Buckden, North Yorkshire

The etymology of the name derives from the Old English words of bucca and denu meaning he-goat and valley respectively. A bridge at Buckden was destroyed in a flood in 1748. A later and present bridge is known as 'Election Bridge', as a prospective MP made the promise of a replacement bridge an electoral pledge. On 5 July 2014, the Tour de France Stage 1 from Leeds to Harrogate passed through the village. ==Geography==

The village of Buckden is situated where Buckden Gill, which rises on Buckden Pike, joins the River Wharfe. Along the Gill is a disused lead mine, Buckden Gavel Mine, which has been designated an ancient monument. Where Langstrothdale joins Wharfedale is the village of Hubberholme, which contains a Norman church and an inn. Long-distance walking trails pass through the parish, with the Dales Way on the opposite bank of the Wharfe to the village, whilst A Pennine Journey and Lady Anne's Way cross Buckden Bridge and go through the village. A footpath leads north-east from the village to the top of Buckden Pike, and another south-west to Litton, above Arncliffe, in Littondale. Buckden has a village shop, a residential outdoor education centre and a public house, the Buck Inn. Denis Healey, the former Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer (1974–1979), stated that he spent his honeymoon in a converted stable next to the Buck Inn.{{cite news|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2007/08/27/fthealey127.xml|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130505114402/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2007/08/27/fthealey127.xml|url-status = dead|archive-date = 5 May 2013|title = 'I never fought hard enough to be PM', says Denis Healey|accessdate = 7 February 2008|date = 27 August 2007|work = Telegraph.co.uk|publisher = Telegraph Media Group Limited| location=London ==Demographics==

2001 Census The population according to the 2011 census was 187 of which 54.3% were male and 45.7% female. There were 81% of the population who stated they were Christian, with the rest declaring no religion or not stating one. The entire population described their ethnicity as White/British. There were 125 dwellings listed within the parish boundary. 2011 Census The population according to the 2011 census was 187 of which 51.3% were male and 48.7% female. There were 69.5% of the population who stated they were Christian, with the rest declaring no religion or not stating one. The entire population described their ethnicity as White/British. There were 135 dwellings listed within the parish boundary. ==Governance==

Buckden was historically a township in the ancient parish of Arncliffe, part of Staincliffe Wapentake in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Buckden became a separate civil parish in 1866. As of 2026, the parish council comprises five councillors. Buckden became part of the new county of North Yorkshire in 1974. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the Craven District; it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council. The parish lies within the Skipton and Ripon Parliamentary constituency. Since the North Yorkshire elections in 2022, the parish forms part of the electoral division of Wharfedale, which returns one councillor to North Yorkshire Council. ==Religion==

The Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels is located in Hubberholme. It is a Grade II* listed building built in the 12th century, with rebuilding work done from the 16th century onwards. ==Location grid==