Hardraw

Hardraw is a hamlet near Hawes within the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England. It takes its name from the nearby Hardraw Force waterfall.

The name of the hamlet is first recorded in 1606 as Hardrawe, and derives from Old English Herde and raw, which means the shepherd's houses. Hardraw Force is named with an additional Old Norse word of Fors. The hamlet was historically in the Parish of Aysgarth, within the wapentake of Hang West. A report about Poor Law Unions from 1862, lists the hamlet as having a population of 11, and belonging to Bedale for its post town. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the district of Richmondshire, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.

The old school house, built in 1875, can be seen in the centre of the photograph of the village, and the Pennine Way runs past the west side this building. The village centre lies further up the road, and access to Hardraw Force is via The Green Dragon pub.

Hardraw Church, dedicated in honour of St Mary and St John, was rebuilt by the Earl of Wharncliffe between 1879 and 1881. It is Grade II listed. It doubles as Darrowby Church in the original British television series All Creatures Great and Small. At the east end of the village is the end of the southern part of the Buttertubs Pass.

The long distance path, the Pennine Way, passes through the hamlet.

See also

• Listed buildings in High Abbotside

File:St Mary & St John Hardraw Yorkshire.JPG

Church of St Mary & St John in Hardraw

File:Interior of St Mary & St John Hardraw Yorkshire.JPG

Interior of church of St Mary & St John

External links

• Video footage of the beck, gill and force

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