Old and much Older.

A full day starting with the deer walk on a murky morning. We did see deer but a little way away. They leapt the wall in to the woods as we approached, but to our surprise they were there looking at us a bit further on when we walked along the lane into Ravenroyd. (Extra)

Popped into The Tittle Tattle Teashop coffee morning to meet up with friends and have a coffee and a natter. Good to catch up with people who we've not seen since Christmas, many of whom have had this pesky bug too.

We went straight from there over to Hebden Bridge as Chris had some trousers he wanted to exchange at Rohan. First though we decided to go up to Heptonstall, the ancient and historic village that perches above HB and the Calder Valley.

Unfortunately the glimpse of sun we saw when leaving the village was not to be seen up there and it has to be said it was 'nithering' in the words of Paul Hudson (Yorkshire weatherman).
We had alook around the narrow streets seeing houses/buildings dating from the 16th to the 19th century and then took a look inside the church. The Church of St Thomas, furthest away in this shot, was built in 1847 to replace the more ancient St Thomas a' Becket Church, the tower and ruins of which are in the foreground here, which was founded in the mid 13th century. The newer one was built to replace the older when it was destroyed by a storm in 1847. Not that surprising up here!

Lots more history in particular relating to the infamous Cragg Coiners one of whom, having been hanged in York, resides in the churches' joint graveyard along with poet Sylvia Plath.

With the cold we sought warmth and refreshment in the local pub which with it' open fire was very welcoming. We will return sometime on a warmer day to find out more about the links with the Civil war and seek out the Octagonal Methodist church designed and built with the patronage of John Wesley in the 18th century. Maybe even to see the Egg Pacer plays on Good Friday which we were told about in the pub.

Finally to Hebden Bridge. A cup of tea in the Town Hall, a pleasant surprise, the outdoor seating by the river here will be a place to resist in the summer and then to the Rohan shop. They took the trousers back, refunded him £8+ as they have gone down even more in the sale and will send him the bigger size post free. Result.

Happy weekend everybody!