Ulshaw Bridge
A stone bridge spanning a river
Bridge over the River Ure at Ulshaw
Ulshaw Bridge is located in North Yorkshire
Ulshaw Bridge
Ulshaw Bridge
Location within North Yorkshire
Civil parish
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLEYBURN
Postcode districtDL8
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire

Ulshaw Bridge is a hamlet on the River Ure, near to Middleham, in North Yorkshire, England. 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 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Thornton Steward, and 1.25 miles (2 km) east of Middleham.[1]

History

The hamlet of Ulshaw Bridge is shown on mapping as being on either side of the 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][5] However Speight states that this is a mis-recording, and that the location is 10 miles (16 km) to the north west of Catterick, not the south west.[6]

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.[7] 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,[8] described as the "Houseway Bridge over the [River] Eure".[9] 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, (equivalent to £153,000 in 2021).[10][11] 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.[12] The Roman Road which crossed at this point, is believed to have led towards Addlebrough.[13]

The church of Saint Peter and Saint Jude, is to the east of the bridge and is unusual to be a Catholic church in a small North Yorkshire hamlet.[4] This is because the church, which was rebuilt c. 1867–1868 by Joseph Hansom in the Byzantine style, is a direct replacement for the Catholic chapel at nearby Danby Hall, seat of the Scrope family.[14] The Scropes are a Catholic family and maintained the tradition despite being labelled as recusants since the time of Elizabeth I.[15] The present church building is accessed by an open staircase which leads to a south door.[16] The church is grade II listed and the tower is prominent in the landscape.[17]

Historically, the hamlet was in the manor of Wensley (recorded in 1277),[18] 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.[19][20]

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.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Mogg, Edward (1824). Paterson's Roads ... The sixteenth edition ... Remodelled, augmented, and improved. London: Longman. p. 538. OCLC 563806923.
  2. ↑ "List Entry 1021078" (PDF). mapservices.historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "Ulshaw Bridge :: Survey of English Place-Names". epns.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Countryman's Diary - Tragedy that touches so many". The Northern Echo. 16 March 2001. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  5. ↑ Whellan, T (1859). 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. York: John Green. p. 452. OCLC 963782088.
  6. ↑ Speight 1897, p. 172.
  7. ↑ "Genuki: EAST WITTON: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1890., Yorkshire (North Riding)". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Speight 1897, p. 347.
  9. ↑ Swallow, H. J. (3 October 1884). "De Nova Villa; or, the House of Nevill in the sunshine and shade". Newcastle Courant. No. 10942. Column B. p. 2. OCLC 639739794.
  10. ↑ Speight 1897, p. 348.
  11. ↑ Chalklin, C. W. (1998). English counties and public building, 1650-1830. London: Hambledon Press. p. 111. ISBN 1852851538.
  12. ↑ Historic England. "Ulshaw Bridge (Grade II) (1021078)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  13. ↑ Bogg, Edmund (1894). From Edenvale to the plains of York : or, a thousand miles in the valleys of Nidd and Yore. Leeds: Edmund Bogg. p. 267. OCLC 931337530.
  14. ↑ "SS Simon and Jude, Ulshaw Bridge | Middlesbrough Diocese". middlesbrough-diocese.org.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "Revealing the proud history of a small Dales community". Darlington and Stockton Times. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  16. ↑ Pevsner, Nikolaus (2002). Yorkshire, the North Riding. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 153. ISBN 0300096658.
  17. ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Simon and St Jude (Grade II) (1179704)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  18. ↑ Speight 1897, p. 381.
  19. ↑ "Genuki: East Witton Supplementary, Yorkshire (North Riding)". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  20. ↑ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Thornton Steward Parish (E04007531)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  21. ↑ Martini, Peter (18 August 2017). "EBOR FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Bethell charge Ulshaw Bridge seeking follow-up success on opening day". York Press. Retrieved 5 January 2022.

Sources

  • Speight, Harry (1897). Romantic Richmondshire. Being a complete account of the history, antiquities and scenery of the picturesque valleys of the Swale and Yore. London: E Stock. OCLC 7241488.
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