31/03/2026
Some local factoids on a Tuesday!
It’s beginning to look a lot like spring here - we’ve a few weekends and a couple of summer holiday weekends available.
If you fancying soaking up the charm of the Dales get in touch xx
Ingleton is a curious little village, but did you know about its Sherlock Holmes connections too? It's easy to drive right by without discovering some of its special features such as Ingleton Pottery, the delights of Ingleton Outdoor Swimming Pool (heated!). It's also close to the famous Ribblehead viaduct, Ingleborough Cave and White Scar Cave
I was in Ingleton when Martyn Sutton told me about his research into writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyles' and his possible connections to the area. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's mother, Mary Doyle lived at Masongill Cottage near Ingleton for about 30 years. When Conan Doyle visited her it's likely he'd have travelled by train to Ingleton and then onwards through Holme Head to Masongill.
One of Conan Doyle's early stories was called Uncle Jeremy's Household, and published in the same year he married. The main character was from Baker Street in London and in the story he comes to Ingleton by train to meet his friend, a chemist.
There's a stained glass window in the tower of St. Mary's Church, Ingleton which is dedicated to a man called Randal Hopley Sherlock who was killed by lightning at the railway station. His brother was once the local vicar, taking services in Ingleton and possibly Masongill. Was this the inspiration for Conan Doyle's famous character's name?
Conan Doyle married his first wife, Louisa at St. Oswold's in Thornton in Lonsdale between Ingleton and Masongill, where the Reverend Sherlock also sometimes took services.
Martyn Sutton also believed that the origin of the Hound of the Baskerville's story was actually inspired by the mythical Barguest who lived in Troller's Gyhl by Skyreholme and who was supposedly a saucer-eyed, wolf-like creature. What do you think?
Many thanks to Stephen Knowles Photography and Harling House for the photo (Harling House is situated right on the edge of Ingleton close to the fascinating Lords Antiques & Courtyard, Auction House & Restaurant, so a great base for your explorations).
