Brafferton: St Peter and Historic Houses

Brafferton can be understood through its church and local history. For a stay with an interest in historic architecture, information about St Peter and listed buildings offers specific points of interest. They range from medieval and early modern architectural features to houses from the 18th century. There are also historic memorials and the bridleway to Swing Bridge.

St Peter: Building Phases and Traditions

St Peter contains architectural features from different periods. The west tower dates from the 15th century; the eastern chapels and a chancel arcade date from the early 16th century. A chancel arcade is an arcade-like arrangement in the chancel. Two windows in the chapel’s south wall are by Charles Eamer Kempe. The architectural history thus encompasses both the dating of individual features and a specific detail attributed to him in the glasswork.

The church’s medieval plan was fundamentally altered between 1826 and 1831. This period refers to the plan; the dates in the 15th and early 16th centuries refer to individual architectural features.

St Peter overlooks the River Swale; St Paulinus is said to have baptised 10,000 people here at Christmas in 626. St Augustine’s Mount, also known as Austin’s Hill, is believed to be the place from which Paulinus preached after the baptism. The tradition thus connects the view across the river with two distinct remembrances: the baptism at the River Swale and the sermon on the Mount.

Listed Buildings in Brafferton

Brafferton Hall East and Brafferton Hall West are two separate Grade II listed buildings. Laurel Farmhouse is a listed farmhouse in the same grade and dates from the mid to late 18th century. The names of the two Hall buildings therefore refer to separate properties; Laurel Farmhouse adds a specific historical date to the picture.

More Historic Details in Helperby

In Helperby, the Town Well, donated in 1897, commemorates Queen Victoria’s 60-year reign. Behind Lodge Farmhouse stands a hexagonal dovecote dating from the late 18th to early 19th century. Its brick nesting boxes for doves are preserved inside. Both examples connect a specific historical commemoration or architectural form with a named place.

High Farm House in Helperby dates from 1769 and retains an 18th-century cupboard. Helperby House is a mid-19th-century house built of locally made light brown brick and roofed with Welsh slate. At Helperby Hall, the Coates family’s manor house, the dates 1709 and 1889 refer to the rainwater head on the southernmost part of the building, known as the “Old Hall”; they do not simply date the entire building.

Bridleway to Swing Bridge

The bridleway to Swing Bridge near Brafferton is used by pedestrians and horse riders. As conditions at the bridge and along the access route can change, check them before setting out. This allows you to take this specific route into account when planning your trip, without confusing it with the church’s architectural history or the listed houses.

Discover more destinations: Reeth, Pickering, Colton, Settle, Helmsley, Embsay, Tockwith, Knaresborough.

For the broader travel overview: North Yorkshire.