Market Weighton

Coordinates: 53°51′51″N 0°39′45″W / 53.8642°N 0.6624°W / 53.8642; -0.6624

Market Weighton
All Saints Church
Arms of Market Weighton Town Council
Market Weighton  Market Weighton shown within the East Riding of Yorkshire
Population	5,212 (2001 census)[1]
OS grid reference	SE879417
Parish	Market Weighton
Unitary authority	East Riding of Yorkshire
Ceremonial county	East Riding of Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	YORK
Postcode district	YO43
Dialling code	01430
Police	Humberside
Fire	Humberside
Ambulance	Yorkshire
EU Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament	East Yorkshire
List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire

Market Weighton is a small town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is one of the main market towns in the East Yorkshire Wolds and lies midway between Hull and York, about 20 miles (32 km) from either one. According to the 2001 UK census, Market Weighton parish had a population of 5,212.^[1]

Historically it is listed in the Domesday Book as "Wicstun" and was granted its charter to become a market town in 1251. Architecturally the town boasts: a parish church, parts of which are Norman, the Londesborough Arms (an 18th century coaching inn), a Wesleyan chapel, a Methodist chapel and a high street still recognisable from the 1800s. Other sights of interest include the post office , the duck pond and Station Farm. Market Weighton has a bright and colourful history, largely based around William Bradley the Yorkshire Giant who at the age of 20 was an amazing seven feet and nine inches tall. Another resident was Peg Fyfe, the local witch, who reputedly skinned a young local resident alive in the 1660s and was later hanged for the crime but swallowed a spoon to save herself only to be "finished off" by two passing knights.^{[citation needed]}

In May of each year local residents take to the streets of Market Weighton for the Giant Bradley Day festival in a celebration of the life and times of William Bradley.

Industry in the town is largely based around agriculture. The town is known geologically for having given its name to the Market Weighton Axis.

The Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail, a long distance footpath, passes through the town.

Governance

High Street

Market Weighton has a town council, who operate under the East Riding of Yorkshire County Council.

Noted people from Market Weighton

• William Bradley (1787–1820), tallest ever Briton
• Frank Mitchell (1872–1935), cricketer^[2]

Transport

The town used to be a good route centre for connecting major cities York and Hull and used to have a railway station at the junction of the lines from Selby to Driffield and York to Beverley, but the last train ran in 1965. The abandoned lines north of the town are used as scenic walks and cycle routes, comprising nature reserves etc. Bus service X46, provided by East Yorkshire Motor Services, runs hourly and links the town with Beverley, Hull, Pocklington and York.

The three-mile £5.1 million A1079 bypass opened in March 1991.

The Minsters Rail Campaign is campaigning to re-open the railway line between Beverley and York (with stops at Stamford Bridge, Pocklington and Market Weighton). The re-opened railway would skirt the edge of the town as the former alignment has since been developed. ^[3]

See also

• Market Weighton Canal

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Market Weighton CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=791000&c=Market+Weighton&d=16&e=15&g=391464&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1211193324251&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779. Retrieved 19 May 2008. 
2. ^ Frank Mitchell's obituary in the 1936 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
3. ^ http://www.minstersrail.org.uk/

• Gazetteer — A–Z of Towns Villages and Hamlets. East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 2006. p. 8. 

External links

• Market Weighton Homepage
• Market Weighton Community Website
• The Market Weighton Reference Website
• Information about William Bradley and Giant Bradley Day
• Market Weighton United AFC