Clifton Without
Encyclopedia
Clifton Without is a suburb and civil parish
in the unitary authority
of the City of York
, North Yorkshire
, England
. It consists of those parts of Clifton that lie outside, i.e. Without, the (pre-1996) city boundaries and Clifton Moor. It lies on the A19
about two miles north-west of central York.
According to the 2001 census it had a population of 5,113. Before 1996 it formed part of the Ryedale district. The Parish is bounded by the River Ouse
to the west and the B1363 and River Foss
in the east, and from the Clifton Moor retail park in the north to near Clifton Green in the south. The parish contains a diverse mix of industrial and retail areas, to residential areas in the rest of the parish. The area also includes the natural areas of Clifton Ings and Clifton Backies and Rawcliffe Lake.
Following an upgrade in status, the airfield became host to reconnaissance aircraft such as the Westland Lysander
and the North American Mustang. The airfield also contained a large civilian staffed repair facility for the Halifax bomber
. The repair centre was closed in 1948, after which the airfield returned to its former role as a flying club. Due to the high rents charged by the Air Ministry, which had not de-commissioned the site, the club closed in the 1950s and fell into disuse. Parts of the airfield can still be seen around the area, including a small portion of the runway to the north of the York Outer Ring Road. The airfield is now covered by the Clifton Moor Retail Park.
and the B1363 and River Foss
to the east. To the north the parish meets the parish of Rawcliffe. To the south the boundary runs past Homestead Park from the Ouse then northward along the A19 to turn east along Brompton Road, then it turns north up Water Lane before going east again along Lilbourne Drive and then following the waterway known as Bur Dyke. Where Bur Dyke reaches Bootham Stray it extends an arm towards the Nestle Factory they and ends at the River Foss.
The parish contains Clifton Backies Nature Reserve which, in May 2002, was designated as a Local Nature Reserve
. The diverse habitats support many different species of mammal, bird, insect and plant life. It was part of the former Clifton Airfield but after its last use in the Berlin Airlift in the late 1940s, it was allowed to return to nature. The land originally belonged to St Mary's Abbey, but after the dissolution of the monasteries the land was part of a furlong or field known as 'Moor Broats' and cultivated under the strip farming system in medieval times. The current ridge and furrow appearance of the fields shows its previous history.
The meadows are home to Short-Tailed Vole
, with the Bur Dyke home for Water Voles, Rabbit
s, Fox
, Weasel
, Common Shrew
, Hedgehog
, Bank Vole
, Wood Mouse
and Roe Deer
have been seen on the site. Bats can also be seen over the meadows. Suitable breeding habitats for the Common Frog
and Smooth Newt
are provided by seasonal ponds. The Bur Dyke supports a population of Three-spined Stickleback
. Birds that frequent the area include Blackbird, Blue Tit
, Great Tit
, Wren
, Dunnock
, Robin
, Chaffinch
, Bullfinch
, Blackcap
, Whitethroat
, Willow Warbler
, Fieldfare
, Redwing
, Heron
, Kingfisher
and Chiffchaff
. A recent survey identified 22 species of butterfly on the site, including Speckled Wood
, Holly Blue
, Small copper, Brown Argus
and Marbled White.
Amongst the flora in the area are many species of wildflowers and grasses, including Dog's Tail
, Knapweed
, Red Clover, Great Burnet
, Pignut, with such waterside plants as Watercress
and Water forget-me-not
.
York Cricket Club has been in existence for over 200 years. It first played matches on the Knavesmire in 1790 before moving to the site of the York District Hospital on Wigginton Road. It moved to its present site upon purchase of land from the Clifton Hospital in 1967. York Cricket Club was a founding member of the Yorkshire Cricket League in 1935, which it has won on 10 occasions. It also won the National Knockout Cup in 1975. As of 2010 it has five senior men’s teams, nine junior teams, ranging from U9s to U17s, and one ladies’ team.
York RUFC moved to its present location a t the same time as the Cricket Club. It fields four senior sides as well as juniors, seniors and veterans. They have won the Yorkshire Shield three times. The 1st XV play in the Yorkshire 1 league, the 2nd XV play in the Yorkshire 2nd XV Merit League Division 1 and the 3rd XV play in the North Yorkshire Merit Table. The 4th XV are a social side and play friendlies.
York Squash Club has eight mens teams and two ladies teams in the York and District League. As of 2010 York Men's 1st, 2nd and 3rd all play in Division 1. York Mens 4th and 5th play in Division 3, York Mens 6th in Division 4 and the Mens 7th and 8th in Division 5.
York Tennis Club was formed in 1966 following the merger of Clifton and Tanh Hall clubs, who were both facing eviction from their grounds. The club run 16 teams in both local and county leagues. Facilities include six carpet based courts with some floodlit courts and shale courts. The club have one Ladies and one Mens team in the Yorkshire League Doubles competition. One mens team plays in both singles and doubles competitions in the National League. They have six mixed doubles teams in the York & District Mixed Doubles League and four teams in the Mens Local Doubles League with 2 Ladies teams in the Ladies Local Doubles League.
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 unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
of the City 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...
, 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...
. It consists of those parts of Clifton that lie outside, i.e. Without, the (pre-1996) city boundaries and Clifton Moor. It lies on the A19
A19 road
The A19 is a major road in England running approximately parallel to and east of the A1 road, although the two roads meet at the northern end of the A19, the two roads originally met at the southern end of the A19 in Doncaster but the old route of the A1 was changed to the A638. From Sunderland...
about two miles north-west of central York.
According to the 2001 census it had a population of 5,113. Before 1996 it formed part of the Ryedale district. The Parish is bounded by 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...
to the west and the B1363 and River Foss
River Foss
The River Foss is an improved river in North Yorkshire, England, and a tributary of the River Ouse. It rises in the Foss Crooks woods near Oulston reservoir close to the village of Yearsley and runs south through the Vale of York to the Ouse...
in the east, and from the Clifton Moor retail park in the north to near Clifton Green in the south. The parish contains a diverse mix of industrial and retail areas, to residential areas in the rest of the parish. The area also includes the natural areas of Clifton Ings and Clifton Backies and Rawcliffe Lake.
History
On 27 May 1933 an air circus visited York and flew from Rawcliffe meadow, now the site of Clifton Moor Retail Park. It demonstrated the viability of the area for a commercial airfield for York. In 1934 York Corporation compulsory purchased parts of Clifton (Without) and Rawcilffe and on, 4 July 1936 York Municipal Aerodrome opened. Before the outbreak of the Second World War, the airfield was managed by Yorkshire Air Services and Country Club Ltd, who ran a flying club and an air taxi service, but no scheduled flights. On 1 September 1939 the airfield was requisitioned by the government for military use and was renamed RAF Clifton. It host to a flight of Whitley Bombers.Following an upgrade in status, the airfield became host to reconnaissance aircraft such as the Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
and the North American Mustang. The airfield also contained a large civilian staffed repair facility for the Halifax bomber
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
. The repair centre was closed in 1948, after which the airfield returned to its former role as a flying club. Due to the high rents charged by the Air Ministry, which had not de-commissioned the site, the club closed in the 1950s and fell into disuse. Parts of the airfield can still be seen around the area, including a small portion of the runway to the north of the York Outer Ring Road. The airfield is now covered by the Clifton Moor Retail Park.
Governance
Clifton Without is part of the Unitary Authority of the City of York Council. As of 2010 the Ward of Skelton, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without is represented by Councillors Richard Moore and Irene Waudby of the local Liberal Democrat Party and by Joe Watt of the local Conservative party. It is also has its own parish council consisting of 10 councillors.Geography
The parish is bounded to the west by the River OuseRiver 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...
and the B1363 and River Foss
River Foss
The River Foss is an improved river in North Yorkshire, England, and a tributary of the River Ouse. It rises in the Foss Crooks woods near Oulston reservoir close to the village of Yearsley and runs south through the Vale of York to the Ouse...
to the east. To the north the parish meets the parish of Rawcliffe. To the south the boundary runs past Homestead Park from the Ouse then northward along the A19 to turn east along Brompton Road, then it turns north up Water Lane before going east again along Lilbourne Drive and then following the waterway known as Bur Dyke. Where Bur Dyke reaches Bootham Stray it extends an arm towards the Nestle Factory they and ends at the River Foss.
The parish contains Clifton Backies Nature Reserve which, in May 2002, was designated as a Local Nature Reserve
Local Nature Reserve
Local nature reserve or LNR is a designation for nature reserves in the United Kingdom. The designation has its origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite...
. The diverse habitats support many different species of mammal, bird, insect and plant life. It was part of the former Clifton Airfield but after its last use in the Berlin Airlift in the late 1940s, it was allowed to return to nature. The land originally belonged to St Mary's Abbey, but after the dissolution of the monasteries the land was part of a furlong or field known as 'Moor Broats' and cultivated under the strip farming system in medieval times. The current ridge and furrow appearance of the fields shows its previous history.
The meadows are home to Short-Tailed Vole
Field Vole
The field vole or short-tailed vole, Microtus agrestis, is a grey-brown vole, around 110mm in length, with only a short tail. They are one of the most common mammals in Europe, ranging from the Atlantic coast to Lake Baikal. They are found in moist grassy habitats, such as woodland, marsh, or...
, with the Bur Dyke home for Water Voles, Rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s, Fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, Weasel
Weasel
Weasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....
, Common Shrew
Common Shrew
The Common Shrew or Eurasian Shrew, Sorex araneus, is the most common shrew, and one of the most common mammals, throughout Northern Europe, including Great Britain, but excluding Ireland. It is long and weighs , and has velvety dark brown fur with a pale underside. Juvenile shrews have lighter...
, Hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
, Bank Vole
Bank Vole
The bank vole is a small vole with red-brown fur and some grey patches, with a tail about half as long as its body. A rodent, it lives in woodland areas and is around in length. The bank vole is found in western Europe and northern Asia...
, Wood Mouse
Wood mouse
The wood mouse is a common murid rodent from Europe and northwestern Africa. It is closely related to the yellow-necked mouse but differs in that it has no band of yellow fur around the neck, has slightly smaller ears, and is usually slightly smaller overall: around 90 mm in length...
and Roe Deer
Roe Deer
The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...
have been seen on the site. Bats can also be seen over the meadows. Suitable breeding habitats for the Common Frog
Common Frog
The Common Frog, Rana temporaria also known as the European Common Frog or European Common Brown Frog is found throughout much of Europe as far north as well north of the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and as far east as the Urals, except for most of Iberia, southern Italy, and the southern Balkans...
and Smooth Newt
Smooth Newt
The Smooth Newt, also known as the Common Newt, Lissotriton vulgaris is the most common newt species of the Lissotriton genus of amphibians. L...
are provided by seasonal ponds. The Bur Dyke supports a population of Three-spined Stickleback
Three-spined stickleback
The three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, is a fish native to much of northern Europe, northern Asia and North America. It has been introduced into parts of southern and central Europe.-Distribution and morphological variation:...
. Birds that frequent the area include Blackbird, Blue Tit
Blue Tit
The Blue Tit is a 10.5 to 12 cm long passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and western Asia in deciduous or mixed woodlands...
, Great Tit
Great Tit
The Great Tit is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia, and parts of North Africa in any sort of woodland. It is generally resident, and most Great Tits do not migrate except in extremely...
, Wren
Wren
The wrens are passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. There are approximately 80 species of true wrens in approximately 20 genera....
, Dunnock
Dunnock
The Dunnock, Prunella modularis, is a small passerine bird found throughout temperate Europe and into Asia. It is by far the most widespread member of the accentor family, which otherwise consists of mountain species...
, Robin
European Robin
The European Robin , most commonly known in Anglophone Europe simply as the Robin, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family , but is now considered to be an Old World flycatcher...
, Chaffinch
Chaffinch
The Chaffinch , also called by a wide variety of other names, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.- Description :...
, Bullfinch
Bullfinch
* A Bullfinch is one of two groups of passerine birdsBullfinch can also refer to:* Bullfinch , an obstacle seen on the cross-country course in the sport of eventing* USS Bullfinch, the name of two US Navy ships...
, Blackcap
Blackcap
The Blackcap is a common and widespread sylviid warbler which breeds throughout temperate Europe, western Asia and northwestern Africa, and winters from northwestern Europe south to tropical Africa...
, Whitethroat
Whitethroat
The Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in tropical Africa, Arabia and Pakistan.This is one of several Sylvia species...
, Willow Warbler
Willow Warbler
The Willow Warbler is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia...
, Fieldfare
Fieldfare
The Fieldfare is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. It breeds in woodland and scrub in northern Europe and Asia. It is strongly migratory, with many northern birds moving south during the winter. It is a very rare breeder in Great Britain and Ireland, but winters in large numbers in these...
, Redwing
Redwing
The Redwing is a bird in the thrush family Turdidae, native to Europe and Asia, slightly smaller than the related Song Thrush.-Taxonomy:...
, Heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
, Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
and Chiffchaff
Chiffchaff
The Common Chiffchaff, or simply the Chiffchaff, is a common and widespread leaf-warbler which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia....
. A recent survey identified 22 species of butterfly on the site, including Speckled Wood
Speckled Wood
The Speckled Wood is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland throughout much of the Palearctic ecozone.In North Europe, Central Europe , Asia Minor, Syria, Russia and Central Asia where subspecies P. a. tircis occurs it is brown with pale yellow or cream spots and darker upperwing...
, Holly Blue
Holly Blue
The Holly Blue , is a butterfly that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family and is native to Eurasia and North America.In India, it is known as the Hill Hedge Blue...
, Small copper, Brown Argus
Brown Argus
The Brown Argus is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.-Appearance, behaviour and distribution:Although one of the "Blues" both sexes are brown on the uppersides with a band of orange spots at the border of each wing...
and Marbled White.
Amongst the flora in the area are many species of wildflowers and grasses, including Dog's Tail
Cynosurus cristatus
-Introduction:Crested Dog’s-tail is an ornamental plant, but also found in the wild typically in species rich grassland. It is a perennial short-lived plant characterised by a seed head that is flat on one side. It thrives in a variety of soil types but avoids the acid and calcerous extremes of...
, Knapweed
Centaurea
Centaurea is a genus of between 350 and 600 species of herbaceous thistle-like flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Members of the genus are found only north of the equator, mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere; the Middle East and surrounding regions are particularly species-rich...
, Red Clover, Great Burnet
Sanguisorba officinalis
Sanguisorba officinalis is a plant in the family Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoideae. It is native throughout the cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, northern Asia, and northern North America....
, Pignut, with such waterside plants as Watercress
Watercress
Watercresses are fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plants native from Europe to central Asia, and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by human beings...
and Water forget-me-not
Myosotis scorpioides
Myosotis scorpioides , the Water Forget-me-not or True Forget-me-not, is a herbaceous perennial plant of the genus Myosotis. It is native to Europe and Asia and it can be found elsewhere, including much of North America, as an introduced species and sometimes a noxious weed. It grows in bogs and...
.
Economy
The parish includes the Clifton Moor Retail and Industrial Park where there are many nationwide and local stores, small and medium sized enterprises, as well as entertainment venues.Transport
Due to the A19 and Clifton Retail Park being within the Parish boundary, Clifton Without is served by many bus routes. As of 2010 they are:- Rawcliffe Bar Park & Ride to the City Centre run by First Transport Group
- Clifton Moor to Tang Hall run by First Transport Group
- York to Easingwold run by Hodgson & Son Coach Services
- York to Easingwold via Linton-On-Ouse run by Hodgson & Son Coach Services
- York to Northallerton via Thirsk run by John Smith & Sons Ltd
- York to Easingwold via Linton-On-Ouse run by Stephensons of Easingwold Ltd
- York to Easingwold via Alne and Tollerton run by Stephensons of Easingwold Ltd
- York to Kirbymoorside via Easingwold and Helmsley run by Stephensons of Easingwold Ltd
- York to Helmsley run by Stephensons of Easingwold Ltd
- City Centre to Clifton via Green Lane, Burton Stone Lane and Bur Dyke Avenue run by TransDev York
- Askham Bar to Monks Cross via Acomb, Poppleton, Clifton Moor, Wigginton, Haxby, New Earswick and Huntington run by TransDev York
- City Centre to Skelton run by York Pullman
- York to Thirsk run by Reliance Motor Services
Education
Primary education is catered for by the Clifton with Rawcliffe Federation. This is a partnership of the Rawcliffe Infant and Nursery School on Eastholme Drive in nearby Rawcliffe, where pupils up to Year 2 are taught prior to going to Clifton with Rawcliffe Junior School on Rawcliffe Lane. Secondary Education is provided at Canon Lee School, located on the same site as Clifton with Rawcliffe Junior School on Rawcliffe Lane. This school has been designated a specialist arts college. The school was opened in April 1941 and is an 11-16 comprehensive with catchment from the city centre to the village of Skelton.Religious sites
Clifton Moor Church opened in September 1998, and is a partnership of two churches. It has links to both the Church of England and the Methodist Church. York Council gave the land, and the local Church raised the money to pay for the building.Sports
York Sports Club is located in the south of the parish on the A19 near Clifton Ings. It provides facilities for four sports club; York Cricket Club; York Rugby Union Football Club; York Squash Club and York Tennis Club.York Cricket Club has been in existence for over 200 years. It first played matches on the Knavesmire in 1790 before moving to the site of the York District Hospital on Wigginton Road. It moved to its present site upon purchase of land from the Clifton Hospital in 1967. York Cricket Club was a founding member of the Yorkshire Cricket League in 1935, which it has won on 10 occasions. It also won the National Knockout Cup in 1975. As of 2010 it has five senior men’s teams, nine junior teams, ranging from U9s to U17s, and one ladies’ team.
York RUFC moved to its present location a t the same time as the Cricket Club. It fields four senior sides as well as juniors, seniors and veterans. They have won the Yorkshire Shield three times. The 1st XV play in the Yorkshire 1 league, the 2nd XV play in the Yorkshire 2nd XV Merit League Division 1 and the 3rd XV play in the North Yorkshire Merit Table. The 4th XV are a social side and play friendlies.
York Squash Club has eight mens teams and two ladies teams in the York and District League. As of 2010 York Men's 1st, 2nd and 3rd all play in Division 1. York Mens 4th and 5th play in Division 3, York Mens 6th in Division 4 and the Mens 7th and 8th in Division 5.
York Tennis Club was formed in 1966 following the merger of Clifton and Tanh Hall clubs, who were both facing eviction from their grounds. The club run 16 teams in both local and county leagues. Facilities include six carpet based courts with some floodlit courts and shale courts. The club have one Ladies and one Mens team in the Yorkshire League Doubles competition. One mens team plays in both singles and doubles competitions in the National League. They have six mixed doubles teams in the York & District Mixed Doubles League and four teams in the Mens Local Doubles League with 2 Ladies teams in the Ladies Local Doubles League.