Ravenstonedale is fortunate to have an excellent Community website, as well as TWO local history organisations (see links on left):

 

COMMUNITY WEBSITE The Ravenstonedale Community website (I seem to recall that when I first visited the website about a decade ago, it had the strapline 'probably the best parish') has recently been redesigned and is a treasure trove of information - take a look at the History section which includes interviews with long-standing parishioners, old photographs, articles about the Gilbertine ruins and much more of interest to anyone with Ravenstonedale ancestry (as well as details of places to stay if you should decide to make a personal visit!)

 

R'DALE PARISH HISTORY GROUP  in normal (non-Covid times) this group runs regular open afternoons at the High Chapel on Thursdays from 2-4pm, and holds a programme of talks at varous local venues.  They have had to postpone their programme during the pandemic, but to give you an example of the types of events they run, the Spring 2020 programme included: 

• January 2020: If These Walls Could Talk…..– Steve Fermer. Please note: this will be in the Public Hall, Newbiggin-on-Lune.

• February 2020: Mary’s Memories – of life in Newbiggin-on-Lune during the early 20th Century – Jackie Wedd. This talk takes place in the Public Hall, Newbiggin-on-Lune.

• 2020: a talk by Val Fermer on some of the Ravenstonedale village houses – who lived where – and when…title to be confirmed!

 

Further details about the above and future events on the RPHG website.  The Group also circulates a very interesting Newsletter to all members at regular intervals, to keep us all informed of new material held at the High Chapel.

 

If you have queries about your family history in Ravenstonedale, or are interested in joining the group, you can leave a message in the Family History section of their blog, and someone will get back to you

 

R'DALE INDEPENDENT HISTORY ARCHIVE this resource is held by Frank Chalmers who holds a wide range of documents, copies of which are available to individuals who contact him. This link is no longer working - I am trying to discover if there is a new link.

 

 

There are also Surname Studies and/or DNA projects for several of the surnames which are frequently found in the parish:

 

The following websites are run as part of the Guild of One-name Studies:

Adamthwaite Archive

Cumston Family History

Duckett website  (this is a Rootsweb site and is currently unavailable, but should be back up soon)

 

Other websites:

Alderson Family History Society

Clan Bell International

Bland Heritage

Bousfield Family Tree

Close Ancestry

Dent Family Tree

Fawcett DNA Project

Fothergill DNA Project

Metcalfe Socety

Swinbank DNA Project

 

 

Old Cumbria Gazetteer: Ravenstonedale ... this website provides details, photos and location maps, about many of the farmhouses in Ravenstonedale

The Ravenstonedale Millennium Map ... you can view digital images of this brilliant map produced by David Morris, Caroline Metcalf- Gibson and Tom Oldham to celebrate the Millennium in 2001 on the Ravenstonedale Community website.  Copies can also be purchased from the Scar Art Gallery in Ravenstonedale, along with a booklet providing accounts by residents of many of the farms.

 

If you know of any other websites covering surnames from Ravenstonedale, please let me know.

 

 

EdenLinks Genealogy ... this site contains lots of really useful data relating to the Eden Valley, including Transcriptions of Hearth Tax, Window Tax and the Constables Census of 1787, a range of information about various Westmorland parishes, and lots of other information that may relate to YOUR ancestors.

 

Kirkby Stephen Nancy McLaughlin's excellent site holding data about Kirkby Stephen, and surrounding area, well worth taking a look to see if any of YOUR ancestors are featured.

 

The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership ... this site contains a Blog with super articles about families, places and areas of interest which will appeal to all with ancestors hailing from this part of the country

 

 

Back in 2018, we spent a week on holiday in Ravenstonedale  ... and if you want to begin to get a feel for where your ancestors lived I thoroughly recommend a visit.  You will find a wide variety of places to stay on the Ravenstonedale Community website - we chose Green Barn Cottages because it is the closest to Adamthwaite and Artlegarth and I thoroughly recommend the accommodation and location.  Here are some photos I took to give you an idea of how Ravenstonedale looks today ... bring your walking boots!