Elvington, City of York
Encyclopedia
Elvington is a village and civil parish situated approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) south-east of York
, England, on the B1228 York-Howden
road. According to the 2001 census
the parish had a population of 1,212. The River Derwent
forms part of the parish
boundary and an ancient stone bridge connects Elvington with Sutton upon Derwent
.
Elvington was part of the East Riding of Yorkshire
until local government boundary changes in 1974, when it became part of the Selby
district in North Yorkshire
. In 1996 it became part of the City of York unitary authority
.
, which states that in 1066 Ulfketill had six carucate
s of land taxable, where three ploughs were possible. There is in 1086 a further mention of the church, which is Norman
in origin and exists in part today.
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
, was in control of the manor
until his death. In the village there is Elvington Hall, built during Elizabethan times; famous writer Laurence Sterne
lived there for a period of his childhood; Roger Jacques and Simone Sterne, his grandparents, controlled the manor prior to 1700.
The town was once the home of the Scottish author and screenwriter, Hugo Charteris
, who died of cancer in 1970 at his home in the village.
. The line was open for freight traffic until 1973.
During 1942, the airfield RAF Elvington
was built; it was used in World War II
. The airfield was vacated in 1958 and by May 1986 parts of it were turned into the Yorkshire Air Museum
, open to the general public. The airfield still had the status of a relief landing ground until September 1992. It is now used for motorsports and an airshow
.
Elvington was made a Conservation Area
in 1990. There is a bus service (number 195) operated by EYMS to York, running two or three buses each day.
The Grey Horse Inn is a public house located in the centre of the village. The village also has a church, shop, primary school, and sports field. There are a number of organised clubs and societies operating within the village, including drama, Scouts
, various sewing groups, a youth group, a toddler group and playgroup.
Elvington has one of the most unusual homes in Britain. In 2006, a derelict bowling alley
was converted into a private home whilst still incorporating a 55 feet (16.8 m) bowling lane. The original bowling alley was built in the 1950s for U.S.
troops stationed at RAF Elvington and it was a regular meeting place for members of Strategic Air Command
.
Elvington is also home to the turf growers Rolawn
who are one of Europe's largest companies of its kind.
era to become one of the longest in Europe, which enabled it to accept large American bombers such as the B52
. The Yorkshire Airshow, the largest airshow in the north of England, was held here annually (now bi-annually) during August.
The airfield has a large race track
, which is frequently used for drag racing
and other motorsport events. In November 1966, Italian motor scooter rider Alberto Ancillotti on his Lambretta bike established the 106 mph terminal speed record at this venue.
In the 1970s the airfield was the outdoor location for a series of Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt!
, a situation comedy on British television. On 20 September 2006, the airfield also played host to television's Richard Hammond
and his near-fatal drive in the Vampire Dragster; contrary to some reports at the time, this was not an attempt at the British land speed record
.
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...
, England, on the B1228 York-Howden
Howden
Howden is a small market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies north of the M62, on the A614 road about north of Goole and south-west of York. William the Conqueror gave the town to the Bishops of Durham in 1080...
road. According to the 2001 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....
the parish had a population of 1,212. The River Derwent
River Derwent, Yorkshire
The Derwent is a river in Yorkshire in the north of England. It is used for water abstraction, leisure and sporting activities and effluent disposal as well as being of significant importance as the site of several nature reserves...
forms part of the 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...
boundary and an ancient stone bridge connects Elvington with Sutton upon Derwent
Sutton upon Derwent
Sutton upon Derwent is a small village and civil parish on the River Derwent in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, approximately to the south-east of York. The population stood at only 575 in the 2001 UK census,...
.
Elvington was 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...
until local government boundary changes in 1974, when it became part of 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 in 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...
. In 1996 it became part of the City of York 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...
.
History
The village is mentioned in the Domesday BookDomesday 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...
, which states that in 1066 Ulfketill had six carucate
Carucate
The carucate or ploughland was a unit of assessment for tax used in most Danelaw counties of England, and is found for example in Domesday Book. The carucate was based on the area a plough team of eight oxen could till in a single annual season...
s of land taxable, where three ploughs were possible. There is in 1086 a further mention of the church, which is Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
in origin and exists in part today.
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville KG, jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury and 8th and 5th Baron Montacute , known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was an English nobleman, administrator, and military commander...
, was in control of the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
until his death. In the village there is Elvington Hall, built during Elizabethan times; famous writer Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy; but he also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics...
lived there for a period of his childhood; Roger Jacques and Simone Sterne, his grandparents, controlled the manor prior to 1700.
The town was once the home of the Scottish author and screenwriter, Hugo Charteris
Hugo Charteris
Hugo Francis Guy Charteris, MC was a Scottish novelist and screenwriter. Charteris wrote nine novels, seventeen television screenplays and numerous children's books and short stories.-Biography:...
, who died of cancer in 1970 at his home in the village.
1900s onwards
Between 1913 and 1926 Elvington was served by a passenger service on the Derwent Valley Light RailwayDerwent Valley Light Railway
The Derwent Valley Light Railway was a privately-owned standard-gauge railway running from Layerthorpe on the outskirts of York to Cliffe Common near Selby in North Yorkshire, England. It opened in 1913, and closed in sections between 1965 and 1981...
. The line was open for freight traffic until 1973.
During 1942, the airfield RAF Elvington
RAF Elvington
RAF Elvington, located at Elvington, south east of York in Yorkshire was a Royal Air Force bomber base which operated from the beginning of World War II until 1992.-History:...
was built; it was used in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The airfield was vacated in 1958 and by May 1986 parts of it were turned into the Yorkshire Air Museum
Yorkshire Air Museum
The Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial, , is an air museum in England. The museum was founded, and first opened to the public, in the early 1980s....
, open to the general public. The airfield still had the status of a relief landing ground until September 1992. It is now used for motorsports and an airshow
Airshow
An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....
.
Today
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
in 1990. There is a bus service (number 195) operated by EYMS to York, running two or three buses each day.
The Grey Horse Inn is a public house located in the centre of the village. The village also has a church, shop, primary school, and sports field. There are a number of organised clubs and societies operating within the village, including drama, Scouts
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
, various sewing groups, a youth group, a toddler group and playgroup.
Elvington has one of the most unusual homes in Britain. In 2006, a derelict bowling alley
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
was converted into a private home whilst still incorporating a 55 feet (16.8 m) bowling lane. The original bowling alley was built in the 1950s for U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
troops stationed at RAF Elvington and it was a regular meeting place for members of Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
.
Elvington is also home to the turf growers Rolawn
Rolawn
Rolawn Limited has become Europe's largest producer of lawn turf. Based in the North of England in the county of North Yorkshire, Rolawn is a widely known name in the UK turf industry, partly because of the quantity of turf that the company is able to produce on a regular basis and partly because...
who are one of Europe's largest companies of its kind.
Airfield
The Yorkshire Air Museum is based at Elvington Airfield, a former World War II bomber station. The main runway was expanded in the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
era to become one of the longest in Europe, which enabled it to accept large American bombers such as the B52
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
. The Yorkshire Airshow, the largest airshow in the north of England, was held here annually (now bi-annually) during August.
The airfield has a large race track
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
, which is frequently used for drag racing
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
and other motorsport events. In November 1966, Italian motor scooter rider Alberto Ancillotti on his Lambretta bike established the 106 mph terminal speed record at this venue.
In the 1970s the airfield was the outdoor location for a series of Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt!
Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt!
Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt! was a popular ITV situation comedy which ran from 1974 to 1977.It starred Bill Maynard as the council labourer, Scarsdale Working Men’s Club secretary, hapless handyman and all-round public nuisance Selwyn Froggitt. It was created by Roy Clarke, who wrote the pilot...
, a situation comedy on British television. On 20 September 2006, the airfield also played host to television's Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond
Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
and his near-fatal drive in the Vampire Dragster; contrary to some reports at the time, this was not an attempt at the British land speed record
Land speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
.