Welcome to Thornton Steward,
one of the most attractive villages in the Richmondshire
district of Lower Wensleydale, North Yorkshire.
Thornton Steward has a rich history with the 11th century church and a long association with the monks of nearby Jervaulx Abbey. The buildings and houses which flank the village green are mainly of traditional Yorkshire stone and date from medieval time to the current day and all in keeping with the style and character of the area.
The village was designated a Conservation Area in 1995 and a comprehensive appraisal was carried out by Richmondshire District Council and published along with a management plan in 2009. This very interesting document reveals much about the historic buildings in the village, along with over 130 photographs and it can be seen by clicking here.
With a thriving local community, the village is also ideally situated within a few miles of the delightful and typical North Yorkshire market towns of Leyburn, Masham and Bedale.
An active local environment ensures that there is a variety of social events held throughout the year in the Village Institute, which also provides a restful place to pause for local walkers and rambling groups. The Institute is available and welcoming with refreshments and facilities for visitors and it can also be hired for classes and other events. (Please email the Institute Trustees at tsevents@btinternet.com for further information.)
These illustrations were commissioned for the 'Thornton Steward Heritage Trail and Walks' booklet and are reproduced here by kind permission of the artist, Jo Stockdale.