Discover Cononley

Cononley combines a very rural village centre with a complex architectural and industrial history. Settlement in and around the village dates back to the Bronze and Iron Ages; historic buildings and the remains of lead mining point to later periods. Nearby, Dead Eye Pond offers a distinctive natural and scenic attraction. When choosing where to stay, you can consider whether you are most interested in the village character, the built heritage, or the birdlife and wetland landscape.

Village Character and Historical Layers

The significance of the Cononley Conservation Area lies in its rural architectural and historical interest, as well as its legibility within the surrounding landscape. The village centre has a very rural character. The mix of historic architectural styles in Cononley spans the 17th to the late 19th century. The book “The History of Cononley: an Airedale Village”, published in 2000, is another reference on the village’s history.

Cononley Hall and the History of Lead Mining

Cononley Hall is a former manor house. Parts date from the late 16th or early 17th century, while others are from the late 18th century. At the rear is a reused lintel bearing the date 1628; this date belongs to the building element and is not necessarily the year the entire house was built.

Cononley Lead Mine was established between 1842 and 1847 for the agent of the Duke of Devonshire. The portal to the inclined plane dates from around 1847. The group of listed structures includes Engine House and Chimney, Portal to Engine Shaft, Magazine Building, Portal to Incline Plane, and the forge; all are Grade II listed. When considering the dates, it is worth treating the period when the mine was established and the approximate date of the portal as two separate pieces of information. This makes both the mine’s longer history and individual structures from the history of mining visible.

Landscape and Dead Eye Pond

Cononley lies in the “Settled Industrial Valleys” landscape category and on the edge of Area 38, the “Siltstone and Sandstone Low Moors”, which overlook the Aire Valley. Near Cononley, Dead Eye Pond is in the Washlands, halfway between Cononley and Carleton. Landscape features there include reed beds, woodland, wetlands, traditional hedgerows, and a viewing platform. Dead Eye Pond is also a refuge for wildlife and migratory birds.

Restrictions apply to dogs; assistance dogs are exempt. Two working parties are organised at Dead Eye Pond each year, and anyone interested can take part. If you are planning a trip for this, confirm the dates in advance.

Worship and Local History

St John the Evangelist in Cononley welcomes visitors to attend Sunday worship. Nearby, the Trevor Hodgson Collection can also be studied at Skipton Library. It includes notes, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Alongside the village character and historic buildings, these written and photographic materials offer another way to explore local history.

Discover more destinations: Hawes, Hawnby, Bolton Abbey, Gargrave, Sleights, Otterburn, Kildale, Aysgarth.

Back to the regional travel overview: North Yorkshire.