Trifter

Looking Down at Knaresborough from the Castle

photo by author

England has many hidden treasures and one such gem is the Yorkshire town of Knaresborough. Historically it is the former home the country’s most famous prophetess, Old Mother Shipton, and a trip to the Mother Shipton Estate is a must for any visitor.

Mother Shipton was born in a cave on the estate in 1488 and any visitor should take advantage of the chance and take a look inside, where there is a stone effigy of the prophetess; complete with witch-like hooked nose and beak chin.

A short walk brings you to England’s oldest visitor attraction, the Petrifying Well. Don’t let the name fool you though, it’s not as scary as it sounds. Unless you are a teddy bear that is because the name stems from the petrifying effect that the waters have on anything placed in their flow; and a porous item such as a cuddly toy can be turned to stone in just three months. Items that are non porous — unlike poor Ted — take a little longer, but the waters still work their magic in the end.

Walking Past the Petrifying Well to Mother Shipton’s Cave (in the Distance)

photo by author

The well first opened as a visitor attraction in 1630 when Sir Charles Slingsby bought the estate from the crown. At the time the well was very well known and popular with visitors. Realizing the financial potential Slingsby placed it on exhibit and commenced charging for guided tours.

Superstition has always surrounded the well. Around the time of Mother Shipton’s birth the well was feared by the local community who were afraid that they too might be turned to stone. By the early 1500s though, opinions had changed, the waters were regarded as a magical cure-all, and people not only washed in the well but drank from it too.

Today though, it is realized that there is no magic flowing through the well along with the water. The water has a very high mineral content and it is the combination of these minerals that causes objects exposed to them to be coated with stone.

Science may have explained away the magic, but standing at the well and looking up at the vast array of items strung across the water’s flow, all in various degrees of petrification, it is still hard not to be amazed.

A Selection of Items Strung Up and Waiting to be Petrified

photo by author

Further examples of petrified objects can be found inside the museum along with more information about Mother Shipton, her extraordinary life and even more extraordinary prophesies which include the invention of the telephone, submarines and aircraft. There is also a gift shop in the museum for those all essential souvenirs.

If you are a nature lover you might enjoy one the scenic woodland walks through the estate, and if all that walking makes you hungry there are plenty of picnic areas as well. The estate also boasts a fine café for those
visitors who prefer a hot meal. Still can’t find anything too tickle your taste buds? Then why not leave the estate for a while and take a look on the opposite side of the river where there are any number of cafes and pubs, offering a wide variety of foods to choose from. If you arrived at the estate by car that is okay.  Just leave your car parked where it is and return for it later.

Standing proud on the hillside, above all of those pubs and cafes you will find Knaresborough castle and, if you don’t mind the walk up to it, the views are spectacular — breath taking in fact, so let’s just that hope you have plenty of breath left after your walk.

Looking up at Knaresborough Castle, across the River from the Estate

photo by author

Woodland walks, magic wells and spectacular views; could Knaresborough possibly have any more to offer? The answer is a very definite yes. Those visitors who fancy a relaxing paddle up the river might decide to hire a rowing boat, and if you just can’t get enough of caves like the one on the estate, Knaresborough has another one that might interest you: St Roberts cave can be found on the Abbey road and it is the former home of its godly namesake who lived the life of a  hermit within its stone walls. St Robert died in 1218, but while he was alive he was reputed to have possessed miraculous healing powers.

Knaresborough is an old town and as such it has seen a lot of history. One ongoing part of more recent history is The Great Knaresborough Bed Race, which has been a yearly tradition for over forty years.

Every year teams work hard to prepare their beds for the race and there is a different theme each year. The day starts at noon and the beds are judged. After that it is around and about the town in procession for the beds and their hopeful teams. Next there is some fine tuning of the beds and the teams limber up in preparation. Three o’clock and they’re off and racing through the town like Wee Willie Winkie gone daft.

The final leg of the race involves crossing the river Nidd, so not only must the competing beds be built for speed, they have to float as well.

The Great Knaresborough Bed Race is a unique and unmissable event that attracts thousands of spectators each year. But even if your visit to this amazing North Yorkshire Market town doesn’t correspond with the right date for the race, one thing is for sure: You might be petrifyed, but you will never be bored in Knaresborough.