CCTV operating

The Inglorious 12th minus one, to borrow from the title of Mark Avery’s book. Tomorrow will mark the beginning of the annual slaughter on the moors. On Farndale Moor signs have gone up advising of CCTV monitoring. No matter I don’t own a horse and have no intention of biking along the track, I find these signs very intimidating but that after all is the intention. And very suspicious, are there sights not for public viewing? But it is Open Access Land so people are free to walk or run, sightsee and birdwatch and I am already planning my route exploring such features as South Flat Howe, The Honey Poke, Old Ralph’s Cross, Esklets Cross, Cooper Hill and Stony Ridge, the 1400′ ring contour in the distance on the photograph. Not to mention the scores of old bell pits from the 18th-century coal workings.

Is it practical to monitor around ten square kilometres of moorland? I doubt it. There were no obvious poles mounting the cameras and communications equipment, but maybe it’s just one of those little wildlife surveillance cameras. Or maybe they’re using drones.

The final climb

A view of the final 60′ of Roseberry Topping passing the Cleveland Way sign. It says Helmsley is 46m and Filey 64m but the Cleveland Way National Trail is officially 109 mile so an extra mile somewhere. Or maybe a rounding error. The Cleveland Way was first mooted in the 1930s but not officially opened until 1969. I do not know the significance of the 1995 year. I guess when the stone was placed. If it indeed was. I don’t remember. Maybe it was carved in situ. I do recall the helicopter carrying bags of stone from Aireyholme up onto Roseberry for the paths. That was in 1999 and all done in a day. 200 ton of stone I believe. If you are so inclined you can now do the Cleveland Way from the comfort of your armchair courtesy of Google.

Ghost School Sign

First day of spring so a good time to get the bike out of its winter hibernation. Took time out and a slight detour in Kirkby-in-Cleveland to photograph this pre-Worboys sign.

Pre-Worboys? What’s he on about? Well Sir Walter Worboys was born in Australia and earned his reputation as a director of I.C.I. In 1963 he was appointed chairman of a governmental committee to review British road signage. Prior to this signs were inconsistent with differing styles erected by local authorities, various motoring organisations and a couple of earlier attempts at standardisation. The design Worboys committee came up with the one still in use today and has made a significant contribution to an increase in road safety for the simple reason as being easier to recognise.

The school in Kirkby was founded in 1683 for boys only. It closed n 1974 when a joint school with Great Broughton girls school was set up mid way between the two villages, some distance from this sign which is over fifty years old.