In 1993 a young girl, Eleanor Rose, visited Robin Hoods Bay in North Yorkshire for a week on a school field trip.
On her return home she waxed lyrical to her family about the beautiful bay.
Little did she think that her parents would be so enchanted by the area that they would buy and restore Selborne House on Tysons Steps — and that 25 years later her dad, Nicholas John, would be writing the ‘Baytown Tales’.
The new children’s book is based on a series of rhymes written by Nicholas, from Oxton, over a few years during his family visits.
He has photographed, written and sketched in the Bay but this is his first
publication. It is illustrated by his daughter-in-law, Melissa May, and is the first of a series telling the Baytown Tales with the help of the many cottage chimney pot characters that spread the daily news up and down
Baytown.
Nicholas hopes to offer Baytown stories to local schools and library groups to encourage children of all ages to enjoy their holiday experiences.
Trained in architecture, he has always been fascinated by the unique Baytown atmosphere, with cottages of all shapes and sizes knitted seamlessly together.
Chimneys spring up everywhere and the many chimney pot characters in the town inspired him to tell the Baytown stories with their help.
Mellisa, a graphic designer and illustrator, said the backcloth of buildings she has created are based on many real views that some readers may recognise.
They hope the book should appeal to anyone who has visited Robin Hoods Bay.
To order a copy of ‘Baytown Tales’ email [email protected]