| Masham | |
|---|---|
 Marketplace | |
.svg)  Masham Location withinNorth Yorkshire | |
| Population | 1,205 (2011 census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SE225808 |
| • London | 195 mi (314 km) SSE |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RIPON |
| Postcode district | HG4 |
| Dialling code | 01765 |
| Police | North Yorkshire |
| Fire | North Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | |
| 54°13′22″N1°39′15″W / 54.2227°N 1.6541°W /54.2227; -1.6541 | |
Masham (/ˈmæsəm/MASS-əm) is amarket town andcivil parish inNorth Yorkshire, England. It had a population of 1,205 at the 2011 census.[1]
The town is located 34 miles (55 km) northwest ofYork and was in the formerHarrogate district. It is situated in the lowerWensleydale, on the western bank of theRiver Ure, just north of its confluence with theRiver Burn.
The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon "Mæssa's Ham", the homestead belonging to Mæssa.[2]
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The Romans had a presence here, but the first permanent settlers were theAngles. Around 900 AD theVikings invaded, burning and laying waste to the church. They also introduced sheep farming, for which the town is still known.
Masham was historically a large parish in theNorth Riding of Yorkshire. As well as the town of Masham the parish included thetownships ofBurton-on-Yore,Ellingstring,Ellington High and Low,Fearby,Healey with Sutton,Ilton cum Pott andSwinton.[3] In 1866 the townships became separate civil parishes.[4] Masham Moor was an area of moorland to the west of the parish bordering theWest Riding, common to the parishes of Masham andEast Witton. It was divided between the parishes of Healey, Ilton cum Pott andColsterdale in 1934.[5]
The area of the ancient parish, except Burton-on-Yore, was known as Mashamshire from the 12th century or earlier.[6]
St Mary's Church was most likely founded in the seventh century and stood somewhere near the present town hall on what used to be known as Cockpit Hill. The graveyard yielded 36 burials in a recent excavation. The present church – while having someAnglo-Saxon stonework and the stump of an eighth-century prayer cross – is mainlyNorman with fifteenth-century additions. Masham was given toYork Minster in the medieval period but, as the archbishop did not wish to make the long journey north to oversee the town's affairs, the parish was designated apeculiar.
During the Middle Ages, Masham developed as a small town with milling, mining, cloth making and tanning industries.[7] The town received its first market charter in 1251. Masham's importance as a major sheep market is the reason for the large market place and its Georgian houses. The market originally thrived because of its nearness toJervaulx andFountains Abbeys, with their large flocks of sheep.
From 1875 the town was served by theMasham branch of theNorth Eastern Railway. Passenger services were stopped in December 1930, withgoods traffic continuing until 1963. The station was across the River Ure atLow Burton.[8]
The naturalistCharles Hedley (1862–1926) was born in Masham, where his father, the Rev. Canon Thomas Hedley, was vicar.[9]
On 5 July 2014 theTour de France Stage 1 from Leeds to Harrogate passed through the town.[10]
Prior to local government reform in North Yorkshire in 2023, the town lay within theBorough of Harrogate. Masham was part of that borough'selectoral ward of Mashamshire. This ward stretched west to Colsterdale with a total population taken at the 2011 census of 2,350.[11] Since 2023, the town is covered byNorth Yorkshire Council, a unitary authority.
As of 2025, the parish shares agrouped parish council, called Masham Parish Council, withBurton-on-Yore,Ellington High and Low, andSwinton with Warthermarske.[12]
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Masham market days are Wednesday, Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday with a Farmers' Market every first Sunday of the month from April to September.[13] An annual Sheep Fair is held in September,[14] and theMasham breed is named after the town. The market place, the largest in the district,[15] is tightly bordered on its south and west sides by ranges of two- and three-storey buildings. To the south-east, lies St. Mary's Church with its large yard.
Although Masham is a relatively small town it has two working breweries,Black Sheep Brewery andTheakstons, situated only a few hundred yards from one another. The Black Sheep Brewery sponsors annual folk festivals. Previous performers have includedHugh Cornwell ofThe Stranglers.[16] The town was also for a long time home to Lightfoot Brewery. This was bought by the Theakston family and closed in the 1920s. The Lightfoot brewery buildings are now used by Black Sheep.
The Masham Steam Engine & Fair Organ Rally is held annually,[17] organised by the Masham Town Hall Association; it began in 1965 to raise money forMasham Town Hall. The town holds an arts festival every two years.[18]
The town has asnooker andbilliards club, which was founded in 1871.[19]
Local news and television programmes are provided byBBC North East and Cumbria andITV Tyne Tees. Television signals are received from theBilsdale TV transmitter.[20]
Local radio stations areBBC Radio York,Greatest Hits Radio Harrogate & the Yorkshire Dales andDales Radio.[21]
The town is served by the local newspaper,Harrogate Advertiser.[22]
The nearest railway stations areThirsk andNorthallerton both of which are on theEast Coast Main Line; although the town was formerly served by astation on theMasham branch railway. Buses operate fromRipon and the town is on theA6108 road between Ripon,Leyburn,Richmond andScotch Corner.[23] The town is several miles west of theA1(M) motorway.
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