We have been to Castle Howard several Christmases to view their special displays, but there is no doubt that this year’s display is by far the most stunning.

Professional designers Charlotte Lloyd Webber and Bretta Gereke have worked with the theme ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ (you know the song – seven swans a swimming , six geese a laying etc.) to produce a stunning array of flamboyant displays and installations to surprise and delight visitors of all ages. Younger visitors can enjoy a bit of virtual reality by indulging in a little elf boxing, decorate a virtual Christmas tree and see Santa flying over the rooftops!

Open fires, candle light and live music evoke all that we love about this special time of year, with the iconic 25 foot traditional Christmas tree adorned with over 3000 baubles providing a breath-taking highlight in the Great Hall. It took two days to decorate this tree alone! The long gallery uses evocative lighting and stunning detail suspended overhead, showing the lords leaping, pipers playing, ladies dancing etc.

For the first time this year the house will be open between Christmas and New Year. Check the castle website for details and remember – if you book online you will receive 10% off admission.

Photographs and words courtesy of David Thornley

“The Harrying of the North”
By Professor Gillian Waters
University of York

In 1066, William Duke of Normandy won the Battle of Hastings, but this was only the beginning of the Norman conquest of England. In 1069 the Anglo-Scandinavian North rose in rebellion and ravaged York in conjunction with a fleet of Danish Vikings. William the Conqueror retaliated viciously, Harrying the North, slaughtering livestock and burning seed corn. It is said that recorded that no village remained inhabited between York and Durham and that the countryside remained empty and uncultivated for three generations. This talk examines the events leading up to the Harrying of the North and the impact of this event on the North of England.

The Library, Malton School, Middlecave Road, Malton, YO17 7NH
Time: 7.30

Admission: Friends FOC, Visitors, are very welcome, £3.00.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Author: Richard Croft.

Cyber criminals send victims their own passwords in extortion scam – Cyber criminals are attempting to blackmail unsuspecting victims by claiming to have used the victims’ password to install spying malware on the victims’ computer. The criminals claim they’ve recorded videos of the victim watching adult material by activating their webcam when they visit these websites. What makes this scam so convincing is that the email usually includes a genuine password the victim has used for one of their online accounts. We believe criminals obtain the passwords from data breaches.

What to do if you get one of these emails?
Don’t reply to the email, or be pressured into paying. The police advise that you do not pay criminals. Try flagging the email as spam/junk if you receive it multiple times. Perform a password reset as soon as possible on any accounts where you’ve used the password mentioned in the email. Always use a strong, separate password for important accounts, such as your email. Where available, enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Always install the latest software and app updates. Install, or enable, anti-virus software on your laptops and computers and keep it updated.

If you receive one of these emails, report it to Action Fraud’s phishing reporting tool. If you have received one of these emails and paid the ransom, report it to your local police force.

Message Sent By
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

10.30a.m. to 12.p.m.
Dosser’s House,
The Green, Slingsby

In aid of All Saints Church roof repair fund.
Please help us reach our fundraising target which we have to achieve for a successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid.

Tuesday 20th November 7.30pm Village Hall Committee Room ( £1 )

Bethany Watrous is an MA Buildings Archaeology student at the University, working with Kate on creating a virtual reconstruction of Slingsby Castle, as it was originally envisaged and designed by the architect Robert Smythson for Charles Cavendish (I), based on analysis of the original drawings held by RIBA and other sites such as Caverswall Castle (Staffordshire) and the actual castle, built by John Smithson for Charles Cavendish (II).

Beth will show us the castle in its landscape context, and reappraise its relationship to High Street and the medieval – and current – village layout and its commanding view across what is now the Sports Field and the Lawns.

We will hope to give a brief update, too, about the geophysical survey carried out by Dr Helen Goodchild of the University of York and Slingsby School in October.