Information window
My river map is not entirely accurate as some minor roads are not shown. for anybody considering a trip to the Nidd I suggest buying an Ordnance Survey map.






Middlesmoor. A tiny very pretty village at the top end of the dale. There is a fine view down the valley from the churchyard. I imagine that it can be quite bleak in a hard winter because of the height of the village and the exposure to the south east. There is a small free car park (for about 6 to 8 cars) and this is marked on the map. There is a track, not suitable for cars, which leads to Scar House Reservoir, but due to age and infirmity I wasn't able to walk it.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































Lofthouse was originally a grange established by the monks of Fountains Abbey. From the beginning of the 20th century until 1927, when it was closed, this was the terminus of the Nidderdale Light Railway which ran from Pateley Bridge. What a pity the line was not kept open. There is a free car park in this village.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































Ramsgill. Another small pretty village. One of the picures shows the ivy covered Yorke Arms with the village green in front.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































Gouthwaite Reservoir. In late Victorian times Bradford Corporation built this reservoir which was opened in 1899. The water is chanelled to Bradford by an aqueduct. Sadly the construction involved drowning Gouthwaite village and the Elizabethan Gouthwaite Hall.










































Pateley Bridge. Regarded as the centre of the dale. The main part of the town is the High Street which is long, narrow and very steep. Above the town is the ruined medieval St. Mary's Church which I haven't viewed as my old legs refused the climb. The Romans mined lead near here. The town used to be a centre flax and linen industries. Pateley Bridge holds an agricultural show each September.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































Ripley Castle. The Ingilby family reside here and have done so since early in the 14th century. The first Ingilby to live here was Thomas who was knighted by Edward III after he saved the king from a charging wild boar. Edward also granted him the emblem of the boar head.

The fortified gatehouse was built by Sir John Ingilby in the mid 15th century. Sir William Ingilby built the Tudor Tower during the reign of Henry VIII.

James VI of Scotland stayed here on his way to London to be crowned James I of England. The Ingilbys were Royalists during the Civil War. There was substantial rebuilding during the late 18th century by Sir John who overextended himself and fled the country to avoid his creditors.

When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































R. Nidd & St. John's Church A church was not listed in the Domesday Book although there probably was one on the site of the present one. The present church was started in the early part of the 12th century and further alterations were made towards the end of that century.

The four knights who murdered Thomas a Beckett in Canterbury Cathedral sought sanctuary here cerca 1175. The leader of the knights, Hugh de Moreville, as Constable of Knaresborough was a man of power which was probably why the assassins were never brought to justice. It seems that all four suffered from and attack of conscience as they undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem as an act of penance.

I could have walked up the hill to take a closer photograph but my aged legs gave out.

When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































The Flax Mill Weir. The name indicates that the town was involved in the textile industry. In medieval times the trade was in woolen cloths. Production of linen cloths started in the 16th century. The textile industry in the town declined after the Industrial Revolution brought in the new power looms which replaced the old hand looms.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































Mother Shipton's Cave. Mother Shipton was a well known prophetess thought by some to be a witch. She was an illegitimate child born in the cave in 1488 as Ursula Sontheil. When she was 24 she married Toby Shipton a local carpenter.

Prophesies

Piped water comes to York. After the prophesy York set up a piped water system using pipes made out of bored out elm trunks some of which were taken across Ouse Bridge. The water pumped by means of a windmill. See following. 
 
Water shall come over Ouze Bridge;
and a windmill shall be set upon a
tower, and an elm tree shall be at
every man's door.

Falling church tower. This prophesy relates to the collapse of the spire of York's Trinity Church and part of the bridge being swept into the river. 

 
Before Ouze Bridge and Trinity
   Church meet,
what is built in the day shall
   fall in the night,
till the highest stone of the
   Church shall be the lowest
   stone of the Bridge.

Mayor's downfall One night the Lord Mayor of York who lived in Minster Yard was assaulted, stabbed and later died. 

 
When there is a Lord Mayor
living in Minster Yard,
let him beware of a stab.

Elizabeth I & the Armada. Mother Shipton died at the beginning of Elizabeth's reign and would not have known about the Armada or Elizabeth,s long 'maiden' status. 

 
The maiden Queen full many a year
shall England's warlike sceptre
   bear.
Those who sighed, then shall sing,
and the bells shall changes ring.
The Papal power shall bear no sway,
and Rome's trash shall hence be
   swept away.
The locusts from the Seven Hills
this English Rose shall seek to
   kill
and the western monarch's wooden
   horses
shall be destroyed by Drake's
   forces.

Extract from a long prophesy. Some think this is a 19th century fabrication. Who knows! 

 
............
Around the world thoughts shall
   fly
in the twinkling of an eye

Water shall yet more wonders do,
How strange yet shall be true,
the world upside down shall be,
and gold found at the root of
   a tree.

Through hills men shall ride
and no horse or ass be by their
   side;
under water men shall walk,
shall ride, shall sleep, shall
   talk;
in the air men shall be seen,
in white, in black and in green.

Iron in the water shall float
as easy as a wooden boat;
gold shall be found and found,
in a land that's not now known,
fire and water shall more wonders
   do
England shall at last admit a jew;
the jew that was held in scorn
shall of a christian be born
   and born.
            .............
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































The Dropping Well. Otherwise known as the petrifying well. The well has been open to the public from 1630 and the water was thought to have health giving properties. For many years it has been the practice to hang objects here to be turned to 'stone' which takes between 6 and 18 months. The petrification process is due to the high mineral content of the water including calcium, sodium and magnesium.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































House in the Rock. This really is built into the rock and was constructed in the 18th century. Many years ago, when I was a youngster, it was open to the public.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































Knaresborough Market Place. Knaresborough received a charter in 1310 to hold a Wednesday market. The oldest chemist shop in England is here and has been used continuously as a pharmacy since 1720.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































Knaresborough Castle. In the 13th century the castle was a major military centre in the north of England. The castle was rebuilt early in the 14th century. It was a Royal Castle.

During the Civil War it was held by the Royalists but besieged by the parliamentarians. The townspeople were not best pleased as the besiegers were taking food from them and there were several sallies from the castle to steal food. The siege began after the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644 and the garrison surrendered in December of the same year.

The keep is open to the public.

When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































Bebra Gardens. Named after knaresborough's twin town in Germany.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































Knaresborough Railway Viaduct. Completed in 1851 and is 90 feet high and 338 feet long.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































High Bridge.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page










































Knaresborough - General information.
When finished with this text click to clear to top of page