Arts and crafts in North Yorkshire
(including Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Middlesbrough, Richmondshire, Redcar and Cleveland, Ryedale, Scarborough, Selby, Stockton-on-Tees south of the River Tees and York ) is in the Yorkshire and The Humber of England. It has a population of around 1,261,000 and covers approximately 881,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: Cumbria, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Lancashire, South Yorkshire, Teesside, West Yorkshire
Approximately 40 percent of North Yorkshire is covered by National Parks, including most of the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. They attract millions of visitors each year, who come to appreciate the beautiful landscape and enjoy outdoor pursuits such as walking. The county town of North Yorkshire is Northallerton, which is home to the Joe Cornish Gallery, that exhibits work by him and other photographers, as well as running photography workshops. Scarborough is the largest coastal holiday resort in the region and although the traditional fishing industry has declined, the town remains popular with tourists during the summer months. The University of Hull School of Arts and New Media is based at the Scarborough Campus and during recent years more gallery spaces have opened in the town for exhibitions of fine arts and handmade crafts, such as ceramics, textiles and jewellery. Together such facilities have helped to attract many artists to the area, which is working to encourage the growth of creative industries. Performing arts venues in North Yorkshire include Harrogate Theatre, the Grand Opera House in York and the Theatre Royal in York.
Founded by the Romans during the 1st century AD, on land previously home to the Celtic Brigantes tribe, the city of York became the Roman capital of the area that now forms northern England. Centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire, York was again a capital city, this time of a Viking kingdom of northern England and the city continued to be an important trading centre under the Normans. Over the past two millennia many merchants and craft workers were attracted to York and the rich history of the city is reflected in numerous archaeological finds, historic remains and the old buildings. At more than two miles in length, more of York city walls survive than in any other English city and though most of what remains is medieval, some of the earliest sections date back to the Roman period. One of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe, York Minster is admired for its magnificent architecture, stone carvings and stained glass windows. Jorvik Viking Centre is a reconstruction of a street from the Viking period a thousand years ago. Visitors can learn how people lived and see crafts from the time such as pottery, leather work, metal work and textiles. The Shambles is a medieval street, lined with timber framed buildings, which today serve mostly as places to eat and shops selling tourist souvenirs. Other attractions in North Yorkshire include Castle Howard, Nunnington Hall, Beck Isle Museum in Pickering, Skipton Castle, Ryedale Folk Museum and Beningbrough Hall and Gardens.
