Snaith

East Riding of Yorkshire

Snaith is a town in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Snaith lies just south of the River Aire which is the boundary with the former Selby district of North Yorkshire and around 2 miles north of the boundary with South Yorkshire.

The town is bypassed by the M62 motorway which runs less than a mile to the south of Snaith, but with junctions with the motorway six miles distant.

Snaith Priory, dedicated to St Laurence, is a dominant feature of the small town. The oldest parts of the church date back to before 1150 and much of the building is the work of the Benedictine monks of Selby Abbey. In 1310, the Archbishop of York pronounced that two monks from Selby Abbey should become resident at the church at Snaith, and one of these was styled prior.

Market Place is an attractive street of old buildings leading to the Priory and the location of markets and fairs which were given a royal charter back in 1223. Once an important weekly event in the town, markets are now only held occasionally, including the Snaith and Cowick Christmas Market on the first Saturday in December.

Snaith now shares regeneration plans and a town council with the neighbouring villages of West Cowick and East Cowick which have seen some new residential development in recent years in this otherwise agricultural area.

Snaith has a railway station, but very few trains stop there.

Town features

Snaith has a historic priory church. See our Abbeys page for more about Yorkshire's abbeys and priories.

The town is near to the River Aire.

Snaith has local traders and a supermarket. Snaith offers bakery goods, butchers, flowers and other goods.

The town has a Post Office branch.

Snaith has a cash machine.

The town has a pharmacy.

Snaith has a choice of pubs.

Pub food is available in Snaith.

Takeaway food outlets in the town include fish and chips, chinese, pizzas.

The town has a library.

Places of worship: Anglican, Methodist.

Places to stay in Snaith include inn accommodation.

Snaith was formerly in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Travel

Snaith station

Few trains stop at this station.
In the May-Dec 2023 timetable the train service at this station is one morning and one evening train towards Leeds (Mon-Sat) and one evening train towards Goole.

Towards Castleford and Leeds
Hensall 7 - Whitley Bridge for Eggborough 11 - Knottingley 18 - Pontefract Monkhill 23 - Glasshoughton 28 - Castleford 35 - Woodlesford 45 - Leeds 57 Towards Goole
Rawcliffe 12 - Goole 211hr 8min - typical fastest journey times in hours/minutes.

Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN.

NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station info

External link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).

Bus travel

The town has buses to neighbouring towns and villages.

Road travel

Snaith can be reached via the A645 A1041

Places to visit

Selby Abbey

The Crescent, Selby
The church of Selby Abbey can trace its history back nearly 1,000 years and many English kings visited the abbey over its lifetime. It is a rare survivor as an abbey church, which was built at a Benedictine monastery founded in 1069. The church was begun around the start of the 12th century, but has seen many changes over its years. The church was restored after a major fire in 1340 and there were further alterations in the 15th century. Selby was apparently treated favourably by King Henry VIII at the time of the monastery's Dissolution surrender in December 1539 and the church was left intact. There has however been considerable damage and restoration since that time, including the collapse of its central tower in 1690 which also destroyed the south transept. The tower was rebuilt in around 1701 by a local builder in the style of the time. In the mid-19th century there was substantial restoration of the church, but the abbey was extensively damaged by a fire in 1906. A complete restoration took place in the following years, followed by the rebuilding of the south transept, which was consecrated in 1912. Today the abbey church of St Mary and St Germain continues to be an active parish church at the centre of its local community.

More information at

Selby Abbey website

Emergency services

Humberside Police

Humberside Police website.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service website.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust website.

Local government

Civil parish council

Snaith and Cowick Town Council
Provides some local services in the area.
Link to council website:

Snaith and Cowick Town Council

Unitary authority

East Riding of Yorkshire Council
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is now a unitary district rather than a county authority but the least changed of any of the historic Ridings of Yorkshire.

It does now cover a small part of the former West Riding, while it has lost portions of the historic East Riding to North Yorkshire and York.

County Hall, BeverleyBeverley is the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire and the location of its County Hall.

Other towns in the East Riding include Bridlington Driffield Goole Market Weighton Hedon Hornsea Howden Pocklington Snaith and Withernsea.

The authority covers a near full range of council services, except the limited services handled by the various civil parish/town councils which exist throughout its area.

The 26 wards in the authority each elect one, two or three councillors to make up a 67 member council. An election for the entire council is held every four years with the most recent election in 2019.

Link to East Riding of Yorkshire Council website .

Political composition after May 2023 election:

2922943 YP
67 members YP = Yorkshire Party

Police and Crime Commissioner

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside
Oversees Humberside Police covering an area made up of the unitary authority councils of East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Hull and, south of The Humber, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
Elected P&CC: ❚ Jonathan Evison Conservative

Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside website.

Fire Authority

Humberside Fire Authority
The fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the four unitary authorities served by the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service - East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire.

Humberside Fire Authority website.

Parliamentary constituency

Goole and Pocklington
Elected MP: ❚ David Davis Conservative

National government region

Yorkshire and the Humber

Ceremonial county

East Riding of Yorkshire

Historic

1889-1974 West Riding of Yorkshire (county authority)
1974-1996 Part of a borough within the artificially-created county of Humberside

Also in Yorkshire.guide

Places in East Riding Yorkshire attractions