Pat was drawing attention yesterday as to how our market towns are changing reminded me of the homesickness I often feel for the three market towns Paul and I shopped in. If I had had a choice Kirkbymoorside would have been the place I would have crept away from life. But I needed my family and they live on another side of Yorkshire. Yorkshire by the way is a helluva big place. Transport to this particular area meant train services out of Malton and taxis to the station.
Market towns are still a muddle of small cottages, wide open space in the centre, now often turned into car parks, and as always the church and small shops often selling local produce, with the market on market day selling food.
Walking up the street when Pickering market was in full flow was exciting, you don't have the calling out you would get in a London market but vast arrays of (whatever had fallen off the back of a lorry?) shoes, coats, underpants or anything that was saleable greeted you.
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| Pickering church with wall paintings |
Helmsley is of course a tourist spot, with the centre turned into a car park though cars have to move when it is market day. With the castle and the walled garden, the stream that runs through it and the delicatessen with its array of delicious food. Then the coffee shops that would greet Lucy with a bowl of water, it was at its best in the sunshine.
The town we went to most of was Kirkbymoorside, it had a Co-op and a selection of small shops where you could buy most things, something that has now got lost because of the internet and its ready access to everything
Here is one of my short videos of Kirkbymoorside. Every year there was a tractor show, that went through our village and then Kirkbymoorside. You will see Paul step into the picture for a moment, smiling away, his love for this part of the world already established.
The ways of life us oldies grew up with is gradually disappearing. What a great band.
ReplyDeleteTrouble with Britain we still have the 'props' of beautiful scenery and old cottages. A romantic yearning for the past to subsidies it, so tourism will keep old history alive. I cannot see Morris dancers in Manchester though.
DeleteTractors coming through town and a brass band - you can't get any more Yorkshire than that.
ReplyDeleteThe tractor run had many tractors from old to new, it was a very friendly affair John. Though I think the cars held up might think otherwise.
DeleteI am surprised that Malton doesn't figure in your top three Thelma. It must be a little strange to see Paul appear on the edge of the screen - and to remember that he has moved on from the land of the living.
ReplyDeleteMalton can be rather bleak, we never shopped there, even though it is supposed to be the food capital of Yorkshire. Its little market is jammed with cars. It is strange to see Paul but also comforting to see him happy.
DeleteA passel of Keith's rellies hailed from Malton. We liked it when we visited, many years ago. Probably day in day out, it wasn't as satisfying though.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I had a "This post may contain upsetting contents" - think the word was upsetting, from Blogger, and I had to chose whether to view it or not?!! What's upsetting about a brass band?
I had the same note Jennie. Could not sign out, and was coming back as anonymous. So signed out of my blog on someone else's blog. Perhaps it was an error or a blog invigilator not reading properly. Or I have upset someone maybe, who knows.
DeleteMalton was the place we picked up people from the station and occasionally shopped in the supermarket there. The main road that goes through town has a lot of traffic as well.
Yes, I got the same warning about "upsetting content" but can't figure out why your post would be upsetting to anyone. Maybe because you mentioned "underpants"?? LOL!
ReplyDeleteEllen ;) ;), never thought of that. Next time will use briefs or boxers.
ReplyDeleteI see that I'm not the only person to receive this confusing message. I couldn't wait to discover the objectionable content. I couldn't find anything. It certainly must be there. Will go back and read again! The pictures are so beautiful. They do evoke visions of another time.
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint Debby;)
ReplyDeleteRarely a place we visited because it was always hard to park.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the trip down your memory lane.
ReplyDelete