The origins of Oughtibridge date back to the first part of the 12th century. There was a ford over the River Don managed by a man named Oughtred who resided in a nearby cottage. When a bridge was built on the spot in approximately 1150 it became known as Oughtred’s Bridge or by his nickname of Oughty’s Bridge and the small settlement around the bridge adopted the same name.
Following the Industrial Revolution, Oughtibridge ceased to be a purely rural village. The corn mill was joined by a forge, manufacturing files. This was quickly followed by a paper mill, tannery and a small brewery. These have all now disappeared. The last to go was the paper mill, which finally closed in 2007.
The village now boasts 3 churches, a school, a brass band, four public houses, various shops including a grocers, post office, bridal boutique and kitchen showrooms. Oughtibridge Gala is held every year in Coronation Park on the last Saturday in June and is one of the biggest village galas in the area, organised by local volunteers.
THE CHURCH
Oughtibridge Parish Church was built in 1842 and consecrated in 1843 as a Chapel of Ease to Wadsley Church. The villages of Oughtibridge, Worrall and Wharncliffe side were originally part of Wadsley Parish, but became an independent parish in 1939. In 1974 the church became known as the Church of the Ascension. The name was chosen by the members of the Church; the inspiration being the beautiful east window, which unusually depicts the Ascension of Christ to Heaven, rather than the usual Crucifixion.
The low towers on each side of the west door originally had tall pointed turrets on them, but one blew off in a gale during the 1920s and the second was removed for safety.
An interesting anecdote relates to the first vicar, who was over-zealous and performed several marriages during the first year before the church was properly licensed, meaning the marriages were not lawful. It needed an Act of Parliament to legitimise these marriages.
THE CACHE
The co-ordinates will take you to the church steps on Church Street where you will find a stone plaque, which will give you the information needed to solve the formula to find the cache.
N53 26.ABC W001 32.DEF
On the third line, the fourth number minus the seventh number = A
Number of letters in second word on the plaque = B
Number of letters in the surname of the doctor = C
Number of letters on the last line divided by 2 = D
The sixth number on the third row = E
The number of letter P minus letter M on the plaque = F
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro.co.uk
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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