Whixley

Coordinates: 54°01′N 1°19′W / 54.01°N 1.32°W / 54.01; -1.32

Whixley is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is near the A1 road and 10 miles west of York. The ancient village of Whixley lies on Rudgate, the old Roman road along which the Roman “Hispania” Legion would have marched to nearby Isurium (Aldborough).

To the Normans it was Cucheslaga but by the 14th century it was called Quixley after the Lord of the Manor.

For many years Whixley was famous for cherries which were originally cultivated by the friars from the Priory of Knaresborough, and in later times were sold in London at Covent Garden. A great day of celebration was the annual Whixley Cherry Feast held on the first Sunday in August, The word Feast meant “festival” rather than the scoffing of huge amounts of the fruit.

Whixley Parish Hall experienced severe water damage after the floods in York and isn't expected to reopen until March 2016

Many of the houses in Whixley are a reminder of these times with Cherry House, Cherry Cottage, Cherry Tree Farm and many others.