The Grange Farm

Holiday Cottages

About Bishop Wilton

The settlement of Bishop Wilton is mentioned in the Domesday Book, but it is likely that its actual origin is much further back in time. Today’s village layout probably dates to late Anglo-Saxon time when feudal, communal of open-field agriculture commenced, there is evidence of this in the ridge and furrow clearly visible in some fields including at the Grange. Wilton acquired its ‘Bishop’ prefix from the Archbishops of York who used the village on their travels around the diocese, indeed in the early 1200’s there was a Bishop’s palace complete with moat and fishponds, the mound remains clearly visible opposite the village school.

In the 1700’s the Enclosure Acts resulted in enclosure of the ‘open field system of agriculture and individual fields with the straight hedges that are seen today. Bishop Wilton has always been a village with mixed ownership and the Sykes family of Sledmere were the main landowners till 1917 when the Halifax Estate became the principal landowner in the area.

The village has an active Local History Society and many of their photographic records, publications and exhibitions can be seen on their website www.bishopwilton.info. The village has a Primary school, a parish church, St Edith’s (a Grade 1 listed historic building), a Post Office and shop and a pub ‘The Fleece’ all of which contribute to a thriving community. An application was made to the Lottery Fund for assistance with provision of a new Village Hall/ Community Centre, and building work is due to start in 2009. The present Hall being roofed in corrugated iron, and though quaint is hardly serviceable for today’s needs.

There are  many Sports and Leisure interest groups in the village including a Cricket team, Football team, Tennis club, Golf Society, Dominoes and Darts team. There is a well supported Women’s Institute.

On the third Saturday of July there is a one day agricultural Show which is now in its 109th year, the first show as held on  june 5th 1897 and the report of this can be seen at   www.bishopwilton.com  (unfortunately the 2007 show had to be cancelled owing to the excessive rains) and the show reflects the changing character of the community with less farm-related and more equestrian and crafts as well a popular half marathon, further info and pictures can be found on the show website www.bishopwiltonshow.co.uk.

Walking and Cycling or Horseriding Holidays

If you are keen on cycling The Grange could make a good base or stopping off point. Located just 6 miles from the town of Pocklington which is on National Cycle route 66 which links York and Hull via Market Weighton and Beverley. The Pocklington and Wolds Gateways Partnership have produced  a handy sized leaflet which shows no less than 5 separate cycle routes around the area providing a variety of challenges and different scenery at the foot of the Wolds with green fields and mature trees and on the Wolds themselves with stunning views looking across the Vale of York.

Most of these routes, which can be joined together to make a longer ride, on which there are many pubs and cafes, use quiet roads but there are some sections which may use busier roads or cross the main roads where caution should be exercised.
Ordinance Survey Explorer Map 294 covers these routes in detail.

• Route 1, described as easy and flat is about 4.5 miles or 30 minutes riding time.
• Route 2, passes through Bishop Wilton where Grange Farm Holiday Cottages are situated, has gentle hills, some busy roads and is about 21 miles in length or 2 to 2.5 hours riding goes through the villages of Bishop Wilton, Youlthorpe, Gowthorpe, Full Sutton and Yapham, and takes in Stamford Bridge as well as Pocklington.
• Route 3, is an easy flat ride which has an off-road section and quiet roads of approx 12 miles and goes through Bielby, Everingham, Hayton and Burnby before returning to Pocklington. This route incorporates a canal towpath for which a permit would be required. These are free from British waterways (see www.waterscape.com) or phone 0113 281 6860. You could extend your ride into Route 4 or 5 from this ride if wanted. There is some use of the main Hull to York road on which a shared cycle path is being created
• Route 4, approx 8 miles, incorporates gentle hills and some busy road, goes through Burnby and Nurnburnholme.
• Route 5 is more challenging with some steep and long hill climbs, it travels mostly quiet roads through Warter, Huggate, Millington Wood and Millington.

In addition to the picturesque villages along the way you will find a variety of country pubs, shops and picnic sites and there are several historic churches in the area, for more information on historic churches please see East Yorkshire Churches or tel 01482 391680 and St edith’s features on the Sykes Trail of East Riding Churches, info on which can found at Sykes Trail of East Riding Churches.

Days out in York and East Yorkshire

Here are some links to places near us:
York, www.visityork.gov with its Minster, York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is the second largest of its kind in Northern Europe  www.yorkminster.org its city walls and museums, including the National Railway Museum and Jorvik Viking Centre. www.yorvik-viking-centre.co.uk  details of whats on in York can be found here www.whatsonyork.com

The town of Pocklington  www.pocklington.gov.uk 5 miles, has good shopping, sport facilities and restaurants and the Burnby Hall Gardens www.burnbyhallgardens.com with Delightful gardens in Pocklington, East Yorkshire, home of a National Collection of Hardy Water Lilies.

The coast at Bridlington  www.bridlington.co.uk and Filey www.filey.co.uk both with wide sandy bays, 30 miles.

North York Moors National Park  www.visitnorthyorkshiremoors.co.uk with steam railway at Pickering, 23 miles.

Some great examples of English country houses:
Castle Howard www.castlehoward.co.uk 
Sledmere  www.sledmerehouse.com
Burton Agnes  www.burton-agnes.co.uk are all nearby.