Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire

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Coordinates: 53°59′20″N 0°54′45″W / 53.989000°N 0.912544°W / 53.989000; -0.912544

Stamford Bridge
The road bridge at Stamford Bridge over the River Derwent.jpg
William Etty's 1727 bridge across the Derwent
Stamford Bridge is located in East Riding of Yorkshire
Stamford Bridge

 Stamford Bridge shown within the East Riding of Yorkshire
Population 3,394 (2001 census)[1]
OS grid reference SE710550
Civil parish Stamford Bridge
Unitary authority East Riding of Yorkshire
Ceremonial county East Riding of Yorkshire
Region Yorkshire and the Humber
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town YORK
Postcode district YO41
Dialling code 01759
Police Humberside
Fire Humberside
Ambulance Yorkshire
EU Parliament Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament East Yorkshire
List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire

Stamford Bridge is a village and civil parish on the River Derwent in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, approximately 7 miles (11 km) east of York.

Contents

[edit] Location and history

The village sits astride an ancient ford on the River Derwent.

The Romans established a fort here about 70 AD, around which later developed a large linear civilian settlement focused on a bridge one mile (1.6 km) south of the present town. Iter I of the Antonine Itinerary lists "Derventio" as being seven Roman miles from Eboracum (York) which matches the distance from York. In relation to known discoveries under the town of Malton, antiquaries always assumed that Malton should be called Derventio. The remains at Stamford Bridge were not known to them, lying undiscovered under arable and pasture fields until quite recently. In consideration of this archaeological evidence, and in absence of any other possible contenders, Stamford Bridge should be considered to be Roman Derventio.

The Battle of Stamford Bridge on 25 September 1066 marked the end of the Viking era in Britain.

The settlement was called Pons Belli by the Normans, meaning battle bridge. Rents of freeholders and cottagers were recorded in 1368 and there was a common oven recorded the same year.

The A166 east-west road crossing the river at Stamford Bridge is one of the main roads from York to the East Riding and the coast. The road bridge in the village was closed on 5 March 2007, for just over 11 weeks, so that essential repairs could be carried out, in light of the enormous volume of traffic that uses it, exceptional for such an old bridge (dating from 1727). The bridge re-opened on 22 May.

In 1882 the population was 449; in the 2001 UK census the parish population was 3,394.[1]

The village suffered from record floods in November 2000 which seriously flooded 30 businesses and homes. Flood defences have now been installed, costing £3.7 million.

The history of Stamford Bridge is covered in British History Online: Catton Kexby, Scoreby, and Stamford Bridge West, [2] and Catton High and Low Catton and Stamford Bridge East [3]

[edit] Natural history

[edit] Flooding

The River Derwent divides Stamford Bridge into two. It rises in the North Yorkshire Moors and flows south west rather than taking a direct route to the North Sea. It eventually joins the River Ouse north of the village of Long Drax, before flowing ultimately into the Humber Estuary.

During 4/5 March 1999, exceptional levels of rainfall were experienced in the Derwent catchment area, reaching 125 millimetres (4.9 in) inside a 24 hour period. The situation was worsened by melting snow which had earlier accumulated on the North York Moors.

The conditions deteriorated and by Sunday 7 March large areas of Stamford Bridge were under water and a final flooding depth of approximately 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) was recorded by Monday 8 March.

At the height of the flooding the River Derwent reach the peak of 5m above its normal level, the highest level ever recorded exceeding the previous highest in 1931 by 0.5 metres (20 in).

However, the following year a new record flood level was set. In October 2000 the Derwent again burst its banks and peaked slightly above the 1999 flood level.

Work started in Autumn 2003 to build new flood defences for Stamford Bridge and in Autumn 2004, work on the defences were finished.[2]

The flood defences were breached, and much of the village square was under water, on the morning of 26 June 2007, in the wake of exceptional rainfall over the previous 24 hours.

[edit] Landmarks

Stamford Bridge has several notable landmarks:

  • Corn Mill
  • Bridge over the River Derwent
  • Viaduct
  • Railway Station with platforms, built for the York and North Midland Railway about 1847; grade II listed[3]
  • Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, built 1828 in yellow brick;[4] grade II listed[5]
  • Bay Horse Inn, late 18th to early 19th century public house; grade II listed[6]
  • Derwent Plastics factory, on the west side of the river, was established in 1934 when a former brewery was converted into a workshop
  • memorial commemorating the Battle of Stamford Bridge has been built at the edge of new housing estate overlooking the field where the battle is thought to have taken place

[edit] The Mill

The Cornmill is a late 18th to early 19th century Grade II listed water mill.[7] It is thought[by whom?] to have been the third mill to have been built on the site with the same foundations. Research indicates that mills certainly existed at Stamford Bridge circa 1130-5 and “seven mills on one pond in the Derwent”[cite this quote] were recorded in 1258.

The current mill was possibly expanded in 1847-50 when nearly £1,000 was spent on it. Subsequently there were two water wheels and seven pairs of grinding stones. The mill ceased operation in 1964 and was converted into a restaurant in 1967. More recently the Cornmill was converted into twelve two-bedroom apartments but some of the original equipment remains.

[edit] The Bridge

There has been a river crossing since at least Roman times. The river 250 metres upstream of the current bridge was passable except at times of flood via a natural rock ford. There was a bridge at or near the village in the 11th century as one is referred to in accounts of the battle of 1066, noted in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Manuscript 'C'. Archaeological research has shown that there was a bridge crossing of the River Derwent one mile (1.6 km) south of the present village which linked the east and west bank of the Roman settlement of Derventio.

In the medieval period a new bridge made of timber supported on three stone piers was erected. Records show that this was repaired in the 13th and 16th centuries. A map from 1724 shows this bridge to have been 70 metres upstream from the current bridge.

In the 18th century the weir and the by-pass canal and lock, known as the New Cut, were built and the medieval bridge was replaced with the current structure.

The present bridge was designed by William Etty under an Act of 1725 and completed in 1727. The bridge was strengthened in the 1960s and at the same time the adjacent pedestrian bridge was erected.[8]

The bridge is a Grade II listed monument.[9]

[edit] The Viaduct

Opened on 3 October 1847, the viaduct originally carried the York to Beverley railway line across the Derwent. It consists of red brick arches on either side of a single wider wrought-iron span that crosses the river. The last train ran across the viaduct on 27 November 1965. Now disused the condition of the viaduct deteriorated to the point that East Yorkshire Borough Council announced their intention to demolish it in 1991. The plans were ultimately shelved after bitter protests from rail campaigners. The viaduct has since been repaired and made safe, forms part of a public cycle route, and is Grade II listed.[10]

[edit] Education

The village school was first built in Main Street in 1795 as a result of a legacy left by Christopher Wharton. Education was provided free for 12 poor boys and 6 poor girls who had to provide one shilling a year for kindling. Pay scholars were also taught and by 1822 the school population numbered 30. 1874 saw compulsory education and in 1911 the East Riding County Council took over and built a school on the present Church Road site.

This original building was modernised and extended in 1968 and because of the rapid development of the village a further extension was added in 1978. In April 1983 a new infants building, in Godwinsway, Stamford Bridge, was added to the school. Built for 120 infant children it makes the school a split site establishment, but adds greatly to the educational provision for the children. In 2000 this building was also extended.

The nearest independent school is Pocklington School followed by Woodleigh School. A significant number of Woodleigh's pupils come from the Stamford Bridge area.

[edit] Commerce

Even though the journey from York to the North Sea coast is just an hour, Stamford Bridge remains a popular stopping point for travellers on the A166. Most stops are for refreshment, usually required due to the long queues to get over the one lane bridge, at one of the establishments located around The Square.

The facilities located in central Stamford Bridge include:

  • a Post Office and solicitors
  • an estate agent
  • a convenience store, a newsagent, a butcher/baker and a pharmacist
  • caravan park
  • nursing home
  • three pubs, The Three Cups and The Swordsman (which both provide food), and The Bay Horse. The premises for a fourth pub (The Stamford) are currently closed and unoccupied
  • fast food which is served by a pizza/kebab shop, a fish and chip shop, a Chinese take-away, and a sandwich shop
  • hardware/gardening store
  • modern purpose built veterinary clinic, a dental practice and a doctor's surgery
  • two car repair garages
  • a specialist whisky shop
  • an electrical goods store
  • a local pottery shop in the village square sells hand created wares and runs pottery classes/sessions
  • a hair dressing salon and a beauty/therapy salon
  • florist, which also serves hot drinks.
  • funeral director

In recent years Stamford Bridge has lost the services of a petrol filling station, ladies clothing shop, bank, and a cafe and hotel which have all closed.

[edit] Other facilities

The village has several other facilities available for locals and visitors.

  • Walks - There are well signposted public footpaths along the River Derwent both towards Low Catton (via the Viking Road carpark) and Buttercrambe (via the Corn Mill carpark). They provide mainly rural picturesque scenery and are unpaved.
  • Carparking - Spaces available in the Village Square and also a large free public carpark is located near the A166 road bridge and Viking Road.
  • Village Hall and Scout Hall - Located on Low Catton Road
  • Cricket Club - Located on Low Catton Road
  • Churches - Methodist Church in Village Square and Church of England located on Church Road
  • Sports Hall - Behind the Old Station Club.
  • Community First Responder Group - A scheme has been in existence since 2005, supported jointly by the Parish Council and Yorkshire Ambulance Service

[edit] Famous residents

[edit] Public transport

The village is served by two bus routes. The number 10 route is operated by First York (and York Pullman in the evenings) with a regular service via Dunnington to the centre of York and then Poppleton. East Yorkshire Motor Services operate an occasional service (No 747) between York and Stamford Bridge continuing to Full Sutton, Fangfoss and Pocklington. Information as at October 2011.

The station on the York to Beverley railway line was opened in 1847 and closed in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts.[11]

The Minsters Rail Campaign is campaigning to re-open the railway line between Beverley and York (with stops at Stamford Bridge, Pocklington and Market Weighton). The re-opened railway would skirt the eastern edge of the town as the former alignment has since been developed. [12].

[edit] Photos

  • The former railway viaduct over the River Derwent

  • Old level crossing gate

  • People going for a walk around Stamford Bridge

  • External view of Mill in 2006 after conversion to flats.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Stamford Bridge CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=791046&c=Stamford+Bridge&d=16&e=15&g=391140&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1211319655907&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779. Retrieved 20 May 2008. 
  2. ^ A Guide to Stamford Bridge Flood Defence Scheme (2007). Helping Protect You and Your Property. Environment Agency. 
  3. ^ "Railway Station and Platforms", National Heritage List for England, English Heritage. Retrieved 4 December 2011
  4. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; The Buildings of England. Yorkshire: York and the East Riding p. 350; Penguin (1972); reprinted 1975, Pevsner Architectural Guides. ISBN 0140710434
  5. ^ "Wesleyan Methodist Chapel", National Heritage List for England, English Heritage. Retrieved 4 December 2011
  6. ^ "Bay Horse Inn", National Heritage List for England, English Heritage. Retrieved 4 December 2011
  7. ^ "The Corn Mill", National Heritage List for England, English Heritage. Retrieved 4 December 2011
  8. ^ A166 Stamford Bridge Major Maintenance Works - public news leaflet sent to homes in Stamford Bridge (April 2007). History of the Bridge. East Riding of Yorkshire Council & Interserve. 
  9. ^ "Bridge over River Derwent", National Heritage List for England, English Heritage. Retrieved 4 December 2011
  10. ^ "Stamford Bridge railway viaduct", National Heritage List for England, English Heritage. Retrieved 4 December 2011
  11. ^ Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0508-1. OCLC 60251199. 
  12. ^ [1], Minstersrail.net.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2012
  • Gazetteer — A–Z of Towns Villages and Hamlets. East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 2006. p. 10. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Stamford Bridge
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