HOUSEHOLDERS in a village near Thirsk do not have to pay water rates.

When the Ravensthorpe estate built a reservoir for the village of Boltby, it was decreed that its people should never have to pay for clean water.

This is just one of the interesting and ancient customs Boltby Millennium Group will investigate with the help of a £6,000 local heritage grant.

The group hopes to chronicle the history of the village from medieval times and publish its findings in a booklet at the end of the year.

Money from the grant will also fund a detailed geographical survey on an area known to be the site of a medieval earthworks.

Boltby is on the edge of the North York Moors, close to Byland and Rievaulx Abbeys.

In days gone by an ancient drovers' road passed through the village, by which livestock would be moved to market and new pasture.

Tracy Thompson, from the group, said the project evolved from the fundraising for the village hall when details of the history of the village were uncovered.

It is intended to turn the results of the survey and findings from the project into an exhibition and booklet.

A series of talks about the project is also planned.