The DiCamillo Companion Web site

Some years ago I was asked to do reciprocal links with a site in the States called DiCamillo Companion, then recently I received an email from a fellow Country House enthusiast, Melanie McGurr who has the site: Country House Lane, she had visited a lecture in Cincinnati where Curt DiCammilo spoke on “Lords, Ladies, and Mummies: Highclere Castle, the Real Downton Abbey.”… Read the full article

Parlington Rally :: Rally of the Tests, Thumbs Down!

Brochure Extract from the Upcoming Rally

Rally of the Tests
Click on the picture to visit the Classic Rally Web site in a new window.

Another sad tale; earlier in the year I met with Peter Scott a notable local Rally Driver who also runs Bretts Fish Restaurant in Headingley. Any how turning to the rally rather than the fish suppers.… Read the full article

BBC – A History of the World

BBC The World in a Hundred Objects

For those interested in all things historical, I’ve added a short article about the Brewster Stereo Photo Viewer to the new BBC “A History of the World” web site which acompanies the rather good Radio Four series, “A History of the World in a 100 Objects”.

The site and in particular my article about the viewer is here: Brewster 3D Viewer

The article on my on the main Parlington History site is here:
Artefacts Section

The idea is a naked attempt to push more visitors to the History site, as people keep telling me that the profile of the site is too low!

Parlington Artefacts Display at Crossgates

This coming Friday, 28th May, I will be setting up a new exhibit at Crossgates Heritage Centre of my Parlington artefacts, for the East Leeds History and Archaeology Society. The picture below is a view of the Centre at Crossgates Library, and I presume, my items will be placed in one of the glass cabinets.… Read the full article

Out of the Blue

Moody view of the Triumphal Arch

Moody view of the Triumphal Arch

Yesterday the post arrived and out of the blue was a large packet, with the words “Please Do Not Bend” emblazened across the top left corner. I had no idea what it could be as I was not expecting anything. So imagine my delight when I discovered that it contained a photograph from 1914 of Parlington being used as a hospital; a fact, hitherto unknown.… Read the full article

Parlington Talk at Lotherton Hall, Sequel

Parlington Talk Intro Page

The talk that I give to Historical Societies and other interested groups is built with Apple Keynote, a great program for presentations, people often ask if I can let them know what software the talk is created with, sadly for most, using PC’s I have to explain that there is no version that runs on their computers.… Read the full article

The Biggest Sell off …of Aberford that ever was!

1964 Auction Sale Catalogue Cover

On the 2nd of October 1964, The Parlington Estate and much of Aberford, along with a few properties in Saxton were put under the auctioneers hammer! This is a list of the property on offer.

The Auction Properties

  • Lot 1 Superb site for residence of character (Parlington Hall site)
  • Lot 2 Gardens House (Principal source for fruit and vegetables from the walled gardens since the late 18th century)
  • 7 Highly productive arable and stock farms (let and producing £5,746.00 [£87,250 at todays rates, 2009, based on the retail price index] per annum) lots 3-9.
Read the full article

Parlington Talk at Lotherton Hall

Lotherton Celebrates 40 Years

I am giving a talk at Lotherton Hall on Saturday 31st October, 2:00-3:00 pm, it is open to all comers and is advertised at Lotherton and on their web site. The talk is a computer based ‘slide’ show, dealing with the uncovering and discovery of the demolished mansion house of the Gascoigne family and tracks what has been unearthed, literally in some cases, in recent years.… Read the full article