Raskelf is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The electoral roll has a population of around 400 measured at 519 in the 2011 census.[1]

Raskelf
St Mary's Church with its wooden west tower
Raskelf is located in North Yorkshire
Raskelf
Raskelf
Location within North Yorkshire
Population519 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSE491709
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townYORK
Postcode districtYO61
Dialling code01347
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
54°05′N 1°09′W / 54.08°N 1.15°W / 54.08; -1.15

History

edit

The village appears in the Domesday Book as Rascill and its derivation is believed to be Ra (Roe Deer) and Skelf (Shelf).[2] This implies that at the time, Roe Deer were present on the shelf of land where Raskelf now stands.

The village was originally in the Wapentake of Bulmer. The village was part of the Hambleton District between 1974 and 2023. It is now administered by North Yorkshire Council.

The village itself is split into two, 'The Green' and the main village which are about 400 yards apart. It is situated just off the A19, 2.5 miles (4 km) north west of Easingwold, 15 miles (24 km) north of York and 9 miles (15 km) south of Thirsk. It can be reached by either travelling from Easingwold, turning left at the roundabout at the top of Long Street, along Raskelf Road, or directly from the A19 (just after the Easingwold bypass travelling north), or from Helperby which connects Raskelf to the Boroughbridge/Harrogate areas of North Yorkshire.

St Mary's, a 12th-century church is notable for being the only church in Yorkshire to have a wooden tower.[3][4] The church is in the Parish of Easingwold with Raskelf in the Diocese of York.[5]

In 1623, Ralph Reynard and Mark Dun, were accused and convicted of the murder of a yeoman by the name of Fletcher. Along with Fletcher's wife, they were executed.[2][6]

Transport

edit

Buses provide a Mondays only working from Raskelf to Boroughbridge and back.[7] Service 29 goes to York 6 times daily with only 4 return workings. Most of these services start in Easingwold.[8] Bus 30X runs from Thirsk to York via Raskelf seven times daily Mondays to Saturdays. There are no buses through Raskelf on Sundays.[9]

Railway station

edit

Raskelf railway station was ½ mile (0.8 km) to the west of the village itself.[10] It was opened in 1841 by the Great North of England Railway, which was in itself a line built by the North Eastern Railway to connect York with Newcastle.[11] The station was closed to passengers in 1958 and closed completely in 1964.[12] It was the last station on the East Coast Main Line before the north and south to east junction with the Thirsk and Malton Line.[13] The line is still open today and the site of the station is where Hag Lane crosses over the railway. Raskelf station was 13 miles and 28 chains (22 km) north of York and 8 miles and 51 chains (14 km) south of Thirsk.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Raskelf Parish (1170216910)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Visit Easingwold - Raskelf". visit-easingwold.com. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Raskelf Parish Council". www.raskelf.org.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b Historic England. "CHURCH OF ST MARY (1294222)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  5. ^ "St Mary's Raskelf, Raskelf". A Church Near You. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  6. ^ "GENUKI: Easingwold". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Bus service 002" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Bus service 29" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Bus service 30X" (PDF).
  10. ^ "History of Raskelf, in Hambleton and North Riding | Map and description". www.visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  11. ^ Historic England. "GREAT NORTH OF ENGLAND RAILWAY (1375367)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  12. ^ Historic England. "RASKELF STATION (500503)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Disused Stations: Coxwold Station". www.disused-stations.org.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
edit

  Media related to Raskelf at Wikimedia Commons