Not strictly Ilkley, but just up the road. According to the new Wisden, Shane Warne’s last match in England (assuming he stays fit) will be for Hampshire vs Yorkshire at Headingley, Sep 19-22. As Engel puts it, something to tell the grand-children about.
New research suggests that good management of heather moorlands can have an important impact on the battleagainstglobalwarming. Or, rather, bad management will have a highly negative effect on said battle.
And is there any moorland worse managed than our beloved Moor?
Hmm, so Cameron visits Keighley (not really prime Tory country, but one assumes the news reports meant the constituency.) and gets a story on Newsnight out of it. Unfortunately, not the one they wanted.
What have we here? Seriously un-Cameron-like behaviour from our local grande dame Mrs Hawkesworth’s consort, John. An email calling opponents ‘reptiles’? ‘Cripples’?
Now I’m not much of a hypocrite, and I’ve abused enough people on this blog so I’m not in a position to criticise. Course, if I start flinging around terms of abuse about the blessed Anne now, its going to be a tad harder for her or her husband to complain.
But its not exactly that new face of conservatism that Tory Boy has been promoting is it–and one assumes the Labour spin doctors will be keeping it running to keep the arrest of one of their aides for perjury out of the public eye ?
(btw, the recipient of this email, Kris Hopkins, who is seeking to appear whiter than white (a Jade Goody reference there), is of course only leader of Bradford Council because of a rather sordid power-sharing deal with the LibDems after the voters comprehensively trounced his party in the 2006 local elections, is also now the local Tory candidate for the constituency (and will need the Hawkesworths’ help if he’s to stand any chance against t’other Ann), and was heavily involved in the scandal over the failed sell-off and leaseback of public buildings, protecting Simon Cooke over his ‘interesting gestures’, the scandal of Bradford’s failing schools, etc….)
The email runs–
“My brother Peter met the Cripple (our unPC name for Mark Taylor) this afternoon, and he, the Cripple, was pumping Peter about the selection for the PPC.
“I would trust that reptile less than a barrel of monkeys.”
One wonders whether that ‘our’ includes the less-than-sainted Anne?
(btw, love the image used to accomoany the piece at politics.co.uk–is that really Mr Hawkesworth? Hope he hasn’t got one of those exploding Sony batteries)
Given the Gazette’s refusal (well, okay, they’ve just ignored) to print my latest epistle, here it is. In response to the latest attempt to sell the ‘Panorama Stones are modern inventions’ line.
Gavin Edwards has once again used your columns to promote his pet theory
of the Victorian embellishment of the Panorama STone(s). The latest
account (23 Nov) seems to provide no more evidence than the previous story
(carried in July 2004). In the meantime, an exhibition at the Manor
House has also promoted the theory. Are we to take it that this is now
the official view of the Bradford Museums Service, and therefore is an
explanation for the wilful neglect of these important carvings?
Mr. Edwards’ case rests on two pieces of evidence. Drawings given to the
museum in 1880, and a lecture given in 1913. As yet, he has proved no
date of completion for the drawings, so we are unable to say when they
were done. What we do have, however, is the drawing of J. Romilly Allen
accompanying his article of 1879 (’The Prehistoric Rock Sculptures of
Ilkley’), and we also have Allen’s and Dr. Call’s account of the rocks.
All of these point to the ladder motif being present. Allen was a fairly
scrupulous draughtsman and was more prone to leaving elements out than
including extra (see his drawing of the Badger Stone for instance).
As to the lecture, he is taking as evidence the talk given by Gill in
1913, at which point Gill is 63, and talking of events forty years
earlier. Against this we have the research and accounts of Allen, Dr.
Call, J.H. Turner, and Dr. Little. All were researching and writing in
the 1880s, all believe in the ladder motif and none mention any rumours
or suspicion surrounding the markings.
Indeed, Little worked with the Ilkley Local Board to relocate the stones
at considerable expense and effort in 1890. Are we to assume that none
of these people ever had a local wander up to them and mention that ‘old
Ambrose done those markings.’? Or is Mr. Edwards implying a massive conspiracy?
Simply put, there is little evidence that these markings were added in
late Victorian times. There is ample that the ladder motif was present
in the 1870s. English Heritage continues to refer to the stone(s) as
being, “one of the finest examples of rock art in the north of England,
if not in the British Isles.” So why does Mr. Edwards continue to press
his line? Why the not-so-subtle campaign to downgrade the importance of
the stones?
Can it be anything to do with their wilful neglect, and the
unwillingness (whatever they say) of anyone to move the stones to the
Manor House? What has happened to the Dr. Little Heritage Group, and why
have they not been quoted over this story?
These might be rather more worthy of coverage than repetition of an
interesting though completely unproved theory.
I said at the last election we should just get her out, but you lot didn’t listen.
The glaring hypocrisy of our MP was shown up on Wednesday. She signed the EDM on the conduct of the war in Iraq, demanding an enquiry.
And then, when the chance came, she voted AGAINST. Way to go Ann. Nothing like consistency.
(sorry, by way of that man over there)
So, after all that, the Moor remains in Bradford’s hands.
But selling off Silver Well Cottage to finance improvements? Why? It smacks of selling off the family silver. What happens next time, in a few years, when Bradford still hasn’t provided the money the moor requires?
Retaining ownership is fine, as long as they start increasing the amount of money spent on it. Most cultural institutions over the past ten years have produced audits reflecting their impact in terms of cash, and other instrumental effects (help with social inclusion, etc.), in order to make their case for increased grants.
Given the amount of tourist money the Moor brings into Bradford, the £10,000 per year provided by the Council was shameful. Given also the agenda around health, there are probably other funds and grants that can be applied for, without selling off local assets (and without re-introducing shooting without any consultation as happened last year).
Actually, talking of other funds, our research elves dug up this story from a couple of years back–how the moor and other areas had received £850,000 of extra support back in 2003. So where’s the moor’s share of this money gone? Also note Danny Jackson suggesting the new group then created–SCOSPA–was the vehicle to receive a lot more money from European and other sources. So was the local trust ever needed?
Ate at Ilkley Moor Vaults on SUnday. After one local contact said they had ‘the best chips in Wharfedale’. Praise indeed. No chips are being served on Sundays though.
Haven’t been since the re-fit. The old urine-stinking bar seems to have been replaced by a lovely stone real ale parlour, and the upstairs Mr Q’s by a London gastro pub. Great service, very helpful, excellently kept beer, and (according to she who knows such things) lamb to kill for. I had a sort of mess of puy lentils, courgettes and goats’ cheese which possibly wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but made a very nice alternative to rissotto. Dealt with food queries very well.
Only downside was a lengthy wait for the mains. Which, given they only had ten or so people in, was a little surprising. However, we will be re-visiting very soon. REcommended, seriously hope the new owners make a go of it.
Is it true that Monkfish and Arcade Fruits get the majority of their fish from the same source? QUite a difference in prices I note.
Only problem being, to arrive into Ilkley five minutes early, it must have left Ben Rhydding (and probably Burley too) before it was meant to. Well, its one way of hitting punctuality targets I suppose.
Much to the suprise of the gentleman over at Ilkley-More, yes, Chris Monkman’s new wet fish establishment/bistro is indeed called Monkfish. Monkman’s reputation, both as ebullient (sometimes oleaginous) host and creator of above-average eateries such as T’Fleece in Dingham gave us all high hopes for the new establishment.
First, the conversion of the old lighting shop on Cunliffe Road seems to have included recovered lights, and a rather odd green colour on the wall. The downstairs (always bad for the head) has become the kitchen and the wet fish shop also contains a bar area where six or so people ate on the Sunday we were there. Ilkley has needed a proper supplier of fish for a long time, though Arcade fruits have done a valiant job (and I feel a little sorry for them if this impacts on their business), and Monkfish is definitely at the high end of the market.
Having both a shop and a bistro does, however, mean that the front door is open most of the time. I was sitting in a permanent draft. Which was slightly unpleasant. There’s about 24-28 covers in the bistro area, which is fairly-very crowded (intimate might be the word their marketing will use), with a bar at the back end. Menus are on the blackboards. Its Sunday and is booked out which shows a) Ilkley is waiting for somewhere nice to eat on Sundays, b) its small and c) Monkman is known to everyone. Indeed, his blown kisses and hellos to everyone walking in begin to grate after a while, but that’s my misanthropy speaking.
We have initial confusion. There’s no moules on the menus, but one couple is eating them. Hmm. Apparently they ordered in advance (we weren’t offered the option when booking, but maybe we shold have demanded). There’s also no bread on the menu, but bread is brought out to two tables. And, no, it doesn’t come with the soup. Hmm, probably made in the now-deceased brick oven as well. Damn. That’s the second way in which we (me and t’angel) feel like second class citizens in this eaterie (not a usual feeling for us, I have to say).
So, nice range of dishes—four-five starters, the same of mains, plus three or four salads. And, yes, all fish. I order the Fsh Soup, angel the haddock (IIRC). Hers is delicate and light, rather lovely. Mine, well, Provencal Fish Soup it ain’t. The fish pieces one would expect to see have been reduced to a very thin mince. Rustic it’s not. And it’s lukewarm, barely even that. One-all I guess, but most deli’s do a better version of the provencal.
For mains, I plump for the reasonably priced (£10) fsh and chps, angel for the herring salad. My fish (haddock) is cooked in light batter, not greasy, the peas are interestingly mushed. But the chips have obviously been cooked too quickly at too high a temperature. They’re uncooked in the middle, and brown-black on the outside. Obviously trying for the rustic feel, and not succeeding once more. And there are roughly ten of the things. Very measly portion.
With angel’s dish we come to the real problem. She’s made clear that she’s allergic to dairy. The (very helpful and efficient) waitress has helped her choose the right dish and no hollandaise appeared on the starter. Half-way through the main she finds one, then two, then another slice of cheese. Hmm. Calling the waitress over, the dish is taken away. On her return, we’re told that though there was no cheese in the dish ‘officially’, the chef hadn’t cleaned out the mixing bowl properly. Hmm times two. Waitress deals properly with the event ‘I can’t apologise enough…it’s no consolation, but I wanted to explain why it happened.’ And, of course, we’re not charged.
Service overall from the two waitresses working was very good, at least by Ilkley standards. They seem to have gone a cut above the usual sixth formers and to have people who have more than a modicum of training. It was noticeable, however, that having approached our table three times during the first two courses, Mr Monkman himself was noticeable by his absence once the incident had occurred. Too busy greeting his obviously wide circle of acquaintances (yeah, I know, bitterness, but I run a venue, and make sure my bistro manager or myself is out there as soon as we know of a customer problem.)
(£25 over all, would have been £32, though only water for drink)
So, positive–excellent to have in Ilkley, great starter, helpful and friendly staff, good value.
Negative–sloppy service from the kitchen (and potentially dangerous too), lukewarm soup, bad chips, drafts from the door.
So, teething problems presumably, but ones needing to be dealt with, and one that simply isn’t acceptable. With Monkman concentrating on this, it’ll also be interesting to see how The Fleece does.
More coverage if we return.
This was a comment left by Cllr Hawkesworth. While I have criticised and name-called in the past, some things (like our beloved moor) are too important, so I completely endorse all comments.
I’m going up there later, had looked forward to spending a few hours on the moor (it being my birthday and all), but, now…
May I please trespass on your hospitality to give visitors to your blog some news about the Moor? Although you cannot see from the town, 30% of Ilkley Moor is burned out and dead. This includes the most ecologically important sites, the best grazing for sheep and a good proportion of the grouse habitat. I am meeting English Nature and DEFRA tomorrow to discuss what I fear will be a long road to recovery. All who love our town and moor must work together to assist this goal. I may not agree with all that is said to me, I may not act on all suggestions put to me, but I do listen. I am very happy to listen now. The only thing I am not interested in is points scoring. We all value the work of our Fire Service, but I must in addition record our grateful thanks to our own Council staff, the employees of neighbouring estates and the farmers for the huge efforts they put in to contain the fire. I am sorry to have taken up so much space.
with devastation so vast, perhaps local minor hatreds should be forgotten?
*sobs*
Who is that being quoted on the bbc website on the fires?
More fame for Mr. Yorkie Soul. Always in the right place at the right time.
Someone claiming to be Cllr Hawkesworth has responded to my previous post. What I love is the imputation that I’m holding her commments back because I’m unwilling to listen to criticism.
Councillor Hawkesworth accusing someone else of not listening to the public, and not answering questions? I think we have a definition of irony.
…Councillor Hawkesworth plots.
It seems that the fires currently ‘raging’ (and well done Maisie the sheepdog) are just the excuse the power-mad old harridan needs to suggest changing the rules governing access to the moor. Apparently, it being common land simply isn’t good enough. These fires show the need to give Bradford Council the right to close down free access.
So much for the proposed trust giving control to the ‘people’ of Ilkley. The Trust will contain the usual great and good, who will use their new powers to close down access whenever they feel like it, or whenever they and their friends fancy something like a bit of shooting. and any excuse will be good enough to concentrate more power in their hands.
Thanks to Fraser for the alcoholic marmalade. Its midday-ish, and I had meant to do some work today. But instead I’ll lie in the sun with the cricket on and hazily doze till its time for another slice of bread.
We were house hunting in Hebden Bridge today.
Verdict: it’s not Ilkley.
But nowhere is. Which makes leaving rather difficult.
A little bird tells me that Father Hope, the ex-Archbish of York and now Parish Priest of the nearly-heretical St. Margaret’s, Ilkley, has been off work for the past four-six weeks.
With stress.
Yup, running a church in one of the richest parishes in the country, dealing with all those social problems, etc., tc.
The Gazette printed the letter about the Trust, alongside a couple of others. Strange to be on the same side as arch-Tory Barbara Cussons (actually, as I’m not sure she knows what sie she’s on, this may not be true). In common with usual practice, the subs failed completely to proof the page, with the result that the last paragraph got completely mangled.
ONe just can’t get the staff. Quite how someone manages to mangle the text in a letter sent by e-mail where all one has to do is cut and paste is beyond me.
1) Given that the new Natural England body only becomes effective from 1 October 2006, why the precipitate rush to form a trust? Natural England has yet to make clear its level of support for either trusts or council-owned natural land.
2) Councillor Hawkesworth needs to spell out precisely what extra funding would become available if a Trust was formed. Would this funding only become available if the Trust had significant private sector involvement?
3) Under the suggested terms of any trust:
How would the trustees be selected? Would Trustees be elected by Ilkley rate-payers?
Would the rate-payers of Ilkley have any say in the Trust’s composition?
Would the Trust be intended to have control over access and use of the moor–ie. could it potentially allow the re-introduction of shooting?
Would the Trust have control over the properties on the Moor–Silver Well, White Wells, etc?
4) Given that the recent proposals for hiving off the public buildings of Ilkley to a private body collapsed under accusations of corruption, should public concern over similar privatization of the moor not be taken more seriously, rather than being treated with disdain by COuncillor Hawkesworth?
Let us not forget that Ilkley Moor was bought for the people of Ilkley by the Local Board in June 1893. Since that time we have collectively owned it. This land is our land, and it should not lightly be handed over to a group of unelected individuals over whom we have no control.
(and from where does the ‘this land is our land quote come? Probably the first use of a diggers slogan with regard to Ilkers)
Last week was the 100th anniversary of the completion and opening of the New Bridge.
Not a mention was made of it by local dignitaries, local paper, local shops.
So, to make up…
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear New Brook Street Bridge
Happy Birthday to you
More on the trust idea from the minutes of Bradford council (it’s a cached google version of a pdf).
Given that the management document suggests that 5K is all that is spent on the moor by Bradford (which sort of makes the management document unattainable), the notion of the trust is to allow an independent body to apply for more funding. Of course, with the very generous precept IPC organizes for itself, there is a pot of money ready and waiting to improve the environment.
Those opposed seem to be suggesting that all the moor needs is more brass, which is true. But its unlikely to be increased by Bradford. Better by far to return it to local control. Before going forwards, though, would the trust consist of the usual busybodies? Would there be elections (after all, according the the Middelton settlement, we all own the moor)? Would the people of Ilkley have a say in what happens, or would it be like everything else, and decided in the tory club and the golf club (Ilkley, not Ben Rhydding), or in the gated community on OWler Park Road?
But if one of the ideas is considered, selling off Silver Well Cottage, I know at least two people who might be very interested.
(you know you should give up blogging when you re-use post titles for the third time).
Fraser tells me there’s a meeting of the Parish COuncil to dicsuss the plan for the future management of the Moor, June 5th, 7-30. Be there or, as I shall be, be somewhere else.
The management plan is available here –
I don’t yet have an opinion, except I don’t want a trust with no pasaran in charge.
Apparently young chap Fraser is on the steam wireless tomorrow (24th May) talking about the Moor. You and Yours, 12pm. Or do I mean am. Anyway, its midday. And I daresay you can hear it on the ‘listen again’ facility at the beeb’s website.
By way of the rather lovely clickrich who I keep meaning to link to (and now have) an image of a memorial to a bomber that crashed on t’Moor during the war. I know nothing about this. Must have completely missed the story due to being over on the wrong side of the Pennines. Maverickapollo has the full story linked here. Can someone give me directions please?
The local paper has re-done its website. Which is a bit of a shock. No more massively out of date articles, no more letters from over a year ago (actually no letters at all as they haven’t uploaded those yet). Now it’s all spankingly up to date and interweb-friendly.
Course, the fact the Ilkley Gazette has increasingly little to do with Ilkley and uses more and more stories from sister papers in Yorkshire sort of undermines the project, but at least now we know why they’ve been cutting back on the paper version.
Well, after everywhere shutting down together, loads of places are now opening up. Rumours of Pizza Express in the station, and a restaurant advertising for a chef de partie in the paper today, a new venture, specialising in East Asian cuisine.’ Surely not another curry house?
Nobu opening up north?
Well, the new Tubby’s is now open, and the boys are working hard on the new Mossop’s. A new bar at the latter, and ready to go for the 11th they reckon. Have to admit, I had no memory of the whopping stone fireplace in the redundant Steps, but maybe I was tooo busy complaining last time I was there.
Meanwhile the new Tubby’s features a menu which appears to be from a 70s theme bar. When was the last time coq au vin appeared on a menu? Still, given the average age of the Ilkley population, it may not be that silly a move.
Fecks sake. After more threats of libel action, I’ve now removed all mention of CCTV and any other related issue. Mostly to stop the hassle to my beloved hoster.
With the ex-Tubby’s boys having bought the old Steps to set up Willy Mossop’s (they get the keys on Monday) and the new Tubby’s owners being in over the road, clearing up those rotting oranges (a nice leaving present from Robin) , the race is on to see who will open first.
And who will still be here in a year’s time. Good luck to both, Ilkley needs a strong restaurant quarter to enable the less scrupled estate agents (Mr Thornton, I’m trying to avoid looking at you) to add loads of money to the prices of local flats. Or, indeed, just to sell them.
