Monday 19 April 2010

Settle to Hawes

It's always nice to get out and about and visit other folk's towns and last Friday hubby and I did just that. A forty mile car journey eastwards took us to the pretty Yorkshire town of Settle.
IMG_2943_1
It's an ancient market town nestling at the foothills of the Pennines.
Settle1_1
Settle has a wonderful mix of limestone buildings dating back over many centuries.

Settle4_1
The town hall dates from the 19th century
Settlefolly_1
The Folly (large building on the left) was built by a wealthy merchant in 1679. Last time I visited Settle it was a splendid antique shop but is now a museum.
Settle2_1
I love all things Georgian and could just imagine myself living in this pretty house that was built over 200 years ago.
Over the years I've made a small collection of Georgian silver. Nothing very fancy or expensive. These teaspoons date from 1740.
Spoons3_1
The owners of the spoons in Georgian times had their initials engraved on the end of each handle. The letter 'C' represents the surname and the 'R' and 'I' the initials of husband and wife.
Spoons2_1
We bought the spoons from a wonderful antique shop in Settle with the equally wonderful name of 'Mary Milnthorpe and Daughters'.
I was so thrilled to find such a lovely shop that I even kept the little bag that the spoons were wrapped in. There is a picture of the shop on the front of the bag.
Antiques_1
And so hubby and I couldn't wait to call at this little shop again .......and here it is.
Settle3_1
But much to our dismay we found the windows that were once so full of sparking silver and gold were now completely empty. Apparently the shop closed last year after being run by the same family for 120 years. I'm sure it will be very sadly missed by all who knew it.

Back in the car we journeyed across the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
Dales_1
If you are familiar with 'All Creatures Great and Small', the TV programme about the Yorkshire vet James Herriot, then you'll probably be familiar with this lovely Yorkshire landscape.
Sheep_1
Sheep graze happily beside the road ignoring passing cars. But when a car stops and someone tries to take a photograph of the woolly beasts they immediately take fright.
Viaduct_1
We passed the Ribblehead viaduct which was built in the 1890s to carry trains across the valley. Sadly a great many labourers lost their lives during the building of this massive 24 arch structure.
Hawes_1
A few miles further on we reached the small market town of Hawes, home of the world famous Wensleydale cheese.
Train_1
The railway came to Hawes in 1878 but the arrival of the motor car lead to its eventual closure in 1959. An old engine and carriages now forms a permanent exhibit and the station has become a museum and tourist information centre.
Shepherd_1
This sort of thing appeals to me! Its a life sized shepherd, collie dog and sheep all carved from wood and positioned on a grassy island in the middle of Hawes with traffic rushing by on all sides. What fun!
Tea_1
There are lots of little shops to enjoy in Hawes but when we saw this little fellow in a shop window advertising Yorkshire Tea we decided it was time to head for home. What an appealing picture he makes.
You might be wondering if I bought anything on my travels last Friday. No prizes for guessing correctly.
Wool_1
I found a small wool shop and purchased three balls of yarn in pretty pastel shades and, needles to say, this little knitted character is now taking shape.