| Ferrybridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Ferrybridge Location withinWest Yorkshire | |
| Population | 1,491 (2001) |
| OS grid reference | SE475245 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KNOTTINGLEY |
| Postcode district | WF11 |
| Dialling code | 01977 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | |
| 53°42′50″N1°16′52″W / 53.714°N 1.281°W /53.714; -1.281 | |
Ferrybridge is a village inWest Yorkshire, England.[1][2] Ferrybridge lies at a historically important crossing of theRiver Aire which borders the North Yorkshire village of Brotherton. It is linked to other communities by theA1, which follows the route of theGreat North Road. The village falls within the Knottingley ward of Wakefield City Council.
The origin of the place-name is fromOld Norse and meansbridge by the ferry. It appears asFerie in theDomesday Book of 1086 and asFerybrig in 1198.[3]
Geologically, Ferrybridge andKnottingley are located on rich soil, over a bed ofMagnesian Limestone.
The area is close to junctions of theM62 andA1(M) motorways; as well as junctions on the rail network, including northward to York, south to Pontefract (and Rotherham), west to both Wakefield and Leeds, east to Goole and south-east to theEast Coast Main Line; theRiver Aire meets theAire and Calder navigation close to the east of the town.
The area is famous for theFerrybridge power stations and theM62 services which offers eateries and lodging.
The Ferrybridge power stations to the north dominated the skyline around the village prior to their demolition.
The village has two public houses; "The Golden Lion" which sits by Ferrybridge lock and is steeped in colourful history during its time as a coaching Inn and "The Magnet Inn".
The village has two primary schools, one of which is in the top 250 schools in the country: The Vale Academy was described as "outstanding" in a 2013 Ofsted report. The other is Willow Green Academy, previously known as Roundhill Junior School and Ferrybridge Infant School.
Anarchaeological feature at Ferrybridge isFerrybridge Henge, aprehistoric ceremonial monument dating back to theNeolithic period, constructed during the period 4,500-1,500 BC, additionally a 2,400-year-oldchariot burial has been discovered in the area.
The history of Ferrybridge - and its neighbour,Knottingley - dates back to the establishment of Anglo-Saxon settlements along this stretch of the river. The respective histories of the two settlements of Ferrybridge andKnottingley are closely linked, bringing glassmaking, shipbuilding, brewing and potteries to the area.
Ferrybridge stands where theGreat North Road crosses the River Aire.Ferry Bridge is a Grade I listed building, and was designed by John Carr of York in 1797 and built by Bernard Hartley of Pontefract in 1804.[4] Until 1810, a toll was payable to cross the bridge.
In March 1461, on the eve of the battle of nearbyTowton, an engagement between theLancastrians andYorkists ended in a Lancastrian victory, and Lord Fitzwalter, the Yorkist leader was killed. This is known as theBattle of Ferrybridge.
Up to the end of the 17th century, Knottingley was an important inland port in theWest Riding as theRiver Aire was not navigable beyond it. The construction of theAire and Calder Navigation Canal (by theAire and Calder Navigation Act 1698 (10 Will. 3. c. 25) in 1699; the first navigation scheme authorised by an act of Parliament) diminishedKnottingley's importance as a port by allowing barges on the river to navigate further upstream toLeeds.
Parliament authorized a new canal in 1820. Cutting through the centre of Knottingley, the newAire and Calder Navigation Canal was opened in 1826 and connected the new port of Goole with the River Aire at Ferrybridge. The lock at Ferrybridge opened at 10 a.m. on 20 July 1826.
By the end of theIndustrial Revolution, Ferrybridge had become a centre for glass production. TheFerrybridge railway station opened in 1882 on theSwinton and Knottingley Joint Railway (1879) and closed in 1965.
In the 20th century, threepower stations were built, all on the same site - the first in the 1920s, the second in the 1950s, and the third, Ferrybridge 'C' Power Station, in the 1960s; three of the latter's cooling towers collapsed during construction in high winds in 1965. A fourth natural gas power station was expected to be built but because of soaring gas prices this did not go ahead. (seeFerrybridge power stations).
Media related toFerrybridge at Wikimedia Commons
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