Located just within the boundaries of the North York Moors National Park is the village of Helmsley, one of North Yorkshire’s most popular market towns, and the only one within the national park itself. Hemsley is full of history, with evidence suggesting this small area has been inhabited since 3,000 BC. The town itself predates the Norman Conquest, originally having the Anglo-Saxon name of Elmeslac.
According to Yorkshire natives, this is a town that everyone should visit at some point in their life, with Visit North Yorkshire, writing: “Helmsley is somewhere everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Although if you go once, you are likely to go back time and time again - a visit to this picturesque place, which has so much going on, feels like a breath of fresh air.”
Located along the banks of the River Rye, Helmsley isn’t your typical market town. It was once home to its own castle, the ruins of which can still be visited today.
Helmsley Castle was built by Walter l’Espec in 1120, and the first structure was made of wood. After Walter’s death, the castle passed into the hands of his sister Adelina and her husband Robert de Ros, who converted it into stone.
Although it began life as a medieval fortress, Helmsley Castle served many purposes during its 900-year history. It later served as an Elizabethan mansion and a Civil War stronghold. Following this war, the castle fell into ruin.
Visitors to Helmsley can also visit the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, the first Cistercian monastery in the north of England, founded by a group of twelve monks in 1132.
The abbey began to fall into ruin after it was seized by Henry VIII in 1538 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Both Riveaulx Abbey and Helmsley Castle are now owned and run by English Heritage.
Visitors to Helmsley, and its medieval ruins, have left rave reviews on TripAdvisor, with one tourist writing: “As members of The English Heritage it’s great to go to see some interesting and perhaps not as well known attractions.
“The Abbey is simply fantastic and one of the best and most preserved abbeys in the North of England. The gift shop was well maintained and we enjoyed our little snack at the gift shop. I thought the museum was great also.”
Another wrote: “Visited the English Heritage site at Helmsley Castle. Given the castle looks like a ruin, was very pleasantly surprised with what we found.
“Lots of rooms as well as ruins to visit, with very informative and well placed information boards dotted around giving the full history and many uses of this grand old castle. Situated in wonderful Helmsley right next to the stunning walled garden, I would highly recommend a visit.”
While a third penned: “Lovely ruin to look around it’s very deceiving from the bottom off the hill just looks like 1 tower but there is much more when you get up there.
“Definitely recommend a visit, think entry was around £11 but we are Heritage members so was free, definitely take a walk into the town after is beautiful.”