Exhibitions

Hidden History of the Dales: Having been on tour over the last year, the Hidden History of the Dales Exhibition returns to the Dales Countryside Museum for Black History week.  Come along and discover, free of charge, the amazing story of the Yorke family whose ancestors were found in records in Swaledale and Jamaica!

At the end of October Hidden History of the Dales will be available for display at other venues. Together with our themed object and archive handling boxes, the exhibition is also available for use by schools.  This is an inspiring way to explore citizenship, Black history, diversity and the links between the Dales and Africa and the Caribbean.

Hidden History of the Dales: 2007 was the 200th anniversary of the Act abolishing the British trade in enslaved Africans.  In response to this, the Dales Countryside Museum and North Yorkshire County Records Office began to look at this long hidden part of our history, taking Black history in its widest context. We have researched many of the people and places of the Dales that have been connected with Africa and the Caribbean.

This year we are researching links between the Dales and the East - Asia, India and China.  We hope to find out about people who came to live in the area and to encourage people to think about the impact and influences that trade had upon the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding areas.

“Hidden History” is an on-going project to which we hope you will be able to contribute. We would love to hear from anyone who has information about their own family history that shows African or Asian ancestry or who has discovered archive material that helps to paint a picture of how and why the Dales is connected with the wider world.

If you have information you are happy to share, please contact the Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes on 01969 666210 or email dcm@yorkshiredales.org.uk