Yorkshire Yorkshire
Issue 20 - 2018
I Annual Publication - The Ultimate County Guide
Historic Buildings | The Open Air Museums & the Arts | Tourist Attractions
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The Settle-Carlisle Railway
Travel between Leeds, Skipton, Settle and Carlisle and enjoy some of the most spectacular countryside in England. A scheduled diesel service operates on a daily basis throughout the year (except Xmas and Boxing Day).
For details of times and fares call Northern on 0800 200 6060 (24 hrs) Group discounts are available for 10 or more people travelling together. For more information, contact the Group Travel office on: 01768 353200 or grouptravel@settle-carlisle.co.uk
Please quote the Yorkshire Signpost
www.settle-carlisle.co.uk All information, including a full MP3 audio guide to the route, is available from the web site
CONTENTS 14
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20
30
26
Page 2
Historic Buildings Page 18
Attractions Page 30
Museums & the Arts
Cover image Helmsley Castle
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22 Welcome to the 2018 edition of Yorkshire Signpost, your indispensable guide to the best tourist attractions and days out the county has to offer.
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The Open Air
We hope that you find our guide, a pleasure to read, both interesting and informative, and that you will take it away with you, to use again and again. We offer a taster of the visitor attractions and events within the county, for both locals and those who wish to visit from afar. Published by: County Signpost Ltd Editor: Adam Davison
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All material in this magazine is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of printing. County Signpost Ltd does not accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies which slipped through. Copyright County Signpost Ltd 2018. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
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RIEVAULX ABBEY
High hills surround the valley, clothed by trees and encircling it like a crown’; this 12th-century description of Rievaulx’s setting still applies today. Here, in 1132, just twelve monks of the new Cistercian order that was revolutionising monasticism in Western Europe founded an abbey, ‘far from the haunts of men’. It became one of the wealthiest monasteries in medieval England. By the 1160s a peak of around 640 monks were living here, attracted by the ‘charity and astonishing sanctity’ of Abbot Aelred. After his death the monks successfully sought his canonisation, rebuilding the east end of the church in the new Early English style of Gothic architecture to house his shrine. Surviving almost to its full height, the east end of this church still serenely dominates the ruins. But you can also explore the maze of monastic buildings where the white-robed Cistercian ‘choir monks’ and their brown-clad ‘lay brothers’ lived, worked and cared for their sick. The new
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audio-tour, the cartoon-style family trail and new pictorial interpretation panels help our visitors find the site’s highlights, like the refectory – the finest example in Britain – where the monks ate their largely vegetarian meals. You can also seek out intriguing features like the ‘warming-house’ sink where the monks did their laundry, the monks’ toilets, and the tannery where they prepared leather in vats of urine.
The tearoom and museum at Rievaulx Abbey have recently undergone a transformation. The museum now houses a unique display of artefacts from beautifully carved stonework to writing equipment, footwear and a whip for monastic penance. The café provides fine vistas of the abbey whilst the menu offers a wide range of Yorkshire dishes. Telephone 0370 333 1181 www.english-heritage.org.uk YO62 5LB
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HELMSLEY CASTLE
Helmsley Castle is an impressive medieval ruin situated in the picturesque market town of Helmsley.
The spectacular ditches surrounding the fortress were created after 1120 for Water Espec, the Norman baron ‘of gigantic stature’ who also founded nearby Rievaulx Abbey. Within them Robert de Roos – crusader, Knight Templar and Magna Carta baron – and his descendants raised the stonework defences you see today, including the lofty east tower which still dominates the ruins and the town.
Following the castle’s only military trial, when its Civil War Royalist defenders were starved into submission after a 3 month siege, its ruins became a romantic ‘eye catcher’ for nearby Duncombe Park.
But Helmsley wasn’t only a fortress. In Elizabethan times its chamber block became a luxurious country house. You can still see some of its fine panelling and plasterwork, amid displays tracing the castle’s history as home as well as stronghold.
Helmsley Archaeology Store Tours 11 April, 9 May, 6 June, 4 July, 5 Sept, 3 Oct Book a monthly expert-guided tour of Helmsley Archaeology Store, housing fascinating artefacts from sites across northern England. Booking Essential. Call Customer Services on 0370 333 1101
www.english-heritage.org.uk YO62 5AB
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BRODSWORTH HALL
Brodsworth survives as a remarkable ensemble of a mid-Victorian country house, with its contents and gardens, lived in and adapted by the same family over three generations. The hall stands at the heart of the gardens newly laid out around it in the 1860s, and overlooks its historic park and wider estate landscape. Brodsworth was built in soft local magnesian limestone in the Italianate style much used for both country houses and urban buildings in the preceding decades. It was intended not just for a gentry family and their guests, but also all the servants and activities required to support them.
This is reflected in the simple T-shaped plan of the house, and the relative scale and architectural detail of its two blocks. The two-storey main block has a strongly horizontal emphasis, with
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large plate-glass windows, banded stonework and restrained classical detailing. The roof is hidden behind a balustrade with urns emphasising the entrance and the two sections of the long south front which house the principal reception rooms.
Brodsworth’s interiors were designed, decorated and furnished for both comfort and entertaining. The architect Philip Wilkinson provided spacious Italianate hallways leading to a dining room, billiard room and drawing room in a more ornate French style.
Most of Brodsworth’s interior decoration and contents had suffered serious damage from damp, light and insect pests by the time English Heritage took on the property in 1990. The carpets, textile and leather furnishings which www.countysignpost.co.uk
were so important to the decorative schemes had lost their vibrant colours and rich textures, and everything bore the patina – and in some cases scars – of age and use.
Restoring the 1860s schemes would have involved the extensive replacement and removal of contents, possibly losing much of Brodsworth’s character and later history. It was therefore decided to stabilise, clean and conserve the interiors and collections as far as possible as they survived, and tell the entire history of the house. The collections and interiors have thus subtly changed, but together they are a remarkable survival. They remain extremely fragile and still pose many challenges, but tell a fascinating story.
Brodsworth’s pleasure gardens of about 6 hectares (15 acres) were laid out at the same time as the hall was being built, with work continuing on them until the end of the 1860s. The gardens are Italianate like the house, and together they provide a remarkable expression of the mid19th century taste for that style. DN5 7XJ (Follow Brown Signs) Telephone 01302 722598
www.english-heritage.org.uk
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Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal © Andrew Butler
A World Heritage Site
Found near Ripon, World Heritage site Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal has long been a place of enchantment for those who wander the grounds. With beautifully designed water-gardens, follies and statues, it’s a place of peace, tranquillity – and drama. As you explore the garden and round the corner of the mirrored ponds, the greatest folly of all is revealed - the ancient ruins of Fountains Abbey.
Folly! in the water garden
Surprising, intriguing and elegant, the gardens have always been a source of delight for visitors, and 2018 is going to be no exception. Folly! is making a comeback - and it’s bigger than ever for its third year.
Dotted with follies, whimsical, exotic structures designed to catch the eye and add intrigue to the landscape, from April – November, four new
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FOUNTAINS ABBEY & STUDLEY ROYAL
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The Temple of Piety at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.
striking and surprising artworks will appear in the garden. Designed by architects and artists, they will playfully re-imagine Studley Royal’s lost follies which were left to ruin.
© Chris Lacey
Telephone 01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountainsabbey
If you can’t wait ‘til April, join in the Gardens of Light celebrations in February 2018 – a worldwide celebration of the wonder of gardens. Pack a torch and come for an after dark adventure through these captivating gardens to see the statues and follies lit up, glowing bright against the night sky.
What else is going on?
Learn the stories behind the abbey walls in a guided tour with one of the expert guides. Rich but turbulent, the centuries of history are brought to back to life – a great way to learn more about the site. With fantastic nature walks running throughout the year, deer watch walks and holiday activities for all the family, there’s lots on to keep you entertained.
Make sure to pack your boots for a lovely long walk whatever the season, taking in wonderful views and vistas throughout the estate, woodland pathways, valley strolls and the medieval deer park.
© NTPL
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Leave behind the bustle of the High Street, stroll through the mighty four tower Gateway of Skipton Castle and enter another world. How many periods of history can you see by looking at the main castle building – who built it – how did they manage to lift the huge blocks of stone and how did the Steward of the household know who and how much to pay the builders? Look closely at the walls and you will see various marks – to what do these refer?
Entering the coolness of the beautiful Conduit Court one is immediately struck by the twisted trunk of the Yew Tree at its centre – planted by Lady Anne Clifford in 1629 this tree twists as it reaches for the daylight. In the old kitchen note the bread oven and massive baking hearth – how does it compare to today’s modern kitchen? Who would work in here, what did they wear – remember it was extremely hot as the fires would be kept in all the time.
Beyond the kitchen the Banqueting Hall where the Lord, his Lady and their guests would be served their meals following which the ladies
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SKIPTON CASTLE
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would retire to their needlework leaving the men to drink ale and chat heartily recalling their hunting adventures of the day.
With many rooms to discover, no tour would be complete without a visit to the dungeon in the depths of the castle where prisoners would be kept awaiting their trial at York Assizes.
Finally, to complete your visit, why not enjoy a cup of tea and a homemade cake in our bright, cheerful tearoom and browse in the shop for that unusual gift or enjoy our noted book section.
Tour sheets are available in 10 languages, all under 18’s receive a free Castle badge, a different one each year since 1974! Family tickets are available and guided tours can be arranged for parties of 15 or more during normal opening times. Open every day from 10am Open every day from 10am (Sunday from 11am) with last admission daily at 5pm (Oct-March 4pm) Telephone 01756 792442 www.skiptoncastle.co.uk
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Skipton Castle Events 2018 1st - 2nd April - Sir William Petty 10:00 to 17:00 (11:00 Sun) Come and meet Sir William a 17th Century mathematician and philosopher, who reveals that he has embarked on an exciting experiment - an attempt to travel forwards in time to April 2018
25th - 26th August - The Yorkshire Highwayman John Nevison was a famous late 17th century Yorkshire highwayman who robbed the length of the Great North Road Adult £8.30, child £5.20, con £7.30 01756 792442 info@skiptoncastle.co.uk www.skiptoncastle.co.uk
26th - 28th May - 15th Century Wars of the Roses Journey back to the 15th Century during the Wars with the Red Wyvern Society. See a recreation of a medieval campsite within the castle grounds and the garrison demonstrate their arms and armour.
23rd - 24th June - Re-live 1308 Medieval life Journey back to the 14th Century with Tournee and see a glimpse of Skipton Castles medieval life.
21st - 22nd July - 15th Century Castle Life Buckingham’s Retinue recreates life as it may have been in Skipton during the Wars of the Roses
28th - 29th July - The Queen’s Regiment See this Regiment prepare for battle against the 1715 Jacobite Rising
11th - 12th August - Meet the Governor 10:00 to 17:00 (11:00 Sun) Come and meet Sir John Mallory Governor of Skipton Castle during the English Civil War Hear about the castle's siege and skirmishes its garrison have already fought and how the King's cause is faring in Yorkshire
18th - 19th August - 12th Century Knights Hear the walls echo to the sounds of swords and shields from re-enactors, Historia Normannis. See medieval craftsmen demonstrate their trades, knights display their prowess.
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BURTON AGNES HALL AND GARDENS
Four hundred years ago Sir Henry Griffith built Burton Agnes Hall. Twenty-three generations of the same family have since lived in, looked after, and loved the magnificent Elizabethan home that you enjoy today.
Robert Smythson architecture, and a diverse art collection including exquisite Elizabethan carvings and the finest contemporary works, inspired Simon Jenkins, author of ‘England’s Thousand Best Houses’, to describe Burton Agnes Hall as ‘the perfect English house’, one of England’s twenty finest alongside Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and Chatsworth House.
Concealed within its brick boundary, the Elizabethan walled garden will leave visitors
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mesmerised by flamboyant seasonal displays of colour, shape, texture and scents. Visitors are invited to explore several thousand plant varieties; a potager filled with fruit, vegetables and herbs; herbaceous borders, a jungle garden and a stunning collection of campanulas. Children and adults alike will find entertainment in the giant board games, may lose their way in the maze, and are invited to explore the gardens with the guidance of Griffy the Goat’s fun garden trail.
Visitors will delight in this award winning wonderland, which previously won Christie’s Garden of the Year award.
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To the north of the Hall lies tranquil woodland with wildlife figures to discover along the path. In February, thousands of snowdrops cover the ground to create an enchanting ‘white carpet’, and at Easter this historic woodland hosts thousands of enthusiastic chocolate egg hunters.
While wandering through the grounds, you may encounter an artist seeking inspiration. The artist in residence programme allows visiting artists to stay and work at Burton Agnes, year-round. Their artwork is displayed in the Summer House and inside the Hall. The courtyard shops and café are open daily when the gardens are open. Access to the courtyard is free. Relax in the courtyard café where the gardens fruit and vegetables create delicious home-made meals and irresistible treats. The coffee is Fairtrade and roasted locally, and the restored 1963-vintage ice cream van offers delectable local ice cream and perfect coffees. Unusual and handcrafted gifts and souvenirs can be found in the ‘Home and Garden’ Shop and Gift Shop and a year-round programme of Local artists display and sell their work in a courtyard gallery.
Open from 30th March to 31st October and 14th November to 23rd December, Burton Agnes Hall truly is the perfect English house: with its gardens and buzzing courtyard in addition, you are certain to enjoy a perfect day out.
To discover what’s going on Burton Agnes Hall, visit www.burtonagnes.com Burton Agnes Hall, Burton Agnes, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 4NB Telephone: 01262 490 324 Email: office@burtonagnes.com
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YORK MINSTER York Minster is one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals, with roots in the nation’s earliest history.
Explore a masterpiece in stained-glass and stone, vast spaces alive with the sanctity and tradition of worship and heavenly music or quiet corners revealing unexpected stories and human inspiration.
Visit 'Revealing York Minster in the Undercroft' a state of the art attraction housed in the interactive chambers beneath the Minster. Take a journey through two millennia of York's history, featuring artefacts never before on public display. Visitors can see, touch and hear 2000 years of history.
Climb the central tower, passing the medieval pinnacles and gothic gargoyles before stepping out into the open air to experience the best panoramic views of York's picturesque city centre.
Join a free guided tour to learn about the world famous stained glass, historic artefacts, aweinspiring architecture, art, history and music, and how these have changed with York over the centuries.
St Williams window in the North Quire window at York Minster
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Your admission ticket is valid for 12 months, allowing you to visit for free as many times as you like during the year.
York Minster Stone Carving Festival 2018 Stonemasons and carvers from all over Europe will showcase their artistry at the Stone Carving Festival - a weekend-long celebration of ancient crafts, skills and heritage at York Minster taking place from 17 - 20 August 2018. The cathedral’s magnificent architecture is the product of generations of highly skilled stonemasons and carvers.
The Minster’s beautiful Dean’s Park will be transformed into a tented village. The hub of the event will be the Masons’ Marquee with stone carving designs based on the theme of “All Creatures Great and Small”. York Minster’s www.countysignpost.co.uk
now legendary Stone Auction will close the festival and will provide an exciting opportunity for members of the public to bid for some of the newly carved stone.
Nave at Christmas
With music provided by York’s community of buskers, the Stone Carving Festival will appeal to lovers of cathedral architecture, stone carving,
auctions, festival fun and those seeking a unique day out in the grounds of one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals.
Festival goers will have a chance to try stone carving and the myriad stone and craft based activities for children and families taking place throughout the weekend. Fine food and drink supplied by some of York’s best local producers will be on offer in the tented village.
Eight kings in the Quire at York Minster
www.yorkminster.org 01904 557200
Chapter House
Great East Window panel after being restoration
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BURTON CONSTABLE HALL & GROUNDS
Every day is a great day out at Burton Constable. There's so much to enjoy and discover, inside and out. Roam upstairs and downstairs through thirty grand rooms that are crammed with fine art, furniture and many surprises. Discover the extraordinary 18th century ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ and uncover fascinating stories from over 500 years of family history.
Chippendale 300
In 2018 Burton Constable will be one of the nine partner houses taking part in the Chippendale300 festival, which will celebrate 300 years since the birth of England’s mostfamous furniture maker Thomas Chippendale
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(1718-79). Festivities at Burton Constable will include a new exhibition on Chippendale and the Yorkshire Craftsman, featuring an array of original drawings, bills and letters from the archives. Group visitors wanting to get up close and personal with the Chippendale collections are invited to book one of our Chippendale Connoisseur Study Days or Evening Lecture.
Overview of the Chippendale Collections at Burton Constable Hall, East Yorkshire During the eighteenth century William Constable Esq. elected to spend a fortune refashioning his house with the tastes of the day. The well-known furniture maker Thomas Chippendale first appears in the records in 1768 when he supplied a walnut 'gouty chair' with matching stool for a cost of £13-5s-6d. A few years later William's sister, Miss Winifred Constable, purchased a black rosewood horseshoe desk, which was delivered to Burton Constable on the 23rd December 1772; possibly a Christmas present for her brother. Closer examination of the drawers reveals that it was altered to accommodate the addition of three drawers, possibly at Winfred’s request.
along with a pair of pier tables to support marble slabs acquired on William's Grand Tour to Italy, a pair of window pelmets and a large suite of Chippendale seat furniture. Working alongside the prestigious London firm, the Hull carver Jeremiah Hargrave was employed to carve the decoration for the three door cases along with a huge pair of lime wood and gilded girandoles that embellished the wall either side of the fireplace.
During the 19th century many of the Chippendale collections were altered by the family, which included gilding and reupholstering the suite of seat furniture and making a copy of the matching sofa in order to create a pair.
From 1774, William Constable rented a fashionable London townhouse on Mansfield Street, which he furnished with an array of Chippendale items, which included a suite of Cabriole chairs japanned blue and white and covered with fine blue damask, 2 large oval glasses and a gentleman's mahogany shaving table. When ill health forced William to abandon his London house and retreat to his country estate in the 1780's, the furniture was brought to Burton Constable Hall.
In 1776 William elected to create a new Great Drawing Room at Burton Constable and he employed the architect James Wyatt to supply him with a design. Wyatt's design was accepted, but evidently William was not impressed with his slow progress and in 1788 he employed the firm of Chippendale to execute Wyatt's scheme. This involved making three impressive mirror frames for the French glass already supplied by Wyatt,
Burton Constable is only 10 miles east of Hull city centre. Telephone 01964 562400 www.burtonconstable.com
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K IRKLEES L IGHT R AILWAY
The Kirklees Light Railway is situated in the village of Clayton West, near Huddersfield, in the picturesque foothills of the South Pennines.
The railway runs for three and-a-half miles along the old track-bed of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway’s Clayton West Line branch line, and opened to the public in October 1991.
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The journey from Clayton West to Shelley offers fine views of the Grade II listed Emley Transmitting Station and passes through the ancient woodland of Blacker Wood which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The trip also includes passage through the Shelley Woodhouse Tunnel which – at 467m long – is the longest tunnel on any 15” narrow gauge line in Britain!
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Take a ride on the railway’s fleet of unique steam and diesel engines as they travel through the glorious surrounding countryside, let the kids run wild on the adventure playgrounds, browse the extensive gift and model railway shop or relax with a cuppa and cake in The Buffer Stop Café.
Trains operate every weekend from midFebruary to Christmas and daily during school holidays, with the railway also offering a full programme of special events throughout the year. Telephone: 01484 865727 Email: info@kirkleeslightrailway.com Website: www.kirkleeslightrailway.com
2018 E VENTS
© Paula Hopkinson
3 – 4 March 2018
Volunteer Recruitment Weekend
30 March – 2 April
Easter Eggspress
17 – 18 March 12 – 13 May
Day Out with Thomas Day Out with Thomas
9 – 10 June
Knights & Princesses Weekend
18 – 19 August
Day Out with Thomas
21 – 22 July
2 September
Day Out with Thomas Vintage Vehicle Rally
8 – 9 September
Steam & Diesel Gala Weekend
10 – 11 November
Day Out with Thomas
26, 27 & 28 October 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 20-24 December
Halloween Ghost Trains Santa Specials
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SETTLE-CARLISLE R AILWAY
Yorkshire’s Finest Drystone walls climb the hills as they have always done. Those wonderful limestone walls that symbolise the very soul of the Yorkshire Dales with their endlessly-varying patterns of grey against green; ragged squares and oblongs marching to impossible heights until they disappear into the heather-cloaked moorland on the summits. Through this most distinctly rugged of landscapes runs the 73-milelong Settle to Carlisle railway line, whose twin tracks climb purposefully from the valleys to the high fells, where foxes bark and the distinctive calls of curlew and red grouse fill the moorland air. There is no other railway line in England which runs through such spectacular scenery, and by rights it should never have been built, such were
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© Colin Barker
the engineering difficulties of constructing a line over the North Pennines. For the 19th-century engineers, the harsh terrain presented a tremendous challenge to their ingenuity, skill and technical abilities and yet they persevered.
Today, the Settle to Carlisle line is often referred to as ‘England’s greatest historical scenic route’. It’s a tribute to the navvies and engineers who built it – the 325 bridges, 21 viaducts and 14 tunnels are lasting monuments to their endeavours. Although steam locomotives still make the run from time to time, these days it’s modern diesel sprinter trains that roar along the track. Over the years the type of train may have changed, but the grandeur of the rolling countryside they pass through remains the same.
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© Anthony Ward
Although simply savouring the landscape from aboard the train is enjoyment enough for any traveller, there are ample opportunities to stop and explore the many interesting places and attractions en route. From bustling market towns and bracing walks that criss-cross the line, to traditional Yorkshire Dales villages and old traditional pubs, plus events and festivals aplenty to keep you busy.
Northern train services from Leeds and Carlisle, run 7 days a week up to 7 trains a day in either direction. To plan your journey, book a ticket
and savour the splendour of this rugged landscape and historic rail line visit www.settle-carlisle.co.uk
Forthcoming events -
• March 31 – 1 April, 20th Cumbria Classic Commercial Vehicle Rally, Kirkby Stephen • April 6 – 8, Settle Stories Festival, Settle • May 1 -7, Ride2Stride, Festival of walks, talks and music • June 7-10, Appleby Horse Fair
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M OTHER S HIPTON ’ S C AVE
Mother Shipton’s Cave is England’s oldest visitor attraction, having been open since 1630. It was home to the famous prophetess and the petrifying well still stands as a unique, unspoilt remnant of the Royal Forest of Knaresborough.
Millions of visitors from all over the world have been enchanted by the park's natural beauty, mesmerised by the Petrifying Well and enthralled by Mother Shipton's birthplace and her amazing story - she lived some 500 years ago in the reign of Henry VIII. Her prophecies predicted the fates of several rulers within and just after her lifetime, the invention of iron ships, Great Fire of London in 1666, the defeat of the Spanish Armada... and even the end of the world!
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The park has several scenic picnic areas alongside the popular River Nidd, an adventure playground and museum and gift shop. All children are given a free trail to complete and keep if they wish. Dogs are welcome throughout the estate as long as they are kept on a lead.
Fiona Martin has owned mother Shipton’s since 2011, and in that time, has made significant developments including a new adventure playground completed in 2017. She also introduced themed events during school holidays which have grown each year and have seen a continued increase in visitor numbers. In 2018 families can enjoy a Peter Rabbit Easter with eggs and bunnies galore. For May Half Term venture into the
woods with Hansel and Gretel, beware the wicked witch! Robin Hood and his merry men will be in the park during the summer holidays, perhaps there is a champion archer amongst you. On entry children are given a themed trail, actors are stationed to interact with children and help them complete the trail. There are also props and clues throughout the park. More information about these events can be found at http://www.mothershipton.co.uk/events. Mother Shipton’s Cave is open every day from 10 am to 4.30pm, with last admission at 3.30pm to give visitors enough time to experience the attraction fully. During the SUMMER HOLIDAYS ONLY the park closes later at 5.30pm with last admission 4pm. There is parking on site (£2 all day in addition to admission). School and group visits are welcome, but will need to book ahead. Please note that the park is closed November, December January and February. Telephone: 01423 864600 Website: www.mothershipton.co.uk
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White Scar Cave The longest show cave in Britain
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The guided tour covers one mile and takes about 80 minutes.
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Spectacular location in Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Open daily Feb-Oct (weekends NovJan) weather permitting. Last tour at 4pm.
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Café, shop, picnic areas, on-site car park.
1½ miles from Ingleton on B6255 road to Hawes.
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Call 015242 41244 • SatNav LA6 3AW
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W HITE S CAR C AVE
White Scar Cave, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, is the longest show cave in Britain. There are underground waterfalls and streams, and thousands of stalactites.
The curious cave formations include the Devil’s Tongue, the Arum Lily, and the remarkably lifelike Judge’s Head. Guides lead visitors along the well-lit paths and explain the features. The highlight of the tour is the 200,000 year old Battlefield Cavern. Over 330 feet long, with its roof soaring in places to 100 feet, this is one of the largest caverns in Britain. Also shown on the tour are fine examples of the geological feature known as flowstone, and a display of fluorescing stalactites.
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Until 1923 these underground wonders remained a secret of nature. In August that year a Cambridge undergraduate undertook a hiking tour of the area. He noticed a slight fissure in the ground, and decided to investigate. Perhaps coincidentally for an explorer, he bore the splendid name Christopher Francis Drake Long. Wearing only his summer clothes of shirt and shorts, and lighting his way with candles stuck in the brim of his hat, he crawled into the low passage. Spurred on by the distant roar of water, he struggled over jagged rocks and through pools, until eventually he found himself at the foot of a waterfall. White Scar Cave had been discovered, and its name was derived from the outcrops of pale rock above the entrance. The huge Battlefield Cavern was found in 1971, its www.countysignpost.co.uk
Battlefield Cavern
boulder-strewn floor suggestive of fearsome conflict between prehistoric giants.
We are already thinking how to mark the centenary in 2023 of the cave’s discovery. A statue of Christopher Long, complete with candle hat, is planned for the cave entrance. He will look out across the valley, enjoying distant views to the sea. A stone tablet will commemorate the efforts of the 1924 and 1991 tunnelling teams, the former from nearby Ingleton and the latter from Cornwall.
The installation in 2013 of fifty square metres of solar panels on the café roof has reduced the carbon footprint of the cave site, which is now a ‘micro-generator’ exporting surplus power to the national grid. In addition, the programme of converting the cave itself to low-energy lighting is reducing carbon emissions, and helping to preserve the natural cave environment by reducing heat output and inhibiting the growth of algae.
As well as the Christmas grotto in the cave every December, in 2017 we piloted a Hallowe’en themed section of the cave throughout October. This has been a success and will be repeated in October 2018.
Since 2017 a new system for managing outflows from the underground river has been in operation. The cave is a member of the International Show Caves Association. White Scar Cave, Ingleton, North Yorkshire LA6 3AW. Telephone 015242 41244 www.whitescarcave.co.uk
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T HE D EEP
The Deep is an award-winning aquarium located in Hull, East Yorkshire. Situated a 5 minute walk from the Marina and a short stroll to the City Centre, The Deep is in the perfect location for visitors to enjoy the Hull and all it has to offer, making it part of a fabulous day out for all.
Home to almost 3,500 fish including sharks, rays, the UK’s only pair of Green sawfish and colourful tropical fish. Not forgetting an array of invertebrates, amphibians, turtles and a colony of Gentoo penguins!
Let us take you on a journey from the start of time – make your way through prehistoric seas, past tropical lagoons, into vast open oceans, down to the darkest chilliest depths and into the future. Enjoy educational, interactive and audio-visual presentations and catch some of the daily highlights around the attraction – get hands on
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with small animals native to UK shores in a touchpool session, see the penguins enjoying a fishy snack in one of their twice- daily feeding sessions and watch our divers feed or clean the animals during the daily dive show.
Finish your visit by marvelling at the marine life swimming above you in our underwater viewing tunnel, before taking a ride in our glass lift which will make you feel as if you are right next to the animals. The Deep is an education and conservation charity that is dedicated to informing visitors about the world’s oceans and the challenges they face. Research and conservation activity is at the heart of everything we do, and we are involved in schemes all around the world.
Don't forget to sign up for your Day Plus Pass, which allows FREE return visits to The Deep for 12 months. This is included in the price of a standard entry ticket. See our website for T&C's www.thedeep.co.uk/general-information/dayplus-pass Open daily 10am-6pm except December 24 and 25. Last entry is 5pm.
Food & Drink
Castaways Situated on the 3rd floor with views over the Humber, Castaways is open from 10am to 5pm every day (except 24th and 25th December when The Deep is closed). Offering hot breakfasts until 11.30am, a range of hot meals and salads until 3pm plus snacks, cakes, sandwiches, hot and cold drinks. Children's meals and dietary requirements are catered for.
There are also raised tables for easier wheelchair access in this area, as well as a baby feeding station with bottle and food warming facilities. You don't need an entry ticket to visit the café.
Half Way café Open during peak periods such as school holidays, the Halfway Café is located inside the exhibition. It serves a variety of sandwiches, snacks and drinks.
Picnic areas Picnic areas located inside the attraction on the first floor and outside of the building next to the river. These areas are operated on a first come, first served basis.
Two Rivers Restaurant The Deep is home to the Two Rivers restaurant three evenings per week. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 7pm (subject to private hire) dine next to marine life and whilst enjoying a freshly prepared menu sourced from locally produced ingredients. Guests can enjoy a two or three course meal from our contemporary menu.
One couple per evening can enjoy our Exclusive Dining experience in the underwater viewing tunnel from £165 per couple (Thursday evenings, £175 on Friday and Saturday evenings). Booking is essential, please call 01482 382 883 or email tworivers@thedeep.co.uk. Telephone 01482 381000 www.thedeep.co.uk
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R OYAL ARMOURIES M USEUM
A Legendary Day Out!
Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds
As the national museum of arms and armour we hold one of the oldest museum collections on the planet, full of unique artefacts from the Bronze Age to the modern day, and from all over the world.
Our Leeds museum was purpose-built to showcase the nation’s treasures in five stunning galleries – War, Tournament, Oriental, Self Defence, and Hunting – plus the magnificent Hall of Steel.
The collections contain the weapons and armour of warriors through the ages from early medieval knights to 21st-century soldiers. Also on display are amazing objects from around the globe including the Ottoman Empire, the Americas, Europe, Japan and India to name but a few. Highlights of a visit must include the fabulous arms and armour of the Japanese shoguns, the royal houses of Europe and the kings of England including Henry VIII who reigns supreme in the Tournament Gallery.
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Bringing history to life
Oriental Gallery
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C alendar
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Saturday 24 March – Sunday 15 April
Medieval Easter
24 & 25 March – Knight Time
Meet the Tournament Teams & Horses
Saturday 5 – Monday 7 May
Legends: Robin Hood
Friday 30 March – Monday 2 April Saturday 26 May – Sunday 3 June Saturday 16 & Saturday 17 June
Saturday 25 – Monday 27 August
Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 September
International Jousting Tournament Forts and Firepower
Legends: Blackbeard
Legends: Buffalo Bill Wild West Horse Show Legends: Boudicca
Authentic medieval jousting tournament in the heart of the city
A magnificent massed display of arms and armour in the Hall of Steel
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We have special events throughout the year from our international jousting tournament at Easter (30 March – 2 April 2018) to our annual Remembrance service and poppy drop in November. In between there special exhibitions and themed weekends. This year watch out for the Legends when we will be shedding light on the facts and fiction surrounding such historical characters as Boudicca, Blackbeard and Buffalo Bill. We pack the school holidays with activities for all the family from have-a-go archery to falconry flying displays to crafts and museum trails. For a deeper perspective on the subject of arms and armour why not come along to one of our study days, conferences, talks or tours.
Our website has all the details of our events programme and you can even explore our diverse and interesting collection on line.
Treasures of the collection: Henry VIII’s Tonlet armour
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Our aim is to bring history to life and make it engaging and accessible for everyone. We have a highly experienced interpretation team who deliver a variety of events every day, including story-telling and interactive history such as live combat demonstrations and object handling sessions.
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Tournament Gallery
Open daily 10am – 5pm (Closed 24, 25 & 26 December)
FREE ADMISSION
Some activities carry a small charge.
Royal Armouries Museum Armouries Drive Leeds LS10 1LT www.royalarmouries.org
Treasures of the collection: Elephant armour
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YORKSHIRE A IR M USEUM
Image Courtesy of The Press, York
The Yorkshire Air Museum is perfectly poised to celebrate the forthcoming RAF Centenary during 2018, as our extensive, internationally acclaimed collection of historic aircraft covers all era’s of the history of the Royal Air Force. From WWI bi-planes to the current frontline Panavia Tornado GR4 supersonic jet, we have it all.
Discover the only complete WWII Halifax bomber in Europe, climb aboard the Douglas C-47 Dakota, the aircraft famed for its role in the airborne invasion of the D-Day Landings and stand up close to our examples of the famous WWII Spitfire and Hurricane fighters.
man-carrying glider of 1853, the only full size replica in Europe of a Wright Flyer, the world’s first powered aircraft, and the intriguing Blackburn Mercury Monoplane.
Newly on display and creating a great deal of interest is the Dassault Mirage IV strategic, supersonic nuclear bomber, gifted to the Museum by the French Government, which is the only example of this type to be seen in the world outside of France. This imposing aircraft makes a rare, and possibly unique, pairing with its smaller variant the Mirage III supersonic fighter here at Elvington.
You will also find a Gloster Meteor, Britain’s first jet fighter and many aircraft from the Cold War era with exciting, evocative names such as Lightning, Hunter, the Yorkshire built Blackburn Buccaneer, Nimrod and the awesome and still futuristic looking Victor V-Bomber.
From the birth of flight, you can also see the only example of Sir George Cayley’s historic
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The historic WWII Dakota fires into life!!
There is indeed a great deal for the visitor to discover during a day out with us. Based on an authentic WWII Bomber Command Station, the former RAF Elvington, we maintain the authentic atmosphere of the period, whilst housing superb displays and exhibits, such as the Bomber Command exhibition “Against the Odds”, which is now the definitive national presentation on this subject. Similarly, the “Pioneers of Aviation” exhibition provides a fascinating insight into Yorkshire’s literally ground -breaking role in the birth of manned flight, with Sir George Cayley, renowned as the Father of Aeronautics and the inventor of the
The only Dassault Mirage IVA strategic nuclear bomber to be seen in the world outside France!
aeroplane, who was born in Scarborough in December 1773. The exhibition also explores Leeds born Robert Blackburn who established a hugely successful aircraft manufacturing business; Hull born aviator Amy Johnson, whose daring exploits and solo flights to Australia and South Africa are indeed the stuff of legend. The work of Sir Barnes Wallis on the R101 airship at Howden is also explored and the exhibition features a dramatic interpretation of the famous ‘Dambuster raids’ with the Bouncing Bomb, very significant in this 75th Anniversary year of this legendary episode of WWII.
The Yorkshire built Blackburn Buccaneer XN974 in her original Fleet Air Arm markings thrills the crowds during a "Thunder Day”!
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Nimrod MR2 XV250 thrills the crowds at “Thunder Day”
The Museum prides itself on being a dedicated Memorial to the Allied Air Forces and the tranquil Memorial Gardens provide a peaceful haven to reflect on the service and sacrifice of so many brave young airmen and women, from WWI to the present day.
With so much to see, we have an excellent restaurant in which visitors can enjoy a tasty meal, snacks and refreshments during their stay with us. Most importantly, the Museum is a place of discovery and certainly much more than just an air museum!
The colourful Allied Air Forces Memorial Day Parade.
Open Daily 10am – 5pm Summer, 10am – 4pm Winter. Admission: £10 Adults, £8 Senior Citizens and £5 Children (5-15). Family: £26 (2A + 3C). Telephone: 01904 608595 Web: www.yorkshireairmuseum.org email: museum@yorkshireairmuseum.org Follow on Twitter: @air_museum and find on Facebook.
The famous 'live' Handley Page Victor V-Bomber XL231 "Lusty Lindy" is the best preserved example of this type in the world.
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The evocative WWI bi-planes at one of our events.
YORKSHIRE A IR M USEUM - 2018 E VENTS April – Easter Sunday and Monday Easter Trail. Cherchez les Lapins Blancs! Find the White Rabbits. An Easter Trail with a French twist!
April – Sunday 29th “Thunder Day!” Live jet and propeller aircraft engine runs! Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Yorkshire’s Blackburn Buccaneer.
May – Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th “Against the Odds” – Revival Weekend. RAF Elvington at War!
June – Sunday 3rd “Reach for the Sky” – 100 Years of RAF Air Power. Aircraft engine starts and family activities.
July – Sunday 22nd “Vintage Props!” - Family Day, propeller aircraft engine runs, entertainment and activities.
July – Sunday 29th “Golden Era” Vintage Motorcycle Run. Nostalgic gathering of pre -1931 motorcycles. 10th Anniversary gathering of these historic motorcycles.
August – Sunday 12th Women’s Services Memorial Day – RAF 100 Celebrating the role of women in the Armed Forces and the Centenary of the RAF & WRAF August – Sunday 19th “Thunder Day”! Engine starts of our 7 live jet and propeller driven aircraft!
September – Sunday 2nd Allied Air Forces Memorial Day – RAF 100 International Allied Air Forces Commemoration Service with Parade, March Past & Salute and ‘Sunset’ Ceremony
September – Sunday 23rd 999! Emergency Services Day. Displays from many branches of the Emergency Services
NB: Events planned at time of going to press. See our Website and Social Media channels for updated information and final confirmation of events. Some Events will be charged at different admission rates. www.yorkshireairmuseum.org Tel: 01904 608595 E-mail: museum@yorkshireairmuseum.org
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T HE B RONTË PARSONAGE M USEUM
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generous award from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. It is the table where Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall were written and where the Brontë sisters shared their work with each other. A real writer’s table, it bears ink stains and candle burns and, as one of the most important literary artefacts of the 19th century, is a must see for anyone interested in the Brontës and their work.
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Personal items on display include Emily’s paint box, Charlotte’s sewing box, pebbles collected by Anne, a comb used by Emily and the bonnet worn by Charlotte on her wedding day.
© The Brontë Society
Set in the picturesque village of Haworth against the stunning landscape of the Yorkshire moors, Haworth Parsonage was the home of the Brontë family from 1820 to 1861 and the place where Charlotte, Emily and Anne wrote their great novels. Now the Brontë Parsonage Museum, it houses the world’s largest collection of Brontë furniture, clothes and personal possessions and offers an inspirational and evocative experience for people of all ages. Items on display include letters, notebooks and household artefacts. Visitors are always fascinated to see how tiny the sisters’ handwriting was, with the ‘Little Books’ being a favourite exhibit for many. The Brontë family dining table, which was sold by auction following Patrick Brontë’s death in 1861, returned to the Parsonage in 2015 thanks to a
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The Museum presents a regularly changing programme of exhibitions, contemporary arts events and family activities. During 2018, the Museum is marking the bicentenary of the birth of Emily Brontë with a wide range of special events. A new exhibition, Making Thun der Ro ar, celebrates the intriguing creator of Wuthering Heights through a series of specially commissioned responses by well-known Emily admirers, displayed alongside a thoughtprovoking selection of her possessions, writing and artwork. The full bicentenary programme can be seen at www.bronte.org.uk/whats-on.
The Museum is open daily from 10am except 24 - 27 December and during January. Admission information can be found at www.bronte.org.uk or you can follow the Brontë Parsonage Museum on facebook and twitter. www.bronte.org.uk Telephone 01535 642323
Dining Room - © The Brontë Society
Branwell’s room
© The Brontë Society
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T HE C OLNE VALLEY M USEUM
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hillside there is a wash kitchen complete with mangles, washboards and dolly tubs.
Explore the newly created period bedroom complete with truckle bed and chamber pots!
Clog-maker’s workshop
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An Edwardian clog-maker’s workshop that had remained virtually untouched, rescued from nearby Slaithwaite, complete with benches, tools and gas lights.
The Colne Valley Museum is housed in a row of handloom weavers’ cottages, which have characteristic stone-mullioned windows that provided plenty of light for weaving.
Working life
The museum shows the domestic textile history in an original setting. Most of our exhibits are in full working order and are often demonstrated by the museum’s volunteers, who preserve the traditional skills of the time.
Family life
The hub of family life was the Yorkshire range, which provided the main source of heat for the cottage and was used for baking, cooking and heating water for washing and cleaning.
In the living room you can see the flagstone floor, rag rugs, and numerous items of 19th century life. Built into the
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Exhibitions and events
We have a programme of exhibitions and events throughout the year – please refer to the website.
Tea Room and Shop
A selection of teas and coffees, home-made cakes and preserves, vintage toys, books, guides and souvenirs are available. School and appointment.
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Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, April to October: 2.00pm to 5.00pm. November to March: 1.00 to 4.00pm Admission charge (Adult and Concession). Children (accompanied) FREE.
Access
The new main entrance to the museum is from the top of a steep setted lane — it is accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There is an alternative level access to both the top and ground floor – please contact us in advance. There are stairs to all floors. Toilets, including baby change facilities and accessible toilets, are on the middle floor and on the top floor. A full access statement is available from the museum.
events 2018
23 / 24 June
Strawberry Fair
15 / 16 September
Tea for two Heritage Open Day
28 / 29 July
6 / 7 October
Laundry Blues
Craft Weekend & Bread Bake
www.colnevalleymuseum.org.uk 01484 659762 HD7 4PY
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THE WORLD OF JAMES HERRIOT
The World of James Herriot is a popular multiaward winning Visitor Attraction which is based in the former home and surgery of James Alfred Wight, more famously known as the author, James Herriot. He became one of the most popular writers of the 20th century.
His books, a series of stories based on his experiences as a young veterinary surgeon working among the farming community of North Yorkshire, sold in their millions throughout the world.
Their huge success spawned two feature films in the mid 1970s, followed by a BBC television series, All Creatures Great and Small, which enjoyed global success in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Alf died in 1995, but his books remain extremely popular and the television series is still broadcast throughout the world.
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In 1999 Hambleton District Council invested £1.4 million in establishing The World of James Herriot in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Since its opening, the Centre has attracted over half a million visitors from all corners of the globe.
Under private ownership since 2012, visitor numbers have continued to increase year on year. New exhibits are added regularly. A bronze statue of Alf Wight, sculpted by Sean HedgesQuinn, now stands in the garden celebrating the centenary of Alf ’s birth in October, 2016.
• Farrier’s Workshop • The largest collection of veterinary equipment in the country • T.V. studio • Life-sized bronze statue of Alf Wight • Children’s Interactive Gallery • The largest collection of Herriot memorabilia in the world.
Glowing reviews are regularly posted on Trip Advisor and several prestigious awards have been won by the Centre:
• Winner of the best Small Visitor Attraction (under 50,000) at Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards • Winner of The National Gold Award at Visit England’s Awards for Excellence, being voted as the Best Small Visitor Attraction (under 50,000) in the country • Gold Winner of the Scoot Headline Award for Achievement in Business • Winner of the Dalesman Rural Tourism Award.
Call to ask about group rates, booking your group visit or to learn more about The World of James Herriot’s partnership arrangements with other attractions nearby. The Centre provides a welcome and interesting attraction for a stopover when en route North or South and works with accommodation providers in the area to find the best group rates and dates for an overnight stay in Herriot Country. Tel: 01845 524234 Email: mail@worldofjamesherriot.com Website: www.worldofjamesherriot.com Twitter: @jamesherriot Facebook: The World of James Herriot
A Coach Park is just a few minutes’ walk from The World of James Herriot and there is a dropoff point directly outside for visitors with walking difficulties. Disabled access is available throughout the building, with the exception of the air raid shelter in the cellar of the house. A nostalgic journey through the thirties and forties as you walk in the footsteps of ames, Tristan and Siegfried is assured. Exhibitions include: • 1940s house and wartime bunker • Exclusive feature film in the foldyard
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HARROGATE’S MUSEUMS
Would you go to a bar or café that only sold water? What if it reeked of sulphur? Welcome to Harrogate’s famous Pump Room. First built in 1842, it wasn’t unusual for 1500 glasses of water to be served each morning. The museum now tells the fashionable story of Harrogate and the daily spa routine, a place for health and happiness. You can also see Ancient Egyptian treasures including our rare Anubis mask. Open Mon-Sat 10.30-5, Sun 2-5 (closes 4pm Nov-March). Small admission charge. Crown Place, HG1 2RY
Royal Pump Room Museum
2018 at the Mercer Art Gallery includes a celebration of women’s art, two war posters by Frank Brangwyn to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War I. a glorious show of Great Yorkshire Art, Posy Simmonds’ wonderfully witty cartoons and the fascinating lives led by British-Hungarian artists in the North of England during the mid-twentieth century. Enjoy our first ever drama festival of one-woman shows, and don’t forget the shop for unique jewellery and contemporary art created by local artists. Open Tues-Sat & Bank Hol Mons 10.30-5, Sun 2-5 (closes 4pm Nov-March). Free admission
It may seem peaceful now, but Knaresborough Castle was once a mighty stronghold of medieval kings. Take in the awe-inspiring views and then discover the dungeon, ancient graffiti and special secret tunnel. Inside the museum you’ll find tales of local characters including Blind Jack, Guy Fawkes and Mother Shipton. You’ll also find the rare, original Tudor court room where suspected criminals faced public trail. Open daily 11-4 28 March - 9 September and 27 October - 4 November. Small admission charge. Castle Yard, HG5 8AS
Knaresborough Castle
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Events
Fashionable Harrogate Ladies
Tuesday 22 May 11.00am to 4pm Birthday Open House - Royal Pump Room Museum Join us as we celebrate our 65th birthday with a 1950s vintage style tearoom and music in the museum to enjoy throughout the day. Free entry all day
Meet the Curator Tuesdays 6 March, 8 May, 3 July, 4 September, 6 November 2.00 – 3.30pm Royal Pump Room Museum Included in your museum admission ticket Discover some of the amazing items in our museum collections in the company of our curator.
Heritage Open Days Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September Royal Pump Room Museum Enjoy free entry to the museum. Heritage Open days celebrate England’s fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. Discover other interesting local places to visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Events
Immersion therapy – spa treatment
Family Fun Day Saturday 14 April 11.00am – 4.00pm Knaresborough Castle Enjoy a relaxing day of games, crafts and a chance to start your own Spring seedlings, with discount entry to the Castle, museum and sallyport. £2 adults, £1 children. Small charges for some activities, free games.
The Castle Under Siege! Saturday 11 August 11.00am – 4.00pm Knaresborough Castle A special day discovering the weapons and weak spots that were used to attack Knaresborough Castle in the past. Make your own weapons and take a tour to attack the ramparts! £2 adults, £1 children. www.harrogate.gov.uk 01423 556188
Knaresborough Castle – © Lizzie Coombes – events at the castle
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Dales Countryside Museum tells the fascinating story of the Yorkshire Dales and the people who have lived and worked here and shaped the landscape for thousands of years. With loads of fun and interesting things for visitors of all ages to see and do, the Museum offers the chance to discover what is so unique about the Yorkshire Dales and make your visit to the area really special.
Seeing amazing and precious objects such as our Bronze Age spearhead and Viking gold ring.
Crafty fun for kids of all ages in the 'Creation Station'.
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Highlights include: Stepping back in time to find out why creatures like rhinos, elephants and hippos once roamed the area.
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Following the Hidden Secrets QR code trail around the galleries and sculpture walk.
More than just displays As well as our galleries showcasing objects from the weird to the wonderful, we also have a programme of special exhibitions that offer something new to see and a range of exciting events and activities, giving you the chance to roll up your sleeves and try something different! You can also find out all there is to do and places to stay in the Yorkshire Dales from the National Park Centre onsite.
It's not just us that thinks we're great! Since 2012 the museum has been awarded the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme mark. This is a quality assurance scheme, managed by VisitEngland, which ensures high quality experiences at tourist attractions. Firebox café and cycle hire are now available on site. www.dalescountrysidemuseum.org.uk email hawes@yorkshiredales.org.uk 01969 666210
For those wishing to delve deeper into the history of the Yorkshire Dales we have a wellresourced research room and can also offer wide-ranging educational services.
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S HIPLEY G LEN T RAMWAY
The Shipley Glen Tramway first ran on 18 May 1895 and is still running today. This makes it the oldest funicular tramway still running in the UK with the exception of one or two cliff lifts. These do not have quite the same operating system.
The Tramway was built to carry Victorian and Edwardian fun seekers up a rather steep slope to reach a massive fairground. This grew in the second half of the 1800's and included some massive rides, some of them unique at the time. It is recorded that on one day alone 100,000 people visited the fairground and the Tramway could carry up to 15,000 passengers a day. The builder of the Tramway, and two years later a Toboggan run at the fairground, was a local entrepreneur , Sam Wilson, with a number of other ventures to his credit.
The first fairground continued through WWI but from about 1900, with the large crowds walking along the short lane from the Tramway top station to the fairground, owners of the two or three houses they were passing, decided to create their own amusements and started tea rooms, swings and other attractions. From just before 1900 Tom Hartley built his Japanese Gardens with a boating lake and famous landscaped gardens.
Going back two hundred years the open moorland was a place for workers to get away from the industrial towns, to picnic, explore and enjoy the rocks and stream and walk and it remains so to the present day. An Information Centre in Saltaire's famous Salts Mills is full of information and a second Information Centre near the pub and tearooms has information and activities about the history of the area (going back 4000 years) and the wild life there.
The Tramway and its newly rebuilt museum is open on every Sunday afternoon from 12:00 during the year and Saturday afternoons between Easter Saturday and New Years Day. An Adult Day Return costs £2.00 with lower fares for children, etc. www.shipleyglentramway.co.uk Tel: 01274 589010 BD17 7RB
All signs of the fairgrounds have now gone, the site of the more recent one, built on for housing. Only the Tramway remains.
However, with its bottom station only a few yards from Roberts Park at the bottom of the UNESCO world heritage village of Saltaire and its top station a similar distance from the open spaces of Bracken Hall Green and Shipley Glen with a pub and tearooms, the Tramway is an historic link between the two.
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The Chairman and his Deputy of Baildon Borough Council and Kate Smith, daughter of the third owners of the Tramway who opened our new museum on 15th July 2017 and the new interior of the museum.
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STEAM TRAINS RUN WEEKENDS & D A I LY D U R I N G S C H O O L H O L I D AY S !
E: info@kirkleeslightrailway.com T: 01484 865727 www.kirkleeslightrailway.com @kirkleeslightrly
@KLRailway
kirkleeslightrailway
Kirklees Light Railway, Park Mill Way, Clayton West, HD8 9XJ
For a free download of all 2018 County Signposts please visit our tourism website www.countysignpost.co.uk
Inspirational home of the Brontë family
Emily Brontë’s Bicentenary 2018
also download the apps for Android and iOS website 1 million+ hits/year & adverts £45+vat/year
We’re celebrating Emily’s 200th birthday with a full programme of exhibitions and events – visit www.bronte.org.uk for details
Haworth, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD22 8DR 01535 642323 www.bronte.org.uk Open daily Nov-Mar 10am-5pm, Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm. Last tickets sold 30 minutes before closing. Closed in January.
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YORKSHIRE W ATERWAYS M USEUM
The Yorkshire Waterways Museum, Goole's top visitor attraction is open for visitors Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm (All year round) Weekends and Bank Holidays 10:00am to 4:00pm (From 25th March until the 5th November ).
The Museum is part of The Sobriety Project, registered charity number 510221. The main aim of the Project and the Museum is to: 'Use the heritage, arts and environment of the Yorkshire waterways as a resource for learning and regeneration'
Enjoy a canal holiday for up to 12 people on a well equipped broad beamed historic barge or enjoy day on the water with themed food or pub stop or an hours trip around Goole Docks. All costs are very affordable and income from boat trips contributes to the running of the charity. Come and experience the magic of the yorkshire waterways, enjoy a weekend adventure in York, Sprotborough, Hull, Doncaster and other places of interest living and travelling on a historic waterways barge. Skipper and crew provided in the price!
The museum offers a base for a great family day out in East Yorkshire, whether it be relaxing by the canal side, or finding out the history and heritage of Yorkshire's waterways. Don't forget to keep an eye out for any upcoming events at the museum.
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Tel: 01405 768730 www.waterwaysmuseum.org.uk DN14 5TB www.countysignpost.co.uk
A national walking, cycling and horse riding route across the north of England with over 370 miles for you to enjoy. From coast to coast, Southport to Hornsea, with links to Kirkburton, Leeds, Chesterfield and York.
www.transpenninetrail.org.uk tel: 01226 772574 facebook: transPenninetrail twitter:Â tPt_national View all of our County Signpost magazines online Search our website / phone apps for local tourist information
Free download
www.countysignpost.co.uk
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F ORT PAULL
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Berlin becoming the capital city of the fledgling German Democratic Republic (or GDR).
Set in over 10 acres on the banks of the Humber Estuary FORT PAULL combines 500 years of Hands on History with enough facilities to provide a full day out for all the family. Explore the multitude of underground rooms and tunnels and see the fantastic exhibits and waxworks. Roam through the grounds in safety and visit the many artillery pieces and military vehicles and the exhibit rooms found in the old accommodation blocks.
Let the children loose in the large play areas ,while you relax in the Dukes of York fully licensed Bar and Café set in the old engine house or visit the Berliner Tea Rooms where you can sit on a restaurant car which served the troops for 50 years.
New for 2017
British Berliner Military Train - 1945-1991 Following the end of hostilities in 1945 Germany was divided into four zones, one each occupied by the French, British, American and Soviet forces. In a similar manner, the city of Berlin was divided, with the three western zones remaining under Western control, with East
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The GDR was territory occupied by the Soviets, and considerable efforts were made during the 1940s to force the Western Allies to abandon their rights of access to West Berlin. The Berlin Blockade of 1948/1949 was imposed by the Soviets and prevented any access by water, road or rail between West Berlin and West Germany. This was overcome by the "Luftbrücke" or "Aerial Bridge", an operation which saw the provision of essential supplies airlifted to West Berlin. As it became clear that the Berlin Blockade was fruitless as a way of forcing the Western Allies' hand, and land access rights were re-established, it became essential for the Allies to demonstrate the continuous need for and use of these rights.
The British Military Train had its beginnings during this uncertain and unsecure period in European history. During this time, the British established several rail routes from the North Sea coast through their zone of West Germany and on to Berlin, to service and provide for the troops that were stabled there. The need to run services every day was an essential defence of their rights of access between West Germany and West Berlin.
Following the British Forces establishment of Air Trooping across North West Europe, there was no longer any need for rail services to the coast. The British Military Train was then truncated to its eventual route of Braunschweig to Berlin via the border crossing points of Helmstedt and Marienborn. New rolling stock followed in the late 1960s, and the service continued to run every day except December 25th. www.countysignpost.co.uk
Events unfolding in East Germany in 1989 finally culminated in the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany. The reason for the existence of the British Military Train had disappeared, and the final routine service operated on 1st October 1990.
Nearly twenty five years since the last British Military Train operated, all of the rolling stock used has been either sold, scrapped or rebuilt with one exception.
This single original coach survives, a restaurant card built specifically for use on this service in 1967 by Wegmann in Kassel, Germany. It has a fully original interior and has never been used for any other railway purpose than the operation of the BMT between Braunschweig and Berlin Charlottenburg; thus it represents the last tangible link to the tradition and history of the British Military Train, the staff who operated the service across the Iron Curtain and the many tens of thousands of passengers that travelled on board.
It is now located at the Fort Paull Military Museum near Hull, but is succumbing to the North Sea climate and urgently needs thorough external restoration. The original paint finish has cracked and weathered, leaving the steel coach body and framework open to attack from the elements. The museum itself has almost no funds to pay for the restoration of this unique railway vehicle.
The very last "Berliner" ran on 7th February 1991, as a commemorative special to celebrate almost five decades of continual service between West Germany and West Berlin. Following this run, the rolling stock was handed back to the German authorities and dispersed amongst private operators and museums.
Telephone 01482 896236 www.fortpaull.com www.british-berliner.org
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S HEFFIELD I NDUSTRIAL M USUEMS 3 Inspiring Places, 1 Steel Story
Sheffield Industrial Museums are the showcase of Sheffield’s industrial story from early industrialisation to modern times where ‘Made In Sheffield’ remains a mark of craftsmanship and quality known worldwide. Enjoy a great family day out full of nostalgia and innovation! Kelham Island Museum Located in one of the city’s oldest industrial districts, Kelham Island Museum stands on a man-made island over 900 years old. Our interactive galleries tell the story of light trades and skilled workmanship to mass production. Learn what it was like to live and work in Sheffield during the Industrial Revolution and follow the sights and sounds of progress through the Victorian era and two world wars to discover how steel making forged the city of today and its impact on the modern world!
Don’t miss ‘The Millowners Arms’, the exhibition complete with traditional bar, which celebrates Sheffield’s brewing heritage. Be sure to catch the mighty River Don Engine in steam – the most powerful working steam engine remaining in Europe, as well as the reconstructed ‘Little Mesters’ street with resident workshops.
Kelham Island Museum - Stan Shaw Little Mester
Major events during 2018 include: • the 1940s Weekend & Vintage Fayre – 14th/15th July • the 26th Victorian Christmas Market – 1st/2nd December.
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Kelham Island Museum
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet Catch a unique glimpse of life at home and at work at a scythe and steelworks dating back to the 18th century. Abbeydale Works was once a producer of agricultural tools and the largest water-powered industrial site on the River Sheaf.
Kelham Island Museum - Bessemer Converter
It is now a group of Grade I and II* listed buildings and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. See workers houses, waterwheels, workshops, tilt hammers, a grinding hull and the last complete surviving crucible steel furnace in the UK!
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The Heritage Lottery Fund project to revitalise the Hamlet is now complete and visitors can enjoy the new ‘All About Abbeydale’ gallery, craft workshops, cafe, shop and learning centre. Heritage Buildings have been brought back to life with displays and interactives and machinery and waterwheels restored. One of the restored waterwheels can be seen in action every Wednesday. The Abbeydale Explorer App is available, which can be either downloaded on your own mobile device or used on one of our tablets.
Abbeydale Living History
Abbeydale Living History
Major events at the Hamlet in 2018 include: •Amazing Abbeydale as part of National Mills Weekend – 12th / 13th May.
Shepherd Wheel Workshop Set in the picturesque valley of the Porter Brook, Shepherd Wheel is a unique working example of Sheffield’s knife grinding industry.
This water-powered workshop dates back to the 1500s and displays the tools of the trade for cutlery grinding. See the restored waterwheel and machinery in action and hear stories about the grinders who worked there over the centuries at this Grade II listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument. Major events at Shepherd Wheel in 2018 include National Mills Weekend - 12th / 13th May and Be a Time Transporter 8th / 9th September.
Major events at Shepherd Wheel in 2018 include: •National Mills Weekend - 12th / 13th May •Be a Time Transporter 8th / 9th September.
Telephone 0114 272 2106 ask@simt.co.uk www.simt.co.uk
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N ATIONAL C OAL M INING M USEM
The National Coal Mining Museum for England offers you the unique opportunity to travel 140 metres underground, down one of Britain's oldest working mines.
Take a step back in time with an ex-miner as your guide who will take you around the underground workings, where models and machinery depict methods and conditions of mining from the early 1800s to the present day.
Explore our galleries with permanent collections and also special exhibitions bringing stories of coalmining to life. You can also ride the train, an original underground locomotive used at Prince of Wales Colliery, and take in the countryside views from one end of the site to the other. Visit the pit-head baths and the Victorian steam winder, follow the nature trail and find the NEW adventure playground, then meet ponies, Eric, Ernie and Bud and Clydesdale Finn in the Stables to find out about working horses at the pit.
In need of refreshment? Visit the Museum café, which serves a range of traditional Yorkshire food. Then bag yourself some mining memorabilia in the well-stocked gift shop.
Whatever you come to the National Coal Mining Museum for, you can be sure there'll be plenty to keep you occupied including the busy and varied events programme.
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There is free admission to all visitors and opening hours 10.00 am - 5.00 pm daily except for 24-26 December and 1 January. Arrive early to book onto an underground tour. Temperature underground is 12c; we strongly recommend warm practical clothing and sensible flat shoes. Unfortunately children under five years old are not permitted on the underground tour, however there is an indoor play area for children under five.
Admission to the Museum is FREE. For details about special events throughout the year, please visit www.ncm.org.uk or call 01924 848806.
T HE I NGROW M USEUM R AIL T RAVEL
Over 80 television programmes and films have featured carriages and steam locomotives from the Ingrow Museum of Rail Travel, so there’s a good chance you may have seen some treasured items from the museum’s Collection. The museum has filmed sequences for the big screen film of The Testament of Youth starring Alica Vikander
The whole family can enjoy a visit – you don’t have to be a confirmed railway enthusiast! Children and adults of all ages will enjoy exploring the differences between 1st, 2nd and 3rd class, and listening to the sound presentations as they sit inside the carriages. Video presentations help to bring the past to life, whilst the walls are covered with old signs and posters. Young children will enjoy hunting for our little helpers, or finding items from our
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“look and find” worksheets. The confirmed enthusiast will enjoy our shop, which specialises in out-of-print railway magazines and books.
Located adjacent to the Ingrow Loco Museum, and the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. When Worth Valley Railway trains are operating, ask for a Green Rover ticket, which includes admission to both museums and one day’s unlimited travel on the KWVR Location: South Street, Ingrow, Keighley BD21 5AX Telephone 01535 680425 www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
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AN AWARD WINNING WALKING, CYCLING AND HORSE RIDING ROUTE COAST-TO-COAST ACROSS THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
Passing through unbroken sands, relaxing reservoirs, quiet country lanes, quaint villages and bustling towns and cities, you’ll find it all and more along the award winning Trans Pennine Trail (TPT).
From the majestic Seamark feature at Southport, the TPT will take you along the disused Cheshire Lines railway and onto the Liverpool Loop Line. Arriving in the city you will enjoy the bustling atmosphere of the Pier Head, an area recently redeveloped. Next take a stroll through the picturesque Sefton Park, before heading east along the River Mersey taking in the wonderful views as you go. The trail then leads through the quaint village of Hale, where you will see first-hand, the Mersey Gateway Bridge, a phenomenal engineering project quickly taking shape,.
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T RANS P ENNINE T RAIL
© Paul Riley
Canals and railway paths then take you on further on your journey. You will travel through Warrington and Trafford, onto a winding riverside path along the Mersey to Manchester, passing Chorlton Sale Water Parks and Stockport as you go. Here you can pay a visit to the unique Hat Museum and Air Raid Caves.
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© Engage the Trail
The leafy Tame Valley accommodates the TPT until it reaches the western fringe of the Pennines and through Hadfield, home of TV’s League of Gentlemen. The dramatic scenery of the Longdendale Valley, with its five reservoirs and the former Woodhead Railway, take you to the outskirts of Barnsley and the wonderful market town of Penistone. Travelling east from Penistone the Trail uses the old packhorse route through Oxspring into the South Yorkshire town of Barnsley. Here visitors can enjoy an array of attractions including Worsbrough Mill and Country Park, Elsecar Heritage Centre and RSPB’s Old Moor reserve before continuing onto Doncaster.
From Barnsley, there is the option to venture north or south (as well as continuing eastwards) to explore more of the Trail. From Penistone, you can travel north to Kirkburton via the spectacular Royd Moor viewing point. Alternatively, why not explore the delights of Wakefield’s wonderful Anglers Country Park or Stanely Ferry Marina. Spend time meandering along the Aire Calder Navigation before heading up into Leeds where many cultural attractions await, including the spectacular Royal Armouries Museum.
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© Engage the Trail
Travelling south from Barnsley you will also find many wonderful things in store. The route through Rotherham takes in the Magna Centre and Rother Valley Country Park. At these family attractions you can enjoy a full day of activities before journeying along the Five Weirs Walk, into the heart of Sheffield and to the stunning Cobweb Bridge. From Rotherham the disused Beighton to Staveley railway gives you two route options into Chesterfield where you’ll be amazed by the town’s crooked spire church.
If you’re continuing your journey eastwards from Barnsley you’ll follow the Dearne Valley, passing Conisbrough Castle and the dramatic views of the old railway viaduct, spanning the Don Gorge and the River Don. Traffic free paths and quiet lanes then take the TPT northwards, running through sleepy villages, along the New Junction Canal to Braithwaite and Sykehouse, before joining the canal towpath for the last few miles into Selby.
While there Selby’s abbey is certainly worth a visit. From here there are two route options before you; either head north into the city of York using the York / Selby railway path, complete with a scale model of the solar system
or continue on to the coast. This direction leads along the banks of the River Ouse and River Humber while cyclists and horse riders travel on sleepy country lanes inland.
After passing underneath the mighty Humber Bridge, Kingston upon Hull awaits. The city is steeped in maritime history and leads you onto the final part of your journey, along the disused Hornsea railway path. After passing the large freshwater lake at Hornsea Mere you arrive at the seaside town of Hornsea where our eastern Seamark feature spectacularly marks the end of your journey. So, what are you waiting for….. give it a try, soon. Telephone: 01226 772574 www.transpenninetrail.org.uk
© Engage the Trail
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T HORNTON H ALL C OUNTRY PARK
Experience hands on animal encounters on our traditional working farm, hitch a ride in our 4 x 4 Adventure Experience and relax in our country tearoom while the little ones burn off the remainder of their energy in our huge fun filled Wizzick Play Barn… a fun filled, informative family day out, RAIN OR SHINE!
Please visit the website for opening times & ticket prices www.thorntonhallcountrypark.co.uk
Things to do at the farm:
• Wizzick Play Barn : giant slides, sandpits, hay maze, ride on tractors, milking cow, rope swings • Animal feeding & animal petting • Egg Collecting • Pedal quads • Rides (additional charge) : caterpillar ride, junior quads, pony rides, farm safari (25 mins) • Quadtrex (quad bike trekking - additional charge) • Harrison’s Cafe • Special events (including Halloween, Bonfire Night & Christmas Wonderland) • Toddler Sessions (term time only) • Birthday parties … and much more!
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GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW
A Great Three Days 10th - 12th July 2018
The 160th Great Yorkshire Show will take place in Harrogate from Tuesday 10 - Thursday 12 July 2018, celebrating the very best of farming, food and the countryside.
Over 130,000 visitors and 8,500 animals flock to the Great Yorkshire Showground every year for the three day show, making it one of the biggest in the UK.
Get ready to welcome equestrian dynamo Lorenzo back to the Main Ring with his daredevil bare-back display as one of the 2018 show highlights. Rosemary Shrager will whip up a storm in the cookery theatre and the President’s Lawn is set to showcase some very special additions for the first time ever.
In the judging rings, thousands of animals will compete from cattle to sheep, pigs to pigeons and the show finishes with one of the most prestigious showjumping classes in the country, the Cock O’The North competition.
One man and his pig
From cutting edge farming equipment and machinery to displays from big name brands, this is the place where deals are done and the latest ranges are showcased. While the show has agriculture at its heart, there’s also entertainment, shopping, live music, cookery demos and a professional catwalk fashion show – including a one-off celebrity special.
Plans are now underway to celebrate 160 shows spanning the decades since 1838, with a host of special surprises lined up to mark the milestone. As part of this, show organisers are set to launch a limited edition clothing range in the New Year. Look out for a stunning ticket launch in Spring 2018 too! The Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk
Cock o the North
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YO R K S H I R E AIR MUSEUM ELVINGTON Home of the
ALLIED AIR FORCES MEMORIAL
‘Superb’
2018 100 YEARS OF THE RAF
OVER 60 AIRCRAFT & VEHICLES THE ONLY HALIFAX BOMBER IN EUROPE ORIGINAL 40s RAF BASE & BUILDINGS 15 INDOOR EXHIBITIONS 20 ACRE AIRCRAFT PARK & GARDENS SHOP & RESTAURANT
Elvington, York, YO41 4AU. 01904 608595 www.yorkshireairmuseum.org b a
National Museum of Arms & Armour
Open daily 10am – 5pm | Free admission | Leeds LS10 1LT
Daily combat demonstrations and performances School Holiday Events | Study Days | Exhibitions
www.royalarmouries.org