Middleham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Middleham | |
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  Middleham shown within North Yorkshire |
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| Population | 840 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Richmondshire |
| Shire county | North Yorkshire |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LEYBURN |
| Postcode district | DL8 |
| Dialling code | 01969 |
| Police | North Yorkshire |
| Fire | North Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| European Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament | Richmond |
| List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire | |
Middleham is a small market town in Wensleydale, in the Yorkshire Dales. There has been a settlement there since the Romans were in Britain.
The town is dominated by the castle, which was started in 1190. The Nevilles acquired it through marriage in the 13th century and called it the "Windsor of the North". It was subsequently acquired by Richard III in 1471 and is where his son was born. This castle in now a ruin, after having been dismantled in 1646. The keep, which was built by Robert Fitz Ralph in the 1170s survives to this day along the 13th century chapel and the 14th century gatehouse. The Church of Saints Mary and Alkelda dates to the 14th century and boasts a 3 m high Perpendicular font cover and a copy of the Middleham Jewel.
Today the town is a modern centre of horse racing in the UK and is home to the Middleham Trainers' Association. The first racehorse trainer to train at Middleham was Isaac Cape in 1765. Today there are several racehorse trainers based here including Mark Johnston Patrick Haslam and Ian Jones. Racing is the number one employer in the town. Tourism is the second biggest industry in the village.
Middleham is twinned with the northern French town of Agincourt.
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