Birkin Explained

Country:England
Coordinates:53.7353°N -1.1969°W
Official Name:Birkin
Static Image Name:Birkin Village.jpg
Static Image Caption:Main street, Birkin
Population:141
Population Ref:(2011 census)
Civil Parish:Birkin
Unitary England:North Yorkshire
Lieutenancy England:North Yorkshire
Region:Yorkshire and the Humber
Post Town:KNOTTINGLEY
Postcode District:WF11
Postcode Area:WF
Os Grid Reference:SE530268

Birkin is a village and civil parish in the south-west of the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. It is north of the River Aire, near Beal, North Yorkshire. The closest town is Knottingley, in West Yorkshire, 4miles to the south-west. The parish had a population of 146 at the 2001 census, which fell to 141 at the 2011 census.[1] Until 1974, it was part of the West Riding district of Yorkshire.[2]

History

Birkin is recorded in the Domesday Book as 'Birchinge'. This and the present name suggest that, when the village was first established, it was in an area heavily laden with birch trees.[3] The village's St Mary's Church, built around 1150, is a Grade I listed building. The village is also notable as the birthplace of the 19th-century political philosopher Thomas Hill Green (b. 1836.)

The 2016 Tour de Yorkshire passed through Birkin in its second stage (Otley to Doncaster).[4]

Birkin has two lakes east of the village that are used for public fishing. It also has a tea room.[5]

St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church, situated at the southern end of Birkin, dates from around 1150.[6] Descriptions of the church refer to a number of monuments. One is a cartouche for the Thornton family: During the 17th century, several successive generations of this family were rectors of the church.[7] Another is an 18th-century wall monument dedicated to the wife of one of the rectors. It includes an inscription by Poet Laureate William Whitehead.[8] In the 1830s, the father of the political philosopher Thomas Hill Green was the rector of the church.[9]

In 2008, it was reported that the church had been damaged after the roof was targeted by lead thieves.[10]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parish population 2011. 15 August 2015. Office for National Statistics. Neighbourhood Statistics.
  2. Web site: History of Birkin, in Selby and West Riding Map and description. 2020-11-21. www.visionofbritain.org.uk.
  3. Web site: Yorkshire place names, as recorded in the Yorkshire Domenday book, 1086... . Turner . Joseph Horsfall . 1901 . 63, 243. 13 September 2016.
  4. Web site: Tour de Yorkshire 2016 . . 13 September 2016.
  5. http://www.fisharound.net/location/public/3177/Birkin-Fisheries Birkin Fisheries
  6. Web site: St Mary, Birkin . The Church of England . 13 September 2016 .
  7. Web site: Kelly's Directory of West Riding of Yorkshire, 1881. (Part 1) . E. R. . Kelly . 1881 . London . . 82 - 83. 13 September 2016 .
  8. Web site: 'Birkenshaw - Birmingham', in A Topographical Dictionary of England, ed. Samuel Lewis (London, 1848), pp. 255-263. . British History Online . 13 September 2016.
  9. Encyclopedia: Thomas Hill Green . . Tyler . Colin . 7 June 2011 . 13 September 2016.
  10. Web site: Fears over future for historic church after spate of thefts . . 7 March 2008 . 13 September 2016.