W Hamond - The Original Whitby Jet Store

Funny Facts About Yorkshire

Share the love

If you enjoy this article, please consider sharing it with your friends.

Yorkshire has its quirks! From heated debates over Yorkshire puddings to sheep causing traffic jams. Here are 8 funny facts about Yorkshire

Yorkshire is full of delightful oddities and amusing traditions that never fail to entertain. We’re taking a light-hearted journey through 8 funny and endearing facts about this beloved region.


1. A Yorkshire pudding can cause a debate

Yorkshire pudding savoury vs sweet.
Which would you pick, Savoury or Sweet?

There’s an ongoing (often humorous) debate about the “correct” way to make and serve Yorkshire pudding in Yorkshire.

FREE Whitby Mini-Guide

"Get the best from your stay in Whitby." - Everything you need to know about Whitby into a free mini-guide!

Some insist it should be eaten with gravy before the main meal, others say it should be part of the main course, and many even consider it dessert!

History of the Yorkshire pudding

The Yorkshire Pudding, easily made from a batter of flour, eggs, and milk or water, has been a staple in England for centuries. Originally called a Dripping Pudding, Hannah Glasse, an 18th-century cookery writer, first referred to it as a “Yorkshire Pudding” in her book The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy.

William Sitwell suggested that the pudding may have gotten its name due to its association with coal in the region, as higher temperatures could result in a crispier and tastier pudding.

Which Yorkshire pudding combo would you try.
Which combo would you try?

Traditionally, Yorkshire Pudding was served as a first course alongside thick gravy to satisfy the appetite before the main meal. It even served as the primary and only course in less well-off households, often using dripping.


2. Betty’s Tea Rooms serves Fat Rascals

Betty’s Fat Rascals!

The first Bettys opened in 1919, but in many ways, Bettys is just the same. Betty’s Tea Rooms, a beloved Yorkshire institution, has a secret recipe for its famous Fat Rascals (a type of scone). The secrecy adds an air of mystery and humour. They use a special recipe with butter, juicy currants, and citrus peel. They are hand-decorated with glacé cherries and almonds to create the cheeky Fat Rascal face. Enjoy them warm and buttered.


3. Yorkshire folk are totally tea-obsessed

How do you like your cuppa?

A good cup of tea solves everything; there is nothing better than a proper cup of Yorkshire Tea! 

Yorkshire folk are known for their love of tea. Yorkshire Tea is a household staple; many locals believe it’s the best tea in the world. Some say the secret to a proper cup is brewing it strong enough to “stand a spoon in.”

History of Yorkshire Tea

Yorkshire Tea is a family-run business founded in Harrogate in 1886. Charles Taylor set up a tea and coffee company with his two sons.

Yorkshire Tea Colour Chart.
How do you like your Yorkshire tea?

Using the finest ingredients, they skillfully crafted blends suited for the local water. They set up tea and coffee kiosks across Yorkshire and a flagship store at 1 Parliament Street, Harrogate.

During the early 20th century, they catered to the inconsistent water supply by blending tea for each customer at their flagship store. In the 1970s, they developed a black tea blend specifically tailored to Yorkshire’s more dependable water supply, exclusively available in the region.


4. There are loads of hilarious place names

Whip-Ma-Whop-Me-Gate
Whip Ma, what?

We all enjoy a good laugh, and Yorkshire certainly delivers with its amusingly named places that perfectly match its sense of humour (which we appreciate).

While searching the internet on one of the many gloomy days this month, we came across some of the funniest Yorkshire place names. Some were familiar, while others were a hilarious surprise, bringing a much-needed chuckle.

  • The Land of Nod, East Yorkshire
  • Jingling Pot, North Yorkshire
  • Crackpot, North Yorkshire
  • Booze, North Yorkshire
  • Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, North Yorkshire
  • Wetwang, East Yorkshire
  • Penistone, South Yorkshire
  • Upperthong, Netherthong and Thongsbridge, West Yorkshire
  • Fryup, West Yorkshire
  • Sexhow, West Yorkshire
  • Blubberhouses, West Yorkshire
  • Giggleswick, West Yorkshire
  • Dorking, West Yorkshire
  • Thornton Le Beans, West Yorkshire

Wetwang, Giggleswick, Blubberhouses, and Crackpot are some of our favourites. These names often amuse visitors and create great photo opportunities with the signs!


5. The sheep can cause traffic jams

Watch out for sheep!

In some parts of Yorkshire, there are more sheep than people. This can lead to amusing traffic jams where sheep take over the roads, much to the frustration and amusement of drivers.


6. There is still plenty of Yorkshire grit, flat caps and ferrets

Thomas Paylor at Whitby Abbey

The people of Yorkshire are known for their no-nonsense attitude and “grit.” A popular saying is, “You can always tell a Yorkshireman, but you can’t tell him much.”

The stereotype of Yorkshiremen wearing flat caps and keeping ferrets in their pockets persists, often humorously perpetuated by the locals. While not everyone in Yorkshire sports a flat cap, it’s still a beloved symbol of Yorkshire identity.


7. Pigeon racing still takes place

Pigeon Racing.
Otley is home to the world’s oldest pigeon racing club.

Pigeon racing, a sport where pigeons return to their homes after flying a carefully measured distance, is believed to have originated in Belgium and later gained popularity among working-class communities in the UK.

Otley is home to the world’s oldest pigeon racing club, founded in 1887. Pigeon racing is taken very seriously, but it can seem like an odd and quirky tradition to outsiders.


8. Henderson’s relish devotion

Henderson’s Relish has been humorously called “Sheffield’s holy water.”

Sheffield, in South Yorkshire, is the home of Henderson’s Relish, a condiment similar to Worcestershire sauce but without anchovies. It is made of water, sugar, spirit vinegar, and a selection of spices and colouring.

The locals’ devotion to it is so strong that it has been humorously referred to as “Sheffield’s holy water.”

Matt Helders of the Arctic Monkeys once described Henderson’s relish as “like Worcester sauce, but one million times better.” This flavourful table condiment has been a beloved Sheffield favourite for nearly 140 years, and with the help of online delivery, it is now gaining popularity worldwide.


Yorkshire’s quirkiness and humour shine through in these 8 funny facts! We hope you have enjoyed reading this article as much as we have enjoyed writing it and that it brightens your day! You can let us know any funny facts we missed in the comments.

Share the love

If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it with your friends.

Leave a Comment

Download your FREE Whitby Mini-Guide

"Get the best from your stay in Whitby." - Everything you need to know about Whitby into a free mini-guide - Instant access!