BOXING DAY UPDATE

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner issue of the 27th December reported very fairly on the Boxing Day meet and did the event justice with almost a full page.

Thank you Examiner for showing such an interest.

My only regret is that the pack moved away from The Fleece in entirely the opposite direction from what I had expected, so I waited in vain in the wrong place and missed it.

All I got was this.

                      Here is a scan of the full section.

I cut the text off and posted it separately in case it is easier to read.

The answer to the ‘hint’ I wrote against a photo on the previous post can be found here.

There is a word in the text - 'pound' - and I think this should be read as 'pack', if not I have learn't something new.

Having just done the above I found these two links

Historic Meet - to be

And the cheeky monkeys posted my full uncut picture that they lifted from this Blog in that as well!

Boxing Day Meet report 

This has some good images in it taken by their professional photographer.

BOXING DAY AT THE FLEECE

The Holme Valley Beagles used to meet every Boxing Day at The Fleece at Holme, but haven't for some time now.  So this event was revived this year and they and the Colne Valley Beagles converged on The Fleece to renew old friendships, maybe make new ones and have a convivial meeting.  With their usual warm hospitality some wonderful mince pies and glasses of port were provided by The Fleece.

Parking was at a premium in Holme as it is not designed for such an influx of support.  It is long time since I saw such a crowd there and the pleasant part about it was the number of young children who had come to see the hounds and clearly enjoyed themselves.  

Now I have the facility to post pictures on here I find it hard to cut them down to just a few and this lot is no exception, but it is really meant for the CVB and HVB today which is my excuse for posting so many. 

Walking to the meet, the sky was clear and blue and there was frost on the ground. 

Smoke signals

And at the back of the pub frost on the roof.

  

Port and mince pies for everyone.

 Just some of the crowd

The young ones these days just can't be separated from their phones.

                  

 Now checking for text messages I suppose.

 The Huddersfield Examiner interviewing - which reminds me -

They printed this in the 24th December edition - and downloaded my photograph which is clearly marked with a big 'C'  for Copyright, except it has been cropped.   They didn't even give me credit for it.  (See the post about Wills O' Nats)

Note the difference - and the similarity.  They owe the CVB £20 for this inclusion and an invoice will follow shortly.   
 

I don't mind people printing pictures for themselves, which is why I put them on here in the first place and also put the copyright symbol out of the way; otherwise I could splash it across the centre like the professionals do and spoil the image.  But I do object to them being used for commercial gain as the Huddersfield Examiner has done.

 Not someone to tackle lightly - that is a hint

                            Stick Maker's Guild meeting

Another one destined for a dose of the flu!

 

Who is coming up behind on the left - look like monks?

Lots of little children about having fun.

                                 Very attentive beagles

Many thanks to the farmer for letting us use his field to show off the hounds as there was clearly no room to do it in the village

This pretty lady is who was passing in a vehicle, but I like taking photographs of windows with the reflections from outside.  As you see it was by The Fleece.

 This photograph I really do like.  It sums up the day for me.

 After a sunny lovely day the storms are back now.

     

HINCHLIFFE MILL and COOK'S STUDY

Christmas Eve and the Holme Valley Beagles and Colne Valley Beagles met at The Stumble Inn in Hinchliffe Mill, Holmfirth.  Being a Tuesday it was a Holme Valley Beagles meet day. 

I have never been in The Stumble Inn since it was called The New Inn years ago.  Then later I think, it was renamed the Bareknuckle Boys.  Obviously there was some fighting spirit in there!  I suspect this name was not too appealing to many and it was later renamed the Shepherd’s Rest.  After a doldrums period the pub was reincarnated as The Stumble Inn.  I think I have got the order right at last as I have had to take advice from a drinking man and redo this bit.  Personally I prefer the more historic pub names and wonder why original pub names get changed; presumably to project a new image.  I am not sure what sort of image 'The Stumble' presents?  However I can recommend The Stumble Inn as we were given delicious free hot bacon butties before we set off.  Not everyone will know what a butty is and since not everyone around understands what a teacake is either, unless they are in Yorkshire, I will leave it to your imagination if you don’t know.

From there we went to Cook’s Study, as usual high up on the moors, where some of the locals of this Holme Valley area cut peat to burn.   The Free Chase of Holmfirth or the The Graveship of Holme, as Holmfirth was once known, is comprised of seven ancient townships and the Constable of Holme administers the peat rights and there are several areas on the moors where peat may be cut subject to approval and in an area designated by the Constable of Holme. 

The seven ancient townships are, Holme ( Holne in 1086), Austonley (Alastanesliei was an Anglo Saxon habitation being the clearing of Alstan), Upperthong (Thoac – from narrow strip or thong of land), Wooldale (Vluedale – valley of wolves), Fulstone (Fugellstun – Fugol’s farmstead), Hepworth (Heppenurde – worth means residence or enclosure, the first part being probably the name of the owner), Cartworth (Chetenurde from kert, British and Anglo Saxon for camp and worth , residence).

I’m sure you were dying to know that!   

Anyway if you live in one of those spots you have the right to cut peat for your fire.  When we had open fires I used to cut it every Spring and the way things are going with the cost of gas and electricity I can see I might have to go back to doing it. 

So  a rare treat; a picture of a peat cutter (in disguise).

I still have my peat cutting spade which is designed to slice out the brick like shape.  The peat is left on the moor to dry before taking home.  I found gloves were essential as the wet peat was pretty acidic and the skin of my finger ends used to be degraded without.

So back to beagling

First a look at Hinchliffe Mill, which is basically an area on the A6024 Holme Moss road lined by buildings.  You can just see the mast by the side of the top of the telegraph pole.  As you will also see there are many windows ideally placed for a crowd free view of the Tour de France  when it comes through here next year.  Being Yorkshire folk I am sure the opportunity for the locals to make a bit of brass by hiring out a viewing window has not escaped notice - so get your booking in early.

 Hinchliffe Mill

The Stumble Inn

We were lucky as it decided to be a fine day but the wind was still in the storm force mode from the the wild one of the previous day. 

You can see from the moorland grass on here just how it is laid flat in the wind.

I know I keep mentioning Holme Moss but the mast buildings are in the top left hand corner and you can see the road running up the far hillside which tests the many cyclists these days,

A trail laid along a narrow track with the wind blowing the grasses flat.

 Looking towards Cartworth Moor, the little patch of houses and windmill and beyond that I suppose is Huddersfield.

Back to Hinchliffe Mill and the river Holme.  Ford Gate leading to Upper Row.  Probably the nicest looking bit of the Holme River which is a bit scrappy in places.  I suppose the bridge I am standing on was once the site of a ford.

I once mentioned how a friend had a preservation order imposed on the garden hedge he once planted that had gone wild.  To sort out this ragged looking mess, that got out of hand, he has had to go through many hoops of officialdom to get permission to trim it back due to this preservation order and the fact that it is in a Conservation Area,

Being Christmas Eve the place is full of parked cars

Holmfirth, being 'Last of the Summer Wine' country has its own vineyard.  I am told there is a nice cafe there amongst other things. 

A fine door in Hinchliffe Mill and Merry Christmas