Harrogate: Elegance and Serenity

The town of Harrogate exudes an air of elegance and tranquility, making it a favourite destination for those seeking a respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Renowned for its healing spa waters, Harrogate has been a popular spa town since the Georgian era. Visitors can still experience the therapeutic benefits of these waters at the historic Royal Pump Room Museum. And once these therapeutic benefits have been partaken of then there’s the luxury of a reservation only Afternoon Tea served in the elegant Imperial Room at Betty’s!

Betty’s Tea Rooms is a well-known and iconic tea room and café chain based in Yorkshire. It was established in 1919 and is famous for its traditional English afternoon tea, delicious pastries, cakes, and high-quality teas served in an elegant and vintage setting.

In the picturesque streets, visitors are greeted by stunning architecture, with beautifully preserved Victorian and Edwardian buildings adding to the town’s elegance. The Montpellier Quarter, (where we managed to get an ever rare ‘Q’!) with its charming boutiques and independent shops, offers a delightful shopping experience, while the Valley Gardens provide an escape into nature.

Ilkley and Ilkley Moor: Scenic Beauty and Literary Inspiration

On the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales, the stylish town of Ilkley is a gateway to the wild and majestic countryside that surrounds it. The town is famous for its Victorian-era Ilkley Moor, immortalized in the Yorkshire anthem “On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at.” This famous regional saying features in our Yorkshire ‘Lingo’ section on the website. We’re lucky enough to have friends that live on the edge of the moor so it made for a great weekend catching up and getting out and about with the camera!

High on Ilkley Moor, the Cow & Calf rocks are a large rock formation, consisting of an outcrop and boulder, also know as Hanging Stone Rocks. The rocks are made of millstone grit, a variety of sandstone, and are so named because one is large, with the smaller one sitting close to it, like a cow and calf. There are huge amounts of Victorian chiselled graffiti on the rock faces – mainly depicting peoples names, dates and the places they came from. We’ve managed to include various examples of the font in our ‘Yorkshire’ collection.

Keighley: A Glimpse into Industrial History

Our photography in and around Keighley was during one of the heatwave days this summer (thank you Mr Wetherspoon – we enjoyed some liquid refreshment in The Livery Rooms!). Keighley is a town steeped in industrial history, offering a fascinating journey into Yorkshire’s past. The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, a heritage railway line, preserves the spirit of the bygone era with its meticulously restored steam trains. Taking a ride on these historic locomotives allows visitors to experience the nostalgia and romance of train travel from a bygone era. The Picture House cinema (quirky, neon style font) and Public Library (elaborate gold font) gave us some very interesting additions to our image bank.

The Brontë Parsonage Museum, located just outside Keighley in the village of Haworth, is a must-visit for literature enthusiasts. This museum celebrates the life and works of the famous Brontë sisters, authors of literary classics like “Jane Eyre” and “Wuthering Heights.”

Saltaire: A Visionary Model Village

A short distance from Shipley, the village of Saltaire is a living testament to the visionary ideals of industrialist Sir Titus Salt. In the mid-19th century, Sir Titus Salt sought to create a utopian model village for his workers, away from the polluted city centres. The result was Saltaire, an architectural gem featuring stunning Italianate-style buildings and wide boulevards, all constructed with a unique locally sourced sandstone.

Today, Saltaire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting visitors with its timeless charm and history. Salts Mill, once a textile mill, has been transformed into a dynamic arts and cultural centre, housing galleries, shops, and cafes. Salts Mill is home to one of the largest collections of David Hockney’s art.

The village remains an excellent example of successful urban planning, blending industrial heritage with a high quality of life for its residents.

Conclusion

Yorkshire’s towns each bring a unique character to the region’s tapestry of beauty and history. This has enabled us to gather a rich and varied collection of font to create our Yorkshire word art – go here to see our  Yorkshire font