The Bishop Monkton Local History Group was formed in 2018 with a core purpose of researching and displaying all aspects of the village and parish, including items of interest outside the area, but which directly interface with the village community. 

Research includes people, buildings, transport, infrastructure, retailing and farming, plus a variety of events both in the village and on a regional or national level.

Display is in the form of a website, Bishop Monkton Yesterday- please click here-together with talks about, and visits to, interesting locations and topics, many with links to the village.

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Programme for 2026

Thursday February 5th, Methodist Chapel 7 p.m. - "A Place in History" by Colin Philpott  Find out what happens to places across Britain touched by news events after the cameras move on and how being in the news affects places involved in momentous events.

Tuesday March 31st, Methodist Chapel Room at 7 p.m .-"History of the Royal Hunting Forest, Knaresborough". A talk by Kathy Allday. Discover the varied lives of the inhabitants of the Royal Forest over the centuries, including the flora and fauna. An exhibition will be running concurrently at the Knaresborough Heritage Centre.

Wednesday, May 20th, Village Hall 7 p.m. - "Battle of Marston Moor" by Dave Cooke. Military historian, Dave Cooke, explains why the battle of Marston Moor - one of the most important battles ever fought on British soil, just a few miles from the village – changed the course of the English Civil War.

Friday, July 3rd,  Allerton Castle 12.30 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.  Private guided tour of Allerton Castle starting with tea and cake, including a history of the estate and followed by a guided tour of the main rooms plus walk in the gardens. Cost £15.50 per person.

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Past Meetings

For a report on the September 2025 meeting -"Nidderdale, A Glistening Dale", please click here

For a report on the October 2025 meeting - "Heritage Plaques", please click here

For a report on the November 2025 meeting - "No Rest For The Wicked", please click here

For a report on the December 2025 meeting - "Love & Chocolate", please click here

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There are many pictures of the village of yesteryear to be found on the Group's website.

Village History Board- the story of the history of the village, situated at the playing fields. To read the article, please click here.

Best Years Of Our Lives - the Groups most recent project, completed in 2025, to capture the history of the village school and other education in the village and which includes a film and book. Please click here for more details

Some of the Group's earlier Projects include -

Seven Pubs in the Village (Parish) - a video and images/records of these hostelries.

The Archbishop's Palace - examination of records, a LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Survey and presentation by 'experts'.

National and Local Events Celebrations, including videos, of those held in the village.

Press Reports through the Ages covering the village and its activities.

Interesting Buildings in the village and their history.

Village Characters over the years.

Images of Isolation- a major exhibition centred around the pandemic of 2020 showing how a changed life was handled featuring a full collection of images and records of what life was like during Covid and its resultant periods of lockdown. 

In depth details, films & videos of all these projects can be found on the History Group's excellent and informative website.

To contact the Secretary by email please click here. A membership form can be found at the bottom of this page.