Cawood

For other uses, see Cawood (disambiguation).

Cawood (other names: Carwood) is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England that is notable as the location of the Cawood sword. It was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire until 1974.

Cawood
Centre of Cawood
Cawood Location within North Yorkshire
Population	1,549 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	SE572377
Unitary authority	North Yorkshire
Ceremonial county	North Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SELBY
Postcode district	YO8
Police	North Yorkshire
Fire	North Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire

History

According to Edmunds' "History in Names of Places" (London, 1869), the first syllable, Ca-, means a hollow, also a field. Edmunds gives Cawood of Yorkshire as an example. The last syllable -wood, is self-evident. The name, therefore, is a place-name of Anglo-Saxon origin and was first used to describe one who lived in a wooded hollow or field.

Cawood Sword

In his King's England series, Arthur Mee refers to Cawood as "the Windsor of the North". Cawood was formerly one of the chief places of residence of the Archbishop of York, who had here a magnificent Palace or Castle, in which several of the bishops died. It was obtained for the see of York from King Athelstan, in the 10th century, by Archbishop Wulstan. The village surrounded its walls. Alexander Nevil, the 45th Archbishop, is said to have bestowed great cost on this palace, and to have adorned it with several new towers. Henry Bowett, the 49th Archbishop, built the great hall; and his successor, Cardinal Kempe, erected the gatehouse, the ruins of which are all that remain of this once magnificent building.

In the 1800s Cawood was considered a market and parish-town, "in the wapentake of Barkston-Ash, liberties of St. Peter and Cawood, Wistow, and Otley; 5 miles from Selby, 7½ from Tadcaster, 10 from York, 12 from Pontefract, 186 from London." Cawood being within the Liberty of Cawood, Wistow, and Otley made the village administratively independent from the surrounding West Riding of Yorkshire.

Market was held each Wednesday. Fairs were held on Old May day and 23 September. The principal inn was named the Ferry House. The local church, a peculiar, was a vicarage, dedicated to All Saints, in the deanery of Ainsty (now New Ainsty). Notice of the union of the Liberty of Cawood, Wistow, and Otley with the West Riding of Yorkshire was published in the London Gazette on 21 March 1864. Some of the economic changes in the following decades were also due to increased transportation and agricultural mechanization. It remained part of the West Riding of Yorkshire until 1974.

Cawood is south of the point where the River Wharfe flows into the River Ouse which subsequently forms the northern border of the village. Cawood Bridge is the only bridge from the village which spans the river. The bridge was opened in 1872: before then the only means of crossing was by use of a ferry. Dick Turpin is said to have forded the river when he escaped to York, which lies ten miles north of Cawood. The River Ouse used to flood the village regularly in winter. Since the floods of January 1982, whose height is marked on the bridgekeeper's cottage, river defences have been raised so that the fields on the northern side (Kelfield Ings) and the former Ferry Boat Inn, also on the Kelfield side, are now the only areas that flood, even at times of exceptionally high waters, such as in November 2000.

Cawood Castle

Cawood Castle

The houses and shops are located around the remains of Cawood Castle which lies at its centre. This was the residence of the Archbishops of York who were forced to leave at the English Reformation. It is possible to stay in the Castle Gatehouse, which is a Landmark Trust property. This stands next to Castle Garth, a scheduled ancient monument, under which are the remains of the castle. It is currently owned by the village, but closely looked after by English Heritage and the local Garth group as a "green space" in the centre of the village.

Village centre

The Ferry Inn Pub

The village used to house a host of public houses, but the Anchor, Thompson's Arms and the Bay Horse have closed. The three remaining pubs are:

• The Jolly Sailor is situated on Market Place in the village centre.
• The Ferry Inn is located just by the swing bridge over the River Ouse.
• The Castle Inn can be found on Wistowgate, heading towards Selby.

Cawood swing-bridge, crossing over the River Ouse

There are several notable houses in the village, including The Grange and Yew Tree House.

Parish church

The church in 2014

The village is served by a parish church, which is dedicated to All Saints'. It is an active place of worship and community events. It is also a Grade I listed building.

Transport

Cawood railway station provided a passenger service from 1898 to 1929 and continued to provide goods services until it was closed altogether in 1960.

Notable people

Notable people who were born or live in Cawood include: Henry Monson, a founding New Zealand settler. Michael Lyons FRBS FRSA, a contemporary British artist, and former Vice-President of the Royal British Society of Sculptors.

Notable people who died in Cawood include six Archbishops of York: William Greenfield, William Melton, Thomas Rotherham, John Thoresby, Thomas Savage and William Zouche. Archbishop George Montaigne is buried in the parish churchyard after dying in London, having originated from Cawood.

Also the children's nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty may refer to Cardinal Wolsey's 'great fall' at Cawood, when he was arrested by King Henry VIII's men.

See also

• Listed buildings in Cawood

External links

• Cawood village history Cawood Village
• 1820s family history transcriptions Genuki
• Local history Ross family website
• The Stillingfleet tragedy Stillingfleet
• All Saints' Church The church's website