Wednesday Lensday: Grandeur Abandoned

Burton Constable Hall is a large country house, approximately 10 minutes drive from where I grew up. The Grade I listed, Elizabethan property that stands today, began its construction in the 1560s and is surrounded by 300 acres of parkland designed by Capability Brown.

If you were to visit the hall, you’d likely learn that it has been the seat of the Constable family for over 400 years. You’d probably marvel at the interiors decorated in original furniture and features from the 18th century and you may even discover that parts of the building date back much further to Medieval times.

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It’s several years since I’ve wandered in its peaceful grounds and the last time I explored the rooms, everything was distinctly larger and taller, so it was lovely to return over the Easter holidays with my mum.

Yet, as elaborate and intricate as the ceilings, bedrooms and even the radiators were, the rooms ‘dressed’ in their original splendour were not the most interesting to me. All a little too ostentatious and gilded.

Are you brave enough to enter the Alleys? (Part 2)

Last week, I told tales of magic, mystery and mayhem that unleashed my poor attempts to solve some riddles!

A collection of urban legends, known locally as the 7 Alleys, was brought to life in a ‘secret’ performance as part of our City of Culture events (You can read about it here).

But where did these tales originate? And what other spooky tales and folklore delights are associated with my home town? Time to walk back down the Alleys…if you dare!

Are you brave enough to enter the Alleys? (Part 1)

Riddles and Puzzles. Ciphers and cryptograms. Mysteries and folklore.

I fancy myself as being quite good at working them out but in reality, I’d be kicked out of any lectures by Robert Langdon before even being allowed through the door!

But my lack of expertise doesn’t stop me wanting to conquer a coded challenge so when a local mystery began to unfold a few weeks ago, I was eager to get cracking.

It all started with a small news story, that gained momentum on social media, of some mysterious, ancient looking crates found in abandoned tunnels under The Land of Green Ginger.

Now, despite having a particularly magical (and therefore fictional) sounding name, this place does exist within my home town of Hull. A small street in the city centre, it is often attributed with housing the world’s smallest window, within the George Hotel.

The tunnels, among many beneath the city streets, were once possibly used for smuggling, as much of the now paved centre was originally the docks, and some were reportedly used by monks to move items from their monasteries. So, a discovery of this nature was not completely unusual but was nevertheless exciting.

How to be proper Yorkshire!

The Tour de Yorkshire cycling race is once again afoot (apeddling?) in the region, so I thought I’d re-share this post from last year, so that you can learn how to seamlessly mingle with the locals, should you be coming along for the ‘ride’!

As a proper born and bred Yorkshire lass, I thought I’d share some facts, lingo and general awesomeness about the UK’s largest county, to help you all become honorary Yorkshire folk and be astounded by its splendour!

Biased? Never…

So grab yer flat cap and whippet, stick kettle on fer brew and prepare to be educated ah kid!

Wednesday Lensday: POPpy ART

Queen Victoria Square, in the city centre of my home town, Hull, has become quite the location recently. Since the start of our City of Culture year, it has housed various attractions, including the light show to kick off the celebrations and ‘The Blade‘ – built in the city and the largest man-made single piece structure in the world (and I swear it’s not photo-shopped in!)

However, the most recent offering is a touring collection of ceramic poppies – you may be familiar with them cascading from the Tower of London as part of the ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ exhibition, commemorating World War 1. And now we are privileged to look after them for a few weeks as they tour around the UK.