Blind Jack of Knaresborough

Today we've been to Knaresborough to meet up with my brother and sister in law.  My brother in law was telling us about Blind Jack and when we had a walk into the town we spotted this statue of him.

Although he went blind at the age of 6 following a smallpox infection, he led a very full and interesting life.  Initially he made his living playing the fiddle.  He also did some horse trading, swam and dived, played cards, went hunting and was a guide to visitors as he knew the area so well.  He also owned a stagecoach line and drove a coach himself.

However, his main claim to fame is that he built many miles of roads in Lancashire, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Yorkshire.  In all he build 180 miles of roads.  

He died in 1810 ages 92.  He sounds an incredible man and absolutely deserves his statue.  There is also a pub in Knaresborough named after him.

The weather in Knaresborough today was dreadful so we spent most of the time in a tea room but managed a short walk when the rain got a bit lighter.  It was pretty cold too.