Category Archives: Yorkshire History and Heritage
Highwaymen, Black Bess, Dick Turpin and Swift Nick Nevison
Is Black Bess the horse that brought Dick Turpin to York? As a noted horse thief and highwayman it is probable that dastardly Dick had many other horses to get him to York and the trip from London to York … Continue reading
York Mystery Plays 2014 and Prior
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 … Continue reading
Yard of Ale at Whitelocks The Turks Head
Leeds Pubs hide there light under a bushel or in a back yard in the case of Whitelocks. Run by the Whitelock family for 90 years during the 19th century Whitelocks was renamed from the original ‘Turks Head’ but the … Continue reading
Otley Museum and Industrial Heritage
Otley museum is a Yorkshire treasure that charts the industry and life of folk in Otley though the exhibits and informative volunteers. There are currently good research facilities where you can access the principal Museum Archive or the Urban Development … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Top Bridges Over the River Wharfe
Little bridges over the gills that feed the early reaches of the river Wharfe can be found at Cray and Yockenthwaite. Crook Gill and Cray Gill have individual bridges and where they meet there is another bridge called Stubbing Bridge. … Continue reading
Wainhouse Tower Dye-Works Chimney
Contrary to popular belief Wainhouse tower was not intended to be a folly. It was originally designed as a chimney for the local dye works in 1873. By 1912 it had become a folly and was purchased via a ‘shilling … Continue reading
Pontefract Cakes are Yorkshire Delicacies
Pontefract Cakes are Yorkshire Delicacies that rank alongside or ahead of other sweets named after Yorkshire towns. Harrogate toffee may be a premium product but hasn’t got the tang of a good Pontefract cake. Doncaster butterscotch is hard to find … Continue reading
Barden and Burnsall Bridges
Barden Bridge Approach Barden Towers from Appletreewick on the riverside path and the first thing you see is a graceful stone bridge of three segmental arches. The massive pointed cutwaters provide niches in the parapets. The bridge is humpbacked … Continue reading
Ampleforth Church, Abbey and Stained Glass
Ampleforth village is home to an abbey, college, school and the parish church. The Saxon church of St Hilda at Ampleforth is believed to contain Medieval stained glass windows. Certainly the C.of E. church dates back to 1390 although the … Continue reading