Arncliffe, North Yorkshire

Arncliffe
Arncliffe and Littondale from the north
Arncliffe is located in North Yorkshire
Arncliffe
Arncliffe
Location within North Yorkshire
Population80 (NYCC estimate) 2018[1]
OS grid referenceSD931718
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSKIPTON
Postcode districtBD23
Dialling code01756
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
54°08′32″N 2°06′23″W / 54.14222°N 2.10639°W / 54.14222; -2.10639

Arncliffe is a small village and civil parish in Littondale, one of the Yorkshire Dales in England. Littondale is a small valley beside Upper Wharfedale, 3 miles (4.8 km) beyond Kilnsey and its famous crag. It is part of the Craven district of the non-metropolitan county of North Yorkshire, but is in the historic West Riding of Yorkshire. The population of the civil parish was estimated at 80 in 2015.[1]

Overview

Situated on a gravel delta above the flood-plain of the River Skirfare, Arncliffe's houses, cottages, and other buildings face a large green, and green hillsides etched with limestone scars. A barn to the north of the green is a good example of the local style, with an unusual entrance, and a datestone of 1677.

Behind the village buildings are several small crofts, nearly one to each house, and beyond these, limestone walls climb the surrounding hills separating higher fields. St Oswald's Church lies close to the river a little north of the village, and the road up the dale crosses the river past Bridge End where Charles Kingsley stayed, and Old Cotes, built in 1650, whose gabled porch has a 3-light window somewhat characteristic of late 17th century houses in this area of the dales. A narrow, winding road climbs steeply southwards from the village, across the fells towards Malham. Paths also go towards Kettlewell and Starbotton.

Arncliffe was the original setting for the fictional village of Beckindale in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale Farm, from its inception in 1972 until moving to Esholt.[2] Some scenes for the 2020 TV series All Creatures Great and Small were filmed in Arncliffe.[3] The village pub, The Falcon Inn, has appeared in both shows.[4]

The village is the birthplace of Up Series participant Nicholas Hitchon.[5]

History

Arncliffe was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. The toponym is of Old English origin, meaning "eagles' cliff" (from earn "eagle").[6]

The ancient parish of Arncliffe was part of Staincliffe Wapentake in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The parish also included the townships of Hawkswick, Litton, Halton Gill and Buckden.[7] All these places became separate civil parishes in 1866.[8]

Arncliffe was transferred to the new county of North Yorkshire in 1974.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "2015 Population Estimates Parishes" (PDF). northyorks.gov.uk. December 2016. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Emmerdale (TV Series 1972– ) - Filming & Production". IMDb.
  3. ^ Smith, Stephanie (9 March 2022). "All Creatures Great and Small locations used for the most beautiful Yorkshire scenes from Helen's farm to Skeldale House and the real Drovers". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  4. ^ Himelfield, Dave (11 December 2021). "Inside Emmerdale's original Woolpack - the 'time warp' pub that people travel thousands of miles to visit". Leeds Live. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  5. ^ "How a landmark documentary caused a seven year itch". The Yorkshire Post. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  6. ^ Smith, A. H. (1961). The Place-names of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Vol. 6. Cambridge University Press. p. 113.
  7. ^ "Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales". 1870. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Arncliffe CP/AP through time - Census tables with data for the Parish-level Unit". Vision of Britain.
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