Visit ‘The Plot’,
I found this book in a charity shop in York. Intrigued by this biography about a 1 acre plot on this western edge of the North York Moors that mentioned so many places I knew.
How come I had never heard of this place?
The history associated with it! And crikey…what a lot had happened here, that shaped the history of Britain. This book tells of a sculptor, John Joseph Bunting who built a small chapel on his 1 acre of land in 1957, his life, written by his daughter. The book tells of the amazing history of this plot of land and the surrounding hillsides.
We parked in Oldstead and headed up a very, very steep bank in the general direction using an OS map. You can also reach ‘The Plot’ from the top of the escarpment starting near to the airfield at Sutton Bank, which is the less strenuous route.
It was lovely to be out on this cold dry day walking through woodland, past moss covered stone walls even if the climb was hard. Recalling the history of this place mentioned in the book, it was hard to imagine having to walk up this steep incline in battle gear and weary from the long walk from Scotland, for soldiers and drovers of old. How did they manage it?
We ventured off the path looking for a short cut and came across an old tree house/ viewing platform. Not a good idea to leave the path because we ended up walking much further because we couldn’t cross the aptly named ‘hell hole’ gulley, a very steep sided valley that the book tells got its name from a massacre that took place here in October 1322 resulting in Scottish victory at the Battle of Byland, a key moment in medieval history and in the development of the two nations, England and Scotland.
The book tells of Edward II’s humiliation in which he lost an army, a huge amount of treasure and the Royal Seal, and abandoned his Queen. He had a perilously narrow escape across the Yorkshire Wolds. We were walking in the steps of armies and across battle fields, probably buried skeletons, all now hidden under bracken, brambles and the roots of trees.
View over and down to ‘Hell Hole’.
Arriving at ‘The Plot’, we were rewarded with a great view of the hillside we had just climbed and far reaching views to the vale of York. The chapel and grounds are well kept just off the track at the corner marked ‘Scotch Corner’, after the drovers who drove their animals from Scotland down the drover’s road to England. A trade route that began in medieval times, and as you sit here in this tranquil spot you can hardly believe that this place was once bustling and noisy.
The Plot, John Buntings chapel and one acre plot on the western edge of the North York Moors. The view over the valley. Drover’s road. Medieval history.
Read more about John Buntings’ chapel - link to Countryfile Article 2021
A rewarding walk to this lovely plot of land. A place for a coffee from the flask and a sandwich before heading back down hill, keeping to the route this time!
Inspiring landscapes full of history buried beneath your feet. No paintings from this week’s blog but will definitely be back in the Spring to capture those amazing views. Next time by the easier route!!
