While the county of North Yorkshire certainly has no shortage of gorgeous, picturesque cities, it would truly be a loss if the beautiful town of Bedale were part of another county. Anybody who has ever read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy or a Byron poem likely imagines the downright lush landscape of Bedale. From rolling hills to halcyon sunsets Bedale bedazzles the hearts and minds of anybody lucky enough to sneak a glimpse from within the city.
Agriculture has been a large part of Bedale's economy ever since the early days and this is due to the fact that the River Swale comes down by the Yorkshire Dales and makes the soil incredibly fertile. The income brought from farming allowed Bedale to build beautiful houses and castles and to this day a visitor to Bedale can lay eyes on Bedale Hall, a magnificent castle built by none other than Edward I. The best sites in Bedale, however, are the fantastic churches and cathedrals that can be seen all over the town. Of these churches, the most notable would likely be St. Gregory's. Flanked by gorgeous trees, this gothic masterpiece boldly stands amid a blue sky and commands attention from all onlookers. Using flying buttresses and arched vaults along with other decidedly gothic traditions, this church looks as if it is coming down from the heavens rather than rising from the Earth. This is a common motif with gothic buildings but St. Gregory's can be seen as one of the most beautiful incarnations of the theme. Unfortunately, angry Puritans vandalized many parts of this architectural marvel so its full grandeur and glory can't be felt. Within the church a visitor can lay eyes on a painting of St. George slaying a dragon. One can't help but chuckle at the juxtaposition of religion and myth.
Keeping with the theme of the fantastic, another historical building exists in Bedale and is a thrill for anybody who likes to laugh at the superstition that pervaded the old ways of thinking: A real life apothecary store from the 1700s. This building once sold leeches and other items that were based on unfounded fears with no proof. In those days people thought that newt eyes could cure diseases and thus an apothecary was the place to go for anything from a toothache to a lost limb. This isn't to say that Bedale is bedecked with nothing but old and archaic buildings, though; to be sure, the town is fully modern in every sense of the word and countless inns, pubs, clubs, and shops are available for tourists who want a more modern holiday. Bedale has a large tourist economy and this is equally due to its modern entertainment as it is to the historical charm or the scenic beauty. In short, Bedale truly has something for everyone and it would be a difficult task indeed to find someone who has been to Bedale and had anything less than an incredibly great time.
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