The Society exists to preserve and promote the fascinating history of our Estate Village and its surrounding buildings, area, customs and countryside.  Coxwold, with its 1000+ years of recorded history, perpendicular-style Church with its unique tower, many listed buildings, close proximity to Byland Abbey and Newburgh Priory and its 18th century author Laurence Sterne, deserves no less.

In 2015 the Society was asked by the Village to revise the Coxwold Village Guide, which had been first printed in 1978.  The result was a 20-page commercially printed illustrated booklet which lays out all the principal historical attractions of the Village and includes a map with pointers to other amenities, including the Fauconberg Arms.  The Guide is available in the Church and at the pub, and also from the Secretary of the Local History Society, price £2.

The principal objectives of the Society are:

• To record as much local history as possible by interviewing long-time residents, ensuring that family records, photographs and memories are conserved for future generations.
• To establish and maintain the village archive with the intention of creating a database accessible through the website.
• To organise an on-going series of talks and guided tours in the village and surrounding countryside.
• To research and publish booklets/pamphlets on various aspects of Coxwold and village life.  The new edition of the Coxwold Booklet is a recent example of this.
• To include and research 20th century as well as earlier history.
• To research and exhibit the history of Coxwold’s many listed buildings, people, trades and social development.

The Society meets on a Wednesday evening every two months with special event meetings held as occasion demands.  There is no membership fee.  To join, just come along to a meeting or event, or contact John Robinson (Secretary) on 01347 868122 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Recent public events have included a talk on Byland Abbey, the launch of the new Coxwold Booklet, and a Joint History Exhibition with Husthwaite Local History Society.

Have you ever wondered how York became ‘Chocolate City’? Do you know your Rowntree’s from your Terry’s? Come along to this event from the Coxwold History society to learn about the eccentric and inspiring founders of York’s tastiest industry. You will be transported back in time to the golden age of chocolate making, and hear some of the real tales of the factory floor workers.

Alex Hutchinson spent over a decade at the Nestlé chocolate factory in York as their Archivist and Historian; she regularly appears on television and radio, and her latest book ’The Quality Street Girls’ was a hit in hardback under her pen name Penny Thorpe, and the sequel is due to hit the shops in March.

Tickets just £7.50 to include refereshments, wine and maybe one or two other surprises!  Please contact John Robinson, CLHS Secretary on 01347 868 122 for details.

NEXT MEETING

October 16th 2019 Talk: "York, City of Chocolate!"

COXWOLD VILLAGE ARCHIVES

Coxwold Local History Society archives have recently been categorised into the following sections and may be accessed through the Society chairperson, secretary or other member.  The Archives include photographs, maps, documents, books, magazines and newspapers, videos and DVDs.  The full list of categories which may be searched can be found on the Archives page.