The Parlington estate and line is packed full of history dating back to 1545 when John Gascoigne bought it from Thomas Lord Wentworth. It is interesting to see the progression of ownership through inheritance to it's decline in the 20 th Century when lots were sold off. We have included links below if you are interested in the history of the estate and the family that once owned it. The Gascoigne family built the railway line to transport coal from Aberford to Garforth via the Leeds and Selby Railway. It was a private line which did not require an act of Parliament to be built. It opened for goods traffic in 1873. It was originally a horse drawn railway on the up slope with the horses transported on the return journey in Dolly carts on the downward slope! Something you would certainly not entertain today! Eventually the line used steam and some of the arches had to be modified in height to accommodate the engines. It is designated a bridleway and is National Cycle Network (NCN) route 66. It passes through Garforth Golf Club. Most of it is on a firm track with grassy sections along the way. We think the railway line carried on where you see a bridleway on the map into Leeds but we ware not certain of the route and some seems to be footpaths now so we have ended our cover of it leaving the equestrian to decide which way they want to continue. This section of it is just over 3.25 miles long with plenty of opportunity to venture elsewhere. (There is also the a railway line now a footpath which went from a spur off the Parlington Line to Garforth.)

The Parlington line - horse transport on the return journey.

The Parlington Line junction with Barnbow Lane © Copyright Gordon Hatton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Parlington Line - Staith cottage © Copyright John Slater and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Parlington Line at the Gamekeepers Cottage © Copyright Martin Dawes and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.