Stokesley | |
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Stokesley High Street |
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Stokesley shown within North Yorkshire | |
Population | 4,757 (2011) |
OS grid reference | NZ524087 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | MIDDLESBROUGH |
Postcode district | TS9 |
Dialling code | 01642 |
Police | North Yorkshire |
Fire | North Yorkshire |
Ambulance | Yorkshire |
EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
UK Parliament | |
Stokesley is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, it lies on the River Leven. Stokesley is located about two miles south of the boundary of the borough of Middlesbrough and ten miles south of Middlesbrough town centre. Stokesley is located between Middlesbrough, Guisborough and Northallerton, in a farming area. Local attractions for visitors include nearby Great Ayton, as well as Captain Cook's monument and Roseberry Topping, both of which lie within the North York Moors National Park.
Stokesley was first granted a charter to hold fairs in 1223 by Henry III. The Pack Horse Bridge, crossing the River Leven from the riverside walk, dates from the 17th century. Renowned for its large range of building types, the latter construction within Stokesley of sundry fine Georgian architecture is thought to have contributed much to its later character. Other prominent historical features around the town include the Mill Wheel, thought to represent the site of a mill recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The famous survey, by William the Conqueror, also contained the first written record of "a church and priest" in Stokesley. The present Church of St Peter and St Paul - the oldest building in the town - has a later medieval tower and chancel, with a Georgian nave built around 1777: it is located just off the market Plain and has colourful twentieth century stained glass and some woodwork carved by the Mouseman of Kilburn.