Fridays are market days in Helmsley

There isn't many Fridays when I don't get down to Helmsley market. My first memories are going on the bus with my Grandfather before I was old enough to go to school. We went to the bank -it felt a bit like the bank you see in the Mary Poppins film. We went to the fish stall.Grandfather had a magic little bag made of oil cloth that was rolled out and was just for fish. He bought Whitby cod and some fishcakes EVERY week.And then we went to the bakery for bread and iced bread buns. 55 years on it is basically the same routine -bank and go to get some fish along with other visits too. The butcher van is laden with meat -we supply this butcher and have done so down the generations. Near to it is the most amazing cheese stall - I think this is probably my favourite stall not only do they have lots of delicious cheese they are the most wonderful local,cheerful people I have known all my life -well Cathy is a bit younger. Nigel was brought up at a farm just over the hill from us and we were both born in the same vintage year.

Monday so it must be Thirsk....

Market days in Thirsk are on Mondays and Saturdays .I seldom go on Saturdays as they tend to be busier but there is a good car park and it makes for a great detour when going to visit the Heriot Museum or just have a wander around the town to see the shops. Drop in and have a coffee at The White Rose Book Shop and Cafe. Or to eat on the hoof smaple the wears of Lees the Butchers. Mr Lee is known for buying top quality meat at the local Thirsk market. It is his pork pies that draw me into the shop on a regular basis. When I was a little girl we always went and I climb the steep flagged steps into the shop they don't seem quite so steep now but then I would have been about 4 at the time .Always I remember the bras door handle. When I took a photo I commented on it to the staff .They smiled when I told them the story. I could see they were thinking as mad as a hatter in the nicest sort of way. The clock tower stands proudly in the centre of the square which is cobbled.Goodness knows why they keep resetting the cobbles I am sure there are more twisted ankles on them than not. Pattison's the jewellers is just off the market square as you head out towards the race course. Yes Thirsk has its own racecourse and some happy times have been there espically at night meetings when Thirsk and surroundings turn out in their droves. There is a railway station too .ideal to get in Leeds or further afield and you can park in the Red House Pub car park for £2 a day and the money goes to the Herriot Hospice. There is also an Austin Reed Outlet shop where you can pick up a good bargain.

Thirsk on Market Day

It is not often I venture out on the roads at weekends but I was looking for some plants for the garden. I headed to Thirsk as I knew it was market day. My first port of call was Hambleton Fresh Foods run by the Hebdon family.Philip and his wife Angela run the business now ,Philip being the 5th generation in the family business. They sell flowers ,plants and topiary bushes too. I came away with some Portobello mushrooms for supper,an iceberg and some grapes for my Dad. All this produce would have been brought in this morning I guess from Leeds when most of the county were still in dream state. HFF also stand at Northallerton on Wednesday but on Saturday and Mondays at Thirsk. It was teeming with people this morning but with 5 people on the tills it doesn't take long to get served. All the staff are very friendly and smiling and it is a pleasure if you can call it that to hand your money over. It was a lovely morning but they stand there rain or shine in all seasons.It was nice to see them so busy.