Romanby

The name Romanby suggests that the village dates from Roman times, but derives from the Viking name Hromund.{{cite book |last1=Ekwall |first1=Eilert |author-link=Eilert Ekwall |title=The concise Oxford dictionary of English place-names |date=1960 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |oclc=1228215388 |page=392 |edition=4}} The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book as belonging to King William.{{cite web |title=Romanby {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SE3593/romanby/ |website=opendomesday.org |access-date=15 August 2024}}

Romanby chapel, which dated from the 13th century, was demolished in 1523 on the orders of the Bishop of Durham, Thomas Wolsey.{{cite book |last1=Bogg |first1=Edmund |title=Richmondshire: an account of its history and antiquities, characters and customs, legendary lore, and natural history |date=1908 |publisher=Elliot Stock |location=London |page=25|oclc=1385443354}} Its destruction was ordered because the vicar of Northallerton at the time, had questioned the bishop's authority.{{sfn|Page|1968|p=432}} St James' Church was built in 1882. It is a grade II listed structure.{{NHLE|desc=Church of St James the Great |num= 1380322|grade= II|access-date=15 August 2024 }} Romanby Methodist Church dates from 1962.{{cite web |title=Romanby Parish Council - About Romanby |url=https://www.romanby-pc.gov.uk/about-romanby/community-amenities/the-methodist-church-romanby/ |website=Romanby Parish Council |access-date=26 October 2024}}

Before the railway was built, Romanby was separated from Northallerton by a {{convert|0.5|mi|1|adj=on}} strip of pasture land, but since the railway opened, the spread of each settlement means that the two are contiguous.{{cite book |last1=Bogg |first1=Edmund |title=Richmondshire: an account of its history and antiquities, characters and customs, legendary lore, and natural history |date=1908 |publisher=Elliot Stock |location=London |page=24|oclc=1385443354}} The Wensleydale Railway passes over a bridge on the outskirts of Romanby village on its way to Redmire from Northallerton West railway station.

A grade II listed packhorse bridge straddles the Willow Beck.{{NHLE|desc=Packhorse Bridge |num= 1190645|grade= II|access-date=15 August 2024}}{{cite web |title=Willow Beck level at Romanby - GOV.UK |url=https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/station/8285 |website=check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk |access-date=15 August 2024 }} Water from the beck powered a water-mill in the village, which was last listed in 1663.{{sfn|Page|1968|p=421}} The beck flows southwards and enters the River Wiske before the A684 road. The River Wiske formed the western boundary of the old Allertonshire Wapentake.{{sfn|Page|1968|p=418}} In March 2025, more than 3,700 trees were planted on a {{convert|9.5|acre}} site between the village and the Willow Beck. The community woodland, known as Thompson's Wood after the landowners, is part of the White Rose Forest initiative.{{cite news |last1=Engelbrecht |first1=Gavin |title=New community woodland established in Northallerton with 3,700 trees planted |url=https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/25007480.new-community-woodland-created-northallerton/ |access-date=26 March 2025 |work=Darlington and Stockton Times |date=16 March 2025 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Minting |first1=Stuart |title=Community woodland to leave lasting legacy |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=26 March 2025 |page=12|issn=0963-1496}}

North Yorkshire Council has its headquarters at County Hall in Romanby, which is built on the site of a former a racecourse. County hall was designed by the York architect Walter Brierley for North Riding County Council. The main building constructed in 1904–14 is of two storeys in red brick with ashlar details on a square courtyard plan, it has a 15-bay frontage and 23-bay returns. It is a grade II* listed building.{{NHLE|num=1150967|desc= COUNTY HALL|accessdate = 10 December 2013}}

Romanby electoral ward does not cover all the parish and had a total population at the 2011 Census of 3,946.{{NOMIS2011|id=1237325076|title=Romanby 2011 Census Ward|accessdate=21 May 2018}}

From 1974 to 2023 Romanby was part of the Hambleton District, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.

The village has several shops, a post office, a dentist, a hairdressers and a public house, the Golden Lion.{{cite web |title=Romanby Parish Council - About Romanby |url=https://www.romanby-pc.gov.uk/about-romanby/ |website=romanby-pc.gov.uk |access-date=15 August 2024}}

Romanby is served by Romanby Primary School. The local secondary school and sixth form is Northallerton School.

Romanby Golf Course on the village outskirts has an 18-hole course, floodlit driving range and a clubhouse. Northallerton Town Football Club is located in Romanby.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |editor1-last=Page |editor1-first=William |title=The Victoria History of the Counties of England; Yorkshire, the North Riding Volume 1 |date=1968 |publisher=University of London |location=London |oclc=878120}}

{{Commons category|Romanby}}

• [https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/29835 Romanby war memorial details on IWM website]

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Category:Villages in North Yorkshire

Category:Civil parishes in North Yorkshire