We were very happy to have an impromptu visit by Christine Buckton (nee Baker) at the village hall this week. Christine used to live at Cliff House, and has been staying there on holidays.
Her father was W.P. Baker who wrote the book The English Village, in which there appears a lovely description of village life in Ebberston in the 1950s.
Christine and her family were shown around the village hall, which she remembered as the school, and she got re-acquainted with some of the objects we have in our “treasure” cabinet, much of which her father had collected and left to the village – some with his old hand-written labels still attached.
The sword in the stone (wall). Image: Judith Winters
We all know the story of the sword in the stone, but did you know there is a real life sword in the north wall at St Mary’s church in Ebberston?
The stone is particularly interesting because the carving was not made for the wall. Rather the stone has been selected and reused from an earlier monument (very possibly one that was close by). However it does seem to have been appreciated by the wall builders who recognised something of its significance and importance and kept it facing outward.
Despite earlier theories, it is almost certainly not an emblem that’s been cut out of a larger slab with a cross or other carvings on it. The stone edges have been chamfered (i.e. shaped with sloping edges) which is highly unlikely to have been done at the point of reuse . It would therefore appear to be an emblem-only monument that found a second life in the wall of a church.
What it marked, or who or what it memorialised, we do not know. However the style of the sword pommel (the handle) and the drooping curved guard does tell us that Viking-style sword pommels persisted in the north long after the Norman conquest. The sword is also similar in style to the ‘real’ one found at Cawood, now in the Yorkshire Museum.
It’s difficult to date (but it is clearly earlier than the 14th century church wall), but from the style of the sword, archaeologists think that it is probably was carved in the 12th or 13th century.
About 1km north west of Ebberston is Dargo Plantation in which can be found a memorial to Dargo, one of the dogs of the estate gamekeeper (Matthew Pateman).
The memorial is dated 1812 and so is in the time of Squire Osbaldeston’s predecessors – the Hothams. The engraving is barely visible now but thanks to some villagers in the early 1990s, who attended a course on village history (organised by the Workers’ Education Association), a booklet about the village was compiled and they has been able to obtain a copy of what the engraving said. And now it can be shared again.
Enclosed beneath this peaceful shade
Dargo my faithful dog is laid
Who in his day performed a part
And gained applause from every heart
He was steady to scent and always true
For well his business Dargo knew
But now he’s gone, his work is o’er
My faithful Dargo is no more
Here snug he rests beneath these sods
And leaves the sport to other dogs
Dargo’s memorial, Ebberston. Image courtesy of Di Fletcher
Taken from: A History of Ebberston 1994 published by Centre for Continuing Education, Development and Training, University of Hull.
Just a reminder that the Ebberston Village cv19 Support Group is ready to help anyone needing help with shopping, prescription collection, a friendly chat, post office etc. Village co-ordinators are Sarah Walker 01723 850703/07447 564552 and Sharon Smartt 01723 859836. A volunteer is already collecting prescriptions from the surgery later this week so please let us know if you need medication collecting.
2020 might not be remembered for the best of reasons but Ebberston residents really pulled out the stops for Window Wonderland and our challenge to make the village look festive while there really wasn’t much else to do. It was thrilling to see so much creativity, fun and joy on display.
The only downside is that the benchmark has now been set for next year!
David and Val Palfrey have hosted the Christmas quiz at the village hall for the last few years. Although things are a little different this year, they wanted to make sure you did not miss out so have kindly created a bumper 100 question quiz for you to do over the festive period. Just for fun. Some paper copies will also be placed on the Chapel Notice Board.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and hope that we will soon be back to using the Village Hall!
Answers will be posted here on 2nd January. Any quibbles, well, the quizmaster and quizmistress’s word is final of course!
“Hope you had time over Christmas and New Year to attempt the Ebberston Christmas Quiz (you could always have Googled the answers!). Wishing you a Happy and Healthy 2021 and hoping we can all Quiz together in the Village Hall next December.”
Ebberston’s “Window Wonderland” starts on 1st December, and there will be at least one new festive display to see around the village every day all the way until Christmas Eve.
Although we are not yet able to organise any face to face events, Ebberston village hall committee was keen to arrange a Covid-safe alternative event. And over 40 households rallied to the call to join in and are making colourful festive, Christmas or Winter themed displays in their front windows (or doors, or garden), all visible as residents walk around the village .
The list of where and when displays can be seen is on the village hall noticeboard or you can download your own list to print out here.
Although we are not yet able to organise any face to face events, Ebberston village hall committee are keen to arrange a Covid-safe alternative event in the run up to Christmas.
Our plan is for residents to make a colourful festive, Christmas or Winter themed display in a front window (or house or garden or door step 🏡 – which many of you will do anyway) which can be seen as residents walk around the village . Each household would be assigned a date 📅 which would be the day their display goes on show, the idea being that there would be something new to see every day, from 1st December onwards. We will create a list (on the noticeboard, on the village website and the Facebook group) to show where there will be something new to see each day.
Getting involved would be free of course and everyone is welcome to take part – it won’t be limited to 24! Displays can be on window sills or in your front garden. They can be as big or small, as low key or as funny and adventurous as you like, from door wreaths to fairy lights to full displays. As long as it’s family friendly you’re on to a winner. It would be up to residents to decide how long their display lasts but we hope you can be persuaded to keep your display up until the big day itself.
Do you want to get involved? Email info@ebberston.net or contact Judith Winters, Sarah Walker or Lynne Hall by 20th November. We don’t need to know what you are planning – we just need to know your address/location in the village and a “title” or some sort of clue to your festive display (or where it will be). We will assign you a date once we have an idea of numbers, after 20th Nov.
Let’s see just how inventive, creative and Christmassy 🎄 Ebberston can be!
Remembrance Day 2020 is likely to be very different to past years, but we shouldn’t allow coronavirus to prevent us recognising and celebrating our veterans. That’s why Community First Yorkshire are offering gift boxes to older ex-servicemen and women in North Yorkshire. Funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, boxes will include a collection of Yorkshire-themed items, including biscuits and teabags, as well as commemorative items from the Royal British Legion’s Poppyshop.
The packs are free of charge and will be delivered in early November, arriving in time for Remembrance Sunday. (Packs are suitable for both men and women.)
Do you know anyone in Ebberston, Yedingham or Bickley who might be eligible?
To be eligible for a pack, veterans must:
be aged 65 or over;
have served in HM Armed Forces (including National Service) or have seen active service as part of the Merchant Navy;
live in one of the North Yorkshire districts (i.e. Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough or Selby).
There are 150 boxes available and they will be distributed on a first come first serve basis, while stocks last, max 1 per household. Deadline for applications is 18 October 2020.
Our Sportsfield has re-opened, and if you’ve had chance to visit, you will have noticed that there have been several developments.
New climbing frame (demonstrative climber not included)
The new swings
Our new slide
New equipment has been installed and toilet refurbishments are also underway. The pavilion is also being repainted.
For maintenance and to keep new equipment and improvements coming, the Sportsfield needs your support. The new play equipment alone has cost over £17,000 so next time you’re down at the park, please slip your spare change into the donation box. We know how much everyone in the village and beyond love our park, so every donation helps.
