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PAGE FOUROF TEN 
"BELIEVE IT OR NOT"What legend is attached to an old stone in the churchyard at Kellington?The story concerns a local shepherd, his dog and a serpent. Centuries ago the reptile was greatly feared by the inhabitants of Kellington near Pontefract, and which caused great havoc among the flocks of sheep in the neighbourhood. At length a shepherd named Armroyd, having more courage than his fellows, who feared the monster to be satan in disguise, determined to do battle with the marauder, and after a savage struggle slew his enemy with his crook, losing his life in the contest, as did his dog. A stone upon which had been cut a cross, a man with clasped hands, a dog and rough marks which may have represented a serpent, was discovered in Kellington churchyard, and which, perhaps, at one time served as a coffin lid, thus giving some credence to the story. A field in the vicinity bears the same name of Armroyd close and is said to have been presented to the hero's descendants of gratitude to his neighbours. Who was publicly hanged and buried yet lived to tell the tale?John Bartendale, a piper and citizen of York, who was found guilty of felony. He was hanged on Knavesmire on March 27th, 1643,
and after suspension for the best part of an hour was cut
down and interred on the spot. Bartedndale was revived, sat up and enquired where he was, equally amazed as the spectators. He was again tried at York castle and gained his livelihood as an ostler. Drunken Barnaby in his "Book of travels," comments as follows : "Here a piper apprehended, Whose ghost was said to haunt Old Hall, Wakefield?That of Lady Mary Bolles who died in 1662. The Hall, which was a good example of the Elizabethan period of architecture, was built for John Kaye of Dalton, and after passing through the hands of successive owners became the residence of Thomas Bolles, of Osberton, Nottinghamshire, whose widow, Lady Mary, inherited the property and where she lived in great style. She was a woman who entertained lavishly and exhibited great eccentricity, giving orders in her will that her remains were to remain above ground for six weeks before interment. She left £120 for the entertainment of guests before the funeral and £200 to be expended in the erection of her tomb, £700 to be spent on mourning and a further £400 for overall funeral expenses. A tradition told of a breach of faith, and a room which Lady
Bolles had caused to be walled up on account of large sums
having being gambled away in it was later opened. Heath Old Hall is no more. What are Brimham Rocks?A number of curiously shaped stones near Pately-bridge whose odd shapes have been fashioned by wind and weather. They cover an area of about 60 acres and the largest is estimated to weigh 100 tonnes. Their names are singular : Baboon Rock, the Yoke of Oxen, the Druid's Writing Desk, the Wishing Rock, the Idol Rock, the Turtles and the Dancing Bear. Where were church bells rung at the bottom of a coal pit shaft?On Saturday, March 5th, 1904, in response to an invitation the ringers of St. James' church, Bolton, Bradford, visited Horserigg Colliery, Gildersome, and were conducted through a tour of the workings. At the conclusion of the visit a course of Grandsire Caters was rung on handbells at the bottom of the shaft, the first time church bells had been heard in a coal mine. Where is Blubberhouses?Blubberhouses is a small township near Fewston, seven miles from Otley. There are many theories as to the origin of this peculiar name, one being that it is derived from the Norse Blaaber Hus - the house of bilberry. Another attributes it to Blue Boar, an inn so named at Blubberhouses long ago. Grainge, in his history of Knaresborough, states the name to have most likely have originated in whortleberry, which theory may contain some truth. Ancient documents refer to the place as Blueburgh, Blueborrow, and Blubberhouse. When during the present century was a woman accused of witchcraft?At Scarborough 1904, a woman being charged in court with wilfully neglecting her child, an infant of 17 months. The woman named Cooper, and who lived in Ewart Street, emphatically denied the charge, insisting that the child had been deliberately bewitched to death by a neighbour named Marshall. The jury found that the child had died as a result of convulsions. What was described as the Pharasalia of England?The name applies to the famous battle of Towton which was fought on Palm Sunday, March 29th, 1461. One hundred thousand warriors were engaged, composed of the rival forces of York and Lancaster. More than 37,000 were slain during a frightful struggle in which no prisoners were taken and quarter neither asked for or given. Where is the Land of Green Ginger?The name applies to a street in Hull where long ago a conserve was made from lemons and ginger. The name was used by Winifred Holtby as the title of one of her novels. What and where is whip-ma whop-ma gate?It is an interesting but short street in York built in the middle ages. In past times on the day preceding the Apostolic Fair the tenants of the street, by custom, whipped every dog out of the thoroughfare. What is the Danes Dyke?It is an ancient entrenchment about three miles long near Flamborough. What and where is the White Horse?It is the figure of a horse cut in the turf of the Hambleton Hills, visible for many miles around and known as the White Horse of Kilburn. The figure was formed in 1837 by Mr. Thomas Taylor, a native of Kilburn, and on land given by Mr. Dresser of Kilburn Hall. The figure's dimensions are as follows: length 180 feet, height 80 feet, land area 3 roods. Six tons of lime were used to whiten the figure and the entire process engaged 33 men. Where and what is Dotheboys Hall?A building at Bowes near Barnard Castle, and over a century ago of the notorious Yorkshire schools. Dickens, who visited Bowes in 1838, used Dotheboys Hall in his "Nicholas Nickelby" as an illustration of the cruelty and exploitation of children boarded at these so-called academies. At that time Dotheboys Hall was owned by a brutal character named Shaw, who according to Dickens thrashed and starved his pupils unmercifully. Dickens' character, Squeers, was in reality the one and same person and whose harshness has been hotly denied by certain of his descendants. The former school is now a café and roadhouse. Where can be found the shortest river in England?In Wensleydale. The River Bain is approximately only a mile in length. Where in Yorkshire can one find underground lakes?Under Ingleborough, where White Scar cavern, which is composed of a series of passages, contains lakes, a waterfall, stalactites and stalagmites. Where is the lake which has neither feeder or outlet?Lake Gormire, near Whitestone Cliff, in the Hambledon Hills. What and where are the Devil's Arrows?They are huge rough columns of gritstone, several tons in weight and standing upright between Boroughbridge and Aldborough. Legend tells us that the Devil, surprised during an attempt to hurl these missiles at Aldborough church, failed in his object, the stones falling short of the target. It is generally believed that the stones were used by the Druids for religious rites. Their date has been placed around 1,000 B.C. Where did a servant girl offer her help to a king in order to save his life?At Red Hall, Leeds, where Charles I was held prisoner by the Roundheads during his journey to London. The girl, who was a sympathiser and loyal to the king, was filled with compassion for the prisoner and offered him female attire, saying she could escort him safely in the dark to an alley which led to Lands Lane and the house of loyal friends. The king declined with gratitude and presented the girl with a token which she later brought to the notice of Charles II after the restoration. As a result her husband was appointed Chief Baliff of Yorkshire.
Where are the remains of a windmill wherein a miracle is supposed to have been performed?At Aberford, between Hook Moor and the southern end of the village. It is still related locally how Sammy Hick, a blacksmith
and local preacher of Micklefield, prayed earnestly for wind
at the mill during a long spell of calm, still weather. Strangely enough, many who carried corn to the mill were disappointed, the sails would not move an inch for those whose faith was apparently a matter of convenience. Sammy Hick was buried near the south wall of Aberford church which contains a stained glass window to his memory. Who was the Luddite who became a beadle?Joseph Radcliffe, who was born at Halifax in 1791 and whose father deserted his family and fought in the Napoleonic wars. Ratcliffe was apprenticed to a wool-cropper and as a young
man joined the Luddites whom he helped in the smashing of
mill machinery. In 1846 Ratcliffe became a beadle at Halifax and later mace-bearer to the first mayor of the town. He died in 1867. Where was a lizard found inside a solid block of coal 150 feet below the surface of the earth?At William Fenton's mine at Outwood, Wakefield, in 1818. The reptile was discovered in a solid block of coal and was five inches long. Upon being exposed to the air the creature died immediately. What famous rebel and conspirator rang the church bells at Cowthorpe?Guy Fawkes, whose father owned a small estate there and where Fawkes spent some time as a boy. What is known as the Thieve's litany?The following doggerel verse which in times past was no doubt familiar to many members of the brotherhood of crime. "There is a Proverbe, and a prayer withall, From which prison did twenty prisoners succeed in escaping?From York Castle in 1761 when twenty French prisoners of war succeeded in escaping after filing the bars of their cell. Though six were taken the remainder got clear away and no doubt with the assistance of English sympathisers made their way to the coast and freedom. |
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