Ulshaw Bridge Explained

Official Name:Ulshaw Bridge
Country:England
Unitary England:North Yorkshire
Lieutenancy England:North Yorkshire
Region:Yorkshire and the Humber
Static Image Name:Bridge over the River Ure at Ulshaw - geograph.org.uk - 2983189.jpg
Static Image Alt:A stone bridge spanning a river
Static Image Caption:Bridge over the River Ure at Ulshaw
Coordinates:54.281°N -1.778°W
Label Position:left
Post Town:LEYBURN
Postcode District:DL8
Postcode Area:DL
Civil Parish:Thornton Steward

Ulshaw Bridge is a hamlet on the River Ure, in the civil parish of Thornton Steward, in North Yorkshire, England, near to Middleham. The hamlet derives its name partly from the Medieval stone bridge which spans the River Ure to the immediate south of the hamlet. Ulshaw Bridge is 2.5miles west of Thornton Steward, and 1.25miles east of Middleham.[1]

History

The hamlet of Ulshaw Bridge is shown on mapping as being on either side of Ulshaw Bridge, straddling the River Ure, though most houses and the Catholic church are on the north bank of the river.[2] The name Ulshaw is first recorded in 1158 as Wolueshowe, which is believed to have derived from the Old Norse of Ulf and Haugr (Ulf's mound).[3] Ulshaw has been mentioned as the possible location where Oswin, King of Deira, dismissed his army so that he could retire to a monastery.[4] However Speight states that this is a mis-recording, and that the location is to the north west of Catterick, not the south west.

In 1563, when the Black Death ravaged nearby East Witton, the market was moved from there and held at Ulshaw Bridge instead, however it was noted as having been unable to be resurrected at East Witton.[5] The bridge itself is undated, though it has been recorded that Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland left £20 in his will of 1424 towards the building of the bridge, described as the "Houseway Bridge over the [River] Eure".[6] The structure was originally believed to have been built in timber, but was constructed of stone between 1673 and 1674, the bridge was repaired at a cost of £1,000, .[7] Ulshaw Bridge is believed to have been a crossing point since Roman times, and it is now grade II listed, including a sundial located above one of the piers. The Roman Road which crossed at this point, is believed to have led towards Addlebrough.[8]

St Simon and St Jude's Church, Ulshaw Bridge, is to the east of the bridge and is unusual to be a Catholic church in a small North Yorkshire hamlet.[9] This is because the church, which was rebuilt by Joseph Hansom in the Byzantine style, is a direct replacement for the Catholic chapel at nearby Danby Hall, seat of the Scrope family.[10] The Scropes are a Catholic family and maintained the tradition despite being labelled as recusants since the time of Elizabeth I.[11] The present church building is accessed by an open staircase which leads to a south door.[12] The church is grade II listed and the tower is prominent in the landscape.

Historically, the hamlet was in the manor of Wensley (recorded in 1277), and was listed as being in the wapentake of Hang West, and the parish of East Witton. Ulshaw Bridge is now within the civil parish of Thornton Steward.[13]

Ulshaw Bridge is also the name of a racehorse, named after the bridge over the river, which has been trained by James Bethell at nearby Middleham.[14]

References

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Mogg . Edward . Paterson's Roads ... The sixteenth edition ... Remodelled, augmented, and improved . 1824 . Longman . London . 538. 563806923.
  2. Web site: List Entry 1021078 . mapservices.historicengland.org.uk . 4 January 2022.
  3. Web site: Ulshaw Bridge :: Survey of English Place-Names . epns.nottingham.ac.uk . 4 January 2022.
  4. Book: Whellan . T . History and topography of the city of York and the North Riding of Yorkshire; embracing a general review of the early history of Great Britain, and a general history and description of the County of York . 1859 . John Green . York . 452. 963782088.
  5. Web site: Genuki: EAST WITTON: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1890., Yorkshire (North Riding) . www.genuki.org.uk . 4 January 2022.
  6. News: Swallow . H. J. . De Nova Villa; or, the House of Nevill in the sunshine and shade. Newcastle Courant . 10942 . 3 October 1884 . Column B . 2. 639739794.
  7. Book: Chalklin . C. W. . English counties and public building, 1650-1830 . 1998 . Hambledon Press . London . 1852851538 . 111.
  8. Book: Bogg . Edmund . From Edenvale to the plains of York : or, a thousand miles in the valleys of Nidd and Yore . 1894 . Edmund Bogg . Leeds . 267. 931337530.
  9. News: Countryman's Diary - Tragedy that touches so many . 4 January 2022 . The Northern Echo . 16 March 2001.
  10. Web site: SS Simon and Jude, Ulshaw Bridge Middlesbrough Diocese . middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk . 4 January 2022.
  11. News: Revealing the proud history of a small Dales community . 4 January 2022 . Darlington and Stockton Times . 16 January 2009.
  12. Book: Pevsner . Nikolaus . Yorkshire, the North Riding . 2002 . Yale University Press . New Haven . 0300096658 . 153.
  13. Web site: Genuki: East Witton Supplementary, Yorkshire (North Riding) . www.genuki.org.uk . 4 January 2022.
  14. News: Martini . Peter . EBOR FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Bethell charge Ulshaw Bridge seeking follow-up success on opening day . 5 January 2022 . York Press . 18 August 2017.