2 May ’05, Monday
The solid stone walls of the Pickering Castle still guard over the small church and a little bit of the castle walls that are still standing. It was interesting, but the Church of St. James and John made the stop. One of the stories coming out of the church was about one of the clergyman that thought the 10th century frescos that were painted on the walls, showed lewd and suggestive images that he didn’t want his congregation to view. So, he grabbed a paint brush and started painting over them with white paint. Thank goodness they have been restored. They are just wonderful paintings showing things like a dragon being slain by St. George and other bible stories. When they were painted in medieval times, most of the people couldn’t read so they painted stories on the walls.
Next, we wandered over to see the North Yorkshire Moors Railway train station. This is a small railway, whose trains are pulled by steam engines. After the train left the station, we headed north into town. This is a little town called Goathland. Goathland is located right in the “moors” of Yorkshire, and the station is in a small valley with a small river running right in back of the station. This station is the one that was filmed in the Harry Potter movies. The moors (heavily brushed with heathers and heaths), run right up the bank of the other side. Our drive through the “moors” was really very pretty, but as we have read, it must really be outstanding when the heather and heaths are in bloom.
On the coast is Whitby Abbey. Perched high on a cliff, the gaunt remains of this magnificent abbey stands tall above the picturesque seaside town of Whitby. The Abby was founded in AD 657 by St. Hilda (known as Hild during her life time). Unfortunately the Abby was destroyed by a Viking invasion in AD 867. Much later, William the Conqueror rebuilt it in 1070, but again King Henry VIII had it destroyed during the dissolution in 1538. It’s really sad, because it must have magnificent to see in AD657.
Now, back on the road, those less traveled, we head off to our next campground, White Water Park. It is located just in between Middlesbrough and Thornaby-on-Tees. One night there, and then up the coast route “tomorrow”….
The solid stone walls of the Pickering Castle still guard over the small church and a little bit of the castle walls that are still standing. It was interesting, but the Church of St. James and John made the stop. One of the stories coming out of the church was about one of the clergyman that thought the 10th century frescos that were painted on the walls, showed lewd and suggestive images that he didn’t want his congregation to view. So, he grabbed a paint brush and started painting over them with white paint. Thank goodness they have been restored. They are just wonderful paintings showing things like a dragon being slain by St. George and other bible stories. When they were painted in medieval times, most of the people couldn’t read so they painted stories on the walls.
Next, we wandered over to see the North Yorkshire Moors Railway train station. This is a small railway, whose trains are pulled by steam engines. After the train left the station, we headed north into town. This is a little town called Goathland. Goathland is located right in the “moors” of Yorkshire, and the station is in a small valley with a small river running right in back of the station. This station is the one that was filmed in the Harry Potter movies. The moors (heavily brushed with heathers and heaths), run right up the bank of the other side. Our drive through the “moors” was really very pretty, but as we have read, it must really be outstanding when the heather and heaths are in bloom.
On the coast is Whitby Abbey. Perched high on a cliff, the gaunt remains of this magnificent abbey stands tall above the picturesque seaside town of Whitby. The Abby was founded in AD 657 by St. Hilda (known as Hild during her life time). Unfortunately the Abby was destroyed by a Viking invasion in AD 867. Much later, William the Conqueror rebuilt it in 1070, but again King Henry VIII had it destroyed during the dissolution in 1538. It’s really sad, because it must have magnificent to see in AD657.
Now, back on the road, those less traveled, we head off to our next campground, White Water Park. It is located just in between Middlesbrough and Thornaby-on-Tees. One night there, and then up the coast route “tomorrow”….