Pannal and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth Coronation and Platinum Jubilee

Pannal very quiet. Well Pannal is by I am not. Now is the time for people to email me about relatives who lived here in the past or buildings they live/lived in. I am not complaining as I love answering their queries. I have been told no one in Pannal knows as much as I do and that is lovely. I live here and I have made it my "duty" to find out about people and buildings and places.I have never been stumped yet. The only funny query I have had well not the query the people asking was concerning Pannal Hall and they said they were related to the Bentley family (owners of Pannal Hall at that time). They produced a family tree. We asked them in and made coffee etc. When I studied the family tree I said I am sorry but it is not the Bentley family of Pannal Hall you are related to it is another family named Bentley who lived in the village at the same time and I produced the evidence. They took one look at it and flounced out without a word said.  I bet when they went back to America they produced the photos of Pannal Hall they had taken and said this is where our ancestors lived. 

Another query I had was two ladies came to the front door and asked if I could tell them the history of a house.I could and did. Then I said to one of them "Years ago we had a midwife here called Joan Alderson you look very like her are you related and she said yes I am her daughter". 

I have finished the task I was asked to do by the Parish Council namely to write down what happened in Pannal on Coronation Day 1953 and what happened here in the 1950s and every decade after, right up to the present day.   

This I have done and also printed off some photographs and passed them on to the Parish Council. Quite a lot of work involved but I have a lot of papers and also copies of the School Log Books. Pannal celebrated Coronation Day with flags, bunting. Fancy Dress and a Gala held by kind permission of the owners of Rosehurst a beautiful  building in it's own grounds. It was demolished in 1966 and Rosedale Close was build where the house was and Rosedale built on its magnificent grounds. I was lucky enough to have been inside Rosehurst and also its grounds and I remember, also sadly gone, a most beautiful red rhododendron in front of the house when in bloom could be seen all over the village. It was the sight of some of the wonderful specimen trees being felled that I got in touch with Harrogate Borough Council and with the help of their solicitor Mr Hoyle put on the very first tree preservation order covering and saving  the rest of the trees. TPO No 1 Pannal 1969. Every decade from the 1950s.has been interesting to write about and I hope it will be available for all to see on a history stall when we celebrate  our Queen's Platinum Jubilee over the four day holiday in June, Also of course on 29th May 1953 Everest was Ascended for the first time. The highest point on earth by Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing and the world found out on the morning of Coronation Day. 

Tigs and Marble were sitting alongside me when I was typing that exciting information and I told them but they were not at all interested. Funny that!  

Pannal Walk

Have Yorkshire Water, Gas, Broadband, etc gone from Main Street Pannal. Well they have at the moment but a couple of days ago fear was struck into the hearts of residents of Main Street, Three men in high viz clothes looking where holes had been dug and filled in. So far no one has come to dig holes but who knows what we have in store for us.

Thursday we awoke to snow and it was cold. No traffic disruption with the snow this time and by the next day the snow was gone and there was sunshine off and on. This was the day I took 17 Pannal Plodders around Pannal telling them what used to be in various places and buildings. We had a lovely time and everyone was so interested. I am very proud of the history of Pannal and when I first joined the Harrogate Society one of the first task was to look around Pannal and its buildings and have them listed. All listed buildings are now in the Conservation Area which I and the Conservation Officer for Harrogate Borough Council Peter Fisher looked at. This was in 1984 and the Conservation Area was added to later.We also have the very first Forest of Knaresborough Boundary Stone in Pannal which I take people to see. Yesterday's walk met at St Robert's car park and we walked up Main Street to Sandy Bank Quarry and All Saints Court then the old Pannal School down Rosedale which was the beautiful Gardens of Rosehurst which was built in 1833 and destroyed in 1966. Back along Main Street past Pannal Hall and down Mill Lane. Then retraced our steps to Crimple Meadows and we kept stopping so that I COULD TELL THEM THE HISTORY OF ALL THE BUILDINGS AND PLACES WE WERE PASSING. We then walked down Crimple Meadows the originally intention was to walk along Mill Lane but it was very wet so Crimple Meadows which were fields belonging to Pannal Hall and where the teasel grew and was used for napping and where we used to picnic. We were on our way to lunch at the Black Swan and a lovely lunch it was too. 

I am getting o well with Villagers Recollections of Coronation Day 1953 and what has happened in Pannal every decade since. 

Last week we and Marble and Tigs were enjoying the lovely warm Spring weather and then snow. So like the rest of us they were both wondering "what happened there then" 

Back again Pannal

 We in Main Street are loving this and I don't think. A cable company who shall be nameless broke a pipe. Filled the hole in and just outside my wall water started running down the road. I rang Yorkshire Water and they came out at 2am to listen to find out where the water was coming from. Couple of weeks passed and a gentleman came to my door and said does that leak belong to you or your neighbour. I said neither of us. He said I take my dog out very early in the morning and it was very frosty and I skidded on the ice that I did not know was there, luckly I did not fall down. I said I will report it again. I did and first of all they said they could not trace my original call. Then they found it so I told them about the gentleman and said if anyone does fall you could be sued as you know about the leak. Had a telephone call to say they would be at the top of Main Street on the 1st March.They were. Dug the pavement up found the leak repaired it. Then a couple of days ago another hole was dug further down the road I asked the workmen why and they said we are gas and water has run into the gas pipe so we are here to find where. This weekend barriers still there so presumably they will be back tomorrow, hopefully found and hopefully repaired, hole filled in and goodbye to utility companies. All our fingers are crossed. Further down Main Street broadband cables are being laid and it is an awful mess. Barriers are on top of the daffodils on Pannal Green that myself, my husband and youngest son planted all those years ago. So I doubt we shall be seeing them this year. I am cross and really hope the barriers are removed soon and the daffodils manage to survive. I have moved two barriers that were on the little garden on the patio by St Robert's Church and moved them further up as I planted the little garden and I look after it and the patio. 

These last couple of blogs have not been nice to write but I want to keep everyone in the picture re roadworks. 

On to another subject I have been asked by the Parish Council to write a history of Pannal from the Queen's Coronation every decade up to the present. What we did at the Coronation and how Pannal has changed over the these years. Happy to do so as there have been so many changes and the village that we live in is not the same. We who have lived here for many many years have seen the best of Pannal and also the best of Harrogate too. I do not want to live anywhere else but it is just different. 

Remember Ken Walker of Walkers Butcher and Veg shop (now a Hairdressers) I am still in touch with Ken who is 90. I am also in touch with Peter Scoulding whose Dad Les owned the long gone Newsagent's on Station Road now the Doctors Surgery. 

In the very strong winds part of my fence has become unattached and the cats are not all that happy about that as it is moving backward and forwards and they don't like it so when the wind dies down I shall do as they have requested and I shall get it repaired.

Pannal we are back

 On March 1st Yorkshire Water are coming to dig up the road again this I was informed by telephone. Reason I know is because I "drew to their attention for the second time the water leak on the pavement between my neighbour and myself". Reason I did so was because a gentleman came to my door and said I do not know if that water leak on the pavement belongs to you or your neighbour. I said neither of us. It is when cables were being put in a water pipe was damaged. He said I take my dog out in the very early mornings when it is dark and I slid on it. I said I will report it again and this was a couple of weeks ago and still the water comes out and runs down the road and as I said they did phone me to say date to be fixed 1st March. 

I have had a lovely weekend as it was my birthday and the children (I have four) pulled out all the stops and I had some lovely presents which I had told then not to do. Holiday booked which was a surprise. 

One day went to Fountains Abbey and it was crowded as it was half term for some. Not Pannal that is next week and also my grandchildren who are coming up as their half term is next week. Too crowded for us so we went a walk elsewhere. Very pleasant but very muddy and windy in places. It is so nice to see one's children and grandchildren especially when they do not live anywhere near. I love it living in Pannal I have the lovely Crimple Valley to walk and so many other places near. We are so lucky living in Yorkshire. The first lockdown in March was fantastic I walked the Crimple Valley every day up to and un der the Viaduct and I never tired of it.  Leeds Road the A61 was so quiet no cars one could just saunter across the road which we have never been able to do and I suppose will never be able to do again. 

I have been asked to see if I have any photographs or writings of all the decades that our Queen has reigned. That should be fun to do and I will enjoy doing it. I also suggested to the Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council that we should have a big "street party" on Crimple Meadows in June and if wet Pannal Memorial Institute.So we shall see what comes of that. Let us hope that being told we no longer have to wear a mask will not result in another lockdown. I shall continue to wear a mask when I am shopping.

Tigs and Marble have intimated that they do not like this rain. I have told them they are not alone. I was up at 5 o'clock this morning. Now I thought that drinking Posecco would have made me sleep but it did the opposite but I did have the joy of hearing the dawn chorus and also being quite surprised to see so many dog walkers out. 

Pannal Panto? Oh yes we are

Yes they are back and at the top of the road again. This time Yorkshire Water. Outside my house there is a cover that has tv on it and water is pouring out of it and has been for days. I had phoned Yorkshire Water and they sent someone out and it looks like one of the workmen from I do not know where has hit a pipe or a spring pipe and the fault is at the top of Main Street. Interesting though there are traffic lights but no workmen. Are they coming this weekend?  There is now a new game for motorists and all are playing it. It is called drive as fast as you can through a 20mph limit when the lights are green and get through them before they turn red. There is a worry there because so many heavy vehicles are coming through Pannal and up Church Lane in spite of there being a weight restriction.In the 1970s the road bridge that is above Sandybank Quarry and before one gets to the Quarry entrance collapsed. Now in those days we had a number of buses coming in and going out of the village via Church Lane (to go to town no need for a car as buses were regular) and this was felt to have caused the road bridge to collapse. Buses were re routed via Rosedale until the powers that be decided not to run buses to and from Pannal. With the amount of heavy traffic and lots of it could this happen again?. Could be as one will have noticed the amount of water that lies there when we have heavy rain. Has the road dipped a bit I would think yes. It will only get worse with the proposed 4000 houses to be built and the traffic will come through Pannal to get to the A61. I remember when we all had larch trees outside our property that the bats used to roost in outside our houses opposite Rosedale and these were felled to widen the road and put a pavement in. 

I do know nothing stands still  but I feel Pannal has had more than its fair share of housing,  In other words just stop please. 

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June,  Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council were looking for ideas to celebrate it and I suggested a "street party" in the rec if fine and if not fine at Pannal Memorial Institute. Not just a suggestion as I am happy to help. Let's all get together and "do something" to celebrate this fantastic event. 

I shall end with the follow on to my central heating failing at Christmas today emergency call out as carpet in the corner of the lounge soaked by a leaking radiator valve. Noticed it when Tigs who sleeps there came out wet. Not a lot of sense that cat. In fact neither of them have but they do know dinner and when I ask if they want to come in. Bit different when I want to put them out of the lounge at bedtime Mine not theirs as we have a chase round the room as I want them out but they do not want to go out, I win Ha ha.  

Goodbye Pannal Oh Hello Pannal

Goodbye Pannal Oh Hello Pannal this is what has been going on with workmen in Main Street. They dig up the pavement leave barriers and holes for a couple of days plus traffic lights come back fill in holes and remove barriers and traffic lights. Then a couple of days later the pantomime starts all over again. The traffic lights they had at the top of Main Street I was waiting there as they were on red they changed to green and I just got past them only to meet four cars heading for me on the one way system. I had to back down the road fortunately no cars behind me. There was a workman standing there with a switch in his hand controlling the lights. I shouted to him what are you doing and he just shrugged. Today is Sunday will they be back tomorrow? Your guess is as good s mine. Laying cables for talk talk they reckon. Well that was last week wonder what it will be next. Your guess is as good as mine. 

I had an email from Peter Scoulding whose parents had the Newsagents shop (now the doctor's surgery) at 37 Station Road in the 1940/50s asking for a copy of my new book Pannal and Burn Bridge Their Stories. He lives near Leeds so came over and we had a chat about old Pannal. He left me a couple of folders he had written about when they were at No 37 where Peter was born. I shall read and return them. I had another email from Peter saying how much he had enjoyed my book and I had described Pannal just as he remembered it. I do get a number of people telephoning me about their relatives who lived or were buried in Pannal. I have only ever been stumped once when I had an inquiry about Great Aunt Bertha who lived in Pannal. I said what was her surname and the person said oh now you've got me. I also had some Americans a husband and wife who said they were related to the Bentley's who used to live at Pannal Hall and they had taken photographs of the Hall to show the folks back home. They had been directed to our house by a gentleman they met in the street as they wanted to know more and he told them I was the person who could tell them. I invited them in gave them coffee and cake. Looked at my records and from what they had told me I said no unfortunately you are not related to those Bentley's but you are related to other Bentley's who lived in the village and I showed them  the other Bentley's family tree to prove it. Without a word they stood up and walked out of the front door. I bet they showed "the folks back home" the photographs they had taken of Pannal Hall and said it was their ancestral home. 

More plans in for the ghastly Dunlopillo building which is going to be demolished and another building erected and still two stories higher and still apartments. Is this a foregone conclusion as I have not had an notification from  the Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council saying to object, Have I just missed it and they have asked residents to object? Anyway I have. 

Remember the stray black cat that has been hanging round since covid. Well I still have it. Is it taking me for a mug as it now comes in through the cat flap and sleeps in the utility room. Muggins has provided a bed for it. Don't think Tigs and Marble are that pleased but at least they have not fought as my two seem to have accepted it. They are not friendly but there have been no fights. . 

 

Pannal and trouble

A very Happy New Year to you all and I hope it will be a good one for you. I had a lovely Christmas with all my family here playing games and eating far to much. Everyone helped so it was brilliant.  The weather was rubbish but fairly warm and we got out when it stopped raining - briefly.  

The day after Boxing Day I thought I would do something in the slow cooker so went to the utility room to get it and when I lifted it up there was water underneath. The central heating was dripping. I had sent everyone over to the rec to play with the toys the grandchildren and the dogs had received from Santa Clause. Then the water started pouring out down the wall flooding the carpet etc. Fortunately they came back and we phoned Safegas who said no you are not under contract to us. I said then why have I been paying you £20,99 per month for years now? Eventually got it all sorted when the staff returned to work the next day (who were we speaking to originally do not know - might have been the tea lady) but we had an afternoon and up  to 10.30 am the next day with no water (Richard had turned it off) and no heating. Thank goodness they were with me as there was no way I could have moved the washing machine, dishwasher and freezer to mop up the water. I went up to the Lakes to spend the New Year with eldest son Michael and his wife Helen and I had a lovely time again playing games and eating far too much also drinking far too much as I was not doing the cooking. Had a couple of lovely walks at Grange-over-Sands and Ulverston. 

Had a visit to Crimple Hall before Christmas and what a splendid food hall. Spent more than I should have but it all looked and tasted so lovely. Restaurant was good too. I hope it is a success. Must admit I am stunned by the success of the coffee place further up as car after car pulls off either going towards Leeds or Harrogate for coffee. 

Have now taken down all the decorations which I was so chuffed to have put up. Big tree and all. The taking down and putting away was worse than the putting up afraid all the cheerful spirit has evaporated,

Tigs and Marble were not at all impressed with the two dogs that were here. Saw them occasionally but if cats can glower they did. I am forgiven now and peace reigns as they are in and on their favourite chairs. One of which is my favourite but I don't have the heart to chuck Tigs off and she knows that. So when I do get sitting in it of a late evening she is on my lap.