The historic market town of Masham in North Yorkshire has long been a place that nurtures imagination — a town where artistry and eccentricity walk hand in hand. Now, with the launch of the Masham Blue Plaque Trail, the locals are shining a light on thirteen of the town’s most creative and characterful legends, each one helping to shape Masham’s rich cultural story. These add to the two existing Blue Plaques that commemorate the Leeds Pals Battalion and Masham’s Lost Cemetery.
Amongst them you’ll find painters, an illustrator, a musician, a film director and an actor, all commemorated on Masham’s streets. They’ve also included four of Masham’s much-loved local characters from the past, whose stories still bring a smile to those who remember them, and even a wildcard — a fittingly peculiar addition that perfectly captures the playful spirit of the trail itself.
Follow the trail, and you’ll discover not just history, but the heartbeat of Masham’s creative ancestry. Maps are available from Masham Gallery and Masham Community Office as well as other places around town. You can see the interactive map at https://visitmasham.com/discover-masham/our-peculier-town/peculier-walks-tours/
If you prefer to take a guided tour to find out exactly what makes Masham so ‘peculier., these are now being run on a scheduled bookable basis by the Mashamshire Community Office in conjunction with the Masham History Group. They can be booked at https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/88714.
Contributed by John Darby – Yorkshire Blue Badge Tourist guide
https://yorkshiresbestguides.co.uk/project/john-darby/
