Grassington (1) - The village

Grassington is a bit like a picture postcard village situated right in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
 Following the Richmond walk, some of that group were planning on doing a slightly longer walk here. Although I had passed through the village before, I had not actually stopped here. This was an opportunity to do two things on the same day as the walk started at 11am. At first I didn't know if I was going to have enough time due to long stretches of roadworks on the A1 road and the long torturous journey from leaving that road. I arrived at 9.45am, giving me the opportunity of just over an hour to see the place. The village didn't seem to spring into life until later as no doubt the shops would be expecting the coach parties !!
 The history of the village was in lead mining and indeed we passed some of these remnants later on the walk. The locals at that time were quite lawless and apparently it was the first place to have armed police in Britain. These days the industries are Quarrying, farming and tourism. I heard talk that they have a Christmas market in the centre. (Photo above).
Unlike in Lead mining times, the village these days is very picturesque and sleepy, so much so that it was difficult to see many people this early....

The villagers like their flowers and do their bit for the ....... err, tourist ! not sure how this resident gets out of the house though !! ...

... while some of them keep themselves well out of the way behind closed gates....

Safe behind gates from the coach parties

Even the hardware store makes an effort, despite having paint tins in the window and advertising childrens wellies !

There is always a welcome in the shops for the visitor and they will sell anything that anyone will buy...

The absence of people though, gave me more time to acquire these shots...

without anyone appearing in the picture with a bright blue raincoat, considering their potential purchases...

I maybe got the feeling that they were either having breakfast in the local accommodation or possibly dare I say it..... still in bed...

Maybe the latter was correct as I discovered this bird rousing from sleep on the main seat in the square !! ..... 'sorry, did I wake you up. "