# Austwick

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Village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Village and parish in England

Austwick Village and parish Ancient field systems and lynchets west of Austwick Austwick Location within North Yorkshire Population 463 (2011 census)[1] OS grid reference SD767685 Civil parish Austwick Unitary authority North Yorkshire Ceremonial county North Yorkshire Region Yorkshire and the Humber Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town LANCASTER Postcode district LA2 Police North Yorkshire Fire North Yorkshire Ambulance Yorkshire UK Parliament Skipton and Ripon List of places UK England Yorkshire 54°06′43″N 2°21′25″W / 54.112°N 2.357°W / 54.112; -2.357

**Austwick** is a village and [civil parish](/source/Civil_parish) in [North Yorkshire](/source/North_Yorkshire), England, about 5 miles (8 km) north-west of [Settle](/source/Settle%2C_North_Yorkshire) and on the edge of the [Yorkshire Dales](/source/Yorkshire_Dales) National Park.

Before local government reorganisation in 1974 Austwick parish was within [Settle Rural District](/source/Settle_Rural_District), in the West Riding of Yorkshire. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the [Craven District](/source/Craven_District) and is now administered by the unitary [North Yorkshire Council](/source/North_Yorkshire_Council).

According to the Austwick & Lawkland Tithe Map of 21 October 1851 the parish has an area of 8,201 acres (33.19 km2), of which around a quarter is uncut moorland. The highest point is Lord's Seat on Simon Fell at 2,079 feet (634 m).[2]

## Toponymy

Austwick comes from [Old Norse](/source/Old_Norse) (austr, meaning east) and [Old English](/source/Old_English) (wīc, meaning settlement/dwelling).[3]

## History

The area around Austwick has been inhabited by humans for more than 4,000 years. Dudderhouse Hill long cairn ([54°08′33″N 2°21′38″W / 54.1424°N 2.3605°W / 54.1424; -2.3605](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Austwick&params=54.1424_N_2.3605_W_)) to the north of the village is [long cairn burial mound](/source/Long_barrow) from the [Neolithic period](/source/Neolithic_period).[4] It is a [scheduled ancient monument](/source/Scheduled_monument).[5] Archaeological finds in and around the village include prehistoric burial places, a large [Bronze Age](/source/Bronze_Age) settlement, and an [Iron Age](/source/Iron_Age) settlement.[6] The area surrounding Austwick has many ancient remains, including extensive walls and structures of slate, limestone and sandstone.

At one time Austwick, Clapham, Lawkland and Newby were independent manors with their own lord and together formed the larger parish of Clapham. In *[Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book)*, a survey of England conducted in 1086, Austwick was the head of 12 manors spread along a northern route.[7][8] Austwick still has a [lord of the manor](/source/Lord_of_the_manor), the most recent holder of the position being Dr John Farrer, who died in 2014. The Farrer family has held the position of lord of the manor since 1782.[9] Austwick Hall, a [grade II listed](/source/Grade_II_listed) building, is said to have originally been part of a [pele tower](/source/Pele_tower).[10][11] The building was renovated in the 17th and 19th centuries, though evidence of its purchase by the Ingilby family points to the year 1573.[12]

A local folktale tells of an Austwick man who fell into a deep pool. As bubbles broke on the surface of the water his companions thought they could hear the words "T' b-best's at t' b-bottom", so they jumped into the pool as well and were not seen again.[13]

The Anglican church in the village was originally a lecture hall but was later converted into the [Church of the Epiphany](/source/Church_of_the_Epiphany%2C_Austwick). The grade-II-listed structure was consecrated in 1841.[14]

The village was originally in the [Wapentake](/source/Wapentake) of [Ewecross](/source/Ewecross), later being part of the Settle Rural District in the county of the West Riding of Yorkshire.[15][16] It became part of North Yorkshire in 1974.[17][18] Austwick was originally in the Parish of Settle but became a parish in its own right in May 1879.[19]

Austwick was on the original turnpike road between [Keighley and Kendal](/source/Keighley_and_Kendal_Turnpike), which north-west of Settle became the A65. The village was bypassed progressively in the 1980s and early 1990s.[20]

## Demographics

According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 476 with an average age of 45.4 years (neighbouring parishes: Clapham parish 39.9 years, Lawkland parish 39.4 years, England: 38.6 years). There are 231 dwellings and 212 households. 36% are pensioner households, 33% of households have an occupant with a long-term illness and 25% of households have children.[21] The parish includes the village of Austwick and the hamlet of [Wharfe](/source/Wharfe%2C_North_Yorkshire).

In 2014 the boundaries of Austwick parish were changed. The part of the parish south of the A65 road was passed to Lawkland parish and the part of Lawkland parish north of the A65 (including the hamlet of Feizor) was passed to Austwick parish. Austwick Common and Austwick Moss are now no longer in the parish of Austwick. The boundaries of Austwick and Lawkland parishes had been in existence since at least 1851 at the time of the drawing up of the Tithe map.

## See also

- [Listed buildings in Austwick](/source/Listed_buildings_in_Austwick)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [UK Census](/source/2011_United_Kingdom_census) (2011). ["Local Area Report – Austwick Parish (1170216721)"](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2011_ks/report?compare=1170216721). *Nomis*. [Office for National Statistics](/source/Office_for_National_Statistics_(United_Kingdom)). Retrieved 14 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Austwick & Lawkland Tithe Map, West Yorkshire Archives, Sheepscar, Leeds

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Austwick"](https://www.visitsettle.co.uk/austwick.html). *Visit Settle*. Retrieved 15 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Luke, Yvonne. ["Neolithic Long Mounds of the Yorkshire Dales and allied structures. First Interim Report: towards a resource assessment"](https://www.academia.edu/11783158/Neolithic_Long_Mounds_of_the_Yorkshire_Dales_and_allied_structures_First_Interim_Report_towards_a_resource_assessment). p. 21. Retrieved 24 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Dudderhouse Hill Neolithic long cairn, 213m SSE of Long Scar, Austwick (1489528)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1489528?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 24 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Simmons, I. G.](/source/Ian_Simmons) (1971). *Yorkshire Dales*. London: [H.M.S.O.](/source/H.M.S.O.) p. 26. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780117004962](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780117004962).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Austwick | Domesday Book"](https://opendomesday.org/place/SD7668/austwick/). *opendomesday.org*. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpeight1892162_8-0)** [Speight 1892](#CITEREFSpeight1892), p. 162.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Austwick Community Broadband](/source/Department_for_Environment%2C_Food_and_Rural_Affairs). ["About Austwick"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090721052132/http://www.austwick.org/about.htm). Austwick: Austwick Community Broadband. Archived from [the original](http://www.austwick.org/about.htm) on 21 July 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Austwick Hall (Grade II) (1317100)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1317100?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Austwick Hall (44748)"](https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=44748&resourceID=19191). *Research records (formerly PastScape)*. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Scholes, Ron (2011). *Yorkshire Dales*. Ashbourne: Horizon Press. p. 56. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84306-508-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84306-508-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Ash, Russell (1973). *Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain*. Reader's Digest Association Limited. p. 336. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-340-16597-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-340-16597-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Church of the Epiphany (Grade II) (1131643)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1131643?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["No. 45731"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45731/page/8801). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 21 July 1972. p. 8801.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Genuki: In 1822 the following places were in the Parish of Clapham:, Yorkshire (West Riding)"](https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Clapham/more). *www.genuki.org.uk*. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Boundary Map of Settle RD"](https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10166883/boundary). *visionofbritain.org.uk/*. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["No, Settle, you can't have your civic chain back, says district council"](https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/5000298.no-settle-you-cant-have-your-civic-chain-back-says-district-council/). *Craven Herald*. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESpeight1892164_19-0)** [Speight 1892](#CITEREFSpeight1892), p. 164.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Freethy, Ron (1991). *Discovering the Yorkshire Dales*. Edinburgh: Donald. p. 19. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85976-327-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85976-327-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [UK Census](/source/2001_United_Kingdom_census) (2001). ["Local Area Report – Austwick Parish (36UB004)"](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2001_ks/report?compare=36UB004). *Nomis*. [Office for National Statistics](/source/Office_for_National_Statistics). Retrieved 1 February 2021.

### Sources

- Speight, Harry (1892). *The Craven and north-west Yorkshire highlands. Being a complete account of the history, scenery, and antiquities of that romantic district*. London: E Stock. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [7219082](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/7219082).

## External links

- Media related to [Austwick](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Austwick) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Community Website](http://www.austwick.org)

- [Austwick CE VA Primary School's website](http://www.austwick.n-yorks.sch.uk)

- [Austwick](https://opendomesday.org/place/SD7668/austwick/) in the *[Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book)*

[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [Yorkshire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Yorkshire)
- [England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:England)
- [United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:United_Kingdom)

v t e Ceremonial county of North Yorkshire Yorkshire Portal Unitary authorities Middlesbrough North Yorkshire Redcar and Cleveland Stockton-on-Tees (part) York Major settlements (cities in italics) Bedale Bentham Boroughbridge Catterick Garrison Colburn Easingwold Eastfield Eston Filey Grangetown Grassington Guisborough Harrogate Hawes Haxby Helmsley Ingleby Barwick Kirkbymoorside Knaresborough Leyburn Loftus Malton Masham Middleham Middlesbrough Normanby Northallerton Norton-on-Derwent Pateley Bridge Pickering Redcar Richmond Ripon Saltburn-by-the-Sea Scarborough Selby Settle Sherburn in Elmet Skelton-in-Cleveland Skipton South Bank Stokesley Tadcaster Thirsk Thornaby-on-Tees Whitby Yarm York See also: List of civil parishes in North Yorkshire Rivers Aire Derwent Esk Foss Leven Ouse Ribble Swale Tees Ure Wharfe Topics Parliamentary constituencies Country houses Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings Windmills Monastic houses History Rivers Schools Museums Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs SSSIs Nature Reserves

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