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Thirsk & Yarm

One of our Christmas presents in 2018 was a night away spent in an old windmill, close to the town of Yarm in North Yorkshire, and a most exciting present it would turn out to be.

Taking in to account the time of year, February, we packed to accommodate the more than likely inclement weather and set off mid-morning on Monday the 11^th to make our way, not directly to Yarm, but to make a stay along the way at Thirsk.

Pam over the weeks as been watching editions of the Yorkshire Vet, gruesome and off putting as they occasionally can be, to the extent that a visit to Thirsk, the very home of the programme was a must. The programme is based around the veterinary practice of England’s most famous practitioner Mr James Alfred Wight, the man immortalized in the television programme “All creatures great and small” under is pen-name James Herriot. The TV programs being based around the books of Mr Wight and starred Christopher Timothy as his character. The Herriot practice, by which it has become more famously known, was based in Thirsk and is now a museum and one which we intended to visit.

We arrived at Thirsk prior to lunch having had a pleasant journey north and fortunately on our arrival in the market town found a parking space in the centre close to the famous town clock. First objective on our arrival was to find a place to eat which surprisingly for us Turners we did at the first attempt. Having devoured our cheese toasties and over lunch, using our phone, locating the whereabouts of the Herriot museum we set off to pay our visit. Only a short walk later we had paid our entrance fee and began to enjoy an interesting visit. The museum has an eclectic mix. Veterinary equipment abounds, much dating back to the time that Herriot practiced. However equally interesting is the layout of the museum, which being in the original premises, retains rooms very much as they would have been back in the 1940’s when it was the base for the practice. The dining room and front parlour, which contained a seated and lifelike model of one of the more irascible characters from the TV programme, Mrs Pumphrey and her much pampered pooch Tricky-woo. So lifelike that Pam thought she was a genuine visitor to the museum, resting her weary legs. Other rooms reflect the small spaces used for the surgery, the living quarters, which inevitably over ran as space for the practice.

To the rear of the building is a recreated Foldyard and Farriers workshop. These have ben produced to give a feel for the working environment normally accounted by James and his fellow vets.

A statute of Alf Wight stands in the garden of the museum and is a major feature in many visitor photographs – but not ours.

Another area which has been created is a mock up of the television sets that would have been used to record the highly popular show that had two runs one between 1978 and 1980 and the other between 1988 and 1990. The equipment on display shows just how far technology has moved on in TV and film, the huge cameras, endless cables, the intense heat from the lighting rigs all making life pretty uncomfortable for the actors involved.

Bringing events up to date is the new Channel 5 series, of which my good lady is an avid watcher, “The Yorkshire Vet”, starring Peter Wright who once worked alongside Alf Wight before taking over his practice.  Peters surgery now housed in a modern spacious building on the outskirts of the town which we passed on the road heading back to the A19.

Caption: Thirsk town centre and the tower clock.

Caption: Inside the original Alf Wight veterniary practice. And the statue to the man himself.

It took a turn around an island to finally find the road we needed to reach our windmill accommodation but find it we did. We knew that we were on the right road and could see the windmill off to our left however, the lack of signage, at the end of the narrow drive way more than a lane leading to the mill, put me off.

The mill sits in grounds which also accommodate a variety of other properties which the owners appear to rent out, some of the buildings seem to be original and updated whereas others appear to have recently been constructed.  Reception was in the base of the mill and was an interesting mix of circular shapes, with views through to the dining area and kitchen. We had the choice of rooms and despites Pam’s current difficulty in walking, I opted for the first-floor room which was built out from the windmill, possibly an original store room. Despite the outside stairs the room was comfortable. Access was through French doors straight onto the bedroom off from which was a large lounge with comfortable two-seater sofa and TV. Both rooms had views back down into the garden area. Off the lounge was our bathroom with shower and the tiniest sink that you could imagine.

It didn’t take us long to realise that despite the quaint location, that the property needed lots of tender loving care, both externally and within the property itself. What problems there was didn’t detract from the fact that we were away, relaxing in unique surroundings and that the gift was most thoughtful and original.

In the evening we took the short walk back to the main road and ate in “The Fox Covert” pub. Tried to eat in the restaurant, but fully booked, so settled for the eating in the bar area. Reasonable meal.

We both slept well, retiring reasonable early with plans afoot to visit Yarm tomorrow before making our way home. We had paid to have full English breakfast which was personally cooked for us by the lady who covers as receptionist, chef and general manager whilst the owners are away, which was the case during our stay.  A local lass, who does this part time; she owns her own garden maintenance company, working in and around the local area. One of the gardens she looks after being here at the Mill. A font of knowledge about the local area and the owners of the Mill, for whom she had the highest praise.

Caption: The mill at Yarm, our room is to the left of the mill up the flight of metal stairs.

Caption: Our accomodation, tastefully decorated but in need of a some long overdue TLC.

Caption: At breakfast in the room off the main mill entrance and directly below our accomodation.

After breakfast we said our farewells to our most amiable stand in host and made our way to explore Yarm. Sadly, our stay was brief, the weather extremely cold and Pam struggling with an upset stomach. We did walk part of the high street, in search of a toilet, before returning to the car and making our way home. It would be nice to return on a warmer, brighter day to explore the town, the myriad of local shops and not forgetting the sizable viaduct at the end of the town which carries the line to Stockton and Middlesbrough.

A very pleasant break courtesy of our eldest daughter and son-in-law.

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