanes of Yorkshire with Boats

By on August 1, 2009 in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes

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‘

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)

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.

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