Dales Countryside Museum

11/06/2026

With the opening of our new exhibition Rivers4Life this week we wanted to share with you some fabulous wood blocks that were created by our museum founder, Marie Hartley. Here they are, side by side with the print of the image.
Upon her death, Marie left an extensive collection of her personal belongings including diaries, sketchbooks and 127 woodblocks. Many of the blocks were created to illustrate the books that she co-wrote with Ella Pontefract in the 1930s and 1940s: Swaledale, Wensleydale and Wharfedale.


You can read more about woodblock printing below
https://www.dalescountrysidemuseum.org.uk/projects-dales-countryside-museum/ink-inspiration-project-2019-2020/

09/06/2026

🐑 📷

📷 WENSLEYDALE SHEEP PHOTOS WANTED 📷

It's that time again when we're putting together the WLSBA calendar! 📆 Do you have any photographs of your Wensleydales to share?

Whether it's of tups in the snow, lambs skipping in the field, hoggs in wool in the summer sun or ewes bedded up for lambing, we love to include as many different breeders' snaps as we can 🐑

Please do have a trawl through your camera reel and send your photos to [email protected] 📸 💥

09/06/2026

Our rivers theme continues today with this super photo of Mr James Blades and his grandson, Pinky, going on a fishing expedition. Mr Blades is holding a fishing rod and a cowl net and Pinky is holding a small fishing net and jam jar suspended on a string.

07/06/2026

07/06/2026

Last year, Naomi and Fiona joined our knitting workshop and created some truly beautiful pieces—just look at those handmade socks and gloves! 🧦🧤

Ready to start your own knitting journey? Angharad is hosting another fantastic workshop this Friday at the Dales Countryside Museum. Come along and make a start at crafting your own cosy socks or gloves in a friendly, welcoming setting. You can then finish them at home. Lunch included.

Don’t miss out—secure your spot here: https://retail.yorkshiredales.org.uk/collections/dales-countryside-museum/products/dcm-events-dales-knitting-study-day-friday-12-june

06/06/2026

Well done 😊

05/06/2026

Our new exhibition Rivers4Life will open here at the museum tomorrow.
Showcasing the work of the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, this exhibition explores everything to do with rivers and wildlife and features amazing photography, artwork, film and soundscapes.

📷This photo shows Lesley, Karen and Richard Allen with their friend on the banks of the River Ure at Abbey Heads, Askrigg in 1965 inspecting their catch of crayfish.
Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust

03/06/2026

Image showing damaged buildings in Askrigg following the thunderstorm and flood on 3rd June 1908

01/06/2026

Here we have photos of John Arnold Metcalfe, born 1893. As a young man, Mr Metcalfe fought in the First World War, was a tailors cutter in Hawes, scout master, footballer, the postman, cinema operator, fireman and the last gas lamplighter in the town!


📷John Arnold Metcalfe and reverse of photo