SLICES OF YORKSHIRE

(Tasty tidbits that can be found in York & Yorkshire)

by Wendy Zollo

THE TREASURER'S HOUSE

On the north side of the Minster in York you'll find the Treasurer's House. The house's grounds are restricted to a tight medieval lane. The Treasurer's House was previously affixed to the Minster and its many treasurers dwelled in it until the function was eliminated under the reign of Henry VIII. Not much is left of the long-ago creation, but the Roman pillars discovered in the underground rooms.

There still exists an eye-catching garden, which has been restored in both the 17thc the 19thc, which has an extensive colorful history all its own. Additional information can be obtained at the Minster or the National Trust.

YORK - UNUSUAL WALL TRIMMINGS

The city of York is chock-full of dwellings and stores that are abundantly, handsomely and amply bedecked with embellishments that assault the eye!

At the Naked Man Café, there is undeniably a naked man. He was positioned in the wall around the time the Café was built (1662?). Naked though he lies, he is still tastefully shielding his charms with a deftly set of carpenter's tools. Even in medieval times small hints are left is the strangest of ways to inform us of his trade.

You'll also find above a shoe-shop of all places, a Red Indian (Why?). He's decked in his finest feathers, bare-chested, with a decorative skirt.

There is also a well-dressed, rather chic, figure of a wee admiral, who lives his miniature life atop a clock on Coney Street.

For more, see: This is York: Churches: St Martin-le-Grand

THE GLAISDALE BRIDGE

Glaisdale, a village in the area of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, is associated with a delightful tale of two lovers. Sometime before the railway was constructed, no bridge was present over Glaisdale's River Esk. A young man, named Thomas Ferris 'exercised' by swimming or trudging across to the other side to unite with his beloved. It is said he journeyed to America to earn riches and affluence and declared that upon his return he would marry his adored woman but also raise a bridge to commemorate his former drenching point. Thomas DID make good on both of these promises and the bridge is still in existence along with the letters T.F. - 1619 carved into the side.

For a bit more, and some beautiful pictures, I add this link from the BBC: Sense of Place - Glaisdale.

STUDLEY ROYAL

For those with an interest in gardening, Studley Royal is one of the finest places to visit. An overwhelming combination of water gardens, Italian columns, surrounded by a cavern and a bridge, huddled around yews, Scots pines and just about any other kind of tree imaginable.

John Aislabie, inherited the estate in the late 17thc. His political career brought to an abrupt end by scandal he spent the remainder of his life dedicated to the grounds of Studley Royal.

His son continued his work and bought the Fountains Abbey estate, from Studley one can look directly onto the magnificent ruins of the Abbey.

For pictures and more information, see: http://www.fountainsabbey.org.uk/estate/watergarden1e.html

RICHMOND'S CULLODEN TOWER

In observance of the Jacobite's rising at Culloden, a resident landholder, a Mr. Yorke, whose son was present and lived to tell the tale of the bloody skirmish built a towering multi-sided structure (in Yorkshire, of all places, far from the horrific brutality of the battlefield). Yorke was not only rejoicing in his son's continued existence but in the anticipation of ultimately and eternally damaging any further dreams that Britain should ever find itself ruled by the house of Stuarts! The tower still endures, though it is mainly used as an expensive vacation lodge.

For an insignificant amount of information but a striking photo: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/parade/hq69/Pages/folly.html

RIEVAULX ABBEY

The Cistercian abbey of Rievaulx was fostered in a sheltered, isolated dale, allowing the monks to pursue their vocation without interruption from the dilemmas of the human race. Today it is an indicative ruin of days gone by. The walls of the 13thc church still stand, as do the windows in the nave, seemingly unscathed by generations of climate, existence and man.

Rievaulx's two temples, which sit on both sides of its terrace, give the abbey an idealistic and dreamy quality. The terrace is a much later addition and adds an Italian flavor which darkly contrasts the looming walls of the original abbey.

I think you'll find on the following site some of the most amazing pictures I've seen of Rievaulx - Enjoy!

http://www.nymcam.free-online.co.uk/040101.htm