Austwick
| Austwick | |
| Yorkshire West Riding | |
|---|---|
 Ancient lynchets west of Austwick | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SD767685 |
| Location: | 54°6’43"N, 2°21’25"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 463 (2011) |
| Post town: | Lancaster |
| Postcode: | LA2 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Craven |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Skipton and Ripon |
Austwick is a village in the area known as Craven within the West Riding of Yorkshire. It is found about five miles north-west of Settle on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is within the Ewecross, Wapentake.
The parish is largely wild moorland, and its highest point is at Lord's Seat on Simon Fell at 2,079 feet above sea level.[1] The Austwick Beck runs by the village and south-westward to join the River Wenning. Several long-distance walking routes pass through or by the village: the Pennine Bridleway and A Pennine Journey share a route through Austwick and the Dales High Way passes by the village.
The parish church stands in the village: it was originally a lecture hall, but was later converted into the Church of the Epiphany, consecrated in 1841. The church is a Grade II listed building.[2]
History
The area around Austwick has been inhabited by humans for over 4,000 years. Archaeological finds in and around the village include prehistoric burial places, a large Bronze Age settlement, and even an Iron Age settlement. The area surrounding Austwick has many ancient remains including extensive walls and structures constructed of slate, limestone, and sandstone.
At one time, Austwick, Clapham, Lawkland, and Newby were independent manors with their own lord that together formed the larger parish of Clapham. In the Domesday Book of 1086, Austwick was the head of 12 manors spread along a northern route.[3][4]
Austwick Hall, a grade II listed building, is said to have originally been part of a pele tower.[5] The building was renovated in the 17th and 19th centuries, though evidence of its purchase by the Ingilby family exists pointing to the year 1573.[6]
A local folktale tells of an Austwick man who fell into a deep pool. As bubbles broke on the water's surface, his companions thought they could hear the words "T' b-best's at t' b-bottom", so they jumped into the pool as well, and were not seen again.[7]
Austwick was on the original turnpike road between Keighley and Kendal, which north-west of Settle became the A65. The village was bypassed progressively in the 1980s and early 1990s.[8]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Austwick) |
References
- ↑ Austwick & Lawkland Tithe Map, West Yorkshire Archives, Sheepscar, Leeds
- ↑ National Heritage List 1131643: Church of the Epiphany (Grade II listing)
- ↑ Austwick in the Domesday Book
- ↑ Speight 1892, p. 162.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1317100: Austwick Hall (Grade II listing)
- ↑ Scholes, Ron (2011). Yorkshire Dales. Ashbourne: Horizon Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-1843065081.
- ↑ Ash, Russell (1973). Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain. Reader's Digest Association Limited. p. 336. ISBN 9780340165973.
- ↑ Freethy, Ron (1991). Discovering the Yorkshire Dales. Edinburgh: Donald. p. 19. ISBN 0859763277.
- Speight, Harry (1892). The Craven and north-west Yorkshire highlands. Being a complete account of the history, scenery, and antiquities of that romantic district. London: E Stock. OCLC 7219082.