Romanby is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Romanby is situated south-west of and contiguous with Northallerton, and at the 2001 UK census had a population of 6,051, increasing to 6,177 at the 2011 Census.

History

The name Romanby suggests that the village dates from Roman times, but derives from the Viking name Hromund. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book as belonging to King William. Romanby chapel, which dated from the 13th century, was demolished in 1523 on the orders of the Bishop of Durham, Thomas Wolsey. Its destruction was ordered because the vicar of Northallerton at the time, had questioned the bishop's authority. St James' Church was built in 1882. It is a grade II listed structure. Romanby Methodist Church dates from 1962.

Geography

Before the railway was built, Romanby was separated from Northallerton by a 0.5 mi strip of pasture land, but since the railway opened, the spread of each settlement means that that the two are contiguous. The Wensleydale Railway passes over a bridge on the outskirts of Romanby village on its way to Redmire from Northallerton West railway station. A grade II listed packhorse bridge straddles the Willow Beck. Water from the beck powered a water-mill in the village, which was last listed in 1663. The beck flows southwards and enters the River Wiske before the A684 road. The River Wiske formed the western boundary of the old Allertonshire Wapentake.

Governance

North Yorkshire County Council has its headquarters at County Hall in Romanby, on the site of a former a racecourse. It was designed by the York architect Walter Brierley for North Riding County Council. The main building constructed in 1904–14 is of two storeys of ashlar and red brick on a square courtyard plan, it has a 15-bay frontage and 23-bay returns. It is a grade II* listed building. Romanby electoral ward does not cover all the parish and had a total population at the 2011 Census of 3,946.

Amenities

The village has several shops, a post office, a dentist, a hairdressers and a public house, the Golden Lion. Romanby is served by Romanby Primary School. The local secondary school and sixth form is Northallerton School. Romanby Golf Course on the village outskirts has an 18-hole course, floodlit driving range and a clubhouse. Northallerton Town Football Club is located in Romanby.

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