Wentbridge
Encyclopedia
Wentbridge is a small village in the Benefice of the Went Valley and Parish
of Darrington, West Yorkshire
, England.
. The village is less than a mile from the boundary with North Yorkshire
to the east, with the boundary following the A1 from the River Went
to Barnsdale Bar
, where this is the southern-most point of North Yorkshire. Close by to the south-west is the Roman Ridge
roman road
(A639). To the north is Darrington
.
A plaque on the bridge commemorates Robin Hood. Opposite the bridge, on the north side of the river is Jackson's Lane where a noticeboard directs travellers up to the church.
The village is named because it used to be the Great North Road's bridge over the River Went. Entrance to the village was down a steep valley which would have been a problem before motorised transport and later was a bottleneck. The village pub is the Blue Bell Inn on Great North Road. The village Church is dedicated to St John the Evangelist, and welcomes couples for weddings and wedding blessings. The vicar is the Rev Adrian Judd. There is a church service at 9.15am every Sunday and Christmas Day, except for the 5th Sunday of the month. It is very convenient for receptions at the Wentbridge House Hotel and Rogerthorpe Manor.
s in Europe (at that time) was built to cross the Went valley at a height of 30 m using prestressed concrete
. It is 92 m long and was designed by FA (Joe) Sims, and became a Grade II listed building on 29 May 1998. It received an award thirty years after its construction from the Concrete Society.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Darrington, West Yorkshire
Darrington, West Yorkshire
Darrington is a small village and civil parish in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, from Pontefract and from the city of York. The village is split in two by the busy A1 trunk road which runs from London to Scotland...
, England.
Geography
The village used to be on the A1, which section of road is now the B6474, which also leads eventually to South ElmsallSouth Elmsall
South Elmsall pronounced "south em-sull" is a small town and civil parish to the east of Hemsworth in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. It is on the B6422 and B6474 ....
. The village is less than a mile from the boundary with 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...
to the east, with the boundary following the A1 from the River Went
River Went
The River Went is a river in Yorkshire, England. It rises close to Featherstone and flows eastward, joining the River Don at Reedholme Common.A possible site of the Battle of Winwaed is believed to be located somewhere along the valley of the Went.-Route:...
to Barnsdale Bar
Barnsdale
Barnsdale, or Barnsdale Forest, is a relatively small area of South Yorkshire, England which has a rich history and the region is steeped in folklore. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire...
, where this is the southern-most point of North Yorkshire. Close by to the south-west is the Roman Ridge
Roman Ridge, South Yorkshire
The Roman Ridge is that part of the Roman road of Ermine Street located in the Doncaster area of South Yorkshire, England. Although in places, Ermine Street follows the modern Great North Road , there is a stretch between Sunnyfields and Red House which is known as the Roman Ridge.The Roman Ridge...
roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
(A639). To the north is Darrington
Darrington, West Yorkshire
Darrington is a small village and civil parish in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, from Pontefract and from the city of York. The village is split in two by the busy A1 trunk road which runs from London to Scotland...
.
History
Wentbridge is mentioned in what may be the earliest Robin Hood ballad, Robin Hood and the Potter: "Y mete hem bot at Went breg,' syde Lyttyl John"A plaque on the bridge commemorates Robin Hood. Opposite the bridge, on the north side of the river is Jackson's Lane where a noticeboard directs travellers up to the church.
The village is named because it used to be the Great North Road's bridge over the River Went. Entrance to the village was down a steep valley which would have been a problem before motorised transport and later was a bottleneck. The village pub is the Blue Bell Inn on Great North Road. The village Church is dedicated to St John the Evangelist, and welcomes couples for weddings and wedding blessings. The vicar is the Rev Adrian Judd. There is a church service at 9.15am every Sunday and Christmas Day, except for the 5th Sunday of the month. It is very convenient for receptions at the Wentbridge House Hotel and Rogerthorpe Manor.
Wentbridge Viaduct
To avoid the incline on the valley, when the village was bypassed at a cost of £800,000 in 1961, one of the largest viaductViaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
s in Europe (at that time) was built to cross the Went valley at a height of 30 m using prestressed concrete
Prestressed concrete
Prestressed concrete is a method for overcoming concrete's natural weakness in tension. It can be used to produce beams, floors or bridges with a longer span than is practical with ordinary reinforced concrete...
. It is 92 m long and was designed by FA (Joe) Sims, and became a Grade II listed building on 29 May 1998. It received an award thirty years after its construction from the Concrete Society.