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Friday 28 October 2011

Anyone for an argument?



There's nothing tourists like better than an English seaside town, and Whitby, in North  Yorkshire is quirkier than most. Here you can taste some of the freshest fish in the county, (second only to Guernsey mackerel) and  have an argument while you're at it...

I've always had a fiery temper - it must be the French blood in me - so I couldn't resist taking this photograph whilst doing some research across the border recently.

Could it be that quarelling  was a Yorkshire pastime? The truth, it seems, is a little more mundane. Yard is the ancient word for an alleyway, and this  one was built by a certain Thomas Argument who, naturally, named it after himself. He built five cottages off the yard, most of which still stand today.

Sounds like Mr Argument had a fair bit of wealth - as well as a sense of humour. And who could quarrel with that?



3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonder if there was a Mr Complaint too? Lots of people would be in his yard these days trying to register various moans and groans. Lovely to see there are still some quaint things around

Guernsey Girl said...

I agree. I'm amazed no-one's set up
an 'ArugmentsAreUs...

Elaineyross said...

How do you know that Guernsey mackerel are the best? Oooops, that sounds like the beginning of an argument to me - ha ha!