The Black Swan at Oldstead
The Black Swan, run by the Banks family, is set amidst the stunning scenery of the North York…
Our View
Even without the mouse motif, you can recognise Robert Thompson’s work by the heavy designs, the dark tones of the oak wood and the rippled effect left by the adze – a heavy hand tool with an arched cutting blade set at a right-angle to the handle. This is furniture made to last not just a lifetime, but many lifetimes. As the business quickly expanded, Thompson’s half-timbered house in Kilburn became a showroom. Behind the building are more recent workshops, in which a new generation of woodworkers follows in his footsteps. You’ll see stacks of neatly piled oak planks outside the workshop, being seasoned before they are used. The outbuildings now house an interesting small museum and exhibition centre. If you can’t afford one of the substantial pieces of furniture, look for smaller wooden items for sale in the gift shop, all featuring the famous carved mouse. You can also get a good cup of tea in ‘T’ Café – served on oak tables, of course.
Facilities – at a glance
Refreshments
Suitable for all child ages
Features
Children
- Suitable for children of all ages
Facilities
- Parking onsite
- Parking nearby
- Cafe
Accessibility
- Accessible toilets
Opening times
- Opening Times: Open Easter–Oct, daily 10–5; Nov–Dec, Wed–Sun 11–4
Also in the area
About the area
Discover North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire, with its two National Parks and two designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is England’s largest county and one of the most rural. This is prime walking country, from the heather-clad heights of the North York Moors to the limestone country that is so typical of the Yorkshire Dales – a place of contrasts and discoveries, of history and legend.
The coastline offers its own treasures, from the fishing villages of Staithes and Robin Hood Bay to Scarborough, one time Regency spa and Victorian bathing resort. In the 1890s, the quaint but bustling town of Whitby provided inspiration for Bram Stoker, who set much of his novel, Dracula, in the town. Wizarding enthusiasts head to the village of Goathland, which is the setting for the Hogwarts Express stop at Hogsmeade station in the Harry Potter films.
York is a city of immense historical significance. It was capital of the British province under the Romans in AD 71, a Viking settlement in the 10th century, and in the Middle Ages its prosperity depended on the wool trade. Its city walls date from the 14th century and are among the finest in Europe. However, the gothic Minster, built between 1220 and 1470, is York’s crowning glory.
Nearby stays
Places to Stay
Dining nearby
Restaurants and Pubs
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