The County of Yorkshire

Yorkshire people are generally believed to pity those less fortunate than themselves who do not live in Yorkshire: and with some justification. Not only is Yorkshire England’s largest county but it is of unparalleled diversity, interest and beauty; from the industrial West Riding to the moors and dales of rural North Yorkshire, from the East Coast with its resorts and ancient fishing towns to the wolds with their rolling acres, and along the whole length of the middle of the County lies the vale of York with its rich arable land crowned by the Historic County City of York with its magnificent Minster.

Interspersed in all this diversity, so the Yorkshire man (or woman) believes, is the very best of every aspect of English life.

Yorkshire’s industrial legacy can be seen in still working watermills in Sheffield, which produced steel and cutlery, in Halifax’s Piece Hall, in Salts Mill at Shipley which now houses the world’s finest collection of Hockney’s, in the picturesque canal system which winds its way through the Yorkshire countryside regardless of topography.

As Yorkshire’s traditional manufacturing industries have been overtaken and eroded by far eastern enterprises, so new industries and opportunities have been created. IT, communications and software businesses both large and small have become a feature of Yorkshire business life whilst the “dark satanic mills” have been converted to new and modern uses as residential apartment complexes, serviced office buildings, factory shops and so on.

Equally, education has grown and expanded in the region; Leeds has become the fastest growing university in the country and both York and Hull universities are held in the highest regard nationally as centres of excellence.

Yorkshire has a plethora of historic locations to visit: museums and galleries, stately homes and gardens and historic landscapes: the spectacular Fountains Abbey and Studley is a world heritage site and one of the National Trust’s most popular attractions. Harewood, Newby, Nostell Priory and Castle Howard are all houses of the highest quality with their original contents and magnificent surroundings.

The ruins of Rievaulx Abbey in early morning mist present a romantic spectacle and you would not have to be a tree lover to enjoy the arboretum at Thorpe Perrow.

The countryside of the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors are amongst the most beautiful in the country, still sparsely populated and retaining their original character. They are a haven for wild life, animals, birds and plants. Centuries old wild flower meadows untouched by modern farming methods are a feature of Upper Wharfdale.

Yorkshire has many traditional market towns such as Helmsley, with its mellow stone and charming market square, Richmond with its fine 18th Century market square and beautifully restored Georgian theatre. Thirsk, Northallerton, Skipton, Pateley Bridge and Ripon, Yorkshire’s oldest city with its lovely Cathedral. Ripon is also celebrated for its Hornblower who sets the watch every night at 9pm in the market square: a ceremony performed for more than 1000 years.

Yorkshire’s larger cities are filled with interest. Leeds has one of the finest shopping centres outside of London and is well known for its many restaurants and its night life as well as being celebrated for Opera, Theatre and Ballet. Hull too is well known for its nightlife as well as its museums and galleries and its most recent addition, The Deep. Bradford has some fine museums and galleries and is a leading centre for ethnic food. York, which still retains its mediaeval walls, has a charming and historic centre covering all of the nation’s history - Roman, Viking, Mediaeval, some magnificent 18th Century civic buildings including the law courts and some very distinguished early Railway architecture. Harrogate has all the charms of its beginnings as a Spa town with a sophisticated shopping centre and lots of antique shops.

The East Coast has some of Yorkshire’s most picturesque resorts: Whitby, largely untouched by modern development with its parish church perched on the cliff top and fish shops with freshly caught dressed crab. Scarborough and Bridlington, the great seaside resorts before the days of foreign travel and the many smaller resorts such as Filey and Robin Hood’s Bay with their expansive beaches and donkey rides – all have an enduring appeal.

Hotels, restaurants and pubs are also in good supply as are the traditional fish and chips cooked in beef dripping.

Sport has always been a major part of Yorkshire life- cricket, football, rugby league, rugby union and of course horse racing. The County has many racecourses both Flat and National Hunt: York the “Ascot of the North” stages some of the finest racing in the country at its May and August meetings.

Is it any wonder that Yorkshire people identify so strongly with their County and seldom wish to leave it, whilst their pride in all their many superior assets makes them welcoming to visitors, if only to show them how much better things are done in Yorkshire.

Michael Abrahams C.B.E. D.L