Kettlewell

The Ancient Parish of KETTLEWELL

[Transcribed information mainly from the early 1820s]

"KETTLEWELL, a market and parish-town, in the east-division and liberty of Staincliffe; 1½ miles N. of Skipton, 14 miles from Hawes, 14½ from Askrigg, 15 from Middleham and Settle, 16 from Skipton, Pateley Bridge, and Leyburn, 48 from York, 233 from London. Market, Thursday. Fairs, July 6, for pedlary ware; Sept. 2, and Oct. 23, for sheep. Principal Inns, Mason's Arms, Blue Bell, Kings Arms, and Race Horses. Pop. including Starbotton, 663. The Church, rebuilt in 1820, is a vicarage, dedicated to St. Mary (see Churches for photograph), in the deanry of Craven, value, ~£5. p.r. £61. 0s. 9d. Patron, The Rev. George Coates.

The Church at Kettlewell which was of high antiquity, probably not later than Henry I. has been pulled down, and a new one in 1820, erected on its site, on the same plan, only a few yards longer.

Kettlewell is situated at the foot of a very steep hill, in a narrow part of Wharfedale, and although the village is large, the buildings are very mean. In the year 1686, this town and Starbotton were nearly destroyed by a violent flood. The situation of these towns is under a large hill, from whence the rain descended with great violence for one hour and a half at the same time the hill on one side opening, and casting up water to a prodigious height, demolished several houses, and filled others with gravel to the chamber windows; the affrighted inhabitants fled for their lives, and the loss was computed at many thousand pounds. --Magna Brit."

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"STARBOTTON, in the parish of Kettlewell, liberty of Staincliffe; 2 miles N. of Kettlewell, 15 from Leyburn, 17 from Settle. Pop. included in Kettlewell."