When England Was England.

A Memory of Rosedale Abbey.

From a book my sister left me I chose Rosedale Abbey as my destination on my first journey through England. I was alone and took the train to York in 1971. From there I went to Whitby and then the moorland train to Lealholm Bridge and slept in the churchyard. I was 21.

The next morning I walked the 10 miles to Rosedale where John Young was manager of the Milburn Arms. I stayed four days and they were burned into my memory and are clear these 45 years later. The Milburn Arms then was a local country pub.

Dim lit and good beer with John. A rather 'rocky' walk back over the green and to bed as John closed up except for him and I and Bill from London. Gracious and friendly all the time and what a time and place it was.

John's wife would always have mushroom soup and roast beef sandwiches for meat lunch upon returning from hikes to the chimneys and around the dale and neighboring villages. I went back the next two years as well. Wonderful years when England was still old England.

I returned twice more in 1986 and 1997. The magic was gone. The Milburn Arms no longer resembled the sweet pub it was. Modern decor and I sadly departed.

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