Bishopthorpe
Encyclopedia
Bishopthorpe is a village
and civil parish three miles south of York
in the City of York unitary authority
and ceremonial county
of North Yorkshire
, England. It is close to the River Ouse
, and has a population of 3,174. Prior to 1996 it was part of the Selby
district. The area of Main Street and the Palace were made a conservation area
in 1989 along with other open areas of the village.
It was formerly known as St Andrewthorpe, but in the 13th century, Archbishop Walter de Grey bought the manor house and gave it to the Dean and Chapter of York Minster
. This became Bishopthorpe Palace
, the residence of the Archbishop of York
. Many of the roads in Bishopthorpe are named after past Archbishops.
and referred to as Torp/Thorpe or Badetorps depending on which translation is used. It came to be known as Thorp-super-Usam or Thorpe-on-Ouse in 1194. By 1275 the Earliest written record of the name Bishopthorpe, spelt '"Biscupthorpe"' appears in documents. In 1202, Prior and monks of St. Andrews at Fishergate, built the first church here and dedicated it to their patron saint. The name Thorp-super-Usam therefore gradually superseded by Andrewthorpe or Thorpe St. Andrew. In 1226, Archbishop Walter de Gray
bought property which once belonged to the Abbot of Kirkstall Abbey
and the Priory of St. Andrews. By the year 1241, Archbishop Gray had built a Manor House and Chapel by the river. He conveyed this property to the Dean and Chapter of York thus ensuring that it remained with successive Archbishops and did not fall into the king’s hands during a vacancy.
In 1405, Archbishop Scrope was accused of being a traitor by Henry IV and was beheaded in a field near the nunnery of St Clements, now Clementhorpe. In 1763, Archbishop Drummond
transformed the Palace by building the now familiar 'Strawberry Gothick' west front and gatehouse. Controversy surrounding the 1832 Reform Bill saw rioters from York attempt to invade Palace angered by initial lack of support from Archbishop Harcourt.
Bishopthorpe was the site, in 1323, of great council to agree a truce between Edward II and Robert the Bruce, whose forces had been harrying Yorkshire following the Battle of Bannockburn.
The 1757 Enclosure
act saw Common land enclosed thus placing strictures on where local people could graze their animals and affected Bishopthorpe.
In 1763, a school was founded by local yeoman, Charles Crosby and supported by the parish. The twenty boys and girls were taught to read and write and "instructed in the principles of the Christian religion." In 1846, Archbishop Harcourt built a new village school. The former school, built in 1763 and situated in School Lane, was used as a girls' school and a house for the master, but was divided into three houses in the 1890s.
The main line of the North Eastern Railway
was being constructed in 1871 and cut through the west end of the parish.
In 1895, Bishopthorpe Parish Council was formed.
The War Memorial was erected in 1921 to parish men who made the supreme sacrifice during World War I.
The Almshouses were demolished in 1963 due to their deterioration and the need to widen the increasingly busy junction at Sim Balk Lane and Main Street.
. As of the 2011 elections it is represented by Councillor John Gavin, a member of the local Conservative Party.
.
s. The Ebor Inn (previously known as the Brown Cow) takes its name from Eboracum
, the Roman name for York. The other two are The Marcia and The Woodman. There is also the Bishopthorpe Sports and Social Club.
In 1969, Vernon House, the specially built community centre for Bishopthorpe's elderly people, was officially opened. It provided a place of rest and recreation, and a kitchen and laundry. It was erected at a cost of £7,000 by Tadcaster Rural District Council to compliment the area of sheltered accommodation in the village built two years earlier in Maple Avenue and Vernon Close.
In 1968, Bishopthorpe Library opened. The former library was held in the air raid shelter which was built on the same site in World War II. The site was formerly the village green where fairs were held for the annual two-day Trinity Feast in June.
Between 1898 and 1889, the Reading Room was built by Archbishop Maclagan as a place of rest and recreation for local men, but without the sale of alcohol. In 1904, a trust was set up whereby a committee administered the building. The Bishopthorpe Women's Institute was formed in 1919 and used it as their base. It was re-furbished in 1950 and was renamed St. Andrew's Hall becoming known as the Village Hall.
There are 35 plots on the Parish Council run allotments on Acaster Lane and a further 20 privately run plots at Glebe Farm on Moor Lane.
The village is served by two bus services. One route, operated by Harrogate Coach Travel, runs along Tadcaster Road in York, before entering the village along Sim Balk Lane and the other is a direct route along Bishopthorpe Road into York run by First Group.
It is also on the Sustrans Solar System Cycle Track which runs from York
to Riccall
and is part of the National Cycle Network
and Trans-Pennine Way. In 1986/7, the Selby/York Cycle Path opened on the old railway line which had ceased to have railway traffic from 1983 because of the Selby diversion.
In 1967, Archbishop of York's CE Junior School opened and serves the communities of Acaster Malbis, Middlethorpe as well the village itself.
The current Bishopthorpe Methodist Church opened in 1899. The first Methodist Chapel built in 1833 is now private accommodation, Wesley House, situated behind the Supermarket.
Archbishop Drummond built a second Chirch of St Andrew on the site of the original in 1768. The third Church of St. Andrews was constructed between 1898 and 1899, but now located away from the river. The architect was C. Hodgson Fowler
.
Bishopthorpe Cricket Club located in Ferry Lane have been in existence for over 100 years and play in the York Vale League. The 1st XI play in Division One and the 2nd XI in Division Three.
Bishopthorpe United Football Club play in Division One of the York Football League with the reserves playing in the Reserve Division A at their ground on Ferry Lane.
is a Grade I listed building and is the residence of the Archbishop of York
. North of the village is Middlethorpe Hall
, a Grade I listed building since 2008 owned by The National Trust
and now used as a country hotel.
Bishopthorpe has a long history of notable ecclesiastical residents. The latest Archbishop of York, who has been resident since 2005, is John Sentamu
. Many of the streets in Bishopthorpe are named after previous Archbishops: for example, Ramsey Avenue (Michael Ramsey
, 1956-1961), Maclagan Road (William Maclagan, 1891-1908) and Lamplugh Crescent (Thomas Lamplugh
, 1688-1691).
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish three miles south of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
in the City of York unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
and ceremonial county
Ceremonial counties of England
The ceremonial counties are areas of England to which are appointed a Lord Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as counties and areas for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England and Lieutenancies Act 1997...
of North Yorkshire
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. It is close to the River Ouse
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. The river is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about 6 miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure...
, and has a population of 3,174. Prior to 1996 it was part of the Selby
Selby (district)
Selby is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. The local authority, Selby District Council, is based in the town of Selby and provides services to an area which includes Tadcaster and a host of villages....
district. The area of Main Street and the Palace were made a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
in 1989 along with other open areas of the village.
It was formerly known as St Andrewthorpe, but in the 13th century, Archbishop Walter de Grey bought the manor house and gave it to the Dean and Chapter of York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
. This became Bishopthorpe Palace
Bishopthorpe Palace
Bishopthorpe Palace is a stately home and historic house at Bishopthorpe south of York in the City of York unitary authority and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England...
, the residence of the Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
. Many of the roads in Bishopthorpe are named after past Archbishops.
History
The village is mentioned in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
and referred to as Torp/Thorpe or Badetorps depending on which translation is used. It came to be known as Thorp-super-Usam or Thorpe-on-Ouse in 1194. By 1275 the Earliest written record of the name Bishopthorpe, spelt '"Biscupthorpe"' appears in documents. In 1202, Prior and monks of St. Andrews at Fishergate, built the first church here and dedicated it to their patron saint. The name Thorp-super-Usam therefore gradually superseded by Andrewthorpe or Thorpe St. Andrew. In 1226, Archbishop Walter de Gray
Walter de Gray
Walter de Gray was an English prelate and statesman who rose to be Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor.-Life:Gray was the son of John de Gray the Elder of Eaton in Norfolk and nephew of John de Gray , Bishop of Norwich. His sister, Hawise, married the Justiciar of England, Philip Basset...
bought property which once belonged to the Abbot of Kirkstall Abbey
Kirkstall Abbey
Kirkstall Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery in Kirkstall north-west of Leeds city centre in West Yorkshire. It is set in a public park on the north bank of the River Aire. It was founded c.1152. It was disestablished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under the auspices of Henry...
and the Priory of St. Andrews. By the year 1241, Archbishop Gray had built a Manor House and Chapel by the river. He conveyed this property to the Dean and Chapter of York thus ensuring that it remained with successive Archbishops and did not fall into the king’s hands during a vacancy.
In 1405, Archbishop Scrope was accused of being a traitor by Henry IV and was beheaded in a field near the nunnery of St Clements, now Clementhorpe. In 1763, Archbishop Drummond
Robert Hay Drummond
Robert Hay , known later as Robert Hay-Drummond of Cromlix and Innerpeffray, was Archbishop of York from 1761 to 1776.-Origins and birth:...
transformed the Palace by building the now familiar 'Strawberry Gothick' west front and gatehouse. Controversy surrounding the 1832 Reform Bill saw rioters from York attempt to invade Palace angered by initial lack of support from Archbishop Harcourt.
Bishopthorpe was the site, in 1323, of great council to agree a truce between Edward II and Robert the Bruce, whose forces had been harrying Yorkshire following the Battle of Bannockburn.
The 1757 Enclosure
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
act saw Common land enclosed thus placing strictures on where local people could graze their animals and affected Bishopthorpe.
In 1763, a school was founded by local yeoman, Charles Crosby and supported by the parish. The twenty boys and girls were taught to read and write and "instructed in the principles of the Christian religion." In 1846, Archbishop Harcourt built a new village school. The former school, built in 1763 and situated in School Lane, was used as a girls' school and a house for the master, but was divided into three houses in the 1890s.
The main line of the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
was being constructed in 1871 and cut through the west end of the parish.
In 1895, Bishopthorpe Parish Council was formed.
The War Memorial was erected in 1921 to parish men who made the supreme sacrifice during World War I.
The Almshouses were demolished in 1963 due to their deterioration and the need to widen the increasingly busy junction at Sim Balk Lane and Main Street.
Governance
Bishopthorpe lies in the Ward of the same name of Unitary Authority of the City of York. It forms part of the UK Parliamentary Constituency of York Outer and EU Constituency of Yorkshire & Humberside.The Ward also includes the nearby Village of Acaster MalbisAcaster Malbis
Acaster Malbis is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York, England. It is located on the River Ouse, almost 5 miles south of York...
. As of the 2011 elections it is represented by Councillor John Gavin, a member of the local Conservative Party.
Demography
In 1971 the village population of 2,350 almost doubles due to house building during the 1960s on the Bradley Estate in Acaster Lane. By 1949, the first council houses, made up of twenty semi-detached dwellings, were built in the village in Maple Avenue. The 2001 census showed that the population was 3,174. There were 1,424 dwellings, of which 33.9% were detached and 62.3% were semi-detached or terraced. House ownership was recorded at 86.9%. The largest Age Group within the population, 29.5%, were between 45 and 64 years old with 25.3% between 25 and 44 years old. Of the population aged between 16 and 74 years old, 64.99% declared they were in some form of employment and 31.1 % said they were retired.Economy
Bishopthorpe has been a traditional farming community, though nowadays it serves as a commuter base for workers in nearby York and Leeds. There are a range of retail shops including a Post OfficePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
.
Culture and community
There are three pubPublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s. The Ebor Inn (previously known as the Brown Cow) takes its name from Eboracum
Eboracum
Eboracum was a fort and city in Roman Britain. The settlement evolved into York, located in North Yorkshire, England.-Etymology:The first known recorded mention of Eboracum by name is dated circa 95-104 AD and is an address containing the Latin form of the settlement's name, "Eburaci", on a wooden...
, the Roman name for York. The other two are The Marcia and The Woodman. There is also the Bishopthorpe Sports and Social Club.
In 1969, Vernon House, the specially built community centre for Bishopthorpe's elderly people, was officially opened. It provided a place of rest and recreation, and a kitchen and laundry. It was erected at a cost of £7,000 by Tadcaster Rural District Council to compliment the area of sheltered accommodation in the village built two years earlier in Maple Avenue and Vernon Close.
In 1968, Bishopthorpe Library opened. The former library was held in the air raid shelter which was built on the same site in World War II. The site was formerly the village green where fairs were held for the annual two-day Trinity Feast in June.
Between 1898 and 1889, the Reading Room was built by Archbishop Maclagan as a place of rest and recreation for local men, but without the sale of alcohol. In 1904, a trust was set up whereby a committee administered the building. The Bishopthorpe Women's Institute was formed in 1919 and used it as their base. It was re-furbished in 1950 and was renamed St. Andrew's Hall becoming known as the Village Hall.
There are 35 plots on the Parish Council run allotments on Acaster Lane and a further 20 privately run plots at Glebe Farm on Moor Lane.
Culture
Bishopthorpe features prominently in the novel "The Lost Luggage Porter" by Andrew Martin. In the book the village is known as "Thorpe on Ouse" and is where the main character resides.Geography and transport
The village is close by the river Ouse, along which are "ings", fields into which the water overflows, most recently in June 2007. The Water Tower in Acaster Lane was built by Archbishop Thomson in 1862.The village is served by two bus services. One route, operated by Harrogate Coach Travel, runs along Tadcaster Road in York, before entering the village along Sim Balk Lane and the other is a direct route along Bishopthorpe Road into York run by First Group.
It is also on the Sustrans Solar System Cycle Track which runs from York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
to Riccall
Riccall
Riccall is a village and civil parish situated in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England, lying 3.5 miles north of Selby and 9 miles to the south of York. It is historically part of the East Riding of Yorkshire. According to the 2001 census the parish had a total population of...
and is part of the National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
and Trans-Pennine Way. In 1986/7, the Selby/York Cycle Path opened on the old railway line which had ceased to have railway traffic from 1983 because of the Selby diversion.
Education and religion
In 1973, Bishopthorpe Infant's school opened on Sim Balk Lane.In 1967, Archbishop of York's CE Junior School opened and serves the communities of Acaster Malbis, Middlethorpe as well the village itself.
The current Bishopthorpe Methodist Church opened in 1899. The first Methodist Chapel built in 1833 is now private accommodation, Wesley House, situated behind the Supermarket.
Archbishop Drummond built a second Chirch of St Andrew on the site of the original in 1768. The third Church of St. Andrews was constructed between 1898 and 1899, but now located away from the river. The architect was C. Hodgson Fowler
C. Hodgson Fowler
Charles Hodgson Fowler was a prolific English ecclesiastical architect who specialised in building and, especially, restoring churches.-Life:He was born in Nottinghamshire...
.
Sports
Bishopthorpe Bowling Club was formed in 1927 and is located on Acaster Lane. The Club have six teams playing in four different league competitions in the York area.Bishopthorpe Cricket Club located in Ferry Lane have been in existence for over 100 years and play in the York Vale League. The 1st XI play in Division One and the 2nd XI in Division Three.
Bishopthorpe United Football Club play in Division One of the York Football League with the reserves playing in the Reserve Division A at their ground on Ferry Lane.
Landmarks and notable people
Bishopthorpe PalaceBishopthorpe Palace
Bishopthorpe Palace is a stately home and historic house at Bishopthorpe south of York in the City of York unitary authority and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England...
is a Grade I listed building and is the residence of the Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
. North of the village is Middlethorpe Hall
Middlethorpe Hall
Middlethorpe Hall is a historic house currently used as a hotel in Middlethorpe, York, North Yorkshire, England. It is a perfectly symmetrical red brick and stone house built in 1699 and since 2008 has been owned by The National Trust...
, a Grade I listed building since 2008 owned by The National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
and now used as a country hotel.
Bishopthorpe has a long history of notable ecclesiastical residents. The latest Archbishop of York, who has been resident since 2005, is John Sentamu
John Sentamu
John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu is the 97th Archbishop of York, Metropolitan of the province of York, and Primate of England. He is the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.-Life and career:...
. Many of the streets in Bishopthorpe are named after previous Archbishops: for example, Ramsey Avenue (Michael Ramsey
Michael Ramsey
Arthur Michael Ramsey, Baron Ramsey of Canterbury PC was the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury. He was appointed on 31 May 1961 and was in office from June 1961 to 1974.-Career:...
, 1956-1961), Maclagan Road (William Maclagan, 1891-1908) and Lamplugh Crescent (Thomas Lamplugh
Thomas Lamplugh
Thomas Lamplugh was an English churchman who ended up being Archbishop of YorkHe was the son of Christopher Lamplugh of Little Riston, Yorkshire and his wife Anne, daughter and coheir of Thomas Roper of Octon in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
, 1688-1691).