Garsdale Head
Encyclopedia
Garsdale Head is a hamlet in Cumbria
, but is part of the Yorkshire Dales
National Park. It lies at the top of the valley of Garsdale
, on and near the A684 road
between Sedbergh
and Hawes
. Its main attraction is Garsdale railway station
on the Settle-Carlisle Railway
and the Wensleydale Railway
. The alternative name was Hawes Junction until the branch line to Hawes was closed in 1964, and this name remains in common use.
Sixteen cottages were built by the Midland Railway Company for its employees soon after the opening of the line in 1876. Another six "Moorcock Cottages" were built in similar Victorian style half a mile away just over the border in Richmondshire
, North Yorkshire
. Just before the border, in a matching building style (because it was built by the Midland Railway contractors), is Mount Zion Chapel, a Primitive Methodist meeting-place which is still used for special events.
Apart from one other Edwardian building, Clough View, all the other buildings in the hamlet are much older, or are renovations of older properties. The Moorcock Inn, at the junction of the A684 and the B6259 to Kirkby Stephen
via Lunds, Mallerstang
and Nateby
, is the only public house in the 16-mile journey between Sedbergh and Hawes, and has an adjoining Bed and Breakfast establishment. There are toilet facilities at the station, and an original red public telephone box at the bottom of the steep hill up to the station. There was a post office at Garsdale Head between 1881 and June 1963. In about 1911 it was located in a shop in a stone-built house but in 1934 it was described and pictured as being "nothing but a tin hut, nine feet by six". The office was replaced in 1963 by one at Garsdale, which has since closed.
The "Coal Road" which joins Garsdale to Dent
station is a scenic single-track route suitable for walkers, strong cyclists and any motor vehicle except when there is any snow or ice, when its steep surface becomes treacherous.
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, but is part of the Yorkshire Dales
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is the name given to an upland area in Northern England.The area lies within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, though it spans the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Cumbria...
National Park. It lies at the top of the valley of Garsdale
Garsdale
Garsdale is a civil parish occupying a narrow populated valley in Cumbria, England. It is on the western slopes of the Pennines, between Baugh Fell to the north, and Rise Hill to the south. The main hamlet, called “The Street”, lies on the A684 road, east of Sedbergh, and west of Hawes...
, on and near the A684 road
A684 road
The A684 is an A road that runs through Cumbria and North Yorkshire, starting at Kendal, Cumbria and ending at Ellerbeck and the A19 road in North Yorkshire...
between Sedbergh
Sedbergh
Sedbergh is a small town in Cumbria, England. It lies about east of Kendal and about north of Kirkby Lonsdale. The town sits just within the Yorkshire Dales National Park...
and Hawes
Hawes
Hawes is a small market town and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England, being granted its market charter in 1699...
. Its main attraction is Garsdale railway station
Garsdale railway station
Garsdale railway station is a railway station which serves the immediate hamlet of Garsdale Head, Cumbria, England, together with the valley of Garsdale and the nearby towns of Sedbergh, Cumbria and Hawes, North Yorkshire...
on the Settle-Carlisle Railway
Settle-Carlisle Railway
The Settle–Carlisle Line is a long main railway line in northern England. It is also known as the Settle and Carlisle. It is a part of the National Rail network and was constructed in the 1870s...
and the Wensleydale Railway
Wensleydale Railway
The Wensleydale Railway is a railway line in Wensleydale and Lower Swaledale in North Yorkshire, England and the name of the company that operates services on the line....
. The alternative name was Hawes Junction until the branch line to Hawes was closed in 1964, and this name remains in common use.
Sixteen cottages were built by the Midland Railway Company for its employees soon after the opening of the line in 1876. Another six "Moorcock Cottages" were built in similar Victorian style half a mile away just over the border in Richmondshire
Richmondshire
Richmondshire is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. It covers a large northern area of the Yorkshire Dales including Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, Wensleydale and Coverdale, with the prominent Scots' Dyke and Scotch Corner along the centre. Teesdale lies to the north...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
. Just before the border, in a matching building style (because it was built by the Midland Railway contractors), is Mount Zion Chapel, a Primitive Methodist meeting-place which is still used for special events.
Apart from one other Edwardian building, Clough View, all the other buildings in the hamlet are much older, or are renovations of older properties. The Moorcock Inn, at the junction of the A684 and the B6259 to Kirkby Stephen
Kirkby Stephen
Kirkby Stephen is a civil parish and small market town in Cumbria, in North West England which historically, is part of Westmorland. The town is located on the A685, surrounded by sparsely populated hill country, and about from the two nearest larger towns, Kendal and Penrith...
via Lunds, Mallerstang
Mallerstang
Mallerstang is a civil parish in the extreme east of Cumbria, and, geographically, a dale at the head of the upper Eden Valley. Originally part of Westmorland, it lies about south of the nearest town, Kirkby Stephen...
and Nateby
Nateby, Cumbria
Nateby is a village and civil parish in the Eden district of Cumbria, England. It is situated very near the town of Kirkby Stephen, near the River Eden, and on the borders of the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire. Nearby are the Nine Standards Rigg hills...
, is the only public house in the 16-mile journey between Sedbergh and Hawes, and has an adjoining Bed and Breakfast establishment. There are toilet facilities at the station, and an original red public telephone box at the bottom of the steep hill up to the station. There was a post office at Garsdale Head between 1881 and June 1963. In about 1911 it was located in a shop in a stone-built house but in 1934 it was described and pictured as being "nothing but a tin hut, nine feet by six". The office was replaced in 1963 by one at Garsdale, which has since closed.
The "Coal Road" which joins Garsdale to Dent
Dent (Lonsdale)
Dent is a small village and civil parish in Cumbria, England, nestling in a narrow valley on the western slopes of the Pennines within the Yorkshire Dales National Park...
station is a scenic single-track route suitable for walkers, strong cyclists and any motor vehicle except when there is any snow or ice, when its steep surface becomes treacherous.