14.
A VISIT TO ONE OF OUR OLDEST MEMBERS.
Mr Geoffrey Dent joined the Essex Field Club in
1921. During a recent visit to Ilkley in Yorkshire I
telephoned Mr Dent, who lives at Ribstone Hall near
We therby and Mr Dent kindly invited my wife and I to
visit him. We left Ilkley and made our way to Little
Ribstone Village, a typical Dales village a few miles
north of Wetherby. Ribstone Hall is a 17th Century
House lying in a large park. We approached by way of
a long drive and noticed the house in the foreground
of which are the steep banks of the River Nidd.
Mr Dent met us at the front of this most imposing
house and immediately made us welcome. He told us
about Ribstone Hall and showed us around the extensive
grounds in which there are many fine trees. On our way
round we noticed many spotted flycatchers and heard
the song of wrens. Mr Dent is a very competant Orni-
thologist and he shewed us an Oak tree in which barn
owls have regularly nested.
Mr Dent has also done quite a number of paintings
of birds.
At one time the house belonged to Sir John Goodricke,
a Diplomat of some repute, who altered the house and
carved an immense saloon out of the centre of it in
about 1773. The architect was John Carr of York. Mr Dent
shewed us this marvellous saloon, the Chapel, the very
fine stable block, including some original loose boxes
which still survive in these stables. In the study
there are paintings of two of Sir John Goodricke's
horses at Ribstone in these same loose boxes.
The Ribstone Pippin Apple tree originated at Ribstone
Hall.
Mr Geoffrey Dent's Great Grandfather became the owner
of Ribstone Hall in 1836.
My Wife and I would like to thank Mr Dent, not only
for making our visit to this very fine home so inter-
sting but also for making us so very welcome.
Michael T.Parker.