1. Weir Garth

Water Mills have existed on this site since before 1221, grinding flour, crushing rape seed and ‘Fulling’ cloth. The Mill buildings burned down in 1945 whilst being used as a firelighter factory. Nearby there was a brewery and a sawmill. The original 1235 river bridge still remains between the 1773 upstream widening and the 1826 downstream widening The Fish Ladder opposite was built in 1871 at the cost of £30

image of the wier
1930

The old medieval Wetherby Bridge had four arches and these were eventually extended to six. Not only was the bridge damaged by severe floods but thousands of Scottish cattle going south and coal carts going north in the late 1700’s added to the destruction. It is hard to believe that until the first by-pass of 1959 was built this bridge was part of the A1 carrying all the traffic on the Great North Road.

Wetherby Weir Garth Blue Plaque site
Plaque affixed to base of the bridge which reads: In 1233, Walter De Gray, Archbishop of York forgave the sins of those who contributed to the building of this bridge. The original bridge was only 3.5 metres wide and humpbacked. Frequently repaired, it was widened after flood damage in 1773. The bridge was further widened and raised in 1826, the present bridge is the result.
This plaque on Wetherby Bridge is close by the Weir Garth Blue Plaque.
Photo of the bridge
Here you can see the arch of the old bridge in the middle of the new one

Click on any of the plaques below to see more detail.

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