Cawood Village History: The ford over the River Ouse at Cawood may well have contributed to the founding of a settlement at this site, in prehistoric times it was on the trade route from Scandinavia to Ireland. The site of the Castle was originally occupied by a manor house which was built around 920 AD, and later fortified. King Athelstane gave it to the See of York in 937 AD as a thank offering after a victory over the Danes, and it then became the home of the Archbishops of York. View of Cawood Church and River Ouse, dawn
Mud flats and remains of old wooden staiths at low tide

Remains of the riverside staith at low water.

 Between the late 1600's and mid 1700's was the high point in Cawood's prosperity, many of the buildings in the centre of the village date from this time. The village benefited from the river trade, reflected in the names of the local pubs: the Ferry Inn, the Jolly Sailor; the Anchor (- recently closed). Stone from the Huddlestone quarries at Sherburn-in-Elmet was brought to Cawood, probably along Bishopdyke, to build the Castle and the Church. The same stone was used to build York Minster. 
Inside Cawood church there is a monument to Archbishop Mountain. George Mountain was a native of the area who eventually became Bishop of London. When the Archbishop of York died, the King spoke to Bishop Mountain and asked about a successor; he apparently said: "hads't thou faith as a grain of mustard seed, thou would say to this mountain (laying his hand on his breast), be removed to that See". He was accordingly appointed Archbishop of York in June 1628 but died shortly after his enthronement. In his will he left money for the poor of Cawood and for poor children to be placed as apprentices. All Saints' Church, Archbishop Mountain monument
All Saints' Church, Cawood The church registers go back to 1591 although there is a gap between 1642 and 1649 due to the Civil War; they are at the Borthwick Institute in York for safe keeping. The church's Tenor bell is pre-reformation, tradition has it that it was brought from the Castle chapel when that was destroyed in 1646, and is the bell remaining after the 1569 Rising of the North. The church altar was found hidden in the floor, probably to prevent its destruction by Cromwell's troops, and was lifted from the vestry floor and restored in 1930.  (Link to Church page)
Cardinal Wolsey was the inspiration for the nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty" - hence the competition! Bob is not partaking, by the way, just an innocent bystander.  --------  Walking through the village one day, a car stopped and I was asked where the rare wildlife was - I was tempted to reply "At the Jolly Sailor pub" - but actually, we have greater crested newts Humpty Dumpty competition
Useful, living next door but one to the Jolly Sailor pub Market Place is full of old houses - the census records show a pub and a butcher's shop for hundreds of years - the butcher's shop is now closed, but the Jolly Sailor is still there.   Mill House, at the end of Market Place, was originally 3 cottages, now joined into one; at one time in the 50's it was a Midlands Bank, and like most old buildings in this area, has extensive cellars.
This is the "Boggart Oak" - it had lots of other names, too - "lightning tree", "hanging tree", and the "mile ender". It marked the boundary between Cawood and Wistow and stood in a field off the Wistow road until it was blown over in February 1990. It was believed to be over 500 years old, and still had leaves in the 1950's. In the background you can see the "headgear" of Wistow Mine.  The old tree was a popular subject for photographers and artists - it looked different from every angle - several displayed below! "Boggart Oak", "Mile End Tree"
Boggart oakWater colour sketch, 1988I did this sketch in 1988
Pencil sketch, 1988 Cawood Gas works commemorated on this plaque in Sherburn Street:

It reads: "Cawood Gas Works Erected 1856" (date not very clear)
Cawood family coat of arms

The Cawood family arms - and some  Cawood family history

At the back of the church, this is carved into the wall

- also carved onto the church 
Part of Michael Bell's excellent history display, Cawood Craft Fair Every Craft Fair, Michael Bell puts on a display of Cawood history in the Methodist Chapel - photographs and information on local history (also read his book - "Cawood - The History of a Yorkshire Village", published by Cawood Castle Furniture, 1987).  The display on the left shows the "Boggart Oak" among other local features.
Cawood Bridge, looking up High Street Cawood bridge has a weight limit; river traffic has right of way – if the bridge were damaged, it would have to be swung open to allow boats to pass.  A few years ago, cameras were installed to monitor traffic breaking the weight limit.  In September 1998, the barge “Sobriety” got wedged beneath - its  wheelhouse jammed on the bridge structure.  It took an Act of Parliament to change the bridge keeper from permanent to temporary (when the cameras were installed).  (Flood pictures)
Barriers down, traffic waiting - And here is the bridge, shut to allow boats through.  The traffic can tail back some considerable way through the village!

Below, boats going "through" the bridge, with some of the locals turning out to watch and wave.  This is a regular feature of the summer (boating) season.

(May 2001)
Cawood Bridge - The swing bridge was built in 1872 to replace the ferry. Bishop's Dyke empties into the river near the bridge, and the river Wharfe enters the Ouse just above Cawood.

Cawood Bridge, end of 19th century

 Plaque on Cawood Bridge
Ahoy, there, Cap'n! Queueing up to pass through the bridgeBig waves as the boats pass through the bridge on their way to Selby

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This site (below) has information on a book about the history of Cawood, Wistow and Selby Light Railway:

http://www.bulleid.force9.co.uk/lneeg/reviews/cawood-wistow-selby-light-rly.html