Serendipi-tea in Yorkshire: A visit planned to explore family ties and royalty brings us to Robert Thompson (the "mouseman") and his sought after furniture

Bringing back a bit of Mouseman serendipi-tea

Last month, as part of our 1,400-mile road trip throughout England and Scotland, my husband, Chris, and I had selected the town of Kilburn for a two-night stay. We chose this location in Yorkshire as it was a good "home base" for our varying pursuits:  Chris was looking for a connection to his ancestors, who were recorded in family accounts as living in this area a few centuries ago, and I was set on seeing the one-time home of Princess Mary, Harewood House.  One criteria we didn't factor into our Kilburn inn choice, however, was its close proximity to the  Mouseman's Cottage, home to Robert Thompson's finely crafted furniture.  We hadn't even heard of him before. But, with travel bonuses of unexpected adventures, we had stumbled on an incredible artist community, and we were so grateful for the meet-up.  Or as we like to call it here at BTS, a bit of "serendipi-tea".

Inn in Yorkshire, chosen for family and royal research/ The Mouseman - an added bonus!

Although many of the places we stayed at in our two weeks-plus visit to the UK were pre-planned and pre-booked, we allowed ourselves a few extra days here and there for "wiggle room". This allowed us to leave one location early or stretch out a visit, should we decide we wanted to move on or explore more. Our visit to Yorkshire fell into the "wiggle room" category, and although it was a desired stop, we hadn't reserved our room until the night before. While still in St. Andrews, Scotland, Chris found the Forresters Arms on-line - a full service B & B, complete with evening dining, a tearoom, a pub and all within a half hour's drive to the neighboring villages we had on our agenda. What more could one ask for?  How about a rendez-vous with the Mouseman!

Mouse-shaped tea biscuits in honor of the Inn's neighbor, the Robert Thompson enterprise

Our first indication of the Robert Thompson legacy was the parking area adjacent to our inn. There were three prime spaces for "Robert Thompson customers only". Well, okay, the public parking lot was just a few steps more. Who or what this business was, we hadn't a clue.

Then, up in our room, a welcoming tea and coffee tray was set out and, along with the earthenware mugs and electric kettle, there were also mouse-shaped biscuits under a glass dome. At the time, I wasn't positive they were biscuits, so I asked the innkeeper when we came down for dinner. She confirmed they were, indeed, tea cookies, and made in the shape of a mouse to pay homage to Robert Thompson. The mouseman plot thickens. . . 

Approaching Brafferton, home to ancestors and fans of the Mouseman

The next day, we headed out to the small village of Brafferton - a twenty minute drive from Kilburn. Our goal was to check out the cemeteries and churches for any evidence of the Clifford clan, ancestors of Chris' who had long ago immigrated to Canada. While we lumbered through the uneven terrain of the graveyard next to one of the town's churches, we found no recognizable surnames. In fact, some of the tombstones were so old, there was barely any legible inscriptions.  After a walk through the church, we turned our heels in the direction of town, though not exactly sure what we were looking for.

Touring the church before heading to town

No visible family ties, but this town had more to share

It was then, we came upon an elderly couple tending to their very British patio garden in front of their very vintage, but very posh, country home. We nodded "hello" and seeing they appeared somewhat friendly, Chris asked if they were familiar with the town's history. Without hesitation, the gentleman stated he was - and quite a bit, at that.

While, he provided us with an interesting account of Brafferton's origins as a mixed Viking and Anglo-Saxon development, he was not acquainted with any of the family we were researching. However, once he learned we were staying at Kilburn, he exclaimed, "the home of the Mouseman!" and he was off and running.

Our inn had daily tea!

The Mouseman site expanded across the street

On this subject, the gentleman was as knowledgeable as the history of his hometown. He told us of the renowned artist and the extreme value and collectability of some of Thompson's original pieces. He told us to "hold on one minute" as he collected his Robert Thompson barometer, a cherished item that now, in addition to decorating his home, also commands a hefty price tag. The gentleman also had possession of a Robert Thompson dining room table that had the wavy top, common to many of the mouseman's furniture. Incredibly, even with all the curves of the undulating surface, he assured us, you can set a glass or cup on top without fear of anything falling over. 

So, this sealed it. We must walk the few steps from our inn, after tea and scones (as the Robert Thompson tearoom was currently closed) and investigate this most conveniently located furniture mecca.

Chris in front of the Thompson Gallery, our inn is right next door

The Mouseman Cottage is now a show room/retail space - the only Robert Thompson building that was open on their craftsman campus during our stay. (Along with the tearoom, there is a museum, a gallery and a garden area).  The Cottage is a restored 16th century abode and one-time home of Robert Thompson. He lived in Kilburn all his life (1876 to 1955) and followed his father's trade of crafting furniture but, literally "carved out" a unique brand for himself. Robert Thompson specialized in creating items based on 17th century designs, having taught himself how to use the traditional tools used by medieval craftsman.

The Mouseman Cottage, now a showroom/retail space

The Robert Thompson company still continues today, using the techniques of their founder. The craftsmanship and quality is still stunning (and expensive). Not surprisingly, pieces from Robert Thompson's lifetime are especially sought after (and even more pricey).

The cottage has original Robert Thompson carvings, including the fireplace mantel.

So, where did the "mouseman" moniker come from? The explanation comes from a story told by Robert Thompson himself. While laboring at a local church, one of his craftsmen stated that they were all "poor as mice". Upon hearing that, Thompson carved a mouse on the roof rafter he was working on. While that particular mouse has never been found, the diminutive creature was carved on all furniture after that seminal moment, becoming the symbol of the great artist and his furniture. 

The signature wavy surface remarkably keeps serving ware level

With all this serendipi-tea, one may wonder what I brought home from the Robert Thompson cottage? Well, it was, of course, tea-related.  I was fortunate in that the one item I could afford to pack in the suitcase - and, truly, what I could afford, period - was the teapot stand.  With prices reaching as high as 15,000 pounds, my teapot stand was a bargain at just under 100 pounds. 

The showroom has many modern pieces for sale.

So, while planning a journey does includes reserving hotels and restaurants in advance, we've found leaving a little wiggle room, can lead to some amazing serindipi-tea. Before last month, I had never heard of the Mouseman, and now I'm an avid collector.

Check out our most recent "Mouseman reveal" video on our YouTube channel:  Mouseman: Serendipi-tea in Yorkshire! - YouTube

For more information on the Mouseman, aka, Robert Thompson, see the link: robertthompsons.co.uk