West Witton: Church, Bartle Fair and walk to the Ure

West Witton brings together a church with several building phases, a named custom and a walk that leads from the village to the banks of the Ure. Cultural history and time outdoors are therefore distinct travel interests. For planning, it helps to keep them clearly separate: St Bartholomew’s is part of the village’s history, the walk starts in West Witton, and the Bartle Fair is tied to a specific event.

Church history in several building phases

St Bartholomew’s Church in West Witton shows two clearly distinguishable building phases. Its tower dates from the 16th century; the rest of the church dates from 1875. The building therefore cannot be attributed to a single period: the tower is older than the rest of the structure. Visitors interested in historic architecture will find a concrete comparison between the two dates here.

A carved Saxon stone cross was also discovered in the church during restoration and is displayed above the pulpit. Alongside the dated parts of the building, this provides another historical feature to see. As the display may change, check the current arrangement if the cross is important to your plans.

A separate monument: Penhill Preceptory

Another subject of cultural history is Penhill Preceptory. Its stone features include an altar base, a chancel step, coffins and grave slabs. These details draw attention to different features of the church interior and ways of commemorating the dead. Penhill Preceptory is protected as an Ancient Monument. This status is a distinct aspect, separate from the description of its features.

Bartle Fair and historic buildings

The West Witton Bartle Fair includes the burning of The Bartle on a bonfire. Unlike the architectural remains, this custom describes a specific activity associated with a named event. If the Fair is important to your travel plans, check the event dates in advance.

The Fox & Hounds Inn is also one of the oldest buildings in West Witton. Together with the church, it is another architectural landmark in the village’s history, while the Bartle Fair offers a cultural perspective. This allows you to take different interests into account without equating the historic buildings with the custom.

A walk from the village to the Ure

From West Witton, a walk follows an old enclosed route to the banks of the Ure. The route then follows the river for almost two miles to waterfalls. The stated distance describes the section along the river, making it possible to include this part of the route specifically in your trip plans. Check conditions by the river and on the path locally.

If you are looking for a holiday cottage in West Witton, these features can help you decide whether the village is right for you: the church and the Fox & Hounds Inn are historic landmarks in the village; the walk described also starts there and then leads to the riverbank. This can help you decide whether to focus your stay on the village’s history or include the walk in your plans. If the Bartle Fair is of interest, also factor the event dates into your preparations.

For the wider travel overview: Leyburn.