Harrogate and Knaresborough

I didn't think I could take more pictures in one day than I did in Whitby, but today I surpassed it by 50%.  It is unseasonably nice weather here (clear skies and 70s) and since I don't have any classes on Wednesday and have things pretty well set for my Thursday class, we decided to take advantage of the weather while we have it to take a day trip.  Valerie, the International Education Director, had told me that she commutes to York each day from Harrogate on the train and that I really needed to visit the city because it was so beautiful.  Seemed like a good day to do it, since Harrogate's specialty is its Victorian gardens (and buildings).  It will take me a while to sort through all my photos (the beauty and the curse of digital photography is that one takes pictures of everything...sometimes three or four pictures of everything).  But for now here is just a taste:

On the train ride to Harrogate (just 30 minutes and $16.50 for a "duo same day return"), one of the stops was at a place called Knaresborough.  When passing through, we saw an amazing bridge over a river, so we stopped off there on our way back to York.  Since I didn't have any information about the place, we found the Tourist Information Office and discovered it has 12th century castle ruins on the cliff above the river, some very interesting architecture (note the checkered walls and our first thatched roof spotting) in addition to the views of the River Nidd.  Turns out Knareborough is one of England's oldest towns and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. And it just so happens we were there on Wednesday, when their market in held in the city center - and has been ever since commissioned by royal charter in 1310 by Edward II.  Again I have much editing to do, but will post a few pictures.

I thought this an appropriate statement with which to end a wonderful day (on the Knaresborough parish church of St. John - Norman in origin). The church still continues the old tradition of ringing the bells every Tuesday evening to guide travellers through the forests surrounding Knaresborough for the Wednesday market.  Another glorious day.