THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

Thirsk lies less than three miles ahead. There have been those who have called it “picturesque.”  Let us pity them, for those to whom Thirsk shows a picturesque side must needs have acquaintance with only the sorriest and most commonplace of towns.  The place is, in fact, a larger Easingwold… the “Three Tuns”, “Crown” and “Fleece” were the three coaching inns of Thirsk, and still show their hard-featured faces to the grey, gaunt streets.

(Harper/North, 1901)