No flooding in Pannal

We have been in Bournemouth having very nice weather whilst Harrogate and Pannal have had very heavy rain. The Stray was flooded, people had to be rescued from the A1 and the Otley/Ilkley by-pass was closed for a time but Pannal survived. Not like the time in September 1968 when the River Crimple burst its banks and flooded.  The water came up over the bridge and rowing boats had to be used to rescue people from their cottages. Tragically little Melville Guy Pullein Bentley aged only eight was drowned. He had, as all little boys do, thought it so exciting and on looking over the wall by St Robert's church, which Clarke Beck flows beside before joining the River Crimple, he overbalanced and fell into the beck and was swept away. His body being found downstream later. Thank goodness it has never been as bad again. As I type this it is raining and it is dark. Looks like summer is over but perhaps we might have a respite as we still have St Luke's little summer which is a few days round about 15th October - give or take a couple of days either side -  when the sun does shine and it is quite warm.  I have known about this since I was a little girl as my grandfather was a fisherman and they know all about the weather and the moon cycles.

Pannal shops query

After my bit about all the shops that Pannal used to have I had an email from a lady who said she had visited Pannal with a walking group completely missed the one and only shop/post office (it is possibly to do that as if one comes into Pannal from Pannal Bank you do not see it) and was amazed to find there was no place to get a drink or sandwich she thought we would have had a little co-op!! Beer festival this weekend at St Robert's church. Sounds a strange place to have a beer festival but there you are.  A few years back it would have been great fun but would not really do the beers justice now. Been up to The Harwood and it is still the same as regards decor but seemed a bit friendlier from the bar staff. Pannal has certainly changed. Been here nearly 50 years ( a mere child when we came) In those days there used to be so many people walking around of an evening and stopping for a chat not so now. Everyone seems to be in cars. Wonder if that is what it is or the weather - not many balmy evenings for the last few years - or younger people moving in and not really interested in their surroundings. Road works hopefully being cleared now. At least we can get in and out of the village. Horror of horrors they dumped all their heavy equipment on top of the daffodils we planted. Be interesting to see if they do come up in the spring.

Shops and Businesses of Pannal Past

Now 2012 we have two shops one a post office at the top of Station Road the other also in Station Road a hairdressers. The hairdressers was Walkers butcher and fruit and veg before that Pannal Fisheries. The post office used to be in Main Street many years ago then it was on Hillside Road before moving to its present position. Last century we had Rhodes Cafe at Spacey Houses, Pannal Cycle Depot at Spacey Houses and a fish and chip shop there. Petrol Station next to Spacey Houses Farm and also another one next to Spacey Houses public house (now demolished and a car showroom there) Pannal Auction Market was cattle then latterly auctioned cars - it was on the corner of Follifoot Road then next to Spacey Houses Farm. (Spacey Houses is at the top of Pannal Village on the A61) Grocery Shop/Bakery/Cafe at 3 Station Road. Central Stores on the Crimple Bridge now a private house. Old butchers shop on Pannal Green alongside blacksmith's shop. Listers Filling Station still a filling station on the A61. Brookside Nurseries still there. Chapel and Son nurserymen then Leeds Road Garden Centre gone now Antique Centre. Harrogate Caravan Distributors at Spacey Houses and also Caravans for sale on Mill Lane. Sheepskin Products Mill Lane, Kennel Nutrition Far end of Mill Lane. Stockdale Millers had a mill, now demolished in Malthouse Lane, Batchelors Nurseries top of Spring Lane at Daw Cross, Miss Campbell Nurseries Hill Top Lane. Burn Bridge is next to Pannal and there was a blacksmiths then a grocery shop then restaurants - Le Provencal, Four Seasons, Roman Court. Bintex then Dunlopillo now a light industrial area but there is now a cafe. Demaines Garage was in Brackenthwaite Lane and Kennings Garage corner of Rossett Green Lane/Yew Tree Lane. Nettleton Quarry Owners who finished in about 1930. Nursery/Veg garden corner of Main Street and Pannal Green. Mrs Lydia Ward's shop now Lydia Cottage Main Street. Pannal stationmasters house and booking office changed to Platform One public house now The Harwood. Black Swan public House, Burn Bridge still there.Pannal Golf Club there since 1906. Really a very busy village not so busy now unfortunately as one does not meet villagers "going to the shops".

Summer in Pannal

At last a bit of summer. The day the Olympics started we had summer here also for the Paralympics. Could not believe it. Has been a marvellous few weeks. Warm with sunshine. A lot of gardening has been done and sitting around too. Glued to the tv we have been. Not during the day I may add but at 7pm. London did Britain proud and Britain did Britain proud. Loved every minute of it but alas it is now over. School has started once more and there is no crossing lady. That was a short lived appointment. Bit scary too as I see mothers crossing the road with their children at the Rosedale junction and looking right and left but not behind them. Why they cannot wait until they are further down the road I do not know. Also saw one dopey dad letting the children cross on their own as a car was turning down the road he then screamed at them and shook the boy. I try not to look out of the window. The Harwood pub has re-opened shall go up and have a drink. Cannot at the moment as Bas is on antibiotics for a tooth abcess and cannot take alcohol. So I will not been mean and slosh down the old beer when he cannot. The roadworks are finished so we can go up and down Main Street and Station Road again. I do not have to go all round the houses in Burn Bridge to get to the golf club now. Have been to see Jenny in hospital and she is coming on well. Speech coming back and she has been walkies in a wheelchair. Went to see a concert thingy at Pannal Memorial Hall on Saturday and we came home at the interval. Never done that before and felt so guilty. We did not join the queue for refreshments but made for the door. Nearly killed ourselves getting out hoping no one would notice. We were giggling walking down the road. Having new neighbours once again. Keeps changing hands nothing we have said honest.