INDEX

A tour of Yorkshire, Lancashire & Derbyshire

We were off! We were headed for the Western Motor Home Show at Malvern. The Country and Western Group of the MCC had a corner of their own, and we needed to be there first to park our members up. We had 26 vans this year (4 last year!) It was nice to park amongst friends.

Eden Camp

In early 1942, a small contingent of Army personnel, under the command of a Sergeant, arrived at Malton, midway between York and Scarborough in North Yorkshire.  Their task was to construct a barbed wire enclosure and erect tents to house the steady flow of enemy prisoners of war captured in North Africa. The site was named Eden Camp and the first inmates were two hundred and fifty Italian prisoners.  These prisoners were put to work constructing a larger permanent camp, consisting of forty five huts.  The Italians were at the Camp from 1942 to 1944, then the Germans from 1944 to 1948.  While at the Camp the prisoners worked on the local farms under the control of the War Agricultural Officer.
The huts have been re-equipped to tell the story of The People's War, the social history of life in Britain from 1939 to 1945.  So many Museums simply display exhibits in cabinets and on walls and are pretty dull affairs, but not Eden Camp.  Realistic tableaux, with moving figures, authentic sounds and smells have been created to "transport you back in time". In one scene there is a living room of a typical wartime home in Britain.  The family are seated in front of the fire, listening to the radio as Chamberlain announces "the declaration of war".  You see the man move his arm to adjust the wireless set, the woman breathes, the tin bath sits in front of the flickering fire and the scene comes alive.
Each hut covers a different aspect of the story, starting with the rise of the Nazi Party, Hitler and The Outbreak of War.  Other topics include: Rationing, the Utility Scheme, ‘Save It’ Campaigns, Evacuees, Propaganda, Home Guard, Home Front, The Blitz, Air Raid and Gas Precautions, Animals at War, The Street at War, Women at War, The Land Army and Timber Girls, The Munition Factories, The Observer Corps, The Auxiliary Fire Service, The WVS, The Red Cross, Civil Defence, The Rescue Services, The Bevin Boys, etc.

Other huts have been allocated military themes – War at Sea and U-boats, The Home Guard, Bomber Command, Path Finders, R.E. & R.A.F. Bomb Disposal, Escapers and Evaders, Resistance, Women at War, The life of a Prisoner of War etc.
Military and political events of the Second World War around the world are covered in detail.  Scenes such as Dunkirk, The War in the Desert, War at Sea, The Dambusters, The Great Escape, D-Day, V.E. and V.J. Days etc can be found along with displays covering The Holocaust, The Middle East, The Far East, Italy, Europe, Palestine, Cyprus, Egypt, Suez, Malaya, Korea, Kenya, Aden, The Falklands, The Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and information is being added about the

Another hut takes you back to World War One. Visitors experience what life was like in the trenches, brought to life with realistic sights, sounds and smells.

It was still warm when we got back to the camp site, time for a glass of wine in the sun!

Cherry Tree Park, Nawton.

Helmsley

Helmsley still has the market, held on Friday's in the main square, with its statue of Lord Feversham.

The castle was built on a slightly rocky eminence between 1186 and 1227 by Robert de Roos. There were originally two moats surrounding a rectangular complex of a D-shaped keep and outer walls.
The only buildings still in good repair today are the west tower and the later mansion build by Edward Manners, the 3rd Earl of Rutland who owned the site from 1563 to 1587.

We found a nice pub for Jack & Mel to sample while I took Max back to the van.

We then explored the delicatessen, buying huge sausage rolls for tea, and the coffee shops, where we had lunch.

Whitby

We set off for Whitby by train from Pickering. The station car park was full, so we parked in the long stay car park.
It wasn’t too far away, & Jack had his scooter.

The streets were very crowded, and it wasn’t pleasant negotiating the narrow streets in the heat. We did find a pub with very cheap beer. Mel said he could have stayed there all day!

Hawes

Mel & I, however, went around the museum and the creamery, watching cheese making in progress, before going into the shop and tasting Wensleydale Mature; Extra Mature; With Herbs; Ginger; Cranberries; Blueberries; Apricots; Mustard; garlic, and even a blue Wensleydale and a sheep’s milk cheese. – All that was missing was the crackers.

We had Roast Lunch at the Tan Hill Inn; a dinner plate sized Yorkshire Pudding, which held new potatoes and ½ a chicken. Squeezed onto the plate were carrots, peas, cauliflower, broccoli and leeks. Having seen the size of the meals as we ordered, - I asked for a child’s portion for Jack, as he is no longer a big eater. He had 3 huge slices of Beef, 2 potatoes, the rest of the veg the same as us, and ½ a Yorkshire pudding! – Mel had to help him out with the Beef!

There was also a folk group playing which took up a fair bit of room in the bar, but the place did a brisk turn over with cyclists, bikers and walkers.

Next day, not being able to extend our stay, we left early to visit Hardraw Force. There is no car park at this amazing place, but by being early we were able to park on the road (having left Mel’s van in a car park in Hawes). The access to the waterfall is through the bar of the Green Dragon PH.
The waterfall is their grounds which has a small camp site for backpackers and cyclists.

The cliff face from which the water cascaded, was shaped like an upside down bowl. Rocks overhung our heads. Standing at the foot of the falls, which was very noisy, we were dripped on by recent rains seeping through the rock and down along tree roots. Max didn't like the noise, so he stayed back a little way with Jack, whose scooter couldn't go any further due to steps.

Morcambe

The Roses Rally

While there, we stood under Blackpool Tower and watched it “move” against the clouds.

It was the opening night of The Roses rally, and 4 men sang songs representing England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales. In the hall that evening we sat with Neville, Barbara, Jordan Edith & Geoff, and two couples from Newcastle, who were telling us rhymes in broad Geordie. We had trouble understanding each others accents.

We met some really nice people there though. Amongst whom were Jordan (Left), and his Grandparents, Barbara and Neville.
Jordan kept us entertained with Kung Fu moves. He ate a box of sweets a night, even though he had a wobbly single tooth at the front. We heard it fell out soon after the rally.
Jordan was a little bit shy, but took to Mel very quickly.

Derbyshire

We visited Peak Cavern which is the source of the village river, Peakshole Water and as such it is the only Cavern that has to be closed during the winter due to flooding. In the mouth of the cave, the largest in Britain, rope makers use to live and work. Their cottages have been demolished but 'rope walks' are still to be found. Mel took part in making a length of rope, which stank (a sort of mixture of sheep & dung).

We stopped off for a late lunch, at the Snake Pass Inn, and enjoyed steak sandwiches and chips. While there it started to rain, which reduced visibility a bit. I walked Max while waiting for Jack to eat a pudding.

Even though it was dull and overcast, the views were great. Worth getting out of the van for! Even the rain had stopped.

As it happens, we went round in circles for the first part of the morning as the road to Monmouth was closed! Eventually, we gave up following sat nav in ever decreasing circles, and made for Ross on Wye, and then picked up the main road.

Tintern

Neither Mel or I like the old Severn Bridge, so we made our way to the new one, which meant we needed to go past it, and turn round at a service station, where we also stopped for lunch.