Wold Rangers history brought to life in exhibition

The exhibition is open throughout the summer at Champney Treasure House Museum in Beverley

A new exhibition exploring the stories and lives of the Wold Rangers opens this weekend.

Living Up Lanes: Stories of the Wold Rangers tells of the dozens of men and a handful of women who roamed the Yorkshire Wolds looking for food, shelter and occasional work from about the 1850s to the 1950s.

Visitors can delve into the history of characters including Horsehair Jack, who landed up in court for stealing horsehair, Grumbling Soldier, who went door-to-door polishing pans, and Croom Mabel, who is still remembered by many for pushing her pram full of rags along Wolds lanes.

The exhibition is on at the Champney Treasure House Museum in Beverley until 4 October.

Living Up Lanes is a partnership project between East Riding Museums and the charity Wold Rangers Way, whose series of circular walks showcase the Wolds countryside.

The exhibition features archive documents, including entries into workhouses and court records, which show first-hand evidence of the Wold Rangers' real lives.

Old newspapers tell stories including that of antiquarian John Robert Mortimer, who bought fake artefacts made by a cunning Wold Ranger and ex-sailor Tin Whistle Joe.

Councillor Nick Coultish, cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: ''This exhibition, crafted from the rich reminiscences shared by the public, insightful oral history recordings, and fascinating objects from the East Riding Museum, offers a unique glimpse into the lives of the Wold Rangers.

''By shedding light on these stories, we not only honour their legacy but also enrich our understanding of the region's cultural heritage.''

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