Pevsner states that Westerdale Hall was built as a shooting lodge for the Duncombe family before 1874 by Thomas Henry Wyatt, well before because the first edition OS map from 1857 shows it.
It became a Youth Hostel between1946-1992, heres a photo of my mum there in the early 1960s
The building is now in private ownership again.
Westerdale Hall
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I seem to think that when I was involved in the YHA, there was some kind of walk or trail between the three ‘W’ hostels in our area, namely Whithby, Westerdale and Wheeldale(?).
My sister and I stayed at these three hostels with our parents in approx 1969-70. I still have the YHA badges for Westerdale and Wheeldale. Not sure why i dont have one for Whitby. Perhaps one wasn’t available.
I stayed here as the only visitor in 1980/81 very cold
Re Mrs Allen comment:
Welcome to Youth Hosteling Mrs Allen.
Me and my friends of the time stayed regularly at Westerdale during 1957 / 58 / 59 / 60 when if we were lucky the temperature was just above freezing during the middle of summer !!
Dormitory No 9 ( men’s dorm with the occasional female for warmth if there was a shortage of blankets ) had a small pane of glass missing from the window, never replaced.
We loved every visit.
My childhood freedom was found here in the early to mid 1970s. Regular YHA escapes with friends when I was aged 11 to 15yrs was spent cycling to and staying at the magical Westerdale Hall.
It was a childs adventure, a place of escape through beautiful, breathtaking countryside in winter or summer during holidays and stolen weekends. I loved Westerdale Hall and I left a piece of my heart there. Sadly since it has become a private residence I have been unable to go back to try and find it.
Neil Hamilton Middlesbrough
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This was my mum’s (Gwynneth Jones) haunt in the late 50’s/early 1960s, folk music played and sung and lots of walking. She passed away this week and I’ve dug out the old westerdale photos – would love to share here if there is a way…?
I had a memorable stay at Westerdale during the mid/late 70’s. The sight of the ‘single gentleman’ walker’s ‘jock-strap’ hanging from the upper bunk will always stay with me! As a teenager, I couldn’t begin to imagine the necessity of such an item to aid moorside hiking! Still can’t!
We stayed here in the 70s, as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award. I have never been so cold in my life! One of the girls woke us up in the morning, screaming that a man, wearing a long robe, had walked through the wall opposite her bunk. It took the rest of the night to calm her down. In the morning, we were told there had been a door in that wall many years before, and it had been blocked up.
I joined the YHA Adventure Holiday at Westerdale in 1975? Spent a week walking on the NY Moors led by a very knowledgeable guide.. Being a solo meant that I could meet other like minded people and not have to get a map out for a great walking experience.. We visited Wheeldale, Whitby, Boggle Hole and Scarborough YH’s.
My recollection of Westerdale was digging potatoes for the evening meal. At least it got my chore out of the way.