Langcliffe shortlisted for The Dalesman ‘Yorkshire Village of the Year.’

Village visitors might think Langcliffe is dead: no school, no shop, no Post Office, no pub, no allotments. A beautiful Victorian village, it might be viewed as only ‘semi-conscious’.

Visit on any Sunday throughout the summer, though, when our Institute plays host to fundraising ‘Village Teas’ or on the day of the Village Show, Open Gardens, or any other ‘celebratory’ Day. Visit the Instute any day of the year and something will be buzzing; bowls, badminton, table tennis, Pilates, Country Dancing, ukulele playing (i.e. the ‘Langcliffe Strummers’), the members of the Thursday Club combatting isolation of the elderly. There might be rehearsals for a performance to celebrate a national event. Recent ones include a tribute to the Fallen (2018) and a celebration of Peace. (2019)

More ‘buzzing’ can be heard all around the village, as the Langcliffe bees collect nectar to take back to the hives in the Community Garden. The Langcliffe allotments were closed in 2014. In 2016 the community raised enough money to buy a piece of land. Although the old allotments could not be recreated. individual growing plots became available. Now (August 2019), there are established ‘community’ rhubarb and fruit trees (apple and plum), and garden plots for families and individuals. A wildflower strip is both beautiful and essential to the village bees.

Yorkshire Day sees a street party, which has taken place for twenty years. On Christmas Day there is community carol singing followed by Glühwein, mince pies and socialising at a nearby home.

If you call into the beautiful Church of St. John the Evangelist, in addition to the recently added Stained glass window that serves as a memorial to the Langcliffe Fallen, you are likely to catch a flower festival, a wedding exhibition, or an Angel Festival. Services are regular and well attended. The fundraisers instigate garden parties, carnivals, sales, book stall and Open Gardens.

The Parish Council is active and supportive, following up problems and suggestions put forward by parishioners, including recent work on the fountain and war memorial, and the improved upkeep of the Green. Village events are enthusiastically supported.

Website langcliffeparishcouncil.com

Langcliffe Show has just celebrated its 8^th year.  John Dawson, local farmer, who opened the Show, told the story of ‘a poor man who had nothing but money’ and added that the Langcliffe community is rich in many other ways. The richest ‘way’ is our shared love for Langcliffe.