Bentham is a civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England, with a population of 3,027 at the 2011 Census. The parish includes the town of High Bentham, occasionally known as Higher Bentham or just Bentham, and the older adjacent village of Low Bentham. The town lies on the River Wenning, just west of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and on the northern edge of the Forest of Bowland. The original centre of the town lay in Low Bentham, but a market was granted to High Bentham in the 14th century, and it became a centre for weaving from the 18th century, particularly after weavers in the town discovered how to weave hosepipes from flax. It was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire until 1974. Governance An electoral ward of the same name exists. This ward includes Burton in Lonsdale and well as the Bentham (Town) ward and has a total population taken at the 2011 census of 3,606. The ward falls within the Skipton and Ripon parliamentary constituency. The Bentham Town Council is responsible for local matters and the Town Hall, built in 1894. This facility includes several bookable spaces used by community groups and available for hire on a private basis, as well as housing the town's tourist information centre. NHS Cumbria CCG is responsible for health matters for the population across the civil parish. Bentham Medical Practice is located centrally within the town. Community The town has hosted an agricultural show since the middle of the 19th century. The show, which take place annually on the first Saturday of September, is a traditional agricultural show with handicraft and horticulture as well as sheep, cattle and poultry competitions, but no horse classes. The 146th Bentham Agricultural Show was held in 2018 at the Bentham Auction Mart. In addition to the traditional agricultural show, the town also hosts an annual Carnival procession in June of each year. In addition to a themed street parade, the event usually culminates with a funfair and stalls hosted at the Bentham Auction Mart. The town's Auction Mart was founded in 1903 and provides an important venue for community events as well as regular livestock sales. The site hosts bonfire night fireworks and Christmas market events in addition to the Agricultural Show and Carnival. Bentham is served by Bentham Community Primary School, which caters for children aged three to eleven