Heritage Open Day: This humble Quaker meeting house near Ilkley, founded in 1689, is one of the oldest in the world. The burial ground at Farfield was gifted to the fledgling Quaker community there in 1666 by the then Lord of the tiny manor — leading local Quaker, Anthony Myers. Following the passing of the Act of Toleration in 1689, which allowed most Protestant dissenters to worship publicly in England, Myers gave further land, adjacent to the burial ground, and built a meeting house.
The building now standing is very much that original structure. Inside, the simple interior has retained its original furnishings, including oak benches running along two walls and an oak ministers’ stand under the west window.