Gunnerside

The name of the village derives from an Old Norse personal name Gunnar and sætr meaning hill or pasture.^[3][4]

Gunnerside Ghyll (or Gunnerside Gill), a smaller valley running northwards, at right angles to the Swale valley (Swaledale), was the site of a major lead mining industry in Swaledale from the 17th century^[5] to the late 19th century.^[6] The beck that runs through the narrow valley, also called Gunnerside Gill, or Gunnerside Beck, rises between Rogan's Seat and Water Crag,^[7] and runs for 5 miles (8 km) emptying into the River Swale at the site of Gunnerside New Bridge.^[8] The bridge carries the B6270 over the River Swale south of the village; it was rebuilt several times during the 19th century due to flooding.^[9] The current structure dates from around 1892 and is now grade II listed.^[10]

The area attracts many ramblers who use the foot tracks for exploring the area. Some decide to visit The Old Working Smithy & Museum, established in 1795, for a modest admission fee.^[11][12] The site contains historic items.

Gunnerside is served by the Gunnerside Methodist Chapel, a part-time post office, a weekly market, a restaurant and some shops selling food items.^[13] The chapel was founded in 1789, but rebuilt in 1866.^[14] The structure is now grade II listed.^[15] A private building to the north of the crossroads in the village was the site of a medieval corn mill, and in the early 20th century, a bus garage.^[16] At the foot of Gunnerside Ghyll is the King's Head public house.

The village primary school is one of two sites of the Reeth and Gunnerside Schools.^[17] At the last Ofsted inspection in 2023, the primary school was rated as "Good".^[18]

Local employment centres on tourism,^[19] clockmaking, hill farming, gamekeeping and construction, the latter concerned chiefly with the maintenance of traditional stone-built field walls, houses and field barns. The latter, also known as laithes, are typically referred to as "cow'uses" or cow houses in Swaledale.^[20]

From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the district of Richmondshire. It is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.

• John Close, poet, was born in the village in 1816^[21]

• 
  Stone barns in the meadows near Gunnerside New Bridge
• 
  Methodist Chapel
• 
  Approaching Gunnerside

• Listed buildings in Melbecks
• Operation Gunnerside, which may have got its name because the participants trained on a moor near to Gunnerside owned by Charles Hambro.^[22]