Wath-in-Nidderdale

For the other Wath in the Harrogate district, see Wath (near Ripon).

Wath
Sportsman's Arms, Wath
Wath is located in North Yorkshire
Wath
Wath
Location within North Yorkshire
OS grid referenceSE148677
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHARROGATE
Postcode districtHG3
Dialling code01423
PoliceNorth Yorkshire
FireNorth Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
54°06′19″N 1°46′30″W / 54.10536°N 1.77492°W / 54.10536; -1.77492

Wath, sometimes known as Wath-in-Nidderdale to distinguish it from other places named Wath, is a village in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is near Gouthwaite Reservoir and about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Pateley Bridge.

The toponym is derived from the Old Norse vað, meaning "ford".[1]

In the Middle Ages Wath was divided between the lands of Fountains Abbey, north of a small stream known as Dauber Gill, and the lands of the Archbishop of York on the south side. The northern part, including the Sportsman's Arms inn, is now in the civil parish of Fountains Earth, historically a township in the parish of Kirkby Malzeard. The southern and higher part is now in the civil parish of High and Low Bishopside, historically a township in the parish of Ripon.

Sigsworth Grange was a grange of Fountains Abbey.[2] The present building on the site of the grange dates from the early 18th century.[3]

The small Methodist chapel in the upper part of the village, has an unusual 5-sided shape. It was built in 1859,[4] and was designated a Grade II listed building in 2018.[5]

The ford over the River Nidd, which gave the place its name, was replaced by a bridge by the 16th century.[6] The present bridge, a narrow road bridge, dates from the early 19th century and is a Grade II listed building.[7] In the early 20th century Wath had a railway station on the Nidd Valley Light Railway.[8]

  1. ^ Smith, A. H. (1961). The Place-names of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Vol. 5. Cambridge University Press. p. 150.
  2. ^ Jennings, Bernard (1992). A History of Nidderdale. Nidderdale History. p. 98. ISBN 1-85072-114-9.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1150522)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  4. ^ Methodist Heritage website
  5. ^ Historic England. "Wath Methodist Church (1449371)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  6. ^ Jennings, Bernard (1992). A History of Nidderdale. Nidderdale History. p. 84. ISBN 1-85072-114-9.
  7. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1150530)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  8. ^ Photos of Wath railway station site