Castle Howard

It was Sunday, So we went to Church in Beverleyand than

Headed to Castle Howard

This Mansion is Privately owned but attracts large crowds

The theme of course was still christmas

Fine Art abounded

Mixed with Christmas tree's

Windows painted to show the struggles of the past

The hallways were all decked out.

The tree were large and well done

Even the fairy on the top was a babie doll.

Some halls behind the scene were just impressive and they were decorted for christmas

Even the Model of the Castle when it was in it heyday looked impressive.

Jennifer of course was really enjoying the decorations.

Xmas Dinner on This Table. Yah, right

The kids had there space as well.

The fine art was behind the decortations.

The chapel window were impressive as well.

Outside the Rain had stopped and the Castle came into it own.

Oh this is a holiday Home , I'll take two..LOL

you just don;t get a clear understand ing of the size of this place

Even the Follies were Huge

And of Course the top glisined in the rain.

Whitby Abbey and Town

Whitby Abbey

This magnificent place stands on the Hills above Whitby (Home fo Captian Cook)

It was closed for Maintenance, It appears that some of fell near people that were visiting it.

Still what we could see was impressive.

The graveyard very large as well.

Once in Whitby, the small fishing tourist town was charming 

We even had dinner at an Award Winning Fish and Chip shop.

The local market was still there.

The town was tight in the Valley with the Abbey above it.

Numerous Statues of James Cook abound the place.

But the Abbey will always be overlooking it.

Scarborough Castle

Scarborough Castle was the next stop heading north, and the Wind was blowing hard,

The castle is not much now as it was destroyed during the wars.

The Castle walls were built by the Romans initially.

And would very defendable and difficult to attack.

The keep itself was closed due to tot he winds but would have had a very 

The Gun Keepers house from WW2 is the only one that still

But what a view.

Belton Cliffs

On the road Again, We went tot he Beltoon Cliffs

The cliffs are home to the Puffins during May-August

We only got to see one.

It is still home to a colony of Mollmocks

But what beautiful cliffs, These are a safe zone for them.

And they went on for Miles

Fountain Abbey and Studley Royal Water gardens

Fountains Abbey was the last stop of the day

First, we went to the Fountain Hall.

This was once a Magnificant home but in the early 1900's it becomes a school for working boys.

Not much inside except some fine artwork the recently made.

But it would have been a great home at some time in the Past.

The mill was not far from the Hall but is now a home.

Once around the corner, There was the old Abbey, 

In its heyday, it was home to over 5000 thousand people

It has been a ruin for over 400 years.

we went for walk around it to get to Studley Water Gardens before dark.

But even from a  distance, this abbey was impressive

The Gardens to my surprise were not as big as expected, They were just a series of ponds

Some with Statues

There were plenty of pheasant on the site and they were

But the ponds must have been something bigger planned

The statues were grand

As was the follies

By the time I got back to the Abbey, the sun was setting,

But they had lights on and colorful ones at the that 

The sun was setting fast

So I had to move fast.

This gives great views and Pictures on the inside

Not so much on the outside

This tower was the main entrance into the Abbey, 

It must have been a sight for people to see when it was in its glory days.

The Size of the Abbey was immense, with great arches, they must have been had to knock town

I was slow through this area the lights add character to the place.

IN a small room on the way out was a model someone had prepared to show what it was like in its glory days

It was huge for a complex. 

No wonder the King wanted it destroyed.