Small village with a big history

Perched on a hill on the edge of the Vale of York, this little village is of great historical importance. The Romans are reputed to have had a watchtower on the site where the Castle now stands and in the year 2000 the remains of handmade Iron Age pottery and Roman roundhouses were found just below the sports field.

In 685 the Parish was given to St.Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, by Ecgfrith, King of the Northumbrians, so that the Bishop could use it as a resting place on his journeys to York. Legend has it that he founded a monastery here and the present church, which bears his name, dates from 1436. As an outlying part of the County of Durham, Crayke became a haven for those 'outside the law', as a local magistrate had no jurisdiction over them, a point finally remedied when Crayke became part of the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1844.

Agriculture has always been a part of Crayke. There are many examples of ridge and furrow farming which date back at least to medieval times c.1500, if not to Middle Saxon c.850; by the 15th century many of the present day farms were established; and in the 18th and 19th centuries drovers used Crayke as a stopping place on their way down from Scotland to Smithfield Market in London.

Vibrant village in a stunning location

Undoubtedly one of Crayke's most important assets is its natural beauty and physical location which offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. It was included in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1987 and has been a designated conservation village since 1976. In Spring visitors come from far afield to admire the daffodils on the village green and approach roads.

Furthermore, the village itself is very picturesque with a high proportion of listed buildings and some, such as the Castle and the Manor, are of historical significance. Crayke has also maintained some of its traditional features such as the pinfold, used to hold stray animals, and the village well.

Indeed the village's relationship with the countryside that surrounds it is as important today as it has always been. With 14 active farms, both livestock and arable, it remains at the heart of the surrounding community.

There are many significant benefits to residents with the Sports and Leisure Club being high on the list. A new pavilion was built in 1998 with money from the lottery, private donations and various fundraising events within the village. A variety of sports and activities take place there including cricket, tennis, bowls, darts, social events and parties as well as an active Playgroup and Toddler group.

The Domesday Book records a church and priest at Crayke in 1086 and the current church, St. Cuthberts, continues to be an important asset to the community. Although it is now part of a joint benefice including Brandsby and Yearsley, there are regular services in the village and it is popular location for weddings. Sunday school is also available to all primary school age children a youth group for other children.

Crayke boasts one of the best primary schools in the area, in high demand both from inside and outside the village. The school actively builds links with the community through special events and regular contributions to the Parish Magazine and is well supported by the village. Residents contributed towards funds for a new computer room with was added in 2001.

All these facilities play an important role in continuing to develop Crayke's strong sense of community, as do the many formal and informal social groups that meet regularly, such as the Crayke Ladies. Annual events such as the Gala and the village Cricket Match are also popular and well attended.

As Crayke has moved with the times, it has managed to preserve its traditional, historical and rural heritage while providing a modern, vibrant place in which to live and work. It has good transport links to the A19, A1, York and the nearby market towns as Easingwold, Helmsley and Thirsk. These have further increased its desirability as a place to live, with increasing numbers of people commuting from the village to work. This has been reflected in rising house prices in recent years.

There is also a small but thriving business community in the village. There are a few established businesses but also a growing number of small business and people working from home. The recent introduction of broadband and a village web site will further support this development.

The high importance that Crayke residents place on these recurring themes of community, environment and the provision of facilities were demonstrated by the results of the questionnaire distributed as part of the 2005 Parish Plan. When asked to identify the most important assets of the village, 90% and above placed the attractiveness of the village, its views, access to the countryside and the school at the top of their list. Other aspects given a high rating included the village's strong sense of community (80%), the Church (79%), the Sports and Leisure Club (72%) and the Pub (67%).

The survey also identified that traffic, parking, affordable housing, lack of facilities and lack of public transport were the major issues affecting the village. These are being addressed through the Summary of Findings and Action Plan which followed.