Belgrave House
Holgate,
York
Tues. Aug. 14th, 1900.
Dearest Home Circle,
At last !.We have been to Darley, a quiet, peaceful, lovely place. I know nothing I can write will ever describe it, but for the sake of those who have not yet seen it, and also for father's sake, hoping it may bring up pleasant recollections, I am going to tell you all I can about it. We were to have gone last Thurs. and again on Friday. We went so far as to have our lunch ready and our things on but as it kept raining then clearing and raining again, at last we decided to wait for a better day.
But yesterday was a perfect day. It could not have been more beautiful. So warm and bright and clean all day long. We had breakfast first at 6 a.m.and were off before 7. We went to Harrogate first where we had to wait about and hour. So we went up the town, round by the Meeting House. I tried to fancy father meeting Aunt Rachel there when he came over in (18)66. Aunt R. did not go with us as Aunt Maria thought there would be too much walking for her. When we left Harrogate it was rather strange to feel that we were actually on the train going up the valley. At last we stopped at Knaresbro, then Birstwith and then Darley. At the latter place, with about one other exception, the station is the only new looking building to be seen and one can see for miles in every direction; so the station looks woefully out of harmony with the quaint old fashioned, peaceful farmhouses which are universally built of grey stone, most of them have slate roofs, some are thatched; such a contrast to London houses which, in spite of the fact that their narrow fronts constantly and painfully remind one of the fact that every inch of frontage is of great commercial value; At the same time they have an air of defiance (so let the imagination play) as though they had conquered the earth on which they stand. Not so in the Dales of Yorkshire, the houses have wide fronts, they are low and half hidden with the trees as though they not only loved the dear Mother Earth, but are part and parcel of the landscape; which they are, just as beautiful as the moors, the trees, the flowers, the river and the beck.
We stopped at the station a few minutes while Aunt Maria talked to the station master and then to a woman, who having overheard the conversation, introduced herself as the youngest daughter of Grace Trees. Leaving the station we went to the Nidd (river) and followed it up til the Beck (a small stream) flowed into it, and then along the Beck where the hazel nuts are growing in such abundance, through the field in which stands the "Low Lair", then over the stone walls, by those dear quaint old stiles and up through some fields that used to be Uncle Benjamin's (Maria's uncleBenjamin born 1799) and now belong to Cousin Benjamin's widow and family, under the old beach tree, where Aunt M. says they all used to play and she fancies the older ones did quite as much, into Uncle Benjamin's farm-yard,and round behind the house to the front. We went into the little shop and met Mrs. Scaife, she was a pleasant little woman of about 60. She remembered Aunt Maria and took us into the parlour and then into the garden, where we had instructions to gather as many gooseberries as we liked. They were very ripe and we enjoyed them very much. As we came away Aunt Maria pointed out the house where our Great Grandmother used to live (this would be Rachel Walker nee Spence), and the stone steps up to the door reminded me of Father's story about falling down those steps, I did not envy him that experience. When we got out onto the road, instead of turning at once to the old home we turned to the right and went to the brow of the hill from which we saw Uncle Spence's old mill (Maria's Uncle Spence, born 1803), and away across the valley to the distant moors (to the north). It was so clear and bright so we had a splendid view. How we did enjoy it! And the air was so clear and pure and sweet. What a pity people can’t pump great supplies of it into the city like they do of water.
We went past the carpenters and the old inn, up the road past the cottages that belonged to our Uncle Spence (Louisa's Uncle born 1834 and this writer's grandfather) and round past “Ivy House”, which was Uncle Sam's where old Grace Tree’s daughter lives. A little further up that road we went into the fields across to Sheepcoat Lane. Aunt Maria pointed out the field where our Grandfather died (Maria's father, Thomas, born 1795). We had a good view of the old home as we crossed those fields and also from the lane, down which we walked towards the house. We did not hurry; and then when near enough to see easily we sat down opposite the house and ate the lunch we had taken. Aunt Maria talked of olden times and I had many questions to ask.
After dinner we went nearer and looked into the farm-yard (This is the old barn and yard across the road from Walker House) Finally we opened the gate and went in. We looked into the famous old stone trough (still there in 1999), I wonder if father remembers hiding the school-masters strap in the depths of that trough. It is a tradition I have heard more than once I think. We went slowly through the yard and out at the door, past the "Tan-Garth" gate. We saw a woman standing in Aunt Elizabeth's (Maria's Aunt born 1791) old garden, she was near the old stone wall, (this can be clearly seen in the picture of Walker House in 1918), and evidently had seen us having our lunch in the lane, and had either guessed our errand or was waiting out of curiosity to see who we were. Aunt Maria went and spoke to her. It was Mrs. Myers, who now that her husband is dead, owns the house. She urged us to go in and took us all over the house, into the front rooms, Drawing room, Aunt Elizabeth’s sitting room and the room between, all such beautiful, bright, airy rooms and so spotlessly clean, but with very little furniture. We went into the kitchen, where father used to go to see Aunt Elizabeth, into the little back parlour and the beautifully cool larder.Then upstairs; three splendid large bright airy rooms in the front and three not quite so nice, but still very nice rooms behind. And down stairs into the coal and milk cellars. Mrs. Myers seemed very proud of her house and remembered Aunt Elizabeth, for whom her mother used to work. She talked away all the time in the broadest of broad Yorkshire repeated herself again and again. I think her head is rather turned and so does Aunt Maria. However we got along very well, and the poor woman was very eager to show us everything she thought would interest us. She took us to the garden, and then went in and told the woman in the small house that we were coming to see over it also.
In that we found a nice, quiet little woman, (a labourer’s wife) who, only having one child, finds the house too large but said there was none other in the neighbourhood, so she had to take it. The front room, which is their general living room and has a cooking range in it, has also a door from the garden. She showed us the little back-parlour and the cupboards under the stairs, the larger one (a sort of pantry) has now a tiny window like the one in the back parlour. Then we went upstairs and saw the two small rooms at the back, one Uncle Robert's, shared by younger brothers, the other Aunt Rachel's shared by younger sisters. In front were two larger, cheerful rooms, one Grandmother's, the other the spare room where father and uncle Spence used to sleep when at home for their holidays. The general quest room, in the same room all the "eleven" were born -- blessed room. There was also room on the landing for another bed. Aunt Maria pointed out the place where the old Grandfather clock used to stand - half way up. Only the two front rooms upstairs are furnished for as I mentioned - the house is too large for it’s occupants. Then we came downstairs and up the two or three stone steps into the kitchen, with its stone floor. In fact both houses had stone flag floors all over the ground floor, kitchen and drawing-rooms alike. We came along the passage from the kitchen to the front door and through the front entrance to the front parlour again; and so out of the home that has so many associations and has always been a dream to us of another generation. But into the garden again we saw the Beech tree, grown so large almost hides that part of the house; and the pear tree at the end of the house, now trained round onto the front also. We said goodbye to the quiet little woman of the smaller house and then to our friend Mrs. Myers who had so much to say about her own people etc. etc. that it was no easy matter to get away. She knew nearly all the names of the family and named them over, asking after one and another.
Aunt Maria says she has not seen nearly as much of the house since they left it for Ellenthorpe. I think she has never been over it since then. So I was very especially thankful to get the opportunity. I wish I could forestall any questions Father or the others would like to ask, but you must please ask all you can, I won’t promise to give always a satisfactory answer, but will do my best.
As we left the dear old home we went towards the Mtg. house down the village street where Aunt M. says there is scarcely a thing changed. What a splendid view there is all along the road, as we looked away to the north on our left across the river, towards the distant moors. What a distance one can see! and it was a most beautiful day. It could not have been finer, so all along the road towards the Mtg. House we kept stopping to look back, for the view in general. I think I shall never forget it and don’t wonder Father has always loved to dwell on it. When at last we reached the Mtg. House we found the gate locked, so got over it and went up the drive. We saw Uncle Robert's grave under some trees which he, himself, had planted some years before. And on the far side of the door were grandfathers and grandmothers, side by side. Those three have each a stone but none of the Uncles, Aunts or Cousins beside. Aunt Maria says there is a plan on which they are all marked but she doesn't know which they are without it.
As we had no key, but wanted to look into the Mtg. House, we used an old ladder laying beside the wall, we put it up to one window and then in turn mounted it and looked in. We looked at the old sun dial which registered 2:30 pm, we lingered a while, Aunt Maria describing how Uncle Spence (Maria's uncle) used to drive up from Birstwith and put his horse in the stable, leaving the carriage outside. We gathered some ivy leaves from the wall and some from Grandmother's and grandfather's graves. The ivy is running all about in the grass and covers part of the front wall of the house.
When we left there we turned toward Birstwith. What a lovely walk, how we did enjoy the river and the distant view, and fancied father and others going that same walk on such a day. We gathered Mountain Ash berries and heather to take home with us. At last we pass Uncle Spence's, looking into the garden, Cousin Richard's wife Priscilla died last spring, their son and daughter live there together now. Across the road live Thompson Walker's family, his widow is at the point of death much as Aunt Sarah was. She has been in bed since April and was too low to see anyone, being conscious only a short time at once. Charlie who is a chemist in Harrogate, had gone up on his wheel. We stayed for tea and met besides two of the three sons, namely Chas and Fred, also four of the five daughters, one died in March.
Chas is the one who has a family history - not a tree. It goes back 200 years. He mentioned having written for our records years ago. He showed us a painting of our mutual Great Uncle Joseph. It looked like a very good picture. But our time was limited and he never trusts his memory, so could give us no exact information without his family history, which of course he had not with him. His brother Fred is partially paralysed so that he walks or moves only with great difficulty. And all his nerves seem to be upset. The eldest sister Mary (Polly) is about 45 years old rather a nice looking woman with perfectly grey hair. The youngest is about 27 and the others come between. They are besides Mary, Charles, Fred, Harry, Emily, Edith (deceased), Lucy, Annie and Amy. They are all very nice, very quiet, and all very delicate.
After tea we took the train for Harrogate where we had an hour and a half to wait so went to see the new park and grounds laid out for summer visitors and then home in time for supper. The next day Aunt Maria and Aunt Rachel literally lived it all over again, and I too seemed to enter that far away past and when not busy writing this was either listening to their conversation or hearing some account of those days. But I am glad I live today and that our dear Father went to Canada, and that we were born and brought up Canadian Friends, for if we do have our difficulties, we have had great blessings and privileges.
I will tell about the rest of my visit at York in my next. Uncle Howard's son Herbert is here at Sunderland. We are going out to sea, if I leave this till I come back it will be too late for this week’s post, so with dearest love as ever your own,
Louisa.