Bramhope

The place-name Bramhope appears first in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Brahop and Bramhop, with later medieval spellings including Bramhop(a) and Bramhop(p)e. The name seems to derive from the Old English words brōm 'broom' and hōp 'a small valley, side-valley off a larger valley', here referring to a small valley off Wharfedale,Victor Watts (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, Based on the Collections of the English Place-Name Society (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004), s.v. BRAMHOPE. probably the one through which flows Bramhope Beck.Harry Parkin, Your City's Place-Names: Leeds, English Place-Name Society City-Names Series, 3 (Nottingham: English Place-Name Society, 2017), p. 27.

File:Bramhope 021.jpg

The earliest known settlement in the area was a British camp established off Moor Road. The Romans built a road through the area from Adel to Ilkley, traces of which remain in a field near Leeds Bradford Airport.{{cite web|url=http://www.bramhope.org/brhistry.htm |title=Bramhope and Carlton Parish Council |date=10 October 2000 |work=A Brief History of Bramhope (source:A History of the Township of Bramhope' by W.F. Seals) |access-date=14 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230140217/http://www.bramhope.org/brhistry.htm |archive-date=30 December 2009 }}

In 1086, Bramhope was the manor of an Anglo-Saxon thegn, Uchill. In 1095 the manor passed to the Percy family, and in 1165 was sold to Ralph de Bramhope. In the 13th century the monasteries owned much of the land and had granges where sheep were grazed. The monks used tracks, such as Scotland Lane and Staircase Lane, as they travelled from their outlying granges to Kirkstall Abbey.

The village had a small population until the 20th century. The Black Death of 1348-49 reduced the number of adults to 34, but this gradually increased to about 400 in 1900. Now it is approximately 3,400. Water was drawn from private wells or the town well at the foot of Northgate (now Church Hill). The town well was restored in 1991 by the Bramhope History Group, and is located opposite St Giles' Church. The plaque says that the well was exposed in 1991, so perhaps it had been lost for some time.{{cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1126068|title=Geograph.org.uk|last=Hatton|first=Gordon|date=19 January 2009|work=Photo of Old Well, Bramhope, and comments|access-date=14 July 2009}}

File:Bramhope 006.jpg Chapel, 1649]]

At the Dissolution of the Monasteries Henry VIII gave the land to the Earl of Cumberland. In the 16th century the Dyneley family moved into the area and acquired Bramhope Hall. In 1649 they built the Puritan Chapel, which was taken over by the Church of England after the Restoration. The chapel is one of only a few built during the Commonwealth period. It is said not to have been consecrated but nevertheless was regularly used for church services until 1881–82. The Puritan Chapel was listed Grade I in 1966.

When the chapel proved too small for the growing population, St Giles' Church was built in 1881.{{cite web|url=http://www.stgilesbramhope.org.uk/|title=St Giles Bramhope|year=2009|work=St Giles Church website|access-date=2009-07-14}} The original Methodist chapel was built in 1837 and replaced by the much bigger church in 1896.{{cite web|url=http://www.bramhope.org/brammeth/index.htm|title=Bramhope Methodist Church|year=2009|work=Bramhope Methodist Church website|access-date=14 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522110147/http://www.bramhope.org/brammeth/index.htm|archive-date=22 May 2009|df=dmy-all}} There is a map showing the location of St Giles and the Methodist church [https://web.archive.org/web/20090522110059/http://www.bramhope.org/bigpic7.htm here]. Bramhope Cemetery, established in 1861, is in Moor Road,{{cite web|url=http://www.bramhope.org/cemetery.htm|title=Bramhope and Carlton Parish Council|year=2005|work=Bramhope Cemetery|access-date=14 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509082912/http://www.bramhope.org/cemetery.htm|archive-date=9 May 2008|df=dmy-all}} but there are still some historical gravestones remaining in the cemetery of the Puritan Chapel.

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File:Bramhope 018.jpg

For many centuries travellers to the market towns in the vicinity used Otley Old Road. However, it was the Leeds to Otley turnpike road, with its tollhouses, opened in 1842, which routed travellers through the outskirts of Bramhope. It is along this route that motorists today travel between Leeds and the northwest. The milestones along the road were erected in 1850.

The railway was excavated under the village through the Bramhope Tunnel constructed between 1845 and 1849. The tunnel has an elaborate castellated northern entrance and there are many heaps of spoil and several ventilation shafts along its length. There is a replica of the tunnel entrance in Otley churchyard, erected as a memorial to the 24 men who lost their lives during the tunnel's construction. A railway station has never been built at or near Bramhope.

A village school was built in Eastgate where the war memorial garden is situated. A plaque states "On this site in 1790 a Day School was erected by the freeholders and copyholders of Bramhope Township. It was also used as a Sunday School and Public Meeting Place. Demolished 1961". The school became overcrowded whilst tunnelling work for the railway was going on in the late 1840s. It was replaced by a larger building in 1873 in Breary Lane, next to the shopping parade. The present school, situated on Tredgold Crescent, was opened in 1961.

File:Robert Craven Memorial Hall Bramhope.jpg

Bramhope has a Round Table, which organises activities to raise money for charity.{{cite web|url=http://www.bramhope844.co.uk/?page_id=2|title=bramhope844.co.uk|year=2009|work=Bramhope Round Table|access-date=14 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911035250/http://www.bramhope844.co.uk/?page_id=2|archive-date=11 September 2011|url-status=dead}} Bramhope has a cricket club which plays at the Recreation Ground on Old Lane. The club plays in the Leeds and Wetherby Cricket League and has two senior teams.{{cite web|url=https://headingleybramhopecricket.co.uk/|title=Headingley Bramhope CC|year=2020|work=Headingley Bramhope Cricket Club|access-date=15 January 2020}}

Robert Craven Memorial Hall (originally the Craven Institute, 1896) was part of the bequest of Robert Craven, a local farmer. It is now the village hall and administered as a registered charity. It has a crown bowling green, car park and tennis courts. Inside there are various rooms plus a large hall with stage, which doubles as a badminton court.{{cite web|url=http://www.robertcraven.org.uk/|title=Bramhope Parish Council|last=Firth|first=Graham|year=2001|work=The Robert Craven Memorial Hall|access-date=14 July 2009}} On the second Saturday of every month a farmer's market is hosted at this hall.{{cite web|url=http://www.robertcraven.org.uk/|title=Bramhope Parish Council|year=2008|work=Farmers Market|access-date=14 July 2009}} The memorial hall also hosts a yearly flower show in the autumn,{{cite web|url=http://www.robertcraven.org.uk/|title=Bramhope Parish Council|year=2009|work=Bramhope flower show|access-date=14 July 2009}} and a bridge club.{{cite web|url=http://www.gfirth.plus.com/rcmh/brambrdg.htm|title=gfirth.plus.com|year=2009|work=Bramhope Bridge Club|access-date=14 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510162323/http://www.gfirth.plus.com/rcmh/brambrdg.htm|archive-date=10 May 2008|df=dmy-all}}

The 13-acre Bramhope Scout Campsite, to the west of the village, is owned by Central Yorkshire Scouts.{{cite web|publisher=Central Yorkshire Scouts|url= http://bramhope.org.uk/ |title=Bramhope Scout Campsite|access-date=20 July 2018}}

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• Grade I buildings: Puritan Chapel, Otley Road (north side).{{NHLE|num=1261799|desc=Puritan Chapel, Otley Road (north side)|access-date=14 July 2009}}
• Grade II buildings: Farmhouse at 1 Church Hill;{{NHLE|num=1253371|desc=Farmhouse, 1 Church Hill|access-date=14 July 2009}} Barn about 5 metres west of Old Manor Farmhouse;{{NHLE|num=1253372|desc=Barn approx 5 metres west of Old Manor Farmhouse|access-date=14 July 2009}} Old Manor Farmhouse (rear portion only);{{NHLE|num=1261835|desc=Old Manor Farmhouse (rear portion only)|access-date=14 July 2009}} Weaver's Cottage, 4 Eastgate;{{NHLE|num=1261836|desc=Weaver's Cottage, 4 Eastgate|access-date=14 July 2009}} Methodist Church, Eastgate, north side;{{NHLE|num=1253373|desc=Methodist church, Eastgate, north side|access-date=14 July 2009}} Gazebo on north-east corner of garden of Belvedere, Hall Drive (south side);{{NHLE|num=1253374|desc=Gazebo on northwest corner of garden of Westwood, Hall drive|access-date=14 July 2009}} Manor House, Manor Close (north side);{{NHLE|num=1253375|desc=Manor House, Manor Close (north side)|access-date=14 July 2009}} Sighting tower, south side of Moorland Road;{{NHLE|num=1253379|desc=Sighting tower, south side of Moorland Road|access-date=14 July 2009}} The Hollies, Old Lane (north side);{{NHLE|num=1253380|desc=The Hollies, Old Lane, north side|access-date=14 July 2009}} Portal to north entrance to Bramhope railway tunnel.{{NHLE|num=1253370|desc=Portal to north entrance to Bramhope railway tunnel|access-date=14 July 2009}}
• Grade II Mileposts: Milepost on east corner of junction with Church Hill and Ditley Road (south side);{{NHLE|num=1261800|desc=Milestone at Church Hill and Ditley Road junction|access-date=14 July 2009}} Milepost at SE 240 441, Otley Road (north side);{{NHLE|num=1253381|desc=Milepost at SE 240 441, Otley Road (north side)|access-date=14 July 2009}} Milepost at SE 253 432, Otley Road (north side);{{NHLE|num=1253384|desc=Milepost at SE 253 432, Otley Road (north side)|access-date=14 July 2009}} Milepost at SE 264 421, Otley Road (north side);{{NHLE|num=1253387|desc=Milepost at SE 264 421, Otley Road (north side)|access-date=14 July 2009}} Milepost on east corner of junction with Breary Lane at SE 255 430, Otley Road (south side);{{NHLE|num=1253385|desc=Milepost on east corner of junction with Breary Lane at SE 255 430, Otley Road (south side)|access-date=14 July 2009}} Milepost on east corner of junction with Breary lane east at SE 256 430, Otley road (north side);{{NHLE|num=1253386|desc=Milepost on east corner of junction with Breary lane east at SE 256 430, Otley road (north side)|access-date=14 July 2009}} Milepost on south-east corner of junction with Pool Bank New Road at SE 241 440, Otley Road (south side);{{NHLE|num=1253382|desc=Milepost on south-east corner of junction with Pool Bank New Road at SE 241 440, Otley Road (south side)|access-date=14 July 2009}} Milepost on south-west corner of junction with Pool Bank New Road st SE 241440, Otley Road (south side);{{NHLE|num=1261798|desc=Milepost on south-west corner of junction with Pool Bank New Road st SE 241440, Otley Road (south side)|access-date=14 July 2009}} Milepost on west corner of junction with Creskeld Lane at SE 258 428, Otley Road (north side).{{NHLE|num=1261801|desc=Milepost on west corner of junction with Creskeld Lane at SE 258 428, Otley Road (north side)|access-date=14 July 2009}}
• Related Grade II listing at Otley: Memorial to victims of Bramhope tunnel disaster (sic), Church Lane (north side), Otley.{{NHLE|num=1135240|desc=Memorial to victims of Bramhope tunnel disaster, Church Lane (north side), Otley.|access-date=14 July 2009}}

{{see also|List of people from Leeds}}

• Gold medal Winner at London 2012 Alistair Brownlee and Bronze medal-winning brother Jonathan Brownlee{{cite news|title=Brownlee postbox row hits Leeds suburbs|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-19210250|access-date=23 December 2015|work=BBC News|date=10 August 2012}}

File:Bramhope 015.jpg|Bell on Puritan Church, 1649

File:Bramhope 024.jpg|St Giles' Church, 1881

File:Bramhope 027.jpg|Methodist Church, 1896

File:Bramhope 036.jpg|Old smithy, 1687

File:Bramhope 025.jpg|Old manor farm house, 1691

File:Bramhope 041.jpg|Old school house 1873, now flats

File:Bramhope Tunnel north portal 1b.jpg|Bramhope Tunnel north portal with castellated towers

File:Bramhope 046.jpg|Sighting tower over Bramhope Tunnel route

File:Bramhope 052.jpg|Ventilation shaft serving Bramhope Tunnel

File:Air Shaft Bramhope.jpg|Ventilation shaft in centre of Bramhope

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• Listed buildings in Bramhope

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• {{commons category-inline|Bramhope}}
• {{Genuki|county=WRY|Otley||Bramhope}}
• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjblackwell/sets/72157600857041048/ Flickr: Set of images of Bramhope Tunnel]

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Category:City of Leeds

Category:Villages in West Yorkshire

Category:Civil parishes in West Yorkshire