Today was beautiful, the shades of colour in Parlington, reminding you of the wonder of life. But in the centre of Aberford gathering at St Ricarius church, were many mourners in what seemed like all the village turning out, indeed the church was full to the brim, a fitting tribute to the sad death of Pru Howson, who died earlier this month. I have known David and Pru ever since I came to Aberford in ’95 and they have always been both kind and helpful. Pru like David was born and bred in the village, and lived her entire life here. She had seen much change over the course of her seventy years, born during the war in 1942, one of the special few delivered at Hazlewood Castle, when it was turned over to a hospital for the period of the war. She was educated at the village primary school and went on to attend Parlington secondary school, which had been created by modifying the army barracks left behind after the army departed in the post war years.
Archive for the ‘Aberford’ Category
26th October 2012
Friday, October 26th, 2012R. O. Cockren, Aberford
Friday, March 30th, 2012I recently acquired an obvious studio portrait photograph of nineteenth century vintage of an elderly gentleman taken by the Aberford photographer R. O. Cockren, as below:
Spring Blossom ~ Wisteria
Thursday, May 5th, 2011
During this very pleasant warm spell, which has seen a tremendous bounty of spring blossom across the country, I was delighted to find on a recent visit, some fabulous examples of Wisteria growing in verdant splendour on many fine old Georgian houses in and around Cheltenham. However I have rarely seen any competing examples here in Yorkshire. Obviously the slightly cooler climate is the main culprit, so how pleased I was when returning from the Royal Wedding celebrations at the Arabian Horse last Friday to spot the blossom framing a stone headed doorway of a house on Main Street North in Aberford; Christmas Cottage. The photograph at the head of the article is witness to this Chinese climber.
Lost Circular Polaroid Filter
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011If you enjoy the walk along Parlington Lane, from the junction with the old Great North Road in Aberford, west under the Light Arch, along and behind, the Dark Arch, or if you are unafraid of spooks, through the mud inside the arch; then past the Gamekeeper’s Cottage and along past the two Staithes Cottages, and down the hill to Throstle Nest. You will generally be looking at the landscape and features as points of interest. If however your gaze catches the glint of glass in the grass! It may be a circular polaroid photographic filter [67mm ᴓ]dropped inadvertently by a friend of mine during a walk this last weekend. If you are lucky to make such a find, he will be eternally grateful should you return it to him! Just let me know and I will do the rest.
Royal Wedding Celebrations, Aberford
Sunday, May 1st, 2011
The villagers of Aberford enjoyed an afternoon in the sun to celebrate the Royal Wedding, the event was organised by the school PTA along with the local pub, the Arabian horse. Pictures are on my Parlington history site here.
Former Almshouses (Great North Road :: A1)
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
When travelling along the old Great North Road (A1) it is always worthwhile checking to see how the light is cast over the former Almshouses. I don’t suppose for one moment that the original inhabitants ever considered how the place looked in the face of the direction of the sunlight; but they must have been very pleased that the old place afforded them shelter in a less hospitable world than the one we live in today! Well the shot above benefits from the opportunity to catch the building almost carless, as well as the light creating sufficient detail across the main elevation without too many long shadows. The yellow car adds to the picture as it is a 1960-70′s Triumph Spitfire, with a bold black stripe over the centre of the car; very sporty!
Wetherby Craft Fair (Part One)
Sunday, June 13th, 2010
I took some of my pictures to Wetherby Craft Fair yesterday, these range in size from postcard to A3+ [330mm x 483mm] and are views of local scenes and some other prominent features that have caught my eye whilst out and about. There was good deal of interest but the throughput of visitors was not as I had hoped, it was a lovely day, for a change, and most people were interested in outdoor activities, and no doubt awaiting the evening England v USA match.
Ivy Cottage, Aberford
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
A recent win on eBay of the photo-postcard, shown above, dated 1904 has been added to the Parlington history site, and contrasts this former Gascoigne property with the location today. It was sold in 1964 in the major auction in October that year; details of the auction were added in an earlier post: the-biggest-sell-off-of-aberford-that-ever-was.
The Biggest Sell off …of Aberford that ever was!
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
On the 2nd of October 1964, The Parlington Estate and much of Aberford, along with a few properties in Saxton were put under the auctioneers hammer! This is a list of the property on offer.
The Auction Properties
- Lot 1 Superb site for residence of character (Parlington Hall site)
- Lot 2 Gardens House (Principal source for fruit and vegetables from the walled gardens since the late 18th century)
- 7 Highly productive arable and stock farms (let and producing £5,746.00 [£87,250 at todays rates, 2009, based on the retail price index] per annum) lots 3-9.
Parlington Oil Paintings Exhibition
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
This coming October, 4th-11th each day from 10:00am- 4:30pm, is an exhibition at Aberford Interiors featuring the paintings by the internationally acknowledged artist Anthony Christian. He and his wife Marian, enjoy a quiet and thoughtful existence in the grand old Gardens House, just up the hill from the site of the old hall. However, today’s produce is oil on canvas whereas in days gone by the Gardens house was renowned for the production of fresh produce for the Gascoigne table. Residing in such surroundings is a great nutrient to the creative juices and we are pleased to see his work on local landscapes being presented at an exhibition in the village. Of course Aberford has often been the subject of artistic endeavours the Almshouses once being used by local artist, Heather Walker. The windmill long since demolished on the hill above the road to Lotherton, was often the subject of artists, and the main street with the bridge over the Cock Beck has drawn the eye of amateur painters over the decades.