Arthur Batty
Black Rake Road: (2010) © Ed. Anita Batty
Published by Batty and Batty
1
Front Cover: The old route - looking north towards High Gayle.
Photo: Arthur Batty
2
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author would like to thank the following people for their cooperation and assistance.
The Beresford Family of High Gayle Farm for allowing access to their
property and information about the un-named ruins.
Jeff Price for assisting with research.
Anita Batty for editing and desk-top publishing.
3
Black Rake Road or
’Old Raky Road’
Some recent research has alerted us to a possible misconception concerning Black Rake Road
(BRrd). On current maps and recent publications [Johnson, 2008 (Fig 1) & Parker, 2007 (Fig 2)]
we find BRrd is shown going from the Newby Head to Dent Road and joining the B6255 at Intak
which is, in our opinion, incorrect when describing the history of local routes. The route of the
original road will be described from early maps, and the structural remains that are situated
adjacent to the road, or connected to it by tracks. This will show that the full extent of the old
route went north from Gearstones through Winshaw; past some unidentified ruins; continuing
along to Gate Cote and High Gayle and then across Black Rake down into Dentdale to Stonehouse
Farm. Without this information, what is now Black Rake Road is taken out of its contemporary
context, obliterating some of its history.
No maps have been found showing the road with a name before a drawing dated 1815, that came
to light during this research, where the northern part of the road is call Old Raky Road. The
earliest map examined is the Thomas Jeffrys’ map dated 1767 (Fig 3). The route is shown but unnamed, going north from an un-named structure that is probably High Gearstones, it then turns
north west down into Dentdale. Another map drawn by John Cary 1787 (Fig 4) is virtually
identical. Some of the later maps examined have the name (BRrd) written parallel to it on the
section north of Hazel Gill Barn. At Hazel Gill Barn there is now a T junction where a road goes
down to join the B6255 (Turnpike Road) at Intak. Whereas the original road continues past High
Gayle, then to Winshaw and finally connects with the B6255 (Turnpike Road) at Gearstones, the
section of the Turnpike road, from the junction of the Cam Road, (Roman Road) east of
Gearstones to Hawes, was constructed around 1795, (Hartley et al, 1985) and the road connecting
the old route to the Turnpike road at Intak is unlikely to have been constructed before this date.
Previous to this construction, traffic on the old route would have had to travel the full length from
Gearstones, to Dentdale.
A plan of 1815 (Fig 5), drawn for the purpose of setting out the short connecting road between the
old route and the Turnpike Road at Newby Head, describes the northern section of the old route as
Old Raky Road. This would mean the traffic coming from Dent to the Turnpike road in 1815 was
still going down Old Raky Road to Hazel Barn, then down the connecting road to Intak, probably
constructed around the same time as the Turnpike road. Having a connection between Old Raky
Road and the Turnpike road at Intak meant that traffic no longer had to go through farmyards.
This probably also meant that the authorities no longer needed to maintain the southern section of
the old route below High Gayle, abandoning it or handing it over to the farmers. After this it
becomes a farm track, continuing to be used by the farmers for access to the B6255 at Gearstones.
By 1853 the first edition OS map clearly shows the southern section of the old route to be un4
named and the northern section is now changed from Old Raky Road to Black Rake Road.
As can be seen from the photograph (Plate 1) the section of the old route below High Gayle has
required a considerable amount of construction work. Being situated on a steep hillside this has
taken more time to construct than any equivalent length of the whole road. There are a
considerable number of scooped areas above and parallel to the road on this section, where
material may have been quarried to construct the road.
In carrying out this research information concerning the farm names and locations has been
revealed. The first edition OS map (1853) shows the location that is now High Gayle marked as
High Gate; a pile of ruins is marked as Gate Cote and also some un-named ruins are marked near
to Winshaw. Low Gale is also marked as ruins and there is now a barn in this location which still
retains the name Low Gayle. It is interesting to note that Gate Cote is shown on the northwest side
of BRrd whereas, the extant barn at Gate Cote is now on the southeast side, suggesting that the
present barn was built after the 1853 map was drawn. In my opinion, inspection of the construction
of the existing barn confirms this assumption. The extant barn at Low Gayle must also have been
constructed post 1853. The ruins with no name have completely disappeared, as this area is now
meadow. The present landowner confirms this fact:
“We have removed a large amount of stone from this area as the haytime machinery kept hitting
protruding stones”. (pers com Mr. Beresford).
We think the existing house at High Gayle has also been rebuilt - possibly after the 1853 map.
The 1853 OS map (Fig 6) and the 1896 OS map (Fig 7) show High Gate/High Gayle drawn
differently and renamed, suggesting reconstruction. The 1853 OS map and a map by Greenwood
(1820) both show High Gate in the position of the present day High Gayle. Low Gale is marked as
ruins but where is High Gale? The un-named ruins above Low Gale are the obvious location –
higher up the hill. As High Gate is on Gate Cote Hill and above Gate Cote it would be a reasonable
assumption that High Gate, after reconstruction, became High Gayle. There is one other
tantalising clue. On the garden wall of the present day High Gayle there is a large stone carved
with a house symbol and an X in the gable, also a date partially eroded, this only shows the first
two digits clearly i.e. 18(??) (Plate 2). Could this stone be related in some way or other to the
proposed reconstruction of High Gayle?
Conclusions (See Fig 8)
The Jeffreys map (Fig 3) and the Cary map (Fig 4) clearly show a road branching of the Turnpike
road at a point near High Gearstones (which is un-named), this road then goes north and turns
down into Dentdale. There can also be no doubt that Old Raky Road (BRrd) is older than the 1795
Turnpike (B6255) road , but how old we do not know at present. The connecting road from Hazel
5
Gill Barn on BRrd to its junction with the Turnpike road at Intak has caused confusion regarding
the full extent of Old Raky Road (BRrd) from the day it was constructed. As can be seen from the
photographs, the section of road south of High Gayle has been a considerable undertaking and not
one that would have been undertaken by local farmers (they would probably have gone across the
fields at a lower level). The gateposts (Plate 3) are also considerable structures, not the type
usually found between fields. We think the evidence presented here proves that the old route is the
length of road from Gearstones to Whinshaw, Gate Cote, High Gayle, Hazel Gill Barn, and then to
the junction with the road from Newby Head to Dent (Plate 4) and down into Dentdale to Stone
House farm.
Our findings concerning the location and names of farms are based on map evidence and
reasonable assumptions. The 1853 map clearly shows the present day High Gayle as High Gate
and we have found two other maps that show the same. The ‘no name’ ruins are a problem - we
know there is a Low Gale, and it would seem logical to think that the ruins, being at a higher level,
could be the older High Gale. In 1841 the Census Enumerator lists only two farms on BRrd –
Winshaw and High Gale, but where is High Gale? Did the Enumerator make a simple, classic
error i.e. not crossing his t’s, thus making High Gate into High Gale? Or were the un-named 1853
ruins an occupied dwelling called High Gale at the time of the Census? This would mean that
High Gate was unoccupied and possibly in a ruinous state, adding weight to the suggestion that
High Gate was rebuilt as the present day High Gayle. As previously argued it does make sense for
High Gayle to have previously been called High Gate. If High Gate was rebuilt after the survey
was completed for the 1853 map, the new structure could have become High Gayle simply
because there was a Low Gale, and it was thought sensible to have a property situated at a high
level called High Gayle, with the previous High Gale in ruins as shown on the 1853 map. Is this
scenario correct - or was it just a slip of the Enumerator’s pen? We may never know.
It is worth noting the derivations of the words Gate and Gale/Gayle. Gate in Old Norse (ON) is
‘gata’ meaning road or path (Smith1, 1956). Gale/Gayle in Low German (LG) is ‘galle’ meaning
a wet place or a barren spot in a field (Smith2, 1956). Primitive (PR) is ’geil’ a ravine (Smith3,
1956).
The aim of this research in regard to Old Raky Road (BRrd) is to describe the history and full
extent of its route and to prevent omission from the historical record. It is important in publications
related to historical facts, to show things as they were at the time, if evidence can be found, even if
things may have changed on the ground at the time of research. Mistaken assumptions like these
lead to a distortion of the historical record and once error is built upon error, the distortions
become greater.
6
Fig 1: Showing the route of Black Rake Road after the construction of the B6255. As mentioned in the text this
made the southern section of the original, old route obsolete. The full extent of the original route is not
shown on this drawing or Fig 2.
7
Fig 2: Showing the same route of Black Rake Road as Fig 1.
8
Parker, 2007 for Y.D.N.P.A.
Fig 3: (left)
Thomas Jeffrys’ Map dated 1767, the
old route (un-named), goes from the
building to the right of Thorn’s, (High
Gearstones) then north towards
Dentdale.
Fig 4: (right).
John Cary’s Map dated 1787, showing
where the old route branches off Cam
Road then goes north to Stone House.
9
Fig 5: Drawing of 1815 for the purpose of setting out a short connecting road between B6255 and northern end of
Black Rake Road (called at this time Old Raky Road)
10
Fig 6: 1853 Ist Edition OS Map showing the layout of High Gate (High Gayle)
Fig 7: 1896 OS Map showing the layout of High Gayle previously High Gate.
11
Newby Head
Proposed connection from
Turnpike Road to northern end
of Old Raky Road (c 1815)
To Dent
The old route
Old Raky Road (1815)
Black Rake Road (1853)
Turnpike Road (B6255)
Hazel Gill Barn
Connection from Turnpike Road to the
old route. Constructed 1795 or after
High Gayle
.
Gate Cote
Un-named ruins
The old route
(un-named).
Intak
Low Gayle
Turnpike Road (B6255 )
Whinshaw
Cam Road (Roman road)
To Ingleton
Fig 8: The red line shows the full extent of the old un-named route
12
Plate 1: Showing the old route running across steep hillside - looking southwest.
Plate 2: Carved stone on garden wall at High Gayle
Photo: Arthur Batty
Photo: Arthur Batty
13
Plate 3: Showing gateposts on the old route. Gate Cote Barn in the middle distance.
Plate 4: Northern end of Black Rake Road (Old Raky Road) where it joins the road to Dent.
14
Photo: Arthur Batty
Photo: Arthur Batty
Bibliography
Hartley, M., Ingilby J., Hall, D.S., and Wenham, L.P., (1985) Alexander Fothergill and the Richmond to
Lancaster Turnpike Road. The diary and other documents transcribed, indexed and introduced. .North Yorkshire
County Records Office Publication No 37.
Johnson, D., (2008)
Ingleborough - Landscape and History. Carnegie Publishing Ltd in association with Yorkshire
Dales Millennium Trust.
Smith, A. H1., (1956) English Place name Elements Vol 25 Part 1. English Place-Name Society, Cambridge pp 196.
Smith, A. H2., (1956) English Place name Elements Vol 25 Part 1. English Place-Name Society, Cambridge pp 192.
Smith, A. H3., (1956) English Place name Elements Vol 25 Part 1. English Place-Name Society, Cambridge pp 199.
Cartography
Parker, B., (2007) Modification Order in Respect of Restricted By Way No 516069 in the Parish of Dent.
Annex C : Roads and Places mentioned in Report. Y.D.N.P.A. Ref : E225622
15