Tadcaster Character/History

• Roman times in Tadcaster

  Tadcaster was known as Calcaria and lay on the Roman road connecting London to York . The area around Tadcaster was mined for Limestone and limestone was exported from Tadcaster along the Roman road to build within York. The town was also a major crossing point of the River Wharfe as a bridge on the Roman Road was built over the river. 
• Quarrying in Tadcaster

  There were numerous quarries around Tadcaster, but the majority were in Thievesdale, the dry valley just to the west of Stutton. Stone from Jackdaw Quarry and other quarries in the area was transported to York for the building of the Minster.
• Early Brewing in Tadcaster

  In 1341 Tadcaster had two brew houses. These breweries were probably small establishments, supplying maybe one or two inns. As the population and the number of inns increased, so did the size of the breweries. Tadcaster had a plentiful supply of high-quality hard water rising from springs which made the town a centre for the brewing industry.
• 19th to 20th century Brewing in Tadcaster

  Domestic production was industrialised by the Smith family and others at the end of the nineteenth century. The Old Brewery at Tadcaster was established in 1758. It is the smallest of the three Tadcaster breweries, independently run, and the oldest brewery in Yorkshire.
• John Smiths Brewery in Tadcaster

  John Smith’s new Brewery was built in 1883 and Heiniken took over in 2008.
• Tower Brewery in Tadcaster

  Opened in 1882 and was taken over by Coors (based in the US) in 2005.
• Transport Changes in Tadcaster

  The closure of the railway station (1964), the reduction of the market and the construction of the A64 Tadcaster bypass (1978), whilst substantially reducing traffic using the Tadcaster Bridge, have all contributed to the decline of visitors and commuters and therefore the town centre has declined.
• A64 affect on Tadcaster

   The building of the A64 from Leeds to York, bypassing Tadcaster in 1978 has meant that Tadcaster has become a commuter town as many locals can easily commute to Leeds or York for work. Although this reduces the traffic running through Tadcaster, this has also meant that less visitors come to the town to use the local businesses which has led to a decline in the local economy as local businesses are not generating enough income. 
• Effect on Coaching in Tadcaster

  -Tadcaster was just 10 miles from York on the York to London road. As horses required changing every 10 miles or so, Tadcaster was an obvious staging point on the route leading to the development of coaching inns. This in turn produced an additional market for ale.

  -The coming of the railway from London to York in 1840 was a disaster for Tadcaster as the coaching business declined severely. Some of the coaching inns closed and trades which were built around these were badly hit.
• Tadcaster 1995 Map

  A64 from Leeds to York bypasses Tadcaster (1978), more homes built in the East of Tadcaster, Brewery still active, No railway (1964)
• Tadcaster 1858 Map

  Houses concentrated in the centre around main street, railway line to Harrogate, no houses in East Tadcaster and road from Leeds to York through Tadcaster 
• Tadcaster 1945 Map

  Road from Leeds to York through Tadcaster, more houses in the West of Tadcaster, Railway
• Evaluation of OS maps on Tadcaster

  Geospatial source = OS maps - physical features, increase in population = shows physical changes but doesn't show feelings/ sense of place
• What are the endogenous factors that have affected Tadcaster?

  • 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school
  • Flat Surrounding land to the South + East
  • Quarry gives local stone
  • Local supermarket
  • 3 Breweries big employers and may make people spend in local businesses
  • John Smiths Brewery biggest in Tadcaster employing people in the town and brining in people who live outside the town.
  • River Wharfe - Bridge collapsed in 2015 due to flooding = split the town in half and impacted on local businesses. + But can be used for swimming and has been used for transportation of stone in the past
• What are the exogenous factors that have affected Tadcaster?

  • Leeds fest = people staying in local towns + may affect traffic
  • Not far from the A1 (m) connecting to London
  • A64 - dual carriageway running past Tadcaster from Leeds to York = easy connections to both cities for jobs. Also it takes traffic away from Tadcaster. but However, this means that less people are visiting Tad = less income