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Culture
This section of my Blog covers Yorkshire's diverse culture. So included in this area I will be writing about everything from Yorkshire's many film and TV locations, Yorkshire's literary heritage, sports teams and their homes, theatre and dance, live music and festivals as well as cultural events.
Plus as there are so many famous Yorkshire Folk who have made their mark on the world - just think of the Bronte Sisters, David Hockney & James Herriot for starters, we will feature people who were born or predominantly lived in the county and who have left their mark on Yorkshire over the last 2,000 years.
I hope you enjoy the blog articles below - please feel free to share the content and let me have any feedback...
The Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park – a beautiful collection of rare plants and artworks
The gardens are inspired by the Himalayan regions which includes part of China, Vietnam and Northern India. As well as the huge array of plants, the garden includes three small lakes in the valley bottom and various bridges and even a pagoda to really give it the Himalayan theme.
timbarber
16 hours ago3 min read
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Leeds General Infirmary and the old George Street entrance
The first Leeds Infirmary was built in 1771 in what is now Infirmary Street, but in 1863, construction started on a new LGI on George Stree
timbarber
Apr 12 min read
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How Whitby played a major part in the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s gothic horror novel Dracula
There is a whole industry in Whitby centred around the myth of the blood sucking Count Dracula. Find out how iWhitby inspired Bram Stoker
timbarber
Mar 275 min read
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Scotland Forever – the story behind Leeds City Art Gallery’s iconic painting showing the Battle of Waterloo
When you look at the painting Scotland Forever with its cavalry charge people are surprised to hear that the painting was done by a woman
timbarber
Mar 24 min read
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Giant Arms in Mandela Gardens, Leeds
The garden is a little sea of tranquillity in the centre of Leeds, and a great place to sit and contemplate or grab a sandwich and catch you
timbarber
Feb 243 min read
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A bluffers guide to Yorkshire dry stone walls...
One of the most obvious, dominant features of the Yorkshire Dales is the dry stone wall. Built without mortar and stable because of their un
timbarber
Jan 305 min read
166 views
1 comment
Leeds Discovery Centre - exploring the hidden treasures which can't fit into Leeds City Museum
To house these extra exhibits, a purpose built display storage facility was built in 2007 funded by Leeds City Council and a National Lotter
timbarber
Jan 284 min read
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Tolkien in Yorkshire – did his time here inspire locations in Lord of the Rings?
it’s hard not to believe that his time spent in Yorkshire both recuperating after the war in the East Riding and later living near Headingl
timbarber
Dec 19, 20245 min read
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Cliffe Castle Museum – a treasure trove of fascinating exhibits in Keighley
I had not been to Cliffe Castle Museum for over a decade, but after a hospital appointment in Keighley at the weekend and with no further pl
timbarber
Dec 5, 20245 min read
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When the Golf’s Ryder Cup came to Leeds…(the first ever tournament on British soil held in 1929!)
The 2nd Ryder Cup came to Yorkshire and was held at Moortown Golf Club in Leeds. This legacy has meant that Moortown Golf Club still has a t
timbarber
Nov 12, 20243 min read
332 views
102 comments
Goathland – a heritage railway station which doubled as Hogsmeade station in the Harry Potter films
2025 marks the start of the Railway 200 which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. With this in mind it inspired me to wr
timbarber
Nov 11, 20243 min read
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The Whitby Krampus Run – a beastly take on Christmas folklore
The Whitby Krampus run started in 2013 and has grown in popularity ever since, where horned creatures from Alpine folklore march through the
timbarber
Nov 8, 20242 min read
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Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage 2024 – a stunning celebration on the Yorkshire Coast
I can’t believe this is the 10th Staithes Festival having attended many over the years, and was so pleased to have a gap in my busy...
timbarber
Sep 14, 20243 min read
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Celebrating All Creatures Great & Small - Companion Book Launch
The official companion to the hit TV series All Creatures Great & Small launches on 26th September in hardback. The book offers a glimpse...
timbarber
Sep 14, 20243 min read
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J.B. Priestley and his love of the Yorkshire Dales
Find out about Hubberholme and JB Priestley's love of Upper Wharfedale.
timbarber
Jul 24, 20243 min read
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Tony Cragg Sculptures at Castle Howard – catch them before 22nd September 2024
Renowned sculpture Tony Cragg exhibits huge range of artworks at Castle Howard
timbarber
Jun 26, 20246 min read
438 views
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Why you should consider a University in these Yorkshire cities...
There are plenty of reasons to visit Yorkshire. But have you considered going to university there? If you haven’t, you definitely should.
timbarber
Jun 18, 20245 min read
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Voyage – commemorating Hull’s trade & seafaring heritage with Iceland
The statue was a tall 6ft figure sitting upon a plinth, staring out across the Humber estuary and called Voyage.
timbarber
May 25, 20242 min read
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Season 5 of All Creatures Great and Small starts filming straight away in Grassington
Well, there were All Creatures Great and Small fans across the world waiting with baited breath recently as no mention of another series...
timbarber
Mar 7, 20244 min read
25,845 views
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Janet’s Foss – one of the prettiest waterfalls in Yorkshire & often used as a screen location
The Malham loop walk in the Yorkshire Dales which takes in the stunning limestone amphitheatre of Malham Cove, the glacial meltwater...
timbarber
Jan 13, 20243 min read
1,493 views
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A lovely loop walk around Grimwith Reservoir from The Craven Arms in Appletreewick
I’d not been to Appletreewick for a couple of years, but having read that The Craven Arms in the village was used for the inside shots of...
timbarber
Oct 3, 20233 min read
824 views
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James Herriot said it was the “Finest View in England” – do you agree?
Well it wasn’t really James Herriot who made the statement, but Yorkshire vet Alf Wight – the author who wrote the famous books under his...
timbarber
Oct 1, 20232 min read
2,453 views
2 comments
York Unlocked Weekend returns for 2023
York Unlocked 2023 on the weekend of 7 and 8 October 2023 will see the doors thrown open to around 70 fabulous buildings FREE of charge....
timbarber
Sep 8, 20232 min read
105 views
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8 Miles to the Pub - the Story of 3 Pensioners Rambling from Derby to Malton...
I have met one of the authors of this book (Steve Mullins) on a couple of occasions at Yorkshire Society events and whilst discussing my...
timbarber
Aug 9, 20232 min read
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Paul Czainski and the Staithes Painted Illusion Trail
Paul Czainski is a world famous Trompe l’Oeil artist who was born in Yorkshire in 1954, studying at Jacob Kramer College of Art in Leeds....
timbarber
Jul 31, 20233 min read
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Walking the Six Dales Trail – 38 miles between Otley and Middleham
I had heard what a great walk this was from a couple of friends who had both walked the 6 Dales Trail, so myself and my wife took a...
timbarber
Jul 4, 202311 min read
1,578 views
3 comments
The Day we bumped into James Herriot in Arncliffe
With the new series of All Creatures Great and Small proving so popular, not just in the UK but also across the globe, I have been...
timbarber
May 15, 20235 min read
3,742 views
1 comment
Baugh Fell – a difficult hike up the twelfth highest peak of the #YorkshireDales30
I’m gradually working my way through the #Yorkshire30 – the 30 Highest Peaks in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Whilst with boundary...
timbarber
May 2, 20234 min read
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Transforming Grassington into Darrowby for the filming of All Creatures Great & Small
Every year in April or May, the Yorkshire Dales town of Grassington is transformed over a few days into a film set for the popular TV...
timbarber
Apr 30, 20238 min read
14,305 views
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Toast Art on display in Haworth
I regularly stop at St.Michael & All Angels Church in Haworth on my Bronte tours. The church is next to the Bronte Parsonage Museum, but...
timbarber
Apr 21, 20232 min read
1,523 views
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Buckden Pike Circular – a hike up Yorkshire’s 7th Highest Peak
As I’m off in May to the Highlands of Scotland for a few days walking with some old friends, it has motivated me for the need to get a...
timbarber
Mar 1, 20235 min read
652 views
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Circle – Richard Farrington’s Giant Charm Bracelet on the Cleveland Way
Whilst not technically in Yorkshire, I am including this artwork in my blog as its position along the Cleveland Way between Saltburn and...
timbarber
Feb 20, 20232 min read
2,637 views
2 comments
Yorkshire Rewilding Network – enabling rewilding throughout Yorkshire
I recently met with the Yorkshire Rewilding Network to find out about the thriving community of members and some of the interesting...
timbarber
Jan 3, 20232 min read
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All Creatures Great & Small – Filming locations from Series 3
Back in 2021, when series 1 of the remake of All Creatures Great and Small first aired I blogged about the locations used in the TV...
timbarber
Dec 30, 20226 min read
14,475 views
2 comments
The symbolism behind the stunning mural on Bolton Priory’s East Wall
At the heart of the Bolton Abbey Estate lies Bolton Priory (often referred to incorrectly as Bolton Abbey). It was originally the home of...
timbarber
Dec 13, 20223 min read
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The Dales Detective Agency – gentle murder mysteries set in the Yorkshire Dales
Yorkshire has many links to the classic crime novel – as well as each year in July the Theakston’s Crime Writing Festival being held in...
timbarber
Dec 12, 20222 min read
1,803 views
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Ravenscar to Robin Hood’s Bay Coastal Loop Walk
This is one of my favourite coastal walks – following the Cinder Track along the old railway line from Ravenscar to Robin Hood’s Bay and...
timbarber
Nov 15, 20225 min read
5,261 views
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The Tansey Beetle – the Jewel of York
Running driver guiding business, most of my client pick-ups are in York. I must drive past this mural of a bright green beetle, three or...
timbarber
Jul 11, 20222 min read
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The Norber Erratics and Sulber Nick from Austwick
We headed out from Austwick to explore the surrounding limestone pavement and one of Yorkshire’s other famous geological features – The...
timbarber
Jul 4, 20223 min read
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Masham and its Swifts...
Masham, the town on the edge of the Dales next to the River Ure, famous for its two breweries is also famous for its swifts! Come May...
timbarber
Apr 2, 20222 min read
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Huge artwork depicting David Hockney made out of nails in Little Germany
Whilst doing a recce of Little Germany in Bradford with a fellow guide recently, we stumbled upon a huge artwork up on a wall showing one...
timbarber
Mar 8, 20221 min read
487 views
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Dodd Fell, Wether Fell & the old Roman Road
As part of my mission to climb Yorkshire’s 30 Highest Peaks, we had found a route on Jonathan Smith’s great Where2Walk website which...
timbarber
Mar 3, 20224 min read
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Is Yorkshire the most romantic place to celebrate Valentine’s Day?
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner – I decided to give some thought as to why Love and Yorkshire go hand in hand, plus how and...
timbarber
Feb 13, 20223 min read
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The Yorkshire Wolds - soon to get Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and UNESCO Geopark status?
A guest blog article by my friend, Yorkshire Society colleague and acclaimed author Colin Speakman Even amongst people who love...
timbarber
Feb 7, 20223 min read
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Circular walk from Thixendale to the deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy
The Yorkshire Wolds is often over looked in favour of Yorkshire’s better known National parks – The Yorkshire Dales & North York Moors....
timbarber
Jan 28, 20225 min read
3,427 views
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The Yorkshire’s festive celebrations through the ages
Winter Solstice We have to look back much further than the nativity to start exploring the origins of winter festive celebrations. In...
timbarber
Dec 25, 202112 min read
874 views
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The Miner’s Bait Table sculpture on the Cleveland Way at Boulby
A few weeks back whilst walking a stretch of the Cleveland Way with my dog, I came across a strange piece of land art in the shadow of...
timbarber
Dec 20, 20212 min read
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Ridge Walk – Gauber to Ingleborough via Simon’s Fell with stunning views
I’d walked on part of Simon’s Fell during my Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge in May but never actually reached its summit. As it’s one of the...
timbarber
Dec 18, 20214 min read
109 views
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The Great British Talkshow Host – Sir Michael Parkinson
With Sir Michael Parkinson due to receive his Lifetime Achievement Award at the Yorkshire Awards in March 2022, it seemed like a good...
timbarber
Dec 9, 20213 min read
317 views
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Enclosure Rights – an artwork inspired by the cultural landscape of the Yorkshire Wolds
On a recent walk along the Yorkshire Wolds Way from Wintringham, I stumbled upon a wonderful public artwork. The walk started in...
timbarber
Aug 5, 20212 min read
533 views
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