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Askrigg and the Kings Arms, Askrigg

Turner stayed in Askrigg on 26 July 1816 when making illustrations for 'A General History of the County of York' by Thomas Dunham Whitaker.  He spent the night at the Kings Arms, in this quiet village characterised by its tall houses and cobbled market place centred around St Oswald's Church.

Turner had travelled over from Upper Wharfedale during the day, but habitually used every hour of daylight to make sketches.  No sooner had he stabled his horse and taken some refreshment, than he was out in the evening exploring his surroundings.

 

Aysgarth Falls

Turner visited Aysgarth on 28 July 1816 when making illustrations for  'A General History of the County of York' by Thomas Dunham Whitaker. He probably stayed that night in Aysgarth Village.

Turner's principal subject at Aysgarth was the famous falls. The River Ure drops over three major falls in less than one mile. The third fall, Lower Falls, is the most vigorous, where the river drops down a fine staircase of horizontal ledges and can be an awesome sight (and sound) when the river is in spate.

 

Barden Tower

In 1808 Turner made a small sketching tour on the Rivers Wharfe and Washburn. He was making his first visit to the home of his great Yorkshire friend and patron Walter Fawkes of Farnley Hall near Otley. Turner, by this time, was well into his thirties and on this tour he began an intimate exploration of the  scenery of Yorkshire that was to last for nearly twenty years.

 

Beeston Hill, Leeds

Of all the cities of Britain, Leeds was one of the most important to Turner. He had important friends and patrons in the area and Leeds served as a base for his explorations of Yorkshire and the north. Over thirty years, he passed through the city many times, but sketched little in the immediate area until 1816 when he was commissioned by Whitaker to make a series of 120 watercolours of Yorkshire.  It was probably around the middle of September when he came to Leeds to make his sketches.