Aldwark Home Page

Welcome to the Aldwark Area Parish Website 

The site is provided by the Aldwark Area Parish Council, whose area comprises the three small village parishes of Aldwark, Flawith and Youlton in Hambleton, North Yorkshire.  Contact details for the parish councillors can be found in the Parish Council section using the links at the side.  If you would like to contribute items for the website, please email them to Aldwark Parish Council Clerk. 

We are particularly keen to receive news of forthcoming events or local news for the Upcoming Events or News sections. 

If you would like to advertise a local business or service, free of charge, please contact us. 

The three parishes of Aldwark, Flawith and Youlton have a population of around 300 people living in some 113 households. It is an attractive rural area and parts of Aldwark have conservation village status. 

The name Aldwark probably originates from the Saxon ‘ald weorc’, meaning old fort, which refers to the Roman station once located here. A ferry allowed the Roman road to cross the river, on its way through the Forest of Galtres, and then on to York, entering the city at Bootham Bar.  The river and landing were used commercially from Roman times, well into the 20th century.

Flawith village is smaller than Aldwark with few local amenities apart from a veterinary surgery. It is situated on the road between the larger villages of Tollerton and Helperby.

Youlton is a hamlet of some 15 dwellings.  It has no church, shops or pub, but some fine houses and a post box!  It is on the White Rose National Cycle Route 65, which goes south to Beningbrough Hall and York, or north to Thirsk and Northallerton (see www.sustrans.org for details).

Amenities in the area are minimal.  There is a church and pub (now closed) in Aldwark, but no shops, post-offices or meeting places, other than the church, in any of the villages.  There is a play area for small children in Aldwark.  A larger play area exists in the nearby village of Alne, where there is also a small school.  There is an excellent village shop and post-office in Tollerton which is about 3 miles away. The nearest towns with shops and amenities are Easingwold, which is some 8 miles away on this side of the river, or Boroughbridge which is about the same distance away, on the other side of the river.  There is also a large retail park at Clifton Moor, just outside of York.

Footpaths and bridleways are limited, aside from the Aldwark Ramble that takes a 4-mile circular walk from St. Stephen's Church in Aldwark. Energy sources are only electricity and oil, although some of the new houses are being built with the ability to use gas via tanks, and solar and ground-source heating.

Aldwark Manor is the most significant local businesses and employers in the villages; other local businesses include a veterinary surgery and a coarse fishery.  

There is an increasing number of younger people in the area, as families with children are moving into both established and new housing.