Osmotherley, North Yorkshire

Osmotherley is an English village and civil parish, situated in the Hambleton hills in North Yorkshire. The village is the western edge of the North York Moors National Park. Osmotherley is on the route of the 110 mile Cleveland Way National Trail. Origin of nameIt is likely that Osmotherley means the clearing or 'ley', belonging to a Viking called 'Asmund' or a Saxon called 'Osmund'. There have been a number spellings of the Osmotherley over the centuries: the name appeared in the Domesday Book as Asmundrelac; it has also been known as Osmundeslay and Osmonderlay. However, fanciful local legend says that Osmotherley was named after the mother of a villager named Oswald or Osmund, who supposedly went out to gather firewood in the winter. When she did not return her son became anxious and went out to look for her. He found her lying in the snow, dead or dying from the cold. Because he was not able to carry her back, he lay down beside her and died himself. It is where Oswald's mother lies, hence Osmotherley. GovernanceAn electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward stretches both north and south from the village with a total population taken at the 2011 census of 1, 764. AmenitiesThe village school was founded 1857, the present building dates from 1878. The school is now known as Osmotherley Primary School. It is located on School Lane and has 49 pupils.

Osmotherley is an English village and civil parish, situated in the Hambleton hills in North Yorkshire. The village is the western edge of the North York Moors National Park. Osmotherley is on the route of the 110 mile Cleveland Way National Trail. Origin of nameIt is likely that Osmotherley means the clearing or 'ley', belonging to a Viking called 'Asmund' or a Saxon called 'Osmund'. There have been a number spellings of the Osmotherley over the centuries: the name appeared in the Domesday Book as Asmundrelac; it has also been known as Osmundeslay and Osmonderlay. However, fanciful local legend says that Osmotherley was named after the mother of a villager named Oswald or Osmund, who supposedly went out to gather firewood in the winter. When she did not return her son became anxious and went out to look for her. He found her lying in the snow, dead or dying from the cold. Because he was not able to carry her back, he lay down beside her and died himself. It is where Oswald's mother lies, hence Osmotherley. GovernanceAn electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward stretches both north and south from the village with a total population taken at the 2011 census of 1, 764. AmenitiesThe village school was founded 1857, the present building dates from 1878. The school is now known as Osmotherley Primary School. It is located on School Lane and has 49 pupils.