Timothy Taylor & Co.Limited, Knowle Spring Brewery, Keighley BD21 1AW

Timothy Taylor was established in 1858 in Keighley. Since 1863 the brewery has been at it's current site.

Timothy Taylor's best known ale is Landlord, a pale bitter, 4.3% abv when cask conditioned, and 4.1% when sold filtered in the bottle. It was created for miners, to compete against local rival Barnsley Bitter. It has been voted Champion Beer of Britain four times by CAMRA. It increased it's popularity when the musician Madonna declared it to be her favourite beer.

A variety of other ales, such as Boltmaker, Golden Best, Dark Mild and Ram Tam may be found in Timothy Taylor's pubs. A French style blonde ale Le Champion was brewed specially to celebrate the 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart in Leeds.

Pontefract Castle, Pontefract WF8 1QH

Pontefract Castle has had a long and colourful history since it was first built in the years following the Norman Conquest. It was frequently at the centre of national events, acting as fortress, temporary home for lords and kings and a centre of local administration. It was also a prison and armoury up to its demolition in 1649. 

The first earth and timber motte and bailey castle was built by Ilbert de Lacy in the late 1080s. As a reward for his services to William the Conqueror, Ilbert received vast estates in Yorkshire.

Richard II was imprisoned and died at Pontefract. It is not known if he starved himself to death or left to starve by his captors. Other famous prisoners included James I of Scotland, and Charles Duc d'Orleans captured at the battle of Agincourt in 1415.​

The castle continued to act as a royal base for military activities in times of unrest. During the Wars of the Roses it was sometimes used as a Lancastrian stronghold, as when in 1460 the Lancastrian army marched from Pontefract to the Battle of Wakefield. 

The Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III, used Pontefract as one of his official residences. In 1483, during his usurpation of the throne, he had three of his political opponents executed in the castle.

During the Civil Wars Pontefract Castle was held for the King and underwent three sieges, during which the town suffered great damage. Siege coins were minted at the castle, which was the last remaining Royalist stronghold when it finally surrendered in 1649. 

On the orders of Parliament the castle was so thoroughly demolished.  A true picture of its strength and grandeur in its heyday can now only be seen in the fine 17th Century painting on display at Pontefract Museum. Later the bailey area was used for growing liquorice.

In 1882 Pontefract Corporation opened the castle as a public park after some excavation. The castle is now a scheduled ancient monument in the guardianship of Wakefield Council, although still the property of Her Majesty the Queen in right of her Duchy of Lancaster. 

A programme of excavation and conservation was undertaken from 1981 - 1985 by The West Yorkshire Archaeology Service for the Pontefract Castle Conservation Committee. ​

Haworth Old Hall, Sun Street, Haworth BD22 8BP

The Old Hall is one of the oldest buildings in the village dating back to the year 1580.

Much of the Tudor charm and atmosphere has been preserved and there are two beautiful open log fires, seven real ales on tap, a delicious seasonal food menu using local produce and an extensive wine list too. 

Set a short stroll from the moors and situated at the foot of the historic Haworth Main Street, The Old Hall is one of the most popular destinations for visitors young and old to the Pennines.

York Real Ale Pubs Map -June 2015

York Real Ale Pubs Map -June 2015

The Shambles, York YO1 7LZ

When in York visiting the Shambles is a must.  ‘The Shambles’ is sometimes used as a general term for the maze of twisting, narrow lanes which make York so charming.  At its heart is the lane actually called the Shambles, arguably the best preserved medieval street in the world.  It was mentioned in the Domesday Book of William the Conqueror in 1086.  Many of the buildings on the street today date back to the late fourteenth and fifteenth century (around 1350-1475).

The Shambles was a street of butchers’ shops and houses, many complete with a slaughterhouse at the back of the premises, ensuring a ready supply of fresh meat.  The meat was hung up outside the shops and laid out for sale on what are now the shop window-bottoms.  It is still possible to see some of the original butcher’s meat-hooks attached to the shop fronts.

Lacking modern-day sanitation facilities, there was a constant problem of how to dispose of the waste produced by the slaughter of animals in the city.  The pavements are raised either side of the cobbled street to form a channel where the butchers would wash away their offal and blood twice a week.

In some sections of the Shambles it is possible to touch both sides of the street with your arms outstretched.  The architecture which now appears so quaint had a very practical purpose.  The overhanging timber-framed fronts of the buildings are deliberately close-set so as to give shelter to the ‘wattle and daub’ walls below.  This would also have protected the meat from any direct sunshine.

The name is thought to derive from ‘Shammel’, an anglo-saxon word for the shelves which were a prominent feature of the open shop-fronts.

Chellow Dene Reservoirs, Haworth Road, Bradford BD15 9LJ

Chellow Dene is a local beauty spot on the western outskirts of Bradford which can be reached by public transport. Although within the City boundaries Chellow Dene reservoirs lie within a quiet wooded valley and are a haven for wildlife including herons and owls.

The reservoirs were constructed by Bradford Corporation in Victorian times to provide a stable water supply for the people of Bradford. The upper reservoir was the first to be built, in 1844. The lower reservoir constructed in 1853. The reservoirs are no longer used to provide a water supply and were acquired by Bradford Council in 1974 and are maintained for recreational purposes. The reservoirs feed into Bradford Beck.

A walk around Chellow Dene

Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate, York YO1 8BL

Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate is a small street in central York.  It was the site of a whipping post/pillory during the medieval period. The street used to be called Whitnourwhatnourgate, meaning "neither one thing, nor the other" in Norse.

Egypt & The Walls of Jericho, Egypt Road, Thornton, Bradford BD13 3RS

The Walls of Jericho were created between 1847 and 1891 to support the embankments on the road from Egypt to Thornton. The weight of the walls and the earth behind them caused strain. During 1985/86 the walls were demolished for safety reasons and the road widened. The cottages at Egypt still remain. Both names are probably biblical in origin. 

Slackbottom Road, Bradford BD6 3RH

Yorkshire is full of quirky, and in this case, rude names. The name slack is an old norse name referring to a small valley or depression in the ground. Though only a small residential and unmade street it has two fine facilities. At the eastern end is the Buttershaw Lane Fish & Chip Shop (the one storeyed property in the top photo). In the middle of the street is the Gaping Goose pub (below). A listing of old norse names is available here.

The White Horse of Kiburn, Sutton Bank, Thirsk YO7 2EY

The White Horse was designed and financed by Thomas Taylor, a Victorian businessman, and was cut in 1857. A native of Kilburn, he worked for a London merchant. He had seen the famous chalk hill figures of southern England and wanted to create something similar for his home village.

The village schoolmaster, John Hodgson, and helpers did the work. He marked out the figure of a horse on a hillside high above the village. A team of thirty-one volunteers did the actual cutting. When the shape of the Horse was complete, they deposited 6 tons of lime on the naturally greyish rock beneath to whiten it.

The White Horse is 314ft long and 228ft high and about 20 people could stand on the grass island, which forms the eye, though walking on the horse is now strongly discouraged.

Unlike the horses in the South of England which are cut into chalk and are therefore naturally white and virtually self-preserving, the Kilburn white horse is cut into limestone, which is the wrong colour and needs artificial whitening. This was first done using gallons of whitewash, but now chalk chippings from the Yorkshire Wolds are used. Its conspicuousness hasn't always been considered a benefit; during World War II the Horse had to be covered over to stop it becoming a target for German bombers !

The North York Moors National Park have published a short walk around the White Horse and Sutton Bank. This walk skirts the nearby Yorkshire Gliding Club.

True Yorkshire Map

click map to enlarge

One of the great injustices was committed in the 1974 local government re-organisation. Substantial chunks of Yorkshire were given away to Cleveland, County Durham, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. The map above shows these changes. This historical deviance has been challenged by the Yorkshire Ridings Society ever since. They should be commended for their efforts.

Emley Moor Transmitting Station, Jagger Lane, Emley Moor, Huddersfield HD8 9TQ

Emley Moor Transmitting Station is a telecommunications and broadcasting facility on Emley Moor, 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Emley. The station's most visible feature is its 1,084-foot (330.4 m) tall concrete tower, which is a Grade II listed building. It is the tallest freestanding structure in the United Kingdom.

The tower's official name "Arqiva Tower" is shown on a sign beside the offices at the base of the tower but it is commonly known as "Emley Moor mast". It is the 3rd tower to have occupied the site since 1956. The preceding tower collapsed during bad weather in March 1969. The photo above shows the new tower (1971) from the top of Holme Moss. 

J Brindon Addy, Penistone Road, Hade Edge, Holmfirth HD9 2JG

On my travels around Yorkshire I occasionally found great eateries and shops. This remote location on the moors has one of the best butchers/delicatessens around. It's worth a trip out for the scenery alone !  I regularly stopped for their home made pies and scotch eggs. They even sell that fancy continental food as well. J Brindon Addy's comes highly recommended by those in the know.

Haribo Pontefract Cakes 26 Front Street, Pontefract WF8 1NJ

Pontefract Cakes are a small, roughly circular black sweet made of liquorice, originally manufactured in the Yorkshire town of Pontefract.

Liquorice has been grown in England since at least the 16th century. Records indicate it's use in Pontefract since the 17th century. Today the principal manufacturer of Pontefract Cakes is Haribo (formerly Dunhill). Another manufacturer is Tangerine Confectionery in the district of Monkhill. A list of old manufacturers can be downloaded here.

Seabrook Crisps, Duncombe Street, Bradford BD8 9AJ

Seabrook Crisps was founded by Charles Brook in 1945. The trade name originated with some confusion about the spelling of Mr Brook's name. Seabrook's original factory was on the site of a liberal club in the Allerton area. In 1979/80 a larger factory was built nearby at Princeville. All the production has been at the Princeville premises since 2004. 

The crisps are available throughout the UK and the company remains a family concern. The crisps are cooked in sunflower oil and are MSG free. The company employs about 150 people and mostly uses Yorkshire grown potatoes in it's main product.

Mitchells Wool Fat Soap Ltd, 46 St Helena Road, Bradford BD6 1QH

Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap was first produced in the early 1930's by Bradford chemist Fred Mitchell who realised that the natural lanolin content of wool fat, which kept the hands of local sheep shearers and wool sorters so exceptionally soft, could also be beneficial to delicate complexions and sensitive skins.

A simple and natural product, Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap is still made to Mr. Mitchell's original formula, based on a recipe from the turn of the century and incorporating lanolin from the wool fat as the key ingredient.

Although no medical claims are made for it, this very gentle soap is particularly soothing to sensitive skins and has often been recommended by members of the medical profession to help alleviate certain skin complaints.

From its early loyal following of mainly local customers, the reputation of Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap has grown and it is now in great demand not only in the British Isles but in Europe, Australia, Japan and the USA.

Again in response to customer demand, other products developed from the original recipe, such as shampoo and bath foam, have now been added to the Mitchell's range.

Cod & Lobster, High Street, Staithes TS13 5BH

The Cod & Lobster is a long-established favourite of the village and last defence from the ravages of the North Sea. The pub has felt the wrath of the waves on at least three occasions. The last in the great storm of 1953 when the front was washed away and the fishermen looked on in sorrow as the precious bottles of brew bobbed about on the retreating foam.

Locals will tell you that, until very recently, one had to wait for a retreating wave before making a dash into or out of the bar to avoid getting your feet wet! As the sign says: “In rough weather please use the other door”!

So – spend some leisurely time feasting on a spectacular view or take refuge for lunch on a blustery winter’s day, cosy up to the blazing fire and watch the bobbing boats through the rain-lashed windows, or have an evening meal and perhaps be lucky to catch a full moon casting a spectacular blue light over the bay.

The Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge, Kirkbymoorside YO62 7LQ

The Lion Inn is situated on the remote Blakey Ridge between the beautiful valleys of Rosedale and Farndale. The inn is popular with walkers, cyclists and tourists and is one of the main stops on Wainright's famous Coast to Coast walk. At 1,325 feet above sea level it is the highest point of the North York Moors.

Ye Olde White Harte, 25 Silver Street, Hull HU1 1JG

Ye Old White Harte was remodelled in 1881. Local legend, thought to originate in the 19th century and now considered unlikely to be correct, links the building with Sir John Hotham, and the English Civil War. The wood panelled first floor room known as the "Oak Room" or "Plotting Parlour" is supposed to be where Sir John Hotham and others took the decision to refuse King Charles I entry to the town, precipitating the First Siege of Hull.

Ilkley Moor, Hangingstone Road, Ilkley LS29 8BT

Ilkley Moor forms part of the Rombalds Moor massif located north of Bradford and Keighley. It is famous for the song "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at" which is widely considered to be the Yorkshire anthem. It rises to 402m above sea level. 

It offers many walks which often take in historic sites. There are spectacular views over the relatively gentrified town of Ilkley.

Old Silent Inn, Hob Lane, Stanbury BD22 0HW

This "Bronte Country" inn is set in idyllic upland scenery. Bonnie Prince Charlie is reputed to have stayed during his retreat from Derby in 1745. He was also the only man named after 3 dogs. The Old Silent is renowned for it's food and fine ales. The late Bing Crosby was a visitor.

Headingley Castle, Headingley Lane, Leeds LS6 2DJ

This former house has now been divided into apartments. It is set back from the main road behind a telephone exchange and opposite St Michael's and All Angels Church.

Headingley Castle was known for a good deal of the 19th century as The Elms It was designed in about 1841 on land that had been owned by Barbara Marshall. It was built between 1843 and 1846 by the local architect John Child for the corn merchant Thomas England. The estate was originally 22 acres. While the exterior of Headingley Castle is Victorian Gothic in style, the architect employed modern building techniques and materials including cast iron in its construction.

The Crooked Billet, Wakefield Road, Saxton LS24 9QN

The Crooked Billet is located near Saxton, a small village south of Tadcaster. It is well known for it's food, especiallly the Giant Yorkshire Pudding. It lies opposite St Marys, Lead Chapel on the site of the battle of Towton Moor. A local walk takes in the history of the area.

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery, Tadcaster

The Old Brewery at Tadcaster was founded in 1758 and is Yorkshire's oldest brewery. Samuel Smith is one of the few remaining independent breweries in England, and further is the last to utilize the classic Yorkshire Square system of fermentation solely in stone squares.

The rich Samuel Smith strain of yeast at The Old Brewery dates from the early 1900s. Hops are hand-weighed by the master hop blender, and the brewing water is drawn from the original well, sunk over 250 years ago.

Beers from Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery have delighted consumers and inspired other brewers for over 250 years.  Delivery by horse-drawn dray wagons; barrels made by the brewery cooper; and open-topped Yorkshire Square fermenters made of slate. Taste this heritage in every sip of delicious Samuel Smith’s cider or beer.

Chequers Inn, Claypit Lane, Ledsham LS25 5LP

The Chequers Inn dates back to the early 1600s and is one of the oldest traditional pubs in Yorkshire and England. Over the years very little has changed and many of the traditional Yorkshire pub features are still in use. Low beams, alcove rooms, roaring open fires and trinkets collected throughout the pub’s rich history all add to its unique atmosphere and character.

Until recently, The Chequers Inn was one of the only pubs in England to only have a 6 day license and for 180 years was been closed every Sunday. The pub was originally shut by the Lady of the Manor following an incident when a lady was verbally assaulted whilst passing by the pub in her carriage on the way back from church. It was reported that some drunken farmworkers accosted her, causing such uproar that the building was ordered to be closed to adhere to the holy day of rest.

On a number of occasions, staff and customers have claimed to have seen the ghost of The Lady of the Manor who is rumoured to still haunt the pub – spooky!

Ledsham is home to the oldest parish church in Yorkshire still in use. Built over 1200 years ago (670AD) it stands as not only the oldest church but also the oldest building in West Yorkshire. For more information visit The Parish of Fairburn & Ledsham’s website.

Mountain Hall, Brighouse & Denholme Road, Mountain Queensbury BD13 1LH

Mountain Hall is a very distinctive house in Mountain between Keelham and Queensbury. It has spectacular views over the Bradford area. It is thought to have been an institute and a hotel at times but it's history seems a bit vague. If you know anything more please let me know.

The Norman Arch, Keighley Road, Bradford BD9 4JR

The Norman Arch is a familiar sight for Airedale commuters travelling into Bradford. Though norman in style it was actually built as an entrance arch for the Bradford Exhibition of 1904. This was held in the adjoining Lister Park and opened by the Prince & Princess of Wales (the future King George V and Queen Mary) on the 4th of May 1904.

See also Cartwright Memorial

The Cat i'th Well, Saltonstall Lane, Halifax HX2 7TS

This old inn lies in a small picturesque valley surprisingly close to the urban sprawl of Halifax. The Cat i'th Well is a Timothy Taylor's tied house and great beer is guaranteed. A beer garden is attached.

There is a legend relating to the white rock behind the pub which says that the licensee must paint the rock white on a certain day of the year. If they fail to do this, the pub will fail.

The story says that Robin Hood started this custom after he befriended the landlord of the pub on his travels between Nottingham and Carlisle. The landlord had hidden Robin Hood in the pub – some say it was a priest’s hole – when the authorities were following him. The landlord’s reward was a share in some of Robin’s ill-gotten gains.


The money was hidden near to the rock, and the only way the landlord could find the money was to paint it yearly so that Robin Hood on his travels could see that the hoard was being looked after, because the stone was newly-painted

Grandma Pollard's, Opp. Walsden Railway Station, Walsden, Todmorden OL14 7SL

This is well known to commercial travellers in the badlands on the Yorkshire/Lancahire boundary. Opened in 1957, Grandma Pollard's serves traditional fish and chips as well as superb home made pies.

Saltersgate Inn Saltersgate, Pickering, North Yorkshire YO18 7NS

The historic Saltersgate Inn, on the A169 Pickering/Whitby road, is currently derelict and for sale. 

It was built as a farmhouse in 1648 and converted into a pub in the early 1700's. Legend has it that a customs man met a grisly end at the hands of smugglers. His corpse was buried under the pub's fireplace. For years the fire was kept lit to hide the evidence.

Gomersal Methodist Chapel

Known as the Pork Pie Chapel this distinctive building is on West Lane, set back from the main road. It was built in 1829.

Introduction

This is a new blog dedicated to factoids about the broad acres of Yorkshire. Please feel free to contribute.