Christmas in Keld

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL WHO VISIT KELD

The church door; always open

A real tree, decorated and dressed, awaits visitors who stay in The Manse over Christmas.

The tree outside the Countryside & Heritage Centre is still standing despite being blown and battered by gales and rain over the past week.  In the background, The Manse, which is home to a family from Bournemouth for the Christmas holidays

Keld Festival Weekend

Keld has celebrated the 60th anniversary of the arrival of mains electricity to the village and the centenary of a remarkable historical dispute when in 1913 dancing was banned in the Literary Institute.



The Lantern Parade took place, at dusk, on Friday 8th November and was widely supported by the children from Reeth & Gunnerside Primary School, The 2 Dales Nursery, parents, grandparents and residents of the upper dale.

The children had tea in the Public Hall followed by a puppet show which they all thoroughly enjoyed.

Then came the moment the children had been waiting for!  They collected the lanterns they had so carefully made in school and a procession of over sixty children, excited to be walking out in the dark, made there way around the village.

The atmosphere was electric.  The children carried their lantern high and sang a German lantern song, learnt in school, during the procession.

The parade ended in the little square outside the church and the Literary Institute, where the children sang 'Swaledale'.

Debbie Allan, professional photographer, from Scenicview Gallery, Reeth came to the Lantern Parade to take photographs.  The Keld Resource Centre are extremely grateful to Debbie for allowing us to use her photographs as without them there would be no record of this event.
Please visit www.scenicview.co.uk or call in at Scenicview Gallery to view more of Debbie's work.

The next evening, to celebrate the 1913 dancing dispute, what else but a evening of dancing! The Centenary Ceilidh, with local Ceilidh Band, Cobbler's Jig, was a stomping success. The Public Hall, decorated with lanterns from the parade, was full and everyone danced the night away.  The hot supper supplied by Keld Lodge was excellent and the usual table-groaning, calorie-busting selection of deserts provided by supporters of the Keld Resource Centre were delicious.
A local person was overheard saying 'Tonight reminds me of how dances in Keld used to be; everyone joining in and being so friendly.'

Remembrance Sunday

Our Remembrance Day Service began beside the War Memorial on the roadside at the top of the village.

Local resident, Adrian France played The Reveille.

Following a three minute silence, 'For the Fallen' and prayers by Reverend Stephen Collinson the service continued in church.

Keld Festival makes full page in Northern Echo

Excitement is brewing as the Keld Festival Weekend approaches. The village is celebrating two important events in its history; the centenary of the 1913 dispute and arrival of mains electricity, a mere 60 years ago,
in 1953.

The Northern Echo devoted a full page report under the headline Dancing with the Devil.

Reporter, Mike Amos, did us proud and wrote a superb article about the goings-on in Keld 100 years ago when the village was in uproar because the trustees of the Literary Institute closed the place down when they discovered dances were taking place into the 'wee hours'.  The article includes interviews with Clive Davies, project manager of the Keld Resource Centre and Ernest Whitehead, the only remaining resident of Keld who remembers mains electricity arriving in the village.
Visit www.northernecho.co.uk to read the full story. Type Dancing with the Devil in the search box.  The article was printed on Tuesday 5th November.

Friday 8th November - Lantern Parade at approx. 4.30 p.m.
Around 70 children from Reeth & Gunnerside School and the 2 Dales Nursery plus a few more will walk in procession with the lanterns they made in school, singing as they go.

Saturday 9th November - Celebration Ceilidh
Keld Public Hall from 7.30 p.m.

COME AND CELEBRATE WITH US - EVERYONE WELCOME

Lantern Making for the Lantern Parade - Friday 8th November

All the pupils from Gunnerside & Reeth School have been busy making lanterns for the Lantern Parade on Friday 8th November as part of the Keld Festival Weekend.

The Lantern Parade is to mark the 60th anniversary of mains electricity arriving in Keld Village.
To these 21st century children, sixty years ago is 'the olden days', but it is, in fact, very recent history. 

Thanks go to the Yorkshire Dales National Parks for providing the willow and to the children and staff of Reeth & Gunnerside Federated Primary School for their enthusiasm and support.

We are all looking forward to event and in particular keeping our fingers crossed for good weather!
More photographs and a full report after the event.

Artist in Residence

It was a pleasure to welcome Reverends Richard and Rosemary Kidd ( two for the price of one!) as Ministers-in-Residence in The Manse for Harvest Festival.  Here a few of their recollections and memories of their visit to Keld.

A great week in this really excellent accommodation.  Bad weather gave us the excuse to enjoy creative pursuits.  It was a special privilege to be the very first to welcome Rev Stephen Collinson to The Manse - although he declined to explore upstairs in deference to our privacy!  When our daughter and baby grandson visited, we set off on the Waterfall Walk, enjoying the innocent delight of a one-year-old in every sheep on the way.  Thank you so much for the warm hospitality of the Christians of Keld, and especially Glenda, for keeping the house in such good order.

Richard and Rosemary Kidd.  Ministers in Residence 28th September - 8th October

Harvest Festival

Sunday 29th September 2013
Harvest Festival in Keld Chapel
A beautiful display of  flowers, fruit and vegetable decorated the church.
 A bale of hay and a Swaledale fleece represented harvest in the upper dale.
The service was taken by visiting Minister-in-Residence, Rev Richard Kidd of Derbyshire

 

The next day, all the Harvest Festival produce is auctioned.  Keld Lodge hosts this event and provides a welcome supper before the auction begins.  Ronnie Metcalfe from Gunnerside and formerly of Greenses takes the auction.  He expertly and often amusingly manages to extract every last penny from the assembled crowd!

Thank you Nick, Ronnie and everyone who supported the chapel through their generous bidding.

Showing You The Way..... in Action

Earlier this summer a family from Devon came to Keld for their holidays. 
 

Our children's guide, Showing You The Way..... was perfect for them to follow.

Crossing over the river to the waterfall



Checking the route

 

Great scenery and views of the dale.

 

 

 

The children are fascinated by the remains of an abandoned tractor they find on the side of the path.

 

 

Cooling off in the stream at the bottom of Swinner Gill

 

 

Checking the map as they near Ramps Holme Bridge and the path to journey's end, Muker.

 

 

Another chance to paddle before setting off on the last stage of the walk through the Muker hay meadows.

 

 

 

Unexpected Guest Drops in at The Manse

 

Look very closely and you will see a young starling sitting on the fire grate!

 

I was alerted to this problem by the family staying in The Manse last week.  Unfortunately I was on holiday myself in Northumberland so was unable to help.  This little chap made such a noise as it scrabbled and scratched in the chimney that our poor guests thought there was someone downstairs!  A real Hitchcock experience! 

 

As you can see our resourceful family were able to rescue him and set him free. 

 

I am glad to say that this has never happened before so please do not let this story put you off booking The Manse for your holiday later this year or during 2014.  The family concerned assures me that it did not spoil their holiday and that they enjoyed the cottage and our beautiful dale.  We would certainly welcome them back.

 

 



Mystery writer, Susan Parry, visits The Countryside & Heritage Centre

 

On Sunday 4th July, Susan Parry, author of a series of Dales Mystery Novels, spent the day in the Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre, meeting visitors and signing her books.

 

Susan who writes from her Swaledale home sets her stories in and around the Yorkshire Dales.  In her first novel, Corpse Way, meet Millie Sanderson, a student archaeologist on holiday in peaceful Swaledale but all is not as it seems in this picturesque dale.  More mystery and suspense follows in Susan's subsequent novels, Death Cart, Grave Hand, Craven Scar and Purple Shroud.

 

Susan is presently working on her next book, Frozen Ground, which will be available this summer.

 

To find out more about Susan's work visit her website www.susanparry.co.uk

 

Thank you, Susan, for your continued support of The Keld Resource Centre. 



Story Walk with Rhoda

 

 

Several families followed professional storyteller, Rhoda Fraser of Richmond, as she made her way from the Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre, through the woods to East Gill Falls weaving stories of woodland creatures and fairy folk on the way. 

 

A captivated audience.

 

Her coat of many colours, magical stories and bagful of puppets kept the children intrigued.  

  Many thanks, Rhoda, the children loved your stories.

The Keld Resource Centre is grateful for your continued support.

Thank you very much.



Flowers of the Dales Wild Flower Walk

 

The Flowers of the Dales Guided Walk that took place on Saturday 6th July was a resounding success with twenty seven people taking part. 

 

 

 

 

It was a glorious day and participants had the opportunity to look for and identify flowers in verges, woodland, moorland, pasture and meadows as they walked between Keld and Muker following the River Swale. 

 

 

 

Len Shepherd and his team from the Yoredale Natural History Society proved to be invaluable guides, expertly helping people to identify over ninety different species of flower. 

 

The walk passed through the famous Muker hay meadows, rich with flower and herb.  These hay meadows have recently been granted Coronation status.  Seed will be gathered from the meadows and used to replenish land, that due to modern farming methods, no longer produce flowers naturally. 

 

 

Participants came from all over the north of England; some making the journey specially, some already being in the dale on holiday.  Here are some of their comments:

 

'Lovely walk, very relaxed and friendly.'

Very pleasant and informative walk. Beautiful weather.'

Added names to the unknown flowers I often see.  Much appreciated and adds to my enjoyment of this lovely place.'

'Beautiful countryside.  Friendly and informative guides.  Lovely day.'

 

The Keld Resource Centre committee would like to express their thanks and appreciation to

Len Shepherd and his team from The Yoredale Natural History Society for making this event possible.



Ministry of Sunshine

The Rev George Courtney and his wife Doreen have been staying in The Manse as Minister-in-Residence.  They arrived with friends on Saturday 1st June and the sun shone every day. George and Doreen are regular visitors to The Manse and its always lovely to welcome them back. 

They send this message:-

Although I have been to Keld a number of times before and had met Glenda Calvert each time - this was the first time she shared a very important piece of information with me.  It concerns something that would a) make life easier for the hard working farmers b) bring more people to Keld and c) make me very happy.  Apparently, every time (well almost!) there is a Minister in Residence at the Keld Manse the sun shines.  Just think of the number of times that would be helpful; the lambing season, hay time, the walking season etc.  So, the answer appears to be, to invite more people to be Ministers-in-Residence and if there is found to be a shortage, I am more than willing to be on call.

Showing You the Way...... Leads the Way

Our leaflet, Showing You The Way......a children's guide of the walk from Keld to Muker, is proving popular with young people visiting the dale and also with schools from other area of the country who are using it as a model for their own projects.

Children from Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School in Co Durham are producing a similar guide for a walk in Upper Teesdale and a primary school in Sherwood, Nottingham is planning to use Showing You The Way.... to inspire their pupils to create an architectural trail in their area.

At the beginning of June, the Year 5/6 class from Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School came to Swaledale and followed the guide before returning to Teesdale to work on a map of their own.

 

The lack of growth in the hay meadows was particularly noticeable (a direct effect of the long, cold winter).

Thank you once again to the pupils from Gunnerside & Reeth Primary School who were involved in creating Showing You The Way ......



  

Meadows & Moorland Walk ~ 9th June 2013

Today, Chris Calvert of Pry House Farm, lead a guided walk through his meadows and pastures and onto the open fell.  Everyone who took part were familiar with the dales but most had never been to the head of Swaledale.  They were all overawed with the beauty of the landscape, the vastness of the moors, the variety of birds to be seen and the abundance of wild flowers.  One lady commented that the walk was made far more interesting because it was guided by a local farmer who explained so much about the livestock, farming practices past & present and the history of the area.

 

Setting off from West Briggs

Standing in West Briggs. 
Far Briggs meadow in the background and the road along Keldside in the distance.

 
Walking through Harker's meadow, designated as an area of Special Scientific Interest because of the species of wild flowers that grows there.

"The guided walk was very informative and I learned a lot about the hill farmer's way of life and the interaction between hill farmer and wildlife, flora & fauna." Mr T Sykes, Camblesforth.