NORTH-YORKSHIRE AND THE EAST-COAST.


Crossing over the Yorkshire Wolds from either Driffield or Malton, is a sight well worth remembering, and north of the Wolds are the prominent 'North-Yorkshire Moors', which go all the way to the East Coast of Yorkshire..
Just north of Malton is Yorkshire's themepark-Flamingoland, with the biggest corkscrew roller-coaster in England. There is a zoo, and a circus, with rides and a whole lot of amusing and relaxing things to see and enjoy.
Further north is Pickering.
As a boy, I remember seeing, in full flight one day, a Racing-Supercharged Bently car on the Hemsley to Pickering road. It's little flyscreens and large headlamps were prominent, along with it's distinct 'British Racing Green' colour. It certainly was not going slow and was soon out of sight. That was one reason to remember the Yorkshire Moor's , but only one of many. It was, the last time that I remember seeing one of those cars on the road, as they are too rare and valuable to use nowadays. But the memory keeps the 'Moors' alive too.
The Hemsley/Pickering road is the start of the 'Moors' proper. To the north are the many dales, and the villiages in them.
To the east, near Hemsley,are the remains(some still in use)of more than one abbey or monastry. Revaulx and Jervaulx abbeys first come to light, but Two at Byland are less well known. The first was, after some time, abandoned for a better site, free of the sound of bells accross at Revaulx, not far away from 'Old Byland'.
Back through Revaulx and Hemsley, brings us along to Nawton, where my sister spent some years , during the second world war, in a secret military hospital at Nawton Towers. Further on, at Kirby-Moor-Side, sees the start of 'Farndale'.
Take the road north. At Gillamore is a very famous view, "Suprise view" at the church there. To look out over some miles of Farndale from here in March when the dafodils bloom is spectacular. Further up at 'Church Houses' it is quite beautiful, a photograph of the dale in February is shown here. I took the 'snap' when back in about 1963, I was one of the last people to visit the Farndale Youth Hostle before it was closed. I road there by bicycle from Hull, some sixty miles. Mr. Taylor was the warden and owner of the cottage which had no running water then. At Hutton-Le-Hole the 'Ryedale Folk Museum' is a good starting point. Sheep graze by the side of the road and a stream sometimes used to flood over it too, producing a ford. On the high top of the dale, by road from Hutton-Le-Hole to Castleton is the splendid 'Blakey Rigg' road. All tourists should make a point of driving along this vantage point and see the views. There are many stone crosses on the moorland, once placed to guide travellers accross the open moors in the days before roads were made.
Crossing over to Lastingham, visiting the very old church here brings a bonus. Not only is the church one of the oldest in North-Yorkshire, but inside a stairway leads down to a crypt as old as Christianity in Yorkshire itself.
The church of St. Mary was built in 1078, but was also built on the site of a celtic monastry dating back to the 7th century
Founded in AD-731 by Saint Cedd and Saint Chad is a crypt of pre-Saxon beginings.
Parts of old crosses are still inside the crypt. They date to the 8th and 9th centuries. Be sure to sign the visitors book and see just where other visitors come from.
Rosedale is the next dale towards the East-Coast. From Cropton to the villiage of Rosedale Abbey, the road takes you to the Cropton Forest area. Here is a large Trailor/Caravan camp-site run by the 'Forestry Commition'. An ideal site as a base for walking or trecking, the site is quiet and remote.
A mile or so up the road is Cawthorne. Here a Roman Camp, as left by them 1500yrs. ago, can be seen. The site is signposted and it is free to view, the only such site in the world. At Egton Bridge is another camp
Take the road north from Pickering to Stape. It dwindles out to a chalk-road,but shortly comes to one of the best sights . On Wheeldale Moor a Roman Road,un-earthed and 'sticking out like a sore thumb' lies in front of the road( you will, of course have been travelling on it to arrive where you are) The old road can be seen to go for miles accross the moors just as it was 1500yrs. ago. It is a little rough now after that time, but is quite 'walkable' with good boots. Good luck.
At Danby, to the north end of Wheeldale, a small museum contained, until recently, a human hand, that of a murderer. Long ago, a person found guilty of this crime had a hand cut off, ---and this was one of the hands. It is now in the Pannet Park Folk Museum, at Whitby.
Remains in the East Riding, dating back to the Iron Age have been found in many places.
Coins and Burial Mounds have been found in plenty, burials usually being on high ground.
A chariot was unearthed in the well known "Burton Bushes", just outside of Beverley. the remains are now in the British Museum.
Only very recently, a chariot and skeleton burial was unearthed at Wetwang, on the Yorkshire Wolds.
The dating is thought to be from about 300, and 400yrs B.C. and of one of fifteen similar sites remaining from the Parisi tribe.
The Parisi were a local East Yorkshire tribe originating from Gaul, in France.
There are many old roads in the yorkshire area suitable for motorcycling, or off road Landrover use
Some are bridle paths or footpaths and should not be used for motors, but many are the original roads of long ago that are quite breathtaking to travel on, giving unique views and are very peacefull to view.
There are clubs that specialise in offroas travell in the area.
Yorkshire Muddrunners

Farndale In Winter 1963/4. photo E.Laud Walking The Roman Road-Wheeldale-1960. photo E.Laud
Cropton Forest










The eastern Newton Dale, has a 'Steam-Train' run for visitor's pleasure rides. The station at Pickering is it's starting-point, finishing up towards Whitby, where the line finishes.I remember as a boy using the steam trains. It was especialy exciting at night in the darkness, with lots of sparks flying up from the engine, way up in front.
From Pickering to Whitby, the A169, a Roman road again, flies across open moorland covered with heather, at the Whitby end, it quickly decends to grassy lowlands again.

Egton, in Glaisdale, has a beautiful old bridge, and here is a true story to its building.
Tom Ferris, born-1568 in Lastingham, moved to live in Egton. He was apprenticed to a shipping firm in Hull in 1582. He fell in love with the Squire of Egton's daughter, Agnes Richardson, but her father banned him seeing her.
In secret, they met after Tom swam the river to be with her, which was whenever he could. In 1586, Tom joined the British fleet, and on 7th May-1588, he was called up to go immediately, via Whitby, to the English Channel to fight against Spain, under Sr. Francis Drake.
In the battle, 7,000 sailors and 17,000 soldiers faught to gain victory for Britain. Tom was made a hero, awarded for bravery, and afterwards sailed with Sr. Francis around the globe.
In 1592, Tom returned to Egton, going straight to the Squire to ask for the hand of his sweetheart. His request was accepted, as he was now a wealthy man.
The couple settled in Hull, and in 1614, Tom was made Sherriff of Hull.
Remembering that night when he could not see his sweetheart for the force of the river, he built the bridge at Egton. His name was written on the top stone, and the bridge still stands today.
Tom Ferris founded the Trinity House in Hull. He was Mayor in 1620. He died in 1631.



WHITBY AND THE EAST COAST

Whitby is an old fishing town and the home of Captain Cook, although he was actualy born at Marton in 1728, a few miles further north. A museum has been created to his memory.
There are three paintings of Cook, all originals.
One was hanging in Trinity House in Hull for 150Yrs until it was transported to Canberra's National Portrait Gallery.
One painting is in New Zealand's Nation Portrait Gallery, and one is in London's National Portrait Gallery.
Cook was the first to use chronometers to navigate, and descovered the cure for scurvy.
He was hacked to death in Hawaii.
There are various museums, a whaling museum also. Whitby was once a very important whaling port. It is recorded that 3,000 whales were brought back to the harbour in a 50 year period. Folk-law tells of many ghosts and strange hapenings, mainly to do with fishermen, but one tale is of the dreaded 'Barguest Hounds', reputed to take their victims from the area many years ago. In the 1970's a Roman watchtower was excavated near Whitby. There, skeletal remains were found---a large dog and a man, curled up together.It is said that the man had a dagger in his hand, which was located in the dog's body. The dog's teeth had a hold of the man's throat. It was obvious that both had died together, in combat.They say that the large dog was, in fact,a "Barguest Hound" of evil.--Read the book-"13 Ghost Stories of Whitby" by Michael Wray.
Perhaps this story insrired the local "Black dog brewery" for their name?
At the top of many steps is the Abbey,100, or is it? If you go, remember to count them. Good views can be had here. St. Mary's church is actually older in parts than the ruined abbey, the interior much nicer than the outside. Ghost horses and carriage are reputed to come at night to the church graveyard for corpses. The Harbour is small, but at one time, an important port and many wooden and iron ships were built here.Jet, of which many 'Rosearies' were made, is found here, on the beach. The houses and other buildings are mostly of older style. Most areas in the town are on a gradient and the town is hard work for strangers.
Recently, a Pre-historic ICHTHYOSAUR skeleton was found near Whitby.
On to Scarborough, a few miles south. The Castle is a great sight, up on the hill, 'Oliver's Mount' motor-racing circuit is not too far away, I have actually ridden in motorcycle races there in the sixties, beating the 'British Champion' of the time. Below Oliver's Mount is the 'Mere'at Peasone Park. The shopping centres are large and complete in the town-centre and the amenities in Scarborough for tourists are excellent.
Filey is further to the south and the well known 'Filey Brigg' is a great place for children( with supervision) to explore, and in the rock-pools, all sorts of life can be found. Filey has a very compact and unique shopping centre, and home-made cakes etc. can be found here.
At Flamborough there are two lighthouses which can be seen for miles. at night the light from the more modern light is quite visible from the other side of East-Yorkshire, at Chery Burton. This is about 40 miles away. The light has been a help to many seamen over the years.It is situated on the 'Flamboro' Head', a headland with many caves that can be explored at low-watwer if care is taken to watch for the tide returning. Smugglers used the caves many years ago at 'North Landing' when wool and other valuable goods were a worthwhile cargo.There has been a lifeboat station here for many years.
In 1779, on September 23rd, the American flagship, - USS Bonhomme Richard, under the command of John Paul Jones, the "Father Of The US Navy".
After a battle with the English ship, the Serapis, the Bonhomme Richard was sunk by cannon fire, with many people watching from the Flamborough cliffs.
The wreck is thought to be still lying on the sands in Fily Bay, and a three inch cannon ball from the Bonhomme Richard has been found and is hoped to be on display at Sewerby Hall Museum, near Bridlington.
At the church of St. Oswald's can be seen a rare 'Rood-Loft', one of two in the area untouched, after the majority of churches were damaged in the middle ages.The other 'Rood-Loft' still intact and in its original position is at the villiage of Kirby Grindalythe.This is near Pocklington.
Bridlington, only 20 miles from Beverley, is the next town on our way south and is another fishing town.
Here, in 1871, was the worst tragedy in history, when gales lashed the coastal area. Thirty ships were wrecked, and seventy mariners were killed.
Nowadays, 'Fish and Chips'--cafe's and take-away shops here are always full, and the food fresh. Fish is still caught locally as at Whitby and Filey, and fresh crabs or sometimes, a lobster can be had quite cheaply.
Brid' is the lobster port of europe, and 400 tons of lobsters can be expected each year, taken from small boats and "snibbies", which were always painted blue. The snibbies are a round aft-ended boat of originally Viking design. Many old snibbies built at Whitby, were taken to Ireland, and then sold as far afield as California, after some alteration and fitting of a deisel engine .
The thing that attracts many people to Filey and Brid', are very good beaches, which continues down the coast to Hornsea. A stone 'Monolith' can be seen at Rudston, not far away. The stone, the oldest erected pagon stone in Britain, is 26 feet tall and about 4000 yrs. old. It is here that several Roman Mosaics were discovered, which are now in the Hull and Leeds museums.
Hornsea is a small town, and mainly the young enjoy the town, with it's amusements and 'chip shops', cafes and rides.
Hornsea Mere is the largest inland water in eat Yorkshire, with boat and canoo rental, many water birds to see, and good angling, pike fishing being very encouraging with huge pike about.
The most southerly town of any size on the Yorkshire coast, is Withernsea, where many families had hollidays back in the early 1900's.The railway led from Hull to Withernsea, and it was a popular resort. I remember travelling on the steam-trains to visit Withernsea when I was young. Now, a cafe stands on the site of the old station, inside can be seen many old photographs of the early steam trains and the station etc. It is well worth going in for a 'cupper', to see them.
Down to Easington, where there is a spectacular 14th century Tithe Barn to be seen near the church. Outside is a resturant.
Not too far away is Roos, where a set of wooden carvings 2500yrs. old, were found in a ditch 100 years ago. The carvings, well preserved in mud, are of people in a boat, now in a national museum. Spurn Point is also an ancient people's habitat, a nature reserve now, where many migrant birds are seen. The short distance between here and Hull returns two more villiages, Paull, an interesting old port, once a naval site, where I once worked at the old shipyard,is a place that many trawlers and small vessels were built. Trawler I worked on personally, were the 'Shimara', which was lost at sea, the'Juneve3rd',and the 'Boston Sea King'.
Only receently, the trawler 'Solway Harvester', built at Paull, was lost, along with a full crew, near the Isle Of Mann.
Hedon, once a more important port than Hull, with lots of historical merit .
We have gone 'full circle' as far as East-Yorkshire is conserned, and although much has been left out,--I hope that this website will give any strangers to East-Yorkshire, at least SOME sort of a insite and a discription of the county as I know it.
Read the books:- "Folk Tales From The North Yorkshire Moors"
Also:- "Murders And Mysteries From The North Yorkshire Moors"--both writen by ex-policeman -Peter.N.Walker.

ENJOY YOURSELF---Follow The Links Below.

Useful Tel. Nos.:-
Tourist Info.-Bridlington-01262-673474--------------/------------Withernsea Lighthouse Museum-01964-614834

PAGE UPDATED 25th September-2007