We had a camera club outing to Airton, a small village between Skipton and Malham. Unfortunately it happened to be a day when the much-needed rain came determinedly, in sheets of light, misty drizzle, interspersed with heavier showers. Not really a day for having cameras out but never mind.
Airton is a very old and attractive village, constructed around various green spaces. Some of the buildings date back to the 17th century and others are more recent, early 19th century cottages no doubt linked to the cotton spinning mill, originally a corn mill, by the river.
Oddly situated right in the middle of the village green, what is nowadays a rather pretty little rose-covered cottage is thought to be an early 19th century 'squatter cottage'. These were hastily constructed, illegal dwellings on what was common land.
Ellis House and Ellis Cottage were once one building, dating back to 1696. It has an impressive dovecote in the gable. The initials EWA on the lintel relate to the original owners, William and Alice Ellis. William Ellis was a master handloom linen weaver, and a Quaker. He bought the barn opposite the house and turned it into a Quaker Meeting Place, which I'll show you tomorrow.
You still produced good pictures! I like the rose-covered cottage but would not want to live bang in the middle of the village green; I prefer a more secluded dwelling. I don‘t think I have seen a dove cote like this one before!
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the rain. I wonder how they clean out the dovecote?
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