Over two hundred and fifty years ago, the view from the Moors Centre would have been remarkably similar to that of the present day. Built of locally quarried sandstone, dressed in the traditional herringbone fashion, the outside of the building would have been very similar too. But in those days the Centre was Dawnay Lodge, a family home used by Sir John Dawnay, 1st Viscount Downe.
John Dawnay, (later the first viscount – 1681) bought Danby Manor (23,000 acres) and in due course the grouse shooting was developed over the common lands. In order to accommodate the family, their guests and servants of the shooting parties, Dawnay Lodge was substantially adapted and expanded and became known as Danby Lodge.
The Lodge was transformed into The Moors Centre in 1976 by the North York Moors National Park. The popular Centre welcomes as many as 130,000 visitors a year as well as providing a base for 11,000 young people discovering more about this special area.
Facilities include gifts, books and map shop, tea room, information centre, lecture theatre, school studies centre and offices. Car parking is available and there are many excellent and varied walks onto the moors, Danby Castle or along the River Esk.
