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Boroughbridge in York County England History and GeographyBOROUGHBRIDGE, a borough, market town, and chapelry, in that part of the parish of ALDBOROUGH which is in the lower division of the wapentake of CLARO, west riding of the county of YORK, 17½ miles (N.W. by W.) from York, and 206 (N.N.W.) from London, containing 860 inhabitants. This place, which has risen into importance since the decline of Aldborough, within half a mile of which it is situated, derives its name from a bridge erected over the river Ure at this spot, soon after the Conquest, when the road was diverted from Aldborough, and brought through this town. Near this bridge a battle took place, in 1322, between the forces of Edward II., and those of the celebrated Earl of Lancaster, in which the latter were defeated. The earl having taken refuge in the town, which was assaulted on the following day, was made prisoner and conveyed to Pontefract, where he was soon afterwards beheaded. Of this battle, a mcmorial has been obtained in the number of human bones, swords, fragments of armour, and other military relies, which, in raising the bank of the Ure, in 1792, were found near the spot. The town is pleasantly situated on the southern bank of the river, which is here navigable; and has been greatly improved and enlarged by the erection of several respectable houses on the opposite side of the river, over which a handsome stone bridge has been constructed, on the site of a former one, which was built of wood. The streets are partially paved, and the inhabitants are amply supplied with water from springs, and from the river. There is a small subscription library at the Crown inn; and races are annually held in the vicinity. The trade is principally in hardwarc, but the town derives its chief support from being situated on the high road to Edinburgh. The market is on Saturday; and fairs are held, April 27th, June 22nd, and October 23rd, each for two days: the fair in June is chiefly for hardware and woollen cloth; the others for cattle and sheep. In the market-place, which is conveniently situated in the centre of the town, there is a handsome fluted column of the Doric order, twelve feet high. A bailiff, and other officers, are chosen annually at the court leet of the lord of the manor, but they do not exercise magisterial anthority. The elective franchise was conferred in the reign of Mary, since which time the borough has roturned two members to parliament: the right of election is vested in the burgage tenants, in number sixty-five, who are chiefly in the interest of the Duke of Newcastle; the bailiff is the returning officer. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Richmond, and diocese of Chester, endowed with £800 royal bounty, and £1200 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Vicar of Aldborough. There are places of worship for Methodists. A National school, established in 1814, is supported by subscription. To the west of the bridge, are three large pyramidal stones, ranged in a straight line, in a direction from north to south, and each in a separate enclosure, the central one of which is the largest, being thirty feet and a half in height: they are vulgarly called the Devil's Arrows, and were originally four in number. The purpose of their erection is involved in obscurity: some suppose them to have been raised in memory of a reconciliation effected between Caracalla and Geta, sons of the Emperor Severus, who died at York. Camden considers them to have been Roman trophies; though they may probably have been used by that people as met? in the celebration of their chariot races, yet their origin appears to be more remote. Stukeley refers them to the earliest times of the Britons, and is of opinion that here was the great Panegyre of the Druids, where the inhabitants of the neighbouring district assembled to offer the sacrifices. From its proximity to Aldborough, a celebrated Roman station, numerous relics have been found here, consisting of tessellated pavements and coins; and in the immediate vicinity, the remains of a Roman wall are still discernible. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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