A selection of photos taken in the village of Menston.
The old school which is now a business, from Menston Parish Church.
Sunrise at St John’s Church Menston.
Looking towards the Chevin and Otley.
From the top of Derry Hill looking towards Main Street and the centre of Menston.
Some selected photos from different winter scenes in Yorkshire.
Morning sunrise, Christmas Day, 2010 over moors between Ilkley and Guiseley.
Sheep benefit from early sun rays
Fortunately, the right kind of snow as this Metro train continues to run between Ilkely and Leeds.
The River Wharfe freezes over in parts. This is by the bridge in Ilkley.
The Chevin, catches the late afternoon sun on December 24th
Underneath the arches in Leeds usually means the Dark Arches with the Aire and railway bridges. This is the bridge to the Calls on the Calder Aire navigation link.
A view of the Leeds bridge cast ironwork in full painted regalia. Not big enough to require a Forth Bridge paint job.
The Leeds Liverpool canal at Dockfield in Shipley has a packhorse bridge where the old Bradford canal joined.
Walking from Addingham up to Beamsley Beacon I crossed this footbridge over the river Wharfe.
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!)
Parecvall Hall lies on a steep hillside near Appletreewick in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Built in 1582 as a farm house it is now a retreat leased to the Diocese of Bradford by the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. Extensively refurbished by Sir William Milner who bought the Parcevall Hall estate in 1927 he bequeathed the estate to the College of Guardians of the Shrine in 1960. Sir William was an architect and founder member and honorary director of the Northern Horticultural Society where he pioneered the establishment of Harlow Carr gardens, at Harrogate.
Not surprising with Sir Williams background and passion for plants that the grounds today are a wonderful Gardens for the public to visit. 24 acres of formal and woodland gardens command impressive views of Simon’s Seat and Wharfedale. These features and the many planted trees create a microclimate that helps special plants to survive and thrive 800 feet above sea level. The view of the herbaceous border as you approach the house is flanked by two orchards of fruit trees containing some special Yorkshire apple varieties. All the hedges are neat and well maintained a tribute to the current head gardener and his helpers.
The Alpine garden at the rear of the house houses acid loving and limestone loving plants in close harmony due to the rocky out crops in this part of the Skyreholme valley. I also noted that the numerous Hostas had not suffered any slug damage and the gardener put it down to the birds having a good feed.
They were not the only ones having a good feed. In addition to the bees above, the cafe down by the car park was doing a roaring trade.
Despite the ‘liquid sunshine’ during my visit these Helenium made up for any negative feelings and the whole trip was tranquil, educational and positive. If you are invited on a retreat then it will undoubtedly be an experience. If you enjoy walking there are many places to visit close by including Trollers Gill, Stump Cross caves and Simons Seat. However for just an afternoon garden visit I can recommend the Parcevall Hall Gardens between May and August.
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.
Artists based in Yorkshire can enter an Open Exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery by submitting works for consideration on the afternoons of 11th-14th July 2009.
The ‘selling’ exhibition then runs from 26th July – 31st August with a 30% commission payable to the Leeds Art Gallery for any works sold. The variety of exhibited work attracts a large and varied audience and is worth a visit on its own.
Artists must be over 18 and be resident in Yorkshire but the submitted work can be from virtually any media. Sculpture, painting, drawing, prints, photographs or new media including DVD or video are all welcome. If you are interested pick up an entry form at the library. If you are unsure just turn up as a visitor to view what everyone else has submitted then get planning for next years event.
Golden Hall by B Pettinger 2004
York Minster Flowers and a Church
York
York from inside the Friends Meeting House Garden on Friargate.
