The area where some of my relatives came from

A bit of a dismal morning, so we just stayed indoors until things cleared up. It ended up being a decent afternoon, but with a cool breeze.

Aly and Martin took us for a drive through some of the smaller towns. My grandfather (my mother's father) was born in nearby Wakefield. He started working in a steel mill there when he was 13 years old.

His father was born in the village of Stanley, and we drove through there as well as the tiny community of Stanley Ferry where my great great grandfather was born. Then to the town of Normanton where my great great great grandfather was born in 1806.

Not a lot to see really! The biggest town in the area was Pontefract, and we stopped in there to have a wander around.

These were built as miner's houses. 

The area produced a lot of coal back in the day. The last operating coal mine closed in December 2015.

The Nostell Priory.

The massive house was built between 1729 and 1786. It stayed in the same family until it was donated to the National Trust in 1956. It costs too much to see the inside, so we didn't bother, but it is free to go for a walk on the 300 acre property.

They used to race horses across this one mile long field.

There is a small lake on the property.

Scenery along the way.

Pretty foxglove flowers.

The Obelisk Lodge, the original gateway to the estate.

Different.

Out for a walk.

Martin, Aly, and Kevin.

The cows weren't bothered by us!

We stopped in at the local pub for a drink.

The bartender, Georgia.

Back at the house, Ruth made a delicious lasagna.

The rain ponchos that we ordered have a arrived, so today we are taking a drive back to Beverley to pick them up. Looks like we might get a chance to use them this weekend!

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