Bentham, North Yorkshire

Bentham
High Bentham main street
Bentham
Location within North Yorkshire
Population3,027 (2011 census)
OS grid referenceSD666693
Civil parish
  • Bentham
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLANCASTER
Postcode districtLA2
Dialling code01524
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament

Bentham is a civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, with a population of 3,027 at the 2011 Census. The parish includes the town High Bentham, occasionally known as Higher Bentham or just Bentham, and the older adjacent village Low Bentham.

The town lies on the River Wenning, just west of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and on the northern edge of the Forest of Bowland. The original centre of the town lay in Low Bentham, but a market was granted to High Bentham in the 14th century, and it became a centre for weaving from the 18th century, particularly after weavers in the town discovered how to weave hosepipes from flax.

It was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire until 1974. From 1974 to 2023 it was part of the district of Craven, it is now administered by the unitary North Yorkshire Council.