January 2022

16 Buckden Roundabout January 2022 1890. Nicknamed “ Buckden Bill ” he was never identified and he still remains a mystery. Buckden North Yorkshire can trace its history back to the Bronze Age but little remains apart from a stone circle by the river. The village itself was founded in Norman times on the Roman road from Ilkley (Olicana) to Bainbridge (Virosidum) where there is a Roman fort. In the 12 th Century Buckden was the administrative centre for the hunting forest of Langstro- thdale Chase; the entire dale north of Buckden was set aside for hunting. It was owned by the Percy family, who became the Earls of Northumberland in 1377. In the 1650s Quakers settled in Buckden and there is a Quaker burial ground in the hamlet of Hubberholme. Hubberholme is also the location of Buckden's annual Land Letting. Since the 18 th century (and possibly earlier) the first Monday after New Year's Day is set aside for an auction of the grazing rights to a 16 acre "poor pasture". Held in the George Inn, the Vicar is the auctioneer and activities are only finished when the candle on the bar burns out. Hubberholme is also the location of Buckden ’ s church, St Mi- chael & All Angels. Originally a forest chapel dating from the 12th century, it was dedicated to the Northumbrian Saint Os- wald. The present church is famous for its rood loft, one of only two surviving in Yorkshire, which is thought to have come from Coverham Priory in 1558. The church is the last resting place of Bradford born author, J.B. Priestley, who wrote of Hubberholme - "one of the smallest and most pleasant plac- es in the world". A memorial to Priestly can be seen at the back of the church. Buckden North Yorkshire has a number of other things in com- mon with its Cambridgeshire cousin: a community choir called the Buckden Singers meets weekly; a primary school at Kettlewell, approximately 4 miles away, serves the young chil- dren of Buckden and surrounding villages; a number of inns serve locals and visitors: the George at Hubberholme, the White Lion at Cray and the Buck Inn in Buckden village. Villag- ers can interest themselves in art and whist and an annual gala is held on the third Saturday of June. The local village store supports the parish but, unlike here, dry stone walling, is a local service. Buckden North Yorkshire may be small compared with Buck- den Cambridgeshire but it ’ s definitely worth visiting. My thanks to Mark Sadler, Communications Manager, York- shire Dales National Park for allowing me to use the Buckden North Yorkshire website, www.buckden.org - Richard Storey who also provided the photos (Continued from page 15) The Buck Inn , Buckden, Yorkshire The other Buckden