OS grid reference SE062884 Sovereign state United Kingdom Local time Saturday 5:56 AM District Richmondshire | Country England Post town Leyburn Shire county North Yorkshire | |
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Population 347 (Including West Scrafton. 2011) Region Yorkshire and the Humber Weather 7°C, Wind SE at 8 km/h, 93% Humidity | ||
West Witton is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. Located in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales it lies on the A684 (the main road between Leyburn and Hawes).
Contents
Map of West Witton, Leyburn, UK
The civil parish also includes the hamlet of Swinithwaite. The population of the parish was estimated at 340 in 2013.
The educator Eric James, Baron James of Rusholme lived in West Witton, and after his death had his ashes scattered there.
History
West Witton was originally known simply as Witton, and was mentioned (as Witun) in the Doomsday Book. The name is Old English, from widu and tūn, meaning "wood settlement", suggesting a place where wood was felled or worked. By the late 12th century the village became known as West Witton to distinguish it from another Witton, now known as East Witton, 5 miles (8 km) down Wensleydale.
Burning of Bartle
The village is famous locally for its "Burning of Bartle" ceremony held on the Saturday nearest 24 August (St Bartholomew's Day).
A larger than life effigy of 'Bartle' is paraded around the village, complete with glowing eyes. Bartle stops at various strategic places to recite the doggerel, before finally being burnt at Grassgill End to much merry singing.
The doggerel is:
On Penhill Crags he tore his rags; Hunter's Thorn he blew his horn; Capplebank Stee happened a misfortune and brak' his knee; Grisgill Beck he brak' his neck; Wadham's End he couldn't fend; Grassgill End we'll mak' his end. Shout, lads, shout.
At Grassgill end they burn the Bartle effigy. This celebration has its similarities to Guy Fawkes night.
Popular culture
St Bartholomew's Church was featured in the British television series All Creatures Great and Small, in the episode "Cats and Dogs". Meanwhile, when filming in Yorkshire, several of the cast stayed at West Witton's pub, the Heifer.