Stokesley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stokesley |
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.jpg) Stokesley Town Centre |
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 Stokesley
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| Population | 4,757 (2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | NZ524087 |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MIDDLESBROUGH |
| Postcode district | TS9 |
| Dialling code | 01642 |
| Police | North Yorkshire |
| Fire | North Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
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Stokesley is a market town and civil parish in the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire, England, formerly a part of the historic North Riding of Yorkshire. It lies on the River Leven. An electoral ward, of the same name, stretches north to Newby and had a population at the 2011 Census of 5,537.
Stokesley is about two miles south of the Middlesbrough borough boundary and eight miles south of Middlesbrough town centre. Stokesley is between Middlesbrough, Guisborough and Northallerton in a farming area. Local attractions nearby include Great Ayton, Captain Cook's monument and Roseberry Topping in the North York Moors National Park. The town was formerly one of the North Riding of Yorkshire's rural district head towns, this was from 1894 until 1974.
Contents
History
Stokesley was first granted a charter to hold fairs in 1223 by Henry III. The Pack Horse Bridge, crossing the River Leven from the riverside walk, dates from the 17th century. Renowned for its large range of building types, the latter construction within Stokesley of sundry fine Georgian architecture is thought to have contributed much to its later character. Other prominent historical features around the town include the Mill Wheel, thought to represent the site of a mill recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The famous survey, by William the Conqueror, also contained the first written record of "a church and priest" in Stokesley. The present Church of St Peter and St Paul - the oldest building in the town - has a later medieval tower and chancel, with a Georgian nave built around 1777: it is located just off the market Plain and has colourful twentieth century stained glass and some woodwork carved by the Mouseman of Kilburn.
Visitors to Stokesley today will find an intact historic high street, lined with many independent small shops and restaurants. Other facilities include a leisure centre with a swimming pool, a medium-sized supermarket, show-ground, camping site, health centre, industrial estate, library, police and fire stations. The town also has five pubs. Stokesley is also the home of Quorn, produced by Marlow Foods. There are many grade II listed buildings, including four Grade II* listed buildings of special architectural or historic interest. These are Barclays Bank, Handyside Cottage, the Manor House and the Old Rectory.
The inaugural meeting of the Stokesley Agricultural Society was held at the Golden Lion Hotel, now Chapters Hotel, in 1859. This boutique hotel was also used as the local law courts for the area being ideally placed between Middlesbrough and Northallerton. Stokesley Agricultural Show, first held in 1859, is held every year on the third Saturday in September. It is, perhaps, the largest one day show in England.
There is a weekly market held on a Friday in the main square called the Plain. A farmers' market takes place on the first Saturday of each month.
A four-day fair takes place every September in the town centre. The fair spans the full length of the high street and rides such as the KMG Equinox-Tango, the Extreme, Vertigo and various Crows rides attend. The fair always begins on a Wednesday evening and runs until the Saturday, opening all day on the Saturday due to the annual agricultural show which takes place on the showground.
Transport
Stokesley is served by the Arriva North East service 28a from Middlesbrough every hour and the 81 from Marske Estate every hour. Abbott's of Leeming run services 80/89, which run every two hours. The services operate six days a week towards Northallerton and Romanby via Osmotherley.
Stokesley was served by rail and had a railway station and some sidings, on the Stockton-Picton-Battersby-Whitby branch. The station closed to passengers in June 1954, pre-dating the large scale closures of the Beeching cuts. Goods facilities remained until August 1965 when the line closed completely. The station featured in British Transport Films' "A Farmer Moves South" in 1951. The nearest railway station is now at Great Ayton.
Economy
The historic High Street is lined with independent small shops and restaurants. Other facilities include a medium-sized Co-operative Food supermarket, showground, camping site, health centre, industrial estate, library, police and fire stations. The town has four pubs (The Queen's Head, The White Swan, The Mill and The Spread Eagle). Stokesley is also the home of Quorn, produced by Marlow Foods.
There are 80 grade II listed buildings, along with four Grade II* listed buildings of special architectural or historic interest. They are the former Barclays Bank, Handyside Cottage, the Manor House and the Old Rectory.
Agriculture
The inaugural meeting of Stokesley Agricultural Society was held at the Golden Lion Hotel, now The Leven Hotel, in 1859. The hotel was also used as the law court for the area being placed between Middlesbrough and Northallerton. Stokesley Agricultural Show, first held in 1859, is held every year on the third Saturday in September. It is one of the largest one day shows in the northern England. A weekly market is also held each Friday in the main square called the Plain, a farmers' market also takes place on the first Saturday of each month.
Fair
A four-day fair takes place in September in the town centre. The fair spans the full length of the high street and rides such as Speed Buzz, the Extreme, Vertigo, King Frog, Cyclone and various Crows rides attend. The fair begins on Wednesday evening and runs until the Saturday, opening all day on the Saturday at the same time as the annual agricultural show which takes place on the showground.
Sport
Stokesley SC Football Club currently compete in the North Riding League Premier Division, which was founded in 1920. The North Riding County FA is based in the town. The county FA formed in 1881. Stokesley Cricket Club play in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League. The local leisure centre has a swimming pool.
Education
Historic schools include Preston Grammar School in College Square: now a pizza takeaway. In 1918 it was closed for failing to reach the standards of an inspection; primarily caused by lack of funds. In general, children who passed exams at 11 years old, then went to Yarm Grammar School, with some Catholic pupils going to Middlesbrough under the old system.
Stokesley Primary School was created in 1908 and extended in 1973. It has about 550 pupils.
Stokesley School, was opened in 1959 for pupils between 11 and 18 was originally a secondary modern and became a comprehensive school in the 1970s. Later a sixth form college was incorporated. It has, at present, about 1,700 pupils. Alumni of Stokesley School include Labour politician Alan Milburn, 1988 Olympics runner Louise Stuart and Sky Sports News journalist and presenter David Jones.
Notable people
- John Coates (1828–1870), cricketer
- Jonathan Ruffer, financial expert, author, philanthropist
Images for kids
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Market day with Stokesley Town Hall in the background
See also
In Spanish: Stokesley para niños
