Visit Askrigg Places

Welcome to Visit Askrigg Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Askrigg

  

Askrigg Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Askrigg

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Askrigg history

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The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Ascric. At the time of the Norman invasion the manor was held by Arnketil. Afterwards the lands were owned on behalf of the Crown by Count Alan of Brittany who granted then lordship of the manor to Gospatric, son of Arnketil. By 1251 the manor had come to the Fitz Hugh family who were also lords of Ravenworth and stayed with them until the 16th century. In the early 16th century the manor became the possession of Sir Thomas Parr. His son William died without issue in 1571 when it became the property of the Crown. In 1664 the manorial rights were leased from the Crown by the Metcalfe family. The name Askrigg is of Old Norse origin, consisting of the combination of askr (ash tree) and hryggr (ridge), meaning the ridge where ash trees grew, denoting the existence of Viking settlers and their farming. The oldest settlement probably dates back to the Iron Age. The village remained of little commercial importance throughout the 13th and 14th centuries when Wensleydale was extensively used for sheep grazing by the Cistercian monks, who became prosperous on the profits of the wool trade. In the 15th and 16th centuries, however, secular wealth became important in the dale following the border conflicts in the north and the Dissolution of the Monasteries throughout the country. Askrigg was granted a Charter by Elizabeth I in 1587 for the holding of a weekly market on Thursday, and of fairs in spring, summer and autumn. Askrigg’s prosperity peaked in the 18th century when trade in textiles and knitting was most lucrative and the village supported many craftsmen and gained a reputation for clockmaking. The earliest mention of Askrigg clockmakers being a Quaker named John Ogden, who moved to Askrigg in 1680 and manufactured his clocks there until 1720. He was succeeded by Mark Metcalfe (1687–1776) and Christopher Caygill (1747–1803). Another well-known clockmaker was James Pratt (1787–1850). All three had sons who were also clockmakers. Two 19th century clockmakers were John Stancliffe and John Skidmore. Askrigg was the home of the Wensleydale Metcalfe family who lived at nearby Nappa Hall. Mary, Queen of Scots, was once imprisoned in the house, possibly before she was moved to Castle Bolton further down the dale. Askrigg became a junction of two turnpikes; the first, the Richmond to Lancaster Turnpike, was sent through the village in 1751. A diversion through the then hamlet of Hawes in 1795, meant that the market at Askrigg fell into decline as Hawes became the last coaching stop in Wensleydale before going over into Ribblesdale. In 1761, the turnpike to Sedbergh was started. Askrigg has a market cross erected in 1830, a stone pump and an iron bull ring set into the cobbles. The bull ring dates from the 18th century and earlier, when bulls would be tied here and then attacked or baited with dogs. A local historian wrote that “it used to be a custom in Askrigg for a man who wanted to fight to go and turn the bull ring over; if another man was feeling the same, he came and turned it back and they had a fight.” One of the local pubs, the Crown Inn, has been known under this name since the 1850s and there has been an inn at this site since the late 18th century. The other pub, the Kings Arms Hotel, was built in 1767 as a coaching inn by John Pratt, a local who had made a fortune as a jockey. Pratt was a racehorse breeder and master of the Askrigg Harriers during the 18th century. He kept his hunters and pack of hounds in a yard behind the house he built on Askrigg’s main street in 1767. The kennels and stabling date to the late 18th or early 19th century. The kennels had a semi-circular enclosure attached and the long row of stabling lay beyond. Pratt’s hunters were ridden in and out of his land through Robinson’s Gateways on the main street. The site has now been restored to provide holiday accommodation. The village once had a railway station that was part of the Hawes Branch of the North Eastern Railway from its opening in 1878 to its closure in April 1954. The Wensleydale Railway Association has plans to rebuild the railway from Northallerton (from its current western terminus at Redmire) to Garsdale including the re-opening of the station in the village. This had been planned for since 2005, but due to spiralling costs, the railway is focussing on reaching only Castle Bolton initially from Redmire.

Askrigg geography / climate

The civil parish area covers the village itself and several small hamlets including Newbiggin and Woodhall. The River Ure forms the southern boundary of the parish. The highest point in the parish is at Cogill Head Hags at around 630 feet (190 m)

You can visit Askrigg places with Walkfo Askrigg to hear history at Askrigg’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Askrigg has 17 places to visit in our interactive Askrigg map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Askrigg, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Askrigg places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Askrigg & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 17 audio facts unique to Askrigg places in an interactive Askrigg map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Askrigg Places Map
17 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Askrigg historic spots	Askrigg tourist destinations	Askrigg plaques	Askrigg geographic features
Walkfo Askrigg tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Askrigg

  

Best Askrigg places to visit

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Askrigg has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Askrigg’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Askrigg’s information audio spots:

St Oswald’s Church, Askrigg St Oswald’s Church is a Grade I listed parish church in Askrigg, North Yorkshire. It was built in the 1930s and is now a Grade II listed church.

Virosidum Virosidum was a Roman fort and settlement situated near to the modern town of Bainbridge, North Yorkshire. The site is a Scheduled monument.

Visit Askrigg plaques