# Great Ayton

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Village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Human settlement in England

Great Ayton Footbridge over the River Leven in Low Green Great Ayton Location within North Yorkshire Population 4,346 (2021 census)[1] OS grid reference NZ565115 Civil parish Great Ayton Unitary authority North Yorkshire Ceremonial county North Yorkshire Region Yorkshire and the Humber Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town Middlesbrough Postcode district TS9 Dialling code 01642 Police North Yorkshire Fire North Yorkshire Ambulance Yorkshire UK Parliament Richmond and Northallerton Website Parish council website List of places UK England Yorkshire 54°29′24″N 1°08′13″W / 54.49000°N 1.13694°W / 54.49000; -1.13694

**Great Ayton** is a village and [civil parish](/source/Civil_parishes_in_England) in [North Yorkshire](/source/North_Yorkshire), England. The [River Leven](/source/River_Leven%2C_North_Yorkshire) (a tributary of the [River Tees](/source/River_Tees)) flows through the village, which lies just north of the [North York Moors](/source/North_York_Moors). According to the 2021 Census, the parish has a population of 4,346.[2]

## Etymology

Great Ayton's name derives from Old English *Ea-tun*, meaning 'river farm'. The river flowing through Great Ayton is the [Leven](/source/River_Leven%2C_North_Yorkshire), a tributary of the [River Tees](/source/River_Tees). A later addition of the word 'great' differentiates the village from nearby [Little Ayton](/source/Little_Ayton).[3][4]

## History

In the 18th and 19th centuries Great Ayton was a centre for the industries of [weaving](/source/Weaving), [tanning](/source/Tanning_(leather)), [brewing](/source/Brewing), and [tile](/source/Tile) making.[4] Subsequently, [whinstone](/source/Whinstone) for road surfacing was also quarried from the Cleveland Dyke[5] along with [ironstone](/source/Ironstone_mining_in_Cleveland_and_North_Yorkshire), [jet](/source/Jet_(lignite)) and [alum](/source/Alum) from the Cleveland Hills.[6][7]

Great Ayton was home to the [Great Ayton Friends' School](/source/Great_Ayton_Friends'_School) run by the [Quakers](/source/Quakers), from 1841 until it closed in 1997.[8]

The village serves as the base for [Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team](/source/Cleveland_Mountain_Rescue_Team).[9]

From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the [Hambleton District](/source/Hambleton_District), it is now administered by the unitary [North Yorkshire Council](/source/North_Yorkshire_Council).

## Geography

Looking south-west to Great Ayton from Cliff Ridge

Great Ayton is at the foot of the [Cleveland Hills](/source/Cleveland_Hills) beneath [Easby Moor](/source/Easby_Moor) and the distinctively-shaped [Roseberry Topping](/source/Roseberry_Topping). The [River Leven](/source/River_Leven%2C_North_Yorkshire), a tributary of the [River Tees](/source/River_Tees), flows through the village and links its two centres, High Green and Low Green. The Cleveland Dyke, a narrow band of hard [whinstone](/source/Whinstone) rock that runs for about 31 miles between [Robin Hood's Bay](/source/Robin_Hood's_Bay) and [Eaglescliffe](/source/Eaglescliffe) lies to the north-east of the village.

The village lies near [Middlesbrough](/source/Middlesbrough)'s built-up area, south-east by less than 3 miles (4.8 km), 7 miles (11.3 km) from its centre. It is also 3 miles (4.8 km) north-east of [Stokesley](/source/Stokesley) and 5 miles (8 km) from [Guisborough](/source/Guisborough). From 1894 to 1974, it was in the [Stokesley Rural District](/source/Stokesley_Rural_District) of the [North Riding of Yorkshire](/source/North_Riding_of_Yorkshire). The centre is 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) from the nexus of [Redcar and Cleveland](/source/Redcar_and_Cleveland), [borough of Middlesbrough](/source/Borough_of_Middlesbrough) and the Hambleton districts. This is in keeping with the [Langbaurgh](/source/Langbaurgh%2C_North_Yorkshire) hamlet as a historic meeting place of the [Langbaurgh Wapentake](/source/Langbaurgh_Wapentake).

An [electoral ward](/source/Wards_and_electoral_divisions_of_the_United_Kingdom), of the same name, stretches east to [Kildale](/source/Kildale) with a population of 4,973 at the 2011 census .[10]

## Transport

The village is served by [Great Ayton railway station](/source/Great_Ayton_railway_station) on the [Esk Valley Line](/source/Esk_Valley_Line).

## Landmarks

Main article: [Listed buildings in Great Ayton](/source/Listed_buildings_in_Great_Ayton)

The village landmarks below all relate to [Captain Cook](/source/James_Cook).

- A granite obelisk now marks the original site of the Cook family cottage in Great Ayton. '[Cooks' Cottage](/source/Cooks'_Cottage)' is now to be found in [Fitzroy Gardens](/source/Fitzroy_Gardens) in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne), Australia, having been dismantled in England and rebuilt in Australia in 1934. The obelisk is constructed from granite taken from [Point Hicks](/source/Point_Hicks), the first land sighted by Cook in Australia.

- The [Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum](/source/Captain_Cook_Schoolroom_Museum) is within a former [charity school](/source/Charity_school), founded in 1704 by landowner Michael Postgate. James Cook received his early education here from 1736 to 1740.

- Unveiled on 12 May 1997 on High Green is a statue depicting James Cook at the age of 16 looking towards [Staithes](/source/Staithes) where, according to tradition, he first felt the lure of the sea. This was commissioned by Hambleton District Council and is the work of sculptor Nicholas Dimbleby.

		- Cook family's Cottage obelisk

		- Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum

		- Statue of James Cook as a youth

## Religion

### Anglican

The [Church of England](/source/Church_of_England) [parish church](/source/Parish_church) of [Christ Church](/source/Christ_Church%2C_Great_Ayton) was built in 1876 and now designated a Grade II [listed building](/source/Listed_building).[11] It holds a number of services during the day that attract a total attendance of about 200. In the summer months, the evening service takes place in [All Saints' Church, Great Ayton](/source/All_Saints'_Church%2C_Great_Ayton), the former parish church, which dates back to the 12th century.[12] The church has an organ built by [James Jepson Binns](/source/James_Jepson_Binns).[12]

[James Cook's](/source/James_Cook) mother and siblings are buried in the churchyard of [All Saints' Church](/source/Church_of_All_Saints%2C_Great_Ayton).[13]

### Methodist

The [Methodist Church](/source/Methodist_Church) opened over one hundred years ago and has seen many developments over the years. In the 1960s, the ‘youth hall’ was built providing the church with facilities for events, activities, meetings and catering. The kitchen was improved to allow the preparation of full meals and later still a great deal of work was done to modernise and improve access to the building.

In September 2024, Easby Methodist Chapel and Great Ayton Methodist Church formally became one church on two sites under minister Rev Rob Weir.[14]

### Catholic

[St Margaret Clitherow's Church](/source/St_Margaret_Clitherow's_Church%2C_Great_Ayton) is a [Chapel of Ease](/source/Chapel_of_Ease) for St Joseph's Church, Stokesley.

Until the 1960s, Catholics in Great Ayton worshipped at St Joseph's Church, Stokesley. In 1966, a Sunday mass was instituted in the ambulance station in the village. In 1970, a purpose-built timber-framed church was opened on Race Terrace, and in 1971 it was dedicated to [Margaret Clitherow](/source/Margaret_Clitherow), becoming the first church in the world dedicated to the recently canonised saint.[15] In 2002, part of the church was demolished, and a new octagonal building was constructed, the remainder of the old building being retained as a church hall. The new church was designed by DKS Architects and is in red brick with stone details, and a grey tile roof. Two stained glass windows were installed, with designs by Kyme Studios.[16]

### Society of Friends

The Society of Friends meets at the [Quaker Meeting House](/source/Great_Ayton_Quaker_Meeting_House), which is on High Green.

Meetings take place each Sunday at 10:30 am, as well as each Wednesday, 10-10:30 am followed by refreshments. A monthly half-hour silent contemplative meeting is held in Guisborough.[17]

### Great Ayton Churches Gallery

		- Christ Church

		- Church of All Saints

		- St Margaret's Church, Great Ayton

## Notable people

The village was the boyhood home of [Captain Cook](/source/James_Cook), the British [explorer](/source/List_of_explorers) and [navigator](/source/Navigator), who was born in nearby [Marton](/source/Marton%2C_Middlesbrough). [James Cook](/source/James_Cook) and his family moved to the village when he was eight years old and lived there until he was sixteen. The [Cook family home](/source/Cooks'_Cottage) on Bridge Street was built by James' father in 1755. The cottage was dismantled in 1934 to be shipped to [Australia](/source/Australia). Each stone was numbered so that the cottage could be reconstructed exactly in its new home in the [Fitzroy Gardens](/source/Fitzroy_Gardens) in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne).

[Commodore William Wilson](/source/William_Wilson_(Commodore)) retired to Great Ayton in 1762, after a varied maritime career with the [East India Company](/source/East_India_Company) He lived there for over 30 years, and became friends with James Cook, who maintained his ties with the area.[18][19]

Cyclist brothers [Harry](/source/Harry_Tanfield) and [Charlie Tanfield](/source/Charlie_Tanfield), were born in the village. They share a birthday, 17 November, 1994 and 1996 respectively.[20]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Great Ayton (North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, United Kingdom) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information"](http://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/yorkshireandthehumber/north_yorkshire/E63000352__great_ayton/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2021_census_2-0)** ["Great Ayton (Parish, United Kingdom) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location"](https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/yorkshireandthehumber/north_yorkshire/E63000352__great_ayton/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-UoN_3-0)** ["Key to English Place-Names"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150607115257/http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/). The University of Nottingham. Archived from [the original](http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/) on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-IB:GA_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-IB:GA_4-1) ["A guide to Great Ayton, Cleveland and Teesside"](http://www.information-britain.co.uk/county95/townguideGreat%20Ayton/). *Information Britain*. Retrieved 24 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WM_5-0)** O'Sullivan, Dan. ["Whinstone Mining"](http://greatayton.wdfiles.com/local--files/whinstone/Whinstone-Mining.pdf) (PDF). *Great Ayton – History of the Village*. Retrieved 20 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-EVR:GA_6-0)** ["Great Ayton"](http://www.eskvalleyrailway.co.uk/stations/greatayton.html). *Esk Valley Railway*. 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WTY:GA_7-0)** ["Great Ayton"](http://www.yorkshire.com/places/herriot-country/great-ayton). *Welcome to Yorkshire*. Retrieved 21 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GA_8-0)** ["Ayton School – the later years"](http://greatayton.wdfiles.com/local--files/schools/Friends-School-Great-Ayton-Last-50-years.pdf) (PDF). *Great Ayton – History of the Village*. Retrieved 20 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Flanagan, Emily (17 August 2017). ["Rescue volunteers to climb from dawn until dusk"](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15476967.cleveland-rescue-volunteers-pitting-roseberry-topping-great-ayton/). *The Northern Echo*. Retrieved 24 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [UK Census](/source/2011_United_Kingdom_census) (2011). ["Local Area Report – Great Ayton 2011 Census Ward (1237325066)"](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2011_ks/report?compare=1237325066). *Nomis*. [Office for National Statistics](/source/Office_for_National_Statistics_(United_Kingdom)). Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Christ Church (1150639)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1150639?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 14 September 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ACNY:CC_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ACNY:CC_12-1) ["Christ Church, Great Ayton"](http://www.achurchnearyou.com/great-ayton-christ-church/). *A Church Near You*. The Church of England. Retrieved 20 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ACNY:AS_13-0)** ["All Saints (Old Church), Great Ayton"](http://www.achurchnearyou.com/great-ayton-all-saints-old-church/). *A Church Near You*. The Church of England. Retrieved 12 September 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Great Ayton Methodist Church"](https://www.greataytonmethodists.org.uk/about/the-church/). Retrieved 5 January 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** O'Sullivan, Dan (1996). *Great Ayton – A History of the Village*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780950885834](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780950885834).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Glory is all around an octagon"](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7087711.glory-around-octagon/). *Northern Echo*. 11 January 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Great Ayton Quaker Meeting"](https://www.quaker.org.uk/meetings/great-ayton). Retrieved 5 January 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Thornton, Cliff. ["Commodore William Wilson of Great Ayton (1715-1795)"](http://greatayton.wdfiles.com/local--files/family-histories/William-Wilson.pdf) (PDF). *Great Ayton History of the Village*. Retrieved 3 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Beaglehole, J.C. (1992). *The Life of Captain James Cook*. Hakluyt Society. p. 284. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7136-1382-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7136-1382-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Great Ayton's Charlie Tanfield takes Commonwealth gold"](http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2018-04-06/great-aytons-charlie-tanfield-takes-commonwealth-gold/). ITV News. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Great Ayton](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Great_Ayton).

- [Great Ayton Tourism, Parish Council, and Community Website](http://www.great-ayton.org.uk/)

- [Visit Great Ayton (Travel and Tourism website)](https://www.visitgreatayton.com/)

- [Great Ayton – Information for visitors from Hambleton District Council](https://web.archive.org/web/20050406091242/http://www.hambleton.gov.uk/hambleton/tourism.nsf/pages/greatayton.html)

- [The Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum Website](http://www.captaincookschoolroommuseum.co.uk/)

Links to related articles Places adjacent to Great Ayton Nunthorpe Newton under Roseberry Roseberry Topping Great Ayton Easby Moor, Captain Cook's Monument Stokesley Great Broughton Little Ayton, Easby, Ingleby Greenhow 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 Authority control databases Yale LUX

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