Hunmanby: Vibrant village by the coast

Just south of Scarborough, but north of Bridlington, on the Yorkshire Wolds and looking out to sea is the charming and vibrant village of Hunmanby.

The name actually means Farmstead of the Houndsmen, and was the preferred residence of many knights of the area in times gone by.

You can find their names and their coats of arms in the church of All Saints, which itself is worthy of a visit having boxed pews, a fine ceiling and many interesting features.

Outside in the churchyard are the headstones of its many worshippers, mostly with good Yorkshire names such as Swales and Craven.

Next to this is the Spring Café which used to be a school then a church hall and is still sometimes used as such but for the past 10 years has been a café.

Just close to the church is the Georgian Rectory a huge splendid house with lovely features.

It is now a very posh hotel and beautifully maintained.

The buildings in this quite large village vary between magnificent to modern smart and include delightful chalk and flint houses and many old brick dwellings.

I noticed some of these did not comply with the general rule of walls needing to be straight. The lock up and pinfold where stray animals were kept until their owner’s claimed them, are an unusual feature. The lock up has two very plain, but obviously efficient, cells.

The parish council had the sense to buy the old school in years gone by and it is now an invaluable and very versatile facility for the whole community. Unfortunately, they were unable to buy the rather more modern library building which closed last year and it has been purchased by a businessman, but still looks rather derelict.

The fate of the large and rather fine coaching inn, the White Swan, is currently being discussed. Many villagers are striving to save it as an asset to the village and to be a community-run establishment. They are trying to raise funds to stop it being divided into nine dwellings.

The whole village is a living establishment with shops and facilities that have everything you need if not everything you want.

There is an excellent bus service and Hunmanby has its own railway station making it very easy to access. Parking is not really a problem either; there are plenty of spaces on the roads.

The whole village seems to be kept spotlessly clean. In my tour round I did not find any rubbish or litter.

There is pride too. Some of the gardens are a delight and adorn every street. Its proximity to the coast and the ease of public transport mean that this is an ideal holiday destination.

Having spoken with many of the residents, I am aware that it is also a great retirement destination, but for those with a lot of energy and ability.

I rather got the impression that those who move there never want to leave!

Everywhere I went, I was met by smiles and welcomes even though I was a stranger.

There is a history staring you in the face every way you turn, and there is much to see and do here.

The community is striving to keep it this way and appear to be succeeding.

There is a heritage trail and a splendid map at Cross Hill next to a fine display of flowers in an enormous planter made by local folk to adorn their village.

The vibrant village began its life long before the Domesday Book recorded it.

I consider it to be a jewel in the crown of the East Coast of Yorkshire and the Wolds.

In Hunmanby, there are lovely people living in a lovely place.

Famed for award-winning brewery

HUNMANBY is famed as being the home of Wold Top Brewery, run by husband and wife Tom and Gill Mellor.

Set up around a decade ago, the micro-brewery has garnered numerous plaudits, most recently being named winner of the SIBA national Best Green Business Award and shortlisted in the ‘Tomorrow’s Brand’ and ‘Innovation’ categories of the Red Ribbon Awards.

They are the only national awards recognising family-run companies of all sizes and across all sectors, and the Chairman of East Yorkshire’s Business Award for Businesses with Under 50 Employees.