Buildings

The National Park is a special place and part of what makes it special are the buildings, churches and farmsteads that form an intrinsic part of the landscape and which help tell the story of how people in the past have shaped the landscape we know today.

The North York Moors has a wealth of historic buildings with over 3000 listed as being of special architectural or historic interest. These can range from unassuming structures such as road milestones to buildings such as Rievaulx Abbey and Mulgrave Castle which show how important people lived and managed the land in the past.

The National Park Authority can help ensure these historic structures and buildings are conserved for future generations to enjoy. We can do this by offering advice to owners, helping repairs through grant aid and by helping visitors and residents appreciate the importance of historic buildings.

Villages are also an important asset in the National Park as a focus for local communities and as centres where visitors can find facilities and services. The National Park Authority aims to maintain the distinctive character of local villages through its planning decisions and to try and enhance these through environmental improvement schemes and grant aid for community projects.

The special character of the Park’s villages has led to 41 of them being designated as Conservation Areas where the National Park Authority has a special duty to enhance and conserve their character.