d 1585 can be found in the side of the steps leading to the present tower.During the last ice age, a huge wall of ice moved across the landscape and carved out the Esk Valley. At its head a huge dam was formed. Over time, a river carved a ravine now known as 'Crunkly Ghyll'. This steep wooded ravine leads down to Lealholm. The hamlet of Lealholm is mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086. An important crossing point of the River Esk, this village became an early settlement and has a history dating back to the 1200s including a paper mill in 1336.but this was demolished in 1709 A Quaker, Thomas Watson built a new mill but that too is no longer in use. He donated land which is now the Quaker Friends Burial Ground. The main way of life for the population was farming, but at one time there were shoemakers, blacksmiths, a tailor and a wheelwright to mention a few.There are three crossing points for the River Esk. The main stone bridge, a fording point and the famous stepping stones near the Wesleyan chapel. There are two churches and a methodist chapel here, the Roman Catholic Our Lady of the Sacred heart, the C of E St. James's Church and the Wesleyan Chapel dated 1839.Lealholm Show, an annual event held on the first Saturday in September is a farm produce, horticultural and agricultural show. One of the most memorable events is the Grand Duck race where 1000 numbered yellow plastic ducks are deployed from the village stone bridge.The village of Danby is reached further along the line from Lealholm. At the heart of the village is the village green where sheep often graze. Around this area are many walks enabling the visitor beautiful moorland views. A mile to the south is Danby Rigg which has over 800 cairns, the remains of a stone circle, defensive ditches and enclosures dating from Bronze Age times, some 3000 years ago. On the other side of the valley a footpath leads up to the moor to the remains of coal pits, these were in operation for 140 years from 1748.To the south-west of Danby is the 14th century fortified Danby Castle now used as a farmhouse. The castle was once owned by the family of Catherine Parr the 6th and surviving wife of Henry VIII. Half a mile east is the Danby Lodge Moors Visitors Centre which was a former shooting lodge dating back to the 17th Century, standing in 13 acres of grounds on the banks of the River Esk in the North Yorkshire National park. Downstream from the Moors Centre is a narrow medieval bridge known as Duck Bridge built in the 13th century by George Duck, a wealthy mason, to enable packhorses to cross the River Esk.Evidence of stone-age settlements in this area include a point in a national network of points where fires were lit to warn of danger from as early as Viking times. The present Danby Beacon, built in 2008 is situated near to the site of the Danby Beacon built in 1937 which housed equipment and staff to monitor aircraft movements. The Danby operatives were instrumental in the interception of the first German bomber to be shot down over England. The pilot was Flight Lieutenant Peter Townsend. The Heinkel was forced to land at Bannial Flat Farm on Guisborough Road. It was also instrumental in helping to track the fl