Littondale

Littondale is a dale in the Craven district of the non-metropolitan county of North Yorkshire, England. It comprises the main settlements of Hawkswick, Arncliffe, Litton, Foxup and Halton Gill, and farmhouses that date from the 17th century. The main waterway in the dale is the River Skirfare which is fed by many small gills and becks.

The dale, first recorded by name in 1198, is one of the few dales named from its main settlement rather than its river (Wensleydale is the best known example).[1]

Geography

Littondale is a side dale to the west of Wharfedale and follows the River Skirfare. The nature of the dale and its characteristic smooth form was the result of many ice ages, especially the one 20,000 years ago. As the glacier for that age receded it left retreat moraine, an example of which can be found at Skirfare Bridge. Like neighbouring Wharfedale, Littondale comprises mainly Great Scar Limestone and Yoredale rock. The dale has a number of shake holes and sink-holes that lead to underground cave systems such as at Boreham Cave.[2] At the head of the dale is Pen-y-ghent, one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

A narrow road leads up the dale from the B6160 near Kilnsey as far as Foxup. Two minor roads lead out of the dale to the south and west, one from Arncliffe to Malham and one from Halton Gill past Pen-y-Ghent to Stainforth in Ribblesdale.

History

Littondale is rich in Bronze Age and Iron Age settlements, and has been a sheltered fertile valley for 5,000 years or more. Anglian cultivation terraces (lynchets) can be seen in the valley. After the Conquest, the Normans turned it into a hunting chase before the land was granted to the monks of Fountains Abbey in the 13th century, and became extensively used for sheep farming.[2]

All of Littondale was historically in the ancient parish of Arncliffe in the West Riding of Yorkshire. In 1866 it was divided into the civil parishes of Hawkswick, Arncliffe, Litton and Halton Gill[3], and in 1974 became part of the district of Craven in the new county of North Yorkshire.

Settlements

Hawkswick is the first settlement reached travelling from the B6160. The name is derived from the Middle English Hauk meaning someone who trained Hawks and wick, meaning dairy farm.[4][5]

Arncliffe is the second, and largest, settlement reached travelling from the B6160, lies at the confluence of Cowside Beck and the River Skirfare. The name derives from the Old English, earna-clif, meaning eagles cliff.[6] It is now a conservation area and is centred on its village green and has one public house. The church was built in the 16th and 18th centuries to replace the stone 11th century building, which probably superseded a wooden Anglo-Saxon church.

Litton is the third settlement reached travelling from the B6160. The name has the meaning village on a roaring stream.[7]

Halton Gill is the fourth settlement reached travelling from the B6160. The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon haugh meaning Valley and tun meaning farm. Gill is a derivation of the Olde Norse 'gil', meaning ravine, therefore the whole name means valley farm by the ravine.[8][9]

Foxup is the last settlement reached travelling from the B6160. The name means fox valley.[10]

Governance

Littondale lies entirely within the Craven District Council Ward of Upper Wharfedale and as of 2011 is represented by John Roberts of the local Conservative Party.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Smith, A.H. (1961). The Place-names of the West Riding of Yorkshire. 6. Cambridge University Press. p. 126.
  2. 1 2 "Littondale Information" (PDF). Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Vision of Britain website
  4. ↑ "Hawswick etymology". Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "Etymology". Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Arncliffe etymology". Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "Litton etymology". Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "Halton Gill Etrymology". Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "Etymology". Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  10. ↑ Smith, A.H. (1961). The Place-names of the West Riding of Yorkshire. 6. Cambridge University Press. p. 122.
  11. ↑ "Governance". Retrieved 15 October 2011.

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