Did you know that the Hartlepool Maritime Experience less than an hours drive away from Newcastle? Have you even heard of it? Probably not but I want to shout all about it today as it is such a hidden asset to the North East!
Tucked away from view on a sharp bend, you’d be forgiven for missing Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens as you travel out of Ponteland. Venture in to the grounds and you will be rewarded with a day full of history, nature and beauty in this local English Heritage property.
Finding ourselves with a day to spare in Yorkshire on a recent break, we packed up our cameras and English Heritage membership and headed to Fountains Abbey + Studley Royal Water Garden in Ripon.
As a combined National Trust + English Heritage property, we enjoyed entrance to the site for free as part of the membership ticket to this UNESCO property.
Tucked away on the banks of the River Tees, near Yarm, Preston Park Museum resides in acres of park land.
I haven’t been in over 20 year but with the promise of a modern history museum, a Victorian Street and as many walking routes as you could possibly imagine, I couldn’t resist going back.
Officially opened as a museum in 1953 and rebranded in 2012, I took my Mam along to check it out.
This coming weekend sees the annual Grassington 1940s Weekend held in Grassington, Yorkshire. The entire village gets in to the retro spirit and embraces the yesteryear festival.
We visited last year and are going back for the weekend this year.
The 1940s weekend features Spitfire flyovers, tea dances, Lookalikes, Military vehicle parades and musical entertainment all from the period.
The park and ride is operated on vintage buses and there is a great re-enactment camp where they fire up a stationery Spitfire engine. My gosh that sounds insane!
This year’s 1940’s weekend is to include:
A full size 18 ton tank in Grassington Square
West Yorkshire Austin / Classic Car Club parked around the village
Re-enactor camps and displays in YDNP Car Park to include:
A large selection of Vintage Military Vehicles
Fox Commando Royal Navy and Combined Operations Unit
American encampment
German 21st Panzer Div LHG
German 1st Kompanie GD
German Heer Signals Unit
Russian 13th Guards ‘Poltavaskaya’ Rifle Division
West Riding 28th Battalion Home Guard – ‘C’ Company
Some displays will include pyrotechnics. There is also a help for heroes stall where you can practice your shooting practice (I perfected my shot last year on a print out of the Go Compare man right between the brows!)
The best thing about the1940s is the atmosphere. Everyone is so friendly and the businesses have really embraced the weekend with everyone dressed up to get in to the swing of things.
You will find American airmen having a pint with a german soldier, with a land girl serving behind the bar. Costumes aren’t a requirement but they certainly add to the fun!
It is just brilliant and I wholeheartedly recommend making a trip over the weekend. You can find more information on the Grassington 1940s Weekend on Grassington website here.