Burnsall
Encyclopedia
Burnsall is a village and civil parish
in the Craven
district of North Yorkshire
, England
. It is situated on the River Wharfe
in Wharfedale
, with a five-arched bridge over which the Dalesway passes, and is in the Yorkshire Dales
National Park. It is 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Hebden, along a river path dated to Viking times. Although the 2001 census gave it a population of only 112, the village has a parish church, a chapel, a primary school (housed in the original grammar school building of 1602, which is a grade II listed building), two hotels with restaurants, and a pub
. Because of its charm and location, Burnsall, with a large, grassy parking area, is a favoured site for walkers, trout fishers, picnics, weddings and other ceremonies. The school building, like the much-photographed bridge (also grade II listed), is an early 17th century legacy of William Craven
of nearby Appletreewick
, who became mayor of London (and may be the inspiration for 'Dick Whittington'), and has always been used as a school.
St Wilfrid's Church (a grade I listed building) is almost entirely Perpendicular. Amongst its well-known internal features are an 11th century font carved with bird and beasts, twelve Anglo-Saxon sculpture fragments and a 14th century alabaster
panel depicting the Adoration of the Magi
. The church-yard, which has a number of interesting grave-stones, is entered from the main road by a large and well-kept Lychgate
.
Diversions available include fishing for trout
, and the annual feast day games in August which include amateur canoeing
competitions, tug of war
and fell races
. The green, closely mown, cricket pitch could be considered as one of the most scenic in England, with Burnsall Fell in the background and the river encircling half its boundary.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Craven
Craven
Craven is a local government district in North Yorkshire, England that came into being in 1974, centred on the market town of Skipton. In the changes to British local government of that year this district was formed as the merger of Skipton urban district, Settle Rural District and most of Skipton...
district of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated on the River Wharfe
River Wharfe
The River Wharfe is a river in Yorkshire, England. For much of its length it is the county boundary between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. The name Wharfe is Celtic and means "twisting, winding".The valley of the River Wharfe is known as Wharfedale...
in Wharfedale
Wharfedale
Wharfedale is one of the Yorkshire Dales in England. It is the valley of the River Wharfe. Towns and villages in Wharfedale include Buckden, Kettlewell, Conistone, Grassington, Hebden, Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Otley, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Arthington, Collingham, and Wetherby...
, with a five-arched bridge over which the Dalesway passes, and is in the Yorkshire Dales
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is the name given to an upland area in Northern England.The area lies within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, though it spans the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Cumbria...
National Park. It is 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Hebden, along a river path dated to Viking times. Although the 2001 census gave it a population of only 112, the village has a parish church, a chapel, a primary school (housed in the original grammar school building of 1602, which is a grade II listed building), two hotels with restaurants, and a pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
. Because of its charm and location, Burnsall, with a large, grassy parking area, is a favoured site for walkers, trout fishers, picnics, weddings and other ceremonies. The school building, like the much-photographed bridge (also grade II listed), is an early 17th century legacy of William Craven
William Craven (Lord Mayor of London)
Sir William Craven was an English merchant, Lord Mayor of London in 1610 . It has been suggested that the story of Dick Whittington is based on Craven's career, and he is sometime referred to as "Aptrick's Dick Whittington".-Life:He was the second son of William Craven and Beatrix, daughter of...
of nearby Appletreewick
Appletreewick
Appletreewick is a small village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England; situated north-east of Skipton. The local travel links are located from the village to Skipton railway station and from Leeds Bradford International Airport...
, who became mayor of London (and may be the inspiration for 'Dick Whittington'), and has always been used as a school.
St Wilfrid's Church (a grade I listed building) is almost entirely Perpendicular. Amongst its well-known internal features are an 11th century font carved with bird and beasts, twelve Anglo-Saxon sculpture fragments and a 14th century alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
panel depicting the Adoration of the Magi
Adoration of the Magi in Art
The Adoration of the Magi is the name traditionally given to the Christian subject in the Nativity of Jesus in art in which the three Magi, represented as kings, especially in the West, having found Jesus by following a star, lay before him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and worship him...
. The church-yard, which has a number of interesting grave-stones, is entered from the main road by a large and well-kept Lychgate
Lychgate
A lychgate, also spelled lichgate, lycugate, or as two separate words lych gate, is a gateway covered with a roof found at the entrance to a traditional English or English-style churchyard.-Name:...
.
Diversions available include fishing for trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, and the annual feast day games in August which include amateur canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
competitions, tug of war
Tug of war
Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war or rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The term may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two...
and fell races
Fell running
Fell running, also known as mountain running and hill running, is the sport of running and racing, off road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty...
. The green, closely mown, cricket pitch could be considered as one of the most scenic in England, with Burnsall Fell in the background and the river encircling half its boundary.
External links
- Welcome to Burnsall parish, church website