Harmby Explained

Country:England
Static Image Name:HarmbyVillageStreet(GordonHatton)May2007.jpg
Static Image Caption:Harmby village street
Coordinates:54.3016°N -1.8045°W
Official Name:Harmby
Population:371
Population Ref:(2011)[1]
Unitary England:North Yorkshire
Lieutenancy England:North Yorkshire
Region:Yorkshire and the Humber
Post Town:Leyburn
Postcode District:DL8
Postcode Area:DL
Dial Code:01969
Os Grid Reference:SE128895

Harmby is a village and civil parish in Lower Wensleydale,[2] one mile south-east of Leyburn, in North Yorkshire, England.[3] It is located roughly three miles east of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Harmby has close links with Spennithorne, a village half a mile to the south-east. The two villages have a joint sports association.[4]

Harmby Waterfall, over which Harmby Beck flows, is located in a wooded gorge on the east side of the village. It can be accessed via two footpaths from the main road, near the top of Harmby Bank, across from the Pheasant Inn.[5] The beck is crossed by a footbridge just downstream of the falls. Harmby Beck meets Spennithorne Beck before flowing into the River Ure.

Edward Baines, in his 1823 directory, lists the village as Harnby and gives the population as 194.[6]

In 2011, the population of Harmby was 371. In 2021, the population was 375.[7]

This small community has few businesses; the largest are the Pheasant Inn and the Lower Wensleydale Caravan and Motorhome Club Site (caravan park).[8] [9] [10]

Harmby has a village hall, behind which are the grounds used by the sports association.

The A684, between Kendal and Ellerbeck, runs past the village. Harmby is served by one public bus route, the 155, operated by Hodgsons Coaches. There is another bus service that operates for schoolchildren attending Spennithorne School or Wensleydale School.

The village was historically in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and from 1974 was part of the Richmondshire district in the newly-established county of North Yorkshire. Until 2023 it was governed by North Yorkshire County Council and Richmondshire District Council; in 2023, North Yorkshire Council restructured into a unitary authority, abolishing the district councils.

Harmby lies in the constituency of Richmond and Northallerton. The member of parliament is Rishi Sunak.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parish population 2011. 8 August 2015. Office for National Statistics. Neighbourhood Statistics.
  2. News: Country walk: Harmby, Lower Wensleydale. York Press. 15 July 2018.
  3. Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 99 Northallerton & Ripon (Pateley Bridge & Leyburn). 9780319231593 . Ordnance Survey. 2013.
  4. Web site: Willis . Joe . 23 June 2023 . Plea for help to ensure survival of Wensleydale sports facilities . 26 July 2024 . Richmondshire Today .
  5. Web site: Visit Harmby Waterfall on your trip to Leyburn or United Kingdom (UK) . 15 July 2018 . www.inspirock.com.
  6. Book: History, Directory & Gazeteer, of the County of York: Vol. II. – East and North Ridings . 1823 . Baines . Edward . Edward Baines (1774–1848) . 449 . 3 February 2018.
  7. Web site: Custom report – Nomis – Official Census and Labour Market Statistics . 26 July 2024 . www.nomisweb.co.uk.
  8. Web site: Lower Wensleydale > About the Area > Towns & Villages > Harmby . 15 July 2018 . Lower Wensleydale.
  9. Web site: Lower Wensleydale Caravan Club Site . 15 July 2018 . Caravan And Motorhome Club.
  10. News: The Caravan Club in Lower Wensleydale, Harmby, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5NU . 15 July 2018 . Grimsby Telegraph.