Wetherby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wetherby |
|
|---|---|
| Town | |
|
The top, Wetherby Bridge The bottom, Market Place |
|
 Wetherby
|
|
| Area | 3.87 sq mi (10.0 km2) |
| Population | 11,712 (2021) |
| • Density | 3,026/sq mi (1,168/km2) |
| OS grid reference | SE404481 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WETHERBY |
| Postcode district | LS22, LS23 |
| Dialling code | 01937 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
|
_001.jpg)
Wetherby (/ˈwɛðəbi/ weth-Ə-bee) is a busy market town and civil parish in the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is very close to the border of West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. The town is about 12 miles (19 km) from Leeds City Centre and York. It is also about 8 miles (13 km) from Harrogate.
Wetherby is located on the River Wharfe. For many centuries, it has been an important crossing point. It was also a stopping place on the Great North Road, which connected London and Edinburgh.
Wetherby Bridge, which crosses the River Wharfe, is a very old and important structure. It is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The old Great North Road used to go right through the town. Because of its location, Wetherby became home to many coaching inns. These were places where travellers and their horses could rest. Many of these inns are still used today.
Wetherby is part of the Wetherby area within Leeds City Council. It is also part of the Wetherby and Easingwold area for the UK Parliament. In 2018, the Sunday Times newspaper called Wetherby one of the "Best Places to Live" in northern England.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Wetherby first appeared in a very old book called the Domesday Book in 1086. It was written as Wedrebi. This name means "wether's farmstead." A "wether" is a male sheep. So, the town's name once meant "sheep farm."
Wetherby's Past
In the 12th and 13th centuries, groups like the Knights Templar were given land in Yorkshire. In 1240, King Henry III gave the Knights Templar permission. This allowed them to hold a market in Wetherby every Thursday. They could also have a yearly fair that lasted three days.
From 1318 to 1319, Scottish raiders attacked northern England. After a big battle called Battle of Bannockburn, Wetherby was burned. Many people were also captured or killed. A local lane, Scott Lane, might be named after these Scottish raiders. It could also be named after cattle drovers from the 1700s.
During the English Civil War in 1644, soldiers stayed in Wetherby. They were Parliamentarians and joined forces with Scottish soldiers. They then marched on to the Battle of Marston Moor.
Wetherby was very important during the time of horse-drawn coaches. It had up to forty inns and pubs. The first mail coach arrived in Wetherby in 1786.
In 1824, the Duke of Devonshire sold almost all of Wetherby. He used the money to pay for work on his home, Chatsworth House.
Wetherby in the 1900s
During the First World War, many men from Wetherby joined the army. They served in the West Yorkshire Regiment and suffered heavy losses. A war memorial was built in 1922 to remember them.
In 1918, people in Wetherby helped support the crew of a ship called HMS Wetherby. This was despite the difficulties of the war.
During the Second World War, an airfield near Wetherby was used. It was called RAF Marston Moor. Famous American actor Clark Gable was stationed there as a captain. He was part of the USAAF ground staff.
Wetherby also had a special naval training base. It was built in 1942 and was called HMS Cabot. This base later became the local secondary school. It closed in 1958.
Throughout the 1960s, town leaders planned how to make the town centre bigger. They wanted to add a supermarket. In the 1970s, a shopping area was built. It was updated in 2003 and later covered with a glass roof by 2006.
How Wetherby is Run
| Wetherby Town Council | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type | |
| Type |
Town Council
|
| Motto | |
| "Imperium in Imperio" ("One government within another.") |
|
| Meeting place | |
| Wetherby Town Hall | |
Since 2010, Wetherby has been part of the Elmet and Rothwell area for Parliament. The local Member of Parliament (MP) is Alec Shelbrooke. He is from the Conservative Party.
Wetherby also has its own town council. This council helps manage local things like parks. The town has a special coat of arms. It was given to the Wetherby Rural District Council in 1938.
Twin Towns
Wetherby has a "twin town" in France:
– Privas, France
Wetherby's Location
Areas and Neighbourhoods
Wetherby has several different areas within it:
- Micklethwaite used to be a separate village. Now, it's a part of Wetherby. It has the police station and leisure centre. Sports clubs like Wetherby Athletic play here.
- Ainsty is in the north of Wetherby. It has houses built from the 1940s onwards. There are a few shops in this area.
- Hallfield is in the southeast. It's a large area with different types of homes. Wetherby High School and St James' Primary School are located here.
- Deighton Bar is in the northeast. It borders the village of Kirk Deighton. Most of the houses here were built in the late 1970s. Deighton Gates primary school is in this area.
- Barleyfields is a residential area in central Wetherby. It has older Victorian houses and newer ones. St Joseph's Primary School and Crossley Street Primary School are here.
- Sandbeck is home to an industrial area. Many businesses are located here, including factories and offices.
- Linton Park View is a wealthy area with private houses. Most of these were built in the 1970s.
- Spofforth Hill is another wealthy area. It has many large detached houses, some very old. New houses were built here in the 1980s and 1990s.
 |
NW: Harrogate | Knaresborough | NE: Boroughbridge | |
| Otley |  |
York | ||
 Wetherby  |
||||
 |
||||
| NE: Boroughbridge | East Leeds, Garforth | SW: North and central Leeds |
Weather in Wetherby
Wetherby has a cool and somewhat wet climate. The weather can change often throughout the year. It rains about 630mm each year, spread out evenly.
It is often cloudy, but there are also sunny periods. In winter, temperatures are usually just above freezing. Highs are about 5-9 degrees Celsius. Frost and snow happen, but they are rarely very bad or last a long time. Temperatures almost never drop below -10 degrees Celsius.
Summers are mild. Low temperatures are mostly 10-15 degrees Celsius. Highs are 15-25 degrees Celsius. There are a few hot days that can reach nearly 30 degrees Celsius.
Wetherby's People
_023.jpg)
In 2001, Wetherby had a population of 11,155 people. By 2011, this number had slightly dropped to 10,772. However, since then, the town has grown a lot. Many new homes have been built in areas like Micklethwaite. New housing developments have also started in the Sandbeck and Spofforth Hill areas.
Wetherby's Economy
The old Wharfedale Brewery in Wetherby became a water factory. In the 1950s, it was replaced by a bus depot and bus station. Now, that area has shops, offices, and a restaurant. The site of the old watermill is now riverside flats.
Wetherby has many manufacturing businesses. Many people also work in Leeds or at the Sandbeck industrial estate. Big employers in the town include the British Library and Morrisons supermarket. Goldenfry Foods and Moores Furniture are also large employers.
In 2017, brewing returned to Wetherby. The Wetherby Brew Company opened a new small brewery.
Businesses Today
Goldenfry, which started as a fish and chip shop, now makes many food products. This includes gravy for all major UK supermarkets. Inspirepac has a factory on Sandbeck Lane.
The ICC Group is a large IT company with its main office in Wetherby. It helps many big companies with their computer needs.
Proactis, a company that provides business software, has been in Wetherby since 1996. Even though many employees now work from home, they still have a large office in the town centre.
Farnell opened its first factory in Wetherby in 1956. They later moved to a bigger site on the Sandbeck Industrial Estate. This company makes and sells electrical and electronic equipment.
_006.jpg)
The Forensic Science Service used to have a lab in Wetherby. It closed in 2012, and new homes are now on that site. HM Prison Wetherby is also located in the town.
A new healthcare centre opened in Wetherby in 2008. It offers services like foot care and physical therapy.
Getting Around Wetherby
For many years, the A1 road bypassed Wetherby. In 2004, the northern part of the bypass was changed. It became a new section of the A1(M) motorway. The A1(M) was fully upgraded in Wetherby, making it a modern motorway. New roads now connect all routes in and out of town to the A1(M).
Wetherby bus station was updated in 1995. You can catch buses to Leeds, Harrogate, York, and other nearby towns.
Wetherby used to have two railway stations. They had services to Leeds, Harrogate, and Church Fenton. However, these train services stopped in 1964. This was part of the "Beeching Axe," which closed many railway lines. The closest train stations now are Pannal and Cattal.
The nearest airport is Leeds Bradford International Airport.
Learning in Wetherby
Wetherby has four primary schools: Crossley Street Primary School, Deighton Gates Primary School, St Josephs Primary School, and St James C of E School. There is one secondary school, Wetherby High School. Another secondary school that serves Wetherby is in Boston Spa. For further education, students can attend Leeds City College in Wetherby.
Sports in Wetherby
_008.jpg)
Wetherby is home to several sports clubs. These include Wetherby Athletic AFC (football), Wetherby Bulldogs RLFC (rugby league), and Wetherby RUFC (rugby union). These clubs play at a high amateur level. Leeds United's training ground is also just outside Wetherby.
Wetherby Cricket Club plays at Grange Park. They have both adult and junior teams. Wetherby Bowling Club was started in 1986. It has different types of bowling greens.
Wetherby Runners Athletic Club was formed in 2004. They have over 160 members and compete in many races. The club organizes the Wetherby 10k Run every September.
Wetherby Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course. It is located on Wetherby Ings, where horse racing used to happen. Wetherby Castlegarth Tennis Club has been in the town since 1904.
The route of The White Rose Way, a long-distance walking path, goes through Wetherby.
Wetherby Racecourse is a famous horse racing track. It hosts many races throughout the year. The racecourse is also the starting point for the Great Yorkshire Bike Ride. This annual 70-mile (110 km) ride raises money for charity.
Places of Worship
There are five churches in Wetherby:
- The main parish church is St James' Church. Its smaller church, The Church on the Corner, meets in the old Cemetery Chapel.
- There is a Methodist church on Bank Street.
- A Baptist church is also in Wetherby.
- The Community Church of the Salvation Army is present.
- St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church opened its building in 1986. It won an award for its architecture.
The Baptist Church used to be an Anglican church. In early 2009, it joined the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
Culture and Media
The 'Wetherby in Bloom' committee was set up in 1989. This group helps make the town beautiful with flowers and plants. Wetherby has won many awards for its floral displays.
The annual Wetherby Arts Festival celebrates different art forms. It gives local groups a chance to perform. It also brings in other performers and artists.
The local newspaper is the Wetherby News. The Lifestyle magazine is called Excelle magazine.
Local radio stations include BBC Radio Leeds and Heart Yorkshire. Tempo FM is Wetherby's own community radio station. It is run by volunteers.
Local news and TV shows come from BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire.
Wetherby Film Theatre is an old-style single screen cinema. It first opened as a cinema in 1915. After being used as a bingo club, it reopened as a cinema in 1994.
Homes in Wetherby
.JPG)
In 1914, many homes in Wetherby were not in good condition. This led to the building of new homes called 'villas'. Examples of these can still be seen today. This also led to the demolition of the Bishopgate Area. In 1910, the town council started adding street lighting. They hoped this would improve living standards and reduce crime.
After the World Wars, many large housing estates were built in Wetherby. Both the local council and private companies built many houses. This was to meet the high demand for homes. A developer named Norman Ashton built many houses in Wetherby. Most of the homes in the town today were built during these years. Wetherby has many types of homes. These include waterside apartments, council flats, large detached houses, and smaller terraced homes. The most common type is the three-bedroom semi-detached home from the 20th century.
Old Pubs
In the past, Wetherby town centre had seventeen pubs. Now, only eleven remain, and ten of them are still open. The oldest pub, the 'Brunswick Hotel', closed in 2003. It reopened as Harris' Bar and then again as The Brunswick in 2012.
Famous People from Wetherby
_(cropped).jpg)
- Michael Jackson (1942–2007), an expert on beer and whisky, was born in Wetherby.
- Flight Lieutenant 'Ginger' Lacey (1917–1989), a famous pilot from the Battle of Britain, was born here. A street called Lacey Grove is named after him.
- Stuart Naylor, a former football goalkeeper, was born in Wetherby in 1962.
- Charles Midgley, a Yorkshire cricketer, was born in Wetherby in 1877.
- Robert Sturdy, a former politician for the European Parliament, was born in Wetherby in 1944.
- Fred Cooper, an Essex cricketer, was born in Wetherby in 1888.
- Seb Hines (born 1988), a footballer for Middlesbrough F.C., is from Wetherby.
- Sam Jackson (born 1993), an actor from the TV series Skins, also comes from Wetherby.
- Reginald Wickham, a cricketer.
- Emily Wardman, a museum curator.
See Also
In Spanish: Wetherby para niños
