Ainsty

Ainsty was a wapentake covering a few square miles situated to the west of York in England. It is bounded by three rivers: the Nidd to the north; the Ouse to the west and the Wharfe to the south. It contains thirty-five villages. Ainsty was unlike all other wapentakes in that it was not formally included in any Ridings until relatively late.

From 1449 until 1889 Ainsty was annexed to York, it was closely bound to the city and gravitated towards it, it was a natural hinterland, with good agricultural land and communications.

Despite its association with York, it was sometimes included with the East or West Riding. In the Local Government Act 1888, it was finally defined as part of the West Riding. From 1974 it was in North Yorkshire and since 1996 it has been split between the City of York and the borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire.

Ainsty gives its name to the new Selby and Ainsty parliamentary constituency which covers parts of the Ainsty which lie in Harrogate borough.

The Ainsty Bounds Walk is a 44 mile (71 km) footpath around Ainsty.

External links

* [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp;jsessionid=64E09EB798DF88EED71B20A1362664D0?u_id=10112278 Ainsty Wapentake at visionofbritain.org.uk]