Yorkshire History And Heritage | Yorkshire - God's Own County

Village Shops

Posted by brian in Yorkshire History and Heritage - (0 Comments)

Old fashioned, some village shops may be but they are an important part of our heritage.
Keep using village shops and speciality retailers in your area or you know what will happen.

This Hull location may have been intended as a wholesale outlet but boarded up shops are a feature in towns and cities. City shops may be re-purposed but villages close down their shops and they are gone for good.

‘Half a Pound of Tuppenny Rice; Life in a Yorkshire Village Shop’ from Hazel Weaver gives a good account of itself and life in a corner shop in the 1920′s & 30′s.
Hazel grew up in her father’s Huddersfield shop and a collection of stories recalls her memories of those times. Some tales are sad but some are truly hilarious.

‘The corner shop was not just a place to buy groceries. It was a place to meet familiar faces and help people out. People bought groceries on a daily basis and going to the corner shop provided many people with a daily routine. Yet finding the finances for groceries could be a struggle and, when times were hard, many people would have to obtain their groceries ‘on tick’.’ source amazon

Batley Bashed by Tesco

Seldom have I seen a town so run down as Batley on a Saturday in January.
First the good news there was easy parking near the traffic lights and a good value pub lunch at Wetherspoon’s The Union Rooms. Then we set out to find the local market to buy fruit and veg for the weekend and some marmalade making.

Several ‘pound shops’ competed for trade from the people dodging the showers and despite being friendly they must have been finding it hard to make a living.
Decorating and iron mongers were well represented and things were looking up as we walked down Commercial Street but the optimism was short lived as there seemed to be a poor variety of viable retailers.
After asking passers by for the location of the market we discovered that it was not functioning. It may be closed on a Saturday in favour of the near-by Dewsbury market or be a ‘market of the past’. One local said ‘there are no greengrocers in the town and I bet you don’t wan’t the Tesco stuff’ and he was right.
With nowhere else we stopped in the dreaded Tesco Extra store. What a monster, full of shoppers spendthriftly ring the tills for Tesco and the death knell of local traders. I think we were the only people to leave with an empty basket, (they has no Seville oranges.)

My wife was happy to find The Mill Outlet which made up for the lack of clothing shops elsewhere. I sat in the car hoping to escape a trip to Red Brick Mill as I knew my marmalade hunt would go unfulfilled.

Dewsbury Market.

Part History of Batley

There has been a church in Batley since the 11th century. The present Batley Parish Church was built in the reign of Henry VI (1422-1461), and parts of the original remain. Despite Batley being mentioned in the doomsday book, the church is all that remains of any great antiquity.

Howley Hall at Soothill was built during the 1580s. The house was besieged during the English Civil War in 1643 before the Battle of Adwalton Moor In the 17th century it fell into disrepair.

The first records of coal mining in Batley date back to the 16th century at White Lee. The last pit in the town closed in 1973.

Batley Grammar School was founded in 1612 by the Rev. William Lee and is still in existence.

Areas of the town, such as Mount Pleasant, were noted for their absence of public houses due to the Methodist beliefs of their populations.

The Industrial Revolution reached Batley in 1796 with the arrival of its first water powered mills for carding spinning. The population grew rapidly, from around 2,500 at the start of the 19th century to 9,308 at the 1851 census.

1853 also saw the establishment of a small confectionery shop by Michael Spedding. His business would expand, moving to larger premises in 1927 and later becoming Fox’s Biscuits.

During the late 19th century, Batley was the centre of the “shoddy trade” in which wool rags and clothes were recycled by reweaving them into blankets, carpets, uniforms. In 1861 there were at least 30 shoddy mills in Batley. The owners of the recycling businesses were known as the “shoddy barons” . There was a “shoddy king” and a “shoddy temple”, properly known as the Zion Chapel.

From the end of the 1950s onwards, the need for cheap labour in the town’s textile industries drew in migrant labourers from Gujarat, Punjab and other parts of modern day Pakistan and India. The South Asian population of Batley is now around 30%.

The Union Rooms were bank premises, club rooms, dwelling house and stables for the West Riding Union Bank, built in 1876. That may account for the pub toilets being two floors up. The banks name changed to Lancashire & Yorkshire Bank which became Martins Bank, and ultimately Barclays.

A plug for Batley Town Talk who provided some of the history notes below. You can also find more information on their website

Beware there may be a Tesco Extra being planned in an area near you. Just think what it can do to retail in the surrounding area. Big isn’t always beautiful.

Wentworth Castle and Gardens

Posted by brian in Photos | Yorkshire History and Heritage - (0 Comments)

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.

Join the knowledgeable, enthusiastic guide team at 2pm Sunday 16th January 2011 for their first house tour of the new year.

(more…)

Otley Manor House Pub

Posted by brian in Food and Drink | Yorkshire History and Heritage - (0 Comments)

How dare I feature a Lancastrian brewery on these Yorkshire pages. Well I was keen to correct reviews I read about the Manor House near the Maypole in Otley. Absolute none-sense published about Yorkshire hospitality.

Pub Reviews

‘ Beware you feel like trespassing…. however, if you want a taste of traditional Yorkshire, complete with its pitfalls and whatnot, this place might well be perfect to you. A Thwaites pub through and through, they generally serve 3 ales, a dark mild, a bitter and a guest ale.’ (Aniela M)

‘It’s not the most welcoming of pubs, but not many pubs in this town are overly welcoming. Because it’s a Thwaites pub it’s a bit of a favourite with the old gents of Otley, so anyone after anything lively or youthful should probably look elsewhere. Conversely, anyone looking for a traditional Yorkshire pub and some traditional Yorkshire folk should go no further than the Manor. Or anyone after some cheap ale.’ (Alex K) read more on Yelp

Well that is far from my own experience. I enjoy a visit to Otley to tour the pubs or go to the Church organised beer festival. Invariably I try to get into the Manor House, although it is thronged during Folk Festival weekend. One key reason for me is the ‘Mild’ which is a great session beer and I wish more pubs served it based on a heavy barrelage and through put.

I think a pub named after ‘The Manor’ is entitled to some airs and graces but that has never been my experience in this fine hostelry ( I am not looking for a free pint either)

Naming The Manor House

As befits an old town dating from before Roman times, there are stories of several Manor Houses.

Remains of the old Archbishop’s Manor House were found during the construction of St Joseph’s RC Primary School near to the River Wharfe.

Thomas Chippendale, the famous furniture maker, was born in Otley, and his statue stands in the town, next to the old grammar school he once attended in Manor Square.

The site of the ancient Mansion of the Archbishop of York, at the north end of the town, is still denominated the Manor House. More on Genuki

The Manor Club was a Gentleman’s Club until its closure after the end of its 100 years lease in 2002.

Dales Countryside Museum Hawes

Posted by brian in Our Yorkshire | Yorkshire History and Heritage - (0 Comments)

The railway is gone and you can only get to the Museum by bus as Hawes railway station was been converted into the Folk Museum. Well, since Dr Beeching zapped the Dales, you can take shank’s pony and walk or even take the car if you want to pay for parking.

The cultural museum was inspired by Marie Hartley and Joan Ingleby, the prodigious authors of Yorkshire sociology and history. The museum covers all you could want to see about life in the dales from the ice age forward and explains a lot about the Yorkshire psyche. There are lots of interactive activities to keep the young and old amused and kids get in for free!

The Wensleydale Vintage Bus service uses two buses from the 1940′s (named Dorothy and Edith) and Bessie from 1961 to run between Ripon and Hawes, Garsdale and Redmire. Bus passes accepted! In summer this links to the Wensleydale Railway.

Aims and Objectives of the Friends of the Dales Countryside Museum

* To promote the improvement of the museum
* To raise funds to help in maintaining and enlarging the collection. (Registered Charity No. 519 546)
* To arrange events for the interest and education of the Friends

nostalgia, transport

Visiting Churches – Things to Consider

Posted by brian in Our Yorkshire | Yorkshire History and Heritage - (1 Comments)

What do you ‘look for’ and ‘look at’ when visiting a church for the first time or the umpteenth time come to that?
This is just a quick list of some of the items you may want to consider on your next visit.

The Environment

What and where is the village, town or parish and how has it developed alongside the Church.
What is the setting and positioning of the church, its elevation and relationship to other buildings and physical features.
What spaces are around the church and why are they there?
What is distinguished about the churchyard, crosses, lychgates and statuary.
What materials have been used in the construction and also what has no been used to put the building into context with the surroundings.

The Building and Architecture

Have a good look around the building in general and then in some detail (pick a fine sunny day for this and you will be totally absorbed and potentially sun tanned).
Towers if present may have battlements or be a later addition, they may not be built in the usual western end of the church.
Is there a spire and how are high parts accessed?
Look at the nave and chancel to see if they are under one continuous roof.
How many doorways are present, have any been blocked up are the fittings medieval and if the main door is not in the south wonder why.
Are there any low windows or unusual high ones like Otley.
Porches are common on Anglo Saxon churches but Normans were left out in the cold. Some churches have external stone benches.

Interior

Buy, borrow or read any guidebook or information panels.
Windows and roofs can be very informative. The east window over the chancel and altar generally provide the majority of the light. The clerestory is an upper row of extra windows.
Stained glass often tells a story, but what of the story of the funding and installation.
The font is traditionally placed near the entrance to indicate it is easy to enter the church through baptism. Font covers or lids may be present or at least the former hinge locations. Puritains were not against smashing the font cover or even the font itself.
The altar will not escape attention but the nave, pulpit, lectern and furnishings are often fascinating.
Memorials, effigies, wall tablets, inscriptions, curiosities and miscellaneous items often tell about the life of the church through the decades and centuries.

churches

Welcome to Saltaire – BD18

Posted by brian in Welcome To - series | Yorkshire History and Heritage - (2 Comments)

As a UNESCO World Heritage site a visit to Saltaire is a must. This is due to the present amenities and Saltaire’s extremely interesting past. Set alongside the river Aire from which it gets part of its name Saltaire also has the Leeds Liverpool canal running through it’s heart.

Sir Titus Salt, a Victorian mill owner, built Saltaire as a model town and endowed it with many employee friendly features. Workers cottages built and named after Salt family members, Alma, Ada, Mary, Constance , Helen, Fanny, Grace Streets are now occupied by West Yorkshire commuters. I guess the names seemed modern in the 19th century.
The former mill now houses a small museum, retail emporium, art gallery, 3 eating establishments and workspace.
Shipley glen tramway is just across the river and canal bridges and runs up to picturesque Shipley Glen. Even if the tram is not running the glen is a good place to take children with rocks to climb, woods to explore, Brackenhall Countryside Centre to visit and a tea house.
Roberts Park is squeezed between the river and the canal and has 2 cricket pitches to deposit balls into either waterway.
“1853 Gallery” which houses a collection of the works of the famous local artist David Hockney.
Victoria hall and exhibition premises hold a range of events. the Antiques Road Show was fillemed here last month..
The United Reform round church based on Italian architecture and built by Titus Salt in 1859.
The old tramsheds are now a restaurant and entertainment venue but it is easy to see where the old Trolley buses stopped when they reached their Saltaire destination. Another licensed and thus irreverent location is called Don’t Tell Titus.
Walks include paths on the ‘Dalesway Bradford Link’ that lead up to Dick Hudsons and over Ilkley moor to the official start.
Salts Walks is a demonstration of the local enterprise culture which keeps the community spirit live and thriving. See Saltaire Festival 2010. and Saltaire Arts Trail

trips, weekend

York Mystery Plays 2010 and Prior

Posted by brian in Yorkshire Arts & Music | Yorkshire History and Heritage - (0 Comments)

York Mystery plays were committed to writing by monks in the 14th Century as a cycle for performance by the craft guilds. 48 of the original 50 plays tells the the story of mankind from a middle ages interpretation of the bible. Starting with the creation, through the old testament to Crucifixion, Resurrection and Judgment Day. Even back in 1379 it is reputed that Richard II witnessed the festival from Micklegate Bar.

On 11th & 18th July 2010 twelve plays will be performed on waggons at various locations in York. ‘The waggons move through the city streets accompanied by music – a colourful and vivid spectacle. The open air performance using moving pageant waggons harks back to the original spectacle of the medieval Corpus Christi day festivities….’ resource.

The plays were not performed after 1572 until 1951 when the manuscript at the British museum and an 1885 transcript were used in the revival.

Various organisations take part including old guilds such as the Scriveners and Cordwainers. The flags and banners of many old Guilds can be seen in the magnificently timbered Merchant Adventurers Hall. This is located between Fossgate and Piccadilly.

For those interested in a taster for the York plays look at the video clip below

2010 Mystery Plays

The Shepherd Lord Fact or Fiction

Posted by brian in Books & Literary Work | Yorkshire History and Heritage - (2 Comments)

A Bank holiday read or a book for Fathers Day, this Faction is an interesting cross between fact and fiction. The historical embellishments are entertaining.

Product Description from Amazon
‘Young Henry Clifford, heir to vast estates in the North of England, is spirited away after the Battle of Towton for fear that the Yorkists will take his life in reprisal against his father’s actions. He is brought up as a simple shepherd boy so that his noble background does not betray his true identity. Narrated by the shepherd that raised him until it was safe to reveal his true identity and reclaim his birthright, this is a riveting tale contrasting a life on the run against an idyllic pastoral backdrop. It is a tale of identity, roots and nurture one of an unbreakable and everlasting bond that develops between two people from very different backgrounds. A true story, that has been all but ignored for centuries and is now bursting to be told.’

From the Publisher
The Shepherd Lord is a fascinating, but largely forgotten episode from medieval English history, rummaged from the shadows of two dusty poems and brought back to life. Set in the 15th century, against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses, it is the story of Henry Clifford, the aristocrat who was raised as a shepherd.

This is a work of fiction but set on a firm basis of well-researched historical fact. The important issue in this type of novel is how well the author has rendered the tale as a dramatic adventure. The answer, in this case, is very well indeed. It’s an involving and deeply human story of danger, companionship, high emotions and all the other elements required of a gripping tale.

Ten Top East Riding Churches

Posted by brian in Our Yorkshire | Yorkshire History and Heritage | Yorkshire Trips and Places - (2 Comments)

Beverley’s church of St Mary has a magnificent west front,outstanding porch and splendid tower built around 1530. Some norman remains but essentially an early English church. The woodwork is fantastic on the stalls and misericords. A rare Priests room contains ecclesiastical relics. A focal point for all visits to Beverley.
Hedon St Augustine although much reduced from former glory this is still one of the grandest East Riding churches. Imposing black marble grave slab form 13th century and a late 14th century effigy with a beard.

Flamborough St Oswald has a nineteenth century tower shown in this photograph but a Norman font and chancel-arch
Hemingborough St Mary linked to Durham Abbey in 1426. Architecturally it has a slim spire rising from a thirteenth century tower.
Holme on Spalding Moor All Saints has one of the best churchyards in the East Riding’. There is a fine tower, patching to the roof and an eighteenth century porch of note.

Steve Punter Creative Commons

Hull’s Holy Trinity was rebuilt in the 14th century as the town grew It became the largest parish church in England and is now surrounded as can be seen for the photo. Inside and outside there are many monuments and a 14th century effigy in the south transept.
Partington St Patrick One of the finest parish churches in England built around 1300-1345. The elegant spire is enclosed with an open gallery like the cresting of a crown. Also includes fine architecture with Jacobean benches, screen and pulpit.

St Nicholas North Newbold is known as the most complete Norman Church in East Riding and one of the finest in England, was built around 1151. The upper tower, chancel and priest’s vestry were rebuilt in the 15th century. The church has been called the Cathedral of the Wolds. The church has a fine organ.

Winstead St German largely rebuilt during the perpendicular period and further restored in the last century. Main features include 15th century glass, medieval monuments and jacobean family chapel. On the floor of the south chapel are ten eighteenth and nineteenth marble tablets to members of the Hildyard family.

North Grimston St Nicholas with 13th century coffin lid and statue of St Nicholas above the west window. Remarkable font with primitive figure carvings.
Wetwang St Nicholas is a Norman church modified in the 13th century with a tower and transepts. Restoration and modern furnishings in 1902

Research credit to Frank Bottomley and ‘Yorkshire Churches’ and Pevsner