Yorkshire Dales
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Yorkshire Dales from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Yorkshire Dales' most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry.
Multi-period lead mines and processing works and 20th cen…
Grassington
Grassington Moor's lead mining history reflects significant industrial and social advancements from the 17th to 20th centuries, with notable innovations in technology, management, and...
Low Borrowbridge Roman fort
Grayrigg
The Low Borrowbridge Roman fort and settlement are well-preserved, offering insights into military and civilian life during Roman Britain, with significant archaeological deposits revealed...
Bainbridge Roman fort and annexe
Bainbridge
Bainbridge Roman fort, Virosidum, is significant for its well-preserved archaeological remains showing over 300 years of military use and strategic importance in Roman Britain.
Lead mines, ore works and smeltmills at Old Gang on Reeth…
Melbecks
The Old Gang smeltmill complex, a well-preserved and structurally complex site, offers insights into 19th-century lead smelting technologies and includes significant archaeological and...
Surrender lead smelt mill
Reeth, Fremington and Healaugh
Surrender lead smelt mill showcases well-preserved features highlighting the historical evolution of the lead industry.
Roman temporary camp and medieval monastic cross base, Ma…
Malham
The Roman camp and medieval cross on Mastiles Lane reveal insights into Roman military strategy and medieval Christian symbolism, marking historic defensive and religious significance.
Bolton Priory
Bolton Abbey
Bolton Priory, founded in 1155 by Augustinian canons, played a significant role in medieval England as a spiritual, economic, and cultural center with remarkable architectural remains.
Roman milestone near Middleton vicarage
Middleton
The Roman milestone near Abba Farm is a well-preserved example, highlighting the historical importance of Roman roads in England, both militarily and economically.
Penhill Knights Templar preceptory and earlier field syst…
West Witton
Penhill Knights Templar preceptory funded 12th-13th century crusades, featuring unique circular churches and archaeological remains, preserving evidence of medieval Templar operations.
Jubilee Cave, Langcliffe Scar
Langcliffe
Jubilee Cave is a nationally important Palaeolithic site in the Yorkshire Dales with substantial intact deposits and evidence of early human activity.
Ribblehead railway construction camp and prehistoric fiel…
Ingleton
The Ribblehead railway construction camp, associated with the 19th century's Settle to Carlisle railway, includes significant earthworks and a well-preserved layout offering insights into...
How Hill large univallate hillfort
Downholme
Large univallate hillforts date to the Iron Age, functioning for defense and display, with substantial ramparts and ditches. They are nationally important for understanding Iron Age society.
Grinton ore hearth lead smelt mill, flue, fuel store and …
Grinton
The Grinton lead smelting complex, one of the best preserved in the Yorkshire Dales, illustrates the history and development of the lead industry regionally and nationally.
Large univallate hillfort on Ingleborough Hill.
Clapham cum Newby
The Ingleborough hillfort, highest in England, features rare univallate structure showcasing Iron Age labour mobilization for defense and societal organization, marked nationally important.
How Hill, Low Whita late prehistoric defended settlement …
Grinton
A bank and ditch defining a defended enclosure atop a natural knoll overlooking the south bank of the River Swale, the enclosure including the earthworks of a rectangular building.
Meal Bank Quarry Hoffmann kiln, quarry and lime works
Ingleton
Meal Bank lime works includes the country's first Hoffmann kiln for lime production. It marks significant regional industrial development in processing and transporting resources.
Round barrow on Sleights Pasture
Ingleton
Bowl barrows are earthen or rubble funerary mounds from 2400-1500 BC, offering insights into early prehistoric beliefs and society, with many deemed worthy of protection.
Castlehaw Tower, motte and bailey castle and Royal Observ…
Sedbergh
Castlehaw Tower is a medieval motte and bailey castle, showcasing Norman military architecture. Its reuse during the Cold War adds layers to its historical significance.
Prehistoric, Romano-British, medieval and early post-medi…
Burrow-with-Burrow
High Park, east of Bindloss Farm, contains settlements and field systems from prehistoric to post-medieval periods, highlighting long-term land management and settlement diversity through...
Garsdale Signal Box
Garsdale
Midland Railway signal box of 1910 associated with the Hawes Junction Rail Disaster of that year.
Bolton Castle
Castle Bolton with East and West Bolton
Quadrangular castle built 1379-98, designed by John Lewyn for Sir Richard Scrope. The castle was slighted by Parliamentary forces in 1647 and abandoned as a residence in 1675.
Craven and Murgatroyd lime works 400m north east of Langc…
Langcliffe
The Craven and Murgatroyd lime works in Langcliffe demonstrate important 19th and 20th-century lime production technology, featuring well-preserved Hoffmann and Spencer kilns, quarries, and...
Church of St Andrew
Sedbergh
There is no "Summary of Importance" or "Reasons for Designation." The Church of St Andrew, with origins in the 15th century, features restorations, mixed rubble construction, and both...
Yockenthwaite small stone circle
Buckden
Stone circles like Yockenthwaite display ritual significance with regularly spaced stones, sometimes aligned with solar or lunar events, often serving burial or tribal gathering functions.
Castle Hill prehistoric defended enclosure
Leck
Castle Hill is a mid-prehistoric defended settlement in England's northern uplands with significant archaeological value, featuring earthworks and hut circles, overlooking the River Lune.
Artlegarth Beck Bridge
Ravenstonedale
Pack-horse bridge, late C18/early C19, the south-east parapet rebuilt in the late C20.
Wardell Hall
Melbecks
House and attached cottage, C18 with later alterations. Coursed stone rubble, coursed squared stone to southern elevation, stone slate roof.
Sedbergh War Memorial
Sedbergh
An elegant First World War memorial with Second World War additions, designed by Sir John, Hubert Worthington, an old Sedberghian and Principal Architect of the Commonwealth War Graves...
Marrick Priory: a Benedictine nunnery and later parish ch…
Marrick
Marrick Priory, a well-preserved Benedictine nunnery site, features medieval buildings, fishponds, ironworks, and trackways, crucial for understanding religious community life and economy.
Two round cairns, three Romano-British settlements and ag…
Crosby Garrett
Cumbria and Northumberland's settlements demonstrate diverse Roman-era structures, with stone constructions in uplands and timber variants in lowlands.
Coverham Abbey Premonstratensian monastery and precinct i…
Coverham with Agglethorpe
Coverham Abbey, founded in 1212 by Ranulph Fitz-Robert, highlights monastic life and its economic roles within northern England.
Victoria Cave, Langcliffe Scar
Langcliffe
Victoria Cave in the Yorkshire Dales is significant for its preserved Palaeolithic deposits and rare organic artefacts, crucial for understanding early human activity.
Stone circle, Mossy Moor Ridge
Hebden
Stone circles are prehistoric monuments vital to rituals, burial activities, and calendrical events from the Late Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age.
Castle Dykes Henge
Aysgarth
Castle Dykes is a well-preserved Neolithic henge, notable for its rarity and potential historical insights from its undisturbed state.
Devils Bridge
Kirkby Lonsdale
Devil's Bridge, a 15th or early 16th-century structure in Casterton, is one of England's finest medieval bridges. It features triple-chamfered arches and a notable sundial.
Former Ingleborough Estate saw mill with log store
Clapham cum Newby
Mid-Victorian water-powered saw mill converted from an earlier bobbin mill or barn for the Ingleborough Estate, also used for hydro-electric power generation from 1890.
Beldi Hill Low Level lead mine and ore works
Muker
The Beldi Hill Low Level lead mine in the Yorkshire Dales is an exemplary preserved site illustrating lead ore processing techniques.
Lead mines and smeltmills at Moulds Side west of Langthwaite
Arkengarthdale
Lead mines and smeltmills at Moulds Side represent a significant multi-period mining landscape, featuring notable hushes, including Stodart Hush, and 19th-century smeltmills with complex...
Yorkshire Dales through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Yorkshire Dales changes over time.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Yorkshire Dales
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground.
Horton In Ribblesdale
Ribblesdale Lime Works, Horton in Ribblesdale, 1936
Foredale
Ribblesdale Lime Works and Foredale Limestone Quarry, Foredale, 1949
Langcliffe
The Craven Lime Works and the Stainforth Scar, Langcliffe, 1938
Langcliffe
The Craven Lime Works, Langcliffe, 1949
Horton In Ribblesdale
Horton Lime Works, Horton in Ribblesdale, 1936
Horton In Ribblesdale
Horton Lime Works (Horton Quarry), Horton in Ribblesdale, 1949
Castle Bolton
Bolton Castle, Castle Bolton, 1947
Castle Bolton
Bolton Castle, Castle Bolton, 1948
Threshfield
The Threshfield Lime Works, Threshfield, 1938
Threshfield
Threshfield Limestone Quarries, Threshfield, 1949
Yorkshire Dales in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Yorkshire Dales' past.
Charles George Harper Collection
Richmondshire, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1892 - 1933
A view from the south-west of St Bartholomew's Church, showing the 16th century tower
Eileen ‘Dusty’ Deste Collection
Richmondshire, North Yorkshire
Date created: Oct 1967
Furnace arches at Marrick Low Mill
John Gay Collection: Counties
The Pennines
Date created: 1965
A stepped row of stone cottages in the Pennine landscape, probably in West Yorkshire
John Laing Collection
Lowgill, South Lakeland, Cumbria
Date created: 28 Mar 1968
A lorry collecting concrete at a batching plant during the construction of the M6 through the Lune Gorge
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Bolton Abbey, Craven, North Yorkshire
Date created: 16 Sep 1891
Three cows resting in a field on the south side of the ruined church at Bolton Priory
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Eden, Cumbria
Date created: 1900 - 1920
EXTERIOR FRONT ELEVATION
Walter Scott
Craven, North Yorkshire
Date created: JUN 1924
The old aqueduct across the Barden to Bolton road to provide water to Abbey Mill House
Eileen ‘Dusty’ Deste Collection
Richmondshire, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1967
A view looking along the flue towards the abandoned remains of Marrick Low Mill, part of a lead smelting complex on the south bank of Ellers Beck
John Gay Collection: Counties
The Pennines
Date created: 1965
A view looking towards a farmstead sitting in a snowy Pennine landscape, probably in West Yorkshire.
John Laing Collection
Low Borrowbridge, Eden, Cumbria
Date created: 28 Mar 1968
A view of the route for the M6 Motorway through the Lune Gorge, looking south from a hillside to the north of Low Borrowbridge
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Bolton Abbey, Craven, North Yorkshire
Date created: 16 Sep 1891
A view from the north-east showing the chancel and north transept of the church of St Mary's Priory, with two men inspecting the exterior of the ruins
Walter Scott
Craven, North Yorkshire
Date created: 1950 - 1970
An elevated view from the south-east showing the ruins of the Priory of St Mary, also known as Bolton Priory, with the footbridge across the River...
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Yorkshire Dales.
The History of England’s Village Greens
Mentions Stocks
The origins of village greens in England date back to the early Middle Ages. Village greens are open spaces that can be registered.
An Introduction to Quaker Meeting Houses
Mentions The Friends Meeting House and Adjoining Cottage to West
The earliest Quaker meeting houses were distinctive for their simple, functional design; built by local craftsmen, they sit modestly in the landscape.
A Brief Introduction to Prehistoric Caves
Mentions Victoria Cave, Langcliffe Scar
Our best-preserved prehistoric caves represent rare and fragile time capsules of cultural and scientific information.
Research Reports Roundup to February 2024
Mentions Yorkshire Dales
A roundup of new additions to the Historic England Research Reports database and a longer term overview of industrial heritage reports.
Quaker Meeting Houses Assessed
Mentions Yorkshire Dales
The deliberate simplicity of the Quaker place of worship.
Archaeology From a Distance
Mentions Yorkshire Dales
Aerial archaeology as social distancing: find out how the Historic England aerial survey team has adapted to restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic
New Virtual Aerial Map Allows Everyone to Explore England's Archaeology from the Air
Mentions Yorkshire Dales
Discover archaeology local to you with our Aerial Mapping Explorer.
Pilot Scheme Success in Restoring Historic Barns
Mentions Yorkshire Dales
Bringing life back to traditional agricultural buildings within the participating National Park boundaries.
Top 10 Faith & Belief places chosen to tell A History of England in 100 Places
Mentions Yorkshire Dales
Top 10 faith and belief places in England chosen
New Poll Shows Strong Public Popularity for Conservation Areas - 50 Years After They Were Introduced
Mentions Yorkshire Dales
Findings released on anniversary of the first Conservation Area, Stamford in Lincolnshire, designated in 1967 - there are now more than 10,000 Conserv
Public Asked to Chronicle the Nation’s Missing History
Mentions Large univallate hillfort on Ingleborough Hill.
The nation's list of historic buildings and places is now open to public contributions for the first time ever.
Yorkshire Dales' social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area.
Yore Mill, Aysgarth, North Yorkshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This watermill was built in 1854. It is on the site of a medieval fulling mill, next to the river crossing of Yore Bridge.
Yore Mill, Aysgarth, North Yorkshire
Wave wall and water-ladder, Hetton, North Yorkshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
These buildings are a wave wall with valve tower and bridge, water-ladder, low level outlet, weir and gauging house.
Wave wall and water-ladder, Hetton, North Yorkshire
Toll House, Casterton, Cumbria
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This former toll house dates from the mid to late 18th century.
Toll House, Casterton, Cumbria
Threshfield School, Threshfield, North Yorkshire
Period: Stuart (1603 - 1713)
This school was founded as a Grammar School in 1674 by Matthew Hewitt. He was a member of the local land-owning family.
Threshfield School, Threshfield, North Yorkshire
The Old Mortuary, Reeth, North Yorkshire
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This building was built as a mortuary in 1835. It was built to serve the union workhouse.
The Old Mortuary, Reeth, North Yorkshire
St Simon's Chapel, East Scrafton, North Yorkshire
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
These are the ruins of St Simon's Chapel. The chapel was founded in 1328 by Ranulph Pigot and maintained by Coverham Abbey.
St Simon's Chapel, East Scrafton, North Yorkshire
Smelt Chimney, Malham Moor, North Yorkshire
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This chimney was built in the late 18th/early 19th century. It was built to serve the lead mining industry.
Smelt Chimney, Malham Moor, North Yorkshire
Scar Limekiln, Kettlewell, North Yorkshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This limekiln was built in the early 1800s. Lime was in demand for the production of mortar or as a fertiliser during the period 1750-1850.
Scar Limekiln, Kettlewell, North Yorkshire
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