AYSGARTH An introduction to the built heritage of the village

Aysgarth lies on a terrace on the south side of The A684 coincides with the main length of the Apart from these, and a few much-altered buildings , a little above its junction with village street, with two sections of quite narrow where little beyond rubble fabric remains to give any Bishopdale. The village, ‘a quaint straggling little green. At either end, where the main road angles external appearance of antiquity, Aysgarth is largely place’, according to Bulmer’s 1890 Directory, lies on away, the line of the street is continued west towards a Victorian and early 20th-century village. Heather the main up the valley. The parish church and east down to Low Beck. Cottage is anything but a cottage with its red surprisingly lies 1km further to the east, overlooking sandstone dressings and Welsh slate roof and, the gorge through which the Ure cascades over As a result of Victorian prosperity and 20th-century across the road to the south, a Grade II listed rock and there is another small settlement alteration and remodelling there are few signs of garden. It shows how the village was ‘discovered’ by (largely inns, and the vicarage) on the main road Aysgarth’s earlier vernacular buildings. One small but wealthy incomers as a desirable place to live in nearby. notable exception is what may have been a tiny picturesque Wensleydale during the late 19th and cottage, north-west of the George and Dragon Inn, early 20th century. At the other end of the village which still shows clear evidence of a heather-thatched the Methodist Church and one or two nearby houses roof. The George and Dragon Inn is a late 17th- or also date to the last decades of the 19th century. early 18th-century building, considerably altered, which retains the occasional mullioned window. There are many interesting buildings and archaeological sites around Aysgarth. For more information visit our website www.outofoblivion.org.uk, type ‘Aysgarth’ in the Buildin g Ay sga Keyword Search box and follow the links. rth Ro ck G a rd e n 3. HEATHER COTTAGE 7. AYSGARTH METHODIST CHURCH The name ‘cottage’ is a telling misnomer The 1856 Ordnance Survey map shows a AYSGARTH indicating the coming to the area of residents Wesleyan Methodist Chapel here but the Plan showing featured buildings with a desire for the picturesque, encouraged by present building, surprisingly undated, writers such as ‘the learned Dr Pocock’ who looks to be around 1880-1900. In a thought the attractions of Aysgarth Falls simple geometric Gothic style, it has an “exceeded those so celebrated on the Nile”. This attached schoolroom on the south, and a is a substantial late Victorian house in non-local series of foundation stones which, rather style and built with imported materials. The unusually, bear the monograms of donors showy architectural detail is expressed in red but no further information. sandstone, the Welsh slate roof with its red terracotta ridge tiles, and the cast-iron pergola to the front. 1. QUAKER BURIAL GROUND An elongated rectangle now with only a handful of 8. ST ANDREW’S CHURCH monuments. The taller walls around the north end St Andrew’s is the centre of a huge incorporate a little of the fabric of the demolished parish. Originally it was a typical Dales 18th-century Friends’ Meeting House, and its church with a western tower and a broad chamfered doorway has been re-set as an 7 body with clerestoried nave and chancel 4 entrance to the enclosure. 3 rising above full length aisles. In the 19th century a restoration was begun by the architect James Green, better known for his civic buildings, but what had been planned as restoration turned into 5 2 virtually a complete rebuilding. Green’s 6 building retained its overall form, but no more. Apart from the lower part of the tower, it became an ostentatiously 1 Victorian church in a cosmopolitan mix of medieval styles, far removed from 2. AYSGARTH ROCK GARDEN the simple ‘Pennine Perpendicular’ of This is one of the most unusual the original. Listed Buildings in the Dales. It was spot listed in 1988 in The principal medieval feature of the order to prevent its destruction. church is an imported one, a splendid Since then, new owners have raised rood screen, now forming the choir stalls the funds to restore it to its former on the south of the chancel, which TO 8 glory. It was commissioned in the originally came from . years before the First World War by 4. AYSGARTH WAR The elaborating colouring and gilding is Frank Sayer-Graham who owned MEMORIAL Victorian however. The rest of the fittings Heather Cottage opposite. This memorial is one of the 5. OUTBUILDING 6. GEORGE AND DRAGON and furnishings of the church are thousands set up after the This little detached outbuilding of rubble HOTEL predominantly Victorian, reflecting the The respected firm of Messrs enormous loss of life during the is a precious survival. In its original form This Grade II listed building is of increasing prosperity of the area, and a J Backhouse & Son of was First World War. The limestone this has been a very low structure with early 18th-century date, but has return to the ‘high’ church, exemplified brought in to design and build the used to build it came from the steep heather-thatched gables, perhaps a been considerably altered since. by the Caen stone altar table and carved rock garden and construction began in township quarry at Seata and tiny cottage. There are remains of a The main block has a central reredos (1887) and the Crucifixion in the 1906. Massive blocks of limestone villagers joined together to carry blocked window low down at the east end projecting two-storey porch on east window. The font, supported on were carted down from the fells to the blocks down into the village. of the front wall, and another in the east the south, with moulded kneelers three angel-children, although classic create the enormous rockscapes and The words round the top are end gable, set centrally and apparently like those of the main block. The Victoriana is in fact of 1913. water feature. The garden is open to “They Live, Heard, Felt, Died” and lighting a loft. This wall shows clear rear elevation has some windows, the public during daylight hours. the tablet reads “Remember all evidence of the original steep gable form. including one of two lights, in who shared in the Great War. The raising of the walls and the addition chamfered surrounds, behind These of Aysgarth gave their lives of a stack with a chimney capping the render. A coach-house block James P Bell, Wm , John east gable probably took place in the attached to the south-west is Percival 1914-1918”. 19th century. dated 1867. Private Spaces Public Places Village Heritage Project

This leaflet and others in the series were produced by the National Park Authority as part of the Private Spaces Public Places project. This European Union funded project was undertaken during 2003-5 in selected villages in the area of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The project’s aim was to enable communities to take a more active role in the management and enhancement of the historic character of their villages, and to promote a common outlook on their future development. An Historic Environment PARTICIPATING VILLAGES Consultancy firm was appointed by the Yorkshire Dales WARD: Grinton and Upper : National Park Authority to complete character appraisal WARD: Aysgarth: VILLAGES: VILLAGES: documents in consultation with each community. The documents include an appraisal of the historic character West Burton Gunnerside of the village, and form the basis for the development of an Thornton Rust Low Row agreed action plan targeting specific enhancement projects. Aysgarth Keld Electronic versions of the village character appraisal Grinton documents, along with a copy of this leaflet are available on Newbiggin WARD: and : www.yorkshiredales.org.uk from the Understanding/Historic WARD: Bolton Manor: VILLAGES: Environment page. VILLAGES: Gayle Castle Bolton PROJECT PART-FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION GLOSSARY Private Spaces Public Places Village Heritage Project

Ashlar Good quality cut stone with a smoothly-tooled surface.

Chamfered surround A chamfer or bevel (usually of 45 degrees) to the edge of the opening.

Kneelers The overhanging shaped stones at each end of the coping of a gable, very typical of the late 17th and 18th centuries.

Reredos Decorative panelling or structure behind the altar at the east end of a church.