Wensleydale was the home of one of Yorkshire's most famous clans, the Metcalfes,
after they emigrated from Dentdale. The Metcalfe Society hold records dating back
to Metcalfes living in the area during the 14th century. They were one of the most
prominent families in Yorkshire for over five centuries. Sir James Metcalfe (1389–
1472), who was born and lived in Wensleydale, was a captain in the army which
fought with King Henry V in the battle of Agincourt in 1415. Metcalfe is still one
of the most common surnames in Yorkshire.
Bolton Castle in the village of Castle Bolton is a notable local historic site.
Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned here. The story goes that she escaped and
made her way towards Leyburn only to lose her 'shawl' on the way, hence the name
('The Shawl') of the cliff edge that runs westward out of Leyburn and is a well-
known spot for easy walks with excellent views.
To the west of the town there is an ancient earthwork known as the Picts' Work
Ditch or Catrail. It extends many miles south and its height and width varies.
There is no agreement about the purpose of the earthwork. There is another ancient
site on the north west edge of the town, at Torwoodlee, an Iron Age hill fort,
with a later Broch built in the Western quarter of the hill fort, and overlapping
some of the defensive ditches of the original fort. The Romans destroyed the broch
in AD 140, soon after it was completed.
The town's coat of arms shows two foxes reaching up to eat plums from a tree, and
the motto is Sour Plums pronounced in Scots as soor plooms. It is a reference to
an incident in 1337 when a raiding party of English soldiers were picking wild
plums close to the town and were caught by Scots who came across them by chance
and slaughtered them all.
Hawes is a small market town and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of
North Yorkshire, England, being granted its market charter in 1699. Historically
within the North Riding of Yorkshire, Hawes is located at the head of Wensleydale
in the Yorkshire Dales, the River Ure runs through the town and the dale which is
one of the honeypot tourist attractions of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The
parish of Hawes also includes the neighbouring hamlet of Gayle. The hill of Great
Shunner Fell stands over the town. The town is famous as being the home of
Wensleydale cheese. Local tourist attractions include the Dales Countryside
Museum, based in the old Hawes railway station of the Wensleydale Railway; nearby
Hardraw Force waterfall; and the Buttertubs Pass, which links Wensleydale to
Swaledale. Further down the dale is Aysgarth Falls. Hawes itself has a regular
market, as well as many shops, pubs and tearooms.