Knaresborough in the rain.

 We parked up at Mother Shipton's cave park. Yes there is a park which is the other side of the river to our usual visit and most of it is owned by the Mother Shipton's cave . It is a beautiful walk filled with Statues, bits of art and exhibitions....
We have been to Knaresborough a few times before and it always rains. So the plan of going to Knaresborough took this into consideration. Sure enough It was raining when we set off.

 The other side of the river here is like another world. A beautiful spring world reflected in the water as we walked along to the old well and caves where Mother Shipton was actually born so the legend goes.

 Mother Shipton was born in 1488 to an un married mother who gave birth in a cave probably because she had no where else to go. This was Ursula Sonteil.  She became revealed and respected in her time as a prophetess and in this year of 2018 people still flock to the petrifying well and wishing well next to her birth place to make a wish
 just as we did today.

 We walked along the river Nidd in the drizzling rain...it actually was really pleasant and the view and place are very compelling. In fact so much so I fell in love with it.

I idly wondered out load how fabulous it would be to live in one of the water side houses and have a boat instead of a car!

 The walk to the caves is at the moment taken up with a Peter Rabbit trail for easter holidays. We were the only people walking along as we were early this day.By the time we had been to the cave and started back to the car there were loads of others in the adventure play ground and picnic areas with children doing the easter quiz .

 I have been to the petrifying well before. It would be about 1971! and I was on a scholl trip with Miss Glauert. It looked very different in my mind. Though I think alot of the walk ways and sculptures are more recent. Lee has never been before. So it was a bit of a treat for both of us. We usually have no money to spend on such things. This day we paid the entrance fee and even paid for parking! Lee boughjt me "mother Shipton's prophecy book " too.

 The petrifying well turns things to stone.

 This is what all the objects dangling are.....things people have left to be petrified.

 We made a wish......in this well today and we are not to tell until it comes true.

 here is Lee making his wish.

This, so the leaflet says is England's oldest tourist atraction. It is a unique unspoiled part of the Royal forest of Knaresborough on the banks of the river Nidd.

The estate was sold by King Charles 1 in 1630 to the Slingsby family who built and preserved this beautiful park.
Over the last 380 years millions of visitors have come to this place. I see why now. It is most compelling.