Author: Fhithich
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Snowdrops and Aconites
Snowdrops have been out for a few weeks. But this is the first time I’ve seen this other reminder that spring is just around the corner. In the grounds of Kildale Hall.
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Aireyholme Farm
Where the young James Cook lived and where his farther was a farm labourer. Although there is a local belief that the Cook family actual cottage was a little distance away from the main farm. Next month there is to be a geophysical survey to try to identify the site of this cottage. Cook senior’s…
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Great Ayton’s Gents Urinal
Is this the smallest Grade II listed building? A cast iron Victorian gents’ urinal. Originally one of three in the village, this one was situated on Station Road and was relocated in Waterfall Park in 1998. It’s sealed up so it can’t be used.
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Carlton Bank
A bright sunny day over the vale of Cleveland without a cloud in the sky. But Raisdale and Bilsdale to the south had plenty of fog which overflowed down Carlton Bank. Quite a dramatic site. The photo was taken from a spot on the Busby road with the super name of Rolling Pin Gate.
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Last of the Winter Sun
Cold Moor, a narrow ridge of heather moor overlooking Raisdale. The ruin, built with dressed stones against a boulder, was probably a shepherd’s hut.
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Richmond Racecourse
Horse racing on Low Moor, Richmond, dates from the seventeenth century. As a racecourse it was abandoned in 1891 as the bends were too tight for the modern racehorses being selectively bred. It is now Open Access Land comprising rough grassland and is still used for exercising horses. The plaque above the boarded window states…
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Kip, Cliff Rigg Incline
The ruined wall is the top of the self acting incline used to haul wagons of ironstone down the escarpment at the Cliff Rigg end of Newton Wood. It is known as a “kip”; the snow accentuates the profile. A rake of wagons full of iron ore was lowered down the incline by a steel rope wrapped around a…
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The Clock Tower, Wallington Hall
A second visit to this National Trust property in just over a week. This is the Clock Tower Gate providing the entrance to the courtyard and hall. A Grade I listed building it was designed originally as a chapel in 1754 by Daniel Garrett (no relation as far as I know).
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Bee Boles, Glaisdale
A trip out to a dreich Glaisdale today. This wall at Bank House Farm contains about 77 bee boles which are recesses that were used for keeping bee hives in when the heather was in flower. The hives would have been the coiled straw type called skeps. The North York Moors dry stone walls contains quite a few examples…
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Sunset over the Cleveland Hills
Another covering of snow last night. Tried to drive up to the top of the Baysdale road to gain some height but gave up at the foot of Park Nab. View is towards Battersby.