Bilsdale facts for kids
Bilsdale is a beautiful valley, also known as a dale, located in the western part of the North York Moors in North Yorkshire, England. This valley stretches about 10 miles (16 km) from Hasty Bank in the north down to Rye Dale near Hawnby in the south.
The main river flowing through Bilsdale is the River Seph. It forms where Raisdale Beck and Bilsdale Beck join together at the small village of Chop Gate in the northern part of the valley. The River Seph then flows south until it meets the River Rye at a place called Seph Mouth.
Bilsdale is divided into two main areas for local government. The upper part of the valley is called Bilsdale Midcable and is in the Hambleton district. The lower part of the valley is in the Hawnby area, which is part of the Ryedale district.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
What's in a Name?
The name "Bilsdale" comes from an old language called Old Norse. It means "Bildr's valley," likely named after a person called Bildr who lived there a very long time ago.
Who Owned the Land?
In the 1100s, different parts of Bilsdale were given to important religious places. The northern part went to Kirkham Priory, which was a type of monastery. The southern part went to Rievaulx Abbey, another famous monastery.
The part owned by Rievaulx Abbey was divided by the River Seph. The land west of the river became known as Bilsdale Westside. The land east of the river became part of Bilsdale Midcable. There was also a separate area called Laskill Pasture.
When monasteries were closed down in England, these lands were given to a powerful family. In 1687, the land was sold to the Duncombe family.
Mining for Jet
In the 1800s, a special type of stone called jet was mined a lot in Bilsdale. Jet is a black, shiny stone that was popular for making jewelry.
Changing Boundaries
Over time, the way the valley was divided for local government changed. In 1866, Bilsdale Westside, Bilsdale Midcable, and Laskill Pasture became separate areas. Later, in 1974, Bilsdale Westside and Laskill Pasture became part of the Hawnby area.
Today, the main villages and hamlets you'll find in Bilsdale are Chop Gate, Fangdale Beck, and the old hamlet of Urra.
The Bilsdale Transmitting Station
In 1969, a tall broadcasting tower called the Bilsdale transmitting station was built above the valley on Bilsdale West Moor. This station helps send TV and radio signals to many homes in the area.
