Helmsley
As probably
the best bed and breakfast in Helmsley in
North Yorkshire we thought you'd need a little background
to this unique Town so.....Helmsley derived its name from
''a woodland clearing of a man called Helm'' and is first
recorded in 1086 as Elmslac. The history of Helmsley is
best told by its surrounding architecture. Castles, abbeys,
churches, a mansion, town hall and coaching inns, all have
their part to play in revealing the history of this picturesque
market town.
Over 40,000 acres of Yorkshire was given to the French Baron
Walter l'Espec, who fought alongside William the Conqueror,
as a reward for his services during William's conquering
reign. l'Espec decided to build his Castle in Helmsley,
the ruins of which are still visible today, and it was l'Espec
who invited the Cistercian monks to build a settlement on
his land and after some investigation of suitable sites
Rievaulx Abbey was born. A classic example of Gothic architecture,
even in its now ruined state, it has inspired a host of
artists including Turner.
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Monks
from Rievaulx left this settlement and in 1177 Byland Abbey
was established which was much larger and eventually much
more important than Rievaulx. The 17th century witnessed
the surrender of Helmsley Castle after a three month siege
by the Parliamentary forces. Using the then new 'dynamite'
the Castle
was nearly all destroyed. However, it remains one of the
finest examples of the double moat defensive earthworks
around any castle to this day.
The 18th century brought a rather grander scale to things
and Castle Howard and Duncombe Park in Helmsley were built.
Restored in the late 1980's by the current Lord and Lady
Feversham Duncombe Park is renowned for its landscape gardens
and its very old hardwood trees of which there are very
few left in the whole of Europe (you ask Ted Green!). It
also lays claim to having the tallest tree in Great Britain.
All can be revealed when you visit.
Not that this unique Town remains stuck in a historic time
warp, whilst cobbles streets and mellow stone from long
ago set the scene, today individually owned shops mix with
specialist suppliers to provide for you the very best that
North Yorkshire has to offer. |
View The Carlton Lodge in a larger map
The southern boundary of The North Yorkshire Moors National
Park, over 550 square miles of natural beauty, lies in Helmsley,
as do the start and finish of the magnificent Cleveland and
Ebor Ways, two popular long distance walks that extend to you
the serious and not so serious walker a spectacular introduction
to this unique area.
With the recent traumas in Tourism the National Park are taking
a more pro-active role in visitor welfare and have linked this
to a ‘sustainable tourism project’ which promotes all that’s
best in the Park in a reusable way and we are very happy to
be working with the Park and playing our part, however small,
in this important local initiative.
Helmsley is in the District of
Ryedale one of the most sparsely populated areas of any local
authority in England today. So if you are seeking to join the
masses and fight your way through crowded streets to enter ‘High
Street’ stores you will be disappointed. If alternately you
are seeking some quiet relaxation, perhaps some time to walk
and think, visit some historic settlements, or purchase a piece
of Yorkshire, your decision to stay in Ryedale at the Carlton
Lodge, probably the best bed and breakfast in Town, is
well made.
North Yorkshire is a huge area stretching almost from west to
coast to east coast. Within its boundaries lie two national
Parks the Moors and the Dales, and an unimaginable amount of
spectacular rolling countryside. It is also home to many and
varied heritage sites ranging from religious monuments like
Fountains Abbey to grand stately houses like Castle Howard to
indeed the smallest stately home in Britain today. It also plays
host to very many television and film crews some of which have
stayed at the
best bed and breakfast in Helmsley! So the next time
you watch an episode of ‘Heartbeat’ or go to see the latest
‘Harry Potter’ film you can think of the Carlton Lodge for your
next short break.
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