Jump to content

Leyburn

Coordinates:54°18′32″N1°49′44″W/ 54.309°N 1.829°W/54.309; -1.829
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the English town. For the Australian town and other meanings, seeLeyburn (disambiguation).

Leyburn
Leyburn Market Square
Leyburn is located in North Yorkshire
Leyburn
Leyburn
Location withinNorth Yorkshire
Population2,183 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSE114904
Civil parish
  • Leyburn
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLEYBURN
Postcode districtDL8
Dialling code01969
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
54°18′32″N1°49′44″W/ 54.309°N 1.829°W/54.309; -1.829

Leyburnis amarket townandcivil parishinNorth Yorkshire,England,sitting above the northern bank of theRiver UreinWensleydale.Historicallyin theNorth Riding of Yorkshire,the name was derived from 'Ley' or 'Le' (clearing), and 'burn' (stream), meaning clearing by the stream. Leyburn had a population of 1,844 at the2001 census[2]increasing to 2,183 at the 2011 Census.[1]The estimated population in 2015 was 2,190.[3]

History

[edit]
Leyburn Sham Castle

Leyburn was mentioned in theDomesday Bookof 1086 but had no recorded population.[4]The much later growth of Leyburn as a major hub is linked to the decline in fortunes of nearbyWensley,which had prominence as the only market town inWensleydale;the village had received its Royal Charter in 1202[5]but declined dramatically after being devastated by theplaguein 1563. In fact, the once important and prosperous town was mostly abandoned. Leyburn's stature increased by the 17th century when a market charter was granted byCharles IIin 1686.Leyburn Town Hallwas built in 1856 by Lord Bolton, and now houses several shops.[6]In 1870-72 John Marius Wilson'sImperial Gazetteer of England and Walesdescribed Leyburn.[7]

Governance

[edit]
Leyburn Town Hall

Anelectoral wardfor in the same name exists; this ward includesHarmbywith a total population of 2,554.[8]The local town council is housed in Thornborough Hall, dating back to the 1830s, the building also houses the local library, aNorth Yorkshire Councilregister office,and several private offices.[9]

The town lies within theRichmond (Yorks)parliamentary constituency, which is under the control of theConservative Party.The current Member of Parliament since the2015 general electionisRishi Sunak,the formerPrime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Geography

[edit]

Leyburn is situated approximately 19 miles (31 km) west of the county townNorthallerton,on the northern banks of theRiver Ure,near to the eastern border of theYorkshire Dales National Park,at the edge of a valley or dale known asWensleydale,which takes its name from the village ofWensley,1.8 miles (2.9 km) to the west. Leyburn is close to a meadow nature reserve calledLeyburn Old Glebe.

Demography

[edit]

According to the2011 United Kingdom census,the ward of Leyburn (includingHarmby) had a total resident population of 2,554, with 1,335 females and 1,219 males. 98.2% of the population identified aswhite British,1.1% asother white,a total of 1.8% identified as being of a non-white ethnic background including 0.5%Asian British,and 0.7% as black,Afro-Caribbeanorblack British.The place of birth of the town's residents was 95.5% United Kingdom, 1.5% fromEuropean Unioncountries, and 2.5% from elsewhere in the world. 75.6% described themselves as havingreligiousbeliefs; 74.9% of those wereChristian,0.8% is made up of all other religions, the largest beingbuddhismat 0.4%, 16.2% stated they had no religion and 8.2% did not state a religion.[8]

The following table shows historic population changes in the Leyburn parish area between 1881 and 1961.

Year 1881 1891 1901 1911 1921 1931 1951 1961
Population 972 982 847 832 868 1,440 1,281 1,357
Sources:[10]

Economy

[edit]

Leyburn is a gateway town to theYorkshire Dales National Parkand relies heavily on tourism, the national park attracted 520,000 overnight visitors in 2017.[11]

Leyburn Marketplace

The market place is home to several shops, pubs, and restaurants, including national retailersCo-op FoodandOne Stop,as well as notable independent businesses such as the department storeMilners of Leyburn,which opened in 1882 and is currently in its fifth generation of family ownership, and Campbell's of Leyburn, a grocers dating back to 1868.[12]A traditional outdoor market is held in the square every Friday, along with a livestock auction mart that started in 1918.[13]

Bolton Arms Hotel

Other businesses and industries located outside the market place include a local brewery,[14]a chocolate maker[15]and aRoyal Maildelivery office.[16]

TennantsAuctioneers, situated on Harmby road, is one of the largestauction housesin the UK, holding more than 80 sales each year and attracting buyers and sellers from around the world.[17]Adjacent to Tennants is The Garden Rooms, a multi-purpose events and exhibitions venue with a capacity for 640 people.[18]

Commercial Square

According to the2011 United Kingdom census,the economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 43.5% in full-time employment, 5.0% in part-time employment, 21.0% self-employed, 3.1% unemployed, 2.2% students with jobs, 2.0% students without jobs, 19.7% retired, 0.4% looking after home or family, 2.1% permanently sick or disabled, and 0.8% economically inactive for other reasons.[8]

The average price of a house in Leyburn for the 12-month period ending February 2020 was £197,750[19]compared to £223,537 for North Yorkshire[20]and the national average of £232,320.[21]

Landmarks

[edit]
Leyburn Shawl

Leyburn Shawl, anescarpmentof about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length is located to the west of the town, it provides panoramic views of Wensleydale and links to footpaths towardsPreston-under-ScarandCastle Bolton.According to legend,Mary, Queen of Scots,upon fleeing captivity in nearbyBolton Castle,dropped her shawl en route to Leyburn.[22][23]

Agrade II listedwar memorial in the form of acrossis situated in the market place, commemorating the lives lost in both theFirstandSecondWorld War.[24]Leyburn Hall, also a listed building, dates back to 1750.[25]

Religious sites

[edit]

Leyburn has fourChristianplaces of worship; St Peter and St Paul'sRoman Catholicchurch built in 1835,[26]the WensleydaleEvangelicalChurch (built in 1875 and formerly acongregationalchurch until the early 1960s),[27]the LeyburnMethodistChurch dating back to 1884,[28]and just east of the town centre theAnglicanchurch ofSt Matthew,built in 1868.

Transport

[edit]
Leyburn railway station

Leyburn has its ownrailway stationon theheritageWensleydale Railway,this is the last stop westbound before the terminus atRedmire,trains also run eastbound towardsBedaleandNorthallerton.

Local bus services toHawes,Northallerton,RichmondandRiponare provided byDales & District.

The town lies on a crossroads of theA684 roadbetween Northallerton andKendal,and theA6108betweenScotch Cornerand Ripon.

Education

[edit]

The town's secondary school,The Wensleydale School,has just over 500 pupils, with a catchment are spanning through most ofWensleydale,the school has asixth formwith around 80 students enrolled. In 2006, Wensleydale School became aSpecialist Science Collegeunder a programme discontinued in 2010.[29]

The town's primary school is Leyburn Community Primary School, from where a vast majority of the pupils proceed to the Wensleydale School forsecondary education,in 2017 the school became anacademy.Leyburn's second primary school, St Peter and St PaulRCprimary school dated back to 1835, but in 2011 it was closed due to financially unviable pupil numbers, having just 15 pupils in its last academic year.[30]

Culture and community

[edit]

Sport

[edit]

The town's football club, Leyburn FC, play in theWensleydale CreameryLeague, an affiliate league of theNorth Riding County Football Association,another local team, Leyburn United FC, once reached theHarrogate and District Football League,until their resignation in 2016. United no longer have senior representation and has rebranded as Leyburn United JFC, for players aged 4 to 14.[31][32]

Wensleydale RUFC, arugby unionclub based in Leyburn currently play inYorkshire 2,having been promoted fromYorkshire 3as champions in the 2018–19 season.[33]

Leyburn once had a golf club, founded in 1895 and lasting until the late 1950s.[34]

TheTour de Yorkshirein May 2018 started in Richmond and finished in Scarborough, the cyclists travelled through Leyburn.[35][36]The town was also due to be the finishing point for stage 2 of the2020 Tour de Yorkshire,[37]however, on 17 March it was announced that the event would be postponed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[38]

Thetorch relayfor the2012 Summer Olympicsheld inLondonpassed through Leyburn.[39]

Cinema and theatre

[edit]

Leyburn's formercinema,The Elite,opened in 1928 and could seat 500; the premises were also used to stage theatre and music shows. It was initially closed in 2007, but was re-opened by volunteers under the nameThe Picture House.This revival however was short lived as the cinema shut down permanently in October 2008, less than 18 months after the first closure.[40]A 64-seat cinema is now located within a multi-purpose venue namedThe Old School House,using the former St Peter and St Paul primary school building.[41]

Media and filmography

[edit]

The town is served by two local newspapers, North Yorkshire editions of the dailyNorthern Echoand the weeklyDarlington & Stockton Timesboth published byNewsquest.

Local news and television programmes are provided byBBC North East and CumbriaandITV Tyne Teesfrom theBilsdaleTV transmitter.

Local radio stations areBBC Radio Yorkon 104.3 FM,Greatest Hits Radio Yorkshireon 107.1 FM andDales Radioon 104.9 FM.

Leyburn has appeared in various television programmes includingThe Department Store:Milner's,onBBC Fourin 2008, and the 1960s-set drama seriesHeartbeat.

Events

[edit]

TheDales Festival of Food and Drinkwas initially set up in response to the severe economic fallout experienced by the area after the2001 foot and mouth crisis.The first event was held in the market place onMay Daybank holiday weekend in 2002, after an increase in publicity and popularity, the festival moved to a larger site on the outskirts of Leyburn, however the event moved back to the market place in 2017 after a decline in revenue.[42]In 2019, after continuing to lose money, it was announced that the last festival was to be held in 2020, however as a result of cancellation owing to theCOVID-19 pandemic,[43]2019 was the final event.[44]

A 1940s weekend takes place at the end of July.[45]Wensleydaleagricultural showtakes place on the third Saturday in August. Saturday 23 August 2014 marked the 100th Wensleydale Show.[46]The localRotary Clubsponsors the Wensleydale Wander in March or April, organised walks of 12 miles (19 km) and 22 miles (35 km).

Public services

[edit]
Leyburn Fire Station
Leyburn Police Station

Leyburn Medical Practice is the town'sgeneral practice,the catchment area spans surrounding settlements includingMiddlehamand ruralCoverdale.[47]The nearest NHS hospital is theFriarage HospitalinNorthallerton19 miles (31 km) to the east, emergency ambulances are provided by theYorkshire Ambulance Service,and the voluntaryYorkshire Air Ambulance.Leyburn's fire and police station, is operated byNorth Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Serviceand theNorth Yorkshire Policeservice. The fire element is crewed solely byretained firefighters.The former Leyburn police station was built in 1878, and was vacated in 2021, when the two services amalgamated in the fire station.[48]The proposal to co-locate was made by the formerpolice and crime commissionerJulia Mulligan.[49][50]

Notable people

[edit]
  • Liam Darville,semi-professional footballer who plays as a defender for Richmond Town, was born in Leyburn in 1990.
  • Leyburn is the home town of footballerMichael Dawsonand his elder brother,Andy.[51]
  • George Gargrave,English mathematician, was born in Leyburn in 1710 where was educated by his uncle, schoolmaster John Crow.[52]
  • George Bland Humble,headmaster in Marylebone London and Fremantle, Australia, was born in Leyburn Moor House in 1839.
  • Charles Herbert Kitson,organist and influential music teacher, was born in Leyburn in 1874.[53]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abUK Census(2011)."Local Area Report – Leyburn Parish (E04007497)".Nomis.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved5 May2019.
  2. ^UK Census(2001)."Local Area Report – Leyburn Parish (36UE058)".Nomis.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved5 May2019.
  3. ^"2015 Population Estimates Parishes"(PDF).northyorks.gov.uk.p. 15. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 June 2022.Retrieved5 May2019.
  4. ^"Leyburn | Domesday Book".opendomesday.org.Archivedfrom the original on 26 September 2021.Retrieved31 May2020.
  5. ^"Wensleydale: The history of Yorkshire Dales valley famous for its cheese and appearance in original All Creatures Great and Small TV series featured in Channel 5 show starring Helen Skelton and Dan Walker".The Yorkshire Post.Archivedfrom the original on 30 August 2023.Retrieved30 August2023.
  6. ^"The undisputed capital ofWensleydale".Darlington and Stockton Times.Archivedfrom the original on 11 March 2022.Retrieved31 May2020.
  7. ^"History of Leyburn, in Richmondshire and North Riding | Map and description".visionofbritain.org.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 26 September 2021.Retrieved31 May2020.
  8. ^abcUK Census(2011)."Local Area Report – Leyburn Ward (as of 2011) (E05006284)".Nomis.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved31 May2020.
  9. ^"Thornborough Hall".Leyburn Town Council.Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2020.Retrieved28 May2020.
  10. ^"Leyburn CP through time | Population Statistics | Total Population".visionofbritain.org.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved24 May2020.
  11. ^"Tourism facts and figures".Yorkshire Dales National Park.Retrieved31 May2020.
  12. ^"151-year-old shop run by fourth generation named 'Best Village Store and Local Shop'".The Northern Echo.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved31 May2020.
  13. ^"Leyburn Auctions > About".leyburnauctions.Archivedfrom the original on 14 August 2020.Retrieved31 May2020.
  14. ^"Young North Yorkshire brewers have a real head for business".The Northern Echo.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved31 May2020.
  15. ^"Flock of giant chocolate robins heading to Sainsbury's".The Northern Echo.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved31 May2020.
  16. ^"Delivery Office Leyburn Delivery Office in Leyburn | Royal Mail Group Ltd".royalmail.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved31 May2020.
  17. ^"Leyburn - a market town that's full of surprises".Yorkshire Life.Archivedfrom the original on 7 August 2020.Retrieved31 May2020.
  18. ^"Wedding, Conference and Event Venue | The Garden Rooms".Garden Rooms.Archivedfrom the original on 9 August 2020.Retrieved31 May2020.
  19. ^"Home.co.uk: House Prices Report for Leyburn - February 2019 to February 2020".home.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved21 May2020.
  20. ^"UK House Price Index".landregistry.data.gov.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 24 September 2021.Retrieved21 May2020.
  21. ^"UK House Price Index".landregistry.data.gov.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 3 August 2021.Retrieved21 May2020.
  22. ^"Shawl tales of Queen Mary's escape".Darlington and Stockton Times.Archivedfrom the original on 15 July 2018.Retrieved15 July2018.
  23. ^"Follow in the footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots in Leyburn".Yorkshire Life.10 October 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 15 July 2018.Retrieved15 July2018.
  24. ^"LEYBURN - War Memorials Online".warmemorialsonline.org.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 18 October 2022.Retrieved31 May2020.
  25. ^Historic England."LEYBURN HALL, Leyburn (1130898)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved31 May2020.
  26. ^"Roman Catholic Churches In Wensleydale".wensleydalecatholicchurches.org.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 26 September 2020.Retrieved31 May2020.
  27. ^"Our History".Wensleydale Evangelical Church.Archivedfrom the original on 6 February 2021.Retrieved2 February2021.
  28. ^"Leyburn".North Yorkshire Dales.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2021.Retrieved31 May2020.
  29. ^"The Wensleydale School and Sixth Form".The Wensleydale School.Archivedfrom the original on 19 February 2012.Retrieved8 February2012.
  30. ^"15-pupil Dales school set to close as rural communities decline".yorkshirepost.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved28 May2020.
  31. ^"Football club annual meeting".The Northern Echo.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved28 May2020.
  32. ^Willis, Joe (14 December 2018)."Leyburn junior football club appeals for land to improve town's facilities".Richmondshire Today.Archivedfrom the original on 16 December 2018.Retrieved28 May2020.
  33. ^Willis, Joe (16 April 2019)."Wensleydale RUFC secure third promotion in five years".Richmondshire Today.Archivedfrom the original on 18 April 2019.Retrieved28 May2020.
  34. ^"Leyburn Golf Club".Golf's Missing Links.Archivedfrom the original on 30 April 2015.Retrieved19 August2014.
  35. ^"TOUR DE YORKSHIRE: When and where you can see the race in Ryedale".Gazette & Herald.Archivedfrom the original on 3 July 2018.Retrieved3 July2018.
  36. ^"Tour de Yorkshire times 2018 – Thirsk Tourist Information".visitthirsk.org.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 3 July 2018.Retrieved3 July2018.
  37. ^"Tour de Yorkshire 2020 route revealed with more climbing than ever".BBC Sport.17 January 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 28 January 2020.Retrieved28 January2020.
  38. ^"Tour de Yorkshire postponed over virus".BBC Sport.Archivedfrom the original on 18 March 2020.Retrieved28 May2020.
  39. ^"Northern Echo 28/05/12".leyburnandbellerbyparishes.org.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved31 May2020.
  40. ^"Picture House in Leyburn, GB – Cinema Treasures".cinematreasures.org.Archivedfrom the original on 12 March 2020.Retrieved28 May2020.
  41. ^"The Old School House Leyburn > About Us".leyburnartscentre.Archivedfrom the original on 5 August 2020.Retrieved28 May2020.
  42. ^Willis, Joe (5 March 2020)."Dales Festival of Food and Drink to be discontinued".Richmondshire Today.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved28 May2020.
  43. ^"Leyburn events and annual events in Leyburn food and drink festival".welcometoleyburn.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2020.Retrieved28 May2020.
  44. ^Sedgwick, Philip (6 March 2020). "Dales food festival to be discontinued".Darlington & Stockton Times.No. 10–2019. p. 3.ISSN2516-5348.
  45. ^"Fabulous turn-out at Leyburn 1940s Weekend".The Northern Echo.Archivedfrom the original on 23 July 2019.Retrieved28 May2020.
  46. ^Show, Wensleydale."The 2013 Show".Wensleydale Agricultural Society.Archivedfrom the original on 8 June 2013.Retrieved24 May2013.
  47. ^"About – Leyburn Medical Practice".Archivedfrom the original on 3 August 2020.Retrieved28 May2020.
  48. ^Chapman, Hannah, ed. (6 August 2021). "Police station for sale after officers move in with fire crews".Darlington & Stockton Times.No. 2021–31. p. 64.ISSN2516-5348.
  49. ^Willis, Joe (25 January 2019)."Leyburn Police Station could close and officers move to fire station".Richmondshire Today.Archivedfrom the original on 27 January 2019.Retrieved28 May2020.
  50. ^Willis, Joe (18 March 2020)."Leyburn Police Station move would not have impact on service, Middleham Town Council hears".Richmondshire Today.Archivedfrom the original on 2 September 2022.Retrieved28 May2020.
  51. ^"Home Team Is Feeling Happy".The Northern Echo.22 November 2002.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2016.Retrieved8 February2012.
  52. ^'Gargrave, George' in theDictionary of National Biography.London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900
  53. ^Houston, Kerry: "Kitson, Charles Herbert", in:The Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland,ed. Harry White & Barra Boydell (Dublin: UCD Press, 2013), p. 571–2.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toLeyburn.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leyburn&oldid=1239965383"