Bell Busk

The name of Bell Busk is believed to have been derived from Old Norse and Old English meaning the bell shaped bush.{{sfn|Chrystal|2017|p=13}} Bell Busk is {{convert|1|mi}} north of Coniston Cold,{{sfn|Speight|1891|p=264}} {{convert|7|mi}} north west of Skipton, {{convert|5|mi|0}} south of Malham{{sfn|Speight|1892|p=318}} and {{convert|5|mi|0}} east of Hellifield.{{cite map|title = Blackburn & Burnley, Clitheroe & Skipton|map =103 |year =2016 |scale =1:50,000 |series =Landranger |publisher =Ordnance Survey |isbn =9780319262016 }} The hamlet sits at the southern end of Malhamdale, where the River Aire meets Otterburn Beck. Malhamdale is the very northern end of Airedale.{{sfn|Chrystal|2017|p=103}} Official records of the area make no mention of the hamlet until 1585, even then, it was not shown on mapping until the early 17th century.{{cite news |title=Walking: Take this Yorkshire escape route to a more laid-back world |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/whats-on/things-to-do/walking-take-this-yorkshire-escape-route-to-a-more-laid-back-world-1-9160368 |access-date=29 July 2019 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=11 May 2018}} One of the oldest houses is a Yorkshire laithe known as Granny House Farm, nowadays known as Granny House on the old Roman Road; Mark House Lane. Granny House is mentioned in the walking book 'Through Airedale from Goole to Malham' by Johnnie Gray. In 1891 it is described as a 300 year old 'Public' and a stout edifice.

File:Granny House, Bell Busk.jpg

There are two grade 2 listed bridges in Bell Busk: Red Bridge over Otterburn Beck and Bell Busk Bridge over The River Aire.

File:Red Bridge over Otterburn Beck.jpg

In 1781, a weir and large mill pond with a long mill race were constructed on the Aire to provide water power for a silk mill.{{cite web |title=Bell Busk Mill - Cotton and Silk |url=http://www.kirkbymalham.info/KMI/bellbusk/bellbuskmill.html |website=www.kirkbymalham.info |access-date=29 July 2019}} The weir was located {{convert|7|mi}} south of Malham and {{convert|83|mi}} from the mouth of the Aire on the River Ouse.{{cite news |title=The Condition of the Aire |work=The Bradford Observer |issue=1,708 |date=8 November 1866 |location=Column D |page=6|oclc=17641939}} The mill has long since been demolished after it was destroyed by fire,{{cite news |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Frank |title=Easy all round |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest/easy-all-round-1-2078120 |access-date=28 July 2019 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=31 October 2006}}{{cite news |last1=Tate |first1=Lesley |title=Rare artefacts from Bell Busk silk mill to go under hammer |url=https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/17408119.rare-artefacts-from-bell-busk-silk-mill-to-go-under-hammer/ |access-date=29 July 2019 |work=Craven Herald |date=4 February 2019}} but the weir was only removed in 2018 to make fish passage easier into the spawning grounds. This is to encourage salmon into the River Aire and its tributaries after a 200-year absence.{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Viv |title=Scheme will see salmon returned to the River Aire after 200-year hiatus |url=https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/17716253.scheme-will-return-salmon-to-the-aire/ |access-date=29 July 2019 |work=Craven Herald |date=25 June 2019}}

In the 19th century, quarrying became an important industry when at least three rock quarries were in operation; Field Rock Quarry to the west, Esh Bottom Quarry to the south west and Haw Crag Quarry to the east. Haw Crag was noted for its medium-purity limestone which was used in the local buildings.{{cite book |last1=Harrison |first1=D J |title=The limestone resources of the Craven Lowlands : description of parts of 1:50 000 geological sheets 59, 60, 61, 67, 68, and 69 |date=1982 |publisher=H.M.S.O |location=London |isbn=0-11-884316-8 |page=25}} Quarrying here was on quite a large scale compared to other quarries in the area; {{convert|30,000|tonne}} was processed in the month of January 1877 alone.{{sfn|Speight|1891|p=267}} Haw Crag Quarry is now an SSSI as it "key site in the understanding of carbonate environments in the Craven Basin."{{cite web |title=Haw Crag Quarry |url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1002031.pdf |website=designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk |access-date=29 July 2019 }}

Bell Busk used to be in the West Riding of Yorkshire, but since the county boundary changes of 1974, it is now in North Yorkshire.{{sfn|Chrystal|2017|p=100}}{{cite web |title=History of Bell Busk, in Craven and West Riding {{!}} Map and description |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/24816 |website=www.visionofbritain.org.uk |access-date=28 July 2019}} From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the district of Craven, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.

Metcalfe Models and Toys, a model kit firm that specialises in cardboard buildings used for dioramas and by model railway hobbyists, is based in Bell Busk.{{cite news |title=Expansion on the cards for model maker |url=https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/5067251.bell-busk-model-business-moves-to-state-of-the-art-building/ |access-date=29 July 2019 |work=Craven Herald |date=21 March 2010}}

Bell Busk is located in the civil parish of Coniston Cold and is included in the statistics there for the 2011 census.{{NOMIS2011|id=1170216736|title=Coniston Cold Parish |accessdate=29 July 2019}}

There is a clock in St. Peters church made by James Harrison in 1845.

File:Harrison clock.jpg

Originally, Bell Busk was on the packhorse route between Skipton and Settle,{{sfn|Speight|1891|p=263}} which meant the road veered off at Coniston Cold, whereas this now goes directly west towards Hellifield as the A65 road.{{cite news |title=From Grits to Silurians; Geological ramble |work=The Leeds Mercury |issue=15,817|date=15 December 1888|location=Column C |page=15|oclc=1016307518}} The junction and road leading up to Bell Busk from Coniston Cold is narrow and can cause access problems.{{cite news |title=Village's cold shoulder to growth |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/latest-news/village-s-cold-shoulder-to-growth-1-2342598 |access-date=29 July 2019 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=16 April 2009}}

The hamlet had a railway station on the "Little" North Western Railway between {{rws|Skipton}} and {{rws|Hellifield}}. As it was the nearest station to Malham Cove and Malhamdale, it took on a far greater importance than other settlements in the dale due to it being a disembarkation point for travellers.{{cite news |last=Miall|first=P|title=The River Aire; its scenery, historic sites and geology |work=The Leeds Mercury |issue=15,631|date=12 May 1888|location=Column A |page=1|oclc=1016307518}} The station site was used as a backdrop to the Bette Davis film Another Man's Poison in 1951,{{cite news |title=Former railway station and setting for 1950s Bette Davis film 'Another Man's Poison' up for sale |url=https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/16962830.former-railway-station-and-setting-for-1950s-bette-davis-film-another-mans-poison-up-for-sale/ |access-date=29 July 2019 |work=Craven Herald |date=5 October 2018}} but was closed to passengers in 1959.{{cite book |last1=Burgess |first1=Neil |title=The lost railways of Yorkshire's West Riding. The central section : Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield |date=2014 |publisher=Stenlake |location=Catrine |isbn=9781840336573 |page=88}}

The long distance paths, The Airedale Way, the Trans-Dale Trail 2 and the Rail to Trail Walk (the Bentham Line) pass through the hamlet on their way north (to the source of the River Aire for the Airedale Way and Greta Bridge for the Trans-Dale Trail), and westwards respectively.{{cite web |title=Rail To Trail Walk - The Bentham Line - LDWA Long Distance Paths |url=https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Rail+To+Trail+Walk+-+The+Bentham+Line |website=www.ldwa.org.uk |access-date=29 July 2019}} Both the Pennine Way and the Wild Yorkshire Way, pass to the east of the Hamlet, with many cottages and other overnight accommodation being offered in Bell Busk.{{cite web |title=Pennine Way National Trail - LDWA Long Distance Paths |url=https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Pennine+Way+National+Trail |website=www.ldwa.org.uk |access-date=29 July 2019}}{{cite web |title=Wild Yorkshire Way - LDWA Long Distance Paths |url=https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Wild+Yorkshire+Way |website=www.ldwa.org.uk |access-date=29 July 2019}}

• William Cecil Slingsby - noted mountaineer, was born in the village.{{Cite ODNB |first=J S|last=Winthrop-Young |title=William Cecil Slingsby|id=37974}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last1=Chrystal|first1=Paul|title=The Place Names of Yorkshire; Cities, Towns, Villages, Rivers and Dales, some Pubs too, in Praise of Yorkshire Ales|date=2017|publisher=Stenlake|location=Catrine|isbn=9781840337532|edition=1}}
• {{cite book|last=Speight|first=Harry|title=Through Airedale from Goole to Malham|year=1891|publisher=Walker & Laycock|location=Leeds|oclc=5824116}}
• {{cite book|last=Speight|first=Harry|title=The Craven and North-west Yorkshire Highlands|year=1892|publisher=Elliot Stock|location=London|oclc=7219082}}

• [https://www.dalescommunityarchives.org.uk/content/place/bell-busk Friends of the Dale's community archive page on Bell Busk]

Category:Hamlets in North Yorkshire

Category:Craven District