Redeeming the time

 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. I have just googled this as I did not come up with it. "redeeming the time" is on the church tower in Knaresborough St. John's Church. We will get to that later on. This is why I called to day's blog this. I have not just got religion virus and about to renounce all my worldly goods and become a nun . I loved the church and then wondered what it all means.......

Just get more tea Then I will read this blog to Lee and Monza......There now are you ready?

Bank holiday Saturday August 2018 finds Lee , me and Monza dog parking the Fonz car by the castle ruins in Knaresborough. It is sunny enough to be pleasant and cold enough to leave Monza dog in the car whilst we explore. Monza dog is no good at all with people and this day there are plenty about with cameras and maps. some speaking other tongues and others with Southern accents.

We were very lucky with the parking space as it was just opposite the castle gates. There were wasps floating around....and I killed one as it tried to get in through the window.....

We headed straight to the greatest view and looked down from the castle ruins to the river Nidd and railway bridge.

We arrived just as the train was going across to the station just at the top....This viaduct built in 1851 is the most iconic view...

The ravens were out with their keeper dressed in chain mail......as a foot soldier......The ravens talk. Yes really. In a Yorkshire accent too. This castle still belongs to the Crown and is a part of the Duchy of Lancaster and therefore still a royal residence. The first Raven was a chick bred at the tower of London.  They are beautiful birds and it is said that if the Ravens leave the tower of London the Monarchy will fall. I was totally delighted to be able to take these stunning photos this day....

They are also very intelligent and mischievous. One called Izzy has an ASBO ....as she steals cameras mobile phones , fly's at tourists and talks...not always politely......as a consequence the Ravens at Knaresborough now have to be tethered.....

We walked down the various stages and steps to the river. Lots of people out in rowing boats....messing about on the river.

a gorgeous walk past all the water front restaurants and cafes and a really appealing looking ice cream parlour. No way was Lee spending that kind of money. We dare not even look at the menus for fear of the prices.....

The sky was still blue and the light from the sun reflected on the water.......on we went this beautiful day....past thatched and chequer board buildings to a cobbled street....

where at the top was this fabulous house.... sculptures, balcony and   all that glorious view.       

This is the house to have for me.....

Cobbled street and thatched cottage....

Water Bag Bank. yes. ...this is the old manor house....I like this house too. good job I do not have to choose isn't it?

This lovely, but steep path leads to the church. This path I should mention is extremely steep...not just steep! we came this way because it was this or the steeper steps that I experienced last visit. This way is slightly easier for me and my wonky old body.... and So the church of St John with the " redeem time" .....

This is opposite the church and is the church school...the painting is one of Knaresborough's famous "wall art" ....

In side we went immediately....this is a new church to me and I had not been here before....and it turned out to be one of the best in the area that I have visited...(and I photograph all that I see!!!) ...

St. John's Church.

A church of Norman origins which was re consecrated in 1343 after the town was invaded by the Scots and burned in 1318. Originally it was dedicated to St Mary until the reformation period (Anne Boleyn's time as Queen) And was restored in the 1880's.....

This church back in the days of Queen Phillippa was known as the Queen's church as she took such an interest in the restoration after the Scots burned the town. Queen Phillippa loved to stay at the Castle you see. Queen Phillipa  and Edward111 honeymooned at Knareborough and he promised Phillippa that he would restore the church for her. Phillippa died in 1369 and the townsfolk remembered and this is why it became known as the Queen's Church.
This church has then existed for over one thousand years. the first mention in records is in  Nostell Priory , near Wakefield.

The bells were first hung in 1774 and the clock face bearing the inscription was istalled in 1884

The Slingsby family Chapel.

This chapel was added in the 13th Century and paid for by the incredibly influential family of the Slingsbys.

Frances and Mary Slingsby.
These de Slingsby's are those of Scriven park and the red house near knaresborough. their crest depicts a black griffin .
This family were very influential in North Yorkshire...especially in the civil war. They were Royalists..And One was beheaded for his trouble by Cromwell's men.


 This is a marble effigy of Charles Slingsby. (by Joseph Edward Boehm). He was drown in 1869 near Newby Hall whilst fox hunting. The fox...which was being chased by the pack of howling dogs crossed the River Nidd not far from Newby hall. Some of the other huntsman crossed at the ford here too. Slingsby hailed the local ferry and piled aboard with their horses massively over loading the ferry. Slingsby was told that the ferry could only take half of what he demanded and in good conditions only....The river was swollen and fast moving. Slingsby's horse started to panic and the ferry went over on it's side dispelling all into the water. The ferryman and his son were drown, as was Charles Slingsby and three other huntsmen and horses...... I will leave you to draw your own conclusions on that one.

 By the time I got to this part of the church I was well and truely hooked..."look ! Knights!" stated Lee as I approached.  effigies of knights and templars are my fave thing to discover on a day out!

This church has recently been restored. A lot of work and expense here. Worth it though I would say....As ever I took far far too many photos. So here are the best.

I did my usual thing when visiting a church for the first time...and walk around it......

soon I was back at the start....a very enthralling visit....

Made perfect by the old man eating his sandwiches from their paper wrapping. ( made sandwiches...not bought in a supermarket)..... He is a homeless man who spends a lot of time in the church....He had a carved wooden chair he sits on  I noted.

So we came out of the church and headed up the path past an old chapel with another of Knaresborough's wall art pictures on one wall.....Now are you seeing Sean Connery from the film "Name of the Rose"? I am.

So off to the charity shops and the city centre to buy some lunch at a reasonable price and see Mother Shipton and Blind Jack.

Wonderful life like bronze statues placed around the market square. I managed to photograph them without the throngs of people with cameras and sandwiches!

Blind Jack.

John Metcalf (1717-1810) was a civil engineer and blind from birth.The first civil road builder during the industrial revolution....The road between Knaresborough and Wetherby was built by him...worth thinking about when driving along!

Mother Shipton.

Mother Shipton's cave was my first outing earlier this year. In fact we went there to see Peter Rabbit exhibition as soon as it opened up for the season. That is a whole different set of photos and blog.

http://sallyheatherelizabethtaylor.blogspot.com/2017/11/two-castles-rock-church-and-three.html

This is a link to more photos and other visit to Knareborough....

http://sallyheatherelizabethtaylor.blogspot.com/2018/03/a-dream.html

This one is all about my visit to Mother shipton's cave.

So it is now nearly 8am on bank holiday Sunday. August 2018 and Monza has decided that we should now get up. He wants to go out for the day.....So do I as it goes. So Harrogate is where we have set our sights upon....It is raining and I can hear the wind beginning.  Typical August bank holiday then.....