Market Weighton
Encyclopedia
Market Weighton is a small town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, England
. It is one of the main market town
s in the East Yorkshire Wolds
and lies midway between Hull
and York
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) from either one. According to the 2001 UK census
, Market Weighton parish had a population of 5,212.
Historically it is listed in the Domesday Book
as "Wicstun" and was granted its charter to become a market town in 1251. Architecturally the town boasts: a parish church, parts of which are Norman
, the Londesborough Arms (an 18th century coaching inn
), a Wesleyan
chapel, a Methodist chapel and a high street
still recognisable from the 1800s. Other sights of interest include the post office
, the duck pond and Station Farm. Market Weighton has a bright and colourful history, largely based around William Bradley
the Yorkshire Giant who at the age of 20 was an amazing seven feet and nine inches tall. Another resident was Peg Fyfe, the local witch, who reputedly skinned a young local resident alive in the 1660s and was later hanged for the crime but swallowed a spoon to save herself only to be "finished off" by two passing knights.
In May of each year local residents take to the streets of Market Weighton for the Giant Bradley Day festival in a celebration of the life and times of William Bradley.
Industry in the town is largely based around agriculture
. The town is known geologically
for having given its name to the Market Weighton Axis
.
The Yorkshire Wolds Way
National Trail, a long distance footpath, passes through the town.
, who operate under the East Riding of Yorkshire County Council
.
at the junction of the lines from Selby
to Driffield
and York
to Beverley
, but the last train ran in 1965. The abandoned lines north of the town are used as scenic walks and cycle routes, comprising nature reserves etc. Bus service X46, provided by East Yorkshire Motor Services
, runs hourly and links the town with Beverley, Hull, Pocklington
and York.
The three-mile £5.1 million A1079
bypass opened in March 1991.
The Minsters Rail Campaign is campaigning to re-open the railway line between Beverley and York (with stops at Stamford Bridge, Pocklington and Market Weighton). The re-opened railway would skirt the edge of the town as the former alignment has since been developed.
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, 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 one of the main market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
s in the East Yorkshire Wolds
Yorkshire Wolds
The Yorkshire Wolds are low hills in the counties of East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire in northeastern England. The name also applies to the district in which the hills lie....
and lies midway between Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
and York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) from either one. According to the 2001 UK census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, Market Weighton parish had a population of 5,212.
Historically it is listed in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as "Wicstun" and was granted its charter to become a market town in 1251. Architecturally the town boasts: a parish church, parts of which are Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
, the Londesborough Arms (an 18th century coaching inn
Coaching inn
In Europe, from approximately the mid-17th century for a period of about 200 years, the coaching inn, sometimes called a coaching house or staging inn, was a vital part of the inland transport infrastructure, as an inn serving coach travelers...
), a Wesleyan
Methodist Church of Great Britain
The Methodist Church of Great Britain is the largest Wesleyan Methodist body in the United Kingdom, with congregations across Great Britain . It is the United Kingdom's fourth largest Christian denomination, with around 300,000 members and 6,000 churches...
chapel, a Methodist chapel and a high street
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
still recognisable from the 1800s. Other sights of interest include the post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, the duck pond and Station Farm. Market Weighton has a bright and colourful history, largely based around William Bradley
William Bradley (giant)
William Bradley , known more commonly as Giant Bradley or the Yorkshire Giant, is the tallest recorded British man that ever lived, measuring 7 feet 9 inches....
the Yorkshire Giant who at the age of 20 was an amazing seven feet and nine inches tall. Another resident was Peg Fyfe, the local witch, who reputedly skinned a young local resident alive in the 1660s and was later hanged for the crime but swallowed a spoon to save herself only to be "finished off" by two passing knights.
In May of each year local residents take to the streets of Market Weighton for the Giant Bradley Day festival in a celebration of the life and times of William Bradley.
Industry in the town is largely based around agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. The town is known geologically
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
for having given its name to the Market Weighton Axis
Market Weighton Axis
The Market Weighton Axis is a geological feature which forms the south-eastern part of Yorkshire, England. The feature goes under a number of names such as 'block' or 'area' while the name of the town, Market Weighton is retained...
.
The Yorkshire Wolds Way
Yorkshire Wolds Way
The Yorkshire Wolds Way is a National Trail in Yorkshire, England. It runs 79 miles from Hessle to Filey, around the Yorkshire Wolds...
National Trail, a long distance footpath, passes through the town.
Governance
Market Weighton has a town councilTown council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
, who operate under the East Riding of Yorkshire County Council
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
.
Noted people from Market Weighton
- William BradleyWilliam Bradley (giant)William Bradley , known more commonly as Giant Bradley or the Yorkshire Giant, is the tallest recorded British man that ever lived, measuring 7 feet 9 inches....
(1787–1820), tallest ever BritonGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles... - Frank MitchellFrank MitchellFrank Mitchell was a cricketer and rugby union player.-School, University and Yorkshire:...
(1872–1935), cricketerCricketerA cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
Transport
The town used to be a good route centre for connecting major cities York and Hull and used to have a railway stationMarket Weighton railway station
Market Weighton railway station was a railway station at the junction of the Selby to Driffield and York to Beverley lines. It opened on 4 October 1847 and served the town of Market Weighton. The overall roof of the station was removed in 1947 and replaced with steel awnings. It closed on 27...
at the junction of the lines from Selby
Selby
Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding...
to Driffield
Driffield
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield, is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield....
and York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
to Beverley
Beverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
, but the last train ran in 1965. The abandoned lines north of the town are used as scenic walks and cycle routes, comprising nature reserves etc. Bus service X46, provided by East Yorkshire Motor Services
East Yorkshire Motor Services
East Yorkshire Motor Services is a large bus and coach operator which operates throughout Kingston upon Hull, the East Riding of Yorkshire, the North Yorkshire coast and the North York Moors. In and around Scarborough, EYMS operates as Scarborough & District Motor Services...
, runs hourly and links the town with Beverley, Hull, Pocklington
Pocklington
Pocklington is a small market town and civil parish situated at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, approximately east of York....
and York.
The three-mile £5.1 million A1079
A1079 road
The A1079 is a major road in northern England. It links the cities of York and Kingston upon Hull, both in Yorkshire.-Route:The road begins in central York, heading east initially as Lawrence Street and then Hull Road. After it meets the A64 at a grade separated roundabout and gains primary status...
bypass opened in March 1991.
The Minsters Rail Campaign is campaigning to re-open the railway line between Beverley and York (with stops at Stamford Bridge, Pocklington and Market Weighton). The re-opened railway would skirt the edge of the town as the former alignment has since been developed.