Wetwang | |
---|---|
St Nicholas Church | |
Location within the East Riding of Yorkshire | |
Population | 761 (2011 census) [1] |
OS grid reference | SE932590 |
Civil parish |
|
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | DRIFFIELD |
Postcode district | YO25 |
Dialling code | 01377 |
Police | Humberside |
Fire | Humberside |
Ambulance | Yorkshire |
UK Parliament | |
Wetwang is a Yorkshire Wolds village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, 6 miles (10 kilometres) west of Driffield on the A166 road.
At the 2011 census, it had a population of 761, [1] an increase on the 2001 census figure of 672. [2]
There are two interpretations of the name. One is from the Old Norse vaett-vangr, or 'field for the trial of a legal action'. Another theory is that it was the "Wet Field" compared to the nearby dry field at Driffield. [3]
The name is jokingly defined in The Meaning of Liff by Douglas Adams as meaning "a moist penis". [4] In some varieties of English, wang or whang is a slang term for penis. [5] [6] [7] The name Wetwang has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names. [8] [9]
The village is known for its Iron Age chariot burial cemetery at Wetwang Slack, [10] and it has been speculated that the unlocated Romano-British town of Delgovicia may have been at what is now Wetwang. [11]
Before the Norman Conquest (TRE) Ealdraed held Wetwang, and it was worth £4 per year in rent. [12]
The village is mentioned twice in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Wetuuangha. The lesser mention simply records its existence: "In Wetwang the archbishop 13+1⁄2 carucates". The mention is under "Warter Hundred" on original folio 381V: East Riding. [13] Earlier in the Domesday Book, there is a fuller description (Folio 302V: Yorkshire) within the listing of the land of the Archbishop of York:
In Wetwang there are 13+1⁄2 carucates to the geld, and there could be 7 ploughs. Archbishop Ealdraed held this as 1 manor. Now Archbishop Thomas has it and it is waste. TRE worth £4. This manor is 2 leagues long and 1+1⁄2 broad
— Folio 302V: Yorkshire) within the listing of the land of the Archbishop of York
A carucate is the area of land a man with 8 oxen can plough in a season, sometimes cited as around 120 acres (49 ha). In Wetwang there were 13+1⁄2 of them available for the tax take ("geld"). A "plough" was a carucate which was being ploughed, rather than grazed or fallow. A league is around 3 miles (4.8 km). After the conquest, Wetwang was waste land held by Archbishop Thomas. [12]
St Nicholas's Church is of Norman origin and was restored between 1845 and 1902. In 1966, the church was designated a Grade II* listed building. [14] It is on the Sykes Churches Trail devised by the East Yorkshire Churches Group. [15] The church has a ring of three bells (tenor 7 long cwt 0 qr 12 lb; 796 lb or 361 kg in A), the oldest of which (the tenor) dates from c. 1450. [16]
Wetwang was once known for its black swans, after which the village pub, the Black Swan, is named. [17]
Until 1950, the village was served by Wetwang railway station, on the Malton to Driffield Line, but this line has closed. [18] The village is now served by an infrequent East Yorkshire Motor Services bus. [19]
Richard Whiteley of the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown held the honorary title Mayor of Wetwang from 1998 until his death in 2005. [20] On 25 June 2006, local weather forecaster Paul Hudson from BBC Look North was invested as Whiteley's successor. [21]
Year | Mayor |
---|---|
1998–2005 | Richard Whiteley |
2006– | Paul Hudson |
The East Riding of Yorkshire, often abbreviated to the East Riding or East Yorkshire, is a ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and west, South Yorkshire to the south-west, and Lincolnshire to the south across the Humber Estuary. The city of Kingston upon Hull is the largest settlement.
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield, is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield. By road, it is 53 miles (85 km) north-east of Leeds, 29 miles (47 km) east of York and 23 miles (37 km) north of Hull.
Market Weighton is a town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is one of the main towns in the East Yorkshire Wolds and lies midway between Hull and York, about 20 miles (32 km) from either one. According to the 2011 UK census, Market Weighton parish had a population of 6,429, an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 5,212.
Tibthorpe is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. According to the 2011 UK census, Tibthorpe parish had a population of 157, a decrease on the 2001 UK census figure of 162. It is 5 miles (8 km) to the west of Driffield on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds, it lies on the B1248 road between the villages of Bainton to the south and Wetwang to the north. High Wood and Low Wood to the south are a haven for wildlife.
Middleton on the Wolds is a village and civil parish on the Yorkshire Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the A614 road midway between Driffield and Market Weighton.
Rudston is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated between Driffield and Bridlington approximately 6 miles west of Bridlington, and lies on the B1253 road. The Gypsey Race runs through the village, which lies in the Great Wold Valley. There are a number of Neolithic sites associated with the stream and its valley. It is the current Seat of the Clan Macdonald of Sleat, the head of the family residing at Thorpe Hall.
Kilham is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated about 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Driffield town centre. According to the 2011 UK census, Kilham parish had a population of 1,088, an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 1,010.
Garton on the Wolds is a village and a civil parish on the Yorkshire Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 3 miles (5 km) north-west of Driffield town centre and lies on the A166 road.
Cherry Burton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is approximately 3 miles (5 km) north-west of the market town of Beverley, 9 miles (14 km) east of Market Weighton and 11 miles (18 km) south west of Driffield. The village lies on the eastern edge of the Yorkshire Wolds and lies to the west of the B1248 road.
Bishop Wilton is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 4 miles (6 km) north of Pocklington and 6 miles (10 km) east of Stamford Bridge.
Allerthorpe is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south-west from the town of Pocklington.
Beswick is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The village is situated on the A164 road, about 6 miles (10 km) north of Beverley and 6 miles south of Driffield.
Nunburnholme is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is approximately 3 miles (5 km) east of the market town of Pocklington. The civil parish is formed by the village of Nunburnholme and the hamlet of Kilnwick Percy. According to the 2011 UK census, Nunburnholme parish had a population of 234, a decrease on the 2001 UK census figure of 253.
Nafferton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north-east of Driffield town centre and lies just south of the A614 road.
Lund is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 6 miles (10 km) north-west of Beverley and 7 miles (11 km) south-west of Driffield.
Huggate is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 13 miles (21 km) north-west of Beverley town centre and 9 miles (14 km) west of Driffield town centre. The village of North Dalton lies 4 miles (6 km) to the south-east.
Fridaythorpe is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Pocklington town centre and lies on the A166 road. It is 550 feet (170 m) above sea level, making it the highest village in the Yorkshire Wolds.
Weaverthorpe is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It is 13 miles (21 km) south-west of Scarborough.
Helperthorpe is a village in the civil parish of Luttons, in North Yorkshire, England. The village lies in the Great Wold Valley and the course of the winterbourne stream the Gypsey Race passes through it.
The East Riding of Yorkshire is a local government district with unitary authority status, and is a ceremonial county of England. It is named after the historic East Riding of Yorkshire which was one of three ridings alongside the North Riding and West Riding, which were constituent parts a Yorkshire ceremonial and administrative county until 1974. From 1974 to 1996 the area of the modern East Riding of Yorkshire constituted the northern part of Humberside.