Places of local interest

Helmsley

At the height of its prosperity as a weaving centre in the seventeenth century, the loom operators were famous for their thirsts,

their songs and their leather breeches" and historic accounts of the local fair suggest an event which was fraught with fist-fights and

drunkenness. Just a few miles north, nestling on the edge of the North York Moors in Ryedale, lies the unspoilt market town of Helmsley, complete with four former coaching inns and a dazzling half timbered rectory. Helmsley hasn't always been such a peaceful backwater.

Helmsley Castle

Founded by Walter L'Espec, who also founded Rievaulx and Kirkham Abbeys. However, earliest remaining masonry dates from the end of the twelfth century when the keep, walls and towers were constructed during the time of Robert de Ros, 1186-1227, who with his wife, Isabel, held it against King John's siege in 1216.

The barbican built to protect the gate-house in the 13th century is pierced with loopholes for long bowmen. The defensive arrangements are impressive - two lines of ditches surround the main fortifications.The Castle briefly belonged to King Richard III, 1478-1485. It was modified down the centuries, eventually becoming more of a residential mansion - the domestic buildings date from the sixteenth century and examples of Tudor woodwork and plasterwork can be seen.The castle was besieged in 1644 by the Parliamentarians under Sir Thomas Fairfax, with 700 foot soldiers, 300 horsemen and cannon placed to the south. Sir Thomas was wounded on Rye Bank, but after three month's siege, Sir Gordon Crosland surrendered. The castle was rendered indefensible and later removal of stone by local people led to further decay, although the domestic building remained in use until Duncombe Park mansion was completed around 1713 about half a mile south west of the castle.

Duncombe Park

Duncombe Park is an impressive early-18th century house set in landscaped gardens and surrounded parkland.

In 1695 the Helmsley estate with its medieval castle was purchased by Sir Charles Duncombe, a wealthy London banker. After Sir Charles' death, his nephew and co-heir, Thomas Dunscombe, commissioned the amateur architect William Wakefield of Huby Hall to build new house on the estate.

To the east of the house a grass terrace was laid out overlooking the River Rye and the countryside beyond, probably by Charles Bridgeman. Circular classical temples, dated 1730, were set at either end of the terrace, the terrace is considered to be one of the finest achievements of English 18th century landscaping.
In 1758 Thomas Duncombe's grandson created another terrace with temples overlooking the Rievaulx Abbey, then part of the Helmsley estate.
Although the 18th century landscape at Duncombe Park has been well-preserved, the house has seen many changes.
In 1826 Charles Duncombe, the great-grandson of the original builder, was became Lord Feversham. His son, the 2nd Lord, commissioned Charles Barry to add detached service blocks to the house. These blocks, built in 1843, flank the entrance forecourt to the west.
During this period a conservatory was built in the woodland to the south and W.A. Nesfield created a formal parterre to the east of the house.
In 1879 a fire caused serious damage to the building but in 1891 - 94 the house was rebuilt by the Scottish architect William Young. The building was later abandoned by the family when it was leased out as a girls school in 1924.
At the end of the 20th century the 6th Lord Feversham reoccupied and restored the family home. He reintroduced some of the paintings originally in the house and commissioned new pieces of furniture to add to the few items that remained before the house was turned into a school.

The classical features of the house show that Thomas Duncombe and his architect were influenced by Vanbrugh's work. In fact the house is like a smaller Castle Howard but with a pedimented attic rather than a dome.
The building was originally designed with a central block containing a hall and saloon flanked by staircases, with apartments extending into the projecting wings. The only room to survive almost unchanged since the early-18th century is the Hall. This is approached by an external flight of stairs and is two storeys high with great Corinthian half-columns. The walls and ceiling are decorated with Baroque plasterwork, copied in the 1890s from the pre-fire designs by the London firm of George Jackson and Sons. On the walls are portraits of the banker Sir Charles Duncombe and some of his clients.

Rievaulx Abbey

One of the largest and finest Cistercian abbeys in England, the monastery ruins are an impressive sight. Rievaulx means 'Rye Valley'. First large Cistercian church built in England, founded 1132 on land given by Walter L'Espec. First Abbot was William, but the main expansion came under St. Aelred (1147-66) when there were 140 monks and 500 lay brethren. In the 13th Century extensive building took place but the abbey later Cistercian Order meant withdrawal from the world and dependence on their

own labour for building, farming etc. Because there was insufficient flat land for building, the abbey lay almost north-south rather than the normal east-west, although it is customary to refer to directions of the abbey as if it was correctly set. A canal was constructed to facilitate the transport of stone by barge from nearby quarries.

There are extensive remains, chiefly of the choir, presbytery and cloister, but because care was taken at the dissolution in 1538 to destroy the monk's living quarters so that they could not return, little of these remain. The land eventually passed to the Duncombe family, owners of the nearby Duncombe Park Estate. The Ministry of Works took over the abbey in 1918.

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