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Darrowby is a fictional village in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England, which was used by James Herriot as the setting for his book It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet. The book inspired the television series All Creatures Great and Small, which the following information is drawn from. Darrowby is a composite of Thirsk, Richmond, Leyburn and Middleham. Thirsk has a public house named The Darrowby Inn to recognise this. It was Askrigg, in Wensleydale, however, that was used for filming scenes set in Darrowby in the series.
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In the first three series of the television series, the surgery's phone number was "Darrowby 85". For the final four series it became "Darrowby 385".
In "Pride of Possession", James travels the shortest distance of all of his visits: to Roland Partridge's cottage directly across the street from the surgery.
Amenities
The Skeldale House veterinary surgery of central characters Siegfried Farnon and James Herriot is on Trengate. Although the vets are based here, they travel all over the Dales.
Darrowby Church is a few hundred feet from the surgery, beyond the small market cross. Everyone at Skeldale attends Sunday service.
The local pub, the Drovers Arms, is located on the opposite side of Trengate, a little further up the hill. (The Drovers was made out to be located near the church in the early series, as evidenced in the episode "The Name of the Game".)
There are a couple of hotels: The Reniston, which also serves dinner, and The Darrowby Hotel.
The Plaza is the local cinema.
Mr Edwards' carpentry shop is located on Market Street.
The village butcher is A. Bainbridge and Sons.
Sandra's ladies' hair stylist is located directly across from the surgery.
The Darrowby constabulary has consisted of P.C. Claude Blenkiron ("Nothing Like Experience" and "Be Prepared"), P.C. Smith ("Golden Lads and Girls"), P.C. Leach ("Pups, Pigs and Pickle"), P.C. Goole (1983 and 1990 Christmas Specials and "Mending Fences") and P.C. Hicks ("Food For Thought").
Transport
In the first three series, only once was a train station mentioned, at Tristan’s arrival. That was filmed at Leyburn railway station on the Wensleydale Railway. All other visitors travel by bus, arriving mostly at a bus stop located in Redmire village, Wensleydale.
In series 4, the station (and superior city) is called Mannerton, filmed at Goathland on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
From series 5, those travelling to Darrowby by train have to alight at neighbouring Rainby Halt. Finghall Station a few miles east of Leyburn was given a makeover as Rainby Halt (its sign saying "Alight here for Darrowby") for filming the series.
Media
The local newspapers are The Darrowby and Houlton Times and the Daily Dispatch.
Culture
Annual events in the village include the Darrowby and Houlton Show (featured in "Judgement Day" and "Ace, King, Queen, Jack") and the Vegetable Show ("Hampered").
Sport
The local cricket team, based in Rainby, is featured in the episode "The Name of the Game", when they play arch-rivals Rainby. The annual Gentlemen v. Players match can be seen in "Big Fish, Little Fish".