Just to the west of the market town of Selby, and half an hour east of Leeds, is a network of villages set in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. All well located for the A1(M) and several railway stations that give access to Leeds, York, Sheffield and London, the villages offer a picturesque, tranquil and convenient place to live. All the villages offer the opportunity for an idyllic lifestyle in a beautiful part of Yorkshire.
The most popular location is the lovely Monk Fryston, but all the villages, including Hambleton, Thorpe Willoughby, Hillam, Burton Salmon, Gateforth, Birkin, Beal, Byram and Brotherton, have a quaint charm and a welcoming atmosphere in abundance. There is much history to be found among the villages here, many of them with their roots in the medieval halls and manors that owned the land.
"All the villages were historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire until 1974, when they all became part of North Yorkshire."
Monk Fryston was so-named for its links with Selby Abbey - it is thought that the stone to build the abbey was quarried from what is now the centre of the village in the 11th century. At the heart of the village is the 13th-century St Wilfrid’s Church and Monk Fryston Hall, a Grade II-listed country house hotel that also serves as a wedding venue. The village has close links with Hillam, sharing a community association and cricket club. Neighbouring Hambleton was mentioned in the Domesday Book while the largest village, Thorpe Willoughby was named for the ‘Willeby’ family who owned the Thorpe manor in the 13th century.
Just off the A63 that gives easy access to the A1(M), and the closest of the villages to Selby, Thorpe Willoughby is a lovely place surrounded by scenic countryside. For centuries, Thorpe Willoughby was a hamlet that grew around the manor of the ‘Willeby’ family in the 13th century; being on the road to Selby it grew as the surrounding industries and settlements grew and is today home to around 2,725 people.
With an average house price of £227,739, the village offers a good number of spacious, detached houses in a variety of styles and ages, including 20th century bungalows and stylish new builds, making it popular with families. It also has a primary school, a parade of local shops and an award-winning pub, The Fox which serves up delicious pub grub as well as having a ‘Tex Mex’ menu. Directly east of the village is Brayton Barff which offers lovely walks through ancient woodland and is an excellent place for birdwatching.
Mentioned in the Domesday Book, Hambleton today is a tranquil village of around 2,000 people, many of whom are city commuters. Long situated on the road between Leeds and Selby, Hambleton was a small village of just 500 until the mid-18th century when the growing industries in the surrounding areas helped it to grow.
There are plenty of spacious detached and semi-detached houses available here which, along with its rural charm and Ofsted-rated ‘good’ primary school, makes it a popular choice for families. With an average price of £261,161, properties include peaceful cul-desacs of contemporary houses, as well as an array of airy dwellings built throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Hambleton has a small village shop that stocks all the essentials, and has two pubs The Red Lion and The Owl, which is also a hotel. Numerous footpaths criss-cross the countryside and woodlands of the area, making it easy to make the most of the beautiful, rural surroundings.
A pretty, rural village surrounded by spectacular countryside, Monk Fryston is a village that is a wonderfully picturesque place to live. Despite its small size, it has a wide range of architectural and property styles. This means the village appeals to professionals, growing families and retirees whether they are looking for the traditional or the more modern property types.
The centre of the village has cottages and detached houses in lovely honey-coloured stone (some are Grade II listed) while further out are more modern properties, ranging from terraced town houses and spacious bungalows, to newer developments of detached and semidetached houses. There are also substantial dwellings with plenty of land, overlooking the Yorkshire countryside.
Average Property Prices: £360,964
Population of Monk Fryston: 1,008
Data from Zoopla & Plumplot
Parents in Monk Fryston and the surrounding villages can rest assured that their children will receive an excellent education here. There are a number of Ofsted-rated ‘good’ primary schools in the area, as well as a range of secondary schools that perform well.
Tiny Toes Private Nursery, Hambleton
Playcare Day Nursery, Brotherton - good
Play Safe at the Pavilion, Hillam
Selby District Peter Pan Nursery - good
Olive Tree Day Nursery - good
Monk Fryston Church of England Primary School
Hambleton Church of England Primary School - good
Burton Salmon Community Primary School - good
Brotherton & Byram Community Primary Academy - good
Sherburn in Elmet, Athelstan Community Primary School - good
Sherburn High School De Lacy Academy - good
Airedale Academy - good Brayton Academy - outstanding
Selby High School - good
An ex-industrial coal face, Fairburn Ings is now a wonderfully wild place known for its abundance of wildlife, in particular, birds. With plenty of trails winding through wetland, woodland and grassland, this conservation area is easy to explore, while there are also plenty of things for the whole family to do; from walking to pond dipping and feeding the ducks. The visitors centre features lots of information about the creatures that call the reserve home and has a shop serving refreshments.
The ultimate day out, packed full of all sorts of activities, there’s never a spare minute at Xscape! With a 14-screen Cineworld cinema, plenty of popular places to eat and outlet shopping, Xscape also features urban climbing, laser-tag, adventure golf, trampoline parks, bowling, an aerial adventure course and Snozone which is an indoor skiing and boarding slope on real snow.
A country estate on the edge of Leeds, Temple Newsam is an impressive historic house set in 1500 acres of parkland. While the Tudor-Jacobean house is packed with treasures, and the grounds, full of lakes and landscaped gardens, a delight to explore, there is also a rare breed conservation farm where you can meet pigs, guinea pigs, chickens and geese. Visit the tea rooms for refreshments or play a round on the 18-hole golf course.
An action-packed day for kids, Diggerland is full of diggers, dumpers and any other sort of exciting vehicle you can think of! Visitors of all ages can have a go at driving, riding and even operating real diggers and dumpers, and there are fun rides inspired by the machinery, including the Spindizzy, Dig-a-round and Mini Landrovers. There’s also an indoor soft play area, go-karts and so much more.
One of the UK’s most beautiful cities, full of history and culture, York is a wonderful place to have on your doorstep. The breathtaking Gothic Minster watches over it all. York is home to the National Railway Museum, the Jorvik Viking Centre, York Castle and a wealth of historical buildings of interest.
An Edwardian country estate, Lotherton is on the outskirts of Leeds. The hall itself is a museum full of interesting artefacts, the grounds are huge and ready to be explored complete with walled gardens, herbaceous borders, and an exciting adventure playground. Also on the estate is Wildlife World which is home to an eclectic mix of animals, including Humboldt penguins, flamingos, a capybara and a tapir.
Discover Castleford in the Bronze Age and explore its Roman roots in this lovely little museum. There’s an Iron Age chariot to admire and opportunities to dress up like a Roman soldier. There is also a gallery dedicated to Henry Moore, who grew up here and lots of craft sessions to get involved in.
Built in 1070, Pontefract Castle was once known as the ‘Key to the North’ thanks to its fearsome reputation as a fortress. What remains of the castle today is still an impressive place to explore, with plenty of open space, interactive displays on how the castle used to be, and a creepy dungeon tour. Housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau building, Pontefract Museum is the place to learn all about the local history, from the sieges and skirmishes of the castle to tasty local liquorice.
A bustling, vibrant city, Leeds is a fantastic feel-good place. People come from all over the north to visit its glitzy shopping malls, and to frequent its vast range of independent bars and restaurants, as well as for shows, concerts, to dance the night away and take part in the nightlife! There is also the Royal Armouries Museum to visit, and easy access by public transport out to the Dales.
"Thomas of Brotherton, Earl of Norfolk and son of King Edward I and Margaret of France, was born in a manor house at Brotherton in 1300."
Monk Fryston, Hambleton, Thorpe Willoughby and Byram all have a convenience store to take care of the everyday essentials. A range of supermarkets can be found in the area surrounding the villages, in Sherburn-in-Elmet, Garforth, Selby, Castleford and Knottingley, while shopping centres for all your other needs can be found in Castleford and Selby. For all the big brand stores and independent shops there are Leeds and York, both of which have a fantastic range. There is also Junction 32 Yorkshire Outlet Shopping, just outside Castleford, with a host of big names at discounted prices, and the York Designer Outlets.
While several of the pubs in the area serve food, there are also some lovely restaurants where you can eat in the area. The Monk Fryston Hall Hotel offers some elegant dining options plus afternoon tea service, and the Owl Hotel in Hambleton serves classic dishes. The Birkin Fisheries Tea Room in Birkin is perfect for lunch or a sweet treat while Thal Indian Restaurant in Brotherton is also a popular choice. For big name restaurants and wider variety, the larger towns such as Selby and Castleford, and cities, Leeds and York, cater to any taste.
There are several pubs, from traditional to gastro, in the area serving good food and perfectly poured pints. Monk Fryston has The Crown, a convivial, traditional pub while The Cross Keys Inn in Hillam has a wonderfully warm atmosphere. The Red Lion in Hambleton and the King’s Arms in Beal are great for a quiet pint, while the Fox Inn in Thorpe Willoughby sits at the heart of the village and the Plough Inn in Burton Salmon is every inch the country pub. For chic bars and big nights out, Selby has lots of options, as well as Castleford, Leeds and York.
There are two cinemas within easy reach of Monk Fryston and surrounding villages. The closest is 13 minutes by car, the 14-screen Cineworld at Xscape Yorkshire in Castleford, while there is also a 10- screen Odeon Luxe at Leeds Thorpe Park, a 17 minute drive away.
Along with all the glorious Yorkshire countryside in which to exercise, there are several options for those looking to work up a sweat around Monk Fryston and the surrounding villages. Fitness Motion in Sherburn-in-Elmet is closest, while Selby has a number of gyms, including a Fitness First and a leisure centre with gym, swimming pool and fitness classes. Castleford also has several independent gyms and a sports centre at Lock Lane with gym, classes, courts and pitches.
Welcoming visitors and members alike, Selby Golf Club offers 18 holes on sandy soil that is playable year round. There is also a driving range and putting green. An 18 hole course that provides a fair test for golfers of all abilities, Scarthingwell Golf Course is set in scenic countryside that makes for a tranquil game. Ferrybridge Golf Club offers an affordable 9-hole game on a course set in Fryston Park in Ferrybridge.
Monk Fryston and the surrounding villages have seen attractive housing developments built over recent years and there are many more currently in different stages of the planning and building process.
One that particularly stands out is the Whitacres development in Hambleton, picturesquely located in the North Yorkshire countryside. Well located for the amenities in nearby Monk Fryston and Thorpe Willoughby as well as Hambleton itself, here you will find a series of thoughtfully designed three and four bedroom houses that will appeal to first-time buyers, families and those looking to downsize.
The Sherwood Croft development is set in the village of Thorpe Willoughby. Perfect for the modern family, properties are detached or semi-detached two, three, four or five bedrooms, and are surrounded by green spaces, but conveniently located close to the area’s amenities and good transport links.
"York, Tadcaster and Castleford were all Roman settlements, so it’s likely that there is much Roman history in the area of Monk Fryston and the surrounding villages."
Monk Fryston and the surrounding villages are well-placed to make good use of the transport connections close by. For drivers, you are minutes from the A1(M), while the closest train stations - South Milford, Sherburn-in-Elmet and Knottingley offer services to Leeds, Halifax, Sheffield and York while travelling to Selby gives access by train to London and Manchester as well. Buses offer services between the villages and within the local area, such as Selby and Pontefract, and further afield, to Leeds and York.
"Monk Fryston, Hambleton and Burton Salmon all have stations that were on the old North Eastern railway line that closed to passengers in 1959."
Journey time from Monk Fryston, Hambleton and Thorpe Willoughby to South Milford station is five to 13 minutes by car and trains to Selby take 11 minutes. To Leeds they take 24 minutes. Burton Salmon, Brotherton and Byram to Knottingley station take 5 to 9 minutes by car and the train journey to Leeds is 44 minutes. From Selby, the train takes 20 minutes to York, around 20 minutes to Leeds, 1 hour 24 minutes to Manchester and 2 hours to London King’s Cross. Travelling from Sherburn-in-Elmet by train takes 20 minutes to York and 58 minutes to Sheffield.
Monk Fryston, Hambleton and Thorpe Willoughby all sit along the A63, the road connecting Leeds, Selby and Hull, which also connects them with junction 42 of the A1(M) giving easy access to the M1 and M62.
The closest airports to Monk Fryston and villages are Robin Hood, which is 38 minutes via the A1(M) and Leeds Bradford, which takes 43 minutes by car. Manchester Airport is 1 hour 16 minutes via the M62, Birmingham Airport is 1 hour 44 minutes via the A1(M) and M1, while Heathrow is 3 hours via the A1(M) or M1 and the M25.
There are numerous bus routes connecting Monk Fryston and villages to the surrounding towns and cities, including the 493 which connects Sherburn-in-Elmet to Pontefract via Monk Fryston, Hillam, Burton Salmon, Brotherton and Byram, and the 164 between Leeds and Selby which passes through Monk Fryston, Hambleton and Thorpe Willoughby
JP Harll in association with
