This Local Heritage Initiative Pilot Project was one of 24 selected nationwide by the Countryside Agency, using Heritage Lottery Funding. It enabled residents of the unique Valley of Moorhouses to research the geology, archaeology and environmental features of the landscape and to record the information on an Information Technology system purchased with the grant.

Description

The Valley of Moorhouses lies within the Parish of Bewerley less than 3 miles from the market town of Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale. The south side the valley is bounded by the West Nidderdale Barden Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Protection Area (SPA). The valley is also bounded by the ancient oak woodland of Skrikes Wood, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), and an area of calcareous grassland which is also a SINC. On the north side, there is an ancient oak woodland that is also designated a SINC. The valley is dissected by a network of footpaths and bridleways.

It is easy to note two prominent areas of historical influence: the monks of Fountains Abbey with their system of grange farming and the Yorke Family who, from the seventeenth century to 1924, controlled large tracts of land and most of the mineral rights.

As you travel from Bewerley Grange Chapel turning right up Peat Lane you will notice the glacial deposits in fields to the left. On the right is woodland in which the monastic fish pond lies, hidden in its tranquil setting. You then continue to the river crossing with the entrance to Skrikes Wood on the left. Skrikes Wood, now a Nature Reserve, is rich in flora and fauna, and also stands as a monument to the romantic ideals of ‘nature in the wild’ so beloved by many Victorians such as Millais and Ruskin.

Peat Lane was the approach road to the ancient peat beds higher up on the moor, and one can imagine the ponies and sledges trailing up and down the track between Bewerley and Flat Moor via the network of holloways, which are still clearly visible on the left hand side, past the steep S-bends.

From the old holloways to the Toft Gate lime kiln at the junction of the B6265 Greenhow road, you are conscious of the wild rugged nature of the landscape with disused quarry workings, quarry spoil heaps, heather moorland, small walled fields and scattered stone farmhouses.

Residents’ Voyage of Discovery

After studying maps and aerial photographs, local, county and national archive records and censuses, together with regular meetings with a consultant archaeologist and geologist, plus detailed field survey work, the residents were amazed at the richness of the natural, built, archaeological and industrial heritage of this one small valley.

It was discovered that the area is of great geological complexity. The Craven Fault, which traverses the western Toft Gate end of the valley has resulted in deposits of limestone, sandstone, gritstone and lead. All of these substances have been exploited by man from prehistoric times. For instance, it is well documented that lead was taken for use at Windsor Castle in medieval times. The major employment in the valley in the early nineteenth century was from lead mining.

At one time there were 85 children living in several small cottages, where subsistence farming was supplemented by lead mining, quarrying and flaxmill activities. In 1851 children of seven were working in the flaxmills and ten year-olds were working in the lead mines. The disused slate mines, millstone and sandstone quarries now remain as important feature of the industrial archaeological heritage.

Time Team Two!

While the adults were surveying a medieval settlement site, a network of holloways, a possible prehistoric ritual site and a disused Victorian waterfall walk, the youngsters were also busy. Armed with trowels, plastic bags and metal detectors, they were searching molehills for evidence of past habitation. They have found a vast collection of ceramic, glass and iron and have identified (with the help of the consultant archaeologist) some seventeenth century Staffordshire slipware and clay pipes. Also identified were fragments of simple vessels, possibly made from local clay within the valley and sold in the eighteenth century as domestic ware.

A flora and fauna survey is starting early in the summer of 1999. With the assistance of Bewerley Parish Council, a leaflet is in the course of publication. This outlines a walk around the valley noting interesting archaeological and environmental features.

Anyone with interest in this project please get in touch. We would be pleased to assist anyone starting a Local Heritage project, as during our investigations we have experience of overcoming problems and we may be able to advise of short-cuts.

This project has been kindly supported by:- Countryside Agency, Nidderdale AONB, Pioneer Coldstones Quarry, Nidderdale Museum, Bewerley Parish Council, Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council Archaeological Unit, Kevin Cale Consultant Archaeologist, Shirley Everett Consultant Geologist, North Yorkshire Business Link and Nidderdale High School & Community College.