Plaque honour at James Herriot's former home

A blue plaque to honour the vet and author of All Creatures Great and Small has been unveiled at his former home.

Alf Wight, known to millions as James Herriot, built Rowardennan in Thirsk in 1953, and it became his home for more than 25 years.

A plaque in memory of him has been installed at the property on Topcliffe Road, with his children attending the unveiling.

His daughter Rosie Page said it was a "lovely tribute" to her father's memory.

Wight spent his evenings and weekends at Rowardennan, writing stories in the living room in front of the fire, often with the TV on and his wife, Joan, sitting by his side.

The stories were later developed into long-running BBC series All Creatures Great and Small - which was remade in recent years as a hit for Channel 5.

The house was bought by Brian and Linda Halliday in 2024.

In 2025 it became part of the new James Herriot walk around Thirsk, which was put together by one of the author's greatest fans, Roger French.

Page and her brother Jim Wight helped to create the tour, and visited Rowardennan when the idea of a blue plaque was mooted.

The Hallidays said they had always been huge fans of Wight and were "delighted" to have the plaque at his former home to commemorate him.

They added it was "very inspiring" to know that they sit where he "created such a phenomenal legacy".

Page said the couple had been so welcoming to see their former home and share their memories.

"It was home to Jim and I, too, for much of our childhood, though our earliest years were, of course, spent at 23 Kirkgate," she said, referencing Wight's former home and surgery.

"Dad would have been 110 years old on 3 October.

"It seems fitting that the plaque is to be unveiled near to that landmark birthday."

Page said she was surprised at how long it had taken for a plaque in memory of her her father to be installed.

She said: "The plaque on 23 Kirkgate went on years ago, and where he lived in Glasgow as a boy had a blue plaque put on it.

"So really it is quite astonishing that the house where he did most of his writing was not honoured until now."

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