Evelyn's Diary. 17 Aug 1654. Passed through Pontefract [Map]; the richard castle famous for many sieges both of late and ancient times, and the death of that unhappy King murdered in it, was now demolishing by the Rebels; it stands on a mount, and makes a goodly show at a distance. The Queen (age 44) has a house here, and there are many fair seats near it, especially Mr. Pierrepont's (age 48), built at the foot of a hill out of the castle ruins. We all alighted in the highway to drink at a crystal spring, which they call Robin Hood's Well; near it, is a stone chair, and an iron ladle to drink out of, chained to the seat. We rode to Tadcaster [Map], at the side of which we have prospect of the Archbishop's Palace (which is a noble seat), and in sight of divers other gentlemen's fair houses. This tract is a goodly, fertile, well-watered, and wooded country, abounding with pasture and plenty of provisions.

The River Wharfe rises on the moors above High Birkwith, North Yorkshire [Map] after which it travels broadly south past Kettlewell, North Yorkshire [Map], Grassington, North Yorkshire [Map], under the Hebden Suspension Bridge [Map], past Burnsall Craven [Map], Howgill, West Yorkshire [Map], under Barden Bridge, West Yorkshire [Map], through te The Strid, West Yorkshire, past Bolton Priory, North Yorkshire [Map] and Bolton Bridge, North Yorkshire [Map], then Ilkley, North Yorkshire [Map], Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire [Map], Otley, West Yorkshire [Map], Harewood House [Map], Wetherby [Map] and Tadcaster, Yorkshire [Map], Kirkby Wharfe, West Yorkshire [Map], Rhyther, West Yorkshire [Map] before joining the River Ouse 1.25 Km north of Confluence of the Rivers Wharfe and Ouse [Map].