Walking in North Yorkshire: "robert Thomson"

Coxwold and Beacon Banks from Kilburn

10.5 miles Warm sunshine

Part of today's walk is off our North Yorks OS map but if required the appropriate map can be downloaded from the North Yorks web site.

We approached Kilburn from Thirsk and parked in the free car park next to the Forrester's Arms on the High Street.

Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills

The Forrester's Arms

Leaving the car park by a gate next to the war memorial we approached St Mary's Church, which is just behind the pub and had a brief look around. The mouse symbol of Robert Thomson is carved throughout the church and it is fun to spot, often carved where you least expect to see it on pews, rails, boards etc.

Thomson was a resident of Kilburn and his first commission was from the parish priest at Coxwold, a crucifix, and he is said to have taken up the mouse symbol when he considered the expression 'poor as a Church mouse.'

St Mary's Church, Kilburn

A cheering epitaph

Kilburn Mouse

Continue along the churchyard and through the white gates

Leaving the church we soon reached a road that took us uphill to High Kilburn where attractive houses surround a village green. Tom Scott Burns tells us that there once was a duck pond in the village green but all that remains of it is the old village pump.

Houses at High Kilburn

High Kilburn Green

We passed by an old barn with a curlew weather-vane and a field of Jacob Sheep before reaching the attractive Fox Folly Farm.

Shorn Jacob's Sheep and lambs

Walking towards Fox Folly Farm

Fox Folly Farm

Leaving the farm we walked along the lane for a hundred yards or so before turning right into fields. We now followed these overgrown field paths to Coxwold.

Field paths to Coxwold

Paths are little walked and overgrown

Arriving at Coxwold

We walked along the high street until we reached Shandy Hall, the home of Laurence Sterne, the author of Tristram Shandy, and then crossed the road to the other side to reach the church, which seems enormous for the size of the village.

Shandy Hall

Coxwold

St Michael's Church, Coxwold

St Michael's Church has an impressive octagonal tower and is a 15th century building, although built on a Norman church. We found it unlocked and went inside to see some fine windows, which commemorated the Wombwell family, in particular Sir George Orby Wombwell, a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade. There was also a fine stone carving dedicated to the Fauconberg family of Yarm, which is near to our neck of the woods.

Looking towards the altar

Panelled Elizabethan ceiling

Rear of church

Ceiling detail

The Fauconbergs

Beautifully carved rood screen

We went outside and perused some of the old gravestones before returning to the High Street and walking back to the crossroads where we turned right to commence a steady climb out of the village, past the old railway track. After half a mile we entered a field at a wooden sign and continued to climb following field paths until we reached a stile and High Leys Farm.

'Thou in thy youthful prime, Hast leap'd the bounds of time, Lo, we now rejoice for thee, Taken to an early rest, Caught into Eternity'

Old railway building, now a stylish garden hut

We nearly miss the sign

Very overgrown paths

Waist high grasses make hard going

At the farm we turned right onto the farm track for 100 yards or so, before returning to fields at a sign, and following the ridge of Beacon Bank Wood. After half a mile or so we came to a tree trunk, well positioned to sit and look down and across to the White Horse and an ideal place for coffee and scones.

Looking back towards the White Horse of Kilburn

Cattle are too hot to bother with us

Guinea fowl at High Lees Farm

Coffee break

After a relaxing break we set off once more along the ridge and soon reached the alpaca farm near Lists House. A short walk brought us to the village of Husthwaite and its church, St Nicholas, which was unlocked and open to visitors.

Trig Point almost hidden in bracken

Looking down from Beacon Bank

Alpacas

Looking down to Husthwaite

St Nicholas' Church

St Nicholas' Church is 12th Century but restored in 1895. It has boxed in pews and several interesting features. As always in this area, the mouse of Robert Thomson is everywhere to be seen.

Looking towards the altar

Altar window

Towards the rear

A modern window

Mouse on lectern

After Husthwaite we passed through the remains of an old railway embankment and entered Ings Lane, which we followed north for a mile. We walked by a tractor garage and shop, with some big machines. We rejoined the road at Carlton Husthwaite and walked through the village, noting its pretty houses, one of which was very striking, a timber framed thatched house.

Turn right and walk past a caravan park

Ings Lane

Past the tractor repair centre

Decoration at a forge in Carlton Husthwaite

Modern sculpture in Carlton Husthwaite - near the Blacksmith's forge

Timber framed thatched house in Carlton Husthwaite

We left Carlton Husthwaite turning right into Croft Lane then left to join Common Lane. A walk through fields and lanes eventually brought us back to Kilburn and the Forrester's Arms, where we sat outside to enjoy a pint while discussing the day's sights.