The North York Moors National Park

Today we ventured into the North York Moors National Park. Our main destination was Cawthorn Roman Camps. There was a very pleasant mile walk with information panels highlighting the main features and history of the site. The site was probably developed as a place to train troops in the creation of camps and effective defensive structures. There at the edge of empire, there were two native tribes, the Brigantes (ancient Britons) and the Parisi (a Celtic tribe). The Romans conquered them and acquired uneasy control of the North. Anyway the Cawthorn Camps were abandoned by 130. At the viewing platform we met a lovely couple of seniors who regaled us with stories and suggestions for other places to go. On their recommendation we decided to view the rare medieval murals in St Peter & St Paul Church in Pickering.

After a restorative lunch, we walked to the Church. The murals were a reminder that the walls of churches in the olden days before mass education and mass literacy were Biblia Pauperum or “Poor Man’s Bible”. The stories were often about death and how to face it. Martyrs like St Catherine (she of the Catherine Wheel on which she was tortured) helped to show that death could be faced bravely. In all it was a lovely day, our second last full day in Yorkshire.Read more