| Country: | England |
| Static Image: | Preston-under-Scar.jpg |
| Static Image Caption: | Preston-under-Scar |
| Coordinates: | 54.3254°N -1.8904°W |
| Official Name: | Preston-under-Scar |
| Population: | 170 |
| Unitary England: | North Yorkshire |
| Lieutenancy England: | North Yorkshire |
| Region: | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Post Town: | Leyburn |
| Postcode District: | DL8 |
| Postcode Area: | DL |
| Os Grid Reference: | SE072922 |
| London Distance Mi: | 200 |
| London Direction: | SSE |
Preston-under-Scar is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 4km (02miles) west of Leyburn.[1] The village population was 120 at the 2001 census, increasing to 170 by the 2011 census.[2] The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book as belonging to Thorfin of Ravensworth, but the tenant-in-chief being Count Alan of Bedale.[3] The name of the village derives form a mixture of Old English and Old Norse and was originally prēost tūn sker, which translates as Priests farm (or settlement) under rock (or cliff).[4]
The village used to be in the Wapentake of Hang West and in the parish of Wensley.[5] Traditionally, worship was undertaken at the church in Wensley as there was no church in the village save for a small Methodist chapel, but the village does have a small "mission room" (St Margarets Church) that was constructed in 1862 and is now a grade II listed building. However, services are only held twice-monthly.[6]
The Wensleydale Railway passes just to the south of the village. Previously, the village and that of neighbouring Wensley were served by railway station on the line and whilst the line has been re-opened as a heritage railway, the station is in private hands and has not been opened up to passengers.
The village is mostly contained in a conservation area that was designated in 1989.[7] It is just outside of the Yorkshire Dales National Park due to quarrying and a military firing range which lie just to the north of the village.[8] Besides quarrying (which is still ongoing in the modern era) the area was also known for its iron ore and lead industries. These were documented as far back as the early 14th century though may have been explored earlier.[9]
There are remains of the old lead mining industry in the nearby Condenser Wood. Some of the old lead processing buildings are still standing and are now listed buildings, including the peat store that would house a years' worth of peat to be used in smelting lead.[10] Various chimneys were built to vent the fumes from the smelting process, but these were quite low in the valley and would cling to the surroundings rather than disperse. Because of this, a flue was constructed that extended for 3km (02miles) in a northerly direction and fed into a chimney at Cobscar Mill above Preston-under-Scar at 381m (1,250feet) above sea level.[11]