West Tanfield

West Tanfield is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. Situated about 6 miles north of Ripon on the A6108, which goes from Ripon into Wensleydale, West Tanfield is on the edge of both the Yorkshire Dales and the Vale of York. It is well known as one of the most picturesque villages in Yorkshire, the view from the bridge over the River Ure is popular amongst tourists, photographers and artists.

The village has a monument called the Marmion Tower, a 15th century gatehouse which belonged to the now vanished manor house formerly home to the Marmion family. At first floor level there is a fine example of an oriel window. The Anglican church next to the tower contains monuments to the Marmion family. The tower is now in the care of English Heritage.

As well as the church (dedicated to St. Nicholas), village services include a primary school which shares the same dedication as the church, two public houses, a petrol station a post office and a Methodist chapel. The Memorial Hall serves as a venue for events in the village and was built as a monument to the men of West Tanfield who died during the two world wars.

West Tanfield had a railway station on the Masham branch until the line was closed.

Not far from the village are the Thornborough Henges, known as the 'Stone Henge of the North'. Manor Farm is all that remains of the abandoned medieval village of East Tanfield 1½ miles to the east.

There is a village football team and West Tanfield Cricket Club which was founded in 1907 is situated at Sleningford on the opposite side of the Ure, they play league matches in the Nidderdale and District League and Wensleydale Evening League as well as local knockout cup competitions. There is an annual one-day Cricket Twenty20 knockout competition between West Tanfield, Kirkby Malzeard and two other local teams.

External links

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