Summer in Yorkshire, UK 2022

We'd planned to visit our son and his family in Ackworth, Yorkshire, UK, in 2020, but the trip was cancelled due to the pandemic. Now that we can travel, we are staying in England for the summer. Read more

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Trip start
May 24, 2022
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Day 2
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 2:00 PM
⛅ 57 °F
Altitude: 161 ft
England Deansgate Railway Station 53.47235, -2.2488853°28’20” N 2°14’56” W
Flight to Manchester, UK
May 25, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
We left Phoenix at 8:42 a.m. on May 24, Airport check-in was extremely smooth, and we were at the gate a little before 6 a.m, less than one hour from arrival at the airport. I had time to explore an art gallery at the airport, which was very nice.

We had layovers in Washington, DC and Brussels Belgium, and arrived in Manchester the next day, May 25, at about 10:20 a.m.

Most of the time, we were in contact with our son, Jacob, via free WiFi at airports, until we arrived in Manchester, and there the signal seemed to be too weak. While we were asking for help at the information desk, a very kind young lady from Wisconsin offered us her phone to call Jake. So we met him at the pick-up location and he took us to our first housesit, in Gildersome near Leeds.Read more
TravelerGreat start! I love that you're house-sitting! I'll have to learn more about that!
9hReply
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Day 2
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 6:00 PM
⛅ 61 °F
Altitude: 489 ft
England Gildersome 53.759506, -1.63089953°45’34” N 1°37’51” W
Housesitting in Gildersome
May 25, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
Jake dropped us off at our first house sit in Gildersome, near Leeds. The owners are a family with three boys between the ages of 8 and 13, who are vacationing in Orlando. It's a very comfortable house and the three kitties (1 year old) are so entertaining. They play with each other very actively after their morning meal, then snooze a while, and start all over again after lunch.

Since we didn't sleep much, on the plane, we stayed home for the day, and tried not to sleep much until evening, to get on schedule.Read more
What cute kitties! [Debbie G]
6/2/22Reply
TravelerThey are very entertaining!
6/2/22Reply
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Day 3
Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 8:12 PM
⛅ 55 °F
Altitude: 512 ft
England Gildersome 53.759303, -1.63192953°45’33” N 1°37’55” W
Exploring Gildersome
May 26, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
Gildersome is a small community with a lovely green (park) in the center. Right now it is decorated with British flags for the upcoming Queen's Platinum Jubilee. There is one grocery store, a clinic, a few restaurants and pubs, three churches, two schools, and not much else. But it's very friendly.Read more
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Day 4
Friday, May 27, 2022 at 3:55 PM
⛅ 59 °F
Altitude: 518 ft
England Gildersome 53.759607, -1.63424653°45’35” N 1°38’3” W
Walking to the Co-op
May 27, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
We don't have a car yet, so we've been walking to the grocery store every day. It's five blocks but they are much shorter than our blocks, so it only comes out to about 0.2 mile. The store always has something interesting to try. So far we've had BBQ chicken pizza, BBQ chicken legs, and chicken with mushrooms in pastry--nothing fancy but just fine for us. We'll get stocked up later when we have transportation.Read more
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Day 5
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 4:32 PM
☁️ 57 °F
Altitude: 308 ft
England Churwell 53.7591, -1.589753°45’33” N 1°35’23” W
Homes in Gildersome
May 28, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
Guildersome started out as a mining town, then became a mill town where wool cloth was made. The area we are staying in was once the Maiden Mill, so the streets are named Mill Street, Mill Garth, Mill Croft, etc. There were several mills in the village.

The housing is a mixture of old and newer. The house we are in was built after the mill was torn down in 1984.Read more
TravelerSo good to hear from you. Glad the flights went smoothly. Have you seen Nate yet?
6/1/22Reply
TravelerWe'll see the whole family on Friday at a Jubilee celebration!
6/1/22Reply
enjoy your time there! Say hi to the queen for me! [Diane Williams]
6/1/22Reply
TravelerI heard she will be attending some of the Jubilee celebrations but probably not in our little village!
6/1/22Reply
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Day 6
Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 3:30 PM
⛅ 55 °F
Altitude: 308 ft
England Churwell 53.7591, -1.589753°45’33” N 1°35’23” W
Beautiful English Gardens
May 29, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
Summer in England brings forth such beauty! I'm seeing lots of flowers I recognize from my and other people's perennial gardens in Minnesota.
What beautiful gardens! I am enjoying your posts! have a Blessed day [Debbie Gott]
6/2/22Reply
TravelerThank you Debbie!
6/2/22Reply
TravelerFabulous flowers! Just as I imagined small English villages. Nice picture of the two of you! You look so happy!
6/4/22Reply
TravelerThank you!
6/5/22Reply
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Day 7
Monday, May 30, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☁️ 54 °F
Altitude: 308 ft
England Churwell 53.7591, -1.589753°45’33” N 1°35’23” W
Walking Around Gildersome
May 30, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
We still don't have a car, so I'm walking around the neighborhood. Besides walking on sidewalks along the streets, there are also lots of footpaths both in town and out in the country. Gildersome is the highest part of area in and around Leeds (561 feet vs 206 ft elevation). Several people have talked about how much cleaner and cooler the air is "up here". I did find a high point and could see Leeds 5 miles distant, and it looks lower.

I found a football (soccer) field, a cricket field, and a Little Free Library, as well as some children's books that are lying around for children to discover and take home.Read more
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Day 7
Monday, May 30, 2022 at 9:26 PM
☁️ 52 °F
Altitude: 121 ft
England Holbeck 53.788317, -1.56086153°47’18” N 1°33’39” W
Pub Crawling with the Locals
May 30, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
We met some very nice people in church yesterday! They invited us to go to a pub for drinks. We went to The Greyhound in the village of Tong a few miles down the hill. The Greyhound is a 16th century inn, famous for their unique Toby mugs, each representing a famous person. We even saw a George Washington. There is a cricket pitch behind the pub. It would be fun to watch cricket sometime this summer!

Next we went to The Adelphi, a 1901 Victorian tavern in Leeds with beautiful woodwork and tiles. It was the flagship pub for the Tetley brewing company of Leeds.Read more
TravelerHave a pint for me …… I enjoyed Black & Tan myst
6/1/22Reply
TravelerI tried a shandy (half lemonade and half beer)--pretty good! Dean had a local beer from the pump.
6/2/22Reply
Fantastic photos. It looks like the weather you are having is comparable to what have been having in Minnesota. I’m glad you made it to England with no additional delays. Nancy is now in a care facility since February. The kids said I all but had to. Her doctor told me as her sole caregiver I would not out live her. Mother’s Day week we both tested positive for Covid-19. We are back to normal. Del & Nancy. [Del & Nancy]
6/2/22Reply
TravelerSo sorry to hear you had Co-Vid--hope it wasn't a serious case. Glad to have you following our trip!
6/2/22Reply
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Day 8
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 2:21 PM
🌧 54 °F
Altitude: 308 ft
England Churwell 53.7591, -1.589753°45’33” N 1°35’23” W
Gildersome Prepares for the Jubilee
May 31, 2022 in England ⋅ 🌧 54 °F
The village is getting decked out: hanging British flags along the main throughfare and the Green, and planting lots of flowers. The school children have made posters about Queen Elizabeth II, which are on display at the Co-op. They seem very interested in her service during WWII.

The celebration will be on Sunday, with games for the children, food, and music. We're looking forward to the community celebration!Read more
TravelerSo glad you are in England for the jubilee! So exciting! 👍
6/4/22Reply
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Day 8
Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 9:06 PM
⛅ 50 °F
Altitude: 308 ft
England Churwell 53.7591, -1.589753°45’33” N 1°35’23” W
The Gildersome Cemetery
May 31, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
The city cemetery has old and new graves, many with toppled headstones. In some cases the headstones have been purposely laid down so they don't fall over. But why don't they put new footings under them and stand them up again?

It's also sad to see that the grounds aren't kept up very well.Read more
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Day 9
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 9:18 PM
⛅ 55 °F
Altitude: 85 ft
England Leeds 53.798863, -1.55262153°47’56” N 1°33’9” W
A Day Out in Leeds
June 1, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
We took the bus down the hill and into the city of Leeds. It's so much nicer than trying to drive in the city, and try to find parking which is usually expensive. Besides, we get to see the area from the top of the double decker bus.

We went to Millennium Square, where there is a huge Leeds Civic Hall, topped by steeples and golden owls. The owl is the symbol of Leeds, taken from the first city alderman's coat of arms.

Next was a visit to the city museum, and a then quick look at the beautiful domed Town Hall.

Leeds used to be a smoky, dirty, industrial city. During WWII, it was bombed nine times. So there are many types of architecture, old and new. The city is well known for its beautiful shopping arcades made of grand old buildings.Read more
TravelerVery interesting and informative!
6/4/22Reply
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Day 11
Friday, June 3, 2022 at 7:30 PM
⛅ 59 °F
Altitude: 226 ft
England Pontefract 53.690911, -1.30960453°41’27” N 1°18’35” W
Family Jubilee Party
June 3, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Jodie's Mum and Dad had a family barbeque today as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend. It was our first meeting with our grandson, Nathaniel. He is just adorable! We played a ring toss game and he distributed the rings to all of us to throw. We enjoyed meeting Paul's Mum too. She still lives in her own house--good for her!

The house was beautifully decorated with the British colors and the food was excellent. We even had scones with cream and jam!

A lovely sunny day added to the celebration. To top it all off, Nathaniel gave us a "Welcome to Yorkshire" greeting that he and his Mum had made, and we each got a hug!Read more
TravelerSo very happy for all of you. Looks like a fun celebration.
6/4/22Reply
TravelerWhat a wonderful time! 🥰
6/4/22Reply
TravelerYes, it was wonderful!
6/5/22Reply
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Day 12
Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 8:24 PM
⛅ 52 °F
Altitude: 515 ft
England Gildersome 53.759667, -1.63272953°45’35” N 1°37’58” W
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Entertaining in our Temporary Home
June 4, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
The homeowner's parents live nearby, and we invited them over for dinner. Jean is from the Champagne region of France, and he was a caterer. Later he and his wife, Jacquie had a business selling sheepskin and leather goods (mostly clothing) at markets around the area. They are so nice and fun to visit with. I made chicken and mushrooms in a creamy white wine sauce. They brought a bottle of French champagne which was wonderful! We are really enjoying our time here in Gildersome!

Here are some more cute kitty pictures too. They keep us laughing. Dean fixed their perch as the ladder was loose and the tower was tilting. All the cats supervised his work and did an inspection right afterward!Read more
TravelerFun times like your hair style.
6/7/22Reply
TravelerThank you! It's easy.
6/7/22Reply
Traveler Bring that one home Dean
6/7/22Reply
Wonderful! [Barb Walkington]
6/7/22Reply
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Day 13
Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 8:33 PM
🌧 50 °F
Altitude: 512 ft
England Gildersome 53.758812, -1.63236153°45’32” N 1°37’56” W
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Participating in the Queen's Jubilee
June 5, 2022 in England ⋅ 🌧 50 °F
At church today it was a very nice celebration of both the Jubilee and Pentecost. The sanctuary was set up like a tea party with tables and chairs. We made crowns to wear and sang God Save Our Queen. After church was a barbeque fund-raiser.

In the afternoon it rained, so we didn't stay at the Green for the music, but went home and watched the events on TV. The Platinum Party was held 6/4 in the evening, and the Jubilee Pageant Parade was this afternoon 6/5. We had very good seats and could see everything better than most of the people who went to London for it!Read more
Traveler Over 10,000 people moving toward the Palace after the parade, to see the Queen and say "Thank You, Ma'am."
6/5/22Reply
TravelerSo wonderful that you could be in England for the jubilee! SC
6/7/22Reply
TravelerWhat great memories to have.
6/7/22Reply
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Day 17
Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 2:30 PM
⛅ 64 °F
Altitude: 66 ft
England Kirkstall 53.815335, -1.60370953°48’55” N 1°36’13” W
A Visit to Kirkstall Abbey
June 9, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
We drove into Leeds to see Kirkstall Abbey ruins. It's a Cistercian abbey, founded in the 12th century by Benedictine monks who desired to live a stricter life of silence, prayer, manual labor, and seclusion from the world. They raised sheep and sold the wool to support the abbey. The monks were called White Monks because of the white color of their undyed wool robes.

King Henry VIII dissolved the abbeys in the 1500s and plundered anything of value, especially the lead roofs. So the rest of the building fell into ruins. In the 1800s the road to Leeds actually went through the front (west) door of the church and out where the large east window was. During the Victorian era, people wanted to preserve it, so they rerouted the road and rebuilt the east wall to prevent traffic from going through.Read more
TravelerInteresting ruins-good pictures!
6/9/22Reply
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Day 18
Friday, June 10, 2022 at 10:30 AM
⛅ 63 °F
Altitude: 135 ft
England Leeds 53.799824, -1.54600353°47’59” N 1°32’46” W
Lovely Day in Leeds
June 10, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
We took the Park and Ride bus to Leeds city center for some more exploring.
There are so many variations of architecture!

Also saw another interesting Victorian pub, Duck and Drake, which has at least 15 cask ales on offer.Read more
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Day 18
Friday, June 10, 2022 at 11:00 AM
☀️ 64 °F
Altitude: 151 ft
England Leeds 53.799824, -1.54874953°47’59” N 1°32’55” W
Beautiful Indoor Markets, Leeds
June 10, 2022 in England ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
The Corn Exchange, built in 1863, was where trading of corn and other commodities took place. It is elliptical in shape with skylights so buyers could examine the grain on the sellers' desks. In 1990 it was refurbished as a shopping center.

Just 1 block away is Kirkgate Market, one of the largest indoor markets in Europe, with stalls for fresh produce, fish, seafood, bakery goods, and more. It was the home of the original Marks and Spencer, which in 1884 started out as a 6' X 4' "Penny Bazaar".Read more
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Day 18
Friday, June 10, 2022 at 1:00 PM
⛅ 66 °F
Altitude: 154 ft
England Leeds 53.799824, -1.55836253°47’59” N 1°33’30” W
Lunch Time Organ Concert, Leeds Minster
June 10, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Leeds Minster is a beautiful gothic church. On display is a 10th century Anglo-Saxon sculpture of a cross from the old church, beautiful stained glass and carved wood balconies and pulpit, and a fantastic organ. The organ is one of the most famous instruments in Britain. Dr. Samuel Sebastian Wesley, the greatest church musician of the Victorian period, was organist from 1842-49.

We happened to be there when a lunch time concert was about to start. The organ is right in the middle of the church, and all the seats are great for hearing everything.

Outside the church is a graveyard, which was very crowded so the tombstones were placed right next to each other.Read more
TravelerThanks for sharing you are sure seeing and learn lots about the area. 😊
6/11/22Reply
TravelerI imagine the organ recital was beautiful! Graduation week here and my son is home. So special! 🥰
6/13/22Reply
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Day 20
Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 1:49 PM
☁️ 61 °F
Altitude: 30 ft
England River Foss 53.959947, -1.06999653°57’36” N 1°4’12” W
National Railway Museum, York
June 12, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
We arrived at our second house sit on Saturday, 6/11 to get acquainted. We don't actually start until Monday, when Sue leaves for her holiday, so we were free to explore today. We went to the National Railway Museum in York.

The Railway Museum opened in 1975, in a huge space that was Engine Shed No. 4 at the train station. It was bombed during WWII air raids, but has been restored and used since then. The turntable and working area are surrounded by beautifully restored engines and railroad cars of all types, telling the history of British railways.

On display is Robert Stephenson's steam engine, Rocket, built in 1830. Its top speed was 30 mph, but paved the way for very rapid development. Stephenson is known for the engineering paradigm shift in the design of steam boilers, and to honor him, he is buried in Westminster Abbey.

There was also a Bullet, the only one outside of Japan.Read more
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Day 20
Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 3:06 PM
⛅ 63 °F
Altitude: 407 ft
England Great Wyrley 52.6737, -2.031352°40’25” N 2°1’53” W
Railroad Cars at the National RR Museum
June 12, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
So many old beautifully restored railroad cars are displayed, including ones used by royalty over the years.
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Day 22
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 11:00 AM
⛅ 63 °F
Altitude: 39 ft
England Selby Railway Station 53.784088, -1.06708153°47’3” N 1°4’1” W
Selby Abbey Church
June 14, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
Selby is a little market town of 15,000 set in the Yorkshire countryside. It has a working abbey church, founded by William the Conqueror in 1069, and added onto over time. It is unusual for surviving intact after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s. Unlike many other abbeys, this one was built in a town, and all the rest of the abbey buildings are gone, replaced by some pretty houses and shops.

We happened to be there right after a wedding, and the 12 huge bells pealed for about 20 minutes!

The inside is jaw dropping! Inside the west door is the nave, separated from the chancel by a carved wooden rood screen of open tracery.Read more
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Day 22
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 2:11 PM
⛅ 64 °F
Altitude: 39 ft
England Selby 53.776279, -1.04736653°46’35” N 1°2’51” W
The Chancel at the Front of the Church
June 14, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
On the Chancel side of the wooden rood screen are the choir and huge organ.

Next you can see the high altar, the work of a woodcarver from Oberammergau, Germany. To the right of the altar are the carved filigree stone seats for the clergy.

Behind the high altar is the stained glass masterpiece, "Jesse Window", showing the family tree of the kings of Israel from Jesse, father of King David, to Joseph.Read more
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Day 22
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 2:21 PM
⛅ 66 °F
Altitude: 23 ft
England Aughton Castle Hill 53.839532, -0.93738753°50’22” N 0°56’15” W
Housesit in Aughton
June 14, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
We're spending a week in Aughton, a small rural village about 16 miles south of York. The animals in our care are 3 dogs, 5 cats, a miniature Shetland pony, and a rare-breed Scottish sheep. We take the dogs (and sometimes a couple of cats come along) for a walk to the church twice a day. It's a historic Norman church that is still in use, and situated at the dead end of the town.Read more
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Day 23
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 2:48 PM
☁️ 72 °F
Altitude: 69 ft
England Aughton 53.838777, -0.92787253°50’20” N 0°55’40” W
Inside All Saints Church, Aughton
June 15, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F
The church is Norman Architecture from the 11th-12th century time frame. The chancel arch is typical, with its pointed design of zig-zags and beak heads.

There is a brass grave slab honoring Robert Aske of Aughton. He led the most serious, but peaceful, protest against Henry VIII's closing of the monasteries.Read more
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Day 23
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 3:43 PM
⛅ 72 °F
Altitude: 112 ft
England Fish Pond 53.745278, -0.8675253°44’43” N 0°52’3” W
Howden Market and Minster Town
June 15, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
We discovered this town and its charms as we were in search of a grocery store, as Aughton doesn't have one. There are cobbled streets, Edwardian buildings, a market square and a Minster church, half of which is in ruins and the other half is functional.Read more
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