Grassington Town Centre

Situated in the heart of Upper Wharfedale is Grassington, granted a Royal Charter for a market and fair in 1282, which makes it a town although many locals refer to it as a village. The market ceased to be held during the second half of the 19th century. Today the town welcomes a large number of visitors attracted by it's pubs, hotels, gift shops, restaurants and outdoor shops.

Nearby is Grass Woods, an ancient area of woodland containing Fort Gregory, an iron age fort. There are also lead mines in the area which brought prosperity to Grassington with the heyday being during the Industrial Revoloution years of the late 18th and much of the 19th centuries. The arrival of a railway in nearby Threshfield in 1901 brought more trade to the town. Today the railway serves the nearby quarry. There is a Yorkshire Dales Visitor Centre in Grassington. Grassington's narrow streets.

In 1909 Grassington received it's first electricity from a hydro-electric plant at Linton Falls. Today the town is connected to the National Grid but there are plans to restore the hydro-electric plant using Achimedes Screws generating over 500 megawatts of electricity per hour.

Grassington holds an annual two week festival featuring music, visual arts and performances. Held in a variety of locations in and around Grassington, recent participants have included Toyah Wilcox and Jo Brand. It usually takes place during the second half of June, ending in early July. Mark Almond will be performing at 2016's Last Night Party. www.grassington-festival.org.uk The Cobbled Market Square BACK