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.

It's an ancient market town nestling at the foothills of the Pennines.

Settle has a wonderful mix of limestone buildings dating back over many centuries.

The town hall dates from the 19th century

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.

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.

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.

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.

And so hubby and I couldn't wait to call at this little shop again .......and here it is.

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.

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 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.

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.

A few miles further on we reached the small market town of Hawes, home of the world famous Wensleydale cheese.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Until next time,

Eli

Comments

[Bellaboo]

Oh,I loved this post! Brought back lovely memories of a train journey we did from Settle to Appleby-in-Westmorland,and we travelled across that viaduct! How disappointing for you to find that lovely shop had closed down.

Bellaboo :0)

[Helen]

My kind of day! Whta a shame that lovely store has closed. It is still quite charming to look at, though, isn't it?

Love all of your photos--and thanks for dropping by my blog. Your post on my blog made me laugh--I read it to my husband--he laughed, too!

[Marqueta]

Dear Eli,

What a delightful tour! The buildings are so beautiful and full of history; I love all the windows on the Georgian home, and of course the lovely scenery.

How fun to find some new yarn to play with, too.

Love,

Marqueta

[melanie]

What a lovely post, I just love days like that, visiting pretty little towns, perfect. xxx

[Paula]

Dear Eli,

If only I could come to England, you would be the most wonderful guide! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful country! I enjoyed seeing all of the beautiful landscapes, the beautiful buildings and reading of their history. I love the Georgian home! The silver is so lovely. How very sad the shop is now closed after being ran by the same family for 120 years!!! The Yorkshire Dales are beautiful. I love James Herroit! It is awful so many lives were lost in the building of the viaduct! Hawes is a beautiful town and I love the sweet fellow and his tea pot! I also love the new creation your are knitting! Thank you for sharing your outing. I enjoyed it so much!

Love, Paula

[miss julep]

I LOVED reading the James Herriot books!! You live in the most beautiful place in the world! Thanks for sharing:)

[Rachael]

I hope you don't mind me asking you a question via the comments. My 11 year old daughter and I are visiting England in June and spendig 3 nights in the Lakes District(we are Australian).

I'm planning on staying at Ambleside (Charlotte Mason fan if that means anything to you!) Would this be a good base for our explorations? What is a "must see" for this area? It looks so gorgeous and we cannot wait! My husband is heroically staying at home with our other children.

Rachael

[Rachael]

oops, should reread before hitting the post button...that should be "spending"

[Debbie]

Looks like you had a lovely day Eli. It is so nice to have good weather at last isn't it?
It is sad when you go back somewhere (like the lovely antiques shop) and it is no longer trading. I had a favourite Victorian tearoom I used to visit in Tavistock but when I last went it had closed down.
Looking forward to your new character though!
Debbie

[Janine W]

Oh honey that is all so beautiful and you take amazing photos - I laughed about the shop (not that is was closed that is REALLY SAD) but at 120years old it is nearly older than the whole written history of New Zealand - how weird it that !!!

So glad you are heading into warmer weather and I cant wait to see your newest little friend in the forming

xoxo

[Rowan]

Hawes is one of those places I really want to visit mostly so that I can go to the Dales Countryside Museum. I shall look out for the shepherd and his friends too, someone had a real flash of inspiration there!

[Crazylady82]

Oh WOW, WOW, WOW! What a wonderful day out. Oh how I miss being up North, mainly when I am reminded what I am missing. I love little villages and little shops. Oh thank you for sharing it was wonderful x

[Wee Cute Treasures]

Hi Eli

As always you delight! I feel like I was with you on your 'grand day out'. What a beautiful town Settle is - and I love all the observations you make. What a shame about the antique shop. There is something sad when a link to the past like that is broken. Progress and mass-marketing motors on and takes in into wake lots of these lovely individual shops which held wonderful treasures. I see it here in Ireland all the time.

But at least you got some wool and will have a little doll to remind you of your day trip. Thanks again for sharing. Love, Carol xoxox