TMC/Bachmann - Birch Hall Inn
Back in the 1600s there was a tiny rough dwelling beside the ford at Beck Hole. It was probably turf-roofed and built from timber and local clay. Over time it was rebuilt in stone and became the two whitewashed cottages. Sheltered by the deep valley and facing south-west to catch the sun, it was a peaceful remote place to live. That is until in 1793 the valley was surveyed for a canal to link Pickering and Whitby. The canal was never built, but the route became instead Yorkshire's first railway. Stephenson's railway line, completed in 1836, was horse-drawn, with a rope hauled section to negotiate the steep incline from Beck Hole to Goathland. In 1845 the line was re-engineered to allow the use of steam trains and a steam powered winch replaced the water balance used to haul rolling stock up the incline.
After a series of accidents a new route, bypassing Beck Hole and this was opened in 1865 but closed by Beeching in 1965. It reopening as the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in 1973. The old route today provides a lovely peaceful walk through the valley.
The railway brought great change to the Hamlet of Beck Hole. As well as the influx of railway workers and their families there was a new wave of visitors, hitherto deterred by poor roads and steep gradients. They were now able to enjoy easy access to the area's spectacular scenery. Improved transport encouraged local industry and in 1857, when ironstone was found in the surrounding hillsides, several mines were opened, two furnaces were built and Beck Hole became a very busy place. So much so that a second Inn was needed. An extension was added to the existing cottages which in 1860 became the Birch Hall Inn. At first it was licensed only to sell ale, cider, porter and perry; it did not sell spirits until 1965. The front room of one cottage became the "tap room" and the new part was a general store with tenements above for staff or as rented rooms. When the other Inn closed in 1940 the Birch Hall Inn flourished and became just as popular with holiday makers, cyclists and walkers as it is today
. The Bachmann Scenecraft 00 scale TMC Exclusive model (44-043Z) is priced £34-50 (+ p&p) and is available from TMC-Direct, 'Hill Farm', Beck Hole YO22 5LF - Tel: 01947 896040 (Monday -Friday 10:00 - 18:00) - Online: www.themodelcentre.co.uk.Model Railway Express
Run by model railway enthusiasts, Modelfair is an online shop specialising in new, pre-owned and collectable model railways. http://www.modelfair.com for friendly and reliable service.
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