Reflections of Reflections

I always have to have a go at deciphering back to front writing, how about you?

Ellen Wilson

Ellen Wilson's Hospital on Lawrence Street was built by John Sykes in 1894. It is a row of six single-story brick dwellings. It was intended for aged or infirm women born or resident in St. Lawrence's parish, selected without religious test, and a stipend of 8 shillings a week (0.40p) was given to each inmate.

Dowager Countess of Grantham

Barley Hall currently has an exhibition of costumes from film and TV dramas. This is one worn by Maggie Smith in her role as the acerbic family matriarch Lady Grantham in Downton Abbey. Famous for her one liners she once dealt with an unwelcome house guest as follows

DOWAGER COUNTESS “Well, what on earth’s the matter?”
RICHARD “I’m leaving in the morning Lady Grantham. I doubt we’ll meet again.”
DOWAGER COUNTESS “Do you promise?”

Keys of Heaven

York Minster is also known as St Peter's, its full name being the 'Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York'.  The keys of St Peter can easily be found within the Minster as here on an entrance gate to a private chapel.
Keys can also be found all around the city, the pub opposite the Minster is what else but the Crossed Keys. An area of the mediaeval city was known as The Liberty of St Peter and governed by the Dean & Chapter rather than the Lord Mayor. Many buildings still have keys carved or painted on them if you look carefully.

A Waste of Money?

These solar compactor waste bins have started appearing on York city streets. Known as the 'Big Belly' bins they not only take more waste than the usual bins but send a message to the council when they need emptying. Sounds good but I have yet to see anyone actually using them...........

Nuclear Winter

In use from the 1960s to the 1990s this bunker was part of a nationwide network intended to monitor the radioactive fall-out from a nuclear bomb. No longer in use it is now open to visitors as a tourist attraction.

Car park

Car park window in the centre of town.The windows on the opposite side are inverted copies of this one, a nice touch.