The Esk Valley Railway stretches from Whitby to Middlesbrough, and passes through many delightful villages and beautiful scenery. The line follows the route of the River Esk as far as Castleton and then continues on to Middlesbrough.
The Whitby Pickering Railway line was first established in 1835 and was fully functional by 1836. Passengers could travel as far as Grosmont, then change for Pickering or alternatively travel by stagecoach to York. In 1845 The railway line was absorbed into The North Eastern Railway . A second line from Picton ran east to Battersby, and this too was absorbed into the NER. In 1864 the section between Grosmont and Castleton was opened.
Each village that the railway line passes through has its own individual identity and history. The starting point for the Esk Valley Line is Whitby, a beautiful and scenic fishing port with its ancient history and modern tourism. Well known for its famous sons, Captain James Cook, the great explorer and navigator and Sir William Scoresby, the famous whaling captain. The town infamous too, for the link to Dracula by way of the author Bram Stoker who was inspired to write his novel when holidaying here.
The first stop is the picturesque village of Ruswarp. Near to the railway station is the Ruswarp Iron suspension bridge which was built using iron from the same supplier of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (Dorman Long, Middlesbrough).
On the riverside is the Ruswarp Old Mill and mill house which was built in 1752 by Nathaniel Cholmley, but it unfortunately burned down and was then rebuilt and continued functioning until 1989 when it was converted into apartments. Along this stretch of river is Ruswarp Pleasure Boats, where boats can be hired to row down the River Esk till nearly as far as Sleights. It is a lovely tranquil stretch of river bordered by overhanging branches and inhabited by ducks and some swans.
Ruswarp Old Hall hotel was built by Nicholas Bushell, a rich merchant and ship owner in the reign of King James I in 1603 and is a magnificent old building. Overlooking Ruswarp is the Victorian viaduct standing 120 feet high, which was part of the old Whitby to Scarborough railway line axed in 1965 and which is now part of a popular walk and cycle path to Robin Hood's Bay. The village church of St. Bartholomew was consecrated in 1869 and has some pieces of furniture by Robert Thompson, the 'Mouseman of Kilburn'.
Sleights, a quite sizeable village is practically a stone's throw from here. Located approximately 3 miles from Whitby it is a village in two parts divided by the River Esk. Its name is derived from the Norse for 'flat land near water'.
The stone and steel road bridge over the River Esk spanning both the river and the Railway line was opened on the 26th January, 1937. From the bridge to the right, there is a good view of the salmon leap, which is a small weir enabling the salmon to swim upriver to the spawning grounds. This is usually between October and December. When the river is in flood it is possible to actually witness them 'leaping'. The North Yorkshire moors steam trains also pass through this station but unfortunately it is not a stopping point.
At the end of the platform there is a box girder pedestrian bridge over the river to Briggswath. There are two churches, the Church of England St. Johns the Evangelist built in 1895 on the site of a former church. This church can be found on the corner of Iburndale Road. The Roman Catholic Church of English Martyrs was built in 1998 replacing a temporary structure and is found in Eskdale Close.
Approximately 7 miles from Whitby moving westwards is the village of Grosmont. The name originates from the name of a small priory 'Grandimont' in the 1200's but now unfortunately there are no remains . There are remains, however, of the ancient heritage of the area approximately a mile to the east. Higher Bridestones mark an ancient route and consist of one large standing stone and many fallen ones nearby which were previously formed in a circle, lower down the moorland a short distance away are the Lower Bridestones, quite smaller in height and partly obscured by the heather which also formed a circle. The exact purpose of these is a mystery.
In the early part of the 19th century along with the neighbouring villages, Grosmont was greatly involved in the mining and smelting of iron ore. A high quality red brick, (Grosmont Bricks) used in the building of many houses in Whitby and surrounding areas were made here. Once again there is little left of this previous industrial history.
The Whitby to Pickering line, built in 1835 passed through Grosmont and in 1865 a branch line was introduced that enabled the Esk Valley line to make a link through Grosmont from Whitby to Teesside. Unfortunately because of the Beeching cuts in 1965, the link with Teesside was broken. The setting up of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Trust , a volunteer organisation for the renovation of the steam railway, in 1968 has ensured that a beautiful stretch of railway between here and Pickering has been kept open. Further along the line, the engine sheds are of great interest where many volunteers renovate the old engines, carriages etc. St.Mathews' church completed in 1875 to replace a smaller church, is reached by a footpath beside the railway line and engine sheds.
Situated 6 miles southwest of Whitby lies the village of Egton. It consists of a long broad street with houses either side. The fairs and markets of Egton were well known throughout the centuries. In the thirteenth century a charter was granted for a fair of 8 days , a later charter allowed 4 more which became 'hiring' fairs. It was the only holiday farm workers had in the year. They went along to be hired and the farmers inspected them and those chosen started work immediately the fair ended. The Annual Egton Show now over 100years old is one of the largest village shows in the country, it is held every August.
The church of St. Hilda was built in 1879 and it replaced an earlier 14th century structure a short distance away. Some of the original stones were used in the construction of the present church and some are displayed in the foyer. At the foot of a steep winding road is Egton Bridge which is the next stopping point for the Esk Valley railway line. The small station and platform are alongside one of two public houses here. The old stone bridge in the village was rebuilt in 1992 as the ancient stone bridge was washed away in the 1930s. By the side of the River Esk there are
the famous stepping stones beloved by many children.
The Egton Bridge Old Gooseberry Society was formed in 1800 and its annual show is held every year in St. Hedda's catholic school. This is one of only two surviving gooseberry shows in England. It is held on the first Tuesday in August and attracts visitors from far and away.
The village is dominated by St. Heddas church built in 1866. Egton Bridge was predominately Catholic during the 16th and 17th century in the years of religious persecution. The martyr Nicholas Postgate was born here in 1597 and was determined to be ordained He trained in France and returned to the area in 1660 working as a gardener to avoid capture whilst he baptised his converts and took Mass in the Mass House and other secret houses. In 1678 he was betrayed and at the age of eighty-two he was taken to York Assizes and found guilty of treason. In 1679 he was hung drawn and quartered on York's Knavemire, one of the last English Catholic priests to die a martyr's death.
I have written a second article that describes the remaining villages on the Esk Valley Line, including Glaisdale, Lealholm, Danby and Castleton
The Whitby Pickering Railway line was first established in 1835 and was fully functional by 1836. Passengers could travel as far as Grosmont, then change for Pickering or alternatively travel by stagecoach to York. In 1845 The railway line was absorbed into The North Eastern Railway . A second line from Picton ran east to Battersby, and this too was absorbed into the NER. In 1864 the section between Grosmont and Castleton was opened.
Each village that the railway line passes through has its own individual identity and history. The starting point for the Esk Valley Line is Whitby, a beautiful and scenic fishing port with its ancient history and modern tourism. Well known for its famous sons, Captain James Cook, the great explorer and navigator and Sir William Scoresby, the famous whaling captain. The town infamous too, for the link to Dracula by way of the author Bram Stoker who was inspired to write his novel when holidaying here.
The first stop is the picturesque village of Ruswarp. Near to the railway station is the Ruswarp Iron suspension bridge which was built using iron from the same supplier of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (Dorman Long, Middlesbrough).
On the riverside is the Ruswarp Old Mill and mill house which was built in 1752 by Nathaniel Cholmley, but it unfortunately burned down and was then rebuilt and continued functioning until 1989 when it was converted into apartments. Along this stretch of river is Ruswarp Pleasure Boats, where boats can be hired to row down the River Esk till nearly as far as Sleights. It is a lovely tranquil stretch of river bordered by overhanging branches and inhabited by ducks and some swans.
Ruswarp Old Hall hotel was built by Nicholas Bushell, a rich merchant and ship owner in the reign of King James I in 1603 and is a magnificent old building. Overlooking Ruswarp is the Victorian viaduct standing 120 feet high, which was part of the old Whitby to Scarborough railway line axed in 1965 and which is now part of a popular walk and cycle path to Robin Hood's Bay. The village church of St. Bartholomew was consecrated in 1869 and has some pieces of furniture by Robert Thompson, the 'Mouseman of Kilburn'.
Sleights, a quite sizeable village is practically a stone's throw from here. Located approximately 3 miles from Whitby it is a village in two parts divided by the River Esk. Its name is derived from the Norse for 'flat land near water'.
The stone and steel road bridge over the River Esk spanning both the river and the Railway line was opened on the 26th January, 1937. From the bridge to the right, there is a good view of the salmon leap, which is a small weir enabling the salmon to swim upriver to the spawning grounds. This is usually between October and December. When the river is in flood it is possible to actually witness them 'leaping'. The North Yorkshire moors steam trains also pass through this station but unfortunately it is not a stopping point.
At the end of the platform there is a box girder pedestrian bridge over the river to Briggswath. There are two churches, the Church of England St. Johns the Evangelist built in 1895 on the site of a former church. This church can be found on the corner of Iburndale Road. The Roman Catholic Church of English Martyrs was built in 1998 replacing a temporary structure and is found in Eskdale Close.
Approximately 7 miles from Whitby moving westwards is the village of Grosmont. The name originates from the name of a small priory 'Grandimont' in the 1200's but now unfortunately there are no remains . There are remains, however, of the ancient heritage of the area approximately a mile to the east. Higher Bridestones mark an ancient route and consist of one large standing stone and many fallen ones nearby which were previously formed in a circle, lower down the moorland a short distance away are the Lower Bridestones, quite smaller in height and partly obscured by the heather which also formed a circle. The exact purpose of these is a mystery.
In the early part of the 19th century along with the neighbouring villages, Grosmont was greatly involved in the mining and smelting of iron ore. A high quality red brick, (Grosmont Bricks) used in the building of many houses in Whitby and surrounding areas were made here. Once again there is little left of this previous industrial history.
The Whitby to Pickering line, built in 1835 passed through Grosmont and in 1865 a branch line was introduced that enabled the Esk Valley line to make a link through Grosmont from Whitby to Teesside. Unfortunately because of the Beeching cuts in 1965, the link with Teesside was broken. The setting up of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Trust , a volunteer organisation for the renovation of the steam railway, in 1968 has ensured that a beautiful stretch of railway between here and Pickering has been kept open. Further along the line, the engine sheds are of great interest where many volunteers renovate the old engines, carriages etc. St.Mathews' church completed in 1875 to replace a smaller church, is reached by a footpath beside the railway line and engine sheds.
Situated 6 miles southwest of Whitby lies the village of Egton. It consists of a long broad street with houses either side. The fairs and markets of Egton were well known throughout the centuries. In the thirteenth century a charter was granted for a fair of 8 days , a later charter allowed 4 more which became 'hiring' fairs. It was the only holiday farm workers had in the year. They went along to be hired and the farmers inspected them and those chosen started work immediately the fair ended. The Annual Egton Show now over 100years old is one of the largest village shows in the country, it is held every August.
The church of St. Hilda was built in 1879 and it replaced an earlier 14th century structure a short distance away. Some of the original stones were used in the construction of the present church and some are displayed in the foyer. At the foot of a steep winding road is Egton Bridge which is the next stopping point for the Esk Valley railway line. The small station and platform are alongside one of two public houses here. The old stone bridge in the village was rebuilt in 1992 as the ancient stone bridge was washed away in the 1930s. By the side of the River Esk there are
the famous stepping stones beloved by many children.
The Egton Bridge Old Gooseberry Society was formed in 1800 and its annual show is held every year in St. Hedda's catholic school. This is one of only two surviving gooseberry shows in England. It is held on the first Tuesday in August and attracts visitors from far and away.
The village is dominated by St. Heddas church built in 1866. Egton Bridge was predominately Catholic during the 16th and 17th century in the years of religious persecution. The martyr Nicholas Postgate was born here in 1597 and was determined to be ordained He trained in France and returned to the area in 1660 working as a gardener to avoid capture whilst he baptised his converts and took Mass in the Mass House and other secret houses. In 1678 he was betrayed and at the age of eighty-two he was taken to York Assizes and found guilty of treason. In 1679 he was hung drawn and quartered on York's Knavemire, one of the last English Catholic priests to die a martyr's death.
I have written a second article that describes the remaining villages on the Esk Valley Line, including Glaisdale, Lealholm, Danby and Castleton
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