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Worsbrough Mill and Canal

By on April 21, 2009 in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire History and Heritage, Yorkshire Trips and Places

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3 miles south of Barnsley, Worsbrough was noted in the Doomsday book for its Corn Mill. Now with a population under 10,000 it is a village over looking the Worsbrough Valley. At Worsbrough Country Park you can see the milling process in Worsbrough Mills 17th & 19th century buildings. From the grain arriving from the farm, the cleaning of the wheat, the actual grinding of the grain, through to the separation of white and wholemeal flour. And then the flour is available to purchase.
Go to Worsbrough Contry Park and watch, learn and ask questions about the traditional flour milling processes. Monday 4th May 2009, Monday 25th May 2009, Sunday 28th June 2009, Sunday 26th July 2009, Monday 31st August 2009, Sunday 27th September 2009 11am – 2.30pm FREE
Worsborough is the historic spelling in use when the milll was commercially active. The place name is usually spelt “Worsbrough” today.
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Shipley & Leeds – Liverpool Canal

By on April 7, 2009 in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire History and Heritage, Yorkshire Trips and Places
Dockfield Basin

Dockfield Basin

There is always something interesting to see alongside a canal and this old mill chimney is as you enter the Shipley section from Leeds. The view is from opposite the towpath at a boat turning circle at Dockfields and there is a wonderful old packhorse bridge (junction bridge 208) on the left sadly in need of a bit of TLC. As this junction should be the start of the reopened link to Bradford, when they get cracking, the new canal side appartments will doubtless rise in value (but not aesthetic appearance).

The Canal of the Roses – History

From the Leeds Liverpool Canal Society records comes this short history. Do not read it if you have a nervous disposition about Lancastrian perfidy.

‘In the middle of the 1700′s, Yorkshire was a well established woollen manufacturing area, while Lancashire’s industries were still in their infancy. Consequently it was in Yorkshire that the canal was first proposed. In the 1760′s the merchants there were keen to improve the supply of lime and limestone from the Craven district. This they used to improve the fertilisation of agricultural land and to provide a mortar which allowed them to increase the size and height of buildings used for weaving. They also hoped to expand the market for their cloth by gaining access, via Liverpool, to the growing colonial markets in Africa and America. The route they chose was up the Aire valley to Gargrave, then through Padiham, Whalley and Leyland to Liverpool. They would thus have a fairly direct route to Liverpool as well as reaching the limestone country around Craven.
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Yorkshire 2 – Saw Doctors 0

By on April 4, 2009 in Yorkshire Trips and Places

saw-doctors

The Saw Doctors that great live band were in Yorkshire for two nights this week. Holmefirth Picturedrome on Thursday 2 April and Harrogate Royal Hall Friday 3 April.

Holmefirth Picturedrome
With such a remarkable intimate venue and outstanding sound system, The Picturedrome is a perfect place to see your favourite artists up-close and personal. It has a built in stage, a sizable dance floor and a state-of-the-art sound system. The stage is well lit with spot lights which creates a perfect atmosphere as all Saw Doctors fans will know.
If you missed the Saw Doctors why not try a Good Friday treat on 10 April Hawkwind the great grandaddies of psych-rock travelling through time and space to bring their classic sound to a new generation. Plus special guests:Girlschool

Royal Hall Harrogate

Restored to its original magnificence and now a glittering jewel in Harrogate’s crown, this 1000 seat concert hall has to be the ultimate backdrop as the “Palace of Glittering Gold”. Turning up for the Saw Doctors some of the audience told me ‘they didn’t expect to be in a seated concert venue for this band but as soon as the first tune, Macnas Parade, started they were dancing and swaying down at the front of the stage like all good Saw Doctors concerts.
ASIA the first Supergroup of the 1980s, featuring members from Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, King Crimson and The Buggles will be performing on 16th April..

ASIA the first Supergroup of the 1980s, featuring members from Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, King Crimson and The Buggles will be performing in the hall on 16th April. Check out this or future programmes.

The Saw Doctors
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Yarn Spinner Yorkshire Tours

By on April 3, 2009 in Yorkshire Business and Money, Yorkshire History and Heritage, Yorkshire Trips and Places

yarn-spinner

Yarn Spinner Tours developed Ghost Walks and Victorian Tours as a way of sharing knowledge and enthusiasm for getting people involved. They have now grown to offer a wider range of tours all over Yorkshire. Listen to tales of the dark and macabre as our ´ghost´ guides you around the streets of Leeds to some of the most haunted buildings in the land. You will hear tales about ghosts, poisonings, witches and murders!
Alternatively journey back in time to experience life in Victorian Bradford. Walk through the City Centre, with Yarn Spinners costumed guide, and follow in the footsteps of Victorians as they went about their daily lives, gaining a real insight into the conditions they endured. Learn of the illustrious characters that lived in and visited the town, as well as how Bradford became the most important industrial town in the British Empire.

A detailed calendar of events is available at Yarn Spinners Give them a try and let us know how you get on.

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Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway

By on April 2, 2009 in Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Trips and Places

embsay

This is Embsay Moor between Bolton Abbey and Embsay. It is looking north in the direction of Grassington. To the south of this photo is the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway which is run by enthusiasts for tourists and train enthusiasts. It is a beautiful part of the county, though an open cast mine diminishes the beauty of the view to the south.

Steam engine services run throughout the year on Sundays. In the summer, train services run every week. For timetable details see:

Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway

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Black Sheep Boots & Beer Walking Festival

By on April 2, 2009 in Our Yorkshire, Wit and Humour, Yorkshire Business and Money, Yorkshire Trips and Places

gamboling

Lambs in Yorkshire are getting their own special number and web address for Internet gamboling!

Why don’t shy wet sheep shrink? (Say that after a pint of Riggwelter)

How do they make great beer out of Black Sheep?

The Black Sheep Brewery

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Yorkshire’s Closed Churches

By on April 1, 2009 in Wit and Humour, Yorkshire History and Heritage, Yorkshire Trips and Places

church-pews

Open but Closed!
St. John the Evangelist is the oldest church in the centre of Leeds and it was constructed between 1632-1634. It was restored in 1868 but all the main features were preserved. That is to no avail now as the church pews are empty and the church deconsecrated. So it is closed as a church but open as a tourist attraction and art space. The Tudor fish and chip shop known to millions as Nash’s was just behind St John the Evangelist and were it not now also closed it would have been a good place to have lunch after a quick visit to this well preserved 17th century building.

It seems quirky to me to have a web site for derilict churches but this church caught my eye due to the history and provenance of Mount St Mary’s Irish Famine Church. The architect was Joseph Hansom who also created the Hansom cab abd parts were designed by E.W. Pugin who also designed the Houses of Parliament. ‘Mount Saint Mary’s stands in a district of Leeds traditionally known as ‘The Bank’. This high ground dominates Leeds and had originally been used as farmland but by the late 1840′s it had developed into an industrial area densely packed with mills and workshops whose tall chimneys billowed out smoke which all but obliterated the sun and choked the air.By this time, The Bank also became home to a large community of Irish Catholic families who had emigrated to Leeds to seek work building canals and railways and as millworkers. ‘

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Saltaire Village Yorkshire

By on March 31, 2009 in Yorkshire Trips and Places

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David Hockney galleries, a Round Church, a Reed Organ museum and a model village are just some of the highlights to savor on a trip to Saltaire. The village was founded in 1853 by Sir Titus Salt for the workers in the mill and their families. It included neat stone houses with running water, a hospital, an Institute for recreation and education now called Victoria Hall where music and dance events are staged. The village also provided almshouses, allotments, a park and a boathouse which was recently damaged in a fire.
Sir Titus was a canny philanthropist siting his massive mill complex between the river Aire and the Leeds Liverpool canal alongside a railway station that is still open on the Leeds to Settle line. To get staff to move over 10 miles from Bradford he needed to make some facilities available but the model village has stood the test of time and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The mill has fantastic vaulted ceilings and stone slabs for flooring that would pull down many modern buildings. The space is now used by the NHS, an electronics manufacturer but mostly as a unique exhibition and retail space. As the UK home for displaying David Hockney’s works the mill has 3 floors of singular works by this artist from telephone book covers to Opera sets, photographic montages to paintings in several mediums. Interspersed are retail opportunities notably specials book sales and 3 eateries. The whole facility exudes quality and this is replicated on their web site

The Saltaire streets are given girls names that are reminiscent of a gone by era like Maud Street and Grace Street. (Sorry if these are popular modern names but I doubt that somehow)

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Horse Racing in Yorkshire

By on March 30, 2009 in Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes, Yorkshire Trips and Places

at-the-races

There is a Yorkshire racecourse to suit all tastes for a day visit or evening out! Some key links are listed below to find dates and times of key events.
Where there’s muck there’s brass but it might be horse muck and horse brasses so don’t bet the farm.

Catterick
Beverley
Doncaster
Pontefract
Redcar
Ripon
Thirsk
Wetherby
York
York Special Mention
The celebration of fifty years of the John Smith’s Cup on 10th 11th July 2009 is an event not to be missed. The informal party highlight of the year combines betting excitement and summer fun. Ever since it was first run in 1960, the John Smith’s Cup has had a story to tell.
The support of the Tadcaster brewer makes this the longest running sponsorship on the flat anywhere in the world and the golden jubilee celebrations promise to be fun. A range of special cask ales will be brought in specially to toast the occasion. Other special events will be announced here as the big day approaches.

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World Coal Carrying Championship 2011

By on March 29, 2009 in Yorkshire Trips and Places

world-coal-cariers

Every year the World Coal Carrying Championship is held in Yorkshire on Easter Monday. On the 13th April 2009 in Gawthorpe grown men will ra the mile from The Beehive public house to the Royal Oak, known locally as t’Barracks , carrying a hunderedweight sack of coal. 48th World Coal Carrying Championship – Easter Monday 25th April 2011

According to the organisers this is how the World Championship came about ‘Reggie Sedgewick and one Amos Clapham, a local coal merchant and current president of the Maypole Committee were enjoying some well-earned liquid refreshment whilst stood at the bar lost in their own thoughts. When in bursts one Lewis Hartley in a somewhat exuberant mood. On seeing the other two he said to Reggie, ” Ba gum lad tha’ looks buggered !” slapping Reggie heartily on the back. Whether because of the force of the blow or because of the words that accompanied it, Reggie was just a little put out.‘’ Ah’m as fit as thee’’ he told Lewis, ‘’an’ if tha’ dun’t believe me gerra a bagga coil on thi back an ‘ah’ll get one on mine an ‘ah’ll race thee to t’ top o’ t’ wood !’’ ( Coil, let me explain is Yorkshire speak for coal ). While Lewis digested the implications of this challenge a Mr. Fred Hirst, Secretary of the Gawthorpe Maypole Committee ( and not a man to let a good idea go to waste) raised a cautioning hand. ” ‘Owd on a minute,’’ said Fred and there was something in his voice that made them all listen. ‘Aven’t we been looking fer some’at to do on Easter Monday? If we’re gonna ‘ave a race let’s ‘ave it then. Let’s ‘ave a coil race from Barracks t’ Maypole.’

2009 will be the 46th World Coal Carrying Championship and the BBC claim these facts about world champions Continue Reading →

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