Yorkshire – God’s Own County

October 31, 2009

Parking In Haworth

Filed under: Our Yorkshire, Villages and Towns, Yorkshire Trips and Places — Tags: , , , , — brian @ 11:39 am

My simple advice would be don’t do it, parking in Haworth that is, unless you are prepared for the clampers. I had heard many apocryphal tales about the private car park at the top of main street in Haworth where they obsessively look for cars not parked straight or ones that over stay be one minute. Even Christa Ackroyd has commented on the parsimonious way the owner treats visitors to Haworth.
Having just ‘parked myself for a cuppa and butty’ in the excellent Apothecary Tea Rooms I saw the sign warning tea drinkers to drink up and check their car or risk a £75 clamp or worse. Knowing I had parked at the bottom of the Cobbles in a council car park I was less worried except I had been unable to pay in either of the broken and vandalised parking machine. The signs told me numerous time to pay on entry but I would look like these former parkers if I had waited to get a ticket.

It was Halloween weekend and the whole of Haworth had made an effort to join in the spirit with spirit. Eight foot dragons roamed the cobbled street and the wicca influence was wicked. The town is ideal for this sort of festivity and a walk around the church grave yard crammed with Gothic grave stones was spooky.

That Betty Boo is really frightening

October 27, 2009

Stocksbridge Steeltown and Hillclimb Venue

Filed under: Our Yorkshire, Villages and Towns, Yorkshire Arts & Music, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes — brian @ 4:48 am


Stocksbridge is a sporting community 12 miles north of Sheffield that last weekend hosted the British National Cycling Hill Climb Championship. The ride up Pea Royd Lane tested all the entrants who were too shattered at the top to take in the splending valley views. The winners received awards from Town and City mayors at The Venue.

It is great walking country and the local town council offer free printable maps on this site.
The workers for Sammy Fox who opened the first Steelworks in the town in 1842 would have had little time to appreciate the hills around. As Steel manufacturing grew to dominate jobs in the town workers traveled miles by bus,foot and rail to work in the plants. During world War ll the town was subject to bombing raids yet continued to produce the quality steel the country needed. More on Sam Fox
Now all I can find is a is Chorus for Corus written by Tom Russel -listen below

Other things are happening for the community such as the new development of 443 houses to be built at Station road Deepcar and planning approval has been given for a development of the Outo Kumpo site.
The Switch On of the Christmas Illuminations will take place on Friday, 4th December 2009 at the shopping precinct at 7.00 p.m where Deepcar Brass Band will be playing Christmas carols from 6.30 p.m.
Stocksbridge Park Steels Football Club, Tennis, Golf, Rugby, even photography clubs all seem to thrive. Stocksbridge Brass Band are still entering competitions 110 years after first forming.

For a video of the hill climb see Cycling Info

October 25, 2009

Modern Yorkshire Buildings

Filed under: Our Yorkshire, Photos — brian @ 5:56 am

Architects are alive and doing well in Yorkshire. Construction continues at a reduced pace from that experienced since the millenium but several notable buildings seem to have appealed to the designers behind various constructions. The mirror effect from the glass at the Harrogate Conference and Hotel Complex represents the entertainment industry.

Between the river Aire and the railway station in Leeds is this circular mixed hereditament for retail on the ground floor, offices and apartments. Now nearly completed, it is hoped it is tenanted quickly and does not become Yorkshire’s own Centre Point.

Middle Eastern architectural influences are on display with this Mosque in Bradford. Many other Mosques in Yorkshire have been converted from old buildings. The re-purposing of defunct buildings is a great environmental and aesthetic way of recycling. A shame so many City center facades were destroyed by concrete boxes with negligible style in the later half of the last century.

I do not know what to call this building. When new it was Halifax Building Society, then after Maggie’s privatisation it became The Halifax. Takeover fever saw it become the Yorkshire base of HBOS but last week it was re-signed as Lloyds Bank. Initially members owned it, then they were renamed shareholders, then capitalists took over but now our government and poor tax payers own the building and business behind it. (That supposes that the building as an asset and not a finance deal on some property companies books. Na! our government will have checked!)

October 22, 2009

Yorkshire Regiments

Filed under: Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire History and Heritage — brian @ 4:36 am

The East Yorkshire Regiment landed in St Nazare on 10th September 1914 and the battalions and some of the soldiers are researched in detail on 1914-1918 web site ‘The Long Long Trail’. This seems to be a good site for family and military researchers, ‘it is a tribute to the men and women who fought and won – and to the million who died trying.’

The Yorkshire Regiment’s formation in June 2006 was part of the restructuring of the infantry with the merger of three regular battalions, plus a TA battalion:

1st Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (previously 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire)
2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (previously 1st Battalion, Green Howards)
3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (previously: 1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding))
4th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (previously: East and West Riding Regiments and Green Howards company from the Tyne-Tees Regiment ), all formerly titled and known as The Yorkshire Volunteers.
The Green Howards Museum is in Richmond and read more on the Yorkshire Regiment web site

The Royal Dragoon Guards were formed on the amalgamation in 1992, of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. They are stationed in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, continuing a tradition of service that now runs over three hundred years. All Saints Church, Pavement, York is the Regimental Church of The Royal Dragoon Guards. The museum at York is also worth visiting.

Book Cover
East Yorkshire Regiment in the Great War 1914-1918 by Everard Wyrall from Amazon

Book Cover
Hull Pals: 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th (Service) Battalions of the East Yorkshire Regiment

Book Cover
On 10th September 1914, the City of Sheffield officially raised its own Battalion.

October 18, 2009

Yorkshire Rarebit and Fishfinger Butties

Filed under: Food and Drink, Our Yorkshire — brian @ 2:22 pm

Karuna’s Posh Fish Finger Buttie

1) Very lightly spread 2 slices of white bread with butter or spread.
2) Top one slice with 4 grilled Birds Eye Fish Fingers (only the best will do)
3) Add 2 thin slices of Emmenthal cheese
4) Dip in Daddies sauce or Tomato Ketchup

5) For a southern version ‘Drizzle with Tartar sauce, pop on a few sprigs of rocket’, then top with the second slice of bread.

6) Admire your work of art, then scoff with enthusiasm
Enjoy!

Yorkshire Rarebit for two or one big appetite

25 gram of butter
25 gram of plain flour
125ml of milk
125ml of black sheep ale or an ale of your choice
125 gram of mature Wensleydale cheese
1 tsp. English mustard powder
few drops of Yorkshire Relish
1 egg
4 Slices of bread

Melt butter and add flour, make into a roux, add milk and ale
Stir over heat until it becomes a stiff sauce, add the mustard powder and the Relish stir
Then add the cheese, when all melted add the egg and stir.
Toast the bread, top each slice with some of the cheese mixture and brown under the grill serve at the end of a meal.
Eke it out with a couple of bacon rashers on the top.

Plot Night 1605

Filed under: Yorkshire History and Heritage — brian @ 1:48 pm

‘Remember remember the 5th of November gunpowder treason and plot’ so it isn’t bonfire night but Plot Neet or just Plot!
The Plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 included plotters Robert Catesby,Thomas Percy, Christopher and John Wright, Thomas Wintour and the infamous Guy Fawkes, a Yorkshire man from Scotton, Knaresborough who went to school at St Peter’s, York. Most of the plotters had Yorkshire connections but it isn’t their effigy that is burnt on Plot night but Guy’s (burning a Tom, Bob or Chris doesn’t sound quite the same).

‘Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot…………………. ‘ In fact we may think again after this years appalling expenses shambles. It is obvoius MP’s are not Right and they are not Honorable. Perhaps the picture of these Mine of Serpents is more appropriate than you could imagine.

New Picture (3)

Outside Yorkshire I have never heard of collecting wood for a bonfire called ‘Proggin’ but that is what we called it in Bradford in the 1950’s. The posh kids may have been ‘chumpin’ but on a straw poll in Lancashire I was told they went ‘collecting bonfire wood’ (blinkin’ obvious if you ask me). A bit of ‘millband’ was used to light the blue touch paper (although we never called it that) on Volcanoes, Penny bangers, Rip Raps, Catherine Wheels, Roman Candles, Snow Storm, Airbomb, humble coloured matched and Rockets launched from milk bottles. Even the names of the manufacturers brings back nostalgic memories; Wessex, Standard, Pains, Brocks, Astra, Wells and Benwells were just some of the Firework manufacturers I remember. More info at the Fireworks Museum.

October 16, 2009

Yorkshire Pizza Delivery

Filed under: Wit and Humour — admin @ 3:33 pm

Hi, do you deliver Pizza?

October 15, 2009

Fanny Adams Bitter Sweet

Filed under: Yorkshire Business and Money — brian @ 2:03 pm

Do the proprietors of this shop in Halifax know the story of the original Fanny Adams? ‘Lest we forget’ here are some of the gruesome details. Eight-year-old Fanny Adams was brutally murdered and dismembered in August 1867. The head, eyes and ears were scattered and this notorious murder of young Fanny Adams made sensational national headlines, creating a wave of horror, revulsion and pity. A solicitor’s clerk was arrested and tried for Fanny’s murder and despite ‘it was my family upbringing defense, after only 15 minutes the jury returned a guilty verdict and Frederick Baker was hanged before a crowd of 5000 in front of Winchester County Prison on Christmas Eve 1867.

When the Royal Navy were served tins of mutton as the latest shipboard fast food in 1869, sailors gloomily declared that the butchered contents must surely be ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’. Thus “Fanny Adams” became slang for mutton or stew and then for anything worthless. Gradually accepted throughout the armed services as a euphemism for ’sweet nothing’ it has passed into common usage as Sweet F. A.
That seems to be what is on offer in the shop window, certainly not the 1974 record ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’ by the glam rockers The Sweet but inside you may find Sweet Fanny Adams knickers from New Zealand. None of these seem to be great tributes to a murder victim despite the catchy name.

October 12, 2009

Night Out in Halifax

Filed under: Villages and Towns, Yorkshire Arts & Music — brian @ 6:38 am

The Victoria Theater in Halifax usually has some event or show that suits me or the family but not always both. Still a good night out can be arranged irrespective of the programme if it is combined with a meal and drink. The bus is the way to get into town but a taxi or sober chauffeur is needed to get home.
In 1956 Joe Brown formed The Spacemen skiffle group and was on TV over 50 years ago but he will be performing at the Victoria on 16th October 2009. The next evening there will be Paul Jones (the former singer with Manfred Mann) and other members of The Blues Band Dave Kelly Tom McGuiness, Rob Townsend and Gary Fletcher will be on stage from 7.30pm. According to the Theater ‘you will not leave with the blues!’

The following four Saturdays have the Festival of Dance XIII, then the ‘chuckle therapy’ of Barry Cryer, the stage version of Skellig ‘ sophisticated theater with real emotional pull and Oliver by the Halifax Light Opera Society. To save space here why not get on the mailing list for future information or buy tickets by calling 01422 351156.
The Unthanks are at the Parish Church on 24th with a new line up to support the Geordie Folk Rachel & Becky Unthank.
Halifax has a rich and diverse choice of entertainment and a pre-evening Pizza at a local ‘Italian’ makes for a good evening.

If you are still ‘up for it’ after your trip to the theater try some Liquid refreshment and a bit of lively clubbing. ‘Liquid presents an unrivaled clubbing experience with state of the art sound & lighting systems’. Mind you if like me you remember Joe Brown and Paul Jones in their hey days you will probably not be up for a 3.00 am stint at the club.

October 9, 2009

Visit Gardens in Yorkshire

Filed under: Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes — brian @ 12:51 am

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.

Garden Visits for 2010

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 2010. 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 Perennial is 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 areaa are the Rockery and Herbaceous beds.

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 Harlow Carr Gardens (open all year)

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