Bellerby

Bellerby is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, about 7 miles (11 km) south-west of Richmond. The village has one pub, the Cross Keys, a small and historic Anglican church and a Methodist chapel. It is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the market town of Leyburn. Bellerby is approximately 250 miles (400 km) north of London. Bellerby is situated 673 feet (205 m) above sea level and is surrounded by low-lying hills with an open south-easterly aspect. Moorland is located to the North and the West of the village. Becks are an attractive feature of the village, which boasts many. The residents of Bellerby are also proud of their large population of ducks who thrive in the becks and in the suitable gardens of many friendly residents. The closest big town is Leyburn.

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

Between 1870 and 1872 Bellerby was described as

According to the 2011 census Bellerby had a population of 364 people. This is an increase of the noted population 130 years earlier in 1881 at 311 people residing within Bellerby. The population of the village decreased to 266 in 1901, proceeding to stay low until 1931 when the population peaked at 370 people. The population then decreased to 318 in 1961 and appears to have remained constant ever since. The population of Bellerby could have decreased in the early 1900s due to a large proportion of people migrating from the UK (and from all over Europe) to America seeking job opportunities and to experience the ever-expanding American cities such as New York. Another reason for the decrease of the village population could be Urbanisation. Because urbanisation offers many job opportunities and the prospect of a better and more fulfilled life within the city many villagers and people who had formerly lived in rural areas of the UK migrated to the bigger cities.

Bellerby is mentioned in the Domesday Book. In the book Bellerby was known as "Belgebi" which derives from Old Norse meaning Berg's farmstead or clearing. The book describes Bellerby as being medium by having a population of 15 households, and the total tax assesd as large (6 geld units). The households are broken down into 13 villagers and 2 smallholders. Bellerby's Value to the Lord in 1066 is noted as £1.6 and its Value to lord in 1086 remains the same. Bellerby had 6 ploughlands (ploughs possible), 1 lord's plough team, 4 men's plough teams and an 8-acre meadow. The Lord in 1066 was Thor. The Lord in 1086 was Enisant Musard. The Tenant-in-chief in 1086 was Count Alan of Brittany. Phillimore reference: 6N104

According to the 2011 census which shows the age structure of the people who live in Bellerby we can assume that this village is affluent and gentrified. As you can see on the graph to the right 24.9% of the people living in Bellerby are aged 45 – 59 and 14.8% aged 65 – 74.< 95.1% of the people living in Bellerby in 2011 were born in England (the remaining people being from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and other EU countries) which suggests that the people living in Bellerby have no cultural affluence and are traditionally British.

The diagram shows the age structure of Bellerby during 2011.

In 2011, Bellerby had a count of 193 dwellings within its boundaries. 100% of these dwellings were recorded as unshared. 88 of these dwellings were detached household spaces, 63 semi-detached and 41 terraced with no purpose built flats or apartments. 1 of these dwellings was recorded as a flat, maisonette or apartment as part of a converted or shared house. This suggests that the residents of Bellerby are middle to upper class as many of the households are detached with no apartment blocks in the area.