Potted History
Please note while we have tried to be as accurate as possible some dates are approximate. Hackfall is perhaps first mentioned in the Doomsday Book which says “…Read more ...
1802 Description
The Reverend Warner’s description is very detailed and provides us with information not contained in other early descriptions. The language is a tad florid an…Read more ...
Hackfall or is it Hack Fall
Where did the name come from? There are currently two competing theories which, in light of new research, may just be a load of old Victorian twaddle. 1. It is…Read more ...
Les Taylor's memories and description
Les Taylor has written some memories of hackfall. Les was born in the Old Post Office in Grewelthorpe in 1925. He was a very active rambler in his younger day…Read more ...
Dorothy Richardson 1771
Dorothy describes Hackfall in much more detail than other visitors of the time. In particular she describes wooden buildings, a Chinese seat and tent that oth…Read more ...
Richard Pocoke 1751
THE TRAVELS THROUGH ENGLAND, DR. RICHARD POCOCKE 1751 I went two miles down near the Youre to see a fine wood of Mr. Aislabie’s called Hack-fall; … our road was o…Read more ...
William Beckford 1779
William Beckford waxes lyrical about Hack-fall in his FRAGMENTS OF AN ENGLISH TOUR (1779) It was late before we reached Rippon and the next morning I rode eight…Read more ...
Turner Painting
Hackfall painted by Joseph Mallord William Turner Probably painted c.1816 and based on a sketch made by Turner during his tour of central Yorkshire in August…Read more ...
Gilpin's 1772 Description
In his description from 1772 Gilpin raves about the view from Mowbray Point but is less complimentary about the grottos and small buildings in the “bottom” of…Read more ...
Unexplained men in green garb
In August 1909 HW was paying a visit to Hackfall wood when he and his fiancée walked into a clearing where they saw 4 or 5 men dressed in what they describe a…Read more ...
Armstrongs Hand Book 1900
ARMSTRONG’S ILLUSTRATED Harrogate Hand Book and visitors’ vade mecum 1900 HACKFALL Hackfall is situated 18 miles from Harrogate, on the other side of Ripon. It…Read more ...
Hackfall 1835
The following article is from The Penny Magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge #193. April 4 1835 and draws from earlier articles. For…Read more ...
Hackfall description 1818
The following is a description of Hackfall from “The Tourists Companion” which was first published in 1818. The photographs include some colour pictures taken…Read more ...