About Us
A Shared Heritage
You’ll be intrigued to know that our award winning guest house in Reeth wasn't always a bed and breakfast. Its' heritage dates back to 1914 when R. Proctor extended a traditional seventeenth century stone cottage to provide family accommodation in the house as it appears today. During The WWII Cambridge House was requisitioned by The Ministry of Defence to become the officers' mess for The Reeth Battle School and the Reconnaisance Corps, whose motto was 'only the enemy in front'. The most illustrious officer who lived on the site was Major John Parry, the commanding officer in charge of the Reconnaissance Corps.
Cambridge House was also home to Parry’s beloved beagles which he transported from Kent across London in a taxi to Kings Cross station where he purchased individual tickets for each dog for the 250 mile train journey to Darlington. They lived in a compound in the northwest corner of the gardens and became a familiar feature out and about on the surrounding moors.
We invite all those who stay at our Swaledale bed and breakfast to come and share in the illustrious history of the area, and learn more about the tremendous impact the military presence has had on the surrounding communities.
Forward-thinking Preservation.
As you will notice upon arrival at our guest house, the site has undergone extensive restoration following the loss of some of its' period features during 'modernisation' in the mid-twentieth century. The photo shows Cambridge House, the three storey grey building, in the 1950s.
Cambridge House was acquired by the previous owners in the late 1990s who set about restoring as many of the period features as possible to resurrect some of its original charm and grandeur.
It is this very building today that has become one of the most popular bed and breakfasts in Swaledale, offering guests accommodation with period features and antique fittings and furniture but complimented by the privileges of modern technology.