Outhwaites Ropemakers
Hawes has been associated with the art of rope making since the
eighteenth century and Outhwaites Ropemakers, one of the town's
longest-established businesses continues this tradition today.
Visitors can tour Outhwaites' factory and see the fascinating
processes which create ropes for all purposes from skipping ropes
to church bell ropes.
Dales Countryside Museum
Although the Wensleydale Railway Association plans to create a
heritage railway between Northallerton and Garsdale stations which
would stop at Hawes, for now the town's beautiful Victorian railway
station operates as the Dales Countryside Museum. Recently extended
this exciting interactive museum recounts the history of the
Yorkshire Dales from prehistoric times to the modern day, looking
at aspects of the Dales' art, culture, tradition and industry in
times past.
Gayle Mill
Half a mile south of Hawes, Gayle Mill is a remarkably-restored
industrial mill built in 1784 to a design created by Victorian
textile entrepreneur Richard Arkwright. Rescued from dereliction
and opened to the public in 2008, this three-storey mill was
originally used for cotton processing but became a mechanised saw
mill in 1879 and visitors may still see it in operation today.