Kay’s Ark

Resembling an ark, Rosewood was the Skelwith Bridge home of Kay Callaghan. She arrived there in the 1950’s with three children, no money, a troubled marriage and an abandoned acting career.

At Rosewood, with unbounded energy, Kay created a home for her family and a cafe that became a much-loved haven for villagers, travellers, musicians, animals and animal lovers. All were welcome and drawn into her world. Later, unable to turn away any creature that needed a home, she founded two animal charities (the first with Alfred Wainwright) and helped to save hundreds of animals from their inevitable fate.