Farnhill Village Web Portal

There is ample archeaological evidence that there was a Saxon church in Kildwick, probably dating to around 950 AD; and it is certain that parts of the current building date from the early 1300s. However, there are suggestions that between these two there was a significant post-invasion Norman church.

This short piece presents the evidence for the existence of an early Norman church in Kildwick and poses the question "What happened to it ?"
 

One of our on-going projects is to document how Farnhill and Kildwick celebrated the 20th century Coronations and Jubilees.

We've recently received some additional information and photographs about George V's Silver Jubilee (in 1935) and the Coronation of king George VI (in 1937). Click here to view all our articles on the 20th century Coronations and Jubilees.

It is a little surprising that very little has been written about the history of Farnhill Hall.

We've managed to collect a number of short pieces, mostly written in the late 19th or early 20th centuries, by a number of different authors (some unknown).
 

Many local people will have seen the monument to Robert de Stiveton (Robert of Steeton) in the north-west corner of St. Andrew’s Church, Kildwick. Some may even have deciphered the Latin inscription: Robertus de Styveton obiit A.D. Mcccvii - which translates as Robert de Stiveton, died 1307.

But what if the inscription is a case of mistaken identity and the monument was intended to commemorate someone else ?
 

This looks like something that you might find in a maiden aunt’s china cabinet – and in fact that’s exactly what it is.

An update on the time, just after WW2, when Roberts' Brothers circus used to over-winter near Kildwick. We have information about Maharanee, the elephant.

Read the updated article.

In 2014, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the start of WWII, we published the results of our researches into the nine men of Farnhill and Kildwick who died whilst serving during that conflict.

This new update includes material produced by Dorothy Ramser for International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) digital archive, at Lincoln University.
 

William Appleby was a major media celebrity, with a massive following among the youth of his day; who was responsible for over 70 publications – several of which are included in the US Library of Congress; had both a building and a piece of music named after him; was awarded an OBE; and had a charity founded in his memory. He was, probably, the most famous Kildwickian that no one has heard of.

The History Group archive contains a number of photographs of Kildwick School pupils. For many of these we have dates and the names of some or all the children shown.

Some, however – which may be among the oldest items in our archive – come without names and/or dates. They are, nevertheless, lovely photos.

Click the image opposite to view.
 

Once the Kildwick estate was broken up, in 1946, Kildwick Hall passed through a number of private hands and was used for a number of commercial ventures. This article tells the story of these later owners of Kildwick Hall. It also investigates some of the people who were tenants of the Hall when it was still part of the Kildwick estate.

This update includes information on the sale, by auction, of the Hall in 1972.
 

The Institute was founded in 1911 and was the gift of the Brigg family, but was its creation politically motivated; a scheme thought up by a Liberal family designed to upstage the plans for a Conservative Club ?

We've researched how the Institute came into being using newspaper reports of the period. We've also recently been given copies of the Deed of Gift of the Institute building to the village and the programme for the opening of the Institute on 9th December 1911 - 110 years ago.

Read the full story here.

Two destructive mill fires in Farnhill, one in December 1905 and the other in March 1906, effectively ended industrial development within the village, as well as causing significant unemployment and hardship. Read our article about the devastating fires of 1905 and 1906, which we have updated with additional information on the history of what happened to Farnhill Mill after the 1905 fire.

You can also view a slideshow of photographs taken at the time.