Fancy a Visit to Lake Rosedale?

Rosedale is a deep valley cutting through the high central plateau that forms the heart of the North York Moors; and a community comprising a scattered rural population.

The valley is home to one village - Rosedale Abbey, five small hamlets, and a number of isolated farms.

The Whole Village in Rosedale was Bought for the Water Scheme.

The hamlets include Hartoft to the Southern end; and Thorgill, School Row, Alder Lane, and Florence Terrace towards the head of the Dale.

Today, Rosedale is perhaps best known as a quiet holiday haven for walkers, cyclists, and other folks who simply love the outdoors in the North York Moors.

But in Victorian times, this most scenic and peaceful Dale was known for the noise of iron-ore mines, underground explosions, and steam locomotives; and the belching flames and blinding smoke and dust from three massive sets of Calcinating Kilns.

These Massive Calcinating Kilns Are A Monumental Relic to Rosedale's Historic Iron-stone Mining History.

The Plan to Flood the Dale

And even more bizzarly, if the City of Hull Corporation had carried out its wicked scheme in 1933, Rosedale would today be known as a lake!

That's because Hull planned to flood the Dale and to bring drinking water from the reservoires created on North York Moors.

In 1933, Parliamentary powers were granted to Hull to acquire all the land in Rosedale, Farndale, and Bransdale.

The various estates were purchased at a cost of £2,127,000.

Our own title deeds show that Rosella Cottage in Rosedale Abbey was compulsary purchased from the Milburn Estate in the 1930s to allow for flooding of the Dale.

Thankfully for Rosedale and our near-by neighbouring Dales, the hair-brained scheme did not proceed.

The Hull Corporation was deterred partly by the expense of the project; and by the organised opposition that resulted from folks who loved the North York Moors even back in those days.

So we're all still able to enjoy the pleasures of Rosedale today.

And due to depopulaton of the Dale since the end of the iron-mining boom in 1926 - the population fell from over 4,000 miners to under 400 residents today - many properties in the Dale have been saved and are these days given-over to holiday-homes.

Visiting Rosedale Today

Approaching the Dale from Hartoft – one of three roads into the Dale during summer – but often the only passable route in winter - you are met by a sign indicating two miles to Rosedale Abbey.

From this point onwards, you are entering a distinctive out-of-the-way place which has managed to hold onto its unique sense of place.

This Whole Dale would have been Lost to Hull's Water Scheme.

There are no fancy knick-knack shops; no large hotels; and no "artificial" countryside attractions.

The Rosedale community simply retains the essential character that makes the North York Moors feel special.

There are three pubs - the Blacksmiths in Hartoft; and the Coach House and White Horse in Rosedale Abbey; with a fourth hisotric Inn - the Milburn Arms - set to re-open its doors in April 2014.

The Historic White Horse Farm Hotel in February 2014.

There are also two cafes in the village and one further up the Dale; a village shop, village school (with 12-children attending), nine-hole golf course, Health Spa, Reading Room, Methodist Chapel and Anglican Church, hostel, and a couple of caravan and camping sites by the river.

Oh yes, we also get the mobile library visiting as well; and the Simply Scrumptious fish 'n' chips folks come to the village every Friday evening!

You'll soon get the feeling that local people enjoy living here; and that visitors who return year after year also "fit-in" and feel like part of the local community.

Rosedale Still Retains a "Sense of Community" that Welcomes Visitors.

Maybe that's because mobile phones don't get reception in this deep valley?

So people have to talk to each other in the local pubs.

And with around 400 full-time residents in the whole valley, you'll soon get chatting to the locals when you're in the cafe, shop, or pub.

Or perhaps it's because the nearest towns are more than ten-miles distant - helping to create a sense of "togetherness" by distance?

Or maybe it's the shared sense of adventure in the struggle against the elements?

Nothing pulls a community together like a heavy snowfall that can close the road into the Dale for days each winter.

High Moorland Roads Can Quickly become Impassable in Winter.

A fallen tree or landslip across the road can have the same immediate effect!

One other funny thing you might notice about Rosedale - when all the visitor bedrooms in the Inns are taken; when the holiday homes and B+Bs are full; and when the campsites are full of visitors too; the population of Rosedale triples - but everyone feels like a local!

And that's what makes it so nice to spend time in Rosedale.

That, and the fact we're not under 300-feet of water going to Hull!