St Hilda’s Church

2467 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

February, 2014

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Husband

Reasons for trip

I found St Hilda’s church in Ellerburn, North Yorkshire almost by accident when researching things to do and see in the area. I found a reference describing it as the ‘mother church’ for the area and a similar date to “St Gregory’s Minster”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/yorkshire/north_yorkshire/north_yorkshire_two/kirkdale/index.html in Kirkdale. This sounded like and undiscovered gem and we went in search of it.

The church is up an unclassified side turning off the Whitby Road out of Thornton-le-Dale. It is at the end of the road, set in a steep sided valley with sheep grazing. The only other buildings are a farm and the Cosy Nook Cafe.

It is a small church with nave, chancel, small bell turret and stone slab roof. With its porch and clerestory windows, it looks more like a farmhouse than a church.

The church dates from about 1150 and carved stones from an earlier church have been built into the walls. Before going into the church it is worth walking round the outside.

There are the remains of Saxon cross on the corner of the porch and also in the south wall to the east of the porch. On the east side of the porch are the ends of two hogs head tomb covers. There are two more carved stones in the south wall of the chancel. One has ropework carving, he other a scroll design. There is a carved stone with a stag with antlers high on the left hand side of the east window. This is now covered with lichen which is hiding the carving. It is best seen early in the morning or evening when shadows make the carving more obvious.

Two very big buttresses forming an arch on the west wall of the church beneath the bell turret. The original north door has been blocked.

Inside it is a simple church but with great character. Gas lamps, now with electric bulbs, hang from the roof.

The floor is paved with large stone flags and there is a King post wood roof. Over the chancel arch are the faint remains of wall paintings. The plain glass windows flood the nave with light. At the back is a round Norman font on legs. Pews are 19thC and the pulpit has a splendid sounding board.
The pillars supporting the chancel arch have scrolls and zig zag carvings. The chancel is small and feels full with choir stalls and pulpit. There is a heavy wood reredos under the east window with an overhanging canopy.

This is a delightful place and well worth searching out. The church is open 9.30-3.30. The handle can be difficult to turn, but say a prayer and persevere. The large car park is for church use only. For others (and the area is popular with walkers), there is a charge of £3 per day payable in the church where you collect a ticket. If visiting the Cosy Nook Cafe, you can buy a short term ticket from them.

FINDING ST HILDA’S CHURCH, ELLERBURN, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Try entering the post code YO18 7LL into Google maps for the approximate location. The church is approximately 400 yards to the west. The grid reference is SE841842.

At the crossroads in Thornton-le-Dale, take the Whitby road. Almost immediately take the first right and then turn left. If you cross the river, you have gone too far. This road takes you to St Hilda’s Church.

There are more pictures “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/yorkshire/north_yorkshire/north_yorkshire_one/ellerburn/index.html

Silver Travel Advisor

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.