Stokesley
Encyclopedia
Stokesley is a small market town
and civil parish
in the Hambleton
district of North Yorkshire
, England
. It lies on the River Leven
. Stokesley is located about two miles south of the boundary of the borough of Middlesbrough
and ten miles south of Middlesbrough
town centre. Stokesley is located between Middlesbrough
, Guisborough
and Northallerton
, in a farming area. Local attractions for visitors include nearby Great Ayton
, Captain Cook's monument, Roseberry Topping
and the North York Moors
.
. The Pack Horse Bridge, crossing the River Leven from the riverside walk, dates from the 17th century. Renowned for its large range of building types, the latter construction within Stokesley of sundry fine Georgian architecture
is thought to have contributed much to its later character. Other prominent historical features around the town include the Mill Wheel, thought to represent the site of a mill recorded in the Domesday Book
of 1086. The famous survey, by William the Conqueror, also contained the first written record of "a church and priest" in Stokesley. Its equivalent today, The Church of St Peter and St Paul, is located just off the market Plain and has woodwork carved by the Mouseman of Kilburn
.
Visitors to Stokesley today will find an intact historic High Street, lined with many independent small shops and restaurants. Other facilities include a Leisure Centre with a swimming pool, a medium-sized supermarket, show-ground, camping site, Health Centre, industrial estate (Terry Dicken), Library, Police Station and Fire Station. The town also has five pubs. Stokesley is also the home of Quorn
, produced by Marlow Foods.
The inaugural meeting of the Stokesley Agricultural Society
was held at the Golden Lion Hotel, now Chapters Hotel, in 1859. This boutique hotel was also used as the local law courts for the area being ideally placed between Middlesbrough and Northallerton.
Stokesley Agricultural Show, first held in 1859, is held every year on the third Saturday in September. It is, perhaps, the largest one day show in England.
There is a weekly market held on a Friday in the main square called the Plain. A farmer's market takes place on the first Saturday of each month.
A four day fair takes place every September in the town centre. The fair spans the full length of the high street and rides such as the KMG Equinox-Tango, the Extreme, Vertigo and various Crows rides attend. The fair always begins on a Wednesday evening and runs until the Saturday, opening all day on the Saturday due to the annual agricultural show
which takes place on the showground.
Stokesley is served by the Arriva
service 29 and 29A from Middlesbrough every 30 minutes and the 81 from Marske
Estate every 60 minutes.
There are regular Moorsbus
services on Service M2 (Danby-Stokesley-Helmsley) & Service M9 (Stokesley-Osmotherley) - these buses run on Sundays from Easter to October, and daily during the school summer holidays
Hutchinson's run irregular services 82 (Stokesley-Yarm) and 83 (Stokesley-Seamer & Newby).
Abbott's of Leeming run hourly service 80/89 to Northallerton
& Romanby via Osmotherley
On Fridays only there is also a bus to Kildale
. On Wednesdays only the 27 runs to Whitby
via the Esk Valley.
Stokesley was originally served by rail and had a station and extensive sidings on the Northallerton to Stockton branch. The station closed to passengers in June 1954, pre-dating the large scale closures of the Beeching
era. Goods facilities remained until August 1965 when the line closed completely. The station was featured extensively in the British Transport film "A Farmer Moves South" in 1951, and now included in a DVD compilation. The nearest railway station is now at Great Ayton
.
pupils going to Middlesbrough under the old system.
A primary school, Stokesley Primary School, on the current site was created in 1908, and then extended in 1973. It has about 500 pupils.
A secondary school, Stokesley School, was opened in 1959The Buildings of England Yorkshire The North Riding, N. Pevsner, Penguin Books, 1966 for pupils between 11 and 18. It was originally categorised as secondary modern and became a comprehensive school
in the 1970s. Later a sixth form college
was incorporated. It has, at present, about 1,700 pupils. Alumni of Stokesley School include Labour
politician Alan Milburn
, 1988 Olympics
runner Louise Stuart, and Sky Sports News
journalist and presenter David Jones
.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
and civil parish
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 Hambleton
Hambleton
Hambleton is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. The main town and administrative centre is Northallerton, and includes the market towns and major villages of Bedale, Thirsk, Great Ayton, Stokesley and Easingwold....
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
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...
. It lies on the River Leven
River Leven, North Yorkshire
The River Leven is a river in North Yorkshire, England and is a tributary to the River Tees. It rises on Warren Moor, part of Kildale Moor, in the North Yorks Moors and flows to the north of the moors to join the River Tees at Yarm.-Course:...
. Stokesley is located about two miles south of the boundary of the borough of Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough (borough)
-External links:*...
and ten miles south of Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
town centre. Stokesley is located between Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Guisborough
Guisborough
Guisborough is a market town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England....
and Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
, in a farming area. Local attractions for visitors include nearby Great Ayton
Great Ayton
Great Ayton is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire on the edge of the North York Moors in England. The name Great Ayton is thought to derive from Ea-tun, tun meaning farm and 'ea' meaning river. It has a population of 4,570....
, Captain Cook's monument, Roseberry Topping
Roseberry Topping
Roseberry Topping is a distinctive hill on the border between North Yorkshire and the borough of Redcar and Cleveland, England. It is situated near Great Ayton and Newton under Roseberry. Its summit has a distinctive half-cone shape with a jagged cliff, which has led to many comparisons with the...
and the North York Moors
North York Moors
The North York Moors is a national park in North Yorkshire, England. The moors are one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. It covers an area of , and it has a population of about 25,000...
.
History
Stokesley was first granted a charter to hold fairs in 1223 by Henry IIIHenry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
. The Pack Horse Bridge, crossing the River Leven from the riverside walk, dates from the 17th century. Renowned for its large range of building types, the latter construction within Stokesley of sundry fine Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
is thought to have contributed much to its later character. Other prominent historical features around the town include the Mill Wheel, thought to represent the site of a mill recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086. The famous survey, by William the Conqueror, also contained the first written record of "a church and priest" in Stokesley. Its equivalent today, The Church of St Peter and St Paul, is located just off the market Plain and has woodwork carved by the Mouseman of Kilburn
Robert (Mousey) Thompson
Robert Thompson was a British furniture maker. He lived in Kilburn, North Yorkshire, where he set up a business manufacturing oak furniture, which featured a carved mouse on almost every piece...
.
Visitors to Stokesley today will find an intact historic High Street, lined with many independent small shops and restaurants. Other facilities include a Leisure Centre with a swimming pool, a medium-sized supermarket, show-ground, camping site, Health Centre, industrial estate (Terry Dicken), Library, Police Station and Fire Station. The town also has five pubs. Stokesley is also the home of Quorn
Quorn
Quorn is the leading brand of mycoprotein food product in the UK and Ireland. The mycoprotein used to produce Quorn is extracted from a fungus, Fusarium venenatum, which is grown in large vats....
, produced by Marlow Foods.
The inaugural meeting of the Stokesley Agricultural Society
Agricultural society
An agricultural society may refer to:*An agrarian society, one where the chief occupation is agriculture: typically contrasted with an industrial society....
was held at the Golden Lion Hotel, now Chapters Hotel, in 1859. This boutique hotel was also used as the local law courts for the area being ideally placed between Middlesbrough and Northallerton.
Stokesley Agricultural Show, first held in 1859, is held every year on the third Saturday in September. It is, perhaps, the largest one day show in England.
There is a weekly market held on a Friday in the main square called the Plain. A farmer's market takes place on the first Saturday of each month.
A four day fair takes place every September in the town centre. The fair spans the full length of the high street and rides such as the KMG Equinox-Tango, the Extreme, Vertigo and various Crows rides attend. The fair always begins on a Wednesday evening and runs until the Saturday, opening all day on the Saturday due to the annual agricultural show
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
which takes place on the showground.
Transport
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
service 29 and 29A from Middlesbrough every 30 minutes and the 81 from Marske
Marske-by-the-Sea
Marske-by-the-Sea is a village in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England.It is located on the coast, in an area sometimes referred to as East Cleveland, between the seaside resorts of Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea although it is not...
Estate every 60 minutes.
There are regular Moorsbus
Moorsbus
Moorsbus is a network of bus services operating to and around the North York Moors national park and surrounding areas. It has been operational since the 1980s, and links places such as Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, York and Hull to the national park...
services on Service M2 (Danby-Stokesley-Helmsley) & Service M9 (Stokesley-Osmotherley) - these buses run on Sundays from Easter to October, and daily during the school summer holidays
Hutchinson's run irregular services 82 (Stokesley-Yarm) and 83 (Stokesley-Seamer & Newby).
Abbott's of Leeming run hourly service 80/89 to Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
& Romanby via Osmotherley
On Fridays only there is also a bus to Kildale
Kildale
Kildale is a village and civil parish in Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies approximately 3 miles south-east of Great Ayton, in the North Yorkshire Moors on the Cleveland Way National Trail....
. On Wednesdays only the 27 runs to 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...
via the Esk Valley.
Stokesley was originally served by rail and had a station and extensive sidings on the Northallerton to Stockton branch. The station closed to passengers in June 1954, pre-dating the large scale closures of the Beeching
Beeching
Beeching is an English surname. Either a derivative of the old English bece, bæce "stream", hence "dweller by the stream" or of the old English bece "beach-tree" hence "dweller by the beach tree".People called Beeching include:-...
era. Goods facilities remained until August 1965 when the line closed completely. The station was featured extensively in the British Transport film "A Farmer Moves South" in 1951, and now included in a DVD compilation. The nearest railway station is now at Great Ayton
Great Ayton
Great Ayton is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire on the edge of the North York Moors in England. The name Great Ayton is thought to derive from Ea-tun, tun meaning farm and 'ea' meaning river. It has a population of 4,570....
.
Education
Historic schools include the Preston Grammar School in College Square: now a Pizza Takeaway. This school existed until 1908 and was closed for failing to reach the standards of an inspection. In general children who passed exams at 11 years old, then went to Yarm Grammar School, with some CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
pupils going to Middlesbrough under the old system.
A primary school, Stokesley Primary School, on the current site was created in 1908, and then extended in 1973. It has about 500 pupils.
A secondary school, Stokesley School, was opened in 1959The Buildings of England Yorkshire The North Riding, N. Pevsner, Penguin Books, 1966 for pupils between 11 and 18. It was originally categorised as secondary modern and became a comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
in the 1970s. Later a sixth form college
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
was incorporated. It has, at present, about 1,700 pupils. Alumni of Stokesley School include Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician Alan Milburn
Alan Milburn
Alan Milburn is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Darlington from 1992 until 2010...
, 1988 Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
runner Louise Stuart, and Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News is a 24-hour sports news channel in the United Kingdom. It is run by BSkyB whose sports channels include Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as Sky Sports HD1, HD2, HD3 and HD4....
journalist and presenter David Jones
David Jones (television presenter)
David Jones is an English sports broadcaster working for Sky Sports News.David Jones went to Stokesley Comprehensive school in North Yorkshire.Jones became a presenter on Sky Sports News in February 2003 after spending two seasons as a pitch-side reporter on Premiership Plus...
.
Further reading
- Stokesley and District Local History Study Group, Historical Glimpses of the Town of Stoxley, Stokesley and District Local History Study Group 1981
- The Stokesley Society, Old Stokesley, The Stokesley Society 1983
- Stokesley and District Local History Study Group, Stokesley in the 1860s: Aspects of Everyday Life, Stokesley and District Local History Study Group 1994.
- The Stokesley Scene Collection, New Book, Life in a Yorkshire Market Town with a Foreword by the Rt. Hon. William Hague MP "The Stokesley Scene Collection: 30th Anniversary Limited Edition", 2008.
Videos
- A Scrapbook of Stokesley, The Stokesley Society 1998
- A Walk Round Old Stokesley with Maurice Wilson, The Stokesley Society 1995