The special interest of Barmby Moor’s village centre lies in the interplay between its built environment and open spaces. Historic buildings and open, green areas stand side by side as two aspects of the same townscape. This creates a clear focus for planning a trip: architecture and local history can be combined with views of a wetland landscape. St Catherine’s Church and The Manor House offer historical points of interest; the churchyard and the landscape near Beckside complement them with green spaces and water.
Church architecture from two periods
Two distinct construction phases, separated by several centuries, can be seen at St Catherine’s Church. The west tower and spire date from the 15th century. The nave and chancel were rebuilt in 1851 by J B Atkinson in the Perpendicular style, characterised by its emphasis on vertical lines. Thus, the same church combines a medieval tower with a much later, rebuilt nave and chancel. This sequence gives the building a specific architectural interpretation, rather than attributing the entire church broadly to a single period.
Churchyard, habitat and remembrance
The churchyard of St Catherine’s Church covers approximately 2.5 acres, or around 1 hectare. Since the mid-1990s, it has been maintained using different mowing regimes to encourage wildflowers and provide a habitat for small mammals, insects and other small creatures. Here, the green spaces are both part of the townscape and a managed habitat.
The churchyard also contains the graves of airmen from Pocklington Aerodrome who died in the Second World War. The menhir Wart Stone stands near the main entrance to St Catherine’s Church. The graves and the named stone add different historical accents to the same grounds.
Paths and a treasure hunt
Three paved paths lead from the churchyard gates to the main entrance; mostly level grass paths run around the churchyard. If you take these path details into account when planning, check the conditions before your visit. Check the conditions before your visit.
A children’s treasure hunt booklet is available at the entrance to St Catherine’s Church. It features things to find inside the church and in the churchyard. As availability may change, it is advisable to ask about the booklet before your visit.
Wetland landscape and townscape
Barmby Moor lies in a wetland landscape in the north-eastern part of the Vale of York. A small stream beside Beckside is edged by public grassland and weeping willows. A wider landscape and a particular stretch of stream therefore sit side by side: the wetland landscape provides the regional setting, while grassland and willows shape the scene by the stream. This natural feature complements the architectural history without requiring a particular outing or route.
The Manor House
Another historical point of interest is The Manor House. Its entrance hall contains a dated plaque from 1597, and the property is surrounded by a moat. The plaque and moat are two distinct details of the same property: one refers to a specific date, while the other is a feature of the grounds. Alongside St Catherine’s Church, The Manor House adds a second, distinct site to the picture of Barmby Moor’s built history.
Discover more destinations: Thwing, Rowley, Beeford, Kirkburn, Bubwith, Withernwick, Nafferton, Aldbrough.
For the wider travel overview: East Riding of Yorkshire.
