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Helmsley in Rydale is one of the most attractive of North Yorkshire's
country towns. Roads from Cleveland, York, Scarborough, and Thirsk converge
here at it's wide attractive market place, dominated by the prominent
memorial of 1867 to the second Earl of Feversham.
The town's buildings, are mostly constructed of the local limestone,
with pantile roofs, which form a pleasing setting for the busy Friday
market. Some half timbering in the former rectory house adjoining the
Black Swan, at Canons Garth, and at the old Manor House in Castlegate,
suggests 16th century origins, but much of Helmsley, was rebuilt last
century, as part of the Feversham estate.
Borough Beck, which enters Helmsley from the North, and flows alongside
a green, gives a village feel to this part of the town, and it's daffodils
are plentiful in the spring, where it joins the river Rye which marks
Helmsley's southern boundary.
Helmsley Castle was founded in the late 12th century but was extensively
added to about 1200, with a remodeling of the West range by Sir Edward
Manners in Tudor times. The Duke of Buckingham held the Helmsley estate
in the 17th Century, until it was bought by a London banker, Sir Thomas
Duncombe, from whom the Fevershams descended.
The mansion of Duncombe Park, probably designed by Vanbrugh but built
by the amateur architect William Wakefield in the early 18th century,
was largely destroyed by fire in 1879 and rebuilt to the original designs
a few years later. The present Earl of Feversham has recently renovated
the house and opened it to the public. The 600 acres of of parkland,
including the superb terrace with classical temples at each end, re[resent
a bold early landscaping enterprise of 1720 - 30.
It is thought that Wordsworth and His sister Dorothy may have stayed
at Helmsley's Black Swan on their way to Brompton for William's wedding
in October 1802. Dorothy's diary notes that they slept at a very nice
inn and were well treated. Today's visitors have a choice of good accommodation
including the purpose built Youth Hostel. The North Yorkshire moors
National Park headquarters are in the old Vicarage, Bondgate, and Helmsley
is the starting point for two long distance footpaths; the Cleveland
Way and the Ebor Way. The Tourist Information Centre is located in the
Town Hall.
A music and the arts festival which is part of the Ryedale and Helmsley
Festival, is held in the each summer in the town
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Whitby: History, Places to Visit,
Pub Lunch and Vampire Safety.
Italian Motorcycles
Repairs and Sales

Fine Ales, Good Food and Accommodation
Fine Ales and Good Food
Helmsley Inns
and Taverns
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