A168 road
Encyclopedia
The A168 is a major road in North Yorkshire
, England
. It runs from Northallerton
to Wetherby
, acting as a local access road for the A1(M).
The original route ran from Topcliffe
to Northallerton
, the current southern section of the A167.
) near junction 45 of the A1(M). This section of road was built when the A1 was improved to A1(M) in the Bramham to Wetherby section of the A1 Darrington to Dishforth scheme which was completed in December 2009. At Sweep Farm it follows the route of the former A1. It meets the eastern terminus of the A58
at a roundabout, and follows the former A1 Wetherby bypass across the River Wharfe
, built in 1959. It runs next to the motorway Wetherby bypass and there is a roundabout for the former B1224, for Wetherby Racecourse
. There is a roundabout for an industrial estate and then one for the newly-diverted B1224, and junction 46 of the A1(M), where it rejoins the former Great North Road. There is a junction for Kirk Deighton
then one for Cowthorpe
. At Walshford Bridge it crosses the River Nidd
.
The former route of the A1 went through Walshford
. The A1 Wetherby to Walshford section opened in August 2005, when the former A1 south of Walshford became the A168. At Great Ribston with Walshford there is a roundabout for Walshford west of the A1(M), and on the eastern side, there is a roundabout for Hunsingore
. The A168 from 1995-2005 terminated at Walshford, where the A1(M) joined the A1. The former A1 north of Walshford became the A168 when the thirteen-mile Walshford to Dishforth section was built by Alfred McAlpine
and AMEC
, and opened by John Arthur Watts
in November 1995. At Allerton Mauleverer with Hopperton
it passes under the A59, accessed from a turn to the right which leads to Allerton Castle
. Flaxby Golf Club is to the left, near Flaxby
. There is a left turn for Arkendale
, and right turns for Marton
and Grafton. At junction 48 of the A1(M) it meets the A6055
for Knaresborough
, to the south-west. The former course of the Great North Road carries straight on through Boroughbridge
. The A168 follows the former course of the A1 bypass, next to the current A1(M), to the west of the town. It crosses the River Ure
and at Kirby Hill
there is a roundabout for the B6265 for Ripon to the west.
It resumes the route of the Great North Road. At the point where it runs parallel to runway of the former RAF Dishforth
at Norton-le-Clay
, it joins the route of the Roman road
Dere Street
. The road becomes the parish boundary between Marton-le-Moor
and Dishforth
. At Dishforth, the road leaves Dere Street
and forms part of junction 49 of the A1(M). The A1 junction was planned in the 1970s to be the northern terminus of the A6183, a motorway-standard road that bypassed Leeds to the west from Kirkhamgate
, north-west of Wakefield. The scheme was eventually condensed into the A1-M1 motorway link road and the improvement of the A1 to Dishforth. The A168 becomes the main route from the A1 to Teesside, joining the short section of the A168(M), and a trunk road
. The former route went through Dishforth, to the south. The South of Topcliffe and Asenby By-pass, including Dishforth by-pass section was built in 1970, connecting with the A1 at the Dishforth Roundabout. At Asenby
, the A167
leaves to the left, which is the former route of the A168, and the A168 bypasses Asenby and Topcliffe
, crossing the River Swale
, and consequently entering the district of Hambleton
. The Topcliffe and Asenby By-pass was built in the late 1960s. There is a left turn for Topcliffe, the A167, also for RAF Topcliffe
(which is still operational), and access to the east for Dalton
and the former RAF Dalton
. RAF Dishforth, Dalton, and Topcliffe were all used by No. 6 Group RCAF
during the Second World War. It rejoins the former route. The South of Thirsk By-pass to north of Topcliffe and Asenby By-pass section opened in the late 1960s. In the parish of Topcliffe, there is a left turn for Sowerby
, the B1448, the former route of the A168. The road becomes part of the Thirsk bypass, and at Sowerby crosses the East Coast Main Line
, then Cod Beck
. At Pudding Pie Hill it meets the A170
at a grade-separated junction, where the road continues as the A19
to Teesside
. The improvements from the A1 to Thirsk in the late 1960s originally included classifying that section as the A19, not the A168. The Thirsk by-pass opened as the A19 in September 1972.
At Thornbrough
, at the northern end of the Thirsk by-pass, the A168 leaves to the left at a grade-separated junction. It crosses the Cod Beck
, and there is a left turn for the B1448, the former A168. Thirsk and Northallerton Golf Club is to the left. It passes through Thornton-le-Street
. Thornton-le-Moor
is to the left. Thornton-le-Beans
is to the right. The Vale of Mowbray
is to the west. It enters Romanby
then Northallerton
as Thirsk Road and the northern terminus of the road is with the A167 in the town centre at a roundabout.
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It runs from Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
to Wetherby
Wetherby
Wetherby is a market town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, in West Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Wharfe, and has been for centuries a crossing place and staging post on the Great North Road, being mid-way between London and Edinburgh...
, acting as a local access road for the A1(M).
History
The majority of it was built during A1 upgrades as parts of it between Dishforth and Walshford are originally part of the old A1 southbound carriageway until it was upgraded to the A1(M) several feet to the west.The original route ran from Topcliffe
Topcliffe
Topcliffe may refer to:*Topcliffe, North Yorkshire*Topcliffe, West Yorkshire*RAF Topcliffe*Richard Topcliffe...
to Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
, the current southern section of the A167.
Route
Heading northwards, it begins at the roundabout with the A659 (Wattlesyke for CollinghamCollingham, West Yorkshire
Collingham is a village and civil parish south east of Wetherby in West Yorkshire, England. It is in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough. The clergyman, the Reverend William Mompesson was born there in 1639....
) near junction 45 of the A1(M). This section of road was built when the A1 was improved to A1(M) in the Bramham to Wetherby section of the A1 Darrington to Dishforth scheme which was completed in December 2009. At Sweep Farm it follows the route of the former A1. It meets the eastern terminus of the A58
A58 road
The A58 is a major road in northern England that runs between Prescot, Merseyside and Wetherby, West Yorkshire.It runs north east from Prescot on the outskirts of Liverpool via St Helens, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Hindley, Westhoughton, Bolton, Bury, Heywood, Rochdale and Littleborough then over the...
at a roundabout, and follows the former A1 Wetherby bypass across the River Wharfe
River Wharfe
The River Wharfe is a river in Yorkshire, England. For much of its length it is the county boundary between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. The name Wharfe is Celtic and means "twisting, winding".The valley of the River Wharfe is known as Wharfedale...
, built in 1959. It runs next to the motorway Wetherby bypass and there is a roundabout for the former B1224, for Wetherby Racecourse
Wetherby Racecourse
Wetherby Racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse situated near the market town of Wetherby in West Yorkshire, England, located from Leeds city centre.-Location:...
. There is a roundabout for an industrial estate and then one for the newly-diverted B1224, and junction 46 of the A1(M), where it rejoins the former Great North Road. There is a junction for Kirk Deighton
Kirk Deighton
Kirk Deighton is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated to the immediate north west of Wetherby and near the A1. The village has a population of less than 500 people. Kirk Deighton is set along the county border line between West Yorkshire...
then one for Cowthorpe
Cowthorpe
Cowthorpe is a village in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated north of Wetherby, from Knaresborough and from York.-St Michael's Church :...
. At Walshford Bridge it crosses the River Nidd
River Nidd
The River Nidd is a tributary of the River Ouse in the English county of North Yorkshire. In its first few miles it is dammed three times to create Angram Reservoir, Scar House Reservoir and Gouthwaite Reservoir which attract around 150,000 visitors a year...
.
The former route of the A1 went through Walshford
Walshford
Walshford is a hamlet in the Harrogate District, in the county of North Yorkshire.- Location :Walshford is located on the A168 road and on the River Nidd.- Nearby settlements :...
. The A1 Wetherby to Walshford section opened in August 2005, when the former A1 south of Walshford became the A168. At Great Ribston with Walshford there is a roundabout for Walshford west of the A1(M), and on the eastern side, there is a roundabout for Hunsingore
Hunsingore
Hunsingore is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated near the River Nidd and the A1 road motorway, about west of York.-People associated with Hunsingore:* John Goodricke...
. The A168 from 1995-2005 terminated at Walshford, where the A1(M) joined the A1. The former A1 north of Walshford became the A168 when the thirteen-mile Walshford to Dishforth section was built by Alfred McAlpine
Alfred McAlpine
Alfred McAlpine plc was a British construction firm headquartered in London. It was a major road builder, and constructed over 10% of Britain's motorways, including the M6 Toll...
and AMEC
AMEC
AMEC plc is a global consultancy, engineering and project management company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is focused on the oil and gas, minerals and metals, renewable energy, environment and infrastructure sectors and has offices in 40 countries worldwide...
, and opened by John Arthur Watts
John Arthur Watts
John Arthur Watts was a Conservative Party Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom House of Commons between 1983 and 1997....
in November 1995. At Allerton Mauleverer with Hopperton
Allerton Mauleverer with Hopperton
Allerton Mauleverer with Hopperton is a civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 130.The parish includes Allerton Mauleverer and Hopperton....
it passes under the A59, accessed from a turn to the right which leads to Allerton Castle
Allerton Castle
Allerton Castle, formerly "Allerton Park" is a Grade I listed nineteenth century Gothic or Victorian Gothic house at Allerton Mauleverer in North Yorkshire, England...
. Flaxby Golf Club is to the left, near Flaxby
Flaxby
Flaxby is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is in close proximity to the A1 road and east of Knaresborough.Flaxby was once part of the wapentake of Claro....
. There is a left turn for Arkendale
Arkendale
Arkendale is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is seven miles north-east of Harrogate town, and a had a population of 278 according to the 2001 census. It consists of a Pub, a Village Hall, a Church and is close to Staveley village....
, and right turns for Marton
Marton, Harrogate
Marton is a village in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north west of the city of York and north east of the market town of Knaresborough...
and Grafton. At junction 48 of the A1(M) it meets the A6055
A6055 road
The A6055 is a seven mile stretch of road in North Yorkshire. It runs in a NNE direction from the A59 at Bond End in Knaresborough where it is called Boroughbridge Road, through the Stockwells Estate. It exits Knaresborough just past Greengate Lane where it turns directly north, before once again...
for Knaresborough
Knaresborough
Knaresborough is an old and historic market town, spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located on the River Nidd, four miles east of the centre of Harrogate.-History:...
, to the south-west. The former course of the Great North Road carries straight on through Boroughbridge
Boroughbridge
Boroughbridge is a small town and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of York. Until its bypass was built, it was on the main A1 road from London to Edinburgh...
. The A168 follows the former course of the A1 bypass, next to the current A1(M), to the west of the town. It crosses the River Ure
River Ure
The River Ure is a river in North Yorkshire, England, approximately long from its source to the point where it changes name to the River Ouse. It is the principal river of Wensleydale, which is the only one of the Dales now named after a village rather than its river...
and at Kirby Hill
Kirby Hill, Harrogate
Kirby Hill is a small rural village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is approximately one mile north of the market town of Boroughbridge...
there is a roundabout for the B6265 for Ripon to the west.
It resumes the route of the Great North Road. At the point where it runs parallel to runway of the former RAF Dishforth
RAF Dishforth
Dishforth Airfield is a Royal Air Force/British Army station in North Yorkshire, England. It is currently an Army Air Corps helicopter base and a Relief Landing Ground for RAF Linton-on-Ouse. It is located next to the A1 at Junction 49 with the A168. Dishforth airfield is built over part of the...
at Norton-le-Clay
Norton-le-Clay
Norton-le-Clay is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated near the A1 motorway and north west of Boroughbridge. It is one of the Thankful Villages that suffered no fatalities during the Great War of 1914 to 1918....
, it joins the route of the Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
Dere Street
Dere Street
Dere Street or Deere Street, was a Roman road between Eboracum and Veluniate, in what is now Scotland. It still exists in the form of the route of many major roads, including the A1 and A68 just north of Corbridge.Its name corresponds with the post Roman Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Deira, through...
. The road becomes the parish boundary between Marton-le-Moor
Marton-le-Moor
Marton-le-Moor is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is very near the A1 road motorway and east of Ripon.According to the 2001 UK census, Marton-le-Moor parish had a population of 174....
and Dishforth
Dishforth
Dishforth is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is near RAF Dishforth, a local Army Air Corps helicopter base. The village is close to the A1 and the A168. The original route of the Great North Road runs through the village but an airbase was built...
. At Dishforth, the road leaves Dere Street
Dere Street
Dere Street or Deere Street, was a Roman road between Eboracum and Veluniate, in what is now Scotland. It still exists in the form of the route of many major roads, including the A1 and A68 just north of Corbridge.Its name corresponds with the post Roman Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Deira, through...
and forms part of junction 49 of the A1(M). The A1 junction was planned in the 1970s to be the northern terminus of the A6183, a motorway-standard road that bypassed Leeds to the west from Kirkhamgate
Kirkhamgate
Kirkhamgate is a village, north-west of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.It originated as a hamlet in the Alverthorpe township in the parish of Wakefield in the West Riding of Yorkshire.-Geography:...
, north-west of Wakefield. The scheme was eventually condensed into the A1-M1 motorway link road and the improvement of the A1 to Dishforth. The A168 becomes the main route from the A1 to Teesside, joining the short section of the A168(M), and a trunk road
Trunk road
A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...
. The former route went through Dishforth, to the south. The South of Topcliffe and Asenby By-pass, including Dishforth by-pass section was built in 1970, connecting with the A1 at the Dishforth Roundabout. At Asenby
Asenby
Asenby is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England, with a population of 285 . The village is about five miles south-west of Thirsk and seven miles east of Ripon. Mary Bateman was born in the village....
, the A167
A167 road
The A167 is a road in North East England. Most of its route was formerly the A1 as most of it is the original route of the Great North Road until the A1 was re-routed with the opening of the A1 in the 1960s....
leaves to the left, which is the former route of the A168, and the A168 bypasses Asenby and Topcliffe
Topcliffe, North Yorkshire
Topcliffe is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The village is situated on the River Swale, close to the A168 and about five miles south-west of Thirsk...
, crossing the River Swale
River Swale
The River Swale is a river in Yorkshire, England and a major tributary of the River Ure, which itself becomes the River Ouse, emptying into the North Sea via the Humber Estuary....
, and consequently entering the district of Hambleton
Hambleton
Hambleton is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. The main town and administrative centre is Northallerton, and includes the market towns and major villages of Bedale, Thirsk, Great Ayton, Stokesley and Easingwold....
. The Topcliffe and Asenby By-pass was built in the late 1960s. There is a left turn for Topcliffe, the A167, also for RAF Topcliffe
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Topcliffe is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire. It is a satellite station of RAF Linton-on-Ouse.Topcliffe opened in September 1940 as a bomber station in RAF Bomber Command and was home to 77 and 102 Squadrons flying the Whitley heavy bomber. There was a decoy site at Raskelf...
(which is still operational), and access to the east for Dalton
Dalton, Hambleton
Dalton is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is about 4 miles south of Thirsk and near the A168 road....
and the former RAF Dalton
RAF Dalton
RAF Dalton was an airfield used by RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War. It was a satellite or sub-station of nearby RAF Topcliffe and actually nearer to the village of Topcliffe than the station so named.-History:...
. RAF Dishforth, Dalton, and Topcliffe were all used by No. 6 Group RCAF
No. 6 Group RCAF
No. 6 Group RCAF was an organization of Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadrons which operated from airfields in Yorkshire, England during the Second World War. Although 6 Group was RCAF, it was controlled by the Royal Air Force as part of Bomber Command. No. 6 Group had been previously active...
during the Second World War. It rejoins the former route. The South of Thirsk By-pass to north of Topcliffe and Asenby By-pass section opened in the late 1960s. In the parish of Topcliffe, there is a left turn for Sowerby
Sowerby, North Yorkshire
Sowerby is a small village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England, it is situated immediately south of Thirsk....
, the B1448, the former route of the A168. The road becomes part of the Thirsk bypass, and at Sowerby crosses the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
, then Cod Beck
Cod Beck, North Yorkshire
Cod Beck is a river in North Yorkshire, England. It has a catchment area of .The river extends from above Cod Beck Reservoir at Osmotherley on the edge of the North York Moors through Thirsk and on to join the River Swale at Topcliffe....
. At Pudding Pie Hill it meets the A170
A170 road
The A170 is an A road in North Yorkshire, England. It begins at Thirsk, spouting off from the A19 road after about it reaches the very steep viewpoint Sutton Bank, after a steep climb it enters the North Yorkshire Moors and the Hambleton Hills then it reaches the small town of Helmsley and the...
at a grade-separated junction, where the road continues as the A19
A19 road
The A19 is a major road in England running approximately parallel to and east of the A1 road, although the two roads meet at the northern end of the A19, the two roads originally met at the southern end of the A19 in Doncaster but the old route of the A1 was changed to the A638. From Sunderland...
to Teesside
Teesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
. The improvements from the A1 to Thirsk in the late 1960s originally included classifying that section as the A19, not the A168. The Thirsk by-pass opened as the A19 in September 1972.
At Thornbrough
Thornbrough
Thornbrough is a civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England....
, at the northern end of the Thirsk by-pass, the A168 leaves to the left at a grade-separated junction. It crosses the Cod Beck
Cod Beck, North Yorkshire
Cod Beck is a river in North Yorkshire, England. It has a catchment area of .The river extends from above Cod Beck Reservoir at Osmotherley on the edge of the North York Moors through Thirsk and on to join the River Swale at Topcliffe....
, and there is a left turn for the B1448, the former A168. Thirsk and Northallerton Golf Club is to the left. It passes through Thornton-le-Street
Thornton-le-Street
Thornton-le-Street is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the A168 , about three miles north of Thirsk....
. Thornton-le-Moor
Thornton-le-Moor
Thornton-le-Moor is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England located equidistantly between the towns of Thirsk and Northallerton.- History :...
is to the left. Thornton-le-Beans
Thornton-le-Beans
Thornton-le-Beans is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It is on the A168 road and 3 miles south of Northallerton....
is to the right. The Vale of Mowbray
Vale of Mowbray
The Vale of Mowbray is a stretch of low lying land between the North Yorkshire Moors and the Hambleton Hills to the east and the Yorkshire Dales to the west...
is to the west. It enters Romanby
Romanby
Romanby is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. Romanby is situated just south-west of Northallerton, and at the 2001 UK census had a population of 6,051....
then Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
as Thirsk Road and the northern terminus of the road is with the A167 in the town centre at a roundabout.