There are a number of notable buildings in the Abbeystead area: Cawthorne's Endowed School, rebuilt in the 19th century; Holme Farm opposite, also 19th century; and Abbeystead House, built in 1886 for the 4th Earl of Sefton.
The main components that developer have to be aware of in the U.K are methane (which is flammable at 5% to 15% by volume in air) and carbon dioxide (which is toxic), after two gas explosions in the U.K. in the 1980s Loscoe and Abbeystead.
On his widow's death in 1980 Abbeystead and the Wyresdale Forest estate were sold to the Duke of Westminster.