Sweetbriar Dreams

So where shall we go on our journey today?

Friday 16 October 2015

All Creatures Great and Small - Thirsk, North Yorkshire


All Creatures Great and Small @ www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

I do love a blue plaque.  I see the striking blue and just know that there will be a little piece of history attached to the building.  The blue plaque here adorns the home of James Wight who was the author of the James Herriot books based on his own life.

The striking flowers, blue plaque and white cafe nets were enough to draw both me and Mumsy in.  So, a picture heavy post which means feet up, cup of tea and a victoria sponge while we take you around James Wight's home and workplace.

All Creatures Great and Small @ www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

The interior was equally as welcoming.  The living room felt as though we were walking into my Grandparents' house with books, games on the floor and my Grandad in the corner reading his paper.  Even the French doors were the same.  We could imagine James resting here in between his visits into the Yorkshire countryside and tending to the sick animals.

All Creatures Great and Small @ www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

The dining room all set for tea with its beautiful linen and cutlery.  Can you imagine the many interesting conversations that were shared around this table.  Some I daresay a bit gruesome! 

All Creatures Great and Small @ www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

In the corner, a well equipped desk full of exquisite, historical memories.  I used to love seeing these spikes with bills and notes pierced and gathered by their bases.

All Creatures Great and Small @ www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

Down the passageway there were many other visual treats to discover ...

All Creatures Great and Small @ www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

... I did say 'visual treats' rather than 'delicious delights'!  (Glad I'm not cattle - a pint of Castor Oil, can you imagine?!)/

I loved the shelves full of colourful glass and different potions for different livestock ailments.

All Creatures Great and Small @ www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

In the next room a small operating theatre that was used for the smaller animals.  With the surgery's success James was able to branch out to smaller pets.

All Creatures Great and Small @ www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

And of course, the there had to be some feminine touches somewhere.  This was in the next room...

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

... with of course a wonderful Singer sewing machine.

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

In the passageway, it was explained to us that if the vets were out and busy, this cupboard would contain all the required medication for those farmers who couldn't get to the practice when it was usually open.  How trusting this age was.

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

Of course, during the War the vets needed easy shelter from possible bombings.  We loved the descent into the basement and the different partitions separating the living areas.  Very basic but safe.

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

But, the best room of the house had to be this multi functioning kitchen.  Everywhere we looked there were remnants of our grandparents' kitchens.  There were items that we still use today and also things that we were so pleased that kitchen appliances had been invented.

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

No words, just enjoy the memories!... (how I miss my Aga!)

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

The more I look at these photos the more I see and remember from years ago.  A lovely trip down memory lane.

Outside James' statue is this small and well kept courtyard.

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

And in another building, journals from the man himself.

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

Along with various pictures and autographs from cast members of the series.

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

The studios were towards the back in another building with the abundance of wires and cameras surrounding the sets for the series All Creatures Great and Small.

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk


All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

The car used in the series has been restored.  Wouldn't this have been so much fun to drive around the countryside back in the day?!

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

Trust Mumsy to lower the tone!!


From one of the windows upstairs you could see the church where he was married.

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk

So that was our short visit to Thirsk.  I meant to post this last week but with life getting in the way, especially life with teenagers, parenting had to come first!

Next week I'll share with you the beautiful village of Helmsley, North Yorkshire.  After that we have a trip to London booked - at last I hear you say!  It's been a few months but I'll be so glad to get back on the tube now that the cooler months are back and breathe in the air of London - nothing beats the smell of home!

But I will leave you with this wonderful print that was on the stairs.  Goodbye Old Man.  What a lovely sentiment.

All Creatures Great and Small - www.sweetbriardreams.blogspot.co.uk



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48 comments:

  1. You can't always trust my memory but I was thinking that the man who flirted with Mrs. Patemore in Downton Abbey said he was from Thirsk.

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  2. Wonderful tour, Chel, and beautifully photographed - as always. What a fabulous job they've done, setting the house out. I sympathise with the diversions - not enough hours in the day - "It shouldn't happen to a blogger." Looking forward to Helmsley - it's a grand place (nice pint of Theakstons in one of the pubs there - can't remember which...).

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  3. I thought I was the only one that gets excited when I see a blue plaque! Loved the post. Lots of memories and of course I loved the TV series.

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  4. You certainly took us on a great tour and brought back some wonderful memories. It really was a great kitchen I have dreams of one day owning an aga. Have a great weekend.

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  5. Wonderful photos and post ! I have read the books and seen the TV series over and over I love it . Thanks for sharing , Have a good weekend !

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  6. What a simply lovely visit of the author of the James Herriot books! It's so nostalgic and that last print is so sad... I too have read all the books and have also enjoyed the TV series of the country vet!

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  7. Hello Chel,
    Wow what a lovely tour you have taken us on again! I love that lovely living room and dinning. Thanks for the tour and I enjoyed it very much. You have taken such nice photos once again! I'm looking forward to more tours with you Chel!
    Yes having teens is very time consuming and but that is very important to be with FAMILY! I hope you have wonderful weekend and week. Take care. Thanks too for the bday wishes for Bosco!
    Julie xo

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  8. I remember reading all his books and watiching the program on TV. It was great and the books even better. Glad to see he is remembered like that

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  9. I read all the James Herriot books when the series first came on the telly. I loved them! Thanks for showing us around his home, Chel. :o)

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  10. Oh that's fab! I had no idea the house was open. I loved that series and the books.

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  11. Ok, I'm jealous. *grin* The "All Creatures Great And Small" is one of my favorite of the British TV series. It would be grand to see all the real settings that inspired James Herriott in his writings. They lived simply but I'll bet they where content. Thank you so much for sharing the visit with us.
    Hope your day is blessed. ~:)

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  12. I loved to read James Harriots books when I was young ... Such a lovely photos and thank you for bringing back the comfy and safe feeling of the summers reading the books! yes, the AGA and all the other vintage-like items - that's another world, yet not so long ago after all...
    Have a lovely weekend, Chel!

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  13. A wonderful tour, Chel - I enjoyed it so much! My Dear Mum and I read the books together - sharing each one - and enjoying them so much! I have them all in my glass bookcase, reserved for my very favorites. The series was wonderful, too, and I shared watching it with my Mr. Isn't that kitchen just wonderful? I need to go back and look at it again....Thank you so much for sharing. Love hearing your sweet memories. xo Karen

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  14. A very interesting post Chel. Thanks for sharing your visit and tour of this historical home. Have a great weekend.

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  15. Chel - What an amazing place to visit! Thanks for sharing with us.

    Judy

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  16. Fascinating visit. I read all the books and loved them. Some of the best writing ever in my opinion. Reminded me of my grandparents place too.

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  17. What an interesting place, I would love to visit one day. Thanks for sharing, it brings back lots of memories of the t.v. show, I will have to track down the books.

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  18. I enjoyed both teh tour of the house and of the set!

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  19. How fantastic!!!! I had no idea that you could visit! I loved this series and have, from time to time, caught the odd repeat episode again in later years, always well worth a watch! Thank you so much for taking us on this great tour, it was just as though we were there in the tv series! So glad that you enjoyed it so much!!! xx

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  20. Thank you so much!!! I love all his books and I also loved the TV show that was made!!
    I have longed to have someone do a post from Thirsk. Bless you!!!

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  21. My darling Chel,
    what a charming post you've put together, interesting, because this man was truly a talented person who deserves to be remembered, and fascinating because of the interiors of his home, I'm still breathless after having watched your photos ....

    With neverending gratitude i wish you a most beautiful end of the week and ... I'm going to come back to watch your pictures :) !!
    sending love and hugs
    Dany

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  22. I bet that was very fascinating ! My college degree was the prep for Veterinary Medicine. I'd love to see all the old stuff of how it was done. Very, very interesting.

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  23. Hi Chel,
    How great you could visit and take in all that history. Fascinating! Thanks for sharing this with all of us.
    Kris

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  24. Thank you for the tour in James Herriot's house Chel, I enjoyed it so much because we were there in May 2014, but I did not make photos inside. I loved the tv-series long ago and have the books, I even bought the book 'Every living thing' in the shop. You made a wonderful and interesting report of it.

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  25. Just lovely Chel. You know I am so cross (well we are both so cross) with ourselves, as when we lived in North Yorkshire we never got to visit this....and yet we love the series, we have the whole box set and I never tire of watching it. Thank you for a great tour.

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  26. A fascinating glimpse into the vets world then and how it was filmed! Really enjoyable Chelsea, thanks!

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  27. What a lovely post! Thanks, Chel. x

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  28. What a great place. Brilliant to see real the history of Wight the author & vet, then also the Herriot TV series. Your love of that kitchen shone through. How on earth do you get a cow to swallow a pint of castor oil? I've got into pinterest now. Going to pin one of your photos to my to-visit list and need to make plans to visit 'up North'.

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  29. What a fascinating place! I have only seen that TV show a handful of times, but it is neat to know that it was based on a real person. I wonder if I could find a few episodes online and get to know this man a little better now that I have seen his cosy home.

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  30. What a great tour of the residence. I read several of his books. I admit that seeing the furnishings and layout of the home took me back to my childhood.

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  31. I just adored this post! This place is on my bucket list. I fell in love with Mr Wight's books and then the TV series years ago. Thank so much for sharing your visit!
    I've been away from Blogland for awhile but I've started up a new blog. http://melaniejocook.blogspot.com I'd love for you to come visit!

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  32. A lovely tour to take on this wet, windy, spring afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    Diana

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  33. Oh Chel, what a charming and delightful place to visit! How I adore seeing the places you go, my friend. I may never be able to see them in person, but you make it possible for me to enjoy the experience through pictures. Bless you, dear one! Hugs!

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  34. A fabulous insight! Intriguing objects galore, thank you for taking us with you on the exploration of such an interesting place! Katie x

    http://long-may-she-rain.blogspot.co.uk

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  35. I never realised you can visit his house!! The TV series is a real blast from my past. Sunday evenings together.... the Downton Abbey of our family!

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  36. I so much enjoyed reading James Herriot's books although I've never seen the movies. What a wonderful step back in time to see the house where so much happened. The yellow kitchen looks like a lovely sunny place, even on a grey rainy day.

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  37. That was a lovely tour! I love the bright blue plaque. It was interesting to learn a little about this man. I have one of his books somewhere. I need to find it. Thanks for taking us on the tour with you and your mum! Have a blessed and beautiful week my friend!

    Hugs, Vicky

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  38. I loved watching that series when I was growing up, and of course I read all the books as well. I loved seeing the actually house where he lived. Thanks for the tour.

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  39. What a stunning looking place. I love all the details - like the old fashioned Fairy soap. I once chatted to his son who said it used to be so cold there in the winter but their dad didn't think it was necessary to put the heating on, usually, so they had to run up and down the corridor to keep warm!

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  40. What an interesting place. I love that there were so many great details in the home that showed how they lived. - He was quite the man and really loved animals. Very fun post to view and read about.

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  41. We have stayed in Thirsk a couple of times but have not been here - it looks fascinating , and I remember with fondness the BBC series when I was a child. Glad you had a good visit.
    Cathy x

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  42. Hello,
    Thank you for this trip. So much fun, our family loves the TV series. :-) In fact we are watching it again right now.
    Carla

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  43. Loved this Chel! The old bottles are awesome and that kitchen is a dream!!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  44. I loved the James Herriot books and always thought James Wight must have been such a gentle and intelligent man with the best sense of humor. I so enjoyed this peek into his home, thank you for that. And that beautiful yellow kitchen! Big sigh.
    Amalia
    xo

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  45. This is so neat. We are planning and English author vacation. (My daughter's idea.) I don't know which year we will take it or if Herriot will make the list, because it depends on time and location, but she enjoyed his books when she was young. But Yorkshire is so pretty, because I went with my spouse some years ago. Thank you for taking us along and showing us around. xoxo Su

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  46. Ooh, I remember the tv series from years ago and you've made me nostalgic for watching it again - I've a feeling it might be showing again on one of the Freeview channels. I don't believe it - have just checked and the next episode's on the Drama Channel in an hour - I think I might be watching....

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