Pateley Bridge

   

Pateley Bridge is a small, (former) market town in Nidderdale, spreading up the hill from the bridge over the River Nidd. Its oldest buildings, on the High Street, date from the 1600s. There is a charming little row of cottages and shops... though it can't be a conservation area or surely they'd never allow bright orange paintwork? 

At the top of this block sits 'the oldest sweetshop in England' (in fact, in the world; it holds the Guinness world record), which has been trading continuously since 1827. It still sells traditional sweets, boiled in copper pans: Yorkshire Mixture, pear drops, sherbert lemons, liquorice. It was only with some will power that I resisted going in the shop.  Makes my mouth water to think of it, as well as reminding me that my great grandfather used to run a Post Office that sold sweets. His daughter, my great aunt, took it over after he died. After she'd retired, she used to take me there to buy sweets - 'rhubarb and custard' were a favourite, and midget gems and wine gums too. 

Opposite the shop there is the old George and Dragon Inn, which became a brewery and is now a club. It has a date stone of 1664. The red plaque on the wall was one of a series around the town that told you a little about the buildings' histories.  (The black tube thing you can also see is a device for holding a small Christmas tree for the town's festive celebrations - just in case you were wondering.) 

I'm not sure what the little building above was. It was tacked on to the side of a larger house. It just struck me as being quite attractive. 

Pateley Bridge was a thriving place during the 19th century, with linen/flax mills, lead mining and quarrying in the surrounding area. It now depends heavily on tourism and has quite a creative, artistic vibe. 

The imposing Victorian building on King Street that looks like a church (below) is actually a primary school, St Cuthbert's.  The parish church, St Mary's is even higher up the hill and appeared to be having some remedial work done to the roof and tower, as it was shrouded in scaffolding.