14th September 2016

As you will know, Laura’s Beau’s hub for the past 7 years have been in Harrogate. However; time is a changing, and we’ve made the move to Wetherby! Now, our friends have asked if the move was just to be closer to great fish & chips, however, after we went to wander around the market town, and we’ve come up with other things we love about our new home.
A history
Archaeological evidence shows that, what today is known as ‘Wetherby,’ has been a settlement since the Bronze Age (a time period which is characterised by he use of bronze, porto-writing and other very early features of urban civilisation.) There have also been trinkets found from the Roman times which, according to Wetherby visitor centre have been extensive in the form of “coins, building foundations and at least two burial grounds.”
Between London and Edinburgh, in the days of coach travel, Wetherby was exactly half way, and so was a very important place along the Great North Road. There was two hotels with over 100 stables each for those weary horses which were called, ‘The Angel’ and ‘The Swan and Talbot.’ Luckily now we don’t have to travel via the horse drawn coaches, and with the A1 running outside of Wetherby, luckily we don’t have all this traffic running through the centre of town!
I referred earlier to Wetherby as a market town; this market is held every Thursday; it has been like this since 1240 when King Henry III “granted a charter to the Knights Templar to hold a weekly market.”
The Georgian Bath House
The Georgian Bath House is now a beautiful grade 2 listed building on the banks of the River Wharf; recovered from dereliction by volunteers. It was likely built in the 18th century, whilst it’s called a ‘bath house,’ at that time, washing wasn’t seen as important, and it was instead used to take a cold plunge. Doctors at this time believed doing this could cure a number of ailments, including a headache. Now, we’re rather attached to our hot tap, but who are we to argue with the landholder’s fashion of the 17th and 18th century?! On the upper level was a warming room with a fire where they could gather round and warm up after their freezing bath! It was out of this popular social event that spa towns like Harrogate were born!

Wetherby Bridge
We always wondered why there are lower arches below the bridge, from the visitor guide, we learnt that the current bridge is actually an amalgamation of three bridges- the older of which you can see when you’re stood on the path below. The only ancient monument, the bridge is now a listed structure. It’s along this bank of the river, looking at the bridge, we love to sit in summer, eating fish and chips and feeding the ducks.

The Bandstand
Also on the banks of the River Wharf, you’ll find the Bandstand, which was built in 2000, and on a lovely summers day is a main attraction in the town as the Wetherby Silver Band play on a Sunday afternoon.

The Wier
Wetherby has 19 blue plaques around the town which are places and buildings of historical interest. One of these places is the Wier; the site of the town’s industrial past, the water mill that stood here since around the 12th century and used to grind corn and rape. Until it burnt down in 1944, it was also a saw mill. It’s a key stop off on the river walk.

There’s many more historical and beautiful places to see around Wetherby; if you haven’t visited, we’d recommend it; go to the visitor centre so you make sure you’re visiting all of the sights of the town! Make sure you don’t miss our favourite stop along the way… the fish and chips shop.

Posted in News by Laura
Gorgeous William Morris Sweet Briar fabric! 🌿 Love the green leaves and pink flowers 🫶🏻 We have it in cotton, heavyweight cotton, and pvc, so you’ll find the perfect fit for your project ✨ 🪡🧵
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We’re having a moving sale over on our website! ✨ There are some absolute bargains to be had, including all these items! 🛒 Remember we offer free UK postage on all orders too 🌿 Plus we have a 15% off code running at the moment with code; JAN15 🫶🏻
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#williammorris #wmorris #smallukbusiness #smallshop #floralprint
We’ve got some fab bundles on our Etsy - we have a lot of offcuts from end of rolls and floral fabric magic can’t be wasted so we bundle them up ✨ Perfect for crafting, we have heavyweight fabric bundles and cotton available now, but hurry, they always sell out quick 🥰
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Guess who has a new bed for our new offices ✨ The king of naps, he will wake for biscuits, pets and little else during his day in the office 🫶🏻 His bed is covered in our licensed William Morris Willow Bough green and it looks so beautiful 🌿 The perfect bed to nap on all day ✨
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Has anyone got any January crafts? ❄️ After we’ve settled in our new office, we’re planning some cosy January crafts whilst we hibernate a little! 🌨️ This board is a beautiful way to display photos and notes that was covered in a fabric we no longer loved so last year I recovered it with something we did like - a range of our exclusive quilting fabrics and now it hangs proudly on the wall, showing you can upcycle things to be something you really love 🫶🏻
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We’ve been a little quiet on here as we’ve been in the absolute trenches moving our office! ✨ Now we just need to settle in and find everything we’ve shoved in boxes and bags and then stashed in random places(!) but, we’re getting there 🫶🏻 Nothing will change for you ordering but we’ll have a new returns address 📮 It’s taken an absolute task force to move all that fabric and products and we’ve found some things for a little moving sale if anyone is interested… ✨
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Not long to go until Christmas now ✨ Have you got your Christmas table sorted and your presents wrapped? 🎄
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The stockings were hung by the fire with care…✨ A week until Christmas Eve! 🎄 Still lots of time to order since we post the next working day with a 24hr service 🤶🏻
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#williammorris #wmorris #christmasgiftidea #smallbusinessgiftguide #christmasstocking
One of our biggest sellers this year for Christmas gifts - our licensed William Morris oven gloves ✨ Practical and stylish, every home needs a set, hanging some Morris floral magic over the cooker 🎄 Lots of designs are still in stock and with our free UK postage being tracked 24 Royal Mail, there’s still quite a few shopping days left until Christmas 📮 (I’ll even gift wrap it for free for you as an option at checkout, even though my own Christmas gifts are all hidden in the wardrobe still to wrap 😂) 🤶🏻🎅🏼
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#christmasgiftidea #ovenglove #floralhome #shopindie #williammorris
One pack of napkins folded four ways for Christmas tablescapes ✨ Which is your favourite? 🎄 We always love when a table set up comes with a little chocolate treat 🎅🏼 Beautiful Charlotte Rose is one of our favourites all year round, it can be dressed so many ways from Christmas to summer 🫶🏻
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#floralfabric #floraltable #christmasnapkin #christmastable #smallindiebusiness
There’s still plenty of shopping time before Christmas with our free UK postage with Royal Mail tracked 24 📮 We’re also doing free gift wrap on our website as an option at checkout 🤶🏻 Take 15% off too until the 20th December so whether for a gift of Christmas hosting having beautiful florals on the table, use code; FESTIVE at checkout on our website 🎄
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Oh Mallow Forest Green, we love you on our festive tablescapes 🎄
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Obsessed with this tree with all the vintage ornaments on the tree this year ✨ They were all grandparents so very special 🎄 having a little coffee and cake whilst the lights twinkle is so lovely ✨ This is our William Morris Golden Lily tablecloth, beautiful year round 🫶🏻
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#williammorris #vintage #vintagechristmas #vintagechristmasornaments #floraltable
It’s a blue and white Christmas over here 🙋🏽♀️ We went to the beautiful Christmas event at @harewoodhouse by the wonderfully talented @interiorcurve and we’re so inspired to have a themed blue and white tree and we’re so glad we did! 🤶🏻 This is our William Morris Merton blue, isn’t it beautiful, and so lovely to be able to dress it in various ways throughout the year, it’s so versatile ✨
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#williammorris #blueandwhitedecor #floraltablescape #flowerarranging #floralchristmas
What design are you having on your Christmas table? 🎄 We’re debating a few - our new forest green colours, our strawberry thief red, or maybe a Christmas blue and white… ✨
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#williammorris #christmastable #christmastablesetting #strawberrythief #floral
Christmas tablescaping all month long ✨ are you feeling festive already? 🎄 This is our Brother Rabbit blue design, isn’t it gorgeous 🌿
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#williammorris #williammorrisfabric #williammorrisdesign #christmastable #floraltablescape
BLACK FRIDAY ENDS TONIGHT! ✨ use code; BLACKFRIDAY at checkout on our website to take 20% off everything - go, go, go! 🎄 We also have free gift wrap available at checkout so we can send gifts directly to loved ones or back to you gift wrapped and ready to go, we’re in the festive spirit so will gift wrap whilst we sing along to some festive songs 🤶🏻🎄
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A very floral Christmas🎄 Our William Morris Sweet Briar design looks so beautiful dressed up for Christmas! ✨
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#williammorris #williammorrisdesign #sweetbriar #floralchristmas #christmastable
One thing that is wonderful about timeless design is that you can use it year round- dressed with Christmas candles and foliage, springtime blooms, summer florals and autumn pumpkins - it can see you through it all 🫶🏻 That’s why we want to show them in a Christmas setting so you can see they’re a perfect gift for your loved one or for your own table ✨ Which is your favourite season to dress your table for? 🎄
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Did you know we sell fat quarters in all our designs? 🪡 A perfect gift for the sewers, quilters and crafters in your life, there’s a design for everyone within our collection of licensed William Morris designs and original florals 🎄
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