The Goathland Plough Stots – 2025
The village of Goathland on the North York Moors has preserved the old tradition of ‘Blessing the Plough’, which takes place in early January every year. Connected with this tradition are a group of sword dancers known as the Goathland Plough Stots, who have their ‘Day of Dance’ on the Saturday after the Plough […]
The ‘Moses Rock’ Well – Beamsley
Beamsley is a small village, located 5 miles to the east of Skipton. Harry Speight mentions the ‘Moses’ Rock’ spring at Beamsley as a foot note in his book Upper Wharfedale (Speight, 1900) … “Happy is Beamsley, too, in its liquid refreshment, for no purer spring is to be found through all England, and […]
Pudding Pie Hill – Sowerby (Thirsk)
Pudding Pie Hill is a large burial mound located in a field to the east of Sowerby village, near Thirsk. In the past, Pudding Pie Hill was believed to be a fairy dwelling – just Like the Willy Howe tumulus near Wold Newton in East Yorkshire. Writing in the 1850’s, the Darlington historian […]
Boxing Day Sword Dance – Flamborough
I have known about the Flamborough Long Sword Dancers for many years, but never had the chance to see them perform – until this year. It was worth the wait, as it was a real treat to visit Flamborough and see an honest local tradition being performed by, and for, the good folk of […]