1.

Bedale Hall is a Georgian house "Palladianised" in 1730. It was much improved and extended from 1777, possibly by John Carr of York. A guide about Bedale Hall is available from the Tourist Information Centre.

2.

The Archway, under which the old Lancaster coach road passed, was closed by Henry Peirse in 1777 as part of the improvements. The inn beside the arch was incorporated as the kitchen quarters of the Hall.

Amen House built about 1770 and the coach house opposite (now offices) were part of the once famous Peirse Racing Stud. Mr Peirse's horses won the St Ledger Stakes in 1817 Ebor, 1818 Reveller, 1819 Wrangler. After an objection this last race was re-run and Wrangler lost, but for this the St Ledger would now be known as the Peirse Stakes. When the stud was sold in 1824 it was notable as it was the first time Tattersalls came out of London to sell horses.

4.
 
 
 

In the copse to the rear of Amen House is the Ice House a large underground structure built in the late 1770's for the storage and preservation of food.

The Bothy was originally the summerhouse of the very fine garden of the Rapers House (8 North End) and converted into a dwelling in 1809 by Henry Peirse.

You now come into "Wycar" probably from the old English word wic meaning dwelling or farmhouse (Latin vicus).

On Wycar is the Grammar School built in 1888, in "Tudor Style" an acknowledgement to Elizabeth 1, who made an endowment of £7 11s 4d in 1588 to re-establish the original Grammar School.

The Bowling Green was established on its present site in 1792. The bowling club is one of the oldest in England.

Greens Row and Claphams Cottages - three rows of interesting old dwellings now used as workshops.

8.

The Pump on Wycar Green is the only one left of the many that were in use in Bedale at the turn of the century.

The Wynd, on your right as you turn into the Wynd is the Methodist Chapel and to the left are two cottages and the Smithy (now a gunsmith's workshop) which have been there since about 1750. On the corner of the Wynd and North End the chemist shop was a public house "The Boar's Head" up to the 1920's, the buildings running behind the shop date from the 14th century.

The Market Cross is 14th century.The Charter being granted to Alan son of Brian by Henry 111 1251.

Emgate leading down from the Cross is one of the oldest streets in Bedale and in the past was a busy manufacturing area. Robert Hird (1768-1841) the author of "The Annals of Bedale" lived and worked in this street. At the bottom of Emgate, cross the main road towards the Dales Furniture Hall, once a Primitive Baptist Chapel.

The original crossing of Bedale beck was a ford with a footbridge beside it. In 1740 a five arched bridge with wooden rails was built by Thomas Thompson, this was replaced in 1828 and the present bridge was erected in 1913 incorporating the earlier masonry.

On the opposite bank is a quite unique little building being the only one of it's kind, listed Grade II by the English Heritage. Used by the local Apothecary for the storing of leeches and as such is a rare survival of primitive medical practice. The Bedale Heritage Trust raised funds to restore this 18th century building of historic interest. Visitors are welcome to use the garden.

Taking the path, waymarked as a public footpath, along the beckside, notice the millstream on the far bank which feeds Aiskew Mill. You next come to the weir.

This area is known locally as the Harbour but it is in reality a canal basin, which was to be part of the navigation linking Bedale to the Swale and on to the Ouse. The iron mooring rings can be seen in the harbour walls. The navigation was commenced in 1768 but never reached fruition due to lack of money and was totally abandoned with the arrival of the railway in 1855 when the Bedale-Leyburn branch opened. (The footpath continues along the beck side into open country).

To continue the round walk, take the steps leading on to the road (Harbour View) continue to its junction with Southend. Before turning right towards the town centre take note of the large Stonefaced building to the left on the opposite side of Southend.

Mowbray Grange was built in 1839, as a Poor Law workhouse and was later used as a hospital, now converted into small apartments.

Continue towards the Town Centre, along this road are mainly Victorian Terraced dwellings, the most attractive of which is "Victoria Terrrace".

On your left is the Masonic Lodge, originally built by public subscription in 1880, as a Young Men's institute, which housed a fine library and many fine paintings.

After crossing the road junction you are now back in the Market Place, on the left is the King's Head Hotel, which has a Georgian facade but worth noting is the fireplace dated 1690, inside.

The Town Hall (lower flags), was built in 1840 and the upper storey has the original sash windows. Behind were the Assembly Rooms (now the land of Green Ginger). Both of these buildings were raised by public subscription.

On the top flags to your left next to the Green Dragon was a fine town house residence up to the 1820's. To the right of this house was a shop which had a fine pair of bow windows. The original windows are now preserved in York museum. All along the Market Place are fine Georgian facades above the shop fronts point to the prosperity of Bedale at that time. The houses at North End on the top flags give the best impression of that period, the most notable is "Stabaan", considered "probably the best Georgian vernacular facade in Yorkshire". The full effect however is lost because of the unfortunate modern front of Barclay's bank.

At 27-29 North End hidden behind the shop frontages exists a Mediaeval Cross-Wing Timber Framed Hall, no later than about C.1500. "Which gives us a clear picture of the mediaeval timber framed building method and style used in Bedale, although the Georgian facades give no indication of this". This building was overlooked by the Royal Commission survey in the 1950's and only came to light in 1982 when the owners spotted an old timber and contacted Mr Gordon Maughan who carried out a detailed survey.

The Archway with a keystone dated 1786 and its adjacent buildings known as Clarks Buildings, were part of what was at the time an unpopular improvement carried out by the brother of the rector, Mr Clark.

Plummer's (now Chambers), this cobbled building now a restaurant,was enlarged and improved in 1716 by Thomas Plummer whose father, also Thomas, built the original Bedale Hall which is now the core of the present Hall. Note the dates on the drainpipes. One to the right of the door dated 1586 the other on the side of the building dated 1716 and initialled T.P.

Inside the churchyard gate is a small double fronted stone building which is the old Grammar School. A free Grammar School existed in Bedale before the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536.

27.

The church dates from Saxon times and has the strongest fortified tower in the North of England. (There is an interesting leaflet in the church).