A Yorkshire Miscellany: October 2017: Part 1

To Yorkshire or a few days with friends at their home just outside of Halifax. We got out and about a lot whilst there, so here are a few photographs taken as we wandered over hill and dale. No theme, just a collection of images to give a flavour of a very enjoyable time with long-time friends.


The study at the Parsonage in Haworth where the Bronte family lived and in which the three sisters wrote their iconic novels. Pretty much everything in this room was original, even down to the carved initials on the table (Emily wuz yer), except for the dress which came from the recent BBC series, To Walk Invisible. A very atmospheric place to visit and, at this time of year, not jam-packed with tourists.

Bramwell Bronte's bedroom, arranged to reflect his chaotic lifestyle. For ever in the shadow of his sisters, he will go down in history as a tragic 'what if he had lived longer, what might he have achieved?' figure.

The graveyard which is between the Parsonage and the church. The Brontes are buried in the church which, of course, was not open when we were there. I always think that grey images work well in photographs of headstones..

This reflection caught my eye. Man with camera playing about - much to the amusement and bemusement of the other people in the room.

The Grade I listed Piece Hall in Halifax is a rare place and is the sole survivor of the great eighteenth century northern cloth halls, a class of buildings which embodied the vital and dominant importance of the trade in hand woven textiles to the pre-industrial economy of the West Riding of Yorkshire, from the Middle Ages through to the early nineteenth century.
Dating from 1779, when it was built as a Cloth Hall for the trading of ‘pieces’ of cloth (a 30 yard length of woven woollen fabric produced on a handloom). Nothing like that goes on today, of course, but it is an impressive place to visit. The recently re-laid plaza seems tailor made for outdoor events, Yorkshire weather permitting.

One rather naff feature of the Piece Hall plaza was a cascade of water and lights. Rather too modern and garish for its location but more subdued when processed in black and white.

A visit to Holy Cross Church in Gilling East in search of our friend's ancestors lead us to this plaque to the Fairfax family. Well done to Aunty Gwen for her work in making this connection. We lunched in the Fairfax Arms but, sadly, there was no discount offered to members of the Fairfax family.

It would be easy to overlook these marks in the doorway to the church and this would be a shame as they are unusual. Not random scratchings but the result of many mediaeval parishioners using the stone to sharpen their arrows.

Owl #1

Owl #2

Owl #3 You've probably guessed by now that there was an owl display on at Beningborough Hall. Beautiful through they are, I really don't like to see such birds in captivity.