Richmondshire Museum

Founded in 1974, the museum explores life in Richmondshire, North Yorkshire from the Stone Age right up to modern times. Housed in a former joiner's workshop, the unassuming exterior belies a labyrinthine interior packed with exhibits and displays.

Explore Richmond's past

Wander through reconstructed rooms like a traditional Dales post office and a charming grocer's shop, the very one where the founder of the renowned Fenwicks department store chain once worked. See the model of Richmond Railway Station in the Transport Gallery or immerse yourself in the rich history of lead mining, a defining industry in Swaledale until the late 19th century.

Cruck house

The museum houses a reconstructed 15th-century cruck house full of items from a bygone era. Thought to be the last surviving cruck-framed building in the region, when the house was threatened with demolition in the 1970s the museum had it carefully dismantled then reconstructed piece by piece.

The Herriot Set

Another reconstructed room contains the vet’s surgery from the BBC's adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small. The Herriot Set was officially opened by the author James Herriot in 1984.

An abundance of local knowledge

Beyond its captivating exhibits, the Richmondshire Museum serves as an important archaeological repository. Delve deeper into the region's past by contacting the museum for access to its extensive collection of artefacts.