Bedale
Image Credit: The joy of all things
Bedale is a characterful market town located in the Hambleton district, North Yorkshire and originally the North Riding of Yorkshire. This traditional market town is known for its friendly atmosphere and strong community spirit which leaves a lasting impression on visitors.
Bedale Beck
Bedale Beck is around 25.7 miles long and passes through Wensleydale, Crakehall, and of course Bedale before joining the River Swale. Records have been discovered that there were two watermills located along the beck by 1297.
The most famous of the two is at Crakehall which still exists and since opening has been renovated twice. The second mill was in Aiskew however this closed before being reopened in 2010 as a community baker.
During 1990, heavy rain caused Bedale Beck to flood. The water covered the railway line just west of Bedale which caused a train to go off its tracks and as a result killed its fireman.
Bedale Hall
Bedale Hall is a Palladian-style mansion that was built on the location of an existing property by Henry Peirse in 1730. The building was a private residence up until WWII where it was requisitioned by the military like most large buildings at the time.
After the soldiers had finished using the building, squatters then inhabited it. By the time they’d moved on, the building was left in a poor state and was no longer usable.
Bedale Rural District Council stepped in and saved Bedale Hall from the likelihood of demolition. In 1952, the building was renovated and turned into offices.
Currently, Bedale Hall is used as a library and tourist centre. It’s home to Bedale Museum which is popular in the area and also free to visit.
Bedale Leech House
Along Bedale Beck is a Georgian building that was once used as a leech house. Bedale Leech House was built in the late 18th to early 19th century by the Beresford-Peirse family of Bedale Hall.
It was used to keep live medicinal leeches healthy before they were sold on to doctors or people wanting to either cure or prevent diseases and illnesses. At the time, this was an extremely popular method to keep people healthy causing leeches to be in high demand.
The leeches were collected by horses, leech collectors, or women, and then removed once they’d had a full meal. They were then stored in special containers with turf and moss which were heated by a fireplace in winter to stop them from freezing. The leeches survived on their one meal and in this climate up until they were sold.
In 1985, Bedale Leech House was restored. During this time it was granted the status as a Grade II listed building making it the only listed leech house in the country.
Things to do in Bedale
The market town of Bedale has a range of activities for the whole family to enjoy whether that’s a fun filled day out to tire the kids, or a relaxing walk enjoying the grounds.
Thorp Perrow Arboretum
Located near Bedale is Thorp Perrow Arboretum which is home to one of the UK’s finest collection of trees. It has an adventure playground for the kids, bird of prey displays, and the chance to handfeed wallabies in the mammal centre. There are also seasonal trails, event days, open-air concerts, and guided tours to enjoy.
Big Sheep & Little Cow Farm
Big Sheep & Little Cow Farm is a family friendly place that allows kids and adults to have hands on experience with animals. Visitors are given the chance to touch, hold, feed, and groom both small and large animals. There’s also farm tours, go karts, a barrel train ride, and indoor and outdoor play areas.
Shopping in Bedale
Within the town of Bedale there are a number of unusual shops to be found amongst the more common high street names. However, Bedale is known as a market town and for good reason.
Bedale Market has been running for over 750 years and is open every Tuesday. This cobbled market place has stalls from local suppliers for items such as food, bakeries, clothing, and crafts. The market at Bedale is one of the longest running in Yorkshire. In 1251, King Henry III granted the town a market charter.
This Yorkshire town also has a car boot sale in Bedale Park every Saturday between March and October. There are also special event markets that take place throughout the year such as a week long Yorkshire Day market, and a Christmas market.
St Gregory’s Church
Thought to be one of Britain’s best, St Gregory’s Church is a Grade I listed building. It still has some Catholic relics despite most of its features, such as statues, being vandalised by Puritans during the English Civil War.
St Gregory’s Church also has a stone Viking age grave marker and a painting of St George slaying the dragon. This painting is thought to be rare and is known due to it portraying St George as being left handed.
Originally, there was a church on the site before the current parish church was built. It’s also believed to have been part of Bedale Castle which is thought to have existed to the west of the church when a fireplace and bedrooms were found on the middle floor of the tower.
The church is recorded in the Domesday book 1086 which suggests it survived the Harrying of the North. Around the 1330’s, the 98 foot high tower was built as a defensive structure for the town and is rare in this part of Northern England due to its portcullis. Shortly after in 1360, a bell more commonly known as the Jervaulx Bell was installed.
The present structure of the church dates back to the end of the 12th century to early 13th century. Since then, additions have been added to make it more modern.
Travelling In & Out of Bedale
This Yorkshire market town lies along the B6285 road which runs south and south east of Bedale to connect with the A6055 at Burneston. Originally the A684 road passed through the town, however in August 2016 a bypass was built to avoid traffic build ups.
In 1855, a railway station along the Wensleydale Railway line opened and lasted until 1954 when it was shut to the public. It remained open for local goods up until the 1980’s where it was then used for the limestone quarry at Redmire until 1992. The line reopened in 2003 as a heritage railway line which travels between Leeming Bar and Redmire. Although it’s called Bedale Railway Station, it’s actually located in Aiskew which is east of Bedale Beck.
Education in Bedale
Bedale is home to three schools which are Bedale Primary School, Bedale High School, and Mowbray School.
Bedale Primary School is a Church of England educational facility which, in 2012, won the Drax Cup. Bedale High School has around 480 pupils with its more notable students being Micael Duff and Simon Grayson who became football managers, Shane Duff who became a footballer, and Paul Grayson who became a cricketer. Mowbray School is a specialist education institute for kids aged 3 – 16.
History of Bedale
Originally part of Richmondshire, Bedale was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as Catterick Wapentake. The town later became known as Hangshire when it was named after Hang Bank in Finghall.
Eventually, the Yorkshire town was called Bedell or Bedhal which derives from ‘Beda’s Halh’, meaning corner or place of Beda. Since then it’s always been known as Bedale.
In 1251, Bedale became a market town when it received it’s market charter. During this time it also became popular for hunting.
There once was a castle in the town however it’s no longer there and there are very few records. What we do know is that Bedale Hall marks the location of the castle that was built by Sir Bryan FitzAlan during the reign of King Edward I. FitzAlan became Lord of the Manor of Bedale, and later Baron FitzAlan.