The Study.

Situated on the exhilarating coastline of North Yorkshire and affectionately known as the ‘Queen of English watering places’ – the town of Scarboro’ occupies a fascinating place within the history of seaside resorts.

And along with a history of besieged castles, dinosaur remains, literary prodigies, fishing ports, religious persecution, folklore, medicinal drinking waters, smuggling, and pirate radio – Scarboro’ still enjoys an enduring charm.

From a population of just over 32,000 in 1801 – Scarboro’ Gothic is a record of this unique town, its history and the local characters from the heady days of the Georgian era until the dawn of the Edwardian epoch.

The Author.

Tee Bylo is a seeker of elusive ancestors and a wanderer of graveyards.

With access to the local repositories and archives throughout Yorkshire and beyond – Tee loves working with those who wish to solve the mysteries, riddles and absurdities of their own family history.

And as an enthusiastic taphophile – Tee can also be found with notebook and camera in hand as she goes in seach of those final resting places of the long forgotten dead.

AMBLE.

Among the Unquiet Dead with the Graveyard Squirrel.

explore.

The Gnarled Branches and Fallen Leaves of Family History.

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For those Whispers from the Graveyard – This Silent Land?

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Explore the Grim Shadows of Victorian True Crime.

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Tales of Scarborians

‘In a Sea of Stories, Find the Right One to Tell, and the Right Way to Tell It.’

~ Richard Linklater

“Sea bathing, or any cold bathing must now be delicious for never did I feel hotter Weather.

A dip in the Sea at seven o’clock this morning. I am sure I shall find great benefit from it, as I felt so well & had so fine a glow when I came out of the water, which they tell me is a sure sign of its agreeing with the Constitution.

I like this place exceedingly & shall leave it with regret, tho’ not for the sake of the society.”

~ Judith Noel Lady Milbanke née Wentworth (1751-1822)

In Which The Lady Takes to the Sea.

“There is little company here, the handsome Countess stayed but two days… little good fish here and very deare.

I have heard much of the agreeableness of Scarborough but think it a very dull place.”

~ The Right Honorable Lady Mary Eyre née Belasyse (1736-1804)

For the Want of Cheap Fish?

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The Dead Sleuth.


DEAD – adjective.

No longer alive.

SLEUTH – noun.

A person who investigates mysteries.

As a professional genealogist with an interest in tombstone symbolism – Tee Bylo is a seeker of elusive ancestors and a wanderer of graveyards.

With her passion for family history, storytelling and Victorian crime – Tee is the creative director for The Polite Tourist which offers unique walks through the unquiet streets of York, Scarboro’ and beyond.

A fierce admirer of the poet Lord Byron – Tee is the author of the blog The Regency Recondite and the curator for Nicole Brown Simpson Remembered.

Tee is also a sometime artist and her work includes ‘Small Worlds’ in 12th scale and figurative clay sculpture.

Tee resides among the many ghosts of her home town in the ancient City of York.

The genealogist.

“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.”

~ Bernard Shaw

Is there a genealogical riddle or even an absurdity which has you intrigued or perplexed?

With access to the local repositories and archives throughout North Yorkshire – I love working with those who wish to solve the mysteries of their family history.

Or are you in search of that final resting place of an ancestor from the town of Scarboro’, the ancient City of York or beyond?

As a professional genealogist with an interest in tombstone symbolism – I could be just THE family history sleuth you need by your side.

curious much?

#DeadSleuth #YorkyHistoryLass #RegencyRecondite

After an intense morning wading through the reports of the York Penitentiary Society in the year 1844 - meet my affable lunch companion. "I hope to leave this world without having said a word that could damage anybody, and so I must let people say what they will of me." ~ Lady Byron. No. Filter. Necessary. ‘What is this Death? – a quiet of the heart? 'Stand and deliver your money or your life?' If I had to use only one word to describe the view from my world today? To all who are celebrating St David's Day today - here's to a VERY joyous Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! When you need to dodge those raindrops on a chilly afternoon in Scarboro’ - there is only one sensible option. 😉 Flippin' eck! How is it Pancake Day already?

The grave hunter.

Have you ever heard the one about how there are only two things that are certain to us?

The first one being that we are all subject to some form of taxation and the second is that one day we WILL all die.

As a genealogical researcher my time is usually spent grappling with the mystery of death.

And if I’m not in search of a missing ancestor or researching another life long lost to history – I will be poring over the details on a newly discovered and often indecipherable certificate of death or trawling through the parish records in search of a burial entry.

Being able to locate the final resting place of those from my research endeavours has always been an important task and an unsuccessful search is disappointing as the final piece of the jigsaw remains missing.

However, if you struggle with the thought of death and have no wish to contemplate – MY world is probably NOT for you!

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For all of those genealogy tales, ancestor gossip AND the whispers from the graveyard – subscribe to This Silent Land? AND bring forth EVERY snippet of chatter direct to your inbox!

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#GraveYardSquirrel #TeeAndTombstones #DeadSleuth

"I hope to leave this world without having said a word that could damage anybody, and so I must let people say what they will of me." ~ Lady Byron. 'Stand and deliver your money or your life?' Although business may have brought me to the coastal town of Scarborough today - I had to find a quiet hour to ramble among the tombstones in St Mary's churchyard. It's our annual YorkResFest and I'm out in the field AND in the cold hunting for the long lost for the good folk of this parish. A door to another world! Walking through a delightful churchyard in the Bishophill area of York and there nestled among the purple Columbines and Queen Anne's Lace is the family grave of one George Baines and that of his children Jane and Catherine who both died in their twenty fourth year. This place has often been described as a “calm oasis in the centre of York” and to while away an hour or three wandering among those tombstones is catnip to this taphophile! Tangled toes among the ivy at York Cemetery. It's a beautiful evening here and although I'm on my way to a business meeting, I couldn't resist indulging in a little detour. 😉

Tee’s tip jar!

As every penny I earn keeps me happy with access to genealogical research, parish records, newspaper archives, and probate deeds along with precious opportunities to explore those graveyards – every lovely human who believes in my work makes me VERY happy too!

See YOU on the other side?

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Waking the Dead of Scarboro’, York and Beyond.

WITH THE COMING OF DUSK…

And the door of an atelier closed for the day – it is possible to catch a glimpse of a celebrated miniaturist and storyteller clad in her distinctive black feline boots wandering through the unquiet street and secret passages of Scarboro’, York and beyond in a quest to wake the dead.

ORDINARY FOLK. EXTRAORDINARY DEATHS.

And for those of a curious and hardy temperament – why not come along and listen to the Lady Brigante as she shares with you the tales of the illustrious, the miscreants, artists, misfits and those ordinary folk who have ALL been lost to history – until now!

However, for those of a sensitive nature who are averse to real stories of tears, heartache and tragedy – a meander through the fascinating streets of Scarboro’, York and beyond with the Lady Brigante may NOT be to your taste.

WHO OR WHAT IS The Polite Tourist?

The Polite Tourist offers true crime walks through Victorian history. Through Scarboro’, York and beyond.

Innovative, meticulously researched and inspired by true crime stories from the Victorian era and through the tales of those ordinary people woven into the rich fabric of an ancient city or town’s social history – our walks are designed to offer an informative and unique experience with a professional and spirited storyteller.

THE BÊTE NOIRE OF THE DEAD. SOMETIME ARTIST.

The Lady Brigante loves nothing more than shocking unsuspecting folk with the tale that she was abandoned at birth by gypsies and raised en famille with kindly mice in the crypt of an old church.

Alas! The truth is altogether more unremarkable!

Described as the bête noire of the long forgotten dearly departed – our storyteller, the Lady Brigante is a spiritual sleuth, sometime artist and a seeker of the dead.

She is also something of a miniaturist and sculptor.

For those of a curious mind – why not cross the threshold of a twilight world nestled inside a little slice of the web to which the Lady B has since laid claim?

With Quill and Ink By Candlelight. ‘Fac Quod Faciendum Est.’

CURIOUS MUCH?