Bishopthorpe News and Views

On Friday night a car was driven off the road at the Main Street crossroads.

It demolished the Main Street sign, a hydrant marker and part of the wall next to the Library.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The results of this example of 'de-cluttering the streetscape' can be seen below.

By Sunday morning, the Main Street sign had disappeared!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
On Friday 12th May - a gloriously sunny morning - Bishopthorpe's restored 17th-century sundial was fixed back into its niche on the Co-op store.  It was last November that sun-dial restorer, Harriet James, took the York-stone dial down to her Wiltshire workshop.  There she stripped off many layers of flaking paint and limewash.  Harriet re-painted it, imitating the oldest white/cream layer and picked out the carved detail in black to ensure legibility. 

Harriet had found the sundial to be generally in good condition with the carved numerals worn, but of good quality.  The corners of the dial, however, had to be re-formed using epoxy glue and ground stone.  Also, the iron gnomon (shadow caster) was badly rusted and could not be saved.  Harriet had a replica made from brass. 

The restoration was funded by United Co-operatives Ltd. and will be officially unveiled on Thursday, 18th May at 11.00 a.m.

 

The sundial has been angled out from the wall in order to tell the correct, local, solar time.  It was found that the sundial was designed to face due south, but the facade it is fixed to faces 15 degrees to the east of south.   

 

For further details on the history of the dial, how to tell the time and other technical stuff, go to the Bishopthorpe Local History Group's pages here. 

 

The local Canoe Club invites anyone who wants to try canoeing to have a go for free on Saturday June 3^rd at its base at the end of Ferry Lane, Bishopthorpe. Any individual or group can sign up for a free one-hour “lesson” with an instructor between 10:00 – 12:00 or 13:00 – 17:00.

During the day there will also be displays of different canoeing activities and paddle sports and for the more adventurous the opportunity to try a range of different kayaks and canoes under the watchful eye of the club’s team of instructors.

If you want to have a go, ring Dennis Fothergill on 01904 703973 to reserve a place, or just come down Ferry Lane to have a look on the day.  To take part in canoeing you must be aged 8 or over and be able to swim 50 meters. Equipment including buoyancy aids will be provided.

The club, the Lower Wharfe Canoe Club, is celebrating its new base and new canoe store by the River Ouse at Bishopthorpe, which has been installed with generous help from Bishopthorpe Parish Council and the local ward committee.