Horsehouse

Horsehouse is a village in Coverdale in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire, England. It is listed as a hamlet in many texts, but the presence of the church makes it a village.[1][2][3] The River Cover runs near the village, and it lies some 6 miles (9.7 km) and 8.5 miles (13.7 km) south-west of Middleham and Leyburn respectively, at an elevation of 820 feet (250 m).[1][4][5]

Horsehouse
The Thwaite Arms
Horsehouse Location within North Yorkshire
Civil parish	Carlton Highdale
Unitary authority	North Yorkshire
Ceremonial county	North Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Police	North Yorkshire
Fire	North Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire

Most of the settlements in Highdale (the parish that Horsehouse is within), were first described in the 13th century, but Horsehouse was not recorded until the 15th century.[6] The village is so named because it provided facilities for horses using the packhorse routes that crossed in the village. One route crossed over into Wharfedale, which is the route that still exists into Kettlewell over Park Rash.[7][8][9] Horsehouse was historically in the wapentake of Hang West, the chapelry of Coverham and in the Leyburn Rural District.[10]

The village is home to St Botolph's Church, a Grade II listed building rebuilt between 1867 and 1869,[11][12] and the Thwaite Arms public house, built in 1808.[13] St Botolph's was recorded in an indenture of 1530 from Coverham Abbey, stating a canon would officiate at the church.[14] It had existed before this time, but it is unknown for how long.[15] There are five dedications to St Botolph in Yorkshire. St Botolph became the patron saint of boundaries, travel and trade, so it is thought the church dedication reflects the previous trades of the packhorse routes.[14] A Wesleyan Methodist chapel was erected in the Horsehouse in 1828, and the communities of the Wesleyan's and the Primitive Methodists reunited in 1933.[16] The chapel at Horsehouse is now a private dwelling.[17]