Time For Tea: Tea the Eighth

The sound of the gentle rattle of china cup on china saucer drives away all demons, a little known fact.

Terry Pratchett - Snuff

The Old Deanery, Ripon - Wednesday, 3rd April 2013

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Tea Takers

Sarah Ryan

Paul Ryan

Olivia Ryan

Jean Thacker

Kathryn Asbury

Jonah Asbury

George Asbury

Herbie Asbury

Iris Asbury

Connie Asbury

Martha Asbury

Helen Kiff

John Kiff

Nancy Kiff

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The inception of the whole afternoon tea project had been as a result of my wishing to celebrate my birthday by walking from Fountains Abbey to Ripon Cathedral, ending in tea at The Old Deanery. This inspired the wider plan, and it was always going to be important that this tea happened early on. So I enlisted some fine (and easily persuaded) old friends to join me. Fortunately, we chose a day that was fair, if somewhat cold.

Setting off from the church at Studley Royal deer park we walked the two miles down the impressive drive and across the fields to Ripon. The walk took us from the small blue square in the bottom left hand corner of the map to the cathedral in the centre of the city.

The walkers were cheerful and entertaining company (if inclined to brandish sticks with a menacing joy).

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Studley Royal Deer Park

The ruins of Fountains Abbey, the water gardens of Studley Royal and adjoining deer park are a tremendously beautiful and inspiring sequence of landscapes, and in 1986 the whole site was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, fulfilling their criteria of being a masterpiece of human creative genius', and 'an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates significant stages in human history'.

It has always been one of my very favourite places and the view down the tree-lined avenue from St Mary's church, Studley Royal, where we began our walk, looking directly at the face of Ripon Cathedral and then beyond, over the end of the Vale of Mowbray to the Hambleton Hills and Kilburn's white horse, is perhaps the one that I most love.

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The Old Deanery

The Old Deanery was built in the early 17th Century, on the site of the medieval Bedern or College of the Vicars Choral. It faces directly onto the North side of the Cathedral and was the residence of the Dean until 1941.

It has been beautifully restored and with its spacious hall and wide oak staircase, and its range of large light rooms, it is a most attractive setting. We had two round tables in the end of large dining room, with a broad bay window looking out onto the garden at the rear.

It was an elegant and relaxing place to sit and provided space for seven children to expand themselves without us feeling cramped or affecting the other patrons.

Varied and artistically mismatched china, teapots, creamers and sugar bowls were very de nos jour, but in a good way that pleasingly complemented the eclectic architectural and decorative styles of the building. An interesting twist on the cake stand was the use of large wooden boards for serving the sandwiches, cake and scones.

It was another excellent tea. The servings were very generous, with a substantial supply of sandwiches and large, and very pleasing, scones. Clotted cream was amply supplied, as was blackcurrant jam, although this did divide opinion, where one camp enjoyed its tart novelty and another (that is to say, I) felt that you shouldn't really mess with the traditional raspberry/strawberry axis, or that, at any rate, you should have options... George felt the sticky toffee cake really was more of a pudding element (and didn't work so well un-warmed and lacking custard) although others disagreed, notably Martha, who gave everything rave reviews and ate with gusto whatever she could lay her hands on. All in all, highly commended - The Old Deanery, you have done well.

Martha evaluates a scone.