Carry On Dick!

Tucked away in a small graveyard, in a quiet and overlooked corner of York city centre is the grave of the notorious highwayman, Dick Turpin.

It is quite a large plot for such a rogue and it was said that this was the case because he was buried along with his horse Black Bess.

Undoubtedly a rascal and convicted horse thief, Turpin was also a teller of tall tales and his reputation was good for further ale house exaggeration.

It is doubtful that many (if any) of his celebrated exploits of highway robbery and long distance horse rides to escape justice were actually true but, as is often the case with rascals, the truth shouldn't be allowed to get in the way of a good story.

DON'T Look Into My Eyes.....

The Stonegate Devil in York.

York is a city which is full of curious carvings and adornments to its old town buildings.

Many of them date back hundreds of years.

This one is situated above a building that was formerly an old printing shop. So legend has it, he took the blame for any mistakes that were found in the work that was produced there.

The original Gremlin!

Legend also has it that it is unlucky to look the Devil in the eyes......

Village Pump Collection

Continuing my occasional series of "Great Village Pumps of Our Time",  this is a fine effort from Sherburn.

Built in 1867.

Marvellous!

Weaverthorpe Box at Sherburn

The railway line from York to Scarborough passes the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds on the outskirts of Sherburn.

The level crossing on the Sherburn to Brompton By Sawdon road has a signal box which controls the rather splendid semaphore signals.

The box displays the name Weaverthorpe, which is a village some 4 miles away in the Wolds.

Not sure why the signal box isn't christened Sherburn as that is the nearest place.

Unless, of course, the railway came before the village and, when it was constructed, Weaverthorpe was the nearest location to it?

Gansey Girl

New to Bridlington Harbour.

A 'gansey' is a woollen jumper worn by the men of the fishing fleets from along the Yorkshire Coast.

Knitted by the womenfolk of the home ports, they included intricate designs and patterns which were unique to their particular community.

In the event of disaster at sea any washed up bodies could, therefore, be identified to the town from which they came.

National Railway Museum, York

Blue one = "Mallard", LNER A4 Pacific. World Speed Record holder for Steam Locomotives.

Red one = "Duchess of Hamilton", LMS Coronation Pacific (some say Duchess Pacific). Photographed in streamlined casing.
The most powerful British steam engine ever built. Rated at 3300hp they were more powerful than the diesel and electric locomotives which have replaced them.

Green one = "Evening Star", BR Standard 9F. The last steam locomotive built by/for British Railways.

Animals (Three Different Ones).

Recent wildlife observations have been:
a squirrel at Peasholm Park,
a snake on the path at Scalby clifftops and a llama at Sewerby (admittedly the last one was in a zoo.....).

Dying for a Pint.

The waiting to be served at The Golden Fleece in York can be a long process...

Landed at North Landing

Once you finally arrive at North Landing, a trip to the beach is obviously required. It is, however, a fairly sharp descent as the photos from the top and bottom of the old Lifeboat house slipway show.

The small bay is still used for fishing by cobles, which are put to sea in a more modern method using tractors.
The one on the beach was waiting for a boat to return, whilst the other one seemed to be life expired and was rusting away half way up the cliff.

Down on the bay there are caves to explore, notably the two which are called "Ladies" and "Gents".

The Road to North Landing

A walk along the clifftops to North Landing from Flamborough Lighthouse, a distance of around 1¾ miles.

The path meanders between the edge of the cliff and Flamborough Golf Club whom, it seems, have some volatile members....... never mind the dog, watch out for the bloody golfers!

The Golf Club is built on the land that was once a wartime radar station. Forming part of the Chain Home System, the giant radar masts (now long gone) once provided advance warning of incoming air raids.

Just to the landward side of the footpath are a series of concrete slabs which have metal rings embedded into them. These are the remaining anchor points of the barrage balloons that used to defend the site.

Most of the cliff facings were quiet, as the summer bird population had largely migrated by this time.