Yorkshire Day – 1st August

in York

Here at Welcome to Yorkshire we think that Yorkshire Day should be celebrated 365 days a year. However we’ll just have to settle for 1st August and make it an extra special day!

We Love Yorkshire!

Here at Welcome to Yorkshire we think that Yorkshire Day should be celebrated 365 days a year. However, we’ll just have to settle for 1st August and make it an extra special day!

Celebrate all things Yorkshire when the UK’s largest county comes together to indulge in vast quantities of regional pride. With so much on offer to do, we hope you gain some inspiration from the options suggested below.

Yorkshire Day Events and Activities from Around the County

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Yorkshire Day in the British Army

The day was also celebrated by the British Arm’s Light Infantry, successors to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. They celebrate the day as Minden Day, after the battle of Minden. Together with five other infantry regiments of the British Army, a rose is permitted to be worn in the headdress. In the case of the Light Infantry, the rose is white (the symbol of Yorkshire).

Fun Yorkshire Facts

England’s smallest window is in Yorkshire! The George Hotel sits along a lane called Land of Green Ginger in Hull and has a window which dates back to 1683 when it was a coaching inn. A porter would sit watching for coaches/guests to arrive then attend to them on arrival. Stay at Green Ginger House to get a look. (The Land of Green Ginger refers to the sale or storage of the spice ginger in the Middle Ages).

The first ever movie was made in Yorkshire! In 1887 Louis Le Prince invented the Single Lens Camera and captured the first moving picture in Leeds Roundhay Garden. His blue plaque can be seen on Leeds Bridge where he filmed Traffic crossing Leeds Bridge in 1888. Get a look at it by staying at Malmaison Leeds.

England’s longest-running paid visitor attraction can be found in North Yorkshire. Mother Shipton’s Cave and Petrifying Well in Knaresborough has been open to visitors since as far back as 1630.

The oldest surviving business and oldest surviving pub in the United Kingdom is in Yorkshire! The Bingley Arms in Bardsey, West Yorkshire, is over 1000 years old. Why not team a visit with a walk around the nearby ancient monuments.

Yorkshire holds the record for the longest bunting! Villagers in Craig Vale, Calderdale, West Yorkshire created a 7 mile stretch of bunting along the 2014 Tour de France route.

A collection of lesser-known Yorkshire facts:

  • The Mouseman of Kilburn: Robert Thompson, known as the “Mouseman of Kilburn,” was famous for carving a mouse symbol into his handmade wooden furniture. The mouse became a well-known symbol in North Yorkshire, and his works can be found in various buildings around the region.
  • The World’s Oldest Little Theatre: The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, North Yorkshire, dates back to 1788 and is believed to be the oldest working theatre in its original form in the entire world.
  • Giant’s Bellows in Malham Cove: At the top of Malham Cove, a large limestone formation in North Yorkshire, you’ll find a unique rock formation called the Giant’s Bellows. It resembles an ancient bellows and is the result of thousands of years of erosion.
  • A ‘Law’ for Ferrets in Harrogate: The Stray in Harrogate has an obscure by-law that allows for only two games: football and the game of “kiss-ball.” Interestingly, there’s also a rule against taking ferrets on the Stray, unless they’re on a lead.
  • The Unique Wensleydale Cheese With Cranberries: Wensleydale cheese is famous for its association with the Wallace and Gromit animations. A variant with cranberries is a local speciality and was actually a happy accident during a failed experiment with blended cheese.
  • A Double Sunrise in Scarborough: There’s a rare phenomenon called a double sunrise, which can be observed under specific conditions from Scarborough’s South Bay. The sun appears to rise, dip below the horizon, and then rise again!
  • The Oldest Surviving Wall Paintings in a British Church: St Agatha’s Church in Easby houses some of the oldest and most well-preserved medieval wall paintings in England. They depict various biblical scenes and have been there since the 13th century.
  • York’s Snickelways: York has a complex network of snickelways – small passages and snickets found throughout the city. They lead to hidden courtyards, secret gardens, and often take you out somewhere completely unexpected.
  • A Cemetery for Pet Ducks in York: Near the city walls of York, there’s a small pet cemetery solely for ducks. It’s hidden away and adds a touch of whimsical mystery to the city’s history.
  • The “Tom Pudding” Water Transport System: Invented in the 1860s, the Tom Pudding was a unique barge system used to transport coal in Yorkshire’s waterways. The tub boats were filled with coal and then coupled together like a string of sausages, towed by a tug to their destination.
  • The Shambles Inspired Diagon Alley: The Shambles in York, with its narrow, winding streets and overhanging timber-framed buildings, is said to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series.
  • The Forbidden Corner’s Labyrinth: In the Yorkshire Dales, there’s a 4-acre garden known as “The Forbidden Corner.” It’s a maze-like labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, and surprises that began as a private folly and is now open to the public.
  • Beverley’s White Rabbit Trail: Lewis Carroll’s White Rabbit from “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” is said to have been inspired by a carving in St. Mary’s Church, Beverley. You can even follow a White Rabbit Trail around the town.
  • Yorkshire’s Mysterious Druid’s Temple: Near Masham, you can find the Druid’s Temple, an 18th-century folly that resembles a Stonehenge-like structure. It was built by William Danby to provide local employment, but it now adds an air of mystery to the landscape.
  • The Cat Statues of York: Scattered around York are various cat statues perched on buildings, all in different poses. They are part of a tradition dating back to the 19th century and were believed to ward off evil spirits.
  • World’s First Ghost Walk: The original ghost walk of York is considered to be the first in the world. Founded in 1973, it explores the legendary haunted sites and the ghostly folklore of one of England’s most historic cities.
  • A Tax on Cats in Hull: In the 17th century, Hull imposed a tax on cats to help fund the building of a new harbor. It’s a quirky piece of local history that shows the creative ways cities raised funds.
  • The Cuckoo Stone Ritual: The Cuckoo Stone in Marsden Moor has an ancient tradition where locals would bury a live cuckoo under the stone to ensure good weather for the harvest. Thankfully, this practice has long since been abandoned!
  • The Ripon Hornblower Tradition: For over 1100 years, the Ripon Hornblower has sounded the horn at 9 PM at the four corners of the market square. It’s a tradition intended to “set the watch” and ward off evil spirits.
  • The Unique Flamborough Sword Dance: This traditional sword dance from Flamborough, East Yorkshire, is performed on Plough Monday (the first Monday after Twelfth Night). Dancers use wooden swords and enact a play, which includes the “death” and “resurrection” of one of the characters.

Celebrate your way

Celebrate Yorkshire Day with a visit to a historical site, a locally sourced meal or a full holiday.

Related Accommodation

The accommodation below is nearby - and has been updated recently.

Midway Guest House

145 Fulford Road, York, YO10 4HG, United Kingdom

Moxy York

Black Horse Lane, York, Y01 7NE, United Kingdom

Tawny Lodge

Acomb Road, York, YO24 4EX, United Kingdom

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