Visit Bramham, West Yorkshire Places

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The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Bramham, West Yorkshire

  

Bramham, West Yorkshire Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Bramham, West Yorkshire

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Bramham, West Yorkshire history

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Bramham is at the crossroads of the east-west Roman road from York through Tadcaster to Ilkley and the north-south Great North Road, now the A1 road, giving it a history that goes back to the Romans. The Old English place name elements -ham and -ingaham are characteristic of the earliest English-speaking settlements in England, associated with the growth of Anglo-Saxon culture in post-Roman Britain. Running north south and following approximately, the Magnesian Limestone belt, a line of -ingaham (Collingham “homestead of Cola’s folk”) and -ham (Bramham “homestead amongst the broom”) names can be identified, which also coincide with the distribution of seventh-century burials. Bramham is recorded in the Domesday Book as the Manor of Bramham and the Holder in 1066 was Ligulfr. The amount of land to be taxed (geld) was 12 carucates and there were eight ploughs in the village. By 1086, Bramham was held by Nigel from Count Robert of Mortain and Demesne ploughs (for lord’s needs) were three. There were 15 villeins or tenant farmers holding a total of 5.5 ploughs between them. An estimate of the total population of Bramham in 1086 was 68. Bramham’s value in 1066 was 160 shillings but only 50 shillings in 1086 after the Harrying of the North, indicating quite a severe levels of destruction. Bramham was a mill site in 1086. In comparison, Wetherby had a population of 41 and was valued at only 20 shillings in both 1066 and 1086. The oldest part of All Saints Parish Church in Bramham was built in about 1150 by the Normans. The church consists of nave, aisles, and chancel, with tower and short spire; and has a fine pointed doorway. The churchyard is oval in shape and therefore Anglian in origin. Older houses in the centre of the village are constructed of Magnesian Limestone quarried in the parish. Stone from Bramham was used for the pendants and hanging ornaments on the vaults and ceilings of York Minster, and in records of the building of the Minster, Bramham stone is specially referred to as being used for this purpose. The Bramham limestone was transported to York by water from Tadcaster or Cawood. The Battle of Bramham Moor was fought, in the snow, on 19 February 1408. Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, who with other nobles had rebelled against King Henry IV, was met here by Sir Thomas Rokeby; the rebels were cut to pieces and Percy was killed, his head, with its silver locks, being carried off and set on a stake on London Bridge. There is a memorial stone marking where the Earl of Northumberland fell and was killed at Blackfen Wood, Bramham, but the stone was moved from the actual site of the battle some years ago. A plaque erected to denote the significance of the stone has been vandalised and nowadays is difficult to find or decipher. In 2008, to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the battle, an information board and a two-sided limestone memorial stone bearing “Bramham” and “Site of Battle” signs was erected on Paradise Way, the new local access road, which crosses the battlefield site. It is known that English Civil War soldiers who died during the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644, a few miles to the north-east, are buried in the churchyard at Bramham. Records show that three soldiers rest there: Samuell Allan, Robert Johnson and Thomas Mirole. Prior to the battle, Cromwell is reputed to have trained his Ironsides on Bramham Moor, and to have recruited local young farmers whose riding skills made them ideal cavalry soldiers. By 1686, Bramham was a staging post on the London to Edinburgh coaching route and had a population of 291, which was higher than that of Wetherby at only 279. In 1801, the population of Bramham was around 800, reaching 1,300 by 1861. However, a significant decline led to the population falling back to 950 in 1901. The population has gradually been increasing since then, although the 1861 peak was only overtaken in 1981. By 2001, the village had a population of about 1,750, about a quarter of whom were under the age of 19 and well over half (62%) were under the age of 44, making it a village of young people. There were 674 households, a growth of 20% on the 1991 census. Arthur Mee’s The King’s England: Yorkshire West Riding, first printed in 1941, describes Bramham: The Great North Road and a stream flowing to the River Wharfe are crossed by one of many Roman roads hereabouts. It has a fine bridge, an imposing peace memorial, an old windmill looking down, and houses great and small in a lovely green setting. South of the village, where the hillside road is bowered with stately beeches, are four fine houses not far apart; Bramham House, Bramham Lodge, Bramham Biggin (which began as a chantry to Nostell Priory), and Bramham Hall, a house in classic style with an entrance crowned by a pediment on six pillars. Shading its beautiful gardens are cedars, beeches, chestnuts, and ancient yews; and a great whitebeam here is said to be the biggest in England. Off the Roman road running through rich woodland west of the village is Hope Hall, where Sir Thomas Fairfax lived; it was the kennels of the Bramham Moor Hunt when we called. During the First World War there was an aerodrome at Bramham Moor at Headley Bar, which opened on 18 March 1916. The aerodrome was set in 198 acres (0.80 km) of land of which 40 acres (160,000 m) was occupied by station buildings. Initially, “B” and “C” flights, 33 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps were based at the new aerodrome with “A” flight detached to nearby York Racecourse. Following a bombing raid on York on 2 May 1916 by Zeppelin airships, the airfield on York Racecourse was closed, and 33 Squadron at RFC Bramham Moor became responsible for the air defence of Leeds, Sheffield and York against further Zeppelin attack. 33 Squadron’s aircraft were the RAF BE 2c and BE 2d biplanes, these later being replaced by the much better FE 2b biplane. In early 1918, after the RAF was formed, RFC Bramham Moor became known as RAF Tadcaster. In July 1918, a group of American pilots and ground staff were based at Bramham Moor for training. When the USA had entered the First World War in 1917, their pilots had gone straight into action with a lack of combat experience and had suffered heavy losses. It was subsequently decided that all American pilots should pass through the British training schools such as the one at Bramham. After the First World War, with a reduced need for warplanes, the aerodrome was closed down in December 1919. One large hangar remains, as a listed building, among the barns of Headley Hall Farm. During the Second World War, vehicles were left on the old grassed areas, to deter the site being used as a landing ground in the event of an invasion. For many years, the village had a rural emphasis although as the Great North Road grew in importance, the number of coaching inns and stables increased to service the passing trade. Over the years, a significant amount of employment has been provided by the local estates, particularly Bramham Park and the other grand houses in the village. In the late 20th century there was a decline in employment in agriculture that coincided with the growth of the village as home to a significant number of commuters. As a result, the village has become increasingly diverse in nature. A large part of the village is included in a conservation area and all the land outside the present built area is currently designated green belt. The army officer, ethnologist and anthropologist General Augustus Pitt Rivers was born in Bramham cum Oglethorpe on 14 April 1827.

Bramham, West Yorkshire etymology

Bramham is first attested in the Domesday Book in the forms Bramha’, Brameha’, and Braham. It comes from the Old English words brōm (‘broom’) and hām (‘village, homestead’) and thus once meant ‘homestead characterised by broom’

You can visit Bramham, West Yorkshire places with Walkfo Bramham, West Yorkshire to hear history at Bramham, West Yorkshire’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Bramham, West Yorkshire has 22 places to visit in our interactive Bramham, West Yorkshire map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Bramham, West Yorkshire, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Bramham, West Yorkshire places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Bramham, West Yorkshire & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 22 audio facts unique to Bramham, West Yorkshire places in an interactive Bramham, West Yorkshire map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Bramham, West Yorkshire Places Map
22 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Bramham, West Yorkshire historic spots	Bramham, West Yorkshire tourist destinations	Bramham, West Yorkshire plaques	Bramham, West Yorkshire geographic features
Walkfo Bramham, West Yorkshire tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Bramham, West Yorkshire

  

Best Bramham, West Yorkshire places to visit

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Bramham, West Yorkshire has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Bramham, West Yorkshire’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Bramham, West Yorkshire’s information audio spots:

Bramham, West Yorkshire Bramham is a village in the civil parish of Bramham cum Oglethorpe in the City of Leeds. It sits in the Wetherby ward of Leeds City Council and Elmet and Rothwell parliamentary constituency.

Bramham Park Bramham Park is a Grade I listed 18th-century country house in Bramham, between Leeds and Wetherby, in West Yorkshire. The house is constructed of magnesian limestone ashlar with stone slate roofs in a classical style.

Battle of Bramham Moor The Battle of Bramham Moor was the final battle in the Percy Rebellion of 1402 – 1408. It pitted Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, head of the rich and influential Percy family, against the usurper King of England, Henry IV. The Percys had previously supported Henry in his coup d’etat against his cousin Richard II in 1399.

Boston Spa Methodist Church Boston Spa Methodist Church is an active Methodist Church of Great Britain church in Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. The church is Grade II listed, having been designated so on 30 April 1982.

St Mary the Virgin Church, Boston Spa The Church of St Mary the Virgin in Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, is an active Anglican parish church. It is a Grade II listed building. The church is in the archdeaconry of York and the Diocese of York.

Visit Bramham, West Yorkshire plaques