Cawood
Encyclopedia
Cawood is a large village (formerly a market town
) and civil parish
in the Selby
district of North Yorkshire
, England
that is notable as the finding-place of the Cawood sword
.
In his King's England series, Arthur Mee
refers to Cawood as "the Windsor of the North". It used to be the residence of the Archbishops of York
. The name is believed to come from the characteristic noise made by crows in the nearby woods. Cawood is south of the point where the River Wharfe
flows in to the River Ouse
which subsequently forms the northern border of the village. Cawood Bridge
is the only bridge from the village which spans the river. The bridge was opened in 1872: before then the only means of crossing was by use of a ferry. Dick Turpin
is said to have forded the river when he escaped to York
, which lies ten miles north of Cawood. The river Ouse used to flood the village regularly in winter. Since the floods of January 1982, whose height is marked on the bridgekeepers' cottage, river defences have been raised so that the fields on the northern side (Kelfield Ings) and the former Ferry Boat Inn, also on the Kelfield side, are now the only areas flooded. Even with the exceptionally high levels of November 2000.
The houses and shops are located around the remains of Cawood Castle
which lies at its centre. This was the residence of the Archbishops of York
who were forced to leave at the English Reformation
. It is possible to stay in the Castle Gatehouse, which is a Landmark Trust
property. This stands next to Castle Garth, a scheduled ancient monument
, under which are the remains of the Castle. It is currently owned by the village, but closely looked after by English Heritage
and the local Garth group as a "green space" in the centre of the village.
The village used to house a host of public houses, of which three remain open:
In the 19th century there was a weekly market on Wednesdays, and a wide range of shops. During the 20th. century, these gradually closed as village commercial life became dominated by the nearby market towns of Selby, Leeds and York. Today there is just a post office
, a plant nursery, a hairdressers and All Saints' Church.
There is an annual craft festival over August Bank Holiday weekend, in aid of the work of All Saints', where the villagers and local craft workers display their products at various venues throughout the village.
Notable people who were born in Cawood include Henry Monson
, New Zealand settler. Notable people who died in Cawood include four Archbishops of York: William Melton
, Thomas Rotherham
, John Thoresby, and William Zouche
.
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...
) and civil parish
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 Selby
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....
district 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...
that is notable as the finding-place of the Cawood sword
Cawood sword
The Cawood sword is regarded as "one of the finest Viking swords ever discovered". It is nearly 1,000 years old and is the fifth sword of its type ever to be found and by far the best preserved....
.
In his King's England series, Arthur Mee
Arthur Mee
Arthur Henry Mee was a British writer, journalist and educator. He is best known for The Harmsworth Self-Educator, The Children's Encyclopaedia, The Children's Newspaper, and The King's England...
refers to Cawood as "the Windsor of the North". It used to be the residence of the Archbishops of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
. The name is believed to come from the characteristic noise made by crows in the nearby woods. Cawood is south of the point where the River Wharfe
River Wharfe
The River Wharfe is a river in Yorkshire, England. For much of its length it is the county boundary between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. The name Wharfe is Celtic and means "twisting, winding".The valley of the River Wharfe is known as Wharfedale...
flows in to the River 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...
which subsequently forms the northern border of the village. Cawood Bridge
Cawood Bridge
Cawood Bridge is a swing bridge which spans the River Ouse in North Yorkshire, England. Construction was authorized in 1870, with the formation of the Cawood Bridge bridge company. It was opened on 31 July 1872 to replace the ferry, and is located about half way between Naburn and Selby...
is the only bridge from the village which spans the river. The bridge was opened in 1872: before then the only means of crossing was by use of a ferry. Dick Turpin
Dick Turpin
Richard "Dick" Turpin was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticised following his execution in York for horse theft. Turpin may have followed his father's profession as a butcher early in life, but by the early 1730s he had joined a gang of deer thieves, and later became a poacher,...
is said to have forded the river when he escaped to 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...
, which lies ten miles north of Cawood. The river Ouse used to flood the village regularly in winter. Since the floods of January 1982, whose height is marked on the bridgekeepers' cottage, river defences have been raised so that the fields on the northern side (Kelfield Ings) and the former Ferry Boat Inn, also on the Kelfield side, are now the only areas flooded. Even with the exceptionally high levels of November 2000.
The houses and shops are located around the remains of Cawood Castle
Cawood Castle
Cawood Castle was a palace for the Archbishops of York. The remains of the castle are located in Cawood, a village in North Yorkshire, England.-History:...
which lies at its centre. This was the residence of the Archbishops of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
who were forced to leave at the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
. It is possible to stay in the Castle Gatehouse, which is a Landmark Trust
Landmark Trust
The Landmark Trust is a British building conservation charity, founded in 1965 by Sir John and Lady Smith, that rescues buildings of historic interest or architectural merit and then gives them a new life by making them available for holiday rental...
property. This stands next to Castle Garth, a scheduled ancient monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
, under which are the remains of the Castle. It is currently owned by the village, but closely looked after by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
and the local Garth group as a "green space" in the centre of the village.
The village used to house a host of public houses, of which three remain open:
- The Jolly Sailor is situated on Market Place in the village centre,and is owned by david and lorraine welsh,serving locally sourced fayre six day's a week.
- The Ferry Inn is located just by the swing bridgeSwing bridgeA swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
over the River Ouse with a beer garden fronting the river. - The Castle Inn can be found on Wistowgate, heading towards Selby, has a restaurant and a caravan/camping site.
In the 19th century there was a weekly market on Wednesdays, and a wide range of shops. During the 20th. century, these gradually closed as village commercial life became dominated by the nearby market towns of Selby, Leeds and York. Today there is just a 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...
, a plant nursery, a hairdressers and All Saints' Church.
There is an annual craft festival over August Bank Holiday weekend, in aid of the work of All Saints', where the villagers and local craft workers display their products at various venues throughout the village.
Notable people who were born in Cawood include Henry Monson
Henry Monson (gaoler)
Henry Monson was a founding settler in Dunedin, New Zealand. His journal, recording his career as Dunedin's first full-time gaoler, forms an historical document on social conditions in New Zealand in the 1850s....
, New Zealand settler. Notable people who died in Cawood include four Archbishops of York: William Melton
William Melton
-Life:Melton was the son of Henry of Melton, and the brother of Henry de Melton. He was born in Melton in the parish of Welton, about nine miles from Kingston upon Hull. He was a contemporary of John Hotham, Chancellor of England and Bishop of Ely...
, Thomas Rotherham
Thomas Rotherham
Thomas Rotherham , also known as Thomas de Rotherham, was an English cleric and statesman. He served as bishop of several dioceses, most notably as Archbishop of York and, on two occasions as Lord Chancellor...
, John Thoresby, and William Zouche
William Zouche
William Zouche or William de la Zouche, was a medieval Archbishop of York.Zouche was a younger son of William, Lord Zouche of Haringworth, in Northamptonshire. He was appointed Archdeacon of Barnstaple in 1329. On 12 July 1330, he was collated Archdeacon of Exeter...
.