Population 447 (2011) Sovereign state United Kingdom Postcode district YO7 Civil parish Rainton with Newby | Post town THIRSK Local time Thursday 6:10 PM District Borough of Harrogate | |
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Weather 8°C, Wind NE at 19 km/h, 71% Humidity | ||
Rainton is a village in the Harrogate borough of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated about 6 miles north of Boroughbridge, 5 miles north-east of Ripon and 5 miles south-west of Thirsk. It is a picturesque village with a village green and a maypole. There are approximately 120 houses in Rainton including six listed buildings- several period farm houses, a smithy and a dovecote. The local vernacular building style is sandstone and cobble construction with slate or pantile roof. It is a tranquil North Yorkshire village where life revolves around the many activities at the village hall and the two village pubs.
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Map of Rainton, Thirsk, UK
Rainton was a largely agricultural village but since 2000 it has become a more fashionable commuter village, largely due to its close proximity to the A1 road. This in turn has led to a steep increase in property prices which is evidenced by the large number of barn conversions and property renovations. Despite becoming more commuter orientated, Rainton has a strong community spirit, holding Christmas parties for local children, lunches for the retired folk, and a host of other social events including a gardening club.
Rainton is the principal settlement in the civil parish of Rainton with Newby. Newby, historically known as Newby-on-Swale, is a deserted medieval village, now occupied by Baldersby Park (also known as Newby Park), the home of Queen Mary's School.
Facilities
The local school is based at Baldersby St James.
There are two freehold pubs in the village: The Lamb and The Bay Horse which are all traditional village pubs. Both pubs serve a selection of real ales and serve typical home-made pub fayre. The Bay Horse is known for its Wednesday night Steak or Pie and the Lamb is popular for its 'Feast for a Fiver".
A recreation field, including a children's park, opened in 2000 after much fundraising in the village. The children's park is a hidden gem and has been recently successful in obtaining further funds to provide new equipment for older children. The cricket club has two teams which have a superb new pavilion, built largely by the hands-on cricket team and villagers themselves.
There is a Methodist chapel in Rainton. The church at nearby Baldersby St James has a 'landmark' steeple.
History
Rainton was historically in the parish of Topcliffe in the North Riding of Yorkshire, part of the township of Rainton with Newby. The township became a separate civil parish in 1866, and in 1974 was transferred to the new county of North Yorkshire.