Reeth

The origin of the name Reeth is unclear. It is possibly derived from the Germanic for 'place by the stream',{{cite web|title=Reeth History – A historical guide & Links to Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.|url=http://www.reeth.org/Reeth-history.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401033336/http://www.reeth.org/Reeth-history.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=1 April 2012|accessdate=4 December 2015}} although this claim can neither be confirmed nor refuted. Reeth could also have been derived from the Cumbric rith (cf. ryd in Modern Welsh, rys in Cornish ), meaning 'Ford'.{{cite book |last1=Phillips |first1=John |title=The rivers, mountains, and sea-coast of Yorkshire: with essays on the climate, scenery, and ancient inhabitants of the county |date=1855 |publisher=J. Murray |page=52 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mJRQAAAAYAAJ&q=reeth+celtic&pg=PA52}} Either would make sense as Reeth is located near two shallow rivers.

In Saxon times, Reeth was only a settlement on the forest edge, but by the time of the Norman conquest it had grown sufficiently in importance to be noted in the Domesday Book.{{cite book |last1=Hartley |first1=Marie |last2=Ingilby |first2=Joan |title=textsThe Yorkshire Dales |date=1991 |orig-date=1959 |publisher=Smith Settle |location=Otley |isbn=1870071727 |page=251}}{{cite web |title=Reeth {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SE0399/reeth/ |website=opendomesday.org |access-date=23 July 2023}} Later it became a centre for hand-knitting and the local lead industry was controlled from here, but it was always a market centre for the local farming community.{{cite book |last1=Hartley |first1=Marie |last2=Ingilby |first2=Joan |title=textsThe Yorkshire Dales |date=1991 |orig-date=1959 |publisher=Smith Settle |location=Otley |isbn=1870071727 |page=252}}

Built in 1783, The Burgoyne (named after Mrs Burgoyne Johnson) stands on Reeth's idyllic green, the late Georgian county house hotel is full of history and elegant charm with many of its original features. The hotel previously known as Hill House, was made into guest accommodation and then a hotel after the Second World War. May Sinclair features Hill House in her novel, The Three Sisters, as the home of Miss Kendal. The "Swaledale Walk 5 May Sinclair's Reeth", is a short walk that takes you around and above Reeth to discover pivotal places featured in two of her novels.{{cite web |title=Swaledale Walk {{!}} May Sinclair's Reeth |url=http://swaledalemuseum.org/may-sinclairs-reeth-walk.html |website=swaledalemuseum.org |access-date=23 July 2023}}

On 5 July 2014, the Tour de France Stage 1 from Leeds to Harrogate passed through the village.{{cite web|url=http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2014/us/stage-1.html|title=Tour de France Stage 1|accessdate=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725103624/http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2014/us/stage-1.html|archivedate=25 July 2014|url-status=dead }}

The village lies within the Richmond and Northallerton parliamentary constituency, which has been represented since 2015 by Conservative Rishi Sunak, who took over from retiring fellow Conservative William Hague.{{cite news |last1=Chapman |first1=Hannah |title=Richmond elects Rishi Sunak to replace William Hague |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/12940188.richmond-elects-rishi-sunak-replace-william-hague/ |access-date=23 July 2023 |work=The Northern Echo |date=8 May 2015}} From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the district of Richmondshire, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.

Reeth is located on the B6270 road that crosses the entirety of Swaledale, linking Richmond with Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria. Historically, Grinton was the most important settlement in the Upper Swaledale area as it had a church, but Reeth is now the largest and principal settlement.{{cite web |title=Reeth |url=https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/places/reeth/ |website=yorkshiredales.org.uk |access-date=30 August 2024}} Nearby settlements to Reeth include the fellow parish villages of Fremington {{convert|0.5|mi|1}} east and Healaugh {{convert|1.4|mi}} to the west, as well as Grinton, {{convert|1.5|mi}} to the east. Reeth is situated at the meeting point of the two most northerly of the Yorkshire Dales: Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. It is also near to Reeth that Arkle Beck from the north joins the River Swale. The village is overlooked by the surrounding fells of Harkerside Moor, Fremington Edge and Calver Hill.

Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk, a popular long-distance footpath from Saint Bees to Robin Hood's Bay, passes through Reeth.{{cite book|last1=Wainwright|first1=Alfred|title=A Coast to Coast Walk|date=2010|publisher=Frances Lincoln|location=London, UK|isbn=978-0-7112-3063-7|page=95|edition=Second}}

For the parish of Reeth, Fremington and Healaugh:

Primary education is provided by Reeth Community Primary School, which is engaged in a confederation with nearby Gunnerside Methodist Primary School.{{cite web |url=http://www.reeth.n-yorks.sch.uk/index.php |title=Reeth and Gunnerside Schools |accessdate=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820120754/http://www.reeth.n-yorks.sch.uk/index.php |archivedate=20 August 2012 }} Reeth Schools Pupils then receive secondary education at Richmond School & Sixth Form College.{{cite web|title=Secondary admission arrangements for the Northallerton area|url=http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/article/26699/Secondary-admission-arrangements-for-the-Northallerton-area|website=North Yorkshire County Council|publisher=North Yorkshire County Council|accessdate=6 December 2017}}

In May and June every year Reeth becomes the hub of the Swaledale Festival, a two-week celebration of music and guided walks. This had to be cancelled in 2020 owing to Coronavirus. Additionally on the final Wednesday of August the Reeth Show, an agricultural event, is held. In 2012 it celebrated its centenary.[http://www.reethshow.co.uk/ Reeth Show] UK.

Reeth is also home to the Swaledale Museum,{{cite web|url=https://www.dalesdiscoveries.com/365/136-swaledale-museum|title=Swaledale Museum: What makes a truly excellent museum?|website=Dales Discoveries|access-date=1 December 2020}} which covers rural history including life and work in the local area of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

File:Burgoyne Hotel, Reeth - geograph.org.uk - 400529.jpg

Village amenities include three public houses (the Black Bull Hotel, the Buck Hotel and the King's Arms), a caravan and camp site, a village shop and post office, two bakeries, a cafe, eleven guest houses variously bed and breakfast or self-catering, two hotels ([https://www.theburgoyne.co.uk/ The Burgoyne Hotel]), a community centre, the Evangelical Congregational Church, Reeth Memorial Hall and the Swaledale Museum.{{cite web|url=http://www.swaledalemuseum.org|title=Swaledale Museum|website=Swaledale Museum|access-date=1 December 2020}}

One of five National Park Centres for the Yorkshire Dales is located in Reeth. The local health establishment is Reeth Medical Centre, which serves more 1,600 patients over an area of {{convert|200|mi2}}.{{cite web |title=Reeth Medical Centre – Home |url=https://www.reeth.org.uk/#:~:text=Welcome%20to%20Reeth%20Medical%20Centre,an%20efficient%20and%20professional%20manner. |website=reeth.org.uk |access-date=23 July 2023}} In 2021, the medical centre was rated as 24th in England for patient satisfaction, and in 2022, it was ranked as the second best in all of England.{{cite news |last1=Pritchard |first1=Jonathan |title=These are the best 11 GP surgeries in Yorkshire as voted for by patients |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/health/these-are-the-best-11-gp-surgeries-in-yorkshire-as-voted-for-by-patients-3284581 |access-date=23 July 2023 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=24 June 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Claire |last2=Teale |first2=Connor |title=GP surgeries in Yorkshire ranked as one named 2nd best in England |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/health/gp-surgeries-yorkshire-ranked-one-24575113 |access-date=23 July 2023 |work=Yorkshire Live |date=25 July 2022}}

Reeth is home to the Reeth Dales Craft Centre, there are 12 units containing artists, an artisan cheese-maker, a shoemaker, metalworker and several fibre arts outlets supplying wool and yarn related products and accessories. The Craft Bakery has won several awards.{{cite web |title=Two Dales Bakery |url=https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/places/two_dales_bakery/ |website=yorkshiredales.org.uk |access-date=23 July 2023}}

File:Evangelical Congregational church, Reeth - geograph.org.uk - 3802766.jpg

Reeth is home to two churches. The current Reeth Methodist Chapel has been in use since 1822, although Methodists have been worshipping in the village since at least 1766.http://www.nydalesmeth.org.uk/reeth.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113042930/http://www.nydalesmeth.org.uk/reeth.htm |date=13 January 2014 }} Reeth Methodists The Reeth Evangelical Congregational Church is located on the village green.{{sfn|RCACA|2001|p=6}}

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• David Bradberry (1736–1803) – nonconformist minister{{cite ODNB|first=M. J.|last=Mercer|title=Bradberry, David|id=3164|date=23 September 2004}}
• Ruby Ferguson (1899–1966) – novelist{{cite news |title=The changing summer skies above Swaledale |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/arts-and-culture/picture-post-the-changing-summer-skies-above-swaledale-1815209 |access-date=23 July 2023 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=3 August 2015}}
• Clive Russell (born 1945) – actor and voice-over artist
• Arthur Shepherd (1884–1951) – Member of Parliament

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• {{cite report|title=Reeth, Swaledale – Conservation Area Character Appraisal |url=https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2019/10/reeth_conservation_area_character_appraisal_27-11-01_with_map-3.pdf|website=yorkshiredales.org.uk|date=November 2001|access-date=30 August 2024|ref={{harvid|RCACA|2001}} }}

• {{Commons category-inline|Reeth}}
• [http://www.northyorks.com/reeth.htm Reeth Guide]
• [http://www.swaledalemuseum.org Swaledale Museum]
• [https://www.yorkshire.com/reeth/ Reeth in Welcome to Yorkshire]
• [https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/places-to-go/reeth/ Reeth in the YDNP website]

{{Yorkshire Dales}}

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Category:Villages in North Yorkshire

Category:Swaledale