Wednesday 17 September -York, Goddards Gardens

Breakfast today was at Bills where a lemon placed upon a table indicates that it is reserved.
Goddard's Gardens is a National Trust property near the racecourse. The house is the former home of the Terry family of chocolate fame.
The house looks severe from the outside but the rooms are very comfortable.

The garden is extensive and well maintained with views out on to the racecourse.

 

The garden was supervised by a guard sheep and a killer rabbit

The only chocolate now sold under the Terrys name is made in Poland.
We took a short cut across the racecourse and passed the old Terrys factory to the river.
Rowntree Gardens are a reminder of another York connection to chocolate. They are quite extensive but are overrun with geese.

Rowntree Park Dovecote

At Rowntree Park the Ice Cream vans have greater priority than invalid parking

On the river quay

Back at the Shambles I went for a glass of succor at the Blue Bell. This particular succor turned out to be Timothy Taylors Landlord.
A couple from Pontefract came in with a dog. The barmaid asked if they would like some water for the dog.
" Well he doesn't drink much water really, coffee, tea and beer but he rarely touches water."
And so the poor doggie had none.

The exterior of the Blue Bell is not pretentious. The can does dual duty.  It is hung out to indicate when the pub is open and it is for cigarette buts.  The window sill acts as a convenient shelf to place drinks.

The one bar has just two tables 

This is the Smoke Room, no smoking now, looking towards the back of the bar.