Ferrybridge
Encyclopedia
Ferrybridge is a village in West Yorkshire
, England
at a historically important crossing of the River Aire
. It is linked to other communities by the A1, which follows the route of the Great North Road
.
The history of Ferrybridge - and its neighbour, Knottingley
- dates back to the establishment of Anglo-Saxon settlements along this stretch of the river. The respective histories of the two settlements of Ferrybridge and Knottingley
are closely linked, bringing glassmaking, shipbuilding, brewing and potteries to the area.
Geologically, Ferrybridge and Knottingley
are located on rich soil, over a bed of magnesian limestone
.
An archaeological feature at Ferrybridge is Ferrybridge Henge
, a prehistoric ceremonial monument dating back to the Neolithic
period, constructed during the period 4,500-1,500 B.C. when monuments of this kind began to appear. Ferrybridge Henge is one of the oldest remaining antiquities in the local area. Recently a 2,400-year-old chariot
burial was discovered there.
Ferrybridge stands where the Great North Road crosses the River Aire. In 1198, a bridge was built over the river. The first recorded crossings of the river at Ferrybridge date from the bridge's construction. The bridge was rebuilt at the end of the 14th century with seven pillars and a chantry
chapel at one end. Until 1810, a toll was payable to cross the bridge.
In March 1461, on the eve of the battle of nearby Towton, an engagement between the Lancastrian
s and Yorkists ended in a Lancastrian victory, and Lord Fitzwalter, the Yorkist leader was killed. This is known as the Battle of Ferrybridge
.
Up to the end of the 17th century, Knottingley was an important inland port in the West Riding
as the River Aire
was not navigable beyond it. The construction of the Aire and Calder Navigation
Canal (by a 1699 Act of Parliament; this was the first navigation scheme passed by Act of Parliament) diminished Knottingley
's importance as a port by allowing barges on the river to navigate further upstream to Leeds
.
Parliament authorized a new canal in 1820. Cutting through the centre of Knottingley, the new Aire and Calder Navigation
Canal was opened in 1826 and connected the new port of Goole with the River Aire at Ferrybridge. The lock at Ferrybridge opened at 10 a.m. on 20 July 1826.
By the end of the Industrial Revolution
, Ferrybridge had become a centre for glass production. As the village was served by its own railway station, it was well connected with its markets.
In the 20th century, three power station
s were built. The newest of the three, Ferrybridge 'C' Power Station (Ferrybridge Power Station
) dominates the skyline around the village. Three of its cooling towers collapsed in high winds in 1965.
The town lies close to Kellingley Colliery
, which is situated at the other side of Knottingley. This is West Yorkshire's
last operational colliery.
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, 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...
at a historically important crossing of the River Aire
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
. It is linked to other communities by the A1, which follows the route of the Great North Road
Great North Road
There are several Great North Roads:* Great North Road, Australia, a historical road leading from Sydney to the Hunter Valley* Great North Road, New Zealand, a road in Auckland* Great North Road, Zambia, a road running north from Lusaka...
.
The history of Ferrybridge - and its neighbour, Knottingley
Knottingley
Knottingley is a town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England on the River Aire and the A1 road. It has a population of 13,503....
- dates back to the establishment of Anglo-Saxon settlements along this stretch of the river. The respective histories of the two settlements of Ferrybridge and Knottingley
Knottingley
Knottingley is a town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England on the River Aire and the A1 road. It has a population of 13,503....
are closely linked, bringing glassmaking, shipbuilding, brewing and potteries to the area.
Geologically, Ferrybridge and Knottingley
Knottingley
Knottingley is a town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England on the River Aire and the A1 road. It has a population of 13,503....
are located on rich soil, over a bed of magnesian limestone
Dolostone
Dolostone or dolomite rock is a sedimentary carbonate rock that contains a high percentage of the mineral dolomite. In old U.S.G.S. publications it was referred to as magnesian limestone. Most dolostone formed as a magnesium replacement of limestone or lime mud prior to lithification. It is...
.
An archaeological feature at Ferrybridge is Ferrybridge Henge
Ferrybridge Henge
Ferrybridge Henge is a Neolithic henge near Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire . It is close to the A1 and M62 and Ferrybridge power station. Ferrybridge Henge is the furthest south of Yorkshire's henges, and is the only one in West Yorkshire...
, a prehistoric ceremonial monument dating back to the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period, constructed during the period 4,500-1,500 B.C. when monuments of this kind began to appear. Ferrybridge Henge is one of the oldest remaining antiquities in the local area. Recently a 2,400-year-old chariot
Chariot
The chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
burial was discovered there.
Ferrybridge stands where the Great North Road crosses the River Aire. In 1198, a bridge was built over the river. The first recorded crossings of the river at Ferrybridge date from the bridge's construction. The bridge was rebuilt at the end of the 14th century with seven pillars and a chantry
Chantry
Chantry is the English term for a fund established to pay for a priest to celebrate sung Masses for a specified purpose, generally for the soul of the deceased donor. Chantries were endowed with lands given by donors, the income from which maintained the chantry priest...
chapel at one end. Until 1810, a toll was payable to cross the bridge.
In March 1461, on the eve of the battle of nearby Towton, an engagement between the Lancastrian
Lancastrian
Lancastrian is an adjective describing:* A native or inhabitant of Lancashire* A partisan on the side of the House of Lancaster in the Wars of the Roses.* A person associated with Lancaster University....
s and Yorkists ended in a Lancastrian victory, and Lord Fitzwalter, the Yorkist leader was killed. This is known as the Battle of Ferrybridge
Battle of Ferrybridge
The Battle of Ferrybridge, 28 March 1461, was a small engagement between the houses of York and Lancaster before the larger battle of Towton, during the period known as the Wars of the Roses....
.
Up to the end of the 17th century, Knottingley was an important inland port in the West Riding
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
as the River Aire
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England of length . Part of the river is canalised, and is known as the Aire and Calder Navigation....
was not navigable beyond it. The construction of the Aire and Calder Navigation
Aire and Calder Navigation
The Aire and Calder Navigation is a river and canal system of the River Aire and the River Calder in the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, England. The first improvements to the rivers above Knottingley were completed in 1704 when the Aire was made navigable to Leeds and the Calder to...
Canal (by a 1699 Act of Parliament; this was the first navigation scheme passed by Act of Parliament) diminished Knottingley
Knottingley
Knottingley is a town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England on the River Aire and the A1 road. It has a population of 13,503....
's importance as a port by allowing barges on the river to navigate further upstream to Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
.
Parliament authorized a new canal in 1820. Cutting through the centre of Knottingley, the new Aire and Calder Navigation
Aire and Calder Navigation
The Aire and Calder Navigation is a river and canal system of the River Aire and the River Calder in the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, England. The first improvements to the rivers above Knottingley were completed in 1704 when the Aire was made navigable to Leeds and the Calder to...
Canal was opened in 1826 and connected the new port of Goole with the River Aire at Ferrybridge. The lock at Ferrybridge opened at 10 a.m. on 20 July 1826.
By the end of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, Ferrybridge had become a centre for glass production. As the village was served by its own railway station, it was well connected with its markets.
In the 20th century, three power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
s were built. The newest of the three, Ferrybridge 'C' Power Station (Ferrybridge Power Station
Ferrybridge power station
The Ferrybridge power stations refers to a series of three coal-fired power stations situated on the River Aire in West Yorkshire, England. The first station on the site, Ferrybridge A power station, was constructed in the mid-1920s, and was closed as the second station, Ferrybridge B power...
) dominates the skyline around the village. Three of its cooling towers collapsed in high winds in 1965.
The town lies close to Kellingley Colliery
Kellingley Colliery
Kellingley Colliery is one of the newest of the few deep coal mines left in Britain today. It is situated at Beal in North Yorkshire, about east of Knottingley in West Yorkshire, on the A645, although the postal address is Knottingley, West Yorkshire, and east of Ferrybridge power station. The...
, which is situated at the other side of Knottingley. This is West Yorkshire's
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
last operational colliery.