Frederick York Wolseley Lunch – North East – 2015

22 Mar Frederick York Wolseley Lunch – North East – 2015

Members from the North West, Cumbria and North East met for a chat followed by a two or three course meal on Sunday 22nd March at The Morritt.

The Morritt Country House Hotel & The Garage Spa, at Greta Bridge, offered a relaxed country-house atmosphere in the North Pennine Hills near Barnard Castle and Durham City. A great meet up place for members from Cumbria and the North East.

After a selection of starters, members enjoyed Belly Pork, Roast Beef, Fish & Chips, with profiteroles, cheese board or cheese cake for pudding.

A 1937 Wolseley Series II – 14/56 was the transport of choice from Cumbria on this fine sunny day, whilst members also brought along two WOC dogs, Holly a border terrier two years of age and Florence a four month old Bassett Hound.

The Morritt dates back to the late 17th century when there was a farm on the site. In 1839, Charles Dickens visited Greta Bridge, researching Nicholas Nickleby for his book and in 1946, Jack Gilroy, a well-known portrait and landscape artist completed a picture mural in just eleven days, which is still in the Morritt. Gilroy’s Dickensian faces are said to represent local characters of the time.

With the advent of the “horse-less carriage” – the motor car, as time went on – two of the coaching inns in the area went out of business. A motor repair shop however, which also dispensed petrol, was built on to the Morritt and this ensured its survival as a travellers’ resting-place.