54. The Village of West Burton in the Yorkshire Dales, and a circular walk to Morpeth Scar and the medieval Penhill Knights Templar Preceptory, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, also a mention of the hamlet of Swinithwaite.

Keywords: Walks, Notes and Scenes from Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire, the North Pennines and parts of East Cumbria Penhill Knights Templar Preceptory West Burton village Methodist Chapel walks Swinithwaite Fairhursts Farm for local produce Shop Berrys Cafe gift shop Morpeth Scar Wensleydale Yorkshire Dales the Grange B&B holiday cottages Yorkshire Dales National Park England tourist information images photos pictures

 Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines Index

(a) The Village of West Burton

West Burton is a pretty village in Bishopdale, a side valley of Wensleydale, though it is more correctly described as the start of the very unspoilt Walden Valley, a hidden gem of the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire. West Burton has a very large and attractive village green. The village has a long history - it was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

West Burton is a rich community, with a village shop & tearoom, pub and family run butcher's shop set around a most glorious expansive village green.

There is also plenty for the visitor to see and do in West Burton area and great walks along the limestone slopes of Penhill

 As well as The Old Smithy Antiques there is Moorside Design Cat Pottery and country shop & weaver's studio, Fabric of the Field.

A wide variety of different types of accommodation is available to rent both in the village of West Burton and the surrounding area. A good example is 'The Grange' pictured at the end of section (a).

The village of West Burton (a) continued in pictures

(b) A circular walk from West Burton Village Green via Morpeth Scar and the Knights Templar Preceptory

A circular walk to Morpeth Scar and the Penhill Knights Templar Preceptory

Pictures of the ruins of Penhill Knights Templar Preceptory

The expansive Village Green of West Burton.

The Fox and Hounds pub in West Burton and the obelisk of 1820 on the market cross steps on the village green.

The exterior architecture of the Methodist Chapel dated 1898 in West Burton

The stained glass windows, interior pews and pulpit of the Methodist Chapel in West Burton

There is a short walk down from the village green, turning right to old very tall mill building, a bridge over the river and, on the right avoiding the bridge, there is a path up to the attractively set West Burton Waterfall.

However, you do cross this bridge to start the circular walk described in part (b)

West Burton waterfall, sometimes called Cauldron Force, one drawn by the artist Turner in his journeys around the north of England.

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In the village of West Burton is an excellent B&B with themed rooms called 'The Grange'. The Grange also has holiday cottages, Stable Cottage, Coach House and Carriage House. All the buildings are surrounded by quiet lovely gardens and there is even a section by the river. It was a great pleasure to consume a few varieties of some locally made real dairy made ice cream, the brand Brymor to be precise! TOP OF PAGE

 

Just to the north-east of West Burton, via the B6160 and A684 is the small hamlet of Swinithwaite and there you will find the Fairhursts Berrys cafe, gift and locally produced farm food shop. Berrys is a great place for refreshment after a great walk in Wensleydale.

There is a safe square outside for children to play in.

There is good parking space around the large village green at West Burton.

There is a short walk down on the right from the village green to old mill buildings, bridge over the river and a path up to the attractively set West Burton Waterfall.

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You cross this bridge follow the path that climbs steeply at first heading east.

Do not take the path to Morpeth Gate or Morpeth Lane, you take the much harder work route eastwards.

You then head south-east to the path that climbs up turns sharp left at the top to head due north to Morpeth Scar.

Marked on the OS map OL30 are Knarlton Knot and then Nancy Nick below you on the left.

This is a really great green road to walk on with great views across Wensleydale, back west towards West Burton and northwards towards Bolton Castle.

Looking down on West Burton from the green road on Knarlton Knott

The enclosed walled green road heading north to Morpeth Scar with Bolton Castle in the hazy distance on the left.

See also Castle Bolton and Redmire & Wensley Villages and circular walk from Aysgarth Falls via Bolton Castle, Wensleydale

The green road was full of beach leaves, almost like snowdrifts.

We had a picnic on the top of Morpeth Scar by the cairn and a rather touching memorial stone (shown below).

 

"Mum Your Beautiful Soul is now free V.J. 1948-2021" Memorial stone on the Morpeth Scar Cairn.

A fine view of the fine building of Sorrelsykes Park Hall and Farm from Morpeth Scar

We then descended onto the Morpeth Gate path before turning left on an enclosed gravel road that heads north down in the direction of Layrus BUT before that you turn left eastwards to follow the path down to the ruins of the Penhill Knights Templar Preceptory site (more pictures and notes below).

From the Templar site there is a direct path back to West Burton without going down to Templar Farm.

Looking up to Morpeth Scar from near the junction rejoining the Morpeth Gate path.

You eventually rejoin the Morpeth Gate path back to West Burton, over the other river bridge and back up to the village green.

Rejoining the Morpeth Gate path with Morpeth Scar in the distance.

 

The 2nd bridge downstream from the old mill where you join the B6160 at this point.

The lower 'mini' waterfalls below the village green of West Burton before walking back up to the car.

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The Penhill Knights Templar Preceptory

OS grid reference:- SE 035 887 to can easily walk to from the villages of West Burton, Swinithwaite or West Witton.

The Penhill Preceptory, a Grade II listed building was built under the northern slopes of Penhill in Wensleydale, a few 2km east of West Burton and a few km the west of the village of West Witton.

The only ruins visible are of the preceptory chapel which measure 17.5 m long and 6 m wide and the walls are up to 1.3 m thick, but only stand at the most part around a meter high or less.

However, there are indications of earthworks around the site suggesting the presence of other buildings contemporary with the chapel.

 

The Penhill preceptory once served as a house of the Knights Templar which was used from around 1142 to 1308-12.

The chapel was dedicated to Our Lady and St Catherine and would have been joined to, or close by, other residential buildings e.g. dormitory, kitchen, stables - though the rest of the site has not been archaeologically excavated.

The Order of Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem (full name of the Templars) wore a white habit with a red cross on the left shoulder. The order was founded in 1119 and came to England during the reign of King Stephen, but not until the middle of the 12th century that the Templars began to acquire land in Yorkshire, and eventually established at least ten preceptories.
 

The building of the Penhill Preceptory was founded by Roger de Mowbray in about 1142, BUT it was dissolved in 1308-12 during the suppression of the Knights Templar, when it passed to the control of the Knights Hospitallers. The first preceptory to be founded here is recorded to have stood from 1170-1181, a building located originally to the north west of Temple Farm. However (reason?),  new preceptory was built further to the south before 1202. The ruins of the second preceptory's chapel you see (in the pictures) were unearthed and excavated in 1840.

The medieval stone coffin for a child or a small adult? In the centre of the floor of the chapel are three medieval stone coffins with cover slabs whilst in the chancel there is the square stone base of an altar.

For more information I would recommend the book "The Knights Templar in Yorkshire" by Diane Holloway and Trish Colton. whom I am indebted for most of the above information on the Knights Templar Preceptory at Penhill.

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