Out & About …

… on the North York Moors, or wherever I happen to be.

Tag: village

  • Kildale

    Kildale

    The ‘village green’ at Kildale. Another glorious morning. And Michaelmas day to boot. St Michael’s Day, 29th September, the Feast of Michael and All Angels, one of the traditional four ‘quarter days’ in a year, the other being Lady Day (25th March), Midsummer (24th June), and Christmas (25th December). On these religious festivals, the agricultural…

  • On this day in 1962 …

    On this day in 1962 …

    … mountaineers Chris Bonington and Ian Clough become the first Britons to conquer the north face of the Eiger. The 13,040 ft. climb took them two days and was one of the fastest ever. Within three hours of reaching the summit they were back in their hotel room. Here’s what the Guardian said in their…

  • Osmotherley with Hambleton End in the distance

    Osmotherley with Hambleton End in the distance

    “Osmotherley is an endearing village on the fringe of the Hambletons and the Clevelands. It lies about a mile and a half to the east of the main Thirsk – Yarm road, but it is most accessible from Northallerton. The King’s Head hotel at Clack Lane End points the way to the village. It is…

  • St. Abb’s village

    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…

  • Long lost pubs of Chop Gate

    Long lost pubs of Chop Gate

    The most substantive village in Bilsdale. The name, Chop Gate, pronounced ‘Chop Yat‘ in the vernacular, is thought to be derived from the Old English ‘ceap‘, which means a pedlar (chapman), hence the ‘pedlar’s road’. Perhaps this indicates that maybe once numerous trackways converged here from across the moors and the village was a thriving…

  • Kildale

    Kildale

    There is a cracking photo of Kildale taken by Michael Heavisides in 1903, taken from almost this same spot, perhaps closer to the middle of the road. Much safer in those days. A group of four men stand casually chatting outside the “Blacksmith’s Arms”, the first building in the range. There is bunting hanging between…

  • THE debauchee rewarded or, A Warning to Young Men

    THE debauchee rewarded or, A Warning to Young Men

    A sleepy view of Great Ayton village from Easby Moor before the crowds arrived. I came across this little gem the other day: THE debauchee rewarded or, A Warning to Young Men. Also, How he met Her while out a Shooting, in a Path Way leading thro’ a Grove, attempted to Ravish her, she was…

  • “At our feet lay the little village of Newton …”

    “At our feet lay the little village of Newton …”

    In 1887, an account of one person’s ascent of Roseberry Topping appeared in the Leeds Mercury. Unfortunately the identity of the correspondent is unreadable: “… After a brief survey of the ruins [Guisborough Priory] we proceeded to Pinchinthorpe, whence we had a pleasant walk to the village of Newton, and leaving the village green and…

  • Hooton

    Hooton

    One of my regular runs during this latest lockdown has been from Pinchinthorpe Walkway back home to Great Ayton, so I have become fascinated by the ancient township of Hooton, or to use its modern name, Hutton.  So much so that the spline of the much thumbed book I have, “Two Ancient Townships – Studies…

  • An unexpected detour

    An unexpected detour

    A burst of fulgent sunlight first thing this morning as I stomped across the frozen field in front of Cliffe House. I was heading for Bank Foot where my wife would be waiting for me. But it would be the last of the sun I would see, for the day soon became dull and overcast.…