These are links to Grade 2 Listed buildings and Structures on this page
St Mary’s Church
Garforth is recorded as having a Church in the Doomsday Book of 1086
The current Church was built in 1845, the foundation stone having been laid on Monday 22nd July 1844. It is thought to be the third Church built on this site.
Road Bridge at The Station
1834 Over the road from Garforth to Aberford, at Garforth station.
Footbridge at Garforth Station
Railway Station Footbridge at Garforth station, was constructed in cast and wrought iron, c.1900. The footbridge is in the standard design of the North Eastern Railway. The previous design consisted of an elliptical arch in four sections with roundels in the centre of each section. Decorative railings to the steps have crossed bars between iron balusters. The steps return to the east on each side of the bridge, and rise to the road above on the north side. An inner line of metal railings has been added to the steps, with horizontal bars between posts.
It was engineered for four lines of track although only two were ever built at this point, as this footbridge demonstrates. It was added to the station in c.1900, the adjacent road bridge being used previously.
The nearby road bridge and the footbridge connected east and west-bound platforms are both Grade 2 Listed. The foot bridge removed in July 2023 to allow for electrification and lift access. Relocated to Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway in Kent.
Railway Bridge over Barwick Rd.
The bridge carries the Leeds to Selby Railway over Barwick Road close to Townend
Barrowby Hall
Barrowby Hall is located about one mile to the west of the top of Main Street. It was the residence of a branch of the Ingram Family of Templenewsam from 1677 to 1742. The estate had been bought from the Layton Family. Between 1718 and 1720 the building and surrounds were remodelled by York architect William Etty
The hall became tenanted by Charles Smith, son of Timothy the entrepreneur who was working at Lowthers Astley Pits with Thomas Fenton in 1773. During 1830s to 1860s Barrowby Hall was the home of William Simpson Atkinson and then the Fawcett Family of Maltsters. Eric Fawcett was born at the hall about the turn of the century and Mary Fawcett married John Clapham Bartle. In later years the hall became the home of Bernard Hirst, agent for the Oulton Estate and Stephenson Riding School. The Hall and estate was Gascoigne family property until 1937. It is now occupied by J R Barrowman & Son, livestock and mixed farmers.
The former Hall, which was later a country farm house, was internally altered after the end of WW2. Externally there is a slate roof with receding wings which have an appearance of double depth with a stair turret projecting at the rear
There are two storeys plus an attic and cellar with a symmetrical 7 bay front facing facade in a classical style. There are boxed sash 12 pane windows with keystones and 4 flat roofed dormers behind the roof parapet. At the rear of the building is apparently a stone quoin to the left return wall, which is inscribed with the 1677 date. Internally there is an open-well staircase with moulded handrail and timber work.
Mile Post 3 Selby Road
Mile Post 3 at the junction of Selby Road and Ninelands Lane opposite The Crusader pub. This was the former Selby & Leeds Turnpike Road.
This Turnpike was set up in 1740 with Sir Edward Gascoigne listed as a Trustee. It was terminated as a Turnpike in 1874.
Turnpike Descriptions Click for more information
Leeds to Selby and Wakefield to Aberford
The Oldest local Roman Road in the area is the A656Bawtry to Boroughbridge- Section between Castleford and Bramham referred to in Garforth, Kippax, Ledston as Roman Ridge.
Up to 1555 Local landlords were responsible for maintenance of the roads. After that Local Parishes took over. Travellers met a variety of road repairs or lack of them.
1675 Leeds Quarter sessions referred Howle Lane in West Garforth was badly in need of repair This was fore runner of Leeds to Selby Turnpike
As the Industrial Revolution progressed the need for better roads increased. Between 1700 and 1790 approx 2000 Road acts were passed relating to setting up Turnpike Trusts. Thus many bars, gates and cottages were set up.
Turnpike was actually a gate with spikes across the road to prevent travellers passing until they had paid the toll.
The two turnpikes passing through Garforth were Authorised by the Acts Of Parliament were
1740- Leeds to Selby 6th Baronet Sir Edward Gascoigne was a Trustee
1741- Wakefield to Aberford.
Coal and Lime waggons were exempt from tolls in The West Garforth to Leeds section. However heavy use ruined the road and a subsequent act was passed in 1750. Turnpikes pushed up the cost of commodities. (East Leeds to Knaresborough entailed 40 miles of turnpikes).
Wakefield to Towton was particularly crooked and indirect.
Work to improve began in 1789 and was completed in 1794.
Trustees decided on three Toll bars – Stanley Green, Swilliington Bridge and Moor Garforth. – now site of Toll Bar Garage at junction Bar Lane Aberford Road. Wakefield to Aberford was thought to be the first in West Riding not to be built on existing roads.
On the Leeds to Selby route a turnpike stood near Peckfield Bar where Roman Ridge road crosses Leeds to Selby Road.
The Wakefield to Aberford turnpike was terminated in 1882 and the Leeds to Selby in 1874 and were taken over by WRCC
Mile Post 2 Wakefield Road
Mile Post 2 is located on Wakefield Road, formerly Wakefield to Aberford Turnpike. This is close to The Beeches Care Home and opposite the lane to Pikes
The Tuurnpike was set up in 1741. Improvements to the road started in 1789 and were completed in 1792. One of three tolls was set up at the junction of Bar Lane and Aberford Road where the Toll Bar Garage is located. It ceased to be a Turnpike in 1882
The Dixon Family were the last toll keepers at Bar House. They later moved to Bank Row and the house eventually passed to Mr Harry Strangeways who set up a garage on the site.
Mile Post 1 Aberford Road
Mile Stone 1 is located on Aberford Road close to Juncton 47 on the A1M– This is in Aberford PC Area