Easingwold Railway - a short history

England's smallest independent railway ?

A short history by Frank Johnston-Banks

Presentation to Easingwold u3a History & Heritage Group on Thursday 18th March 2021

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Medieval Monastic Buildings: Their Design, Use and Location

This course will equip the student to understand the configuration and use of monastic buildings viewed as ruins in England with an introduction to some of the main surviving remains.

 Medieval Monastic Buildings: Their Design, Use and Location

Easingwold Railway - Zoom Meeting - Thursday 18th March 2.00pm

History & Heritage Meeting by Zoom - Easingwold Railway - Thursday 18th March 2.00pm

All members are welcome to the next History & Heritage Group meeting where Frank Johnston Banks will be leading the meeting about Easingwold Railway 1891-1957

The line served both passengers and freight, with agricultural traffic, sugar beet and incoming coal. Day-old chicks were once taken by rail to Alne, where they were transferred to main-line trains for delivery across the country.

Britain's bloodiest day #The Battle of Towton 1461

Few have heard of Towton before our regular big u3a monthly zoom meeting with David Skillen.  Great presentation and great turnout. 

This was one of the most decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses and, possibly, the bloodiest battle on British soil. On a bitterly cold day in March 1461 the Houses of York and Lancaster struggled for the Crown on a snow covered plateau in Yorkshire.

Rievaulx Abbey #Members Week 12-18 April

Rievaulx Abbey will open on 29 March for local visits. 

Takeaway catering will be available but indoor areas will remain closed, and safety measures will be in place to keep everyone safe. You’ll also need to book your visit in advance. 

Join English Heritage Senior Historian Dr Michael Carter on a tour of Rievaulx Abbey, looking at Aelred’s time as abbot. Dr Carter will explore the enduring importance of the saint to the Cistercian monks who prayed and lived at the monastery until its closure in 1538 on the orders of Henry VIII.

This event is graded as moderate access as there are some rough paths, grass paths and inclines and steps on site. Please dress for the weather, including footwear suitable for walking.
Online booking is free but essential. Bookings will open on 17 March, please check back here then.  Check out link below.
ST AELRED AT RIEVAULX ABBEY 16th. April

National Trust says heritage sites at risk from climate change

 We might think the climate crisis is a threat to our future, but the National Trust has just released a worrying report on how it could wipe away our past.

They’ve outlined a ‘hazard map’ which shows how 30% of their heritage sites are at risk from the impacts of climate change like flooding.
We have been to Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, the country’s largest monastic ruins. They might have survived King Henry VIII’s Reformation, but almost 500 years on, their future looks uncertain.
Alex Thomson, Channel 4
Follow link to view the original Channel 4 video
Channel 4 link to video
You Tube link

1950’s “The Official Guide” of our area by Easingwold Rural District Council

Thanks to Frank for this.

Here is an absolute gem that was lent to me by cllr Nigel Knapton and I’ve taken the opportunity to scan it for posterity.

Could you circulate it to all our U3A members

as I feel many will find it very interesting  - and for locals especially, it will bring back many fond memories! Just look at the adverts!

The 1950’s “The Official Guide” of our area by Easingwold Rural District Council. Now long gone and replaced by Hambleton.

Interesting that the Chair of the Rural District Council was the Vicar of Shipton by Beningbrough and the Vice Chair lived in Overton Manor (bet you don’t even know where that is J )

Especially that the cover is not of Easingwold at all, but of the peaceful River Ouse – near Newton I assume…

Truly a Rural district then – but then most of our population still lives outside of Easingwold….

Frank Johnston-Banks

 

MONASTERIES IN NORTH YORKSHIRE – A SUMMARY by Ian Peel

Christian monasticism sprang from the Egyptian desert, where hermits sought a solitary life. By the 4^th century some were so renowned that they drew disciples, who formed communities.  

Thereafter, the monastic movement spread to Ireland, where St. Patrick, the son of a Roman official, set out to convert the Irish to Christianity.  The Irish monks introduced Christianity into Cornwall, Wales, and Scotland.