Wetwang
| Wetwang | |
|---|---|
 St Nicholas Church | |
  Wetwang Location within the East Riding of Yorkshire | |
| Population | 761 (2011 census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SE932590 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DRIFFIELD |
| Postcode district | YO25 |
| Dialling code | 01377 |
| Police | Humberside |
| Fire | Humberside |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | |
Wetwang is a Yorkshire Wolds village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated 6 miles (10 kilometres) west of Driffield on the A166 road.
According to the 2011 UK census, Wetwang parish had a population of 761,[1] an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 672.[2]
St Nicholas' Church is of Norman origin and was restored between 1845–1902. In 1966, the church was designated a Grade II* listed building and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England.[3] It is on the Sykes Churches Trail devised by the East Yorkshire Churches Group.[4]
The village is known for its Iron Age chariot burial cemetery at Wetwang Slack,[5] and was previously known for its black swans after which the village pub, the Black Swan, is named.[6]
The village is recorded in the Domesday Book as Wetuuangha. There are two interpretations of the name, one from the Old Norse vaett-vangr, 'field for the trial of a legal action'. Another theory is that it was the "Wet Field" compared to the nearby dry field at Driffield.[7] It has been noted on lists of unusual place names.[8][9]
It has been hypothesised that the unlocated Romano-British town of Delgovicia is located at Wetwang.[10]
Public transport
Until 1950, the village was served by Wetwang railway station, on the Malton to Driffield Line, but this line has closed.[11] The village is now served by an infrequent East Yorkshire Motor Services bus.[12]
Honorary mayor
Its name (defined in The Meaning of Liff as meaning "a moist penis"[13]) often attracts mirth, even from Richard Whiteley of the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown; he held the honorary title Mayor of Wetwang from 1998 until his death in 2005.[14] On 25 June 2006, local weather forecaster Paul Hudson from BBC Look North was invested as Whiteley's successor.[15]
| Year | Mayor |
|---|---|
| 1998–2005 | Richard Whiteley |
| 2006– | Paul Hudson |
References
- ^ a b UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Wetwang Parish (1170211287)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ UK Census (2001). "Local Area Report – Wetwang Parish (00FB158)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ Historic England. "The Church of St Nicolas (1083774)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
- ^ "Sykes Churches Trail Southern Route". Beverley, East Yorkshire: East Yorkshire Historic Churches Group.
- ^ Loades, Mike (25 January 2005). "Wetwang: A Chariot Fit for a Queen?". History Trails Archaeology. BBC. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ Thompson, Karen. "The Villages of the Yorkshire Wolds – Wetwang". Driffield Online. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ Parker, Quentin (2010). Welcome to Horneytown, North Carolina, Population: 15: An insider's guide to 201 of the world's weirdest and wildest places. Adams Media. p. 191.
- ^ Lyall, Sarah (22 January 2009). "No Snickering: That Road Sign Means Something Else". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ "13 Town Names We Can't Stop Laughing Over". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ Rivet, A.L.F.; Smith, Colin (1979). The Place-Names of Roman Britain. London. pp. 331–332.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Butt, R. V. J. (October 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 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
- ^ "Service 135". East Yorkshire Motor Services. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ Adams, D.; Lloyd, J. (1983). "Wetwang". The Meaning of Liff. Pan Books. ISBN 0-330-28121-6.
- ^ "From Wilberforce to Mayor Whiteley". Yorkshire Post. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ "Paul Hudson – Weatherman". BBC Look North. BBC. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- Gazetteer — A–Z of Towns Villages and Hamlets. East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 2006. p. 11.
External links
- Wetwang in the Domesday Book
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