Grinton
Encyclopedia
Grinton is a small village and civil parish
in the Yorkshire Dales
, in the Richmondshire
district of North Yorkshire
, England. Close to Reeth
and Fremington
, it lies 11 miles west of Richmond
on the B6270
road.
and was for centuries the main church for the whole of upper Swaledale
, with many burials coming from miles away. The bodies were carried as much as 16 miles down the valley along the footpath from Keld
, now known as the Corpse Way or corpse road
, in wicker
coffins. Several long stones, located at intervals along the path, traditionally called "coffin stones", are said to be where the coffin would have been set down while the pallbearer
s rested.
Fragments of the old Norman
church remain, including the font
and the tower arch, which dates from the late 12th century. Other parts of the building date from the late 13th or early 14th century, and the pulpit
is Jacobean
, but St Andrew's is now mainly a 15th century rebuild.
The church is often used as a venue for concerts during the Swaledale Festival
and at other times.
was widened in the 18th century. The river is reputedly the fastest-flowing in England, and Grinton is the first point above Richmond where it could normally be forded.
Blackburn Hall, between the churchyard and the river, dates from 1635.
The Bridge Inn is popular with walkers and is a venue for weekly folk music sessions, normally held on Thursday evenings.
Above the village, on the Leyburn
road is YHA
Grinton Lodge, a former shooting lodge which is now a youth hostel.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Yorkshire Dales
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is the name given to an upland area in Northern England.The area lies within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, though it spans the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Cumbria...
, in the Richmondshire
Richmondshire
Richmondshire is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. It covers a large northern area of the Yorkshire Dales including Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, Wensleydale and Coverdale, with the prominent Scots' Dyke and Scotch Corner along the centre. Teesdale lies to the north...
district of 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. Close to Reeth
Reeth
Reeth is a village in the Yorkshire Dales within the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England and principal settlement of Swaledale. It is situated at the meeting point of the two most northerly of the Yorkshire Dales: Swaledale and Arkengarthdale....
and Fremington
Fremington, North Yorkshire
Fremington is a hamlet in the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England, almost joined to Reeth and Grinton. It is split into Low Fremington which is built along the B6270 and High Fremington which is a scattering of houses running up towards Fremington Edge....
, it lies 11 miles west of Richmond
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Richmond is a market town and civil parish on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England and is the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire. It is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and serves as the Park's main tourist centre...
on the B6270
B roads in Zone 6 of the Great Britain numbering scheme
B roads are numbered routes in Great Britain of lesser importance than A roads. See the article Great Britain road numbering scheme for the rationale behind the numbers allocated.-Zone 6 :-Zone 6 :...
road.
St Andrew's church
Often called "The Cathedral of the Dales", Grinton church is dedicated to St AndrewSaint Andrew
Saint Andrew , called in the Orthodox tradition Prōtoklētos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter. The name "Andrew" , like other Greek names, appears to have been common among the Jews from the 3rd or 2nd century BC. No Hebrew or Aramaic name is recorded for him...
and was for centuries the main church for the whole of upper Swaledale
Swaledale
Swaledale is one of the northernmost dales in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in northern England. It is the dale of the River Swale on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire.-Geographical overview:...
, with many burials coming from miles away. The bodies were carried as much as 16 miles down the valley along the footpath from Keld
Keld, North Yorkshire
Keld is a hamlet in the English county of North Yorkshire. It is situated on Swaledale, in the Yorkshire Dales. The name derives from the Viking word Kelda meaning a spring, and the village was once called Appletre Kelde - the spring near the apple trees.Keld is the crossing point of the Coast to...
, now known as the Corpse Way or corpse road
Corpse road
Corpse roads provided a practical means for transporting corpses, often from remote communities, to cemeteries that had burial rights, such as parish churches and chapels of ease...
, in wicker
Wicker
Wicker is hard woven fiber formed into a rigid material, usually used for baskets or furniture. Wicker is often made of material of plant origin, but plastic fibers are also used....
coffins. Several long stones, located at intervals along the path, traditionally called "coffin stones", are said to be where the coffin would have been set down while the pallbearer
Pallbearer
A pall-bearer is one of several funeral participants who helps carry the casket of a deceased person from a religious or memorial service or viewing either directly to a cemetery or mausoleum, or to and from the hearse which carries the coffin....
s rested.
Fragments of the old Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
church remain, including the font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
and the tower arch, which dates from the late 12th century. Other parts of the building date from the late 13th or early 14th century, and the pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
is Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
, but St Andrew's is now mainly a 15th century rebuild.
The church is often used as a venue for concerts during the Swaledale Festival
Swaledale Festival
The Swaledale Festival was founded in 1980 by Trevor and Emma Woolston, not only to celebrate the music already within the Yorkshire Dales, England but also to bring internationally renowned musicians and composers into the area, making it - in the words of its founders - “to music what St Ives is...
and at other times.
Other notable features
The stone bridge across the River SwaleRiver Swale
The River Swale is a river in Yorkshire, England and a major tributary of the River Ure, which itself becomes the River Ouse, emptying into the North Sea via the Humber Estuary....
was widened in the 18th century. The river is reputedly the fastest-flowing in England, and Grinton is the first point above Richmond where it could normally be forded.
Blackburn Hall, between the churchyard and the river, dates from 1635.
The Bridge Inn is popular with walkers and is a venue for weekly folk music sessions, normally held on Thursday evenings.
Above the village, on the Leyburn
Leyburn
Leyburn is a busy market town and civil parish in the borough of Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, England sitting above the northern bank of the River Ure in Wensleydale. Historically within the North Riding of Yorkshire, the name was derived from 'Ley' or 'Le' , and 'burn' , meaning clearing by the...
road is YHA
Youth Hostels Association (England & Wales)
The Youth Hostels Association is a charitable organisation, registered with the Charity Commission, providing youth hostel accommodation in England and Wales...
Grinton Lodge, a former shooting lodge which is now a youth hostel.