Yorkshire, North-Riding, occupies the N. of the county, between the East-Riding and the county of Durham, and is separated from the West-Riding by the Ouse, the valley of the Ure, and the hills above Wharfedale; area, 1,361,664 acres, population 346,260. The principal rivers are the Derwent, which separates the North-Riding from the East-Riding, with its tributary the Rye; the Tees, which separates the North-Riding from Durham; and the Swale and the Ure, which unite to form the Ouse. The Vale of York, along the rivers Swale and Ouse, divides the eastern moorlands from the western. In the western moorlands the picturesque dells are mostly in pasture. The eastern moorlands contain several beautiful dales, including the Vale of Cleveland and the fertile Vale of the Rye. The best land is found in the Vale of York. The mountain lime-stone yields valuable lead deposits, and alum and jet are obtained at Whitby. Valuable beds of ironstone exist in the Cleveland Hills, and iron smelting and other allied industries are carried on on a vast scale at Middlesbrough, which is also a considerable seaport. Scarborough is one of the great watering-places, and Whitby is specially known for its manufacture of jet ornaments. The North-Riding comprises 11 wapentakes; 2 liberties; 554 parishes, and parts of 5 others; the parliamentary and municipal boroughs of York, Middlesbrough, and Scarborough; and the municipal borough of Richmond. It is almost entirely in the dioceses of York and Ripon.
– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)
2nd Infantry Divisional Kohima Museum
Imphal Barracks, Fulford Road
York YO1 4AU
01904 662 381
The Battle of Kohima in North East India, close to its border with Burma, took place between 4th April and 22nd June 1944 and marked the limit of the Japanese Army’s advance into India. Here the enemy was stopped, defeated and forced into retreat. This museum tells the story.
Aldborough Roman Site – English Heritage
Aldborough
Boroughbridge YO51 9ES
01423 322768
Among the northernmost urban centres in the Roman Empire, Aldborough was the ‘capital’ of the Romanised Brigantes, the largest tribe in Britain. One corner of the defences is laid out amid a Victorian arboretum, and two mosaic pavements can be viewed in their original positions.The site museum has an outstanding collection of Roman finds, a handling collection of Roman objects, and other hands-on aids for children and families.
Allied Air Forces Memorial & Yorkshire Air Museum
Halifax way Elvington
York YO41 4AU
01904 608595
A Memorial Museum based on an authentic WWII Bomber Command Base, RAF Elvington, now the largest example of its type open to the public. Original buildings, including the Control Tower, now house some 15 fascinating exhibitions, including ‘Against the Odds’ the story of Bomber Command and ‘Pioneers of Aviation’, charting the work of Yorkshire aviation pioneers such as Sir George Cayley, the inventor of the aeroplane, Robert Blackburn and aviators such as Amy Johnson. The internationally renowned aircraft collection covers the birth of manned flight with the Cayley Glider, through WWI and WWII to the supersonic age.
Archaeology Live. Training Excavation
All Saints Church, North Street
York YO16JD
www.archaeologylive.wordpress.com
York Archaeological Trust offers numerous ways for people to engage with archaeology, none more hands on than our annual Archaeology Live. training excavations. Each year, we carry out an excavation in the heart of York, investigating sites that feature deeply stratified, highly complex archaeological deposits.
Bar Convent Museum, Library & Gallery
The Bar Convent, 17 Blossom Street
York YO24 1AQ
01904 643 238
The Bar Convent Museum outlines the early history of Christianity in the North of England and tells the story of Mary Ward, foundress of a religious congregation formerly known as the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary and now renamed the Congregation of Jesus. She was a pioneer both of women’s education and apostolic religious orders for women.
Barley Hall
2 Coffee Yard, Off Stonegate
York YO1 8AR
01904 615505
www.barleyhall.co.uk
Barley Hall is a stunning medieval house, once home to the Priors of Nostell and the Mayor of York. Until the 1980s the house was hidden under the relatively modern facade of a derelict office block.
Beck Isle Museum of Rural Life
Bridge Street
Pickering YO18 8DU
01751 473653
The Beck Isle Museum is housed in a handsome Regency residence near the centre of Pickering, adjacent to the Pickering Beck, a stream that flows under a four-arched road bridge. One arch of this bridge (originally much narrower) is reputedly of mediaeval origin. Here William Marshall planned England’s first agricultural institute in the early 1800s.
Bedale Museum
Bedale Hall
Bedale DL8 1AA
01677 422037
The centre of this fascinating little museum is the hand drawn Bedale fire engine dated 1748. Old documents, toys, craft tools, clothing and household utensils give an absorbing picture of the life of ordinary people.
Beningbrough Hall & Gardens – National Trust
Shipton by Beningbrough
York YO30 1DD
01904 470666
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough-hall
18th-century mansion with fine interiors and walled garden. York’s ‘country house and garden’, this imposing Georgian mansion was built in 1716 and contains one of the most impressive baroque interiors in England.
Bolton Abbey
Estate Office, Bolton Abbey
Skipton BD23 6EX
01756 718009
Bolton Abbey is in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales on the banks of the River Wharfe. With just under 30,000 acres of beautiful countryside, over 80 miles of footpaths and ample space to run around and enjoy the fresh air, there is something for all ages.
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York
Heslington
York YO10 5DD
01904 321166
www.york.ac.uk/library/borthwick
The Borthwick Institute for Archives is one of the biggest archive respositories outside London. During our 50 year history we have collected archives from all around the world, from the 12th century to the present day. The Borthwick Institute originally specialised in ecclesiastical archives, but the past three decades or so have seen an enormous growth in the range and type of our holdings. Many of our archives have regional, national or international importance.
Byland Abbey – English Heritage
Nr Coxwold
Helmsley YO61 4BD
01347 868614
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/byland-abbey/
This beautiful ruin in a picturesque setting was once one of the great northern monasteries. A truly outstanding example of early Gothic architecture, Byland Abbey inspired the design for the famous York Minster Rose Window as well as influencing many other religious buildings throughout Europe.
Collections: The splendid collection of medieval floor tiles still in situ is the largest in Europe. The museum displays colourful interpretation panels together with archaeological finds from the site, giving an insight into monastic life.
Captain Cook & Staithes Heritage Centre
High Street, Staithes
Saltburn-By-The-Sea TS13 5BQ
01947 841454
As well as looking into the colourful history and heritage of Staithes itself, there is a tribute to the area most famous son, Captain James Cook.
Collections: A complete recreation of Sanderson’s shop, where a young Captain Cook was once an apprentice as well as an enormous amount of information about the fishing and mining industries which were very important to Staithes, with its rich deposits of alum, iron ore and latterly, potash.
Captain Cook Birthplace Museum
Stewart Park, Marton
Middlesbrough TS7 8AT
01642 311211
www.captcook-ne.co.uk/ccbm
At the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum you can discover why Captain Cook is the world’s most famous navigator. Sail into uncharted waters to see Cook and his crew encounter new peoples, lands, plants and animals through a combination of original artefacts, films, computer interactives, and hands-on displays.
Collections: Ethnography, scientific instruments for navigation, natural history, life at sea, aboriginal art collection of over 500 items, some Cook and Cook family personalia, Cook postage stamps, coins and medals.
Captain Cook Memorial Museum
Grape Lane
Whitby YO22 4BA
01947 601900
www.cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk
The museum is in the Grade-1-listed, 17c house on Whitby’s harbourside which belonged to Captain John Walker. In 1746 the young Cook came here as Walker’s apprentice.
Collections: The museum celebrates Cook’s Whitby years and his later achievements. The collection includes period rooms restored faithfully following an inventory of 1752, models, maps and manuscripts, ship plans, artefacts from the Voyages, and many fine original paintings, drawings and prints.
Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum
101 High Street
Great Ayton TS9 7HB
01642 724296
www.captaincookschoolroommuseum.co.uk
The Schoolroom Museum in Great Ayton is housed in a building once used as a charity school which was founded in 1704 by Michael Postgate, a local landowner. It was here, between 1736 and 1740, that Captain James Cook received his early education.
Castle Howard
York YO60 7DA
01653 648 444
www.castlehoward.co.uk
Built in 1699, Castle Howard is one of the country’s finest historic houses and is still the private residence of the Howard family.
Collections: Indoors, art treasures include paintings by Canaletto, Holbein, Gainsborough and Reynolds, a collection of antique sculpture, and the porcelain collections include a spectacular Crown Derby botanical dessert service. Outdoors there are temples, lead statues and an array of monuments.
City of York & District Family History Society
26 Nursery Road, Nether Poppleton
York YO26 6NN
01904 794 973
The society covers the modern Archdeaconry of York which stretches from Coxwold, Hovingham and Sherburn in Harfordlythe in the North to Ledsham, Birkin, Selby and Drax in the South. As well as from Bramham, Bilton and Sherburn in Elmet in the West to Huggate and Bubwith in the East.
Clifford’s Tower – English Heritage
Tower Street
York YO1 9SA
01904 646940
With sweeping views of York and the surrounding countryside, it isn’t hard to see why Clifford’s Tower played such a crucial role in the control of northern England. The tower has a turbulent history, surviving 1,000 years of flood, fire and siege.
Courthouse Museum
Minster Road
Ripon HG4 1QP
01765 690799
www.riponmuseums.co.uk/courthouse.htm
The museum is housed in the former Quarter Sessions Courthouse built in 1830 to replace its medieval predecessor and the interior of the courtroom has not changed much since then. After Quarter Sessions ceased in 1953 the court continued as a Magistrates Court until it closed in 1998.
Craven Museum & Gallery
Skipton Town Hall, High Street
Skipton BD23 1AH
01756 706407
Craven Museum & Gallery, located in Skipton Town Hall, is a hidden gem in the market town of Skipton. This unique visitor attraction tells the story of Craven through the ages. Discover something different every time with changing exhibitions, workshops and family events.
Crimlisk Fisher Archive
Filey Town Council, Council Ofices, Queen Street
Filey YO14 9HE
www.exploringfileyspast.co.uk
In 1991 Filey Town Council started an archive of local heritage material. The basis for this now extensive collection were donations of material from Fred Fisher and also John Crimlisk. Fred had held the photographic collection of Filey photographer Walter Fisher, this collection is shared now between Filey Museum and The Crimlisk-Fisher Archive, both being located on Queen Street, Filey.
Dales Countryside Museum
Station Yard
Hawes DL8 3NT
01969 666210
www.dalescountrysidemuseum.org.uk
This fascinating museum, managed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, tells the story of the people and landscape of the Yorkshire Dales past and present, and stimulates visitors to think about its future. Displays interpret the development of the Dales from prehistoric times to the present day.
DIG!
St Saviour’s Church, St Saviourgate
York YO1 8NN
01904 615505
At DIG. you will become an archaeological detective, and find out for yourself what York was really like through the ages, from Roman times to the present day. You will get the chance to excavate objects from the streets of York and then decide what they are, what they are made from, and why they got there. You will also have the chance to meet real archaeologists and talk to them about their work, see and handle artefacts from York and view recent exciting discoveries.
Dorman Museum
Linthorpe Road
Middlesbrough TS5 6LA
01642 813781
The Dorman Museum now has 8 permanent galleries to suit every taste from local history to dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt to 20th century Woman. Our water gallery is especially popular with children. In addition to our regular programme of exhibitions and events we are continuing to add to our permanent collections so visitors can be sure to see something new each visit.
Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum
Malton YO17 6RT
01653 697777
www.edencamp.co.uk
A visit to our unique museum at Eden Camp will transport you back in time to wartime Britain. You will experience the sights, sounds, even the smells of those dangerous years.
Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway
Bolton Abbey Station, Bolton Abbey
Skipton BD23 6AF
01756 710614
www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk
Now you can travel on a train pulled by a steam locomotive from the historic station at Embsay, built in 1888, or Bolton Abbey Station. The culmination of a dream stretching back almost thirty years, the newly completed track extension and the opening of the award winning Bolton Abbey station offers a whole new experience for the visitor.
Fairfax House Museum
Fairfax House, Castlegate
York YO1 1RN
01904 655 543
www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk
Come and unlock the splendour within the finest Georgian town house in England. A classical architectural masterpiece of its age, Fairfax House was originally the winter home of Viscount Fairfax.
Filey Museum
8-10 Queen Street
Filey YO14 9HB
01723 515013
www.fileymuseum.co.uk
The museum building was originally two single storey cottages and is the oldest domestic building in Filey, 1696 being the date above the doors. The museum retains the original basic layout of rooms, each one dedicated to a different aspect of local life and work which was common place in Filey until comparatively recent times.
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden – National Trust
Fountains Abbey
Ripon HG4 3DY
01765 608888
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey
Cistercian abbey, Georgian water garden and medieval deer park.
Fulford Battlefield Society
Parish Hall, School Lane
York YO10 4LR
Fulford Battlefield Society formed to raise funds for research, to preserve the battle site and promote the Battle of Fulford to a wider audience. The battle took place 5 days before Stamford bridge and a few weeks before the clash at Hastings.
Gayle Mill
Mill Lane, Gayle
Hawes DL8 3RZ
01969 667320
Gayle Mill began life as a Georgian cotton mill. Via wool and flax, it became a 19th century sawmill, and is fully restored complete with Victorian water-powered machinery.
Georgian Theatre Royal Museum
Victoria Road
Richmond DL10 4DW
01748 823 710
www.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk
The Georgian Theatre Royal, Britain’s oldest working theatre in its original form, is both a thriving community playhouse and a living theatre museum. The theatre welcomes visitors of all ages to its hourly guided tours and museum.
Grassington Folk Museum
6 The Square
Grassington BD23 5AQ
www.grassingtonfolkmuseum.org.uk
The museum opened in its present building in 1979. Most items in its collection have been donated by local residents and businesses.
Grays Court
Chapter House Street
York YO1 7JH
01904 612613
Grays Court is possibly the oldest continuously occupied house in the country. Dating back in part to 1080 and commissioned by the first Norman Archbishop of York to provide the official residence for the Treasurers of York Minster, the house has an unrivalled history. The Sterne Room was built above the original Medieval Magnesian Limestone wall (which can still be seen) by Jaques Sterne, Precentor and Canon Residentiary of the Minster and uncle of Laurence Sterne, author of Tristram Shandy, when he owned the house.
Green Howards Regimental Museum
Trinity Church Square
Richmond DL10 4QN
01748 826561
The Green Howards Museum is Richmond, North Yorkshire. We tell the story of the regiment from its earliest times, through 300 years of conflict, service and sacrifice.
Guisborough Museum
Sunnyfield House, 36 Westgate
Guisborough TS14 6BA
01287 634595
This is a small volunteer-run museum showing the social, agricultural and commercial history of Guisborough. The museum displays a wealth of artefacts and photographs unique to the town and its people.
Gisborough Priory Gardens
Guisborough TS14 6PR
01287 637967
www.gisboroughprioryproject.co.uk
After the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII the land next to Gisborough Priory was acquired by the Chaloner family. Eventually in the early 18th century a mansion house and magnificent garden was created on the site. This local volunteer-run charity aims to restore these gardens to provide a public green space and ensure the gardens’ history is recorded for posterity.
Harrogate & District Family History Society
16 Swinborne Close
Harrogate HG1 3LX
www.hadfhs.co.uk
We promote and encourage the public study of both family and local history in the Harrogate and surrounding areas. We also promote the preservation, security and accessibility of archive material.
Harrogate Museums & Arts
Royal Pump Room, Crown Place
Harrogate HG1 2RY
01423 556188
www.harrogate.gov.uk/museums
Harrogate Museums & Arts serves the District of Harrogate within North Yorkshire. Our facilities include the Royal Pump Room Museum, Mercer Art Gallery, Knaresborough Castle and Museum, and St Robert’s Cave.
Helmsley Castle – English Heritage
Castlegate
Helmsley YO62 5AB
01439 770442
Towering over the attractive market town of Helmsley, and surrounded by spectacular banks and ditches, Helmsley Castle is an imposing site with a wealth of history. It has recently undergone a thorough makeover by English Heritage, making it more accessible to a wide range of visitors.
Henry VII Experience at Micklegate Bar
Micklegate
York YO1 6JX
01904 615505
Micklegate Bar, the iconic royal gateway of the City of York, invites you to discover The Henry VII Experience. Explore the life of the first Tudor King as he created a new era in British History, after defeating his rival Richard III.
JORVIK Viking Centre
15-17 Coppergate
York YO1 9WT
01904 615505
www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk
At JORVIK Viking Centre travel back 1000 years and visit the Vikings of JORVIK. Explore York’s Viking history exactly where our archaeologists found the remains of the original Viking-Age City of ‘Jorvik’.
Collections: Everything in JORVIK Viking Centre is based on archaeological evidence unearthed during the Coppergate excavations undertaken between 1979 and 1981 by York Archaeological Trust. Archaeologists started digging on the site of an old sweet factory and unearthed remains of 10th century Viking-age buildings that were surrounded by moist, spongy layers of earth similar to that of a peat bog.
Kiplin Hall
Near Scorton
Richmond DL10 6AT
01748 818178
www.kiplinhall.co.uk
This hidden gem, situated between Richmond and Northallerton, was built in 1620 by George Calvert, Secretary of State to James I and Founder of Maryland, USA. Since then, the Calverts, Crowes, Carpenters and Talbots, all related by blood or marriage, have left their stamp on the house.
Kirkham Priory – English Heritage
Nr Malton YO60 7JS
01653 618768
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kirkham-priory
These ruins of an Augustinian priory include an elaborate gatehouse and monkâ’s washroom, all set in the peaceful Derwent valley, an area of outstanding natural beauty in the Yorkshire Wolds.
Collections: New interpretations include the story of the secret visit of Winston Churchill and the role of the site in preparation for D-Day during World War II.
Kirkleatham Museum
Kirkleatham
Redcar TS10 5NW
01642 479500
www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/museums
Kirkleatham Museum was opened in 1981. It is located in Kirkleatham Old Hall which was built in 1709 as a ‘Free School’ by the local Turner family.
Knaresborough Castle & Museum
Castle Yard
Knaresborough HG5 8AS
01423 556188
www.harrogate.gov.uk/museums
Knaresborough Castle and Museum is set beautifully towering over the River Nidd. Discover royalty and colourful local characters.
Malton Museum
Old Town Hall, Market Place
Malton YO17 7LP
01653 695136
www.maltonmuseum.co.uk
Malton Museum is Ryedale’s major archaeological museum, located in the heart of Malton’s market place and housed in an 18th century butter market. The museum houses an interesting array of Roman finds, from manicure sets to wall plaster paintings. Most of these have been discovered locally, the most recent find being a burial urn discovered by a local workman installing a new street light on a housing estate in nearby Norton.
Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
Fossgate
York YO1 9XD
01904 654818
www.theyorkcompany.co.uk
The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is one of York’s medieval marvels. Set in beautiful gardens, it is open to the public as a museum, wedding and hospitality venue and meeting place some 650 years after construction began in 1357.
Collections: The Hall contains fine collections of paintings, furniture and silver, all of which are on display to the public.
Middleham Castle – English Heritage
Leyburn DL8 4QG
01969 623899
The childhood and favourite home of Richard III, Middleham Castle was a fortress of the mighty Neville family, Earls of Westmoreland and of Warwick. Around the massive 12th-century keep, they progressively constructed three ranges of luxurious chambers and lodgings, turning the castle into a fortified palace by the mid-15th century.
Mount Grace Priory – National Trust
Staddle Bridge
Northallerton DL6 3JG
01609 883494
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-grace-priory
Set amid woodland below the escarpment of the North York Moors and the Cleveland Way National Trail, Mount Grace is a monastic ruin of an unusual kind. It is the best-preserved of the ten British ‘charterhouses’, whose Carthusian monks lived as hermits in cottage-like cells.
Museum of North Craven Life
The Folly, Victoria Street,
Settle BD24 9EY
www.ncbpt.org.uk/folly
The Folly is a beautiful 17th century Grade I listed building, in the heart of the pretty market town of Settle in the Yorkshire Dales. In 1996 The North Craven Building Preservation Trust purchased part of The Folly and completely restored the building and opened it to the public in 2001.
Museum of the Royal Dragoon Guards & the Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire
Military Museum, 3 Tower Street
York YO1 9SB
01904 662790
The Royal Dragoon Guards can trace its ancestry back to 1685, as it was formed by the amalgamation of four of the senior cavalry regiments in the British Army. The museum is well laid out in spacious surroundings and tells the story of the present day and former regiments from the late 17th century. Displays include uniforms, prints, paintings, weapons and standards, all housed in well lit, clearly labelled show cases.
Museum of the Wagoners Special Reserve
The Estate Office, Sledmere, Driffield
Driffield YO25 3XQ
01377 236637
www.sledmerehouse.com/wagoners-museum.html
Possibly the smallest military museum anywhere. This remarkable museum tells the story of the Wagoners’ Special Reserve.
Collections: Display includes photographs of wagoners in the first world war, memorabilia and some of the medals they were awarded. The exhibiton is of interest to the general visitor and historian alike.
Newby Hall & Gardens
Ripon HG4 5AE
0845 4504068
www.newbyhall.co.uk
Newby Hall is one of Britain’s finest Adam Houses. Built under the guidance of Sir Christopher Wren in 17 century, the superb contents of the house, collected by William Weddell, ancestor of the Compton family, include the Gobelins Tapestry Room, a renowned gallery of classical statuary and some of Chippendale’s finest furniture. The site also features 25 acres of award-winning gardens, full of rare and beautiful plants.
Nidderdale Museum
King Street
Pately Bridge HG3 5LE
01423 711225
Situated in the picturesque town of Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, this fascinating and friendly museum is housed in the former workhouse and is situated opposite St Cuthbert’s Parish Church. Its 11 rooms illustrate the rural life of Nidderdale in the recent and more distant past. Nidderdale Museum shows how ordinary people lived, in imaginative and realistic settings.
North East Film Archive
School of Arts and Media, Teesside University
Middlesbrough TS1 3BA
01642 384022
The North East Film Archive (NEFA) is the public moving image archive for the North East of England. We hold over 36,000 hours of historical films and videos illustrating 20th century life and work in County Durham, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and the Tees Valley.
North Yorkshire County Record Office
Malpas Road
Northallerton DL7 8TB
01609-777585
www.northyorks.gov.uk/archives
The North Yorkshire County Record Office was established in 1949 and now occupies purpose-adapted premises, storing millions of documents in line with British Standard 5454, and making them available for a wide range of uses, from legal enquiries, to education and enjoyment. The Record Office offers a source of expertise in record keeping for the County Council and the people of North Yorkshire.
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Pickering Station
Pickering YO18 7AJ
01751 472508
www.nymr.co.uk
Britain’s most popular heritage steam railway running through 18 miles of the North York Moors National Park.
Nunnington Hall – National Trust
Nunnington
York YO62 5UY
01439 748283
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nunnington-hall
One of Ryedale’s finest attractions, Nunnington Hall nestles on the banks of the picturesque River Rye. With period rooms, major exhibitons, an organic walled garden, a full events programme, peacocks and ghosts, this honey-coloured Yorkshire family manor house offers something for everybody to enjoy.
Collections: Period rooms displayed with a 1920s feel reflecting the donor family’s period of occupation with layers of history then going back to Tudor and Stuart times before that. There are some nice examples of needlework and paintings, among a varied and interesting collection of contents.
Ormesby Hall – National Trust
Ladgate Lane,
Ormesby TS3 0SR
01642 324188
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ormesby-hall
Home of the Pennyman family for nearly 400 years, this classic Georgian mansion, with its Victorian kitchen and laundry, attractive gardens and estate walks, provides lively resources for local schools and community groups, and a unique venue.
Pickering Castle – English Heritage
Pickering YO18 7AX
01751 474989
Pickering Castle is set in an attractive moors-edge market town. It is a classic and well-preserved example of an early earthwork castle refortified in stone during the 13th and 14th centuries, centred upon a shell-keep crowning an impressive motte.
Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire Regimental Museum
3 Tower Street
York YO1 9SB
01904 662790
www.pwo-yorkshire.museum
The museum’s collection spans three centuries of travel, campaigning and war. Artefacts and photographs of the Crimean War, the North-West Frontier of India, the Boer War and the two world wars form part of the vivid presentation of the regiment’s story in both peace and war.
Prison & Police Museum
27 St Marygate
Ripon HG4 1LX
01765 690 799
www.ripon.co.uk/museums
The museum is housed in a building which formed part of the former House of Correction and Liberty Gaol and which is now an integral part of the overall attraction of the museum. The building’s origins go back to the late 17th century but the part now occupied by the museum was built as Ripon Liberty Prison in 1816 and continued to function as such until May 1878 when it, along with numerous other local prisons throughout the country, was closed as part of a government reform of prisons.
Quilt Museum & Gallery
St Anthony’s Hall, Peasholme Green
York YO1 7PW
01904 613242
The Quilt Museum & Gallery is owned and managed by The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles. The guild is an educational charity working to promote the understanding, appreciation and knowledge of the art, techniques and heritage of patchwork, quilting and applique.
Richard III Experience at Monk Bar
Monk Bar, Goodramgate
York YO1 7LQ
01904 615505
The JORVIK Group’s newest attraction invites you to step foot into the historic Monk Bar to discover The Richard III Experience. Explore the life of the last Plantagenet King as he struggled for the throne and power during his short reign. Experience his mighty moments of battle, with multimedia presentations, and displays of the authentic medieval weapons and armour used to fight his opponents during the bloody War of the Roses.
Richmond Castle – English Heritage
Tower Street
Richmond DL10 4QW
01748 822493
Breathtakingly sited on a rocky promontory above the River Swale, the great castle of Richmond is among the oldest Norman stone fortresses in Britain, begun in the decades after the Conquest. The story of conscientious objectors imprisoned in the keep during World War I is told in an interactive display exploring Richmond’s nine centuries of development, and woven into the Cockpit Garden.
Richmondshire Museum
Ryders Wynd
Richmond DL10 4JA
01748 825 611
www.richmondshiremuseum.org.uk
Richmondshire Museum was founded in 1974 by the Soroptimists of Richmond and the Dales; it opened its doors in 1978 in a former joiner’s workshop, and has gradually grown ever since. Your visit begins in a reconstructed cruck house, with a collection of domestic bygones. The Leadmining Gallery details the industry which flourished in Swaledale until the end of the 19th century. The Transport Gallery, with its model of Richmond Station, leads to the Herriot Set from the BBC’s All Creatures Great and Small, and Barker’s Chemist’s Shop. Next is the Wenham Gallery, which covers the history of Richmond and district, and contains a former village Post Office from just up the dale. The latest addition is a recreation of the Richmond grocer’s shop, just round the corner in Frenchgate, where the founder of the Fenwick department store chain began his working life.
Rievaulx Abbey – English Heritage
Rievaulx
Helmsley YO62 5LB
01439 798228
Escape the crowds and experience the serenity and beauty of this impressive monastic site, situated in the middle of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Rievaulx Abbey was founded by St Bernard of Clairvaux in 1132 and become one of England’s wealthiest monasteries before its dissolution by King Henry VIII in 1538.
Ripley Castle
The Ripley Castle Estate
Harrogate HG3 3AY
01423 770152
www.ripleycastle.co.uk
In 2009 Ripley Castle has been the home of the Ingilby family for the last seven hundred years. The castle’s history is one of political, military, religious and social turbulence, of plague and persecution, of renaissance, enlightenment and industrial revolution.
Ripon Cathedral
Kirkgate
Ripon HG4 1QS
01765 602075
For over 1300 years people have been coming to worship and pray at Ripon. The cathedral building itself is part of this continuing act of worship, begun in the C7th when Saint Wilfrid built one of England’s first stone churches on this site, and still renewed ever day.
RNLI Whitby Museum
Pier Road
Whitby YO21 3PU
01947 602001
Built in 1895, the double boathouse was used by the RNLI until 1957 when it was re-established as a museum. The museum has grown to contain an abundance of lifeboat material including models, paintings, medals, photographs, lifeboat kit and items from famous rescues.
RNLI Zetland Museum
The Esplanade
Redcar TS10 3AH
01642 494311
www.redcarlifeboat.org.uk/zetland/index.htm
The museum uses lifelike figures and models to bring to life the story of sea rescues on the north east coast. Upstairs is an extensive display of lifesaving equipment, past and present, and a reconstruction of a fisherman’s sitting room.
Robin Hood’s Bay & Fylingdales Museum
Fisherhead, Robin Hood’s Bay
Whitby YO22 4TQ
museum.rhbay.co.uk
On 31st July 1891, the building was purchased on a 1000 year lease by Rev. R.J.
Rotunda Museum
Vernon Road
Scarborough YO11 2NN
01723 353665
Explore modern interactive displays to learn about the fascinating geology of the Yorkshire coast. Find out about this unique geology that brought William Smith to the town and inspired him to design this fabulous iconic building in 1829.
Royal Pump Room Museum
Crown Place
Harrogate HG1 2RY
01423 556188
www.harrogate.gov.uk/museums
Visit the Royal Pump Room Museum to discover the intriguing story of how Harrogate became a spa town. Discover stories of Russian royalty and disappearing crime writers, marvel at the amazing spa treatments and join a tour to see the strongest sulphur well in Europe.
Ryedale Folk Museum
Hutton le Hole
Hutton le Hole YO62 6UA
01751 417367
www.ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk
Wander into 16th, 18th and 19th century thatched cottages, the Edwardian photographic studio, Iron Age roundhouse, working blacksmiths and many attractions of Ryedale Folk Museum’s 5 acre site.
Scarborough Castle – English Heritage
Castle Road
Scarborough YO11 1HY
01723 372451
Scarborough Castle defends a prominent headland between two bays, with sheer drops to the sea and only a narrow landward approach. Specially contructed viewing platforms on the battlements offer panoramic views.
Scarborough Collections
Woodend, The Crescent
Scarborough YO11 2PW
01723 384503
Scarborough Collections is a unique facility housed in the Woodend Creative Workspace. It offers access to Scarborough’s Collections which includes a vast array of social and natural history specimens that have been collected by the town over the years and include things like ammonites, beetles, paintings, prehistoric pots, even cuddly toys. These collections are now housed under one roof in a state of the art storage facility.
Collections: Scarborough.
Selby & District Family History Group
9 Larkfield Road
Selby YO8 9AS
www.selbydistrictfamilyhistory.btck.co.uk
Formed in May 2001 from a short Workers Education Association Family History Course, it has developed into a group where experienced members offer help and advice to those that require it.
Shandy Hall
Coxwold
York YO61 4AD
01347 868465
www.laurencesternetrust.org.uk
The Laurence Sterne Trust was established as a registered charity in 1967 in order to promote the writings of Laurence Sterne, the 18th century novelist and vicar of Coxwold. Shandy Hall is where he lived and wrote The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. The Trust promotes Sterne’s work and international reputation through exhibitions, events and public access to the property and its collection.
St Robert’s Cave
St Robert’s Cave, Abbey Road
Knaresborough HG5 8HX
01423 556188
www.harrogate.gov.uk/harrogate-1323
Sitting snugly beside the River Nidd on the outskirts of Knaresborough, Saint Robert’s Cave is a rare survival of a medieval hermit’s home. This site once attracted thousands of pilgrims to this North Yorkshire town. Robert of Knaresborough lived on this site in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.
Stewart’s Burnby Hall Gardens & Museum
Burnby Hall Gardens, The Balk, Pocklington
York YO4 2QF
01759 302068
The magnificent and beautifully laid out gardens incorporate two lakes which contain a National Collection of hard water lilies, recognised as one of the largest displays found in a natural setting in Europe and are teeming with a vast collection of fish which can be hand-fed. Burnby Hall gardens provide nine acres of changing vistas which include a woodland walk, Victorian and secret garden, extensive rockeries and a fine collection of ornamental and indigenous trees. The Stewart Museum houses Major Stewart’s remarkable range of cultural and religious exhibits collected on his 8 world tours in the early 20th century.
Swaledale & Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group
Hazel Brow House
Richmond DL11 6NE
01748 886542
SWAAG is a group of enthusiasts in the northernmost Yorkshiredales who are contributing to the knowledge base of the history of our dales through archaeological and related activity. SWAAG, affiliated with the Swaledale Museum, work under the guidance and supervision of Tim Laurie, the leading expert on prehistoric landscapes in the area.
Swaledale Museum
Swaledale Museum, The Green, Reeth,
Richmond DL11 6QT
01748 884118
The Swaledale Museum is an independent museum run by volunteers with the aims of collecting, displaying and making publicly accessible the local heritage of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. Housed in the Methodist Day School built in 1836 the lively displays and hands-on exhibits explain the development of the area from its geological foundations, via early human occupation in the Iron Age, to the growth and decline of lead mining between the 1650s and1950s. You can learn how the stone walls were built, how local crafts flourished, and how people lived.
Teesside Archives
Exchange House, 6 Marton Road
Middlesbrough TS1 1DB
01642 248321
www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/teessidearchives
Teesside Archives collects and preserves archive material from churches, official and private sources in the areas served by the councils of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton on Tees. We are able to offer a postal search service for members of the public who are unable to visit the department in person.
Thirsk Museum
70 Barton Street
Thirsk YO7 1PQ
01845 527707
www.homefrontthirsk.org.uk/museum
Thirsk Museum occupies the house where Thomas Lord, the founder of Lord’s Cricket Ground, was born in 1755. There are eight rooms full of exhibits, featuring local life and industry, cricketing memorabilia, farming equipment, furniture, costumes and toys.
Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre
Ferry Road, St Hilda’s
Middlesbrough TS2 1PL
01642 248566
This visitor centre is dedicated to the rich industrial heritage of Middlesbrough. One of the powerhouses of the industrial northeast, the town was a major player in the Industrial Revolution, and especially shipping. The visitor centre promotes the history of the bridge and surrounding area through the use of graphic panels, video, computers, photographs, objects and models.
Treasurer’s House, York – National Trust
Minster Yard
York YO1 7JL
01904 624247
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/treasurers-house-york
Elegant town house dating from medieval times. Originally home to the treasurers of York Minster and built over a Roman road, the house is not all that it seems.
University of York – Institute for the Public Understanding of the Past
HRC, Berrick Saul Building University of York
York YO10 5DD
www.york.ac.uk/ipup
The Institute for the Public Understanding of the Past researches how narratives of the past function in our society and how identities are constructed in the present, using the past.
Upper Dales Family History Group
Croft House, Newbiggin in Bishopdale
Nr Leyburn DL8 3TD
01969 663738
The aim of the group is to support those members whose ancestors had their roots in Wensleydale and Swaledale. These ancestors often wandered far and wide so it is not surprising that our members’ genealogical interests spread nationally and internationally.
Upper Wharfedale – National Trust
Upper Wharfedale
near Buckden BD23 5JA
01729 830416
Along the Upper Wharfe Valley the characteristic dry-stone walls and barns of the Dales, important flower-rich hay meadows, beautiful riverside and valleyside woodland combine to create a wonderful place to relax and explore the great outdoors.
Wharfedale Family History Group
Hideaway Cottage, Middle Lane, Kettlewell
Skipton BD23 5QX
If your roots are in Wharfedale or further afield you will find help and encouragement in this fascinating hobby by joining the Wharfedale Family History Group.
Whitby Abbey – English Heritage
Whitby Abbey
Whitby YO22 4JT
01947 603568
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/whitby-abbey/
High on a cliff above the seaside town of Whitby are the gaunt, imposing remains of Whitby Abbey. Founded in 657 by St Hilda, Whitby Abbey has over the years been a bustling settlement, a kings’ burial place, a home of saints and inspiration for Bram Stoker, author of Dracula.
Whitby Archives Heritage Centre
Flowergate
Whitby YO21 3BA
01947 821364
A heritage centre containing historic photographs and artefacts from Whitby and North Yorkshire area. Family and local history departments, exhibition hall and heritage shop. Holders of the entire collection of the Whitby Gazette and home to the original West Cliff historic whalebone arch.
Whitby Museum
Pannett Park
Whitby YO21 1RE
01947 602908
Whitby Museum was started by local gentlemen in 1823 to preserve the fossils and other interesting artefacts existing in the area. It is owned by Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society and run entirely by volunteers from among the society’s members.
Workhouse Museum
Sharow View, Allhallowgate
Ripon HG4 1LE
01765 690799
www.riponmuseums.co.uk
The Workhouse Museum is housed in the gatehouse building, part of the larger workhouse site (which visitors are welcome to explore), which contained the guardians’ room, vagrants cells and receiving ward for inmates. we have also worked hard to recreate the original workhouse kitchen garden, located to the rear of the workhouse site which would have been tended by the inmates and been used to feed them.
World of James Herriot, The
23 Kirkgate
Thirsk YO7 1PL
01845 524 234
The World of James Herriot is a unique tribute to vet and author James Herriot. Based in his original surgery at 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire – the ‘skeldale House’ of the Herriot books – it takes visitors on a journey back to the 1940s. When James Herriot died in 1995, Hambleton District Council bought the old surgery and set about painstakingly restoring it.
WR Mitchell Archive
Town Hall
Settle BD24 9EJ
01729 82229
www.settlestories.org.uk/wrmitchell
A collection of over 400 taped interviews of Yorkshire Dales Folk collected by WR ‘Bill’ Mitchell, editor of The Dalesman magazine.
York Archaeological Trust
47 Aldwark
York YO1 7BX
01904 663000
www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk
York Archaeological Trust is a registered museum. Our professionally accredited team has over 30 years experience in investigating buildings, landscapes and buried remains.
York Archives & Local History
Archives and Local History, Acomb Explore, Front Street, Acomb
York YO24 3BZ
01904 552651
Our collection contains thousands of unique documents, plans and photographs that tell the story of 800 years of York’s history. Our oldest document dates from 1155, the most recent from 2012.
York Castle Museum
The Eye of York
York YO1 9RY
01904 687687
Come and see hundreds of years of York’s history in one place – from recreated Jacobean dining rooms to infamous Victorian criminals and all the way to the Space Age and the swinging Sixties. Kirkgate, the famous reconstructed Victorian Street that provides the core of the castle Museum, is a milestone in the history of museums.
York City Archives
Exhibition Square
York YO1 7EW
01904 551 878
The council minutes and accounts cover 500 years of civic life including the Mystery Plays and many references to Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III). They include some records of York City Courts. The 20th century collection includes housing clearance areas with an extensive collection of photographs and also sources for town planning and conservation.
York Cold War Bunker – English Heritage
Monument Close
York YO24 4HT
01904 646940
The most modern and spine-chilling of English Heritage’s properties, the York Cold War Bunker uncovers the secret history of Britain’s Cold War. Enter the blast-proof doors and investigate the more unusual side of York’s heritage. In active service from the 1960s–1990s the bunker was designed as a nerve-centre to monitor fall-out in the event of a nuclear attack.
York Mansion House
St Helens Square
York YO1 9QL
01904 552 036
Situated in the heart of the city in beautiful St Helen’s Square, the Mansion House is an architectural masterpiece which plays host to an extensive collection of civic regalia and artefacts. The impressive collection of silver, paintings and furniture is unequalled by any other provincial city.
York Minster
York Minster
York YO1 7HH
0844 939 0011
York Minster provides a wealth of history for you to discover. The minster itself is an architectural masterpiece and a treasure house of stained glass.
York Museums Trust
St Mary’s Lodge
York YO30 7DR
01904 687687
York Museums Trust is an independent charitable trust which manages York Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum and Gardens, and York Art Gallery. The buildings and their contents are owned by the City of York Council, which has agreed to long-term funding of the Trust.
Yorkshire Air Museum
Halifax Way, Elvington
York YO41 4AU
01904 608 595
www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk
A fascinating and dynamic museum, authentically based on a World War Two Bomber Command Station. The unique displays include the original control tower, air gunners’ collection, barnes wallis’ prototype ‘bouncing bomb’ and a superb airborne engineers display.
Collections: Historic aircraft collection covering aviation history from the Yorkshire aviation pioneer Sir George Cayley and his man-carrying glider of 1853, through to WWII aircraft including the unique Halifax bomber and to the supersonic age with frontline jets such as the Tornado. Significant collection of WWII air forces related artefacts, uniforms, records and vehicles.
Yorkshire Film Archive
York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk
York YO31 7EX
01904 876550
The Yorkshire Film Archive is the public access film archive for Yorkshire and the Humber. We hold over 14,000 items of film and video tape, dating from the earliest days of film making in the 1880s to the present day.
Yorkshire Museum & Gardens
York Museum Gardens
York YO1 7FR
01904 687687
The Yorkshire Museum sits in the heart of York Museum Gardens, in the centre of York. The museum was opened in 1830 by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society and was one of the first purpose-built museums in the country. Housing some of the finest collections of archaeological and geological finds in Europe, the Yorkshire Museum is the ideal first port of call for any trip to York.
Collections: The collections cover numismatics, archaeological finds from Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, and Medieval times, biology, geology and studio pottery.
Yorkshire Museum of Farming at Murton Park
Murton Park, Murton Lane
York YO19 5UF
01904 489966
www.murtonpark.co.uk
The museum opened in 1982 to house a range of exhibits from Burton Constable, collected by East Yorkshire Farm Machinery Preservation Society. The museum holds a fantastic regional agricultural collection.
Yorkshire Yeomanry Museum
Yorkshire Squadron, The Queen’s Own Yeomanry, Yeomanry Barracks, Fulford Road
York YO1 4ES
01482 881974
A small collection of artefacts and memorabilia from Yorkshire’s Yeomanry Regiments. The museum can be visited by prior appointment with the Yorkshire Squadron Office of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry which can be contacted on 01904 620320.