09/06/2025
What does Channel 4 on TV 📺 this week; something tasty yet named rather “peculier”, a place pronounced Mass ham , and my former school friend Simon Theakston have in common? Thanks to Yorkshire Treasures all is revealed below ⬇️
A favourite beer (old Peculier), lazy Archbishop, teacakes, spells with skulls and a name many mispronounce: where?
The place is Masham, and the story goes back a long way. You'll have to wait for the beer and teacakes part of the story...Once upon a time, land in lower Wensleydale was owned by Roger de Mowbray. He fought in the Crusades, was captured and held to ransom, until freed by the Knights Templar. Roger de Mowbray donated the living of St Mary's Church Masham to the Church of St.Peter in York - York Minster. Thanks to the trade in wool and sheep at that time the church would have been wealthy. But the Archbishop wasn't keen on travelling to the 'willderness ' of Wensleydale...
So the Archbishop established the Peculier Court of Masham, giving it the right to deal with certain offences that would otherwise be dealt with in York.These offences ranged from not going to church enough and 'carrying a dead man's skull out of the churchyard and laying it under the head of a person to charm them to sleep...' This meant that Masham became a 'peculier' a self-governing district.
Locals are quick to correct anyone who pronounces it 'mash'em' instead of Massam (named after the farmstead or 'ham' belonging to Saxon chieftain 'Massa').
Theakston Brewery keeps the name of the Peculier Court alive, with its Old Peculier beer. Look for the large replica of the seal at the back of the brewery building and on the bottles.
If you watch the Channel4 programme starting tonight (Sunday) at 8pm called 'Our Yorkshire Shop' you'll discover the significance of the teacakes... The programme follows the story of a committed group of volunteers restoring Peacock & Verity Community Spaces
The work on Peacock and Verity is ongoing but there's plenty more to enjoy when you Visit Masham. I've written a short guide packed with insider tips which you can download on https://www.yorkshiretreasures.co.uk/masham
Photo by Ian Whittaker. When we see Masham from the hill above, especially on a misty day, we often comment that it looks just like an Ian Scott Massie- Artist painting. Look at his work in Masham Gallery and you'll see what I mean!
Visit North Yorkshire
