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Chequers
A former inn on the Hambleton Street, an ancient drove road linking Scotland with the south of England. Ancient man generally stuck to high ridges where he could. Low level routes would have been boggy, wooded and less safe. Cattle would be driven from Scotland to markets at Malton and York. A various locations they would be rested…
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Eston Bank
Eston Bank has been plagued by arsonists this Spring. In one report the fire service were trying to extinguish a fire in one area, at the same time the arsonists would be lighting another one elsewhere. Almost taunting the fire service. But nature is quick to restore. Bracken rhizomes go too deep into the earth to be killed…
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Staithes
A picturesque former fishing village on the North Yorkshire coast. I say former because most of the houses now seem to be either second homes or holiday lets. I remember when I first saw the sheltered harbour along Staithes Beck, it was chock a block full of cobles, a type of fishing boat traditional to the North East coast. Today there were but four,…
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Beck Hole Incline
The bottom of the former railway incline from beck Hole up to Goathland. It was constructed by the Whitby and Pickering Railway in 1836 and was originally a horse drawn railway. The carriages were hauled up and down the hill using a system of water tanks. Later in 1865 a new route was constructed which…
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Joseph Wade’s Hut, Bilsdale West Moor
Joseph Wade’s Hut, the feature looked interesting on the map, but all I could find was just a cairn on a bronze age round barrow. Round barrows generally occupy prominent positions in the landscape and are thought to have had a funerary function although they may have also marked the boundaries of prehistoric peoples. The view is overlooking Ryedale…
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Green Bank
The Cleveland Hills mark the north western edge of the North York Moors National Park. This is Green Bank below the Lord Stones Country Park although not much vegetation can grow on the soft Lower Jurassic shales.
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Aireyholme Farm Archaeological Dig – Outcome
Following my post of the 7 May several readers have asked the outcome of the archaeological dig at Aireyholme Farm. This is an extra post giving you an idea what was found and conclusions. The object was to find evidence of a 18c dwelling at a site on National Trust land at Cliff Rigg, 200m south…
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Bluebells, Newton Wood
I’ve been holding off this photo for three or four weeks now. Just waiting for for bluebells to be at their best. They just don’t seem to be in the same profusion this year. Must have been the cold spring we have had. Finally my patience has run out. These will be the English variety which are a protected species under the…
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The Summerhouse at Roseberry
A day finishing off the archaeological dig at Aireyholme Farm, but took the dog out this morning and snapped this photo of the folly below Roseberry. Very little of its history is known. The oriental style of the roof is unique. There is a sketch of Roseberry dated 1788 by George Cruit that shows the building.…
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Old Durham Gardens
I always like to have a map with me on my explorings. A map can tell you so much about the locality. This evening however I had an hour or so to kill in Durham so I just wandered around and by chance came across this little gem. These gardens date from the 17th century and, although…
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