Friar Folds Hill

Hill, Mountain in Yorkshire Richmondshire

England

Friar Folds Hill

Ashpots Level Not marked on any map, this is a reasonably large spoil heap for a former lead mine. It is unknown whether it proved to be anything other than a trial, as there is no evidence on the heap other than limestone and a few bits of calcite. — Ashpots Level Credit: Matthew Hatton

Friar Folds Hill is a prominent geographical feature located in Yorkshire, England. Classified as a hill, it is nestled within the picturesque landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Rising to an elevation of approximately 450 meters (1,480 feet), Friar Folds Hill offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The hill is characterized by its gently sloping sides, which are covered in lush greenery during the warmer months. It is predominantly composed of sedimentary rock formations, including limestone and sandstone, which have been shaped by millions of years of erosion. This geological composition contributes to the diverse flora and fauna found on the hill, making it an important habitat for various plant and animal species.

Due to its accessibility and scenic beauty, Friar Folds Hill is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. It offers numerous walking trails and paths, allowing visitors to explore the hill at their own pace. The hill is also a haven for bird watchers, as it attracts a wide variety of avian species, including peregrine falcons and red kites.

Furthermore, Friar Folds Hill holds historical significance in the region. It is believed to have been inhabited by humans since ancient times, with evidence of Bronze Age settlements discovered nearby. The hill's name is thought to be derived from the presence of a medieval friary that once stood in the vicinity.

Overall, Friar Folds Hill is a captivating natural landmark that showcases the beauty of Yorkshire's countryside and offers a rich tapestry of natural and historical features for visitors to explore and enjoy.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Friar Folds Hill Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.383456/-2.0550568 or Grid Reference SD9698. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Ashpots Level

Not marked on any map, this is a reasonably large spoil heap for a former lead mine. It is unknown whether it proved to be anything other than a trial, as there is no evidence on the heap other than limestone and a few bits of calcite.

Matthew Hatton

Victoria Level

One of just a handful of levels driven into the westside of Mill Gill by the Old Gang Company. It was by far the most successful, cutting Watersikes Vein and the Sun Vein in the 1860's, less than 5 years after the mine was begun. The end came, due to the fall in lead prices, in around 1887. This level was tried again in the late 1890's before closing in 1906, and it was cleaned out and repaired in 1924-26 by two men, but was found to contain no lead ore.

Matthew Hatton

A row of Bouse Teams at Victoria Level

Bouse: is the name for lead ore. It would have been brought out of the mine and tipped from a tub into one of these four Teams (a storage bay) before it was then taken by another tramway to the crushing floors and then on to the smelting mill. Rock & minerals that were of no value would have been run to the end of the spoil heap and tipped over.

Matthew Hatton

Bridge over Ashpots Gutter

This very finely crafted bridge, over what is quite frankly a tiddler of a stream, has been built for grouse shooting parties on the Gunnerside Estate, but is handily placed at the point where a PROW crosses the moor.

Matthew Hatton

Groove of Ash Pot Gutter

Ash Pot Gutter is a minor stream feeding water into Mill Gill, itself a tributary of the River Swale. The pale twigs are stems of dead heather, probably burnt by the owning estate as part of their management of the grouse moor; new growth is coming through.

Trevor Littlewood

Old Mill Dam at Ray Gill

Built to supply a reliable source of water to High Mill, a much older smelt mill than the current remains at Old Gang, possibly dating from 1682. The leat that supplied some of the water to the pond is still tracable across the hillside. The spring that develops into Ray Gill Beck would have supplied the rest of the water to the pond.

Matthew Hatton

Ruined Sheepfold

Must have been a long time since a sheep was locked in here.

Matthew Hatton

Ash Pot Gutter draining east from the Melbecks Moor track

This track is obviously still of importance to someone long after the demise of lead mining on the moor which was the original raison d'être for most of the rights of way up here, since Ash Pot Gutter crosses it by a recent-looking and substantial concrete ford. There's maybe a quarter square kilometre of catchment at this point where a number of small sikes have coalesced to form a single stream which has only one tributary, on its right bank, all the way down to its confluence with Old Gang Beck a little over a kilometre from this point.

Andy Waddington

Ruin, Knotts Hill

A ruined wall.

Mick Garratt

Small Pond, Knotts Hill

This must be a man made pond.

Mick Garratt

Concrete ford through Ash Pot Gutter

Barely a trickle of water today.

Matthew Hatton

Two Small Tarns, Ash Pot Side

Matthew Hatton

Shooters Track over Melbecks Moor

Matthew Hatton

Ford : Melbecks Moor

Located on track from Moor House to Gunnerside.

Hugh Mortimer

Ash Pot Gutter

On Melbecks Moor, a network of tracks and a spoil tip of lead ore waste.

Mick Garratt

Ash Pot Gutter

Due to the dry start to the year there is no water flowing into Hard Level Gill.

Karl and Ali

Haverdale beck and 'The Gables'

Looking across the final section of Haverdale Beck towards The Gables Guest House, which was originally the vicarage for Melbecks parish. This seems a trifle odd as the house is within Grinton parish.

Gordon Hatton