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The village of Clifford is very old, taking its name from ‘Clyf’, an Anglo-Saxon word meaning ford, referring to the crossing of the River Wharfe at Boston Spa which was then within the Manor of Clifford. The village is characterised by the use of magnesian limestone visible in many of the older buildings.
It is mentioned in the Domesday Book, 1086, as follows:
In Clifford, Ligulf had 1 manor of 6 caracates taxable where 4 ploughs are possible. Nigel has (it) from Count Robert. In lordship 2 ploughs: and 3 villagers with 2 ploughs. 1 mill, 2 shillings; underwood, 4 furlongs long and 3 wide. The whole manor, 1league long and ½ wide. Value before 1066, 40 shillings; now 10 shillings. (modern translation)
As well as being a farming community, in the 19th century, the old corn mills down Old Mill Lane were transformed into Flax Mills, making chiefly patent yarn and shoe thread. The mills were owned by the Grimston Brothers who were the main benefactors of St Edward’s Catholic Church. In its hey-day, the business employed upwards of 300 workers many of whom lived in the stone terraced cottages in Albion Street.
In the 1850s there were 3 additional pubs to the ones at present in the village; these have now been converted to private houses.
For Clifford Local History Group click here |
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Boston Spa Archeology and Heritage Group |
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The group was formed in 1999 and is active in this area. We have a varied programme of monthly talks, usually on the last Thursday of the month, as well as group walks, visits and social events. Membership is open to adults. . We are also interested in the wider district around Boston Spa as well as the village itself.
Our fieldwork includes excavation, surveys, buildings archaeology, archaeobotany, and field walking, looking for evidence of earlier settlement. So far we have found evidence from Mesolithic (9000-4000 BC) right through to modern times. In recent years we have been investigating a prehistoric site on the edge of the village, where our on-going excavations, aided by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, have revealed what is only the second prehistoric pit-alignment found in West Yorkshire. Three pits contained Neolithic carved rocks (4000-2000 BC) and cremated animal bones from te Bronze Age and Iron Age.
An illustrated report is available at a subsidised price from Yeadon’s on the High Street or from the Chairman. It also includes an account of the unusual ‘sheepwash’ we excavated in Wray Wood, which may have been connected to the later medieval sheep industry centred on Clifford. We recently completed a report for Boston Spa Parish Council on the heritage of the riverside area between Deep Dale and Holgate and are currently investigating the above-ground archaeology of the old township of Clifford. We keep a folder in Boston Spa and Wetherby Libraries where interested members of the public can keep in touch with meetings and work carried out.
We can give talks to other groups and organisations on a range of topics, including ‘Recent Local Discoveries’, ‘Archaeology and Heritage of the Outer Hebrides’, ‘The Romans in Tunisia’ and ‘Archaeology of Syria’.
Membership is open to adults. We are also interested in the wider district and draw members from further afield as well as locally. View the group’s website and see what’s been happening.
Contact: Malcolm Barnes, Chairman, - 844115. |
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