COXWOLD, YORKSHIRE

THE HOME OF STERNE

=How to get there.=—­Great Northern Railway, King’s Cross Station. =Nearest Station.=—­Easingwold via York and Alne; from thence runs
  a branch line to Easingwold.
=Distance from London.=—­199 miles. =Average Time.=—­About 5 hours. =Fares.=—­No through fares in operation. =Accommodation Obtainable.=—­The village inn—­“The Fauconberg
  Arms.”

The pretty little village of Coxwold, where the Rev. Laurence Sterne wrote A Sentimental Journey, lies about 18 miles north of York.  The hamlet stands on slightly rising ground.  At the bottom of the hill is the village smithy, the well, a farm, and facing a big elm tree is the inn, bearing a great hatchment-like signboard showing the Fauconberg arms and motto.  The cottages of the villagers are on the slope of the hill, and at the top is the church to which Sterne was appointed vicar in 1760.  Close at hand is the quaint seventeenth-century house he occupied.  It is a singularly picturesque little building, with its mossy stone-covered roof, its wide gables, and massive chimney-stacks.  Sterne, in his humorous way, called it “Shandy Hall.”  The stone tablet over the doorway states that Sterne wrote Tristram Shandy and A Sentimental Journey at Shandy Hall; but this is not quite accurate, for he entered upon the incumbency of Coxwold in 1760, whereas two volumes of Tristram Shandy had already been published in 1759.  Of his life at Coxwold one gathers that the vicar was more devoted to his books than to his parish.  In the intervals of writing and his clerical duties he amused himself with painting, fiddling, dining out and telling stories, at the same time suffering from ill-health and other discomforts.  His gift of humour, however, helped him to bear his troubles better than might otherwise have been the case.  He was firmly persuaded that “every time a man smiles, but much more so when he laughs, he adds something to the fragment of life.”  Sterne’s study may still be seen.  It is a tiny room with a low ceiling, although it undoubtedly possesses the charm of cosiness.  On one occasion Sterne writes:  “I have a hundred hens and chickens about my yard, and not a parishioner catches a hare or a rabbit or a trout but he brings it as an offering to me.”  Sterne died in London in 1768 at the age of 55 years.

[Illustration:  “SHANDY HALL” AT COXWOLD.

Where the Rev. Laurence Sterne lived while he was Vicar of Coxwold.  Part of Tristram Shandy was written here.]

LLANGOLLEN AND VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY

=How to get there.=—­Train from Paddington.  Great Western Railway. =Nearest Station.=—­Llangollen.  Valle Crucis Abbey lies 2 miles
  from Llangollen.
=Distance from London.=—­203 miles. =Average Time.=—­Varies between 4-1/2 to 7-1/2 hours.