Blog
Yule Riding in York
Every 21st December, a combination of two ancient ceremonies takes place in York. A wonderful opportunity to time-travel back to Tudor times, as liveried musicians march through the city in a torchlit procession. Often stumbled upon by locals and visitors alike, who wonder what on earth is going on! Knowing the roots of this centuries old tradition, does not, unfortunately, make it any more... Read more
Gin, gin and more gin…
Originally produced in Holland as a malt spirit with lots of Juniper berries, this spirit was known as Genever in the late 1600s. This was shortened to Gin in the early 1700s when William III introduced corn laws and tax breaks for spirit production. This stopped the Cognac of France dominating the market and led to the vast production of gin – it was cheaper than beer. This was “the Gin craze”... Read more
Discovering Yorkshire’s Canals on Foot
North Yorkshire has everything! Here, we have beautiful old market towns nestled in glorious countryside, which visitors can immerse themselves in, time and time again. And with those magnificent towns comes history. These places were self-sufficient – you would once have found the “butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker” and many more besides. A relatively recent introduction to these... Read more
Magnificent Mount Grace Priory
The sign to Mount Grace Priory sits at the side of the A19 near Northallerton in North Yorkshire and a narrow road leads down to the best preserved Carthusian Monastery in Britain nestled at the foot of the Cleveland Hills. Mount Grace Priory was built in 1398. One of nine Carthusian monasteries established in England. Founded initially by St Bruno in 1084 the Carthusian community lived as... Read more