Rubbing House

Rubbing House is a late 18th-century structure located on the north side of Common Lane in West Witton. It is built from rubble with a stone slate roof and is a single storey with four bays, although the fifth bay has collapsed. The building features four tall door openings, which are possibly high enough for a horse and rider to enter. Inside, there are iron rings set into the walls of each room for tying horses. In the 18th century, it was believed beneficial to wrap horses well after training on the nearby gallops on Middleham High Moor to make them sweat, and then they would be rubbed down, giving the building its name. Rubbing House is a rare surviving example of its type and serves as an important link to the development of horse-breeding and training traditions in the Middleham area during the 18th century, which remains a significant industry in the region.