Katie's Story

There is a long history of dedicated people who have championed Keld; whether they are locals or frequent visitors and holiday makers, Keld has certainly made an impression on the lives of many.  I was somewhat of a late-comer to the beauty of Keld and the work of the Keld Resource Centre yet I can still remember the first time I came off the Kirkby road and into Keld itself.  I was a 17 year old southerner who was (and still is) enamoured by the sight of sheep in a field, the sound of birds singing and waterfalls!  As we drove down the lane into Keld, I remember feeling a real sense of wonder that a place like this, surrounded by such stunning nature and landscape, actually existed.  At night it was silent, something that an urban area can never be, with a multitude of stars in the sky.  Such a contrast to my experience of the UK and a lifestyle so far removed from my life.  I was hooked!

I have been blessed with the opportunity to become more familiar withe the work and vision of the Keld Resource Centre.  The biggest privilege has been to spend wonderful holidays in the beautifully restored Manse (completed in 2009) with my husband and our extended family.  I had stayed in The Manse before as an intrepid 17 year old, however this was prior to its 21st century revamp.  This was during an era when it was used as sleeping quarters for groups using the forner Literary Institute and old school building; when ever room had bunk beds, there was no central heating and the shower pumped out freezing cold water.  Despite this, the sheer charm and beauty of Keld continued to inspire me.

The Manse is now a haven.  The place has been transformed into a stunning Dales home with everything you could want and need for a country get away.  It is spacious yet cosy, every little detail has  been thought out.  You could not ask for a better, more tranquil location with walks directly from your front door and the beautiful view of the valley as you step from your holiday home.  You enter into a different lifestyle when you stay in Keld.  We always feel privileged to witness the everyday to-in and fro-ing of tractors, walkers and sheep alike.  An everyday occurrence for Dales folk but an absolute novelty for us!

For my husband and I, nothing beats a cuppa, a slice of Glenda's cake and a proper Yorkshire fire.  There is something truely special happening in Keld as the community moves into the future and by supporting The Manse, we too are playing our part.

Meadows and Moorland ~ A Guided Farm Walk ~ 9th June 2013

Guided Farm Walk

 

Sunday 9th June 2013

 

11.00 - 13.00

 

Please meet at The Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre at 10.45 a.m.

 

 

 

Join local hill farmer, Chris Calvert, for a pleasant yet informative walk through hay meadows and onto the moor and discover more about farming and the way of life of a dale's farmer.

The walk finally meanders through pastures adjacent to the River Swale where you will see the Swaledale ewe with her twin lambs.

 

Please visit www.tkrc.org.uk for full details, contact Glenda Calvert glenda_calvert@hotmail.co.uk  to reserve a place or just arrive at The Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre at 10.45 a.m. on 9th June.  All welcome.

The A-Z of Upper Swaledale; a Swaledale Alphabet

The second project undertaken, jointly, with the Keld Resource Centre and Reeth & Gunnerside School was an A-Z of Upper Swaledale. 
The children chose to use the school colours, purple and gold, for the block letters of the alphabet.  To describe the leaflet they chose the line 'Beautiful dale, home of the Swale' taken from the dale's most popular & evocative song 'Swaledale'.

Year 5 & 6 pupils with their original pen and ink drawings


After listing everything the children could think of that makes Swaledale special, each child was allocated a letter and they worked on creating a pen and ink image.

 

 The Keld Resource Centre is very grateful to school staff member, Mr Robbie Kelly who gave his time to format the children's artwork for the finished leaflet.

The A-Z guide will be available in tourist information points, pubs, hotels & cafes between Keld and Reeth and at The Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre.

Forging Links with Young People in The Dale

Its always heartening to see young people in Keld.  During the school holidays there are often lots of children here on holiday; camping, caravanning or in holiday cottages. 

 

But what about our own dale's children?  Where do they go school?  Certainly not in Keld as the village school closed in 1973.  For many years the children travelled to Gunnerside for their primary education and then to Richmond (a good hour by coach for some).  They still do go to Richmond for their secondary education but recently Gunnerside Methodist Controlled Primary School confederated with Reeth Primary School and now children are educated on both sites.

 

  Since 2012 The Keld Resource Centre has developed close links with Reeth & Gunnerside Primary School and worked with the children and staff on two projects.  The first being....

Showing You The Way........ 
A Children's Guide from Keld to Muker

There are plenty of maps, leaflets and literature available for adults in any tourist outlet but very few to interest children so together with the Year 6 pupils we set about producing a children's guide of the walk between Keld and Muker.





 On 11th June 2012 the Year 6 children came to Keld and we followed the River Swale to Muker only branching off the path to explore Crackpot Hall.  As we walked, the children made notes and sketches and took photographs of what interested them and what they thought visiting children might like to know more about. 

 

Crossing the River Swale at Ramps Holme Bridge

 

Finally making our way through the famous hay meadows at  Muker Bottoms.

 

Back in the classroom the children used their recorded notes and observations to create the illustrations for the map, made contributions to the text and decided upon a name for the guide,

Showing You The Way.........  

 



The guide was completed and printed in time for the summer holidays.  These children, about to start the walk with their parents, were delighted to find a guide especially designed with them in mind.

If you are in Keld please pick up a copy of Showing You The Way.... from
The Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre
  



Birds of Upper Swaledale Guided Walk

 

Birds of Upper Swaledale Guided Walk - Saturday 11th May 2013

 

A Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre Event

 

10.00 - 12.30 and 13.30 - 16.00

Spend a full or half day with knowledgeable guide, Revd Dr David Peel, observing birds in their moorland, woodland & river habitats.  Please bring binoculars.  Sorry no dogs or children under 8 years old.  Full day £5, half day £3, children free.

Booking advisable. 

Contact Glenda Calvert on tel. 01748 886845 or email glenda_calvert@hotmail.co.uk 

or visit www.tkrc.org.uk

 

There are still places available for this event.

 

 

 

 

Ministers in Residence in The Manse

Five times a year, for a period of one week, a 'Minister-in-Residence' is present in The Manse.  During this time The Manse reverts to its original use and becomes the minister's home.  Whilst in residence the visiting minister takes the Sunday service in the chapel and usually holds prayers during the week.  They bring with them their own unique style of communication as a way of reaching all sectors of our community; residents, walkers, campers, holiday makers, day trippers.

This Easter (31st March to 5th April 2013), retired Methodist Minister, Rev Mike Harrison and his wife Jan, from Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria were our Minister in Residence and here is a short account of their stay.

Rev Mike and Mrs Jan Harrison accepted the invitation to be 'in residence' in the Keld Manse during Easter Week.  What could not be anticipated was weather conditions more typical of Christmas than Easter, with drifting snow and a bitter east wind.  Some possible activities, such as meeting and greeting whilst sitting on the seat in the front garden of The Manse, were not to be recommended!  Walkers were understandably thin on the ground and those braving the elements were not necessarily going to stand around and chat.

We set up some material in the chapel, inviting reflection and prayer requests (see photograph).  Visitors were invited to reflect on 'Image' and 'Future', and to leave prayer requests for healing and wholeness.  Some did leave requests and these were included in our morning and evening prayers in chapel throughout the week.

We spent time during the week getting to know some of the local folk and meeting and praying with members of the Christian community in their own homes - a joy and privilege.

The adverse weather conditions served to highlight the difficulties regularly faced and overcome by the local community - especially those who farm - and demonstrated what a determined and resilient community this is.  We shall not forget the beauty and spirituality of the place, and the warmth and friendship of the community.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Keld Chapel

In 1789 a young itinerant preacher called Edward Stillman walked into the ruins of an earlier chapel in Keld, then - as now - a remote hamlet at the head of Swaledale.  At the centre of the weeds and rubble, he planted his stick with the words: 'Here will I have my chapel and here will I preach the Gospel.'

The chapel, with two adjoining rooms (one for living; one for teaching) was built.  It cost £700.  Stillman raised the money himself by walking from Keld to London asking for contributions on the way.  He did the journey again in 1818 to pay for the rebuilding of the chapel, by then too small for its congregation.  He ministered in Keld for 48 years until his death in 1837.

The buildings have been altered and enlarged several times since then and a minister's house was added.  The chapel and manse took their present form in 1861.  These were the heyday of the lead mining industry; in 1851 there were more than 1100 miners in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.

Independancy (later known as Congrgationalism) became established in Swaledale in the mid 17th Century, when persecution of nonconformists was at its height.  It was under the protection of Philip, Lord Wharton of Kirkby Stephen, some ten miles away in today's Cumbria.  The chapel in neighbouring Low Row, for example, dates from 1689 when he donated land on his estate at Smarber for a chapel building, the ruins of which can still be seen on the hillside above the village.

Keld Chapel proudly stands in this tradition.