March 2010

Your letters

The cheapest of days out

I enjoyed reading Phil Penfold’s bus pass article (Jan). My two best friends, June and Sue, regularly travel free on the train to Leeds from Doncaster, and then go on from there to meet me for a walk. One of their favourites is to catch the train from Leeds to Ilkley, which only costs them 35p each way, when they show their bus pass.

I then meet them in Ilkley and we always have time for a cuppa and scone at the lovely little café in the church hall, before going for the 74 bus and walking back along the Dales Way. We ride to Bolton Abbey and walk back to Ilkley or catch the bus to Burnsall and walk back to Bolton Abbey or if the fancy takes us we catch the bus to Grassington and walk back to Appletreewick.

Sometimes they come to Leeds on the train, and then catch the 36 bus to Harrogate or Ripon to meet me. We’ve done a circular walk from Ripley around Lower Nidderdale, walked from Ripley to Summerbridge, and caught the 24 bus back to Harrogate. We’ve been to Pateley Bridge on the 24 and enjoyed the Panorama Walk, taking in Pateley Bridge and Glasshouses. We’ve walked along the canal at Ripon, and even walked to Fountains Abbey and back. And they hardly spend a penny in fares on their day out.

Diana Jolland, Leyburn

I hope that Phil Penfold’s experiences of public transport (Jan) will encourage others to travel to and within the Dales by sustainable modes.

The Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company (CIC) was established in 2007 as a unique social enterprise providing public transport for leisure purposes in the Dales on Sundays and promoting use of the weekday network.

We would recommend that potential users plan their journey in advance using our website www.dalesbus.org or the Metro DalesBus timetable booklet which they can get free from most bus, train and tourist information offices in West Yorkshire and the Dales.

We would also recommend use of the Ilkley, Skipton and Settle-Carlisle trains from Leeds and Bradford for a fast journey to connect with buses to Wharfedale, Malhamdale and Ingleton.

Anyone over sixty or under twenty-five or travelling with a child is eligible to purchase a National Railcard which will offer them discount fares, while Metro pass holders get even greater discounts. This makes a day trip very easy – why not walk part of the Dales Way with no need to make a return trip to a parked car?

The CIC also operates direct Sunday services from Wakefield, Leeds, Bradford, Otley and Keighley to the Dales all year round with bus links in the summer off the Settle-Carlisle railway to enable Leeds and Bradford residents to access Swaledale and Wensleydale in around two hours. In 2009 we also operated direct buses from Bradford to the Dales on Wednesdays during the school summer holidays and carried over 600 passengers in just six weeks.

However, even well used services like this require subsidy and public sector cuts could threaten their continuation, so please use the buses in the Dales and tell your local politicians and decision makers how important they are.

John Disney, Marketing Co-ordinator,
Dales & Bowland Community Interest Company, The Town Hall, Settle. media@dalesandbowland.com

Mystery Stones

With reference to ‘Historic Yorkshire: Mystery Stones’ (Jan), could these be bier stones? Years ago the dead were carried by hand on biers to their final resting places. As superstition suggested that the devil could enter the body of the deceased if placed on the ground, bierstones were erected to allow the handles of the bier to be placed in the holes in order that all may rest. These stones are usually found below the crest of an incline as no rest was allowed within sight of the church tower.

Mrs B Hiscock, Newark

Memories of Spofforth

I read with interest Spofforth’s hidden gem (Jan) as I lived there for the first twenty-one years of my life. My memory is of a great childhood in wonderful surroundings, with plenty to occupy us in school holidays. There was fishing in the river Crimple which flows through the village; the castle; Stockeld park estate; and plenty of opportunity to earn pocket money on the local farms. Regarding the grave of Blind Jack Metcalf, it is just to the right of the gate entrance to the West door. 

Robert Triffitt, Hensall

Cook Connection

Before coming to South Africa in 1969 we lived in Tasmania Square, Marton-in-Cleveland, for twelve years. Our children were born there and went to school in the village. Our son was christened in the same church as Captain Cook – St Cuthbert’s. Naturally, we have always had an interest in Captain Cook.

It was a pleasure to read the article ‘Captain Cook’s home turf’ (Oct) and I just wish to add that Cook’s mother, Grace, died on 18 February 1765 and was buried with five of her children in All Saints’ Church. Cook’s father, James Senior, remained in Ayton until 1771 then went to live with his daughter, Margaret Fleck, in Redcar. He died on 1 April 1779 and was buried at St Germain’s in Marske.

An interesting aside is that our neighbours in Marton were Tom and Margaret Fleck and could have been related.

Ken England, Gauteng, South Africa

Herriot's Village Life

Reading Helen Johnson’s article regarding Christmas with the Herriots (Dec) reminded me of a couple of instances concerning the family.

In 1977 I was the local police inspector at Thirsk and as such had friendly relationships with everyone in the town. One summer day I was in the market place watching a group of Herriot Hunters being instructed by the courier as to where to go to see the famous surgery. 
 
At this point Alf Wight walked through them to his car, bidding me, “Good afternoon Inspector.” He got in his car and drove off, unrecognised by either the courier or the hunters. I just had to point out to the courier what they had missed, and he was not at all pleased.

The second incident was when my mother, well into her eighties, was staying with us and was taken ill during the night. The doctor we called out happened to be Rosie Page, who ordered her to hospital. Mother, when told of the identity of the doctor, just could not wait to return home to tell her friends of the incident.
The Wight family were well known to the locals as lovely people with ‘no side’ on them at all.

Peter R Hyde, Driffield, East Yorkshire

Always number 1 to me

I read the article (Aug) and letter from Edward Farrar (Dec) regarding No 1 Yorkshire, Bawtry, with interest, pleasure and nostalgia. I lived at No 1 from 1946 until 1968 when my mother sold it after both my sister and I had moved away from the area. I have not stayed anywhere for as long since then and I still recall so many very happy times there.

The garden was considerably larger then. What is now a relatively new house used to be my garage where I built rally cars, and before that it was a stable for our ponies and before that, during the war, it was a pigsty where Mum and Dad kept two pigs called Adolf and Benito.

My father, Tommy Iredale, bought the house in the early 1940s when he moved with my mother from Leeds from where both families originated, but it was not he who called it No 1 Yorkshire; it had had that name long before Dad arrived.

I doubt that he bought the paddock to prevent anybody else building there but it has been passed on to me so if you can obtain planning consent…!
I know that there is a house called No 1 London but apart from that I know of no others. You can imagine the looks that you get when asked for your address and you start with that. Incidentally, we used to say that Bawtry was the most northerly point that Norman the Conqueror came and it was to Bowe-Tree that his northerly knights came to pay homage. I think your  ‘Balda’s Tree’ is much more plausible.

Like Edward Farrar, I threatened to ship my wife back to Yorkshire for my son’s birth, but he arrived early and quickly so my plans were thwarted. After Mother died, my sister Liz and I had reason to go back to Bawtry and we sat in the Crown Hotel having lunch and it was like being transported back in time to when the sun always seemed to shine, even when the River Idle flooded. And that is how I will always remember No 1 Yorkshire.

Tim Iredale, Trowbridge

Speyk easy

I suspect that the Yorkshire dialect, as I knew it when I was born at Holmfirth some ninety years ago, is now extinct. It was widely spoken by men and also by children – but not permitted in our house. To appreciate my favourite Yorkshire dialect ‘speyk’ you need to know that in those parts a cloth was known as a ‘claat’ (as in dishclaat) and a roof was known as an ‘ack.’

Two old friends met. One said “I see Jim’s getten hissen a new car.”

“Oh ay, what sooart is it?”
“It’s a convertible.”

“What’s a convertible?”

“Tha knaws, one o’them theer wi’ a claat ack.”

Jack Wakefield, Preston

Alne still thrives

As a resident of Alne for the past ten years and a local lad for the past forty-two, I consider the author’s view of our village (Feb) jaded.

Change comes to all and is as natural as the seasons. Anyone looking for true witnesses to the changes in our village should look no further than those who run our street fayre, support the gardening club, the Friends of Alne School, the members of the Alne Playing Field Assocation, the players and members at the cricket club and the church goers.

These are the people who make the community of today and who value the village – and value the incomers (be they new residents or visitors to the caravan park) for what they contribute. Alne is far from just a place to live. Yes, its Post Office has gone and the pub is now more of a restaurant, but we have a community and an aspiration to make the village a better place. And as for there being no livestock, well, don’t believe what you’re told – there are plenty of pigs, cattle, sheep and horses.

John, Price, Alne

Our apologies for unintentionally giving the the impression that caravanners were responsible for rubbish in the pond at Alne. The pond was filled in long before the caravan site opened. – Editor

Holidays with Grandma

Distant memories were evoked when I read Arthur Ogden’s article ‘When the mail came by coach’ (Dec).

My paternal grandmother, Mary Pilkington, was for many years the licensee of the Seven Stars Hotel in Guisborough. She had her own seven stars, her seven sons, the eldest was my father. I was born on April 6 1923 in Dr Stainthorpe’s Nursing Home. I grew up in Old Trafford, where my dad found employment on being de-mobbed in World War One.

Guisborough was always very special and from the age of seven I was put on a train at Exchange Station in Manchester, under charge of the guard, and travelled to Darlington where one of my uncles would meet me and drive me to the Seven Stars in what could only be called ‘an old banger’. I would spend Easter and summer school holidays with grandma and it was such a carefree time. One of the thrills was to see my name over the pub’s front door.

My cousins and I were known to many as ma’s grandchildren. All her customers called her ma. We were able to wander anywhere in complete safety. A favourite walk was up Belmangate to Huntcliffe, with a picnic in our pockets. There were two houses beyond the railway bridge, just the farm, where we were sent for butter, and the fever hospital. When we were a bit older we walked to Skelton and through the woods to Saltburn. Does anyone remember the Halfpenny Bridge? Grandma gave us the money to return on the Green Line Bus.

Mrs C M Sadler, Poynton, Cheshire

Can you help?

I have recently discovered among some papers an interesting document dated 1771 entitled ‘An act for dividing and inclosing the common and waste grounds within the village, hamlet, township and manor of Oxenhope, in the Parish of Bradford and County of York’. There are several individuals mentioned by name and as the document, of several pages, has no relevance to my family, I would like to re-unite it with the rightful owner.

Anyone interested should send a donation, the amount of their choice, which I will pass on to my local hospice, and a large A4 SAE.

Richard Coates, Kirkbymoorside


A number of years ago I was told of a photo of the Gassing department at Dewhirst’s Mill, Skipton.

Does any reader know of this photograph? I believe that gassing was not what the name implies and was actually a process done in the manufacture of cotton thread, if I am correct. A relative of mine is on the photograph.

Ms A Ibbotson,
17 Dalacres Cres, Embsay, Skipton BD23 6RW


In 1959 I bought a painting at an art exhibition held in Crownest Park Museum, Dewsbury. It was a varnished watercolour scene, ‘Neustift Austrian Tyrol’ painted by James L Brooke, FIBD, of Huddersfield. After several attempts to find more information about this artist, I have failed. Perhaps readers may be able to help.

G Hill, 199 Soothill Lane, Batley WF17 6EX

We welcome readers' letters, which should be sent to:
Dalesman, The Water Mill, Broughton Hall, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 3AG
Or email: paul@dalesman.co.uk

The editor reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity.