Beckwithshaw Parish

Haverah Park with Beckwithshaw Parish Council

"Beckwithshaw is the main village and includes the ancient settlement of Beckwith (Becvi) and Lund House Green, famous locally for its celebrated Squinting Cat pub.
Beckwithshaw village consists entirely of detached farms with a small cluster of houses at the Beckwithshaw toll-bar, at the junction of the Harrogate to Otley road and the Killinghall to North Rigton road.
Nearby John O’Gaunt’s castle is an ancient tower, probably built in the reign of Edward I. It was owned by Edmund de Thedmersh until 1349, but was nothing more than a forest lodge and a defence against freebooters or outlaws. The popular story is that Cromwell’s cannon battered it down.

Haverah Park and Moor Park Estate

Formally one of the Royal parks of the Forest of Knaresborough, this area was first mentioned in the Doomsday Survey of 1086. At that time it was owned by Gamelbar de Spofford, along with the Manor of Beckwith-with-Rossett. In true feudal style Gamelbar used the lands for breeding and grazing horses and cattle, and hunting, rather than developing it as arable. This agricultural trait has survived to the present day."
http://www.beckwithshawpc-gov.co.uk/Beckwithshaw.htm