Beck Hole
Encyclopedia
Beck Hole is a small village a mile and a quarter from Goathland
, North Yorkshire
, England
, served only by a winding road that has 1-in-4 inclines at either end. This gives some protection from the general tourist routes, as coaches are unable to reach the village. The result is a sleepy village hardly touched by modern influences, huddled around an old fording
point set in the deep, tree clad valley where the Ellerbeck and West Beck meet to become the Murk Esk, eventually reaching Whitby
as the Esk.
Beck Hole was served by the original Whitby to Pickering railway line until 1864, when a hauling line snapped and a carriage plunged down the original incline, killing two of the occupants. Beckhole railway station
, the connection northward to Grosmont and Whitby
, remained until some time after the First World War. Meanwhile, the route southward was replaced, taking the line above Beck Hole itself, leaving no station for the village.
The old route is now used as the 'Rail Trail', which is a walk from Goathland
to Grosmont through the Esk Valley. It is suggested that walkers start at Goathland as the trail is then mainly downhill, only the brave should start at Grosmont.
A popular stop-off on the trail is the Birch Hall Inn
, the local pub. A tiny bar and an even smaller shop are at the front of the building, which has remained unchanged for many years. A bench outside the pub provides a good place to soak up the sun in summer. The village had another pub, The Lord Nelson, until it was closed in 1940 and turned into a private dwelling.
Quoits
are played on the village green during the summer, details can be found on the village website. In 1986 a BBC TV documentary entitled Big Day at Beck Hole featured some members of the Beck Hole Quoits Club at work and play.
The Beckhole Woodland and Heritage Foundation was formed in 2006 by local residents, in order to preserve and protect this ancient woodland and interpret the wealth of local heritage. In Victorian times Beckhole was famous for its many orchards. Visitors would come from miles around to enjoy the walks and waterfalls and take tea beneath the apple trees. In 2009 the Goathland School celebrated its bi-centenary. The BHWF decided to mark the occasion by planting an apple orchard on land in Beckhole - kindly provided by the Ainley family, formerly of Firs Farm. With help from The Tree Council, donations from Goathland Post Office, the North York Moors National Park and collection boxes at the Birch Hall Inn, money was raised to prepare the orchard and plant 20 different heritage apple trees, each of which has been adopted by a child from Goathland School. Trees were planted on 1 March 2009 and once they were established the children came down to 'meet' their trees. It's just on the side of the Rail Trail before the Ellerbeck Footbridge.
Goathland
Goathland is a village and civil parish in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England. It is in the North York Moors national park situated due north of Pickering, off the A169 to Whitby...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, served only by a winding road that has 1-in-4 inclines at either end. This gives some protection from the general tourist routes, as coaches are unable to reach the village. The result is a sleepy village hardly touched by modern influences, huddled around an old fording
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
point set in the deep, tree clad valley where the Ellerbeck and West Beck meet to become the Murk Esk, eventually reaching Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
as the Esk.
Beck Hole was served by the original Whitby to Pickering railway line until 1864, when a hauling line snapped and a carriage plunged down the original incline, killing two of the occupants. Beckhole railway station
Beckhole railway station
Beckhole railway station was a short-lived station on part of the original Whitby and Pickering Railway line. It served the village of Beck Hole, North Yorkshire, England and surrounding beauty spots....
, the connection northward to Grosmont and Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
, remained until some time after the First World War. Meanwhile, the route southward was replaced, taking the line above Beck Hole itself, leaving no station for the village.
The old route is now used as the 'Rail Trail', which is a walk from Goathland
Goathland
Goathland is a village and civil parish in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England. It is in the North York Moors national park situated due north of Pickering, off the A169 to Whitby...
to Grosmont through the Esk Valley. It is suggested that walkers start at Goathland as the trail is then mainly downhill, only the brave should start at Grosmont.
A popular stop-off on the trail is the Birch Hall Inn
Birch Hall Inn
Birch Hall Inn is a public house founded in 1860 in Beck Hole, near to Goathland in North Yorkshire, England. It is noted for its historic interior, which has resulted in its listing in the Campaign for Real Ale's "National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors", and for its particularly picturesque...
, the local pub. A tiny bar and an even smaller shop are at the front of the building, which has remained unchanged for many years. A bench outside the pub provides a good place to soak up the sun in summer. The village had another pub, The Lord Nelson, until it was closed in 1940 and turned into a private dwelling.
Quoits
Quoits
Quoits is a traditional game which involves the throwing of metal, rope or rubber rings over a set distance, usually to land over or near a spike . The sport of quoits encompasses several distinct variations.-The history of quoits:The history of quoits is disputed...
are played on the village green during the summer, details can be found on the village website. In 1986 a BBC TV documentary entitled Big Day at Beck Hole featured some members of the Beck Hole Quoits Club at work and play.
The Beckhole Woodland and Heritage Foundation was formed in 2006 by local residents, in order to preserve and protect this ancient woodland and interpret the wealth of local heritage. In Victorian times Beckhole was famous for its many orchards. Visitors would come from miles around to enjoy the walks and waterfalls and take tea beneath the apple trees. In 2009 the Goathland School celebrated its bi-centenary. The BHWF decided to mark the occasion by planting an apple orchard on land in Beckhole - kindly provided by the Ainley family, formerly of Firs Farm. With help from The Tree Council, donations from Goathland Post Office, the North York Moors National Park and collection boxes at the Birch Hall Inn, money was raised to prepare the orchard and plant 20 different heritage apple trees, each of which has been adopted by a child from Goathland School. Trees were planted on 1 March 2009 and once they were established the children came down to 'meet' their trees. It's just on the side of the Rail Trail before the Ellerbeck Footbridge.