Happy Yorkshire Day!

Welcome back to the History Nook.

Today we're exploring my ancestral land, where I will talk about Yorkshire for way too long.

So grab your favourite mug, find a soft space to curl up, and let's wander a little deeper into the past.

It's August the 1st, and that means it is Yorkshire Day! I may live in Scotland now, but I am very proud of my Yorkshire heritage, so let's have a little celebration, shall we?

Yorkshire is the largest county in the UK, and - I may be biased here - easily the most beautiful. You want fossils? go to Whitby. You want Vikings? go to York. You want football and snooker? Go to Sheffield. You want beaches? we've got 'em. Yorkshire has it all, my friends.

I am a Sheffield girl myself, born and bred. Sheffield is well know for its steel industry, but did you know that it is also home to the oldest football club in the world? I'm not a sports fan, but I think it's pretty neat that we have the oldest known football club still playing today!

The battle to unify England under one ruler ( the Battle of Brunanburh) is thought o have been fought in Sheffield, well, just outside, but close enough for us to claim it! A little more history for you, Yorkshire is named after the city of York. York, was formally called Jorvik by the Vikings and that name likely influenced the modern name of York. You can find many place names in Yorkshire that still carry that Viking link.

Yorkshire’s brought us Sean Bean, Judi Dench, and Patrick Stewart. That’s Boromir, M from MI6, and Captain Picard. If that’s not a heroic trifecta, I don’t know what is. Our dialect is its own proud creature. We don’t say 'yes'—we say 'aye'. We don’t say 'very'—we say 'proper'. And if you hear someone shout ‘ey up!’ from a distance, don’t panic. That’s just the sound of a Yorkshire hello. You can buy Yorkshire to English dictionaries if you would like to learn to communicate with Yorkshire folk in our native tongue. I recently found out that Yorkshire shares a few colloquial terms with Scotland, 'numpty' being my favourite. Now, let’s talk about Yorkshire Day itself. It began in 1975, as a protest against the Local Government reorganisation that threatened to divide historic Yorkshire. Since then, it’s grown into a joyful celebration of all things White Rose: tea, terriers, and the word “ey up” being used in five different emotional tones. (At least.)

The symbol of Yorkshire—the White Rose—goes all the way back to the House of York during the Wars of the Roses, when flowers were used as political emblems (and occasionally excuses to have long, messy dynastic squabbles). These days, you’re more likely to see it on flags, lapels, and the occasional stubborn tattoo.

Now, because no Yorkshire post would be complete without it: yes, I like a good Yorkshire pudding. No, you may not serve it cold. And yes, I have opinions about gravy. Strong ones.

I miss it, sometimes. The stone houses and the green hills. The rhythm of it. But I carry it with me. In the way I make my tea, in my soft northern vowels, and in the pride I feel every time I see that little white rose. I'm very excited to be heading back down there in a few weeks, so keep your eyes open for some more Sheffield content!

Whether you’re a proud Tyke or just beetling about on holiday, Yorkshire always leaves its mark. It lingers in the language, the landscape, and the stubborn refusal to take a compliment without arguing about it.

Happy Yorkshire Day, my loves.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed your time in The History Nook today.

Until next time, stay curious, and keep warm. 🐾 Footnote from Index 🐾

I caught a moth from Yorkshire once. Bit posh. Tasted like antique furniture.