The World of James Herriot in Thirsk set for a bright future as visitor attraction is given 30-year lease

The World of James Herriot occupies author and vet Alf Wight's former home and surgery, Skeldale House on Kirkgate in Thirsk, and was run as a visitor attraction by Hambleton Council until they handed it over to a private company in 2012.

The council had bought the building after Wight's death in 1995, and restored both the 1940s living quarters and the practice.

In the past eight years, the new owners have developed the museum further and are now hoping for a tourism boost thanks to the success of the recent Channel Five adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small, which is based on Wight's James Herriot books.

Hambleton Council still owns the building and will now offer the lease to the operators with a 'peppercorn' rent until 2050.

Managing director Ian Ashton said the turnaround in the attraction's fortunes since 2012 had been 'remarkable'.

The museum now includes the Austin car James Herriot drove, part of the set where the original BBC series was shot, and a World War Two air raid shelter.

"When you think what has been developed since we took over in 2012, when the whole thing was falling apart, we've now got a very successful TV series, and Channel Five's The Yorkshire Vet has been a tremendous boon for us. Yorkshire is now doing extremely well on television and will continue to do so. The future is bright."

Mr Ashton said while the attraction had been shut down due to the pandemic, it had been fortunate to receive some government funding, so the venture had not suffered as much as some others in the county's tourism sector.

"We rely on people coming in from all over the world, which account for about 30 per cent of our visitors, but due to the new All Creatures Great And Small series and The Yorkshire Vet, it's likely the number of UK visitors will increase in the next few years. We probably won't be so reliant on the import market as we have been in the past."

Ahead of Hambleton Council's cabinet considering a proposal to extend the firm's lease on the Kirkgate attraction until 2050, Mr Ashton said the authority could not have been more supportive.

A report to the cabinet which recommends offering Mr Ashton's firm the lease at below market value, describes the attraction as "a museum of international attraction, contributing significantly to the local economy".

Mr Ashton said the extension of the lease at The World of James Herriot would strengthen the attraction's ability to raise external grants and funds during uncertain times against the security of the premises for the continued investment, preservation and development of the museum over future years.

"This will secure the future for the World of James Herriot. I see a long-term future for it. It gives security, which is a great thing for the staff.

"At the end of the day we are a very important player for Yorkshire and in particular Thirsk and the surrounding area. Now that we have built up the name and the company again we need the security of a lease until 2050. I'm delighted, because when you're running a business like this you need the security for the business itself and the people who are in it."