WEST WITTON FEAST
NEWS UPDATE 12/6/20: Sadly, due to guidelines in place for public events, it is with regret that we have decided to cancel the following 2020 events :
Fell Race
Burning of Bartle
Cottage Show
Sunday Funday
We hope to see many of you come back for West Witton Feast Weekend 2021. Stay safe.
Burning Bartle
The ancient ritual of Burning Bartle takes place every year in the village of West Witton near Leyburn, North Yorkshire.
At 9pm on the Saturday night nearest to the 24th August (St. Bartholomew's Day) a larger than life figure is paraded down the village main street accompanied by repeated chants of the Bartle doggerel.
When Bartle reaches 'his end' in Grassgill, he is set alight, accompanied by songs and cheers from the assembled masses.
The Doggerel
On Penhill Crags he tore his rags
Hunters Thorn he blew his horn
Cappelbank Stee happened a misfortune and brak' his knee
Grassgill Beck he brak' his neck
Wadhams End he couldn't fend
Grassgill End we'll mak' his end
Shout, lads, shout!
Fell Race
The West Witton Fell Race takes place on the Saturday evening of the night of Burning Bartle. The fell race start is 6pm with registration from 5pm in the pavilion on the playing fields. Start is on Kagram and the finish is on the playing field.
Bartle Mosaic Walk
Annually on the day of Burning Bartle. Meet outside the Fox and Hounds public house in West Witton at 11.00am for an approximate 2 hour walk along the lower slopes of Penhill to discover the mosaic trail telling the tale of Old Bartle. Suitable clothing for the day, dogs welcome with well behaved owners.