Notes on the Routeway to Kendalman's Ford

One of the earliest road maps produced, the Gough map of England (the original is in the Bodleian library), shows an important recorded routeway through Settle going back in time to the early 14th century, (and may have been in use as early as the Roman period). This map shows a road running from Doncaster to Skipton to Settle then on to Kirkby Lonsdale and northwards.

It was a route however, that might have followed the river crossings where some permanent bridges were in place, for example at Skipton, possibly Settle, and Kirkby Lonsdale, rather than using ancient fords.

This establishes that for centuries Settle has been a focal point for traffic crossing the River Ribble at or near the ancient so-called Kendalman's Ford site. The ford is reputed to have been the river crossing used by merchants and traders traveling from Kendal in Westmorland to other trading centres, including the West Riding of Yorkshire. It was on a route that could be taken to avoid paying the tolls on the bridges. Numerous drovers' trails and packhorse routes criss-cross the Giggleswick/Settle area, originally bringing cattle and goods into and out of Settle. Some of these paths are still bridle ways and public rights of way, others have been lost over time, but we should try and preserve those which are recognized today. Unfortunately these routeways are still being removed or diverted.

During work on Bond Lane Playing Fields in 2002 an old trackway was uncovered by the workman using a digger to move topsoil. The old trackway was about 9ft (3m) wide, surfaced with cobbles and loose stone and leading from Bond Lane towards the River Ribble. Was this the possible line of the old road to Kendalmans? The North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) Heritage Unit were informed by several interested people who were concerned, but the whole of this routeway was still destroyed as being of no historical value.

When the Dairy on Sowarth Industrial Estate enlarged its car park several years ago, a nominal footpath was left between its boundary and that of the King's Mill site leading down to the river, to what many local people call 'Kendalman's Ford'. Although rather overgrown it was possible to get down there to the river bank in early 2002. When Skipton Properties bought the site for housing purposes, the footpath was fenced off with a wire partition, and later walled up. However, due to protests from local residents the footpath route along the edge of the new housing development has recently been restored down to the river bank.

In January 2003 it was still possible to see the Kendalman's Ford route on the Settle side of the Ribble bank, sloping down to the river edge, between the two trees, with two gate posts still in situ, though not standing upright (photograph). Today the river bank has been reinforced with large boulders which have obliterated any traces of the graded lane end leading to the river and the old gatestoops have been broken off. The boulders have now been top-filled with soil to make the ground level and will be grassed over.

The air photograph taken c1950 clearly shows, in the top right corner, two wash marks across the River Ribble from bank to bank, the remains of what we assume to have been the old river bed crossing. On the Giggleswick side of the river the corresponding slope upwards to the bank was eroded by the river some time ago. The walled lane leading to Kendalman's housing area in Giggleswick appears to be a relict of this ancient route into the village. This lane is clearly marked on the 1851 Ordnance Survey map as the routeway down to the river Ribble from Giggleswick village, but is unfortunately no longer in use as a public right of way.

It is important that any sections of 'ancient' routeway uncovered in future are fully recorded and investigated. The North Craven Historical Research Group are recording and mapping all tracks, hollow-ways and footpaths in the area. Anyone able to help with this Project is welcome to get in touch with us.

It is also to be hoped that our Parish Councils ensure that no further bridle or footpaths are destroyed in future, and that they are all placed on the definitive map currently being drawn up.

Site of the ford (Settle side)

Track way

Wash marks