BY ALLISON LEE
Osmotherley is an attractive village nestled in the North York Moors, with a population of around 700. Its streets are lined with trees and grass verges, and stone-clad houses make it the archetypal picturesque village. Narrow alleys run between the houses, and a market cross takes centre stage.
One particularly interesting building in the centre of the village is the former Thompson’s village store. The historic village store was established in 1786 and was famously run by the Thompson family for six generations. Grace Thompson retired in 2004 after delivering newspapers until the age of 75; she died in 2014. A year before Grace passed away, the Thompson’s village store was sold at auction for more than half a million pounds; however, it has remained vacant ever since. The property is subject to a rare restrictive covenant that requires it to be used only as a shop and to preserve its original fittings, shelves and front. Recent rumours of refurbishment are unfounded, and I can report, having pressed my nose up against the windows of this neglected property, that it is empty and abandoned, with plants growing inside. Whilst Grace Thompson’s intention was well-meaning, the property is in complete disrepair and in dire need of attention.
Osmotherley lies on the western edge of the North York Moors National Park, with glorious views stretching for miles. It is immensely popular with walkers and outdoor enthusiasts, as it is the starting point of the famous Lykewake Walk and part of the Coast-to-Coast walk.
Local legend has it that Osmotherley was named after the mother of a villager known as Oswald or Osmund. When she did not return after collecting firewood, her son, Oswald, went to look for her. On finding her lying in the snow, dying and unable to carry her home, he lay down with her, and he too perished in the cold. As this is where Oswald’s mother lies, the village took on the name of Osmotherley.
Osmotherley’s church, St Peter’s, was built around 1190 and retains its original south doorway. The chancel was rebuilt in the 13th century and again in the 14th, with the tower and south chapel added in the 15th. In the 16th century, a south aisle and porch were also added. Much of the church’s structure was rebuilt in 1893 by C Hodgson Fowler, who also extended the south aisle and enlarged the chapel. The church was Grade II listed in 1970.
In addition to its fine church, Osmotherley boasts many attractions, including three pubs, a café, a grocery store and a village hall, as well as a number of chapels, including The Lady Chapel, a holy and historic chapel within the diocesan shrine of the Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough. Built by Carthusian monks from nearby Mount Grace Priory in the 15th century, the site offers panoramic views over Teesside and Bilsdale, and on a clear day you can see as far as the Pennine hills. The gentle walk up to the site passes through woodland carpeted with bluebells at this time of year, and once there, you will find information about the shrine’s history and its connection with Queen Katherine of Aragon.
For those who enjoy walking, the 5-mile Cod Beck Reservoir walk can be enjoyed either before or after a relaxing lunch in one of the village’s welcoming cafés or pubs.
Allison Lee is a smallholder from North Yorkshire who has written for the Yorkshire Times and other publications. Her website can be accessed here.