Swaledale Museum

Swaledale Museum is located in Reeth and displays artifacts and documents from life and work across the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale regions of Yorkshire Dales. The exhibition includes mining tools, historical photographs, traditional textiles, and other objects that represent the heritage of this valley area.

The museum occupies a Methodist school room built in 1836 that served as troop accommodation during World War II. It became a museum in 1974 after the building had fulfilled other purposes for many decades.

The collection displays craftsmanship and personal items that reflect everyday life in this rural region. Visitors can hear recorded voices of longtime residents sharing stories about their own experiences in Swaledale, bringing the past to life in a more personal way.

The location is easy to reach on foot from Reeth town center and offers a relaxed pace for exploring. It helps to allow enough time to fully enjoy both the exhibition and the interactive elements at your own speed.

Visitors can examine an original lead fire insurance mark from 1619 and operate a preserved Sunday school harmonium. These two objects offer surprising opportunities to directly interact with artifacts from quite different time periods.

Location: Reeth, Fremington and Healaugh

Inception: 1974

Address: The Green, Reeth, North Yorkshire, DL11 6TX

Website: http://swaledalemuseum.org

GPS coordinates: 54.38880,-1.94074

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:42