Yarm Town Council

Serving the community of Yarm

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Yarm Town Council

Your Town Council meets at Challoner House (TS15 9EL) on the second Tuesday each month.

The meetings are public and you are welcome to attend.

There are 11 sitting Councillors (volunteers) and a Town Clerk who are responsible for delivering a range of services and events for the townspeople.

Yarm Town Council Services

Yarm Town Council operates the following services: 100+ allotments (supported by Yarm Community Allotments Association); Yarm Cemetery and Chapel; Snaith’s Field and Play Area; Willey Flatts Field and Play Area; The Rookery (woodland); High Street area floral decorations and benches; the War Memorial and Town Hall, now also containing Yarm Town Hall Heritage Centre (supported by the Friends of YTHHC); a programme of annual events including the Riding of the Fair, The Act of Remembrance, Christmas celebrations and occasionally a Summer Gala (or support for school and community summer fairs instead). 

The council maintains the enclosed churchyard at St. Mary Magdalene Church (where church volunteers help); it also owns Yarm Fellowship Hall (run by a trust, hosting a range of activities and classes for all ages) and Yarm Bowling Club (donated by Taylor Wimpey and run by a Community Interest Company.

 

 

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A Brief History Of Yarm

‘Yarm’ is thought to be derived from Old English (gearum) or the old Norse word ‘yarum’, both meaning an enclosure to catch fish.  Yarm was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.  Originally a chapelry in the Kirklevington parish (North Riding of Yorkshire), Yarm later became a parish in its own right.

Dominican Friars (Black Friars or Friar Preachers), settled in Yarm about 1286 and maintained a Friarage and Hospital until 1583. Their memory is preserved in the names of Friarage and Spital Bank.

The existing stone bridge across the River Tees was built by Bishop Skirlaw of Durham in 1400. An iron replacement was built in 1805, but it fell down in 1806. Once a medieval port, for many years Yarm was at the tidal limit and head of navigation on the Tees.

On 12 February 1821 at the George & Dragon Inn, the meeting was held that pressed for the third, successful attempt for a Bill giving permission to build the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the world’s first public railway.

In 1890 Bulmer & Co listed 12 Inns in Yarm; Black Bull, Cross Keys, Crown Inn, Fleece, George and Dragon, Green Tree, Ketton Ox, Lord Nelson, Red Lion, Three Tuns, Tom Brown, and Union. Also listed was the Cross Keys beside the Leven Bridge.

Under the Local Government Act 1894, Yarm was part of Stokesley Rural District (in the 13th century it was a borough in its own right). On 1st April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, Yarm became part of the district of Stockton-on-Tees in the new non-metropolitan county of Cleveland, which was abolished in 1996 under the Banham Review, with Stockton-on-Tees becoming a unitary authority. 

 

Events are held in the town each year. Every October, Yarm Fair is held in the High Street, dating back to the charter granted by King John in 1207.  Once a commercial fair trading in cheese and livestock it is now a funfair. Travellers still attend and, due to the charter, have to wait outside the town until 6.00pm on the Tuesday of fair week (the fair beginning on Thursday); they can then cross the bridge over the River Tees into the town. The Travellers ride horses up and down the north end of the High Street on the Saturday morning, known as ‘The Flashings’. This is also when ‘The Riding of the Fair’ takes place – the town council and guests make a procession to proclaim the 13th century charter, heralded by a coaching horn. The Clerk of the council carries a traditional polearm to ‘protect’ the Chair as she/he makes the proclamation. This tradition dates back centuries to when the Parish Constable would have been armed in order to protect the Steward, carrying out various duties at the fair.

Remembrance Sunday is an important occasion – several thousand people line the High Street for the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial. Yarm churches lead the Royal British Legion ceremony, local armed forces and uniformed groups join the parade and the laying of wreaths, the Roll of Honour is read by a veteran and a young bugle player from a nearby school sounds the Last Post and Reveille.

On the first Sunday of December each year, lighting the town’s Christmas tree is celebrated with carols, a brass band, performances, food and drink and the traditional countdown led by a local celebrity and Tom Rolfe’s Pantomime company. A Christmas Blessing is given by a Reverend from one of the local churches.

In summer, A 5km fun-run is held (organised by The Lions and local volunteers) starting at Conyers School and ending on Snaith’s Field; over 500 people take part. Some years, Yarm Gala is revived (a tradition originating over 200 years ago), with events and stalls around the High Street and river.

 

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