Month: August 2021
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Seacliff Harbour with Tantallon Castle in the background
Reputedly the smallest harbour in Britain, although it is hard to imagine anything smaller. It was built in 1890 by Andrew Laidlay, the laird of Seacliff, the grandest baronial mansion built on the cliff overlooking the bay. The family fortune came from the manufacture of indigo in Calcutta. Laidlay was killed in 1907 when Seacliff…
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Arthur’s Seat
I think half of Edinburgh must have been up Arthur’s Seat today, a hill described by Robert Louis Stevenson as “a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design.” The poor old King of Britain asleep in the depths of the extinct 250-metre high volcano must have been turning in his glass…
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St. Abb’s village
Named after the Headland, so familiar to listeners of the shipping forecast, which is named after the 7th-century, monastery which, in turn, is named after its founder, Aebbe. Aebbe was a Royal princess, born to Aethelfrid, King of Northumbria. She was an Angle, and to use modern parlance, probably a 2nd generation immigrant from Southern…
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Inclosure Act 1845
On this day in 1845, the Conservative government of Robert Peel oversaw the passing of the Inclosure Act 1845, the first of a string of Acts finally taking away public land, and appointing enclosure commissioners who could enclose more land without submitting a request to Parliament. It was the zenith of a process of enclosure…
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Several people have mentioned that the ling is late this year
O the summer time has come And the trees are sweetly bloomin’ The wild mountain thyme Grows around the bloomin’ heather Will ye go, lassie, go? Several people have mentioned that the ling is late this year. Fear not, the purple haze is coming, and getting more pronounced by the day. It may be my…
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Site of High Dam reservoir
Cod Beck on a summer’s day. The threat of storms has kept the visitors away. Normally this would be heaving. It’s been a popular spot for thousands of years. During the construction of the car park, evidence of prehistoric occupation was found. During the mid-18th-century, there was a reservoir here supplying a head of water…
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The Convict Peace in the North Riding
Spent the day with the National Trust in Bransdale, tidying up Spout House farm which is due to have new tenants. Spout House is the first one you come to as you drop into the dale from Gillamoor. While researching something to write about connected with the featured image I came across this piece in…
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Easby Wesleyan Methodist Chapel
I’ve had my eye on this Grade II listed building for some time but there always seems to have been a car or two parked in front. It’s a simple building of local stone with a Welsh slate roof, and ‘probably’ dates from the 18th century. It seems an odd site for a chapel. Easby…
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Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show
Not even a war has stopped the Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show from being held during this first week in August. Until 2020 came along with the Coronavirus. Every year since 1800, the contestants have dedicated the whole year to the growing of the biggest goosegogs possible. A one way system operated around the table where…
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The Great North Bog
Whenever I hear the dull throb of a helicopter I am reminded of the 1970s American T.V. comedy series ‘M.A.S.H.’ I can’t get that theme tune out of my head now. Last Thursday, whilst working with the National Trust in Bransdale, a helicopter had been operating from Bransdale Ridge. It was busy all day ferrying…