Ryecroft, West Yorkshire
{{Short description|Hamlet in West Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Ryecroft
| country = England
| region = Yorkshire and the Humber
| static_image_name = Ryecroft - geograph.org.uk - 38266.jpg
| static_image_width =
| static_image_alt =
| static_image_caption = Ryecroft hamlet
| os_grid_reference = SE076381
| map_type = West Yorkshire
| coordinates = {{Coord|53.8394|-1.8854|display=inline,title}}
| post_town = BINGLEY
| postcode_area = BD
| postcode_district = BD16
| dial_code = 01535
| civil_parish = Harden
| metropolitan_borough = City of Bradford
| metropolitan_county = West Yorkshire
}}
Ryecroft is a hamlet near to the village of Harden in West Yorkshire, England. The hamlet is on the road between Harden and Haworth, {{convert|3|km|order=flip}} south of Keighley, {{convert|3|km|order=flip}} west of Bingley and {{convert|1|km|mi|1|order=flip}} west of the centre of Harden.{{cite map|title =Leeds & Bradford |map =104 |year =2016 |scale =1:50,000 |series =Explorer |publisher =Ordnance Survey |isbn =9780319262023}}
History
The name of the hamlet literally derives from Rye and Croft, a field where malting took place.{{cite book |last1=Armitage |first1=Goodall |title=Place-names of South-west Yorkshire : that is so much of the West Riding as lies south of the Aire from Keighley onwards |date=1914|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|pages=112, 246|oclc=504339898}} The last building on the road through the village was marked on a 1908 Ordnance Survey map as being a malthouse.{{sfn|RCAA|2005|p=8}} The hamlet wasn't mentioned in the Domesday Book, but was believed to have been settled around the 14th century when lands in and around Ryecroft were given to the monks of Rievaulx Abbey.{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Sue |title=On the fairway to heavenly barn |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/2270563.on-the-fairway-to-heavenly-barn/ |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |date=14 May 2008 |language=en}} However, the area was used by the Brigantes and the Romans long before it was settled, and a Roman Road either went past the settlement (on what is now the road to Haworth) or went through the village and across Harden Moor.{{cite web |title=Harden Village history |url=https://hardenvillagecouncil.gov.uk/history/ |website=hardenvillagecouncil.gov.uk |access-date=19 January 2020}}{{sfn|RCAA|2005|p=9}}
Although there is documentary evidence that the settlement had buildings in the 14th century, the oldest surviving buildings in the hamlet are from the 17th century. Ryecroft was traditionally referred to as being part of Harden, or the Harden Grange itself, as opposed to its own entity.{{sfn|RCAA|2005|p=10}}
One of the earliest Primitive Methodist chapels in the Bradford area was built in the hamlet in the early 18th century.{{sfn|RCAA|2005|p=11}}{{NHLE|desc=Ryecroft farmhouse|num=1300842|grade=II|access-date=19 January 2020}} In November 1853, a Primitive Methodist chapel was opened up on the main road, just to the south of the settlement. The chapel was built on land given to the Methodist community by William Ferrand.{{cite magazine |last1=Simpson |first1=John |title=Ryecroft Primitive Methodist chapel |magazine=The Primitive Methodist magazine |date=January 1854 |page=50 |publisher=Primitive Methodist |location=London |oclc=1088367043}} The chapel on the main road had its own burial ground, but services ceased in 1945 and the chapel later became a private dwelling.{{sfn|RCAA|2005|p=11}} The original chapel in the hamlet was used occasionally as a school room.{{cite book |editor1-last=Wolfe |editor1-first=John |title=Yorkshire returns of the 1851 census of religious worship |date=2005 |publisher=University of York, Borthwick Institute of Historical Research |location=York |isbn=1-904497-10-1 |page=89}}
The hamlet is not connected to a mains water supply, and in 2006, the natural water spring used by the residents dried up. It had been in use since the 1700s.{{cite news |title=Village left with no water for first time in 300 years |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/latest-news/village-left-with-no-water-for-first-time-in-300-years-1-2382509 |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=11 August 2006 |language=en}} The residents formed a company and added a supplementary borehole to their water supply.{{cite news |last1=Webber |first1=Dan |title=Borehole answer for drought-hit hamlet? |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/875831.borehole-answer-for-drought-hit-hamlet/ |access-date=19 January 2020 |work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |date=11 August 2006 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Ryecroft Water Limited - Company Profile - Endole |url=https://suite.endole.co.uk/insight/company/06361093-ryecroft-water-limited |website=suite.endole.co.uk |access-date=19 January 2020}}
In the 2011 census, the hamlet was included in the details for Harden parish,{{NOMIS2011|id=E04000173|title=Harden Parish|access-date=20 January 2020}} although an estimate in 2005 stated that 40 people were living in the settlement.{{sfn|RCAA|2005|p=7}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
=Sources=
- {{cite report|title=Ryecroft Conservation Area Assessment|date=2005|publisher=Bradford City Council|location=Bradford|url=https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2495/ryecroftcaa.pdf| format=PDF|website=bradford.gov.uk|access-date=19 January 2020|ref={{harvid|RCAA|2005}} }}
External links
- [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06361093/filing-history Ryecroft Water Limited]
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