Grassington Folk Museum

About the museum

The museum grew out of the Upper Wharfedale Museum Society, which began in 1975 when a group of local people spent their winter evenings building a large relief model of Grassington parish, based on a nineteenth-century tithe map. The society has since built up a collection of objects given by local families, and the museum is run by volunteers as a registered charity.

The displays are drawn mostly from Upper Wharfedale and cover geology and minerals found around Grassington, prehistoric finds from nearby caves, lead mining, farming, domestic life, tools of various trades, toys and medical items. Further sections look at the Yorkshire Dales Railway, which opened in 1902, lost its passenger service in 1930 and its goods traffic in 1969, and at the area in the Second World War, including the local war work committee and the sanatorium.

The museum faces the cobbled village square. It opens for a season from spring to the start of November, with a few extra dates in winter, and the visiting hours depend on the availability of volunteers.

Highlights

• Large relief model of Grassington parish made by the founding members
• Lead mining displays and local minerals such as galena, barites and fluorspar
• Prehistoric finds including reindeer jaws from Stump Cross Caverns
• Section on the Yorkshire Dales Railway
• Second World War material and village folklore

Permanent exhibitions

• Local history collection – Displays on lead mining, minerals, prehistoric finds, farming, domestic life, toys and medical items from Upper Wharfedale.
• The Yorkshire Dales Railway – Material on the branch railway that opened in 1902, closed to passengers in 1930 and to goods traffic in 1969.

Founded

1975

Operated by

Upper Wharfedale Museum Society (registered charity 1156656)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free and donations are welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum publishes no accessibility statement. It is in an old building on a cobbled square.

Kids & families

The museum publishes no information on activities for children.

Getting there & parking

The museum faces the cobbled village square in the centre of Grassington.

Amenities & dining

The museum publishes no information on a shop or refreshments. Shops and cafes are around the village square.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit