J_on_tour: September 2012

Friday, 21 September 2012

Wetherby, Yorkshire

The final post in my series about Mothers coach trip to Llandudno is a little surprising as it is no where near North Wales. As we stopped at Wetherby services on the outward journey, the driver decided to give his passengers a change of scenery with a late lunch stop here. I followed the coach on a torturous route around the town wondering where he was going to park. In the end, although I was pleased for the passengers that they were dropped off in the town centre, I had to spend the next ten minutes frantically finding somewhere to park in order not to lose the group. As it seemed like a busy day, my search proved fruitless and had to find a space on the roadside out of town to the north.

( On a side note, family health difficulties with re location have restricted my blogging at the moment. I usually get home about 8:30pm and have to prepare dinner after that. Looming legal and associated house issues mean that my time may be a bit restricted for the next few months ... sorry, it looks like 2012 wasn't my year ... for blogging)

Wetherby Town Hall built in 1845 stands in the market square and replaced prominent buildings such as the prison, courthouse and chapel. The building has since been used as a church school and magistrates court.

"Can we have some business please ? !! "

Wetherby was most famously known as a staging post for travellers on the Great North Road from London to Edinburgh ... yes, that was the main A1 many years ago before motorways ! At one time there were about 40 coaching Inns for this purpose in the town.

As a postscript, most town councils concerned about the increase in traffic discuss the possibility of a diversion. The first simple move was created with a roundabout in 1959 followed by a major road bypass in 1988 at a cost of £11.5 million. Further upgrading of the road took place in 2003 - 4 and 2007 - 9. Interestingly enough it incorporated a modern day staging post in the form of those horrible things called Motorway services ... great for a comfort stop, not so good on the landscape or the wallet ! ... as I discovered on the outward portion of this trip.

The Swan and Talbot which was first licensed in 1678 is maybe a little quieter these days. At one time it brewed it's own beer in a malt kiln and there was a dedicated soldiers room in the eaves ... not that I am suggesting that there is a link !

There has been a market in Wetherby since at least 1240 with a more formal structure called The Shambles built in 1811.

This was originally only meant to open on market day and was designed for a group of butchers. Later in 1888, the building was covered with a roof and farmers were added to the trading list.

The site of the old watermill

Trying to get to grips with a place and what to photograph in a one hour lunch break stop is difficult, particularly when I can't ever recall being here before. The bridge and river is always a good starting point as the ancient name "Wedrebi" is meant to have some additional meaning to "a settlement on the bend of a river "...

The bend of the path !!

Relaxing by the river ! ...

Historically there was a toll for entering Wetherby on this important route into town half way between London and Edinburgh. It's importance proves a little difficult to understand in modern times as there was a serious reprisal raid on the town in 1319 following The Battle of Bannockburn in Scotland.

Later in history there was further involvement as a result of The English Civil War in 1644.

Several things seemingly barred from The River Wharfe these days ...

... but peaceful nonetheless !

Since it first entered in 1989, Wetherby has won a few national awards over the years for the Britain in Bloom contest. At the outset, most towns see it as an excuse for keeping the place tidy.

The Huguenot Arch is located in a small strip of garden next to the main road and was a small passageway between two houses. It was thought that French refugees built it back in 1827 with a foundation stone that reads "Love your neighbour as yourself says the Evangelist".

( Sometimes in life, if you want something done, it's easier to do it yourself but not in this case as it took me hours to "tidy" away the Queens Diamond Jubilee bunting !! )

The not so "cut price" Wetherby House !

The Doctors surgery ( 1890 -1971 ) is now partitioned off with various uses, it depicts the comparison of how business and service industry lasted on one site both then and now. I wonder how long the bookshop will last.