Stokesley may occupy a position almost nudging the county boundary, but the town has unmistakable North Yorkshire DNA, from a market dating to the medieval era to parish church woodwork by the legendary ‘Mouseman', Robert Thompson.
The community is unquestionably small, numbering just a few thousand, but its headcount is no reflection on its personality and, as a town, Stokesley has a presence which outstrips its physical size.
That means it supports not only a regular farmers’ market, an asset which continued to operate throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns it generated, but also an annual agricultural show and a town centre fair.
And although Stokesley may be small, the show isn’t and is claimed to be one of the largest one-day events in the North of England.
It was first held in 1859 and exists due to the determination of members of the Stokesley Agricultural Society.
Their efforts are a credit to the town, but their outlook is nothing new. Stokesley was granted a charter to hold fairs in the 13th century and that bequest helped to seal its fate for the next 800 years.
Over the centuries, the architecture of a classic North Yorkshire market town emerged and would remain familiar and recognisable today, should it be seen by those from long-gone generations.
But time has not stood still in Stokesley. The shops which populate the town centre feature many independent traders catering for 21st century tastes and the community stands on its own feet, with organisations like Stokesley and District Community Care Association providing a myriad of services in the town and surrounding communities.
That is another example of how the ethos of North Yorkshire thrives in the town, with residents showing the kindness and consideration for others which is repeated many times over in all corners of the county.
