The World of James Herriot in Thirsk — Live Webcam

Thirsk — the Real Darrowby

Thirsk is a small market town in North Yorkshire, England that, thanks to the books of James Herriot, has become a place of pilgrimage for thousands of tourists. It is this town that served as the prototype for the fictional Darrowby — the setting of the famous stories about a country vet. If you have ever dreamed of wandering the lanes of the Yorkshire Dales, the live webcam lets you soak up that atmosphere right now.

The writer's real name was Alfred James Wright (Alf Wight). He moved to Thirsk in 1940 to work as a veterinary assistant and lived here until his death in 1995. Over those five decades, this small Yorkshire town became an inseparable part of his literary legacy.

The House at 23 Kirkgate — Heart of the Museum

The World of James Herriot museum is located at 23 Kirkgate — this is literally the very house and veterinary surgery where Alf Wight worked. The building was constructed in 1815 and was not originally residential — it was converted into a surgery and living quarters only in the 1930s. Today it holds Grade II listed status, meaning it is protected by the state as an architectural and historical monument.

The museum opened in 1999 after the building was purchased by Hambleton District Council. The exhibition fully recreates the daily life and working atmosphere of a 1940s British veterinary surgery. On display is Herriot's authentic medicine cabinet with bottles whose labels were handwritten, as well as his personal surgical instruments.

Camera 1 Exhibition — The BBC Filming Set

The "Camera 1" exhibition is a unique part of the museum, recreating the original BBC filming set for the classic 1978–1990 series. The display features authentic BBC cameras, lighting equipment, monitors, and sound equipment used in the production of the show.

Visitors can see original actors' costumes, including Tristan Farnon's coat, along with props and scripts from that era. The area is equipped with screens showing classic episodes — allowing you to compare the locations in Thirsk with how they appeared on screen. The live webcam broadcasts precisely this part of the exhibition.

From Book to Screen: The Filming Story

The original BBC series (1978–1990) was filmed in and around Thirsk. However, for the exterior shots of Skeldale House, the village of Askrigg in the Yorkshire Dales was used, as the real house on Kirkgate had become too modernised by that time. The actual surgery was called "Sinclair & Wight" (later "Wight & Barker"), while the name "Skeldale House" was a fictional literary device.

The new British-American series (Channel 5 / PBS, from 2020) is filmed in the village of Grassington, which now serves as Darrowby. In Thirsk itself, locations for the new series include the local market and streets that are dressed with set decoration to resemble the 1930s.

Legacy of the Vet-Writer

Alf Wight continued treating animals in this house until 1989, when he retired. His son Jim worked as a vet in the same surgery until 1995. The original operating room was at the back of the house and was far smaller and more modest than the one shown in the BBC series.

The museum at 23 Kirkgate is a place of pilgrimage for fans of both versions of the series, although filming never actually took place inside the museum building itself. Today, the Thirsk webcam allows everyone to peek into this legendary place and soak up the atmosphere of the Yorkshire countryside.

The Yorkshire Dales — Nature's Own Set Design

Thirsk is set in the picturesque landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, which has earned it a reputation as one of the most cinematic locations in Britain. Green hills, stone walls, flocks of sheep on the pastures — all of this creates the very backdrop that captivated viewers around the world. The live webcam gives you the chance to appreciate this beauty without leaving home.

What You Can See on the Camera

The live webcam broadcasts the "Camera 1" exhibition of the World of James Herriot museum in Thirsk. In frame is the recreated filming set of the classic BBC series: original cameras, lighting equipment, monitors, and sound equipment from 1978–1990. On the screens inside the exhibition, classic episodes of "All Creatures Great and Small" are playing. This is a unique opportunity to see in real time the place where British television magic was born and to soak up the atmosphere of the veterinary surgery described in Herriot's books.