Eight hundred years ago, people farmed this land, traded its wool, and lived by rules we’d barely recognise. That world set the foundations for this one. Navigate that distance on this new creative trail.
At eleven stopping points across this 3km walk, you’ll meet them: voices reconstructed from the historical record, speaking from a world whose occupants would find ours equal parts baffling and familiar — as we find theirs. Come ready to be curious.
This creative trail takes place at Skelton Country Park — a starting point for an imaginative journey not across distance, but through time. Eight hundred years ago, this area was occupied by a preceptory: a commercial religious farmstead run by the Knights Templar, whose brothers, workers and tenants shaped the land and the daily rhythms of life from Skelton to Colton. While we know they started the Temple Newsam estate and influenced the local wool industryfor centuries to come, surviving records tell us surprisingly little about them. This trail reconstructs their voices from what historical evidence provides — and what careful imagination can recreate.
a landscape riven over time.
Archaeologists first broke ground here in 1903 and again in 1990. This was the final chance before opencast mining entirely reshaped the landscape. What those digs unearthed were the echoes of a working community that occupied this site eight hundred years ago.
The activity and each encounter is led by myself – I will introduce the character, their world, and offer a prompt to help you connect with what you’ve heard. Not as a test but to help you get the most from the experience.
For anyone who struggles with hearing in this type of environment online notes and character recordings can be accessed online via a smartphone – bring suitable headphones or similar if this is your preference.
Booking information
- Places are limited – pre-booking is required to avoid disappointment (registration is not yet open).
- When: 15th, 18th and 23rd May – each starting at 13:30pm.
If these dates are unsuitable you may be able to take part self-guided. Contact the artist for more. - Age suitability: it is aimed at adults and older children (13+). However anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Monday session will be adult only.
- Conditions of attending: As this is a test of this activity those attending will be asked to share their feedback at the end — cake or a hot drink will be provided as a thank you.
Practical Information
- What to bring: It’s suggested you have something to record your thoughts and ideas — a notebook, sketchpad, camera, voice recorder – even art materials – whatever you think is best. Wear waterproof footwear if it’s rained recently and dress for being outdoors.
- What’s expected of me? Attend with an open, inquisitive mind. I’d love you to share what the walk inspires in you – but you are not required to. And there is no requirement all for anything theatrical or participatory.
- Getting there: There is free parking at Skelton Lake Services (for up to 3 hours). On weekdays the PR2 bus route brings you right to the Services. However at weekends the nearest bus stop is approximately 20 minutes’ walk from the start (I’ll send detailed closer to the time). A taxi from Leeds city centre will be around a tenner.
- Accessibility: The route is largely flat and suitable for most visitors. The majorityof the route is fully accessible for wheelchair users, though a small number of stations involve surfaces that may be challenging after rain. If you have mobility requirements, please let us know when booking — we’ll ensure you can access all eleven stations, though your route to some may differ slightly from the main path.
Resting: Skelton is a country (rather than municipal) park with limited seating. These are available at the services (start and end of route) and after 2km.
Jon Eland 