Join us to enjoy a visit to Wentworth Castle Gardens (NT), which has recently reopened for groups. This is a new to the National Trust garden, which was re-opened by them in 2019. It is the only Grade I listed Parkland and Gardens in South Yorkshire and we have a chance this summer to visit and appreciate all the work being undertaken here. From growing medicinal plants to restoring some of the 26 listed buildings and monuments there is a lot to explore there. The gardens contain three national collections, of respectively Magnolias, Rhododendrons and Wiliamsii Hybrid Camellias.

Highlights of the 60 acre gardens include Stainborough Castle (see image on page 9). Although it looks like the ruins of a medieval castle this folly was completed in 1731 by Thomas Wentworth and designed to give the impression that the Wentworth family had lived here for centuries. In nonCovid times visitors could climb up the folly but it may not be possible this year.

The impressive Victorian Conservatory, created by the Vernon-Wentworths to grow unusual and exotic plants, was in such a sad state that it featured in the BBC2 programme “Restoration”. It was amongst one of the first buildings to have electricity – even before Buckingham Palace had it installed. Built of wrought iron and glass in 1885 it was built to impress guests and in the hope of a royal visit. It worked because in 1888 Prince Albert Victor, second in line to the throne, stayed for a month at Christmas. Today it has been restored to its former glory and is filled with exotic plants such as the South African “paintbrush plant”.

Another restoration was of the Union Jack Garden, planted originally in 1713 to mark the Union of England and Scotland in 1707. Its distinctive criss-cross pattern was largely replanted in 2005. From above it looks like the Union flag but once you are in the lush planting it is a good place to lose yourself.

Among many impressive monuments is the Sun Obelik dedicated to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu for her work on smallpox vaccination. It is believed to be the earliest monument in the country dedicated to a non-royal woman.

Ingleby’s coach will pick up at 10.30am at Memorial Gardens, returning to York by approximately 6pm.

Cost is £30 for non-NT members, £25 for NT members.

We expect to arrive at Wentworth Castle by 12pm for an included light lunch of soup, sandwiches and hot or cold drinks provided by the Long Barn Cafe in a room set aside for us. We will have an introductory talk by one of the garden volunteers. The rest of the afternoon is for you to explore on your own and return to the Long Barn Café for tea, if required, at your own cost. There is a self-drive buggy available if anyone would like to reserve it.

Join us to enjoy a coach drive across the North York Moors followed by taking in the sea air and sights of Whitby. As we go to print, Covid-19 regulations are still in place so the final itinerary will be agreed in early June. Although Museums and Hospitality plan to be open and are eager for visitors, at present they are not taking group bookings, or only provisional ones. As a result we are asking members to complete the enclosed booking form indicating the venues they are most interested in visiting and we will confirm details nearer the time so it would be useful to have an email address and a phone number.

We do have a provisional group booking with English Heritage to visit the gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey, at the end of our day. They plan to be open for local visits from the end of March. Unless you wish to climb the 199 steps from the town centre we will arrange for the Coach to drop us there. The abbey museum and visitor centre has been recently refurbished and there is a new interactive guide. See page 9 for more details about the new displays.

The Whitby Abbey Visitor Centre is housed in a 17th century mansion and includes a new museum which tells the story of the abbey with the help of objects such as Anglo-Saxon Crosses, medieval manuscripts and even a rare signed copy of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”. There is an interactive guide, in the shape of an ammonite, known as The Ammonite Quest.

The first monastery here, founded in about 657, became one of the most important religious centres in the Anglo-Saxon world. In 664 it was the setting for the Synod of Whitby, a landmark in the history of the church in England. The headland is now dominated by the shell of the 13th century church belonging to the Benedictine abbey founded after the Norman Conquest. The monks who founded this church also founded the other St Mary’s Abbey in York (in the Museum Gardens).

The Whitby Parish Church of St Mary is also situated at the top of the 199 steps from the town. Although some parts of it date back to Norman times it has been modified and extended over the centuries, although never completely rebuilt. The interior is mostly from the 18th century. The graveyard here is full of fascination including a tombstone close to the church for “Humpty Dumpty”; not the egg but a Canon of the Church.

Another interesting museum is the “Captain Cook Museum” in Grape Lane, where we hope to start our day with a talk and a visit. Housed in the Grade 1 listed Walker’s House on the harbour side, James Cook, age 17, was apprenticed here to master mariner John Walker in 1746.

Built in 1688 the house retains much of its original internal decoration, giving visitors an insight into a comfortable 17th century house that was also the centre of the family shipping business. A town full of skilled shipwrights and carpenters inevitably produced some beautiful work.

The Museum houses a collection of over 700 botanical prints, the “Banks Florilegium” based on drawings made by Sidney Parkinson, who was the artist on Cook’s first voyage. Visitors enter the Museum through the Courtyard garden overlooking the harbour, originally the master mariner’s working yard but now a calm and peaceful garden filled with 18th century plants. The gardeners try and include plants found in the South Seas to link with Cook’s voyages.

It may also be possible to visit the Whitby Museum in Pannett Park, which has a lot of fascinating collections including Costume, Geology, Archaeology, Shipping and Social History. At the end of May a new exhibition on John Tindale, who was born in 1921, is due to open. He was a chemist, a professional photographer particularly for the Whitby Gazette, and an author. His photographs in and around Whitby show life in 1950s, 60s and 70s. He was also involved in the early days of the North York Moors Railway and in the Endeavour Project. The Museum plans to open in May with limited numbers, so it may be necessary to queue. At present they have no date for accepting group bookings.

The town’s maritime history has been recently highlighted in a Sculpture Trail. Each sculpture represents a character or a story associated with Whitby’s heritage. The first sculpture was installed in September 2020 and depicts a Whitby fisherman’s wife with baskets full of fish. It is situated on the West side of the Swing Bridge. Starting from here the trail will take locals and visitors to parts of Whitby that are less visited, hopefully to support local businesses in that area. The Sculptures are made from hot galvanised wire by sculptor Emma Stothard. Emma created an exhibition for Nunnington Hall last year called “Leaping Hares”. For this display in the Smoking Room she created 366 mix media hares, one for each day of 2020, a leap year.

If enough people are interested we will book a boat trip or perhaps a visit to the Bark Endeavour, known as the Captain Cook Experience. Ideally we will be able to arrange a lunch together or maybe you prefer to search out fish and chips yourself or bring a packed lunch.

The basic cost of the trip is £34, (£27 if you have English Heritage membership), which includes morning refreshments, two museum visits, coach hire and tips. Nearer the time I will let everyone know any extra costs, which they can then opt into. Ingleby’s coach will pick up at 8.30am at Memorial Gardens, returning back in York by 6.30pm approximately. We expect to arrive in Whitby by 10am for morning refreshments.