History of Kilnsey and Conistone
The Yorkshire Dales Historic Environment Record lists over 60 historic landscape features, ranging from Mesolithic to Medieval, spread liberally over the Kilnsey and Conistone landscape, many of which can be seen from public footpaths.
Kilnsey, known as Kylnesey in 1146, is said to have taken its name either from 'Cynel's water meadow' or from 'The marsh by the kiln' and either derivation may be possible as the flat meadowland lying between Kilnsey and Conistone is the bed of a long gone glacial lake held back by a moraine across the valley near to Chapel House Farm. Rushes were harvested from the water meadows in front of the Crag and taken to the Abbey, and there was also a large lime kiln attached to Kilnsey Grange which supplied lime for the monk's building work. In the villages of Kilnsey and Conistone there are buildings of historical merit and beauty built around the 17th Century. On the slopes above both villages are field barns which have served the Wharfedale farmers for generations. These traditional farm buildings have been enlarged and adapted to serve the changing needs of their owners and occupiers, in some cases, since early 17th Century
Conistone, which it is said means 'farmstead of cows' or 'Kings Manor' is a charming and quiet village hidden away from the main road to the east of Wharfedale. It was mentioned in the Domesday book as Cunestune. Conistone Dib is a narrow gorge, which was created by post-glacial floodwater, and leads upwards from the village green, through Gurling Trough, to an area of spectacular limestone scenery. A second melt water channel running alongside Grass Wood has a dry waterfall known as Dib Scar, and Dib Beck below then runs down the hillside to join the River Wharfe at White Nook. A knoll with a very distinctive shape to the north East of Conistone village, is known as Conistone Pie. Grass Wood is an area between Conistone and Grassington and is a good example of an upland ash wood on limestone pavement which offers interesting walks through a well wooded and picturesque area. Lower Grass Wood, next to the river, is owned by the Woodland Trust and has ash, oak, birch, blackthorn, dog rose and hazel trees. Here you can find primroses, cowslip and bluebells during the year. Grass Wood is owned and managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and you can find herb paris, wild garlic, lily of the valley, Solomon's Seal, orchids, violets, harebells and field scabious plants.
On the lower hillsides above Conistone are well-developed field terraces, known locally as lynchets (or raines in Grassington) which are evidence of earlier arable farming. At higher levels, dewponds are a common sight on this side of the River Wharfe, where there are fewer springs. Field lime kilns appear at regular intervals: these date from a time when limestone was burnt to make agricultural lime which was spread on the land to improve and increase the productivity of the meadows and pastures. Scott Gate Lane is the start of an ancient trackway, Bycliffe Road, crossing the moor to Middlesmoor in Nidderdale. In the past this same route served the many mines, mostly lead from at least the 17th Century, but also to bring down peat and poor quality coal to Conistone village.
St. Mary's Church in Conistone is considered, in part at least, to be the oldest building remaining in Craven. The two semi-circular arches between the Nave and the North Aisle are Norman, as is the font, but other features such as the vestry windows led local historian Whitaker to date the early church to a period before the Conquest in the 11th Century. In 1846 the chapel was in a thoroughly debased state, the original Norman windows had been removed and plain painted ones inserted. Architects from Lancaster then restored the chapel, adding a chancel and a porch. It was further restored in 1957. In 2004, after poor plasterwork was removed from the interior walls of the church, villagers created three beautiful fabric wall hangings showings village buildings, landscape and wildlife.
You can find the Register of St. Marys Chapel at Conistone in the parish of Burnsall-in-Craven 1567-1812 here. The register was edited by W.J. Stavert, M.A., rector of Burnsall, Yorkshire, and chaplain to the Earl of Craven.
During the 12th Century the Cistercian Monks of Fountains Abbey began to acquire land in Kilnsey and other areas of Craven. Experienced in sheep management, they soon established an administration centre in Kilnsey serving their granges in Craven. Sited on a busy major route, the monks from Fountains Abbey (near Ripon) had easy access to their estates throughout Craven and the Lake District. The activities of the monks have left a wealth of landscape features throughout the whole of Kilnsey. The monks were allowed to build Conistone Bridge to cross the river, and were also given rights of passage for sheep, cattle, men and their wagons to pass through Grassington and Hebden on their way to Fountains Abbey.
Mastiles Lane formerly known as Strete Gate, another ancient trackway, makes its way from Kilnsey across the hills to Malham, passing through the remains of a Roman Marching Camp. The route still echoes with the sound of the monastery's sheep, driven down to Kilnsey at mid-summer to be washed and shorn, the bells of the pack-horses carrying fleeces and other goods, and cattle from Scotland on their way to the sales held at Great Close on Malham Moor. In recent years Mastiles Lane had been badly damaged by off-road motor cyclists and 4X4 vehicles, and also due to the noise of groups of drivers/riders spoiling the peace and tranquility of the area, the North Yorkshire County Council, and more recently the National Park, have placed Traffic Restriction Orders (TRO's) on Mastiles Lane and several other 'green lanes' which prevents their use by motorised recreational vehicles.
Nature: Birds, Botany and Butterflies
Within close reach of Conistone and Kilnsey there is a variety of habitats rich in wildlife, including a riverine pasture, mixed woodland, upland pasture and moorland. These very different habitats attract a wonderful variety of wildlife, including birds, flowers, butterflies and moths.
At various times of year up to 80 species of birds have been spotted within a three-mile radius, including resident, summer and winter migrants. Spring brings the welcome call of the curlew as it floats down from the hilltop, and flocks of lapwings seeking their nest sites in the rough pastures. By Easter-time the wheatears are back, and after the early sand martins, the house martins, swallows and swifts appear over the villages. Warblers begin to sing, and in May spotted flycatchers may nest around the houses. Occasionally, red kites and migrating ospreys are seen in the area, along with the resident buzzards, sparrow hawks, peregrines, kestrels and ravens.
There are regular sightings of 16 species of butterfly and a wide variety of wild flowers, particularly limestone loving orchids and helleborines which can be seen very easily (for a small fee) in the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Kilnsey Park, where a nature footpath has been created around Kilnsey Flush. Land behind Kilnsey village is also part of the extensive Malham-Arncliffe SSSI which is of outstanding geological and biological interest. In the 1450's a hedge and ditch was created to enclose 'The Cool', a cow pasture alongside Cool Scar above Kilnsey village, and today Cool Pasture is also designated as an SSSI. On the other side of the dale, Conistone Old Pasture is another SSSI where mountain pansies, fragrant orchids, birds eye primrose, dropwort, rock-rose and field gentians can be found.
