Category: Great Ayton
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May Blossom
In Nottingham in the early 60s I remember me mam saying “naer cast a clout till May is out” to me when I tried to go out in the Spring without my duffle coat or string vest. I thought, and I think me mam thought too, that “may” referred to the month of May but it really…
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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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Archaeological Dig – Aireyholme Farm
Spent the day digging a hole. Well taking part in an archaeological dig really to find the boyhood home of Capt. James Cook. It’s well known that James’ father was employed at Aireyholme Farm near Great Ayton and his family lived there with him at the farm. What is not known is precisely where the…
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Lamers Hill
Looking back on the climb up to Capt. Cook’s Monument on Easby Moor. On the left is the village of Great Ayton and further away the wind turbines between Seamer and Hilton. The bush with the white flowers is Blackthorn which fruit is used in Sloe Gin. Blackthorn flowers appear before the leaves. The leaves of the Hawthorn on…
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Alum Clamp, Ayton Bank
The small knoll in the photo is an alum clamp, a relic of an 18c chemical industry to produce alum. Alum had many uses: medicinal, in tanning to make leather supple and durable, as a mordant in dyeing cloth. It does occur naturally and is known to have been used by the Greeks but on Ayton Bank and in other parts of…
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Great Ayton Bridge
Didn’t venture far today, after my exertions of yesterday. Spanning the River Leven, Great Ayton bridge was built in 1909, replacing an earlier one. The word “Ayton” on the parapet was removed during the Second World War so as not to aid German paratroopers should we have been invaded.
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Daffs by the River Leven
My first “wild” daffs of the year. I’ve seen the odd one in sheltered gardens in the village. I don’t get out into the low lands much. This is by the River Leven half way between Stokesley and Great Ayton. I had to drop off a minibus in Stokesley so took the opportunity of running back…
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Save School Farm
The penultimate day of the School Farm Development Appeal. The tenant farmers Mark and Kath had the chance to have their say today so I took the trip down to Northallerton in way of supporting them. If the appeal succeeds and the the development of School Farm for 113 houses goes ahead it will have…
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High Green, Great Ayton
Walked into the village this morning. Felt like spring.
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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…