Riccall
Encyclopedia
Riccall is a village and civil parish
situated in the Selby district
of North Yorkshire
, England, lying 3.5 miles north of Selby
and 9 miles to the south of York
. It is historically part of the East Riding of Yorkshire
. According to the 2001 census the parish had a total population of 2,317.
. At the end of the last ice age
about 10,000 years ago Riccall lay underneath the very large lake Humber. This gives the area its characteristic light sandy soil. Riccall is the starting point of the ten kilometre Cycle the Solar System route which follows the Selby
−York
cycle track
finishing in Dringhouses
, York. The cycle track used to form the old route of the East Coast Main Line
via Selby, and Riccall station
served the village until 1964.
era. It is not known when Man first arrived in the area, however there is evidence that the Humberhead Levels have been settled for several thousand years, and that the drier northern area where Riccall is situated was settled before the Roman
era.
settlement and there is evidence of a Saxon church on the site of the current St Mary’s. The early settlers most likely chose the site due to two geographical factors: the area forms a slightly raised plateau above a flood plain; it is near the Ouse
.
Riccall was the site of the base camp of Harald Hardråda in 1066. He landed on the banks of the Ouse
after sailing up the Humber estuary and set up camp at Riccall before the victory in the Battle of Fulford
. However this was to be his last taste of victory, as his army was defeated shortly afterwards by the forces of King Harold Godwinson
of England
at the Battle of Stamford Bridge
, in which Hardråda himself died. This battle distracted Harold from the defence of the south coast and left the land open to Norman invasion. The event is commemorated in one of Riccall's streets, now a footpath, named after Olaf who looked after the camp in Harald's absence, and in Danes Hills so named for its tumuli
. There is now a small information panel about the event at the bottom of Landing Lane, approximately where the Danes moored.
the current St Mary’s was built using stone quarried from the magnesian limestone
ridge which lies approximately eight miles to the west. The old south door of the church has a carved Romanesque
arch and its 12th century three-stage tower has Norman
double window openings.
's Riccall Mine which was part of the Selby Coalfield. The colliery, which was situated within the boundaries of Skipwith Common, closed in 2004 and is now being developed as a business park
.
store, hairdresser, beauty salon, butcher, a tavern and inn, Italian and Indian restaurants and the Regen Centre, an award-winning conference, events, and community facility. The Regen Centre houses a bar, four outdoor tennis courts, and a small Sports Hall where football and badminton can be played. Villagers are kept up to date with local news via bimonthly editions of Riccall News.
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...
situated in the Selby district
Selby (district)
Selby is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. The local authority, Selby District Council, is based in the town of Selby and provides services to an area which includes Tadcaster and a host of 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, lying 3.5 miles north of 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...
and 9 miles to the south of 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...
. It is historically part of the East Riding of Yorkshire
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...
. According to the 2001 census the parish had a total population of 2,317.
Geology and geography
The settlement of Riccall lies on the Humberhead LevelsHumberhead Levels
The Humberhead Levels cover a large expanse of very flat, low lying land towards the eastern end of the Humber estuary in northern England. The Levels occupies the area of the former Glacial Lake Humber...
. At the end of the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
about 10,000 years ago Riccall lay underneath the very large lake Humber. This gives the area its characteristic light sandy soil. Riccall is the starting point of the ten kilometre Cycle the Solar System route which follows the 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...
−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...
cycle track
Segregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities are marked lanes, tracks, shoulders and paths designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded...
finishing in Dringhouses
Dringhouses
Dringhouses is a suburb, formerly a village, in York, England and includes the area known as Woodthorpe. It is bounded by the Knavesmire, an open area of land on which York Racecourse is situated, to the east, Askham Bogs and the A64 to the south, the York Outer Ring road to the west and the...
, York. The cycle track used to form the old route of the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
via Selby, and Riccall station
Riccall railway station
Riccall railway station was a railway station which served the village of Riccall, north of Selby, on the East Coast Main Line. It closed to passengers in 1958 and to goods services in 1964; the station building is now a private dwelling...
served the village until 1964.
History
Homo sapiens first arrived in Great Britain around 12,000 years ago as the earth was warming before the beginning of the HoloceneHolocene
The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"...
era. It is not known when Man first arrived in the area, however there is evidence that the Humberhead Levels have been settled for several thousand years, and that the drier northern area where Riccall is situated was settled before the Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
era.
Saxons and Danes
The village was the site of an Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
settlement and there is evidence of a Saxon church on the site of the current St Mary’s. The early settlers most likely chose the site due to two geographical factors: the area forms a slightly raised plateau above a flood plain; it is near the Ouse
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. The river is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about 6 miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure...
.
Riccall was the site of the base camp of Harald Hardråda in 1066. He landed on the banks of the Ouse
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. The river is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about 6 miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure...
after sailing up the Humber estuary and set up camp at Riccall before the victory in the Battle of Fulford
Battle of Fulford
The Battle of Fulford took place at the village of Fulford, near York in England on 20 September 1066, when King Harald III of Norway - also known as Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson, his English ally, fought and defeated the Northern Earls Edwin and Morcar. Tostig was Harold Godwinson's...
. However this was to be his last taste of victory, as his army was defeated shortly afterwards by the forces of King Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.It could be argued that Edgar the Atheling, who was proclaimed as king by the witan but never crowned, was really the last Anglo-Saxon king...
of 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 the Battle of Stamford Bridge
Battle of Stamford Bridge
The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire in England on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada of Norway and the English king's brother Tostig...
, in which Hardråda himself died. This battle distracted Harold from the defence of the south coast and left the land open to Norman invasion. The event is commemorated in one of Riccall's streets, now a footpath, named after Olaf who looked after the camp in Harald's absence, and in Danes Hills so named for its tumuli
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
. There is now a small information panel about the event at the bottom of Landing Lane, approximately where the Danes moored.
Normans
About forty years after the Norman conquestNorman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
the current St Mary’s was built using stone quarried from the 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...
ridge which lies approximately eight miles to the west. The old south door of the church has a carved Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
arch and its 12th century three-stage tower has 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...
double window openings.
Economy
The village was home to UK CoalUK Coal
UK Coal plc is the largest coal mining business in the United Kingdom. The Company is based in Harworth, in Nottinghamshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a former constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
's Riccall Mine which was part of the Selby Coalfield. The colliery, which was situated within the boundaries of Skipwith Common, closed in 2004 and is now being developed as a business park
Business park
A business park or office park is an area of land in which many office buildings are grouped together. All of the work that goes on is commercial, not industrial or residential....
.
Community
The village has a primary school, post office, CostcutterCostcutter
Costcutter is based in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Poland under which there are supermarkets and local and urban convenience stores. The banner also has its own brand of goods and products which are sold alongside Nisa Today own-brand products and branded products.As of December 2006,...
store, hairdresser, beauty salon, butcher, a tavern and inn, Italian and Indian restaurants and the Regen Centre, an award-winning conference, events, and community facility. The Regen Centre houses a bar, four outdoor tennis courts, and a small Sports Hall where football and badminton can be played. Villagers are kept up to date with local news via bimonthly editions of Riccall News.