Yorke's Folly: a gritstone "ruin" above Nidderdale

Yorke's Folly is a landscape folly standing on the hill above the village of Bewerley, close to the small town of Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire, England. From a distance it looks like the remains of an old church, but it never was one. Locals also call it the Two Stoops.

What is Yorke's Folly?

Two tall gritstone shafts built to resemble the ruin of a church's east window or crossing. It is an artificial ruin, a fashionable feature of English designed landscapes in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The shafts stand about 15 metres high and can be seen from many points in the valley. The structure has been Grade II listed since 1987.

Who built it, and when?

It was commissioned by John Yorke, owner of the Bewerley estate, as an eye-catcher in the landscape around Bewerley Hall. The exact date is given differently depending on the source: the official listing says late 18th to early 19th century, while some researchers argue it was complete by the late 1770s. John Yorke died in 1813 and, at his own request, was buried quietly in Hudswell churchyard.

Why were there once three pillars?

The folly originally had three columns and was known as the Three Stoops. One was blown down in 1893, which is why only two remain.

A folly built to ease unemployment

Local tradition holds that the project also gave work to unemployed men in the district. An account repeated in 20th-century writing says the labourers received fourpence a day and a loaf of bread. A similar account dates from the early 19th century, during the lifetime of the man who commissioned it.

Getting there and what to see

A short walk from a layby on Nought Bank Road leads to the folly. The main draw is the view over Nidderdale, especially lovely on a bright afternoon. It makes an easy stop on a Yorkshire Dales trip and a good photo spot, as the lone pillars stand out against the sky.

Frequently asked questions

Is Yorke's Folly a real church ruin? No. It is a deliberately designed landscape feature made to look like a ruin.

Why is it called the Two Stoops? After the two surviving pillars. The third was blown down in 1893.

Is there an entrance fee? The folly stands on open hillside, reached by a short walk from the road.

How tall is it? The shafts are about 15 metres high.

Where is it? Above Bewerley village, near Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire.