A story relates how an Abbot of Rievaulx visited the 'Hare' one night when a
Knight came to tell him that a man was dying near Whitestone Cliff. The Abbot
owned a white mare, reputed to be the fastest in the district, the Knight claimed
his own black was faster and offered to exchange horses. The Abbots estimate
of his own mount proved correct, for the white animal outran the black one. When
they reached Whitestone Cliff, the white mare leapt over the edge into Gormire
Lare. As he plunged downwards, the Knight saw the Abbot suddenly change into
the Devil.

So much for legend, what is certain is Monks, Abbots and Knights would have
used the Inn beside the main road west out of Helmsley - Sperragate.
Pilgrims took refreshment here, raiding Scots caroused here, English troops
sought refuge, weary Parliamentarians rested, Drovers slacked the dust off the
cattle trails, traders stayed to barter, dignitaries and their retinues sought
accommodation.

Early in the 17th Century, the Scawton Ale House brewed ale especially for the
Iron workers employed by the Earl of Rutland, who then owned the Helmsley
Estates.

On a hot July day in 1802, William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy,
dismissed chase in Thirsk and walked to Helmsley, no doubt find refreshment
at The Hare and, Turner, while painting Rievaulx Abbey may have sought
refreshment here.

As all these people throughout the centuries have enjoyed Scawton country inn,
so we hope you will delight in the warm hospitality of The Hare.

How the locals claim the Inn came by its name

Legend has it that witches would turn themselves into hares in order to get
around their patch more speedily. In our local area, the Bilsdale Hunt on the
moors is one of oldest hunts in England tracing its roots back to the Duke of
Buckingham in the fifteenth century. During this time, a notorious witch called
Black Agnes lived in the last 'ouse ont lane in this here village. One day an
'arld hare was caught but escaped a savaging from the Bilsdale hounds (in those
days they hunted hares as well as foxes). The fleeing hare disappeared under
the door of the last 'ouse ont the lane in the village, closely followed by a
determined huntmaster and despite a local blacksmith shouting his warning to
be wary of entering the 'arld witches house, the huntsman flung open the door
to find a bloodied Black Agnes lying on the floor breathing her last!
It is through the association with that story that the building was named
The Hare...apparently!
The building has been known to have a resident ghost by all who have resided
here...including Geoff who is frightened to death very early some mornings by
the thumping and rattlings downstairs...always put down to the antics of
Black Agnes!

Scawton at Sperragate