Explore-Nidderdale-AW - Flipbook - Page 20
WHERE TO GO
Life in Nidderdale
Through the Ages
The heritage and culture of Nidderdale is fascinating to explore through the
three features we highlight below. From the everyday life for ordinary folk
conveyed comprehensively at the Nidderdale Museum in Pateley Bridge, to the
fascinating insights into the human and natural history of the Washburn Valley
revealed at Washburn Heritage Centre, to the utter grandeur of a magni昀椀cent
World Heritage Site at Fountains Abbey, there really is something for everyone
to enjoy and appreciate!
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Park
became one of the 昀椀rst places in the UK to be
named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
Even a short walk there will immediately tell you
why (though we hope you will take a long walk
whilst there!). Now owned and operated by the
National Trust, this is probably the un-missable
place to visit in Nidderdale.
There are two distinct parts to the Fountains
Abbey and Studley Royal estate, as the name
suggests: Studley Royal water garden and the
ruins of Fountains Abbey. The water garden at
Studley Royal is one of the few great 18th-century
gardens to have survived well in its original form.
It’s the creation of John Aislabie and later his son,
William. Their design ingeniously channels the
winding waters of the River Skell past the abbey
ruins and into moon-shaped ponds and mirrored
lakes, framed by formal bosquet hedges and laurel
banks. They pushed the boundaries of what was
considered to be a garden and heavily in昀氀uenced
the typical ‘English’ garden style.
Fountains Abbey was founded in 1132 by
Benedictine monks and had become a complex
and large abbey and estate by the time it was
dissolved in 1539. The atmospheric ruins that
remain are a window into a way of life which
shaped the medieval world. The site is also home
to a signi昀椀cant deer park where over 500 deer
roam freely through the park.
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Nidderdale Museum in Pateley Bridge really
is a joy to visit—for young and old alike! The
fascinating collection includes thousands of
items showing life in Nidderdale over the past
200 years, displayed in their original settings,
such as the parlour, shop and schoolroom. There
are 11 separate rooms packed full of items and
photos related to leisure, agriculture, industry,
religion, transport, costume, and more. The
museum is operated entirely by volunteers who
are passionate about Nidderdale’s heritage, and
there are always volunteers on hand to answer any
query that visitors have.
Located in Fewston and covering the natural
and human history of the Washburn Valley,
the Washburn Heritage Centre is an absolute
gem. There is a lot on offer when you visit. The
permanent exhibition at the rear of the church
tells the story of the valley and explains the
history of the church. Each year there are three
temporary exhibitions in the Heritage Centre.
These exhibitions focus on different aspects of
the valley’s rich heritage. Topics covered include
War and the Washburn, Hostelries, the Washburn
Valley Show and geology and natural landscape
of the valley. Each exhibition has a programme
of events, which typically includes heritage walks
around the valley, workshops, courses, special
suppers, and short talks. Every weekend the
Centre becomes a tea room, run by volunteers
(like the Centre itself).
