Witch Posts are nearly exclusively found in the North Yorks Moors with example being found at Glaisdale, Danby, Rosedale, Gillamoor, Farndale, Egton, Goathland, Lealholm and Silpho. The example at the Ryedale Folk Museum is originally from Stang End at Danby

They are said to prevent witches from flying down the chimney by placing a St Andrew’s cross on one of the fireplace posts.

This drawing of other examples don’t always look like a St Andrew’s cross to me and the true meaning of the symbols and history of the tradition seem to have been lost.

A bee boles (or Bee House as they are know locally) is a recess in a wall where a straw ‘skep’ would have been sheltered from the wind and rain before the development of modern bee-hives (rougly pre-1850)

This reconstruction is at the Folk Museum in Hutton-le-Hole, although there are actual examples still in Glaisdale and Westerdale.

This is a second hydrant in Cropton village. Like the other it dates from 1889 and was made by “J Blakeborough & Sons Manufacturers Brighouse England”

These were installed when the village water supply was introduced by Firth of Scarborough.

This verjuice press lies partially covered by a tree in Farndale. Verjuice is the acidic juice of crab apples, traditionally used in cooking and medicine. A large stone would have been placed on top and a beam used to make it squeeze the fruit, with the juice running out of the carved channels.

This photograph of an olive oil press gives a good idea of how it would have worked.

I’ve linked to a few of the sites covered, heres the full details

Skelton High Street West (led by Peter Appleton)
When: Wednesday 16th July
Start: 10:30am, outside Skelton Library
Length: 2.5 hours
Skelton High Street divides naturally into an eastern half and a western half at Coniston Road. This walk explores the heritage to be found in the western half on a gentle stroll to the old church tucked away on the edge of the Castle grounds

Panniermans Causeway (led by Marshall Best)
When: Wednesday 23rd July
Start: 10:30am, Loftus Square, outside the Co-op
Length: 4 hours
Panniermen transported coal and wool, along the long trod (flagged paths) from Loftus. This walk is a charming look at these effective transport links.

Obscure Guisborough Railways (led by George Featherston)
When: Wednesday 13th August
Start: 10:30am, Guisborough Forest & Walkway Centre
Length: 5 hours
The Guisborough valley once had two main railway lines and several branches. We’ll explore them and their often swashbuckling history while we enjoy the fine countryside and wildlife.

Scaling Dam & Radar Station (led by Marshall Best)
When: Wednesday 20th August
Start: 10:30am, Scaling Dam Sailing club car park, TS13 4TP
Length: 4 hours
Examining the former site of the RAF Danby Beacon, including the plaque commemorating the date the first enemy aircraft was shot down in Britain in WW2, after being detected by radar at Danby Beacon.

Ironstone Mining Heritage 2 (led by John Roberts)
When: Wednesday 17th September
Start: 10:30am, Bank Top Car Park, Staithes
Length: 3.5 hours
Looking at the Grinkle and Boulby mines, this walk will also reference the active potash mine in Boulby. This walk is entirely within the North York Moors National Park.

Two Mines Circular (led by Peter Appleton)
When: Wednesday 24th September
Start: 10:30am, outside Skelton Library
Length: 4 hours
This walk takes us up the Cleveland Way towards Skelton Green before heading off down Trout Hall Lane past Skelton’s coal mine. We then continue to North Skelton, site of the last ironstone mine to operate in Cleveland (which closed 50 years ago this year!). After a picnic lunch we continue to the site of Longacres ironstone mine before heading back to the library.