Editing Acaster Malbis

{{Short description|Village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| static_image_name        = Acaster Malbis, Holy Trinity Church.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Holy Trinity church, Acaster Malbis
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.9019|-1.10691|display=inline,title}}
| label_position           =
| official_name            = Acaster Malbis
| population               = 669
| population_ref           = ([[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]])<ref name="2011 census"/>
| unitary_england          = [[City of York]]
| lieutenancy_england      = [[North Yorkshire]]
| region                   = Yorkshire and the Humber
| constituency_westminster = [[York Outer (UK Parliament constituency)|York Outer]]
| post_town                = YORK
| postcode_district        = YO23
| postcode_area            = YO
| dial_code                = 01904
| os_grid_reference        = SE587454
| london_distance_mi       = 170<!-- straight line per MOS – constant and comparable with other place distances -->
| london_direction         = S 
}}

'''Acaster Malbis''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|eɪ|k|æ|s|t|ər|_|ˈ|m|æ|l|b|ɪ|s}}) is a village and [[civil parish]] in the [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] of the [[City of York]], England. It is located on the [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|River Ouse]], almost {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} south of [[York]]. Nearby are the villages of [[Copmanthorpe]] {{convert|2|mi|km|1}} to the north-west, [[Bishopthorpe]] 2 miles to the north and [[Appleton Roebuck]] {{convert|3.5|mi|km|0}} to the south-west. The parish covers an area of about {{convert|2000|acre|ha}}.

The Latin word for a camp is ''castra'' indicating that the [[Roman Britain|Roman]] army may once have been based here. The village is mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as "Acastre".<ref>Gilleghan, J. (1992), ''Scenes from East Leeds'', p. 10, Leeds: Kingsway Press</ref> The "Malbis" is derived from the [[Normans|Norman]] Malbysse or De Malebys family. Malbis was a Norman personal name which in French means "very swarthy".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/oldkingdomofelme00boggrich/oldkingdomofelme00boggrich_djvu.txt|title=Malbis name|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref>

There was a [[RAF Acaster Malbis|Royal Air Force station]] next to the village during and immediately after the Second World War.

According to the [[2001 United Kingdom census|2001 census]] the parish had a population of 578, increasing to 669 at the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]].<ref name="2011 census"/> There are two churches and an inn in the village. The village is also the home for a holiday park.

The village was historically part of the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]] until 1974. It was then a part of the district of [[Selby District]] in [[North Yorkshire]] from 1974 until 1996. Since 1996 it has been part of the City of York unitary authority.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Acaster Malbis, in York and West Riding {{!}} Map and description|url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/11078|access-date=2020-11-28|website=visionofbritain.org.uk}}</ref>

==History==

===Early history===
The land on which the village stands was named by the [[Roman Britain|Romans]] as Val-Caester. In Latin, Val means "a wall" and Castrum means a "camp".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/oldkingdomofelme00boggrich/oldkingdomofelme00boggrich_djvu.txt|title=Roman History|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref> When the Romans departed the land was acquired by an [[Anglo-Saxon]] called Aca.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshire-england.co.uk/Selby.html|title=Anglo-Saxon Owner|accessdate=19 November 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101025215319/http://www.yorkshire-england.co.uk/Selby.html| archivedate= 25 October 2010 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref>

The village is mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] as ''Acastre'' in the [[wapentake]] of Ainsty and was recorded as belonging to two men, Elsi and Robert.<ref name="S&N Publishing"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SE5845/acaster-malbis/|title=Acaster [Malbis] &#124; Domesday Book|website=opendomesday.org}}</ref> Ownership passed to the Malbysse family during the reign of [[Richard I]]. The family held the lands for about 200 years. In 1190, Richard Malebysse was a leader involved in the massacre of the Jews at [[Cliffords Tower]] in York. [[Richard I of England|Richard I]] dismissed the sheriff and constable of York and imposed severe penalties on the city and arrested many of those who had taken part. Richard Malbysse had been described by a Hebrew scribe eight years earlier as "the evil beast". As punishment, the King ordered his estates seized into the king's hand and two of his esquires were thrown into prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=36322&strquery=acaster%20a0-11-19|title=Jewish Massacre in York|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref>

In 1314, John De Malbysse was appointed as a [[sheriff]] of the county. His daughter married into the Fairfax family who then inherited the lands after the deaths of John De Malbysse and his son Walter. The Fairfax family held the estates until 1745 when it was sold to Lady Dawes and was eventually inherited by [[Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock|Lord Wenlock]].<ref name="S&N Publishing">{{cite book|title=Bulmer's Topography, History and Directory (Private and Commercial) of North Yorkshire 1890 |pages=852 & 853|date=2002|orig-date=1890 |publisher= S&N Publishing|isbn= 1-86150-299-0}}</ref>

During the [[English Civil War]], the city of York was under siege from Scottish and Parliamentarian Armies. They had settled around the city in a great arc, with Lord Thomas Fairfax's army to the east and the Scots to the south and west. A bridge of boats, similar to those constructed at [[Nether Poppleton]], was constructed over the River Ouse at Acaster Malbis to allow communications between the two armies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/1644-york-march-marston-moor.htm|title=Civil War|accessdate=19 November 2010|archive-date=28 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228033814/http://british-civil-wars.co.uk/military/1644-york-march-marston-moor.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===RAF Acaster Malbis===

[[RAF Acaster Malbis]], situated between the villages of Acaster Malbis and [[Acaster Selby]], was commissioned in 1942. Originally it was a grass airfield used by the No 601 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force from 6 January 1942 until April of that year. They flew American [[Bell P-39 Airacobra|Bell P39 Airacobra]] fighter planes. From 6 April 1942 until the beginning of 1943 No 15 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit was established here to train recently qualified pilots to convert to twin-engine aeroplanes using the [[Airspeed Oxford]] aircraft.

On 25 January 1943 the airfield was reconstructed into a full size 'Class A' bomber station, with three concrete runways, steel hangars and new administration buildings. Initially the airfield was used as a relief landing ground for heavy bombers stationed at [[RAF Rufforth|Rufforth]] and [[Marston Moor]]. From November 1944, No 4 Aircrew School took over for pilots, navigators, and air gunners to complete their ground training whilst waiting for a posting to a squadron. In 1945 there were between 200 and 300 RAF personnel living on the camp.

After the end of the war, RAF Acaster Malbis was home to [[RAF Maintenance Command|No 91 MU (Maintenance Unit)]] who were responsible for the storage and disposal of vast amounts of ammunition. This function was not complete until well into the 1950s. RAF Acaster Malbis was decommissioned in 1963 and the land sold by public auction. It resumed operations as a private airfield in the mid-1970s until the mid-1980s. Large parts of the runways have since been dug up and the buildings have fallen into disuse with many being demolished, although one hangar and the [[control tower]] still remain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ainstyvillages.org.uk/AsArticles1.html |title=RAF Station |accessdate=19 November 2010 |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903124814/http://www.ainstyvillages.org.uk/AsArticles1.html |archivedate=3 September 2011 }}</ref>

==Governance==

Acaster Malbis lies in the [[Bishopthorpe]] Ward of the Unitary Authority of the City of York. It forms part of the [[List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies|UK Parliamentary Constituency]] of York Outer. It was part of the [[European Parliament constituency|EU Constituency]] of Yorkshire and the Humber until [[Brexit]] in 2020. In 2011 the Ward was won by Councillor John Galvin,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.york.gov.uk/council/Elections_and_democracy/elections/Elections_results/2011-05-05/bishopthorpe|title=Ward Councillor|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509025909/http://www.york.gov.uk/council/Elections_and_democracy/elections/Elections_results/2011-05-05/bishopthorpe|archivedate=9 May 2011|url-status = dead|accessdate=25 October 2010}}</ref> a member of the local Conservative Party, after holding the seat in 2015 he again won the seat in 2019, this time as an Independent.

==Demography==

In 1848 the population of the village was recorded as 322, just under half of the whole population of the parish of the same name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50742#s17|title=Population 19th century|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref> By 1881 this had fallen to 230.<ref name="S&N Publishing"/> According to the [[2001 United Kingdom census|2001 census]] the parish had a population of 578, which rose to 669 by the time of the 2011 UK Census.<ref name="2011 census">{{NOMIS2011|id=1170211379|title=Acaster Malbis Parish|accessdate=3 March 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="17"| Population<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TOT_POP&u_id=10455431&c_id=10001043&add=N|title=Population at Cenuses|publisher=Vision of Britain|year=2009|accessdate=22 March 2013}}</ref><ref name="2001 Census">{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadDatasetList.do?a=7&b=11120272&c=Aysgarth&d=16&g=6454794&i=1001x1003x1032&m=0&r=1&s=1364223230794&enc=1&domainId=16|title=2001 UK Census|publisher=Office for National Statistics|year= 2002|accessdate=25 March 2013}}</ref>
|-
! Year !! 1801!! 1811 !! 1821 !! 1831 !! 1841 !! 1851 !! 1881 !! 1891 !! 1901 !! 1911 !! 1921 !! 1931 !! 1951 !! 1961 !! 2001 !! 2011
|-
| Total || 265 || 286 || 291 || 282 || 322 || 231 || 264 || 243 || 227 || 222 || 225 || 271 || 959 || 271 || 578 || 669 
|-
|}

==Community==
[[File:Ship Inn, Acaster Malbis.JPG|thumb|left|The Ship Inn, May 2011]]
There are few amenities in the village save for the 17th-century [[public house]], The Ship Inn. This Inn features in the book, ''The Girl with the Red Suspenders'' by Barbara Whitehead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.homesteadbb.free-online.co.uk/yorks.html|title=Ship Inn|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref> The inn reopened in May 2009 after nine months of major refurbishment, following serious flooding when the River Ouse burst its banks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/4379215.ship-inn-pub-at-acaster-malbis-reopens-following-major-refurbishment-scheme/|title=Ship Inn pub at Acaster Malbis reopens following major refurbishment scheme|date=19 May 2009|website=York Press}}</ref>

The owners of the inn have reported a number of incidents allegedly involving ghosts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/4436904.another-york-pub-the-ship-inn-acaster-malbis-plagued-by-ghosts/|title=Another York pub, The Ship Inn, Acaster Malbis, plagued by ghosts|date=13 June 2009|website=York Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://imfromyorkshire.uk.com/acaster-malbis/|title=Acaster Malbis|first=I'm From|last=Yorkshire|date=3 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/hauntings/the-ship-inn-acaster-malbis/|title=The Ship Inn, Acaster Malbis – Mysterious Britain & Ireland|date=24 November 2018}}</ref>

==Transport==

[[Harrogate Coach Travel]] operate a service through the village as part of the York Askham Bar to [[Tadcaster]] route.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swiersnet.co.uk/HCT/timetables/C1print.php|title=Bus service|accessdate=19 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029005256/http://www.swiersnet.co.uk/HCT/timetables/C1print.php|archive-date=29 October 2009|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Education==

Acaster Malbis used to have brick built school, founded by John Knowles in 1603.<ref name="S&N Publishing"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50742&strquery=acaster%20malbis|title=Old School|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref> As of 2010, primary education is provided at Archbishop of York's CE Junior School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skillspace.com/LearningSystem/PortalHome/Portal.asp?institution=ArchbishopYork&parameter1=&parameter2=&Campus=&TimeNow=10/25/2010+4:40:36+PM|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716081504/http://www.skillspace.com/LearningSystem/PortalHome/Portal.asp?institution=ArchbishopYork&parameter1=&parameter2=&Campus=&TimeNow=10%2F25%2F2010+4%3A40%3A36+PM|url-status = dead|archive-date=16 July 2011|title=Archbishop of York's School|accessdate=25 October 2010}}</ref> in [[Bishopthorpe]].

The village is in the Secondary School catchment area for [[Fulford School]] and [[Millthorpe School]] in York and also for [[Tadcaster Grammar School]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Guide to School Catchment Areas|url=https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/237/guide_to_school_catchment_areas|website=york.gov.uk|accessdate=5 December 2017|page=4}}</ref>

==Religion==

There are two churches in the village. [[Holy Trinity Church, Acaster Malbis|Holy Trinity Church]], the [[Church of England]] parish church, stands on the site of the original Norman Church. In 1360 the estates of the Malbysse family passed into the hands of the Fairfax family, who pulled the old church down. The church stands a little way out of the village on the road to [[Bishopthorpe]].<ref name="S&N Publishing"/> It is a Grade I [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY|num=1148450|accessdate=25 January 2018}}</ref>

There is also a [[Methodism|Methodist Church]] in the centre of the village, founded in 1880.<ref name="S&N Publishing"/>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:AcasterMalbisMethodistChurch(BillHenderson)2002.jpg|Methodist Church
File:The Ouse at Acaster Malbis - geograph.org.uk - 720595.jpg|The River Ouse at Acaster Malbis
File:An ornate garden gate - geograph.org.uk - 1512299.jpg|The gate [[folly]] in Acaster Malbis
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{OpenDomesday|SE5845|acaster-malbis|Acaster &#91;Malbis&#93;}}

{{Portal bar|Yorkshire|England|United Kingdom}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Civil parishes in North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Villages in the City of York]]