Skipton Is Britain's Happiest, and Soggiest, Place

choi

Stephen Castle, In the Unloved North, Britain's Happiest, and Soggiest, Place. New York Times, Nov 15, 2017.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/ ... e-uk-happiness.html

My comment:
(a) the first half (up to and including the Skipton Castle) and the last three paragraphs.

(b) "Soggiest Place"
(i) How Much Does It Rain in the UK? Met Office, undated
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/lea ... s-it-rain-in-the-uk
(A) Met Office
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Met_Office
(B) Judging from this map, Skipton is ~2,000-3,000 mm, and London, 700-800 mm.
(iii) 台灣地區與世界各地降雨量比較圖.
www.ey.gov.tw/DL.ashx%3Fu%3D%252 ... 69-96f45d1e8032.pdf
("平均年降雨量 台灣  2,467 公釐/年)

* ey = Executive Yuan 行政院
(ii) hardiness zone
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardiness_zone

It is amazing that according to this Wiki page, Boston (in 2012) is in zone 6b, whereas Dublin is zone 9 (same as Houston) and London zone 8 (same as Columbia, South Carolina).  Due to Gulf Stream!

(c) Skipton Castle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipton_Castle
(originally a motte and bailey castle; The cliffs behind the castle, dropping down to Eller Beck, made the castle a perfect defensive structure)
(i) motte (n; etymology): "MOUND, HILL; especially :a hill serving as a site for a Norman castle in Britain)
(ii)
(A) bailey (n; etymology): "a courtyard within the external wall or between two outer walls of a castle"
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bailey
(B) ward (castle)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_(castle)
(or bailey; 3 Gallery with examples of castle wards)

* Compare Ward (surname)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_(surname)
(iii) Motte & Bailey Castles. Castle and Manor Houses Resources, undated
www.castlesandmanorhouses.com/types_03_motte.htm
(view a sketch whose caption reads, "A stylised geometrical representation of a Motte & Bailey created on a flat plain - as at Norwich")
(iv) beck (n): "British creek"
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beck

(d) skipton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipton
(its name derives from the Old English sceap sheep and tun town or village)
(e) Wikipedia says the origin and meaning of Craven are unclear.