Ampleforth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ampleforth


Ampleforth

Ampleforth (North Yorkshire)
Ampleforth

Ampleforth shown within North Yorkshire
Population 883
OS grid reference SE582787
Shire county North Yorkshire
Region Yorkshire and the Humber
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Police North Yorkshire
Fire North Yorkshire
Ambulance Yorkshire
European Parliament Yorkshire and the Humber
List of places: UKEnglandYorkshire

Coordinates: 54°12′04″N 1°06′28″W / 54.20106, -1.10787

Ampleforth is a village and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England, about 23 miles north of York. The village is situated on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. The parish has a population of 883 according to the 2001 census, and includes Ampleforth College.

Up until immediately after the Second World War the village of Ampleforth mainly consisted of houses built along the main road which serves as the principal thoroughfare. Here there are several buildings dating back to the nineteenth century including the Village Shop and the adjoining Coram Cottage, constructed in 1856.

After the war the village began to spread southwards and further east along what now are called Mill Lane and East Lane. At the southern end of the village there is a former council estate constructed in the 1960s which formed the greatest part of the development. Construction of new houses continues today. Along East Lane small farms are gradually being developed into large homes so that the rural/residential split becomes less marked.

Ampleforth is one of the most sought after villages in the area causing property prices to be unusually high for North Yorkshire.[citation needed] This has been attributed to the proximity of Ampleforth College.[citation needed]

Stained glass window from St Hilda's depicting the Crucifixion
Stained glass window from St Hilda's depicting the Crucifixion

The Church of England parish in the village is dedicated to St Hilda, an English abbess who founded the Abbey at Whitby. The church dates back to Saxon times, with elements of it coming from the 13th century. Attached to the church is a primary school run jointly by the Church of England and the North Yorkshire County Council Education service. The current vicar is Rev. Michael Cartwright.

Ampleforth Abbey is only a mile away. Our Lady and St. Benedict's is served by the monks of Ampleforth and has served as parish church for the village's Catholic population for many decades, often being considered a chapel-of-ease to the farmers of the area. Attached to the Roman Catholic parish is the co-educational primary school, St. Benedict's, which is run by the Diocese of Middlesbrough as a systemic school.

There are two public houses in the village, "The White Swan" and "The White Horse". The latter takes its name from the large white horse which was carved into the hillside a few miles to the west by soldiers of the British Army during the reign of Queen Victoria.