Raskelf
{{Short description|Village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|54.08|-1.15|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Raskelf
| static_image_name = Raskelf St Mary.jpg
| static_image_caption = St Mary's Church with its wooden west tower
| population = 519
| population_ref = (2011 census)
| unitary_england = North Yorkshire
| lieutenancy_england = North Yorkshire
| region = Yorkshire and the Humber
| constituency_westminster = Thirsk and Malton
| post_town = YORK
| postcode_district = YO61
| postcode_area = YO
| dial_code = 01347
| os_grid_reference = SE491709
}}
Raskelf is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The electoral roll has a population of around 400 measured at 519 in the 2011 census.{{NOMIS2011|id=1170216910|title=Raskelf Parish |accessdate=21 May 2018}}
History
The village appears in the Domesday Book as Rascill and its derivation is believed to be Ra (Roe Deer) and Skelf (Shelf).{{Cite web|title = Visit Easingwold - Raskelf|url = http://visit-easingwold.com/Raskelf.html|website = visit-easingwold.com|accessdate = 22 October 2015}} This implies that at the time, Roe Deer were present on the shelf of land where Raskelf now stands.
The village was originally in the Wapentake of Bulmer. The village was part of the Hambleton District between 1974 and 2023. It is now administered by North Yorkshire Council.
The village itself is split into two, 'The Green' and the main village which are about 400 yards apart. It is situated just off the A19, 2.5 miles (4 km) north west of Easingwold, 15 miles (24 km) north of York and 9 miles (15 km) south of Thirsk. It can be reached by either travelling from Easingwold, turning left at the roundabout at the top of Long Street, along Raskelf Road, or directly from the A19 (just after the Easingwold bypass travelling north), or from Helperby which connects Raskelf to the Boroughbridge/Harrogate areas of North Yorkshire.
St Mary's, a 12th-century church is notable for being the only church in Yorkshire to have a wooden tower.{{Cite web|title = Raskelf Parish Council|url = http://www.raskelf.org.uk/|website = www.raskelf.org.uk|accessdate = 22 October 2015}} The church is in the Parish of Easingwold with Raskelf in the Diocese of York.{{Cite web|title = St Mary's Raskelf, Raskelf|url = http://www.achurchnearyou.com/raskelf/|website = A Church Near You|accessdate = 22 October 2015}}
In 1623, Ralph Reynard and Mark Dun, were accused and convicted of the murder of a yeoman by the name of Fletcher. Along with Fletcher's wife, they were executed.{{Cite web|title = GENUKI: Easingwold|url = http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/NRY/Easingwold/index.html|website = www.genuki.org.uk|accessdate = 22 October 2015}}
Transport
Buses provide a Mondays only working from Raskelf to Boroughbridge and back.{{Cite web|url = http://www.northyorkstravel.info/timetable/YNEO002.pdf|title = Bus service 002|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }} Service 29 goes to York 6 times daily with only 4 return workings. Most of these services start in Easingwold.{{Cite web|url = http://www.northyorkstravel.info/timetable/2931feb.pdf|title = Bus service 29|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }} Bus 30X runs from Thirsk to York via Raskelf seven times daily Mondays to Saturdays. There are no buses through Raskelf on Sundays.{{Cite web|url = http://www.northyorkstravel.info/timetable/2931feb.pdf|title = Bus service 30X|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}
Railway station
Raskelf railway station was ½ mile (0.8 km) to the west of the village itself.{{Cite web|title = History of Raskelf, in Hambleton and North Riding {{!}} Map and description|url = http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/14112|website = www.visionofbritain.org.uk|accessdate = 22 October 2015}} It was opened in 1841 by the Great North of England Railway, which was in itself a line built by the North Eastern Railway to connect York with Newcastle.{{PastScape|mname= GREAT NORTH OF ENGLAND RAILWAY|mnumber= 1375367|accessdate = 22 October 2015}} The station was closed to passengers in 1958 and closed completely in 1964.{{PastScape|mname = RASKELF STATION|mnumber = 500503|accessdate = 22 October 2015}} It was the last station on the East Coast Main Line before the north and south to east junction with the Thirsk and Malton Line.{{Cite web|title = Disused Stations: Coxwold Station|url = http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/c/coxwold/index.shtml|website = www.disused-stations.org.uk|accessdate = 22 October 2015}} The line is still open today and the site of the station is where Hag Lane crosses over the railway. Raskelf station was 13 miles and 28 chains (22 km) north of York and 8 miles and 51 chains (14 km) south of Thirsk.{{NHLE| num= 1294222| desc= CHURCH OF ST MARY |accessdate = 10 December 2013}}
References
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