West Ayton

West Ayton
Low Mill weir on the River Derwent
West Ayton is located in North Yorkshire
West Ayton
West Ayton
Location within North Yorkshire
Population881 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSE986847
Civil parish
  • West Ayton
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSCARBOROUGH
Postcode districtYO13
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
54°14′49″N 0°29′13″W / 54.247°N 0.487°W / 54.247; -0.487
The 14th century Ayton Castle, between East Ayton and West Ayton

West Ayton is a village and civil parish in the former Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England. Located upon the west bank of the River Derwent adjacent to East Ayton.

According to the 2011 UK census, West Ayton parish had a population of 881,[1] an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 831.[2]

The ruins of Ayton castle can be found to the east of the village. The tower dates back to 1390 and was built by Ralph Eure. During the 1670s, stone from the castle was used to rebuild the bridge over the River Derwent.[3]

Just south of the village is the Wykeham Lakes park. This is a fishery and water-sports complex run by the Downe family's Dawnay Estates programme. The lakes are built on the site of a former First World War Royal Flying Corps airfield (known as West Ayton) that was used by No. 251 Squadron. The airfield was abandoned after 1919.[4][5][6][7]

  1. ^ a b UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – West Ayton Parish (1170217368)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  2. ^ "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: West Ayton CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  3. ^ Salter, Mike (2001). The Castles and Tower Houses of Yorkshire.
  4. ^ Murray, Kieron (4 July 2017). "Scarborough's own 'Total Wipeout' course set to open". The Scarborough News. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  5. ^ "The Wykeham and Danby Estates". wykehamlakes.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  6. ^ "West Ayton - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK". www.abct.org.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  7. ^ Philpott, Ian M. (2005). The Royal Air Force : an encyclopedia of the inter-war years. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation. p. 246. ISBN 1-84415-154-9.