Wetherby: Through Time

Summary

The name Wetherby derives from the Saxon word for a sheep farm, or the Norse for a bend in the river. Archaeological finds show the Wetherby area has been populated since the early Bronze Age, growing around an important river crossing on the 'Great North Road' between London and Edinburgh, for which the existing stone bridge was built in 1233. Mary Queen of Scots crossed it on her way south from Bolton Castle, as did many armies through the centuries. Two skirmishes were fought for possession of the town during the Civil War and Oliver Cromwell passed through the area on the morning of the Battle of Marston Moor. Almost all of Wetherby was the property of the Dukes of Devonshire from 1602 until 1824, and a number of buildings constructed on behalf of the Devonshire Estate still survive. Through a fascinating collection of images, the Wetherby Historical Trust details this town's rich history.