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Clinging on to Yorkshire’s great values and unique identity

From brass bands to flat caps, pie and peas to whippet racing, there’s something about the county of Yorkshire that has a particularly compelling, interesting and unique cultural identity. So what exactly helps shape Yorkshire’s distinctiveness that has remained etched into public consciousness for centuries? Banners and Mash find out…

Yorkshire cuisine

Yorkshire is known for producing local cuisine that is brimming with rich and varied flavours, particularly its sweet dishes. When we think of dishes originating from this affable county, Yorkshire pudding immediately springs to mind. Commonly served with roast beef, roast potatoes and gravy, the famous Yorkshire pudding is by far the county’s most well-known dish and somehow captures the hearty, homemade and welcoming associations universally upheld of Yorkshire.

Yorkshire chocolate and globally-renowned confectionary brands

From the eighteenth century onwards, Yorkshire experienced a growth of chocolate factories, some of which have influenced the confectionary industry that we know and love today.

Famed for Kit Kat, Smarties and Aero, Rowntree’s beginnings began in York in the late nineteenth century. Meanwhile Sheffield was busy producing a more luxury chocolate brand, Thorntons. The Thornton family lived in Leeds before moving to Sheffield. It was in Sheffield Joseph Thornton opened Thornton’s flagship store, which, with a lavish décor a trays of Mackintosh’s Toffee Deluxe being sold, was considered the height of confectionary luxury from the word go.

A refreshing pint of bitter

If you crave a refreshing pint of golden and well-bodied bitter, in Yorkshire, you’re in the right place. The county is an historic centre for the brewing of beer, with globally recognised brands including John Smith’s, Tetleys, Theakston, Copper Dragon, Sam Smith’s and Timothy Taylor, originating in Yorkshire.

A spectacular sporting history

Yorkshire has played an influential and important role in the development of sports in the United Kingdom, particularly cricket, rugby league, football and horse racing.

Having won the cricket County Championship 30 times, Yorkshire boasts the most successful run in the history of the championships.

Many people might not be aware that FIFA recognises Yorkshire as the birthplace of club football. This is due to the fact Sheffield Football Club was founded in 1857 and is certified as the world’s oldest football club.

Yorkshire’s influential sporting history and heritage remains etched onto contemporary society as sport remains a popular modern culture of the county. Testament of Yorkshire’s contemporary sporting success is the fact that competitors from Yorkshire won seven gold medals, two silver and three bronze in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

‘God’s Own County’

With such an inimitable and age-old uniqueness, it’s hardly surprising many people in Yorkshire are immensely proud of their identity. So honoured is Yorkshire of its distinct culture, it embraces its popular nickname, ‘God’s Own County.’

A commitment to maintaining Yorkshire’s values

In fact what’s particularly great about Yorkshire’s rich, vibrant and deep-rooted cultural heritage is that locals, businesses and brands in their county have an almost collective aspiration to cling onto their unique identity and roots.

Many of the top ‘Yorkshire’ brands appreciate this commitment to proudly preserve Yorkshire’s iconic attributes that makes the county so special and unique.

What are your views and experiences of Yorkshire culture? We’d love to know your thoughts about what make the county so unique and special.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Banners and Mash .

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