Birstwith
Encyclopedia
Birstwith is a village and civil parish
in the Harrogate district
of North Yorkshire
, England
. It is part of the Nidderdale
, and is situated on the River Nidd
. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 756.
There is a large Mill/Rusk production plant in Birstwith run by the Food Manufacturing Company Kerry Ingredients. There is still a mill race
and sluice gates for the mill although it no longer turns a water wheel. Water came from the River Nidd
which flows though the village. The mill race rejoins the river some way downstream. To provide a head of water for the mill there is a weir
.
About 1 mile upsteam is a packhorse bridge
. No idea of age but quite old. I think it went towards to Fountain's Abbey
The local pub is The Station, run by Marta Fejer. This pub plays a very central role in the village as a meeting place and as the source of many organised charity events such as the Birstwith Coast 2 Coast
The village had a railway station on the line running between Harrogate
and Pately Bridge. This was closed by Beeching
in the 1960s. The goods yard became Birstwith Grange, one of the early housing developments for commuters as car travel became more popular. The railway line continued up the Nidd Valley and was used in the construction of the Scar House and Angram Scar reservoirs.
The village certainly used to have a village school (up to age 11)and a Reading Room, both built/donated by the owner of the local 'Big House', Swarcliffe Hall - about 1880. I think there are inscriptions on both buildings. In the mid 1970s the Hall was sold, the contents auctioned and the Hall became a private prep school
. There is a waste water treatment works at the end of Birstwith Grange although there is no acces from this road.
I was told when at school that there used to be some coal mining in the area near the river towards Hampsthwaite
- I do not know if this is true.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Harrogate district
Harrogate (borough)
Harrogate is a local government district and borough of North Yorkshire, England. Its council is based in the town of Harrogate but it also includes surrounding towns and villages...
of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is part of the Nidderdale
Nidderdale
Nidderdale is one of the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England. It is the upper valley of the River Nidd, which flows south through the dale, forming several reservoirs including the Gouthwaite Reservoir, before turning east and eventually joining the River Ouse.The only town in the dale is...
, and is situated on the River Nidd
River Nidd
The River Nidd is a tributary of the River Ouse in the English county of North Yorkshire. In its first few miles it is dammed three times to create Angram Reservoir, Scar House Reservoir and Gouthwaite Reservoir which attract around 150,000 visitors a year...
. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 756.
There is a large Mill/Rusk production plant in Birstwith run by the Food Manufacturing Company Kerry Ingredients. There is still a mill race
Mill race
A mill race, raceway or mill lade is the current or channel of a stream, especially one for conducting water to or from a water wheel or other device for utilizing its energy...
and sluice gates for the mill although it no longer turns a water wheel. Water came from the River Nidd
River Nidd
The River Nidd is a tributary of the River Ouse in the English county of North Yorkshire. In its first few miles it is dammed three times to create Angram Reservoir, Scar House Reservoir and Gouthwaite Reservoir which attract around 150,000 visitors a year...
which flows though the village. The mill race rejoins the river some way downstream. To provide a head of water for the mill there is a weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
.
About 1 mile upsteam is a packhorse bridge
Packhorse bridge
A packhorse bridge is a bridge intended to carry packhorses across a river or stream. Typically a packhorse bridge consists of one or more narrow masonry arches, and has low parapets so as not to interfere with the horse's panniers.Packhorse bridges were often built on the trade routes that...
. No idea of age but quite old. I think it went towards to Fountain's Abbey
The local pub is The Station, run by Marta Fejer. This pub plays a very central role in the village as a meeting place and as the source of many organised charity events such as the Birstwith Coast 2 Coast
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
and Pately Bridge. This was closed by Beeching
Beeching
Beeching is an English surname. Either a derivative of the old English bece, bæce "stream", hence "dweller by the stream" or of the old English bece "beach-tree" hence "dweller by the beach tree".People called Beeching include:-...
in the 1960s. The goods yard became Birstwith Grange, one of the early housing developments for commuters as car travel became more popular. The railway line continued up the Nidd Valley and was used in the construction of the Scar House and Angram Scar reservoirs.
The village certainly used to have a village school (up to age 11)and a Reading Room, both built/donated by the owner of the local 'Big House', Swarcliffe Hall - about 1880. I think there are inscriptions on both buildings. In the mid 1970s the Hall was sold, the contents auctioned and the Hall became a private prep school
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
. There is a waste water treatment works at the end of Birstwith Grange although there is no acces from this road.
I was told when at school that there used to be some coal mining in the area near the river towards Hampsthwaite
Hampsthwaite
Hampsthwaite is a small commuter village on the south bank of the River Nidd on the western edge of the Victorian spa town of Harrogate.Administratively Hampsthwaite is a civil parish in the borough of Harrogate and the county of North Yorkshire, England....
- I do not know if this is true.