Pannal Village

Pannal Village well that's what I still call it as it was a village when we first came to live here from Kirkby Overblow. Sixty years ago newly married, young and with our life in front of us. 

I saw in the Stray Ferret a gentleman saying "don't know how Pannal has escaped having new housing". Obviously never been here as we have Walton Park, Crimple Meadows and Pannal Green with the news that there is going to be an extension to the Dunlopillo site going along to Buttersyke Bar. I say going to be as all new housing planned comes to fruition. Look at Killinghall more housing and only one tiny shop on the footprint of the Three Horseshoes I well remember the pub across the road from the shop The Greyhound. Still there but closed. Perhaps with all the new houses built and proposed there could be a Community Project to purchase it and re=open it. 

Those were the days when of a summers evening one either walked or took the car (no breathalyser or seat belts) to a village pub for a drink or a meal and they were crowded. In the ladies toilet at The Greyhound there was a large statue on a pedestal of a naked man with only a fig leaf. Now this fig leaf was made of green material and thank goodness I never lifted it as if a lady did a bell rang outside in the bar which was not audible in the ladies toilets and when she came out everyone laughed and applauded. Very embarrassing but funny. We in Pannal have lost Spacey Houses and The Harwood and I do not know what is going to happen to The Black Swan in Burn Bridge. I am hoping to have The Black Swan and the Squinting Cat which has now closed listed as they are both ancient pubs. Wish me luck as it is not easy. I remember when the farm at Spacey Houses was going to be demolished for housing. I telephoned (one could in those days) and asked for it not to be razed to the ground but to be listed as it was an ancient farm. The gentleman said is it worth it and I said yes, please come and see it. He did travelling from Bristol and phoned me saying he was so glad he did as it was one of the most complete farm buildings he had ever seen and worthy of listing. I have the listing papers. 

What an amazing summer we have had I have loved every minute of it. Been to so many great places and of course I love my garden. A sanctuary not overlooked at all. Me and Tigs. She is a very loving cat and follows me everywhere. Is that for food probably but it is nice. I just have to watch she does not trip me up as she can be a bit stupid. She is the only cat I know who loves the rain. Cats are not supposed to like rain but no one has told her that. 

Not Pannal but the Gateway Plan for the little sanctuary in front of the railway station. The money would be better spend on the Colonnade in the Valley Gardens another sanctuary but has certainly seen better days. It used to be so lovely. So pleased I had it and the Sun Pavilion saved from demolition and in their place a car park. I remember running down it when I was about seven and the Sun Parlours had beautiful flowers in them and one had a large model boat in a glass cage. Anyone remember that? 

Pannal - What a summer

 It has been a fantastic summer. I have loved it. Let us hope we have a good Autumn as that is what we are in now. All the children and grandchildren have been up Alex my oldest grandchild got a First at Newcastle Uni.  Jake and Leonie the twins had good GCSE results. Bethany and Daniel love school. They do not get that from me as I did not. I was taught by nuns from five years old until I left to go to Uni.. Schools are so different now and the pupils seem to enjoy going.

What devastation re Yorkshire Water Spring Lane fields and the Crimple Valley. We also had the water being bright green episode. I get a number of people come to ask me for help as they "do not know who else to turn to" they say you have been here a long time and will know what to do" Apart from being Pannal's historian I am also a journalist and have a number of contacts so I normally know what to do.  The green water was reported to me and it was sorted but if Yorkshire Water had informed us they were going to turn Clark Beck, Pannal Stream and the River Crimple green and "it was harmless" that would not have caused villagers to panic. 

I was sent the following by a friend:

STRANGE THINGS THAT START EMERGING IN LATER LIFE:

Feet are further down the legs

Doctors start practising at the age of 12

Sofas are deeper

Names are less memorable

Keys, glasses and books disappear

Shoe soles are more slippery

Jar lids are tighter

Shopping is heavier

Noses drip

Being called dear isn't nearly as complimentary as it once was 

My American friend Melissa whom I first met on the No 36 bus and who lived in North Carolina and I said to her I have friends from Harrogate ICI who went out there, David and Gwen Morgan and she said I knew them. My kids were friendly with their kids. What was the chance of that eh. Melissa, husband and family have bought a house in Pannal Green and will live here and also have a place in North Carolina.. Welcome to Pannal Melissa and family. 

I was asked the history of the Mill Pond on Mill Lane and who owns it .It belonged to Bill Bentley of Pannal Hall who sold it in 1970 to the Pannal Mill Dam Association which is/was the houses round the Mill Pond. Geoffrey Clark of Mill Cottage (recently sold) was Chairman  I knew Geoffrey and his widow Diana very well as we were members of Pannal Golf Club. It was drained many years ago because it was polluted by Dunlopillo but has unfortunately silted up again and I passed it a couple of days ago and it is in the worst state that it has ever been in but help will be at hand and we shall have our Mill Pond and the ducks back again.

Tigs has had a great summer too. She is a very affectionate cat and I had to pick her up and bring her home last week as she followed me down to the Church patio that I was tidying up. I also clipped all the ivy from around the Main Street sign on the bridge that was hidden under it. Wonder who agrees with me that it was not the best decision that Harrogate is now with North Yorkshire as I feel they do not know or care about Harrogate. As for Pannal - Where is that?? 

Our Pannal

 Has the World Cup dominated life? Could be and good to see Pannal Memorial Hall staying open for the matches. Last nights who stayed up? I thought about it but as I had been on a really long walk I was too tired and I missed a very exciting match. England won. I am interested in football as I was Secretary to Bob Kelly head of the Scottish Football Association SFA and also Chairman of Celtic. So I was popular with the boys at my brothers school being able to get tickets for matches. I am a journalist and when I qualified on leaving Langside College my teacher said to me What are you going to do and I said work for one of the newspapers. She said Anne all the newspapers are owned and run by Protestants and you are a Catholic they will not employ you. There is only the Catholic Herald. I did not want to do that as my ambition was to interview the stars of stage and screen and rock and roll and my idol was Elvis - still is. Fortunately I applied for an interview with Bob Kelly. I did not know who he was and I got the job and soon found out and it was a fantastic Job. My parents then moved, Dad was in the Navy to Southsea. My lovely younger brother unfortunately died and I was unhappy so went back to my friends and some relatives in Scotland and worked at the MOD which I cannot talk about. Met my husband who was a Yorkshire man, born in Adel, and came down to Kirkby Overblow then Pannal. Our four children born in Yorkshire our dogs born in Yorkshire our cats born in Yorkshire only me not. My love for Pannal I found out that there had never been a book written about Pannal so I wrote the first book followed by three more and the  Centenary History of Pannal Golf Club. I worked for the Harrogate Advertiser. Then I decided to go freelance which is great. I can work for anyone. I absolutely love being a journalist. I get a number of people coming to see me as they do not know who else to ask about all things Pannal. Such was the case last week when the River Crimple turned green Susan came to see me and I informed the Harrogate Advertiser and The Stray Ferret who both ran the story. We tried without success to get in touch with Yorkshire Water but did get in touch with Environmental who investigated and said the green dye was harmless and Yorkshire Water did on occasions use it in streams. I said Pannal should have been informed by Yorkshire Water what they were going to do instead of causing such a scare. Been told YW have been demoted to one star. One too many so say some of us.  I am still waiting an answer to why a couple of Saturdays at 7am the water tasted so awful. First thing I do on getting up is have a glass of water. I did unfortunately swallowed it and felt sick the whole day. At 8.30am the water was fine. Why did this happen is it always horrible very early Had a number of phone calls from YW but no straight answer. 

Latest news is there going to be more housing in Pannal? It is thought so. 150 houses from the housing on the old Dunlopillo site down to Buttersyke Bar. Now we knew that if the Dunlopillo site was given permission for housing once they were finished they would want to expand with more housing and so that has come about. Will planning permission be applied for probably. Will that be granted surely. North Yorkshire Council do not know or care about Harrogate in my opinion. The Government also want to build. The Crimple Valley is on their books for housing that is why Yorkshire Water are laying new sewage pipes. They rang and told me this morning that they would be in Pannal until the end of May 2027 even longer if we have a bad winter they said. When I wrote Postcards from Pannal and went round to the School to show the children what Pannal used to look like at the turn of the century they said they thought Pannal in many years to come would be a "City". One little girl said "When I tell people it used to be a village they will think I am from a lunatic asylum". This was in the 1980s" I put what she said in my book. 

I love this hot weather but does Tigs? She has been off her food and not running round the garden - too tired. Glad to say these last couple of days back to normal. I have done some lovely long walks. When we had covid I walked every single day took sandwiches and water. Went out early and came back late and walked Harrogate including Bilton and Starbeck then Knaresborough. So I reckon I know it all. I was pretty good before I did this but now wow. Excluding all the new housing we have had since but who wants to look at new housing when we have so many lovely buildings and places to see right on our doorstep. 

Pannal when we first knew it

 Seeing all the cars using Pannal to get to and from the A61 Leeds Road made me think what it used to be like when we first came to live here in the 1960s It was so quiet and our house was one of the first bungalows built since about 1929 so there was a lot of interest and older villagers used to come and ask if they could have a look round. Yes they did and they used to pass comments on what they liked and did not like. Mostly liked but did not like was a decorative glass screen seperating the hall from the dining room. " Oh I would not have that with your young child she will go through it you mark my words". We went on to have four children and none of them ever went "through it". 

We designed our garden and spent time putting the plants in and very often working in the front garden we would be stopped by ca drivers asking where the Squinting Cat Pub was. Now this was because Mr Young the landlord was the first person in the Harrogate area to have a carvery on a Sunday and everyone flocked it it. Before the ghastly alterations it was a lovely country pub. Very up market. WE all remember when a few years later it had a little passenger railway running round the garden which the children loved. How did it get its name. The Squinting Cat.  Well it is nothing to do with cats:-

It used to be a smithy and drinking house called The Three Horseshoes. At one time run by an elderly lady who used to peer out of the window at the customers. It was said she was called t'owld cat and the pub was nicknamed The Cat. When it was sold in the 1930s the name was changed to The Squinting Cat.  It is situated on Whinney Lane but with the number of houses there now don't think it is a Lane anymore. Recently my eldest son and I had a walk up to the Pub (My suggestion) and when he saw the number of houses there are now in what was just fields that he and his siblings as young children used to cycle to with a picnic (no cars, except on a Sunday, perfectly safe) he said "Thanks Mum for spoiling my childhood bringing me here". In those days there were a number of children living in Pannal and during the summer holidays they used to meet up in the morning come back for lunch and then off they all went again not seeing them until dinner time. It was a wonderful Famous Four type childhood which they have never forgotten.

Writing about those happy days and thinking of the number of cars, vans and heavy goods vehicles coming from and to that area to Leeds, Bradford or York they will come through Pannal or Burn Bridge to get to the Leeds Road they will not go down Otley Road to get to the Leeds Road as one council official stated at a Harrogate Borough Council Meeting when the houses were going to be built. 

Strange thing was as he finished his sentence there was uproar from the audience as everyone started shouting "no they won't" the fire alarm went off and we all had to leave the building. Funny that!!

Tigs like all cats loves the sun and when it rains, as it is at the moment, she looks at me as if to say "and this is?"

Oh! must just say I have a few books Pannal and Burn Bridge Their Stories that I wrote left. If anyone is interested text me on anne.smith.pannal @gmail.com 

Pannal and Yorkshire Water

Before I get on to the tale of Yorkshire Water I shall tell you what a lovely time I had with my family Susan has a big birthday coming up so decided she would like us all to get together. The date was arranged. We were all going to meet at a National Trust big house in Kettlewell.. There would be seventeen of us plus three dogs. The forecast was not good but we said well we will all be together it will be fun. It was great fun we were there three days and the weather was beautiful Very warm and the sun shone all the time so we were out in the garden. Not a cloud in the sky. Forecast was so wrong but hurrah for that. Susan and Dick are cavers and climbers so it was arranged for them to lead all those that wanted to go, down a cave. He had plenty of takers but not me. My reasoning being why would I want to go in the dark when the sun was shining. The expedition was a great success, Only one of my grandchildren had been caving. Obviously Susan and Dick's son Alex. We met his girlfriend Erin for the first time and she is lovely and a bit quiet having to meet us all but later she was fine. We had a meal at the Bluebell the first night which was very good and we were all served very quickly no one was waiting. Chef and staff did no well. Next night we ate what we had all brought and Michael and Helen were the chefs and it was all lovely. 

Then back to earth next week we had the meeting arranged by Yorkshire Water. No one from North Yorkshire Council turned up and we all felt they should have as they were the ones who told YW to use Sandy Bank Quarry. YW staff were quite young and took a bit of flack when no map was produced telling us where they were laying pipes. The gentleman who I was sitting beside lived in Spring Lane and I said to him do you know where the pipes are going on Spring Lane and he said no all we know is they are coming over the field to Spring Lane. I felt it was not a very satisfactory meeting as we did not find out a great deal  No timetable of when and how long. I reckon if we had a pub here all those young people would have been in it "drowning their sorrows" I feel they were "set up" I have also just thought all the workmen do they have a portable toilet in Sandy Bank Quarry or are they doing what bears in a wood do? Shall find out. 

I am being kept busy with queries re Pannal people and places. It is like this every year but I enjoy it. I have collected so much information and I had a lovely friend Alan now sadly no longer with us who gave me and St Robert's Church books of both Pannal and Beckwithshaw and all who are buried there. Interestingly people contact me from all parts of Britain saying they have read my Blog. Now that is strange but nice. 

I hope we have a summer like last year but it will be too hot for some. Remember Lucy at the Post Office a customer once said to her "Its too hot I cant be doing with this weather" and Lucy said "Well take off your bloody vest then"  Short and to the point but sensible. 

Tigs loves it when I am at home gardening. She follows me all round the garden and I have to be careful that I don't fall over her as she makes mad dashes. If I did there is no good saying go get help. She would say The names Tigs not Skippy the bush kangeroo. 

Pannal and Devastation

So saddened by Yorkshire Water and the devastation they are and will cause. We received a letter from Y W only a few days before they entered and closed off Sandy Bank Quarry. They said they enclosed a map. No it was a very dark photo of where? Was this a competition and we were to guess the correct place and get a prize? No prizes but it was a puzzle. A lady I met said to me my husband is a surveyor and he had a bit of difficulty. Anyway puzzle solved as next moment they were in Sandy Bank Quarry with security vans and guard dogs. All closed off behind wire fencing no one to enter.  Now what was that for were the dogs going to attack if one tried to enter?? I had tried to get in touch with North Yorkshire Council through their Public Notice on the gate at S B Quarry I emailed them at the address given for Parks and Open Spaces and there was no such email address.. Now that was not a surprise. I had wondered if they would reply to me re the devastation going on.  Got my answer no they would not. I emailed North Yorkshire Council and no one seemed at all bothered. Then with luck I eventually got Joseph who was bothered and gave me some contacts. How refreshing to find someone who cared. Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council held a meeting in Pannal Institute which I unfortunately could not attend as I had DVT in my left leg requiring a hospital visit.  I am ok now and did attend the other two meetings in the Scout Hut on Woodcock Hill. Knaresborough and Harrogate Friends of the Earth put in very well written objections as did George Eglese who incidentally tells me his parents used to live at Hill Top Hall. In preparation Y W had twelve healthy trees felled as they "were in the way". This is nesting season but who cares! Bluebells and wild garlic about to bloom but will be covered by "hard standing" Owls other birds and animals have gone. I can se them from my window. Been informed by Y W work will take fifteen months and their way into the Crimple Valley is via Sandy Bank Quarry. Did you know people's ashes are scattered there as they obviously loved the Quarry. I came across one gentleman just standing half way in on the footpath and I was about to turn back when he said. It's ok I am scattering my wives ashes here as this was one of her favourite walks with the dog. So not only flowers, birds and animals are or rather were there. 

This is a miserable blog as one feels frustrated by Big Brother Companies that do not care what havoc they reap. They are laying sewage pipes but we know why it is to build houses in the Crimple Valley that was always the plan. Myself, David Wilby KC and Councillor John Mann asked Harrogate Borough Council to make Crimple Valley into a Country Park in honour of Queen Elizabeth 11 and they were open to the idea but then North Yorkshire Council took over and they like covering green spaces with buildings. When talking about house building there is to be a new "village" between Harrogate and York at Cattal where 3000 houses are to be built and the North Yorkshire Council Leader said we need to build 3000 houses every year in this area. So that gives you an idea of what we are in for. 

I was away for a few days and when I returned Tigs would not stop miewing her displeasure.

Mothers Day my oldest son came over (others were on holiday) and as a surprise we went to the Imax Cinema in York to see Elvis in Concert. I am a massive Elvis fan so that was wonderful. Elvis was brilliant I saw him at Prestwick Airport in March 1960. Never to be forgotten and there are a few of us in Pannal. 

Pannal - Sandy Bank Quarry Desecration

 Just had news about the fate of Sandy Bank Quarry. News came from Friends of the Earth not North Yorkshire Council or Yorkshire Water. From March 2026 to March 2027 our beautiful Quarry will be closed to us but not to very heavy lorries. Sewage pipes are to be laid through the Quarry and Crimple Valley. Now what will that be for is it because they are old or it it for housing connection? I would bet on the latter. Hard standing will be laid in the Quarry all the bluebells and wild garlic will be destroyed the sanctuary of the birds and animals will also be destroyed. Owls, pheasant woodpecker, numerous birds and small animals who live in the Quarry. My family has enjoyed the quarry for sixty years. The children have played in it even done their homework sitting at the top. Lovely walk through to Crimple Valley. Now is this important for our wellbeing or do we just destroy it. Who cares? We do. Why havn't we who live here been told. Do Yorkshire Water ride roughshod over birds, animals, land and us. Do they just turn up with their massive lorries and equipment. Do North Yorkshire Council repeat the mistake of their predecessors and don't tell anyone. We have not forgotten one morning at 6am Harrogate Borough Council arrived and removed our little listed hearse house at the Quarry entrance. How do I know it was 6am because I received phone calls from worried neighbours about what was happening. It was gone and I later heard the stone had been sold at a profit. I have informed the Stray Ferret and the Harrogate Advertiser bout what Yorkshire Water plan. I doubt we can stop them but lets just hope they bring chemical toilets. Closure for a year lets also hope they move out of Sandy Bank long before that. Will the flowers return or will they be under hand standing? Time will tell. Sad news to report. Sorry.

I am recovering from DVT. Had that a good few years ago and not very pleasant but as they say I live to fight another day. Harrogate District Hospital staff were very good. I sent them a thank you card. Although I cannot help but wonder who the numpties were that demolished Harrogate General as we do need a second hospital only having the District now. Fortunately I did not have DVT whilst I was away in Cheltenham at my youngest son and family's new home. which is massive and lovely. It is so nice to have my four children all settled with families and lovely homes. I also this week went to see my friend Jenny and Bruce in their new home. Having moved away from all the vast new housing round the Squinting Cat. to the peace of Sovereign Park the old Royal Bath Hospital now flats overlooking the Valley Gardens and very nice their flat is too. I was a patient in the Purey Cust Ward (he was Dean of York in the 1800s) when it was a hospital.

Tigs was not happy whilst I was away as she follows me everywhere but home now so happiness reigns.