COWTHORPE  LIFE

OUR HISTORY

 

Cowthorpe sits on the south bank of the River Nidd and to the west of the old Roman road Rudgate; it is primarily an agricultural area.

 

The Domesday Book records that Saxons occupied the area and that there was a church located in Chapel-fields. There is still evidence of Roman activity: behive querns have been found locally. In addition Saxon stonework is apparent in the present church, utilised from an earlier Norman church.

 

St Michael and All Angels is unique with its unusual tower and is recognised as of medieval build in 1458. In 1975 it was declared   redundant and is now maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust.

 

Before the advent of large, modern agricultural machinery and "contract" farming, there were several small farmsteads. Cottages for the agricutural labourers were built on a ribbon development along the main road to Wetherby.

 

The Enclosure Act of 1848 brought about changes as two or three farms were situated in their newly enclosed land away from the main road.

 

People often visited the village to view the famous Old Oak Tree - reputed to be one of the largest and oldest oaks in England. The painter JWM Turner visited and sketched the tree. Sadly the tree no longer exists.

 

Derek and Susan Gaunt have spent many years researching various facets of Cowthorpe. A few years ago they produced short research documents with their take on certain aspects of Cowthorpe. They called them Curiosity & Intrigue. They are reproduced with the kind permission of the Gaunts.