History

Although much of the landforms of the Dales were created by geological forces, much of what makes the landscape distinctive is due to the interaction of people with the area, and a succession of settlers have left their mark on the area.

There are traces of the Romans through the remains of their forts and marching camps, as well as the roads they created. Later settlers included the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings whose influence can be found in many of the place names in the area. Norman times saw the rise of monastic power with bases at Bolton Priory and Fountains Abbey controlling up to three-quarters of the National Park area at one time. Medieval and Tudor times saw the building of major castles such as Castle Bolton, as well as hunting lodges such as Barden Tower.

The Industrial Revolution had its impact on the Dales as elsewhere in Britain with an increase in mining the resources of the area, primarily lead and coal. This time also saw the building of the mills, turnpike roads and many of the stone buildings seen today.

The Victorian age brought the Settle to Carlisle railway, which was forced through the area using huge amounts of labour to build spectacular viaducts and tunnels. Throughout all this time farming continued to be an important part of the Dales’ landscape and economy, as it does today.

You can find out more about the history of the Yorkshire Dales by visiting the Out of Oblivion website.