Clapham

Clapham is a village either side of Clapham Beck. Its church dates back to 1160, although most of the building is not as old as that.

Ingleborough Hall is the largest house in the village, and it was once the home of the Farrer family who are the biggest landowners in the area.

Perhaps the most famous of the Farrers was botanist and plant-collector Reginald. Today the best-known (part-time) Clapham resident is playwright Alan Bennett.

Clapham has a nature trail that leads to Ingleborough Cave. Keep climbing from there and you reach Gaping Gill and then the top of Ingleborough.

Clapham: History

Clapham is a small place with an interesting history.

Clapham Church

Clapham's church is dedicated to St James.

The first documentary record of its existence is from 1160, but it was burned down during a Scottish raid in the early 1300s.

The church's tower probably dates from the 1300s, but the rest of the building is from the 1800s.

Ingleborough Hall, the Ingleborough Estate and the Farrer Family

Ingleborough Hall is the largest house in Clapham.

It was built by the Farrer family.

They may be descended from Walkland de Ferrière, who came over to England with William the Conqueror. Ferrière means 'maker of horseshoes'.

The Farrers became lawyers as well as country landowners. They worked at Farrer & Co, lawyers in London, and bought up a lot of houses in Clapham as well as the farms and estates around the village.

Clapham turned into an estate village, where nearly all the residents were tenants of the Farrers, and many of them worked on the Ingleborough Estate.

The Farrers sold Ingleborough Hall soon after World War II. It was bought by West Riding County Council, and was later run by Bradford Metropolitan District Council as an Outdoor Education Centre. In 2025, Bradford MDC sold it to a new owner.

The Farrers still have a number of houses in Clapham, as well as around 10,000 acres including farms and a grouse shooting moor.

Reginald Farrer

The most eminent of the Farrers was Reginald (1880-1920), who was a botanist and plant collector. He went on trips to Asia and sent plants back to England.

Reginald wrote books on gardening, including My Rock Garden.

He planted some species that he brought back from plant-hunting expeditions, including rhododendrons and bamboo, at Ingleborough Hall.

Clapham Today

Clapham is a pretty small village, but it seems to be thriving, with plenty of business at Clapham Village Store.

As well as locals, there are visitors who come for pub and cafés, and to enjoy outdoor activities including walking Clapham Nature Trail and climbing Ingleborough.

Pub and Cafés in Clapham

The pub in Clapham is called the New Inn.

Cafés include the Old Sawmill and the Old Manor House.

Activities and Attractions around Clapham

There's a small fee to walk Clapham Nature Trail, and 10 things to look out for while you're on it.

The Nature Trail leads to Ingleborough Cave (a showcave with an entrance fee).

Keep walking up through Trow Gill, and you reach Gaping Gill where Fell Beck disappears underground.

Further up again is the top of Ingleborough.

Clapham Culture

Alan Bennett has a holiday home in Clapham.

This BBC programme about Alan Bennett's diaries includes some footage from Clapham.