Countersett, Wensleydale

With this picture of the Old School House, Countersett, I have to say a another farewell to Jorvik Daily Photo. My photo posting interests have had to switch to our Facebook page, Smalltalk Language Services which is featured on the right under the  You might be interested rubric. 

If you have time to call in to that page, please "like" it, and enjoy browsing the photos of picturesque places to visit within relatively easy reach of York. 

Best wishes to all.

Brimham Rocks 2

Not surprisingly, this site has been used on several films and TV series. If my memory serves me well, one of the early episodes of A Woman of Substance featured Brimham Rocks.

Brimham Rocks 1

About 30 minutes from Knaresborough is Brimham Rocks. Many of the formations have names, and I think this one is The Anvil.

The last trompe, Knaresborough

… at least for the moment, as we probably didn't see them all.

Another Knaresborough trompe-l'œil

One more to go.

Knaresborough pub punctuation

A missing apostrophe is not the end of the world.

Down by the riverside, Knaresborough

… this time showing the viaduct from the other side.

Knaresborough Castle and Jubilee border

The ruins of the castle mentioned yesterday can be made out behind the trees. 

Cavalier, Roundhead and anachronistic Union Flag, Knaresborough

This amusing example of trompe l'œil refers to the English Civil War 1642-49, which saw Parliamentary forces under the unjustly maligned Oliver Cromwell taking on the Royalist armies of Charles I, who finally lost his head after the cessation of hostilities. 

Knaresborough was taken by the Roundheads, as the Parliamentarians were known, in 1646 and the castle destroyed in 1648, most of the stone being used to build town centre houses.

York goes wireless

Front drive and back garden views of what we are about to lose. 

Knaresborough 5

A surprising find on the riverside walk: a thatched cottage. Although this walk does follow the river, it is built up for about 500 metres, so the Nidd is out of sight at this point. 

Knaresborough 4

Back down to the riverside walk for a shot with a Mediterranean look and evidence that even in the worst summer for 100 years, there were some gloriously warm, sunny days.

Knaresborough 3

The town features several tromp l'œils, some purely decorative and others with historical references, most of which I have not researched.

Knaresborough 2

The riverside walk showing the steepness of the gradient and an example of the black and white checks that are a feature of exterior decoration here in Knaresborough.

Knaresborough railway viaduct

At 12 miles from York and very near Harrogate, the quaint town of Knaresborough is a popular place to stroll around, with a good choice of cafés and the possibility of rowing on the River Nidd. 

What goes up …

Soon to be no more, dismantling of the pylons on the Derwent Valley Railway Sustrans cycle path has begun. This is of particular interest to us, as the example in the photo is just 100 metres from our house.

Whitby whalebones

French visitors beneath the whalebone arch on the west cliff, with the higgledy-piggledy Henrietta Street below the east cliff. 

Beningbrough Hall 6

Lavender in the sun. 

Beningbrough Hall 5

Electricity rocks.

Beningbrough Hall 4

One of several "downstairs" photos.

Beningbrough Hall 3

Aptly, just in front of the café terrace.

Beningbrough Hall 2

The main door with a volunteer in costume waiting to greet visitors while another entertained them on the piano. 

Beningbrough Hall 1

About 25 minutes north from the centre of York, but still with the city boundary, lies this 18th century house, now owned and managed by the National Trust. This is a view from just outside the walled gardens which we were privileged to enjoy without a single drop of rain.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough-hall/

Fossgate façades

A long view up Fossgate towards Colliergate and the central tower of York Minster.  The furniture shop on the right used to be a cinema, as you might have guessed from the façade. 

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall, closed to the public the day this was taken and with restricted access to the gardens because of a wedding reception. More on the early 14th century building can be found here.

Books and bites

Right next door to yesterday's shop, in fact. The Hairy Fig has already featured on the blog. To the right is one of the several second-hand bookshops on Fossgate, and through the arch is  …

Ideal homes exhibition

A cut from yesterday's Foss Bridge brings you out opposite The Miniature Scene where the service is second to none. Sturdy play houses for tiny fingers are available as well as the more delicate for your eyes only collectors' models. 

Foss Bridge revisited

This favourite view is enhanced by the lush foliage and overhang of flowers. 

View 2 from platform 3

… showing the curves. A similar view featured on Saltaire Daily Photo some time ago

View from platform 3

York, three times a lady - look hard through the open arch.

Left out: New Foss bridge 4

Left out.

New Foss bridge 3

Looking to the new development on the Hungate side of the Foss. 

New kid on the Foss

This detail of the bridge shown yesterday contrasts nicely with slightly older York Minster.

Foss Footbridge

A long shot of the new footbridge over the Foss, the smaller ofYork's two rivers. The building on the right, now offices and flats, was formerly a Rowntree warehouse. The Quaker family chocolate company was taken over by Nestlé in 1987. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowntree's

A Black Swan lunch table, Helmsley

À table ! A very generous "light" lunch with French visitors. 

Black Swan Helmsley

Unless you've just done a long hike on the Cleveland Way, share your portions here; they are very generous. The Black Swan is so Breeteesh; the scones are as good as home-made and the unique blend of tea is deliciously refreshing - a must for foreign visitors.

Woollons and Harwood

On the same road as Monday's scarecrows, this kitchenware shop is a delight for locals and tourists alike. Woollons, founded in York in 1901,  have a second outlet in Thirsk, another attractive North Yorkshire market town.

http://www.woollons.co.uk/about/Family.aspx

More house

In response to the interest in this Helmsley house, here is a fuller shot with the mini-spires of the church tower peeping over the top. Thank you for your comments.

Scared?

Still Helmsley, an irresistible couple of characters watching the world go by. They must never get bored, as these gardens are on the path to the castle. 

For all the saints …

The elegant Victorian church of All Saints, Helmsley, seen from the top of the market square near the Black Swan hotel. The unidentified house sets off the church rather nicely. 

There has been a church on this site since before the Norman conquest, and the current one apparently replaced a 12th century construction, which would be unthinkable today.

Beckoning

Borough Beck, running from the moors to the river Rye just below the town, adds to Helmsley's charm. Children find it irresistible, so young families should allow an extra half hour for their visit. 

Helmsley Castle

A distant view of Helmsley and the castle from the Cleveland Way, returning from Rievaulx. 

Rievaulx Abbey

An hour from York, on the edge of the North York Moors, is the lovely market town of Helmsley. The 6-mile return walk along part of the Cleveland Way to Rievaulx is well worth the time and effort, with lovely views in both directions and the reward of the abbey itself in its lush, wooded valley. 

Spring crocuses, wintry tree

in Museum Gardens, with the multi-angular tower in the background.

Museum Gardens

Taken from the riverside path through the gardens. This is a favourite spot for wedding photos, though they are usually taken on the other side of the building.

Colour on Coney Street

A bit of warmth on Coney Street, worth enlarging for a better view of what's on offer. 

Hitting the nail on the head

The Last Drop Inn, a pub with a multi-layered pun for a name, has featured on this blog before. The clock with the hammer and nail belongs to Barnitt's, the home and garden emporium which occupies a large part of this side of the street. The labyrinthine premises are always worth a visit; if Barnitt's doesn't stock it, you don't need it. 

Let the byre beware

The window-dressing in the centre of York is often eye-catching. This is Stonegate, between the Minster and St Helen's Square.

Murky Minster

A rather dull view of the Minster taken through the tinted glass of one of the York Wheel pods.