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Last modified:
November 13, 2004
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The Monk's path from York Minster to
Fountains Abbey
The oldest road out of York City
towards the Dales is the A59 of Roman origin, it flanks the north of
Marston
Moor where some of the most horrific battles fought by Cromwell's Army in the
17th Century Civil War. On it's way to Knaresborough it then crosses the Great
North Road (A1) the main highway from London to Edinburgh in the Lothian
Borders.
| Knaresborough was the home of Mother
Shipton a notorious witch who was conceived by the Devil and born in the cave
which bears her name, her claim to fame being the prediction of the Klondyke -
Gold Rush and the invention of aeroplanes although she was wrong with the end of
the world being in 1881. |
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Near her cave in the woods on the
rivers edge is the Dropping Well, a slow flowing waterfall which has petrified a
mass of objects left by visitors over the years and still on view today. The
14th Century Castle and Grounds are open along with St Robert's Chapel dug out
of solid rock.
Ripley and it's Castle are a few
miles west and a similar distance north of the Victorian Spa town of Harrogate,
where on can sample the waters or have tea in Betty's Tea Rooms. Oliver Cromwell
stayed at the castle after defeating Prince Rupert's army on Marston Moor in
1644.
| Continue on the road to Burnt Yates
and bear right to
Brimham Rocks, a National Trust
Property with parking, toilets and refreshments.
This area of moors offers fine views on a clear
day and is littered with large weather beaten rocks, one weighing over 200
Tons is balanced on a 12" footing. |
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Leaving the rocks towards Sawley to
Fountains
Abbey jointly maintained by the National
Trust & English Heritage in woods
by the river Skell.
The ruins of the Cistercian Abbey show the importance the Monk's held
in the 12th Century managing the local agriculture and wool industries until
Henry VIII plundered there wealth and property.
Within the estate the
Studley Royal Water Garden is open to view, which with the abbey is a
World Heritage Site. |
The city of Ripon was protected by the Wakeman,
the 13th Century residence of the holder of the office is located in the
corner of the market place. The building now houses a museum to the history
of Wakemen were given the duty of protecting the citizens of Ripon.
The towns horn blower can be heard each evening at
9 pm announcing the security of the city, as has been done for centuries.
The 90 foot obelisk in the square was built in 1781 in memorial to William
Aislabie of Studley Royal who was Ripon's Member of Parliament for 60 years
in the 18th Century.
Ripon Cathedral
dates back to the 12 Century with origins as far back as the 7th Century
when Saint Wilfred built one of England's fist stone churches, of which only
the crypt remains after being raised in 948 AD as a warming the the then
Archbishop of York.
The second church was ransacked by William the
Conqueror in 1069, after which the start of the Minster was erected and
became a cathedral in 1836.
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 Ripon
Cathedral
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Taking the road back to York via Skelton calling in on
Newby Hall, built by Sir Edward Blackett a local mine owner. Its ornate
external detail and 18th Century furnishings are complimented by the
entrance through parkland and gardens down to the river Ure. Parking
and Toilets available |
Aldborough is a small village on the
Great Road North and housed a Roman Garrison which controlled the
Brigantes a Celtic
tribe based in the area, after which it became Isurium Brigantium their capital.
Their original Capitol was to the north near Piercebridge at
Stanwick Camp an Iron Age Fort built by King Venutius who resisted the Roman
Occupation after they invaded in 43 AD.
Nearby the
Devil's Arrows are three large standing stones sating back to the Bronze
Age, it is thought originally there were as many as five stones in this
alignment.
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Beningbrough Hall is our final stop on the return to York, built in the
early 1700's the interior is a tribute to the wood craftsmen of the time. It
also houses the silver seal that Air John Bourchier impressed on Charles I's
death warrant in 1649. |
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Photos and Maps are to follow
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