Being a huge fan of the All Creatures Great and Small books and the BBC TV show, I was thrilled when my daughter Angela took me to Yorkshire and indulged my passion for All Creatures. In the town of Thirsk, right in the middle of North Yorkshire, is the building where Alf Wight, aka James Herriot, had his veterinary practice HQ in the 1940's. (He was qualified as a veterinary surgeon in the 30s, but his practice then was in Sunderland, NE of Thirsk. I think that is near Newcastle-upon Tyne, so Heidi's relatives could still be lurking thereabout.)
The veterinary clinic, now a museum 'The World of James Herriot' in downtown Thirsk.
The famous red door.
Yes, they allowed me to take photographs of the inside the museum. I think this is my favorite - the dispensary. Doesn't it look fascinating!!
Another shot of the dispensary.
The laboratory.
The vets who shared a veterinary practice and their actor counterparts. (A photo of a photo, obviously)
The dining room. I picture Mrs. Hall uncovering the burnt roast. You can't go wrong with a good bit of beef!
The huge kitchen. Baking, laundry, cooking, were all done in the kitchen.
Another shot of the kitchen, below, with the amazing AGA cooker against the back wall.
And if you're saying, 'What's an AGA cooker?' It's a kitchen range, popular at that time, but whose popularity has waned. I would love to have one of these in my house! Here's a photo I gleaned from the web:
Here's also a brief description you might be interested in.
Another shot of the kitchen, below, with the amazing AGA cooker against the back wall.
And if you're saying, 'What's an AGA cooker?' It's a kitchen range, popular at that time, but whose popularity has waned. I would love to have one of these in my house! Here's a photo I gleaned from the web:
Here's also a brief description you might be interested in.
The living room, with the good veterinarian looking rather stiff.
The garden.
The garage.
The last two photos I took in the nearby village of Askrigg. This building was used on the TV show as 'The Drovers.' Remember Tristan? Mmmm. My favorite. :-)
Another building in Askrigg, used for the TV show as Skeldale House.
You can get more information on the World of James Herriot website. For fans of the All Creatures Great and Small books, this place is a must-see! Besides, the Yorkshire countryside where Alf Wight practiced veterinary medicine is breathtaking. And no kidding, some of the farmers there today look like they could have stepped right out of the pages of his books!
Did you read the All Creatures Great and Small series? What was your favorite story?
4 comments:
Very informative post. The photos are nice and i love that stove too. It looks so efficient, doesn't it? I have always thought that our neighbors Beatrice and Lawrence A. were just like the people in the book and they have a James Herriot heart. :D
That was a fun trip. :)
Deb, I think you're right about Beatrice and Lawrence! They would fit right in!
Yes, Ang, thanks to you! :-) (and I've never stopped loving England, or at least James Herriot's England, and Winston Churchill's 'we will fight them on the beaches' England, since I was there with you.)
Judy, this is a fabulous post! I don't think I could visit the house without crying! I was glad to see the kitchen is yellow--I have had a yellow kitchen for decades. Every place I've lived, the first order of business is painting the kitchen a nice buttery yellow. Love your photos!
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