In the 1820s Aberford was described as a market and parish-town, in the parishes of Aberford and Sherburn in Elmet, wapentakes of Skyrack, and Barkston Ash, liberties of Pontefract and St. Peter; 6 miles from Tadcaster, 8 from Wetherby, 9 from Ferrybridge, 11 from Leeds and Pontefract, 14 from Selby, 16 from York, 186 from London. Market, Wednesday. Fairs, last Mondays in April and May, first Monday in October, first Monday after St. Luke, first Monday after All Saints, for horses, horned cattle and sheep.