An intrepid Victorian explorer from Boroughbridge is to be the subject of a new BBC2 series starring Ruby Wax, Mel B and Emily Atack.

Isabella Bird, who was born at Boroughbridge Hall in 1831, travelled alone across the lawless American Wild West, riding 800 miles on horseback through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

She befriended outlaws, climbed mountains, and faced grizzly bears in what was a restrictive era for women in Britain.

Using her original 1873 book A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains as inspiration for their own adventure, Ruby, Mel and Emily pay homage to this forgotten pioneer in the series Trailblazers: A Rocky Mountain Road Trip.

They explore the people, places and curious customs of an ever-changing America, while reflecting on the changes in western society over the last 150 years and their own experiences of womanhood.

The new series starts on BBC2 on Monday at 9pm.

Linda Dooks, secretary of the Boroughbridge and District Historical Society, said:

“Isabella Bird was born at Boroughbridge Hall to the Rev Edward Bird and his second wife Dora Lawson in 1831. The Lawsons have been owners of the hall for several generations.

“The Birds actually only stayed about six months before moving to Edinburgh, where she is buried.

“An ill child in 1850, she had a tumour removed from her spine.

“Doctors advised a sea voyage to aid her recovery her father gave her £100  ‘to leave and stay as long as the money lasted’. Her bright descriptive letters home formed the basis of An English Women in America.”

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Ms Dooks said Isabella went on to marry John Bishop in 1881, inheriting a large income after his death, which she used to extend her travels.

She added:

“First she travelled to India where she help found The John Bishop Memorial Hospital. Then on to Tibet, what was then Persia and Turkey.

“The following year she travelled to Baghdad and Tehran with a group of British soldiers.

“By now her writings were figuring in books, journals and magazines and she became a household name.

“She was the first woman to be allowed to join The Royal Geographical Society

“Her final journeys  took her up the Yangtze River, in China, where there is now a memorial garden because of the missionary work she did there.

“She then went on to Morocco, where she was given a beautiful black stallion as a gift from the sultan.

“She died at her home in Edinburgh in 1901.”

Ms Dooks said Boroughbridge only became aware of Isabelle and her exploits in the 1980s when a group of Chinese tourists asked where Isabella Bird was born.

She said:

“A plaque has since been erected on the wall in Hall Square at Boroughbridge and her exploits recorded in the book A history of Boroughbridge, published by the Boroughbridge Historical Society.”

A medieval combat re-enactment was among the highlights today to commemorate 700 years since the Battle of Boroughbridge.

Organised by Boroughbridge Historical Society and The Battlefields Trust, the day began with a wreath laying. Around 60 people attended at the battle cross in Aldborough.

Dignitaries including the Earl of Hereford, a direct descendent of one of the men killed at the battle, attended alongside the public.

A service was held at the battle cross this morning.

The day’s other activities took place in Boroughbridge. There were several stalls, including the Battlefield Trust and a traditional bow and arrow maker who showed how a bow could be carved from a piece of ash wood.

At 10am crowds gathered to watch a demonstration by 3 Swords. The men and women taking part were dressed in traditional military attire and spoke to the public about the kinds of weaponry and armour soldiers would have been wearing in 1322.

Dean Davidson, Stuart Ivinson and Wayne Reynolds also performed medieval martial arts and battle techniques.

The history group performed a selection of medieval battle techniques.

The day also included hour-long history walks, which took people to the key battle sites. The main battle was fought on a timber bridge believed to be close to the site of the current bridge over the River Ure.

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The battle was fought between a rebellious group of barons and supporters of Edward II. The rebels, led by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, were defeated by the king’s army.

Boroughbridge is set to mark the 700th anniversary of a historic battle in the town with a major programme of events.

Battlefield tours and medieval weapons demonstrations will form part of the commemorations for the Battle of Boroughbridge, which took place on March 16, 1322.

The battle, between Edward II and his cousin the Earl of Lancaster, who was in collusion with the Scots, featured several thousand soldiers. The majority supported the king.

A small army of retreating rebels under Lancaster’s control attempted to negotiate a truce but when this failed a one-sided battle resulted in the surrender and subsequent execution of Lancaster.

Thirty of Lancaster’s followers were executed, including Roger de Clifford, Second Lord of Skipton, who was hung from Clifford’s Tower in York, which now bears his name.

The bridge at Boroughbridge, which is believed to be more or less in the same place as the medieval one where part of the battle took place.

The battle raged around a timber bridge crossing the River Ure and a ford, believed to be to the east of the present town, possibly in the Milby area.

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This year’s programme will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony at the battle cross in Aldborough at 9.30am on Saturday, March 12.

The battle cross at Aldborough 

Later that day the 3 Swords Medieval Group will demonstrate weaponry skills and armour on the shared community space behind Boroughbridge car park.

The Battlefields Trust and Boroughbridge Historical Society will lead tours and battle exhibitions.

A new series of medieval artwork will be incorporated into display boards and leaflets for a permanent battlefield trail.

Further commemorative events to mark the anniversary will take place throughout the year.

Did you know that the Stray Ferret has teamed up with Harrogate Historian Malcolm Neesam to produce audio walking tours of Harrogate? The walks are sponsored by the Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) and take you back to the Golden Age of the Harrogate Spa and a walk through the Commercial Heart of Harrogate.  

Why not take a walk back in time and learn about Harrogate’s glorious past.. They’re easy to do and a great day out. For more information click here.