The camping part of the trip is now over as I’ll be stopping at a pub for the next couple of nights. I left yesterday’s blog with some indecision on what to do today. One thought was to go for a walk up on the moors, however a combination of freezing weather and a sore back put paid to that so it was another museum visit instead.
If I had a feeling that The Armouries glorified weapons and skipped over how they’re used the same could not be said of the Bankfield Museum in Halifax. Apart from incorporating the Duke of Wellington’s Regimental Museum they’ve also got a World Wat 1 exhibition which focuses on local people and artifacts. There are other exhibitions such as shoes, sweets (particularly Quality Street) and toys plus the Akroyd family who sold the house to the Corporation in the first place.
Although the DoW regiment was originally based around Gloucester it became the 33rd (or First Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment in 1782 and the Duke of Wellington’s in 1852. The display covers every major conflict from the American War of Independence through to peace keeping duties with the UN in Bosnia. The regiment was incorporated into The Yorkshire Regiment in 2006.
The next stop from there was Slaithwait (pronounced Slowit or Sluffit) for lunch. When in Yorkshire, on a Friday there’s only one real option so Fish, Chips and Bits it was. I had a wander round the town as well, and a short stroll along the canal. With time to kill I drove up into the hills and stopped off at a reservoir car park to relax and read; shame about the noise of the M62. From there I drove round via Saddleworth to the pub and a welcome pint of Black Sheep (the first of many!)
Friday 19 October 2018
Thursday 18 October 2018
Oop North- Day 2
The fan heater did sterling service overnight in the ‘van. It was noticeable that the temperature must have dropped about 4am as the heater then ran almost continuously, earlier the thermostat kept cutting in and out. I had a fairly early start to get the train in to Leeds for the day but I’m glad I don’t commute by rail, I was fortunate to get one of the last remaining seats and the train ended up so full that they cancelled the last two stops for safety reasons. The first stop after arriving in the City was Wetherspoons for coffee and breakfast before I set the SatNav for the walk to The Armouries museum, the main target of this part of the trip.
I have to admit I didn’t realise just how big the museum actually is. It was quite enough for me to walk round, and I’m not sure I didn’t miss a bit whilst dodging untethered children. The collection is split into themed areas such as Hunting, War, etc. arranged around a central atrium. It works well in my view. The only issue I have, and it’s a personal view, is that it’s very easy to get caught up in the magnificence of some of the weapons and forget that, with the exception of some purely ceremonial and presentation pieces, they’re all aimed at killing or harming people and animals. To be fair to the museum there was a display section aimed at street crime, pointing out the blades that are (or may be, depending on circumstances) illegal to carry. You do have to be careful, many multi-tools have locking blades which means they are not classed as having folding blades and therefore largely exempt from knife laws.
I think the most magnificent guns were not actually the most highly decorated, a pair of pistols with exquisite blued Damascus steel barrels. Anyone who watches Forged in Fire on TV will know that Damascus Steel is made by forge welding multiple layers of metal together, they’d also recognise quite s few of the blades on display, particularly in the Oriental section.
Lunch was a reasonable baked potato and coffee before I looked round the last couple of floors. I nearly missed a whole floor which included the First World War display. This highlighted the transition from man-to-man fighting to machine guns and mass killing, but with reference to the hand-to-hand fighting in the trenches where knives, clubs and even lances were used. I timed my departure just right to hear the peace of Leeds Dock being disturbed by a demonstration of the iconic Lee Enfield .303 rifle. I should point out that it was a deactivated rifle firing blanks but it was still blooming noisy.
I didn’t want to be too late back to the station, bearing in mind the crowded train of the morning, but I wandered up through the shopping quarter on the way without seeing anything of interest. There wasn’t too long a wait for a train, they’re fairly frequent during the day, and this time it was only moderately full. It does get a bit confusing on that line as the train reverses direction at Bradford Interchange! I had planned to walk up to the pub for supper but after a long day just couldn’t be bothered so a tin of chicken soup and a couple of bread roles sufficed. I’ll definitely be having an early night, I’ve got a couple of options for tomorrow depending on how I feel.
I have to admit I didn’t realise just how big the museum actually is. It was quite enough for me to walk round, and I’m not sure I didn’t miss a bit whilst dodging untethered children. The collection is split into themed areas such as Hunting, War, etc. arranged around a central atrium. It works well in my view. The only issue I have, and it’s a personal view, is that it’s very easy to get caught up in the magnificence of some of the weapons and forget that, with the exception of some purely ceremonial and presentation pieces, they’re all aimed at killing or harming people and animals. To be fair to the museum there was a display section aimed at street crime, pointing out the blades that are (or may be, depending on circumstances) illegal to carry. You do have to be careful, many multi-tools have locking blades which means they are not classed as having folding blades and therefore largely exempt from knife laws.
I think the most magnificent guns were not actually the most highly decorated, a pair of pistols with exquisite blued Damascus steel barrels. Anyone who watches Forged in Fire on TV will know that Damascus Steel is made by forge welding multiple layers of metal together, they’d also recognise quite s few of the blades on display, particularly in the Oriental section.
Lunch was a reasonable baked potato and coffee before I looked round the last couple of floors. I nearly missed a whole floor which included the First World War display. This highlighted the transition from man-to-man fighting to machine guns and mass killing, but with reference to the hand-to-hand fighting in the trenches where knives, clubs and even lances were used. I timed my departure just right to hear the peace of Leeds Dock being disturbed by a demonstration of the iconic Lee Enfield .303 rifle. I should point out that it was a deactivated rifle firing blanks but it was still blooming noisy.
I didn’t want to be too late back to the station, bearing in mind the crowded train of the morning, but I wandered up through the shopping quarter on the way without seeing anything of interest. There wasn’t too long a wait for a train, they’re fairly frequent during the day, and this time it was only moderately full. It does get a bit confusing on that line as the train reverses direction at Bradford Interchange! I had planned to walk up to the pub for supper but after a long day just couldn’t be bothered so a tin of chicken soup and a couple of bread roles sufficed. I’ll definitely be having an early night, I’ve got a couple of options for tomorrow depending on how I feel.
Wednesday 17 October 2018
Oop North - Day 1
I’m having another long weekend trip, part campervan, part pub, this time to Yorkshire. The main purpose is the season end “do” for the canal theatre company I’m a supporter of but I’m taking the opportunity to visit some museums.
Today it was Armley Mills, the Leeds Technial Museum. After an easy drive up I got there at just the right time. Although it was originally a corn mill it was converted to a woollen mill in the early 1800’s and that’s still the main part of the displays. The downside was that there was a large school party visiting, but that did mean the Spinning Mule was demonstrated. Apart from that it’s all static displays (the steam Mill Engine does run but only on bank holidays). I managed to largely dodge the untethered children and had a decent look round. As I was leaving I got caught by a researcher doing a survey on the museum. I don’t really mind doing these as they are important for direction and funding but it was a bit long.
I then made a fatal mistake. The caravan site is near Hebden Bridge so I thought I’d go there for some lunch. I should have stopped in Sowerby Bridge on the way as every single parking space (bar one that there was no way I’d get in to) in HB was full. With Mytholmroyd being dug up as well I gave up and went to the site. I’d got lunch makings and beer anyway so it wasn’t an issue. The site is quite small so if you arrive in the afternoon you just pitch up and pay when the office opens. In the end I’m not sure if it was recent lack of sleep or the can of Tanglefoot but I had a decent snooze in the afternoon before visiting the office and coughing up just over £16 for two nights.
The Robin Hood is s bit of a pull up the hill (it’s the longest continuous incline in the country) but as with the last time I visited it’s great. First thing when I came in (I’m still there!) was being asked if I’d seen a missing dog. I hadn’t but before I’d finished the first pint it had been found and was shut in one of the cars awaiting collection. It’s a real locals pub, but one of those where you’re regarded as one of them as soon as you walk in. It’s also very dog friendly, there are free dog treats available!
The ‘van will be staying on site tomorrow as I’m getting the train to Leeds. More on that in the next blog.
Addendum
The hill is a popular challenge to the cyclists (it featured on La Tour). I saw a couple riding up in the near dark as I walked up to the pub and now a couple have appeared in the bar.
Today it was Armley Mills, the Leeds Technial Museum. After an easy drive up I got there at just the right time. Although it was originally a corn mill it was converted to a woollen mill in the early 1800’s and that’s still the main part of the displays. The downside was that there was a large school party visiting, but that did mean the Spinning Mule was demonstrated. Apart from that it’s all static displays (the steam Mill Engine does run but only on bank holidays). I managed to largely dodge the untethered children and had a decent look round. As I was leaving I got caught by a researcher doing a survey on the museum. I don’t really mind doing these as they are important for direction and funding but it was a bit long.
I then made a fatal mistake. The caravan site is near Hebden Bridge so I thought I’d go there for some lunch. I should have stopped in Sowerby Bridge on the way as every single parking space (bar one that there was no way I’d get in to) in HB was full. With Mytholmroyd being dug up as well I gave up and went to the site. I’d got lunch makings and beer anyway so it wasn’t an issue. The site is quite small so if you arrive in the afternoon you just pitch up and pay when the office opens. In the end I’m not sure if it was recent lack of sleep or the can of Tanglefoot but I had a decent snooze in the afternoon before visiting the office and coughing up just over £16 for two nights.
The Robin Hood is s bit of a pull up the hill (it’s the longest continuous incline in the country) but as with the last time I visited it’s great. First thing when I came in (I’m still there!) was being asked if I’d seen a missing dog. I hadn’t but before I’d finished the first pint it had been found and was shut in one of the cars awaiting collection. It’s a real locals pub, but one of those where you’re regarded as one of them as soon as you walk in. It’s also very dog friendly, there are free dog treats available!
The ‘van will be staying on site tomorrow as I’m getting the train to Leeds. More on that in the next blog.
Addendum
The hill is a popular challenge to the cyclists (it featured on La Tour). I saw a couple riding up in the near dark as I walked up to the pub and now a couple have appeared in the bar.
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