Low Row
Feetham, Blades, Smarber, Kearton and Low Row, small villages and hamlets, are now collectively known as Low Row. It was once a thriving mining and textile community with 3 pubs, 2 churches, 2 chapels, 3 shops, 2 schools, and a workhouse!
Edmund Alderson Knowles ran a worsted and woollen hosiery company in the village and constructed a mill at Haverdale on the south side of the river, which housed England’s second largest water-wheel at the time of construction. The wool industry in Swaledale was an important industry in the dale long before leadmining hit its peak. In the 1600s, a law existed that everyone had to be buried in wool. The owner of Level House disobeyed this order, when his daughter died, and was fined. The legacy of the wool industry can still be seen today in the names of pubs in Richmond, including the Bishop Blaize and the Golden Fleece. Knowles had a burning ambition to bring the railway up Swaledale, but this was unfortunately never realised.
There is said to be a ghost at Greensykes, a local house (Grade II listed), long since abandoned as a dwelling, now used for gathering and penning sheep. It is said to be haunted by Michael Clarkson, who lived there with his housekeeper. He apparently haunts the coal hole and has a penchant for flying up ladies' dresses! If you put your ear to the ground in the parlour at Greensykes, you can also hear the echoes of the leadminers working in Jenkin mine, deep underground
The village now still has two of its churches, one pub, the Punch Bowl (sister pub to the CB Inn in Arkengarthdale)