It’s been a long time in the making but Bishop Monkton has now joined the list of places proudly displaying key facts about its history on a special village noticeboard.

The idea was first suggested by the village Local History Group more than five years ago. The Group was inspired by seeing history boards in other neighbouring places including Roecliffe. It undertook research and gathered the material together for a design which was drawn up by a York-based company, Redbonsai.

The project has taken a long time to come to fruition partly because of the pandemic but also because the search for funding ran into a few problems. However, in the end, the board has been funded by the Parish Council using so-called ‘commuted sums' – money provided by Kebbell Homes as a condition of the planning permission for the Harvest View development.

The board is situated next to the footpath close to the croquet lawns and the pétanque courts. It lists a number of key facts and dates in the village’s history, includes a number of archive pictures plus a list of suggested walks in and around Bishop Monkton.

Since the Board was installed nearly two weeks ago, (thanks to Mick Jackson and Paul Collinson for undertaking the installation) there have been many favourable comments about it from villagers who have said it makes them proud of living in Bishop Monkton.

Some people have questioned why the Board is at Harvest View rather than in the centre of the village. The explanation, according to the Local History Group, is to do with the source of funding. ‘Commuted sums’ money received by the Council must be spent in the proximity of the development for which it is given.

Also, eagle-eyed readers of the board have spotted that the desire to get as much information onto it as possible has led to paragraphs about the Methodist Chapel and the School to be run together. Some people have suggested that this section, even though it is accurate, might give the impression that the chapel schoolroom is no more which, of course, is not the case. In fact, it has just undergone a major refurbishment and is very much alive and kicking and available for bookings.

For more information about the Bishop Monkton Local History Group, please click here

For details on how to book the Methodist Schoolroom, please contact Chapel Steward, Angie Archbold, Tel 01765 677834 or email, click here.