Rosedale Abbey

History

A Cistercian Priory of the same name once stood on the site. All that is left today is a staircase, a sundial and a single stone pillar. Founded in 1158, the priory was inhabited by a small group of nuns who are credited with being the first people to farm sheep commercially in the region. The priory ceased to operate in 1535 due to the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The building was eventually dismantled in the 19th century when the stone was reclaimed for building - including a new church on the site of the original priory.

In the 19th century an iron ore mining industry was established. The population of the valley expanded rapidly until the demise of the mines in the 1920s. The standard-gauge Rosedale Branch railway line ran round the head of the valley, serving mine workings on either side, and across the moors to reach what is now the Esk Valley Line at Battersby Junction.

Community

Rosedale Abbey comprises a collection of stone houses, and public houses, St Mary & St Laurence Church, an art gallery, tea room, a sandwich shop, glass studio and a village green. Inhabitants of the village consist largely of those born elsewhere, with very few being indigenous.

Tourism in the area has developed into a major industry, with many smaller properties renovated for private holiday homes or as self-catering accommodation. Hotels, larger properties, and farms provide bed and breakfast accommodation.

Recently a local parish council election attracted candidates opposed to the construction of affordable housing close to their properties.

The Rosedale Show is held in the village each August, and attracts some 5,000 visitors. The show dates back to 1871 and is one of the oldest in North Yorkshire.