Swinithwaite is a hamlet in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the A684 road, 2 miles (3.2 km) miles east of Aysgarth.[1]

Swinithwaite
A684 road passing through Swinithwaite
Swinithwaite is located in North Yorkshire
Swinithwaite
Swinithwaite
Location within North Yorkshire
OS grid referenceSE046889
Civil parish
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLeyburn
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
54°17′46″N 1°55′50″W / 54.29607°N 1.93063°W / 54.29607; -1.93063

The hamlet originally belonged to the Knights Templar but was later absorbed into the manor of West Witton which lies to the east.[2] The hamlet includes Swinithwaite Hall, a grade II* listed building[3] which has extensive grounds covering over 1,600 acres (650 ha).[4] There is a belvedere in the grounds[5] and a folly (known as Temple Folly after a nearby Knights Templar chapel). Both the belvedere and the folly were designed by John Foss of Richmond and have been converted into holiday accommodation.[6] The hamlet does not have any amenities other than a farm shop.[7]

The cellar in the farmhouse on the estate was once used for a scene in All Creatures Great and Small.[4]

In one of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon stories, The Last Kingdom, the village Synningthwait is referenced. In that book, it claims the name means "place cleared by fire," after parts of it were torched to make room for more homes for the Danes.[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ "OL30" (Map). Yorkshire Dales - Northern & Central Area. 1:25,000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. 2016. ISBN 9780319263358.
  2. ^ "Parishes: West Witton | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Swinithwaite Hall (Grade II*) (1179461)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Wensleydale estate is reaching out to the public". The Yorkshire Post. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Belvedere (Grade II) (1179599)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  6. ^ Bagshaw, Mike (2014). Yorkshire Dales : local, characterful guides to Britain's special places (1 ed.). Chalfont St Peter: Bradt. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-84162-549-2.
  7. ^ Lloyd, Chris (13 October 2016). "Restaurant Review: Berrys Farm Shop and Cafe, Swinithwaite, Leyburn". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  8. ^ Cornwell, Bernard. The Last Kingdom. Harper Collins. Pg. 57