Embsay

At the foot of Embsay Crag, a rock formation north of the village, is Embsay Reservoir. The crag marks the start of Barden Moor, an expanse of open moorland that is open access land and used by walkers.{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Lindsey|title=Enjoy a short stroll around Embsay Reservoir|url=http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/daleslife/walking/11853966.Enjoy_a_short_stroll_around_Embsay_Reservoir/|accessdate=26 September 2017|work=Craven Herald|date=13 March 2015}} There are two more reservoirs on the moor: Upper Barden Reservoir and Lower Barden Reservoir. Embsay Reservoir is the headquarters of Craven Sailing Club.{{cite news|last1=Holmes|first1=Damian|title=Short walk for a dramatic view|url=http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/15100560.Short_walk_for_a_dramatic_view/|accessdate=28 September 2017|work=Keighley News|date=18 February 2017}}

Embsay was originally a Celtic settlement, possibly founded at the same time as a local monastery, destroyed in a Viking raid in 867 AD. The village has a Saxon name and is listed in Domesday Book as "Embesie", which translates as "Embe's enclosure".{{cite book|last1=Ekwall|first1=Eilert|title=The concise Oxford dictionary of English place-names|date=1960|publisher=Clarendon Press|location=Oxford|isbn=0-19-869103-3|page=166|edition=4}} At that time, much of the area was wooded and this was progressively cleared over time to provide farmland. In 1120, Cecily de Romille and her husband founded Embsay Priory.{{sfn|Speight|1891|p=224}} The Augustinian members of the priory dedicated it to Saint Cuthbert and received local tithes. In 1154 they exchanged estates with the de Romille family and moved to Bolton Abbey, which was a more fertile location.{{cite web|title=The Priory in History - Bolton Priory|url=http://www.boltonpriory.org.uk/the-priory-in-history/|website=www.boltonpriory.org.uk|accessdate=28 September 2017}} The priory flourished and grew rich on the profits of sheep farming and wool trading. In 1305, Edward I granted a charter for an annual fair at Embsay.{{sfn|Speight|1891|p=246}} The Industrial Revolution resulted in several mills being built in Embsay.{{sfn|EEPP|2012|p=11}}

Embsay Village Hall events include film nights, pantomimes, bowls, and jumble sales.{{sfn|EEPP|2012|p=5}}

The village has a newsagent on the main road. The dedicated post office closed; a counter in a newspaper shop now serves as a post office. Other businesses in Embsay are a hairdresser and an arts and crafts store. Embsay has two public houses: the Elm Tree Inn and the Cavendish Arms.{{sfn|EEPP|2012|p=5}} The Elm Tree Inn and Elm Tree Square take their names from a tree that stood there for many years. It was replaced in the late 20th century because of Dutch elm disease, but in 2006 that replacement was also taken down. A further replacement was planted in 2007.{{cite news|last1=Tyack|first1=Tom|title=Return of village landmark|url=http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/1262659.Return_of_village_landmark/|accessdate=26 September 2017|work=Craven Herald|date=12 March 2007}}

The village has a Church of England voluntary controlled primary school which receives pupils from Embsay, Skipton and farther away. It was ranked the 141st best primary school in England in 2000, and had risen to 84th place by 2003.{{cite news |title=The top 500 primary schools |work=Sunday Times |date=9 November 2003|id={{ProQuest|316753120}} }}

Embsay railway station was built in 1888,{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/going_out/going_out_guide/outdoors.shtml |title=North Yorkshire - Days out: walks, trains and horses|work=BBC Home|date=4 July 2002|accessdate=19 June 2007}} and is the current terminus of the heritage Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.{{sfn|EEPP|2012|p=12}} There is a bus service between Embsay and Skipton eight times a day on weekdays and three on Saturdays.

The village has a cricket club that competes in the Craven League; its second team was, in 2006, the first second team in the league's history to play in the first division.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} The village also has a football club. Both clubs play at the same ground on Shires Lane at the north of the village. The club grounds are named the 'Robinson Memorial' after a local family who supported the club. Also at the north of the village is a recreational ground with a climbing frame and small football pitch.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

In the 2018 BBC One television series The ABC Murders, Embsay is the location of the fifth murder.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-12-28/11-ways-the-abc-murders-was-different-from-agatha-christies-original-novel-after-that-unnerving-ending/ |title=11 ways The ABC Murders was different from Agatha Christie's original novel after THAT unnerving ending|work=Radio Times|date=28 December 2018|accessdate=28 December 2018}} Scenes were filmed at the Embsay railway station.{{cite web|url=https://findthatlocation.com/blog/the-abc-murders-filming-locations-a-very-yorkshire-murder-mystery|title=The ABC Murders Filming Locations: A Very Yorkshire Murder Mystery|website=findthatlocation.com|accessdate=29 December 2018}}

• Ron Fawcett, rock climber, born in Embsay
• Robert Sidgwick, amateur first-class cricketer, born in Embsay

• Listed buildings in Embsay with Eastby

Image:EmbsayStation.jpg|Embsay Station

Image:Embsaycrag.jpg|Barden Moor with Embsay Crag in the distance

Image:UpperBardenReservoir.jpg|Upper Barden Reservoir in Barden Moor

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Speight|first=Harry|title=Through Airedale from Goole to Malham|url=https://archive.org/details/throughairedale00spegoog|year=1891|publisher=Walker & Laycock|location=Leeds|oclc=475830922}}
• {{cite report|title=Embsay with Eastby; Parish Profile 2012|year=2012|format=PDF|publisher=Embsay with Eastby Parish Council (Craven District Council)|location=Skipton|url=http://m.cravendc.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=5223&p=0|ref= {{Harvid|EEPP|2012}} }}

• {{Commons category-inline|Embsay}}
• [http://www.pendle.net/Attractions/embsay.htm Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway], Stringer Communications International, Ltd.
• [http://www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway], UK Individual web site
• [http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/embsay.asp AboutBritain.com "Embsay, North Yorkshire Photo Gallery"], Aboutbritain.com
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110702180338/http://www.embsaywitheastby.org/ Embsay with Eastby Parish Council website]

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{{North Yorkshire|state=collapsed}}

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Category:Villages in North Yorkshire

Category:Craven District

Category:Embsay with Eastby