Tadcaster
Historic Tadcaster contains many ancient treasures, such as the 12th-century St Mary's Church, the 13th-century motte and ditch of the Norman castle, and the Ark. Originally built in the late 15th century, The Ark (so named because of the carved images of Noah and his wife on the corbels) was a meeting place where the Pilgrim Fathers reputedly met to plan their voyage to America. It has been a meeting place, a post office, an inn, a butcher's, a private house and a museum, and is now the offices of Tadcaster Town Council.
The present Bridge crossing the River Wharfe was built around 1700, and was based on the first stone bridge built in 1200, which in turn was based on a Roman wooden structure. Originally built in 1150, St Mary's Church was burnt by Scots, rebuilt in 1380 and 1480,then taken down in 1875 and rebuilt on foundations that were five feet (150 cm) higher because it was subject to flooding. Using rubble from the Roman settlement, the Normans built a small motte and bailey Castle in the13th century. When the Castle was demolished, the stone was used to rebuild the bridge. No buildings remain but the motte and northern ditch can be clearly seen.
Must see and do
- John Smith’s Brewery, Tadcaster
- St Mary’s Church, Lead
Related Links
See more destinations in North Yorkshire
