York Minster Flowers and a Church
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York from inside the Friends Meeting House Garden on Friargate.
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Yorkshire Staycation Hotspots
So much for our summer 2012 ‘it was grand weather for ducks’ as my grandfather was wont to say. It is still not too late to enjoy a short break in one of our national parks or resorts, even Harrogate or Sheffield may help with some early Christmas shopping.
Birds Enjoying a Staycation at RSPB hotspot Bempton Cliff
To some ‘Staycation’ is a relatively new word combining the words ‘stay’ and ‘vacation’ but a staycation has been common practice in many Yorkshire households for generations. Dales farmers could no more leave their animals than they could convert to Lancastrianism. Industrial workers from Sheffield and Doncaster or miners from the pit villages would be over the moon with a seaside holiday but far more people just didn’t have the brass. There were no sunshine Hotspots on the ‘Costa Whatnot’ for these Yorkshire folk.
All that is changing and Yorkshire offers some great staycation locations and the odd hotspot for visitors and Tykes alike. For southerners and other visitors to the county here is a quick view or review of some seaside towns where you can expect exceptional hospitality.
Yorkshire Seaside Staycation Hotspots
Whitby – ‘Fish, Chips and Goths!’
Bridlington – ‘Up and Coming Back’
Flamborough – ‘Heading in the Right Direction’
Robin Hood’s Bay – ‘Walkers Paradise’
Filey – ‘Who says we don’t do Illuminations?’
Hornsey – ‘Pottery About’
Withernsea -’Twighlight Zone’
Scarborough – ‘Staycation Hotel’
Photo Credits
Flamborough Head by Stephen & Claire Farnsworth CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Coast to Coast Walk England – 300 km from the Irish to the North Sea by dirk huijssoon CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Filey Seafront by johncooke CC BY 2.0
Hornsea Beach by histman CC BY 2.0
An english summer at the beach by mark lorch CC BY-NC 2.0
Battering by Steve Sawyer CC BY-NC 2.0
Battering is not only what happens to the fish caught to go with your Yorkshire chips but it can be what the weather does to our coastline. Visit Yorkshires hotspot coast before it erodes into the sea.
I wanted to use this photo at Robin Hood’s Bay as it set me in mind to have my own ‘Pubcation’ on the coast in the near future.
Classic Cars in Thirsk
It is an expensive and time consuming hobby to restore a vehicle but I, like others, stop and stare at old cars on the road and it is great to see them loved and cared for. Keep up the good work in protecting our engineering heritage. Tois vintage Jowett was built in Bradford and is now a museum exhibity.
Our Yorkshire based badminton club’s annual trip in June took in the Daimler and Classic Car show at Ross on Wye ( Wye oh why did we leave Yorkshire I hear you ask). A similar garden was spotted along with some immaculate cars.
Blue Sky Thinking For Yorkshire
Leeds Office in Space
Sir Leonard Ropner Bedale
Return to Yeadon
Skipton Gateway to the Clouds
No More Wet Summers 2012
Wharfedale Fleece
Sky High Harrogate
Tyke the Dog not a Real Tyke
Who would call a dog Tyke? Well an expat Yorkshire man living in one of the colonies may be tempted. Anyway this Canadian photo was the first to be found on a web search for Tyke.
In Arnold Kellett’s book ‘The Yorkshire Dictionary’ he claims a tyke is another word for a dog or cur especially a small mongrel terrier used for catching rats. A possible derivation of the nickname comes from the ‘sight of a Yorkshireman owning such a dog, the nickname was commonly applied to anyone born and bred here.’
A youngster is often referred to a ‘little tyke’ in a term of tolerant affection.
Leeds Carnegie RUFC has a long heritage stretching as far back to 1878 and the formation of Headingley FC. They merged with Roundhay RUFC to form Leeds RUFC and then from 1998 to 2007 they were called Leeds Tykes.
Why they need to be named after Leeds Met’s Carnegie School of Sport – still our money counts – maybe?
No Michael Jackson was not a real closet tyke. This is a graffiti art work by American artists Tyke Witnes & Ewok
Other Real Tykes
‘Tykes’ is a quarterly magazine about folk music, song and dance. It covers Yorkshire and surrounds, and is read by people as far afield as the US and Australia; even by one or two in Lancashire!
Not only that but Barnsley FC are called the Tykes and their fans are ‘Tyke Mad’
A shame angling is not a paralympic sport or Yorkshire could expect loads more gold medals from members of ‘Yorkshire Tykes Disabled Angling Association DAA’
Photo Credits
“20120725_112104-2.jpg by Roger Hiscocks CC BY-NC 2.0
London Irish v Leeds Tykes, 15-Apr-2006 by Richard Carter CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Michael Jackson – Thriller by anarchosyn CC BY-SA 2.0
Wentworth Castle and Gardens
Wentworth Castle and the Castle Gardens with Stainborough Park is the only Grade One Listed landscape in South Yorkshire. In addition to numerous listed buildings and monuments the gardens are superb as the following photos indicate.
A series of gothic follies and features includes a stumpery. Other structures enhance the viewing but for the fit a walk in the adjacent parkland is a bonus.
If there was a garden specialty it is the acid loving collections of Rhododendrons, Camellias and Magnolias. I liked the presentation of a range of different holly varieties and an old yew.
There are 60 acres of formal gardens at Wentworth Castle and over 500 more acres in the surrounding parkland.
You can wonder at leisure through the Gardens and Parkland but Wentworth Castle is now a college of further eduation and access into the house is by pre-booked tour only.
Other interesting houses in South Yorkshire: Wentworth Woodhouse, Wentworth Castle, Sheffield Manor, Cantley Hall, Burntwood Hall, Cannon Hall, Houndhill Paperback from amazon
Download a Garden visitors map pdf copyright Wentworth Castle
Gold For Yorkshire Rainbows
If the Olympics gave medals for weather Yorkshire would win a series of Golds.
Rainbows would be a gold medal prospect for the rural dales, urban homes and seaside locations.
“The way I see it, If you want the rainbow you gotta put up with the rain” Dolly Parton.
If we were giving out honorary Yorkshire citizenships then Dolly would be one of the first. (I can say that because it is unlikely that we ever will).
Crock of Gold where are you? Under the sea as you can see.
Even on a cloudless Dales morning the rainbows were still out in force.
Not everything is what it seems or so it seems.
Funny how rain makes flowers grow and buses disappear.
One good thing about rain, you do not need to shovel it.
Photo Credits
Rainbow – The Keep – Scarborough Castle by Tina_S_White CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Yorkshire Rainbow by St Stev CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Yorkshire Dales Rainbow by Ambersky235 CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
S3K: Up above the streets and houses… by RedDogFever CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 ‘For those of us of a certain age, Zippy, Bungle, George and Geoffrey are the words that spring to mind when you say ‘rainbow’.
This is a panorama shot taken with the S3000 in ‘Panorama Assist’ scene mode, and then stitched together using Arcsoft Panorama Maker 5, which was bundled with the camera.
Wish I’d got the second rainbow fully in, though… Cherry Burton, East Riding of Yorkshire, August 2010′
utley rainbows by jonsatticuk CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Two for the price of one – that is Yorkshire value! Not only that but we didn’t need twice as much rain to get the Gold for Rainbows but it helps.
Photos Burnsall – Yorkshire Dales
Burnsall is a quintessential Yorkshire Dales village. It is surrounded by high fells offering great views of the village, river and landmark bridge. The three arched bridge crosses the River wharfe and provides an interesting focal point.
In the village there are a couple of pubs (including the Red Lion) and the excellent Burnsall cafe. The Burnsall Cafe offers excellent tea and teacakes and is welcoming to cyclists, walkers and just a local passer by.
This is a picture of Burnsall from the east on the road towards Hebden and Grassington. Burnsall fell is in the background.
It often rains around Burnsall, but, when the sun comes out it is worth the wait Here the patchy sun catches part of Burnsall Fell. The church is in the shade.
Burnsall makes a great location for cyclists. For more photos of cycling in Yorkshire Dales
A short walk from Appletreewick to Burnsall by the River Wharfe
Photo credits
River Wharfe at Burnsall by jackharrybill CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
“Burnsall Sign by TGIGreeny, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
What They Teach in History Class
A good Yorkshire education began with a Bradford wool merchant and Member of Parliament for Bradford in 1861. William Edward Forster was the son of a Quaker who was active in the anti slavery movement.
W E Forster moved to Bradford into premises that were eventually to become Swan Arcade sadly demolished. The business at Waterloo mills employed over 500 at it’s peak and W E Forster organised reading facilities and education classes for his workers that included children aged eight. The workers even enjoyed a ‘works trip’ to London from Apperley Bridge railway station when W E F was elected as a Member of Parliament.
In 1850 with his partner he purchase two cotton mills at Burley in Wharfedale and converted Greenholme Mills into a worsted manufacturer also employing upwards of 500 people.
After the 1868 General Election, William Gladstone appointed Forster as Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education. Forster therefore had responsibility for carrying through the House of Commons the 1870 Education Act. This role had the responsibility of providing some form of education for the hordes of industrial towns children who were not catered for before the act came into force. He set up school boards who had to make provision for schools in their area. Thus he earned the right to be called the father of universal elementary education.
It is for education that W E Forster is best known and he had Braford’s Forster Square and subsequently the Midland railway station named in his honour.
From 1880 he was chief secretary for Ireland, and worked tirelessly on the Compensation for Disturbance Bill a task was made more difficult by the agitation which arose in consequence. ‘During the gloomy autumn and winter of 1880-81 Forster’s energy and devotion in grappling with the situation in Ireland were indefatigable, his labor was enormous, and the personal risks he ran were many: but he enjoyed the Irish character in spite of all obstacles, and inspired genuine admiration in all his coadjutors. On the 24th of January 1881 he introduced a new Coercion Bill in the House of Commons, to deal with the growth of the Land League.’ Read more about Home Rule for Ireland and Forsters part in the process.
W E Forster died in 1886, on the eve of the introduction of the Home Rule Bill, to which he was stoutly opposed and is buried in God’s Little Acre at Burlay in Wharfedale.
‘This looks like it may be a Victorian municipal graveyard. Its name is “God’s Acre Cemetery” and it is situated just north of Menston. There are a couple of churches in the vicinity but nothing immediately nearby. It’s a very pretty place.’
Photo credits
Forster Square – Post Office & Cathedral by Bradford Timeline CC BY-NC 2.0
15a – Swan Arcade, Bradford by Bradford Timeline
01 – Forster Square & Richard Oastler statue, Bradford (1890s) by Bradford Timeline all CC BY-NC 2.0
Village Cemetery by tj.blackwellCC BY-NC 2.0
Newby Hall Gardens for Cornus & Interesting Plants
Back in 2009 I took a trip to see the Gardens and plants at Newby Hall. This photograph fails to do the gardens justice but see them in full flower on their web site. Sylvia’s garden area was in fine form except for the walkway. Until recently the walkway was flanked by special beds of red Roses of Lancaster opposite the White Roses of York to commemorate the Wars of the Roses. Sadly these Roses got rose sickness and had to be replaced. Why on earth Olive trees have been selected to replace them I do not know (it still isn’t time to offer an Olive branch to our old foes.) It also seems to follow that children visiting in future will not be taught (by sight smell and notice board) about our traditional ‘Roses rivalry’.
Following the Rose theme there were some sculptures around the garden and I called this Dog Rose.
Whilst this was called ‘No Bark or Rose on Addingham moorside.’
It is fitting that a National Collection of Cornus is held at Newby Hall as they are also called Dog Woods or Flowering Dogwoods. These trees and shrubs were worth visiting on their own and I was taken with the whole garden and would recommend a mid week visit. I guess the children’s attractions including a miniature railway will make it a busy spot at weekends.
There is a leaflet about the Plant Heritage National Collection at Newby Hall & Gardens called Cornus Trail. It highlights 15 specific trees and shrubs from over 100 individuals in 5 different beds.
This fine specimen was at least 40 foot tall and was covered in white floral bracts down to ground level. Many of the feature dogwoods were tiered like a wedding cake and looked in great form in the middle of May 2009. An interesting place to visit with something for everyone. I didn’t go inside the house so can’t comment on Georgian elegance of the Christopher Wren Richard Adams combo.
2012 is the time to visit or in my case revisit to see the gardens and plants at Newby Hall near Ripon.
27 May 2012 as threatened I revisited and despite the strong sun that burned out some of the colour here are some more photographs from Newby Hall Garden.
Newby Gardens flowers on a Strawberry
Scented Azalea Lutea in Newby Gardens
Primula by the pond Newby Gardens.
