Hubberholme

St Michael and All Angels church in Hubberholme is quite small, quite dark inside and very old - but utterly charming. It was originally a 12th century (Norman) Forest Chapel, as the area around was a hunting forest. The tiny chapel was expanded at a later date and the rood loft (the remains of which can be seen in my picture below) was installed in 1558, possibly transferred from Coverham Abbey. It would have had a floor to support musicians and is one of only two surviving in Yorkshire. The church also has pews carved by Robert Thompson, 'the Mouseman of Kilburn' in 1934. I found one of his trademarks of a carved mouse, after carefully searching the choir stalls. Legend has it that one of the altars was used as an ale bench in The George pub (which used to be the vicarage) across the road, until it was rescued and reinstated in the church! The George, I have read, also signifies it is open by having a lit candle in the window, in the same way as the vicar would have notified his availability to parishioners. 

The tiny hamlet of Hubberholme, situated where Langstrothdale meets Upper Wharfedale, was a favourite place of the Bradford-born author, broadcaster and dramatist J B Priestley (1894-1984), who described it as "one of the smallest and most pleasant places in the world." His ashes were buried in the churchyard and the church contains a memorial plaque.