Bilbrough

Bilbrough (/ˈbɪlbrə/) is a village and civil parish in the Selby District of North Yorkshire, England, 6 miles (10 km) south-west of York, and just outside the York city boundary. According to the 2001 Census it had a population of 319 increasing to 348 at the 2011 census.[1]

This article is about the village and civil parish. For the surname, see Bilbrough (surname). For the waterfall, see Bilbrough Falls.

Bilbrough
Main street, Bilbrough
Bilbrough is located in North Yorkshire
Bilbrough
Bilbrough
Location within North Yorkshire
Population348 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceSE531465
Civil parish
  • Bilbrough
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townYORK
Postcode districtYO23
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire

The village was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire until 1974.[2]

History

The name means "The fortress of Bila", a personal name – probably Anglo-Saxon – not recorded but suggested by numerous other placenames.[3]

St James' Church, Bilbrough

The village and the surrounding parish has an area of 1,390 acres and was mostly the property of the Fairfax family from the 14th century onwards. Thomas Fairfax, parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil War, is buried here in a tomb inside the Fairfax Chapel within the village church, beside his wife Anne, daughter of Lord Vere, Baron of Tilbury.[4] Other notable landowners of the Parish included Richard Basy, an MP for York in the late 13th century.[5]

Bilbrough Manor, built in 1902 for Guy Thomas Fairfax, is a Grade II listed building.[6] The original Manor House, now a farmhouse, was built in 1670 for Thomas Fairfax. It is known that the former MP and Lord Mayor of York, Admiral Robert Fairfax, resided at this Manor. It was destroyed by fire in 1832.[7]

In 1881 the population was 198.[7]

The village is the subject of a 17th-century poem, Upon the hill and grove at Bilbrough, written by English metaphysical poet and politician, Andrew Marvell.[8]

Geography
A64 flyover at Bilbrough top

The village is set amongst fields and farmland north of the A64 road on lateral moraine made of boulder clay and gravel, 150 feet above sea level.[9] A flyover which affords access to the village was opened on 9 June 2005 by the then Roads Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman, replacing an earlier junction that was a known accident blackspot. Close to the flyover, at either side of the A64, there are small service stations, hotels and fast food restaurants.[10]

To the west of the village is Ingle Edge Hill with views to Marston Moor and Towton. Close by is a tumulus of an ancient chieftain that faces towards Leeds.[7]

A64 Services, often used by Leeds and York commuters

The main street in Bilbrough is home to The Three Hares public house and a parish church which dates back to Norman times. The village hall offers community events.

Parish Council

The local Parish Council has seven available councillor posts and is within the Selby District Council ward of Appleton Roebuck.[11]

Religion

St James' Church, Bilbrough was built in 1876 in a Norman style by Thomas Fairfax upon the remains of the original. There was also a Wesleyan Chapel built in 1836.[7]

References
  1. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Bilbrough Parish (1170217382)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  2. "History of Bilbrough, in Selby and West Riding | Map and description". visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  3. Ekwall, E. (1960). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Placenames. Oxford.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. "Fairfax-Bilbrough". Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  5. Coss, Peter R.; Lloyd, Simon D. (1986). Thirteenth Century England I: Proceedings of the Newcastle Upon Tyne Conference 1985. Boydell Press. p. 140. ISBN 0851154522.
  6. "Bilbrough Manor". Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  7. Bulmer's Topography, History and Directory (Private and Commercial) of North Yorkshire 1890. S&N Publishing. 1890. p. 855. ISBN 1-86150-299-0.
  8. Rudrum, Alan; Black, Joseph; Nelson, Holly Faith (2000). The Broadview Anthology of Seventeenth-Century Verse and Prose. Broadview Press, 2000. p. 840. ISBN 1551110539.
  9. "Bilbrough Village Information". Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  10. "New A64 flyover at Bilbrough Top". Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  11. "Parish Council". Archived from the original on 1 November 2005. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
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