Full text of "Kirkby Overblow and district. Being a record of the history, antiquities, folk-lore, and old customs of the ancient parish of Kirkby Overblow in the West Riding of Yorkshire. With brief notices of adjacent places"

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THE LIBRARY

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

. ^ . r ^ 7^ . ^

1 ?

KTBKBY OVERBLOW

AND DTSTTtTTT.

Being a Record of the Histokv,
Antiquities, Folk-Lore, and Old Customs

OF TIM:

ANCllCNT FARISH OF KIRKBY OVliRBI.OW,
In Tin; West Riding ok Yorkshire

WITH

HIill'F NOTICKS OF .\I).IA('|;nt PLACES.

lIARin- SPKIGHT,

AlTHOK l)F ••l^olVKIl \\'|[AlltKI>Al.T:," "UrPKU WllAUFKli Al.R,"

'Ninnr.BDAr.K and lin-: Gaudkn of thk Nidd,*' "Two TiiousASn Ykaks
OK 'I'AtirAsTKit Histokv,*' "(Jmrosici.ks of Oi.d Bisoi.ky," 6:c.

I LLUSTRATIONS AND MAI'.

LONDON ELLIOT STOCK, 62, Paternoster Row, KC
Axn ALL Booksellers.

1903.

Printed by
G. F. Sewell. 52, Godwin Street, Bradford,

K63

"■ r-r \\

PRE FACE.

is remarkable that if we except liie upland and

scattered township of Staiiiburn, with its quaint

Norman church, and the neighbouring picturesque

heights of Almes Cliff, the ancient parish of Kirkby

Overblow has been almost ignored by the topographer

and tourist. Yet despite this neglect it possesses a more than

ordinary importance and interest. Part of its large extent was

embraced in the Royal Forest of Knaresborough, while among its

illustrious landowners were the lordly Abbots of Fountains (the

parish havmg given an Abbot to that wealthy monastery), the noble

houses of Percy and Mowbray, the great Earls of Albemarle and

Devon, the Barons Cantilupe and Aldburgh, the De Lancasters, the

powerful Barons of Kendal and lords of Lancaster, the famous

Bishop-statesman, Chancellor Burnell, the veteran Lord Fairfax, the

Nevilles of the days of chivalry, the Vavasours, Nortons, Plumptons,

Stapletons, and many others. The story of these connections with

the parish, as well as of the many distinguished incumbents of its

valuable rectory, — reaching far back almost to the Conquest, — should

give to this ancient parish an almost national interest.

Originally it had been my intention to have included this long

life-story in the volume on " Lower Wharfe dale," into which it

properly falls, but as that work had greatly exceeded the prescribed

limits, there was no alternative but to make a supplementary volume

of the work now submitted. Short as the story may appear, it has

involved no inconsiderable research among original archives.

My thanks are especially due to the present indefatigable rector of

the parish, the Rev. Charles Handcock, who has been unremitting

in his attentions on behalf of this project. He has, I fear at mucli

personal inconvenience, conducted me about the parish, assisted in

the transcription of the parish documents, looked over most of the

proofs, and in many other ways manifested a generous interest in the

progress of the work, that I cannot but ever gratefully remember.

To Mr. Hugh Bateson, Clerk to the Parish Council, I am also

greatly indebted for much useful literary help and for his particular

efforts in bringing this work to the notice of the inhabitants of the

district, whose patronage and support are heartily appreciated.

Much interesting information has been received from outside

(juarters, and especially from the late Chas. Macro Wilson, Esq., of

Bolsterstone, to whom I am indebted for very many particulars

derived from the'Wilson MSS. which have enabled me to construct

most of the Dodson pedigree given on page 78.

H. SPEIGHT.

Bingky. 7003.

63230G

CO NTE NTS.

/vc

Relics and Vestiges of Prehistoric Times
The Parish of Kirkby Overblow : The Norman Settlement
KiRKBY Overblow: Early Manorial History

Manorial Records from the Fourteenth to the Present Centu
The Parish Church of Kirkby' Overblow . .
The Rectory and Rectors of Kirkby Overblow . .
The Village of Kirkby Overblow : Its Institutions and Old Custo:
Kirkby Overblow : Old Homes and Families :
I. Low Hall and the Dodsons . .
11. Walton Head . .

III. Swindon

IV. Other Old Families . .
History and Aspects of the Townships :

I. Stainburn
II. North Rigton . .

III. Kearey-with-Netherby

IV. Sicklinghall . .
Brief Notices of the District :

Knareseorough
Harrogate
Spofforth. .

35
49
6/

77
87
92

137

149
153
155

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Knareseorough Castle before the Civil War. In Large Papey edition only.

Engraved from fhotografh supplied by

Page

St. Helen's Well, Kirkby Overblow
The Parish Church, Kirkby Overblow
Saxon Doorway. Kirkby Overblow
Ancient Tomb-slab, with arms. Kirkby

Overblow
The Rev. Charles Handcock
Rev. Prebendary J. J. Toogood, M..\
Rev. Canon E. Snowden, M..-\.
The Village Street, Kirkby Overblow
Low Hall, Kirkby Overblow
Seventeenth Century Oak Mantel, Low

Hall. Kirkby Overblow
Stainburn Church before the Restoration
Thatched House in the Back Lane, Rigton
Thatched Post-office, Rigton
The Bungalow, Barrowby Brow . .
St. Peter's Church. Sicklinghall
Castle Walk, Knaresborough
Market Place, Knaresborough
Low Harrogate a Century Ago
Spofforth Church before the Restoration

in 1855

jV/.vs G. Ilandeoch, Leeds

Walter Davey, Harrogate

I'cntney &• Co., Huddersfield
l< T. Nicholson, Leeds ..
Do.

J. A. Clapham, Bradford
R. Dobson, Urswick

Do.
Miss G. Handcock, Leeds

G. E. Arnold, Knareshorougli
Do. do.

3
34
37

43
48
61

63
66
76

84
100
114
119
124

143
14S

150

. . h'ei-.C. Handcocli, Kirkhy Overblow 154

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X'I'.RI'.I.OW AM)

ISTRIC

CHAPTER I.

Relics and \'r.sTiGF,s oi- Pi<i;iiistoi<ic Timks.

I IE ancient holy-well at Kirkby Overblow, called
St. Helen's well — a name appertaining to the
prehistoric era — offers interesting testimony
to the acceptance of Christianity in the parish
at an early period. The old well occupies a
niche in the south-east wall of the rectory
garden {sec the initial sketch) close to the public
road in the village, and near a house called
after it, St. Helen's cottage. How long it has
borne this ascription it is, of course, impossible
to determine, but as the earliest known church
of the parish was built close beside it in the eleventh century, or
earlier, it is highly probable that the beautiful and copious spring, —
ever flowing like the great wave of Christianity ! — has retained its
present name from the time of the State establishment of Christianity
in the fourth century.

When the Emperor Constantine sanctioned Christianity as the
national religion in the year 312, the old pagan holy-wells, like the
rude monoliths of the stone-worshippers, were "purified" and
consecrated to the worship of our Lord and Master. Thus we find
that many of our most ancient churches are built near to the old
decayed stone pillars and springs, w'hich were sacred places of
assembly in remote pagan times. Under the varying fortunes of
Christianity it was not, however, until the reign of King Edgar
(959-75), that stone and well w'orship was finally forbidden by canon
law.

No religious person was more popular in the north than St. Helena,
the mother of him who gave to the faith its final triumph, and
accordingly temple and cross and sacred spring were dedicated in

her honour. In Yorkshire she was exceedingly popular, probably
owing to the connection of her illustrious son with the city of York.
Constantine, as we gather from Eusebius, raised his mother's memory
by innumerable honours, and encouraged the people to bless and
perpetuate her name. Constantine granted her power over the
imperial treasures, and golden and other coins were stamped bearing
her image. Such coins of this earliest Christian Empress have been
found near St. Helen's Chapel, at the famous ford of the same name
on the Roman road across the Wharfe at Newton Kyme.* In
Yorkshire more than forty ancient churches and holy-wells are still
known by their dedications to St. Helen.f Around York may be
mentioned the churches of Skipwith, Escrick, Healaugh, Bilton,
and Stillingfleet, while the old York church of St. Helen-on-the-Walls
traditionally claims to hold the tomb of her husband, the Emperor
Constantius, who died at York in 306. But the grand sarcophagus
of St. Helen (or Helena) herself is in the Vatican Museum in Rome,
a rare example of Roman-Christian art, pagan though it be in design
and execution.

Of holy-wells dedicated to St. Helen, we have in the Wharfe
valley, in addition to tlie one at Kirkby Overblow, those near Newton
Kyme, Bramhope, Denton and lUirnsall ; while St. Helen's Chapel at
Holbeck, and St. Helen's well at Adel amply testify to the great
popularity of St. Helen in our immediate district. The local
prevalence of these ancient dedications shews also a strong probability
of their common origin at a period when the country was experiencing
a great Christian revival, and eager crowds came flocking to the
sacred springs by the way side to be baptized in the Faith. And
what period more likely than that which marks the triumph of
Christianity over paganism, when the Roman city of York was at
the zenith of its spiritual influence ? May we claim, therefore, for
the church of Kirkby Overblow, that Christians have worshipped
upon or near its site since the days of the good St. Helena ? There
is a belief current among the people of W'atchet in Somersetshire,
that their church has stood hard by the holy-well at that place since
the year of our Lord 400. .And similar stories prevail of many
another holy shrine.

But what was the condition of the district before these golden
days of Roman York, and its far-reaching civilisation ? The great
Plain of York and the fertile portions of the river-vales that emerge
upon it, were, no doubt, the most populous parts of our county for a
very long time preceding the Roman conc]uest. Camp and cairn
and tumulus have been thickly strewn over its surface, and many

• Sec my Lauer Wkarfcdak, page 384. f /'"''-. page 385.

relics of pre-Konian ape have been discovered witliin these limits.
In this immediate district the cup-marked rocks at Almes Cliff,
certain finds about Tadcasterand Wetherby,''' the tumuli in Haverah
Park at " Pippin Castle," also in Ribston Park, North Deif^hton,
Thorp Arch,t Ruddinj^ Park, Follifoot, and near Kirkhy Overblow ;
the discovery of a fine flint spear-head at Kirkby \Vharfe,J and of
another which Mr. !•". Carver, of North Rigton, tells me was found
while excavating at the brick-works near Harewood Bridge, are
mostly, if not all, memorials of an age when stone and flint were
fashioned for common use by the local inhabitants. Put the barrows
it should be noted, are of the round type and are probably relics of
the British contest with the Romans.

In a fertile district like this, however, continuously occupied from
a remote epoch, and subject to all the changes of race and language,
it is not surprising to find very few traces, if any, of place-names
surviving of the pre-Roman inhabitants. In those early times each
family or tribe dwelt on its own land, within well-determined
boundaries, so that every man of his tribe recognized the land to
which he belonged, and was bound at all times to answer to the name
of his lord or chief. No doubt many of these old tribal divisions
were adopted by later invaders and became eventually the lines of
demarcation of our most ancient townships and parishes. § It does
not seem improbable that the name " Black," whatever may have
been its original spelling, possesses some such significance. I have
found this word occurring on the boundaries of almost every parish
in W'harfedale, as well as on many boundaries of townships, parishes,
and shires in Ireland and North Britain.]; I have therefore come to
look upon this word as the survival of a Celtic boundary-term,
existing as it does sometimes side by side with the Teutonic iiiearc,
and wythas, meaning the same thing.

This name occurs in two places close to the boundaries of the
ancient parish of Kirkby Overblow, (i ) Black Wood separating the
townships of Follifoot and Kirkby Overblow, and (2) Black Hill
near the river at W'oodhall, on the boundary of the townships of
Sicklinghall and Linton in Spofforth parish.

On many of our most ancient boundaries were raised large mounds
of earth, a practice which appears to have been brought from the
East and adopted in this country by the ancient Celtic inhabitants.
Sometimes the grave of a warrior would be raised on an old tribal

* See my Loner Wharfedale, pages 231, 430, &c.

f Ibid, page 400, &c., and my Niddndale, page 19G.

X Lower Wharfedale, page 17S. <> See Stubbs' Cnnstit. Hist., i., page 60.

II See my Old Bingley. page 05.

division, tluis increasing the chances of it perpetuating his glory and
renown. It was the old Roman policy to bury their illustrious dead
in places of frequent resort that aspiring youth might emulate the
achievements of these past conquerors, and earn for themselves so
conspicuous a sepulchre. " When thou hast gone out of the Capena
gate," remarks Cicero, " and beholdest the sepulchres of Calatinus,
of the Scipios, of the Servilii and the Aletelli, canst thou deem the
buried inmates wretched ? "

Such a mound of the illustrious dead has existed on the bounds of
the parish of Kirkby Overblow, on Follifoot Moor, some 600 yards
north of the Black Wood above mentioned. This immense mound
has been known for many centuries as Alexander's Hill, and is
mentioned in the 14th century boundary commission, hereafter cited.
How it acquired the name is not known, but a reasonable explanation
may perhaps be found in connection with the Scottish invasions of
North England in the time of Alexander II. Many of our local
magnates are mixed up with the doings of this doughty monarch.
William de Stuteville, a famous soldier in the wars of Henry II.,
had assisted his kinsman, Ralph de Glanville, in the capture of the
Lion King of Scotland, Alexander's father, and shortly afterwards,
A.u. 1 1 77, the King confirmed to him the lordship of the castle and
Forest of Knaresborough.* A little later, when the English Barons
were in revolt against the tyranny of King John, Alexander of
Scotland came to their assistance and afterwards claimed extensive
possessions in the north, including the whole of the counties of
Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland. This claim was
admitted by William de Mowbray, a large landowner at North
Rigton, and Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid, a large landowner in Kirkby
Overblow, and other of the Yorkshire Barons, who did homage to
Alexander after the signing of Magna Chartain 1215.! And in 1237
William, Earl of Albemarle, whose daughter-in-law, Isabel de
Redvers, succeeded to the manor of Kirkby Overblow, was witness
to the agreement between King Henry III. and Alexander of Scotland,
respecting these northern possessions. Alexander gave certain
property to his sister Margery, who bequeathed a portion to David
de Lindesay, a kinsman of William de Lindesay, who married Alice,
sister of William de Lancaster, who presented to the church of
Kirkby Overblow in 1242. King Alexander, again, received the
Castle and Barony of Skipton during the minority of Aveline,
daughter of Isabel de Fortibus, lady of the manor of Kirkby
Overblow.] Alexander's son, Alexander III., subsequently came to

* See ['lumplon Correspondence, (Camden Soc.) page xii.

t See Bates's NortlniiiihfrlaiicK^iHg^), p. 133. | Coll. Top. et Gen. I., pp. O3 and 262.

York to be nuirricil to tlu; daughter of King Henry III. of England,
and he did homage to the English King in 1251 for all lands held of
him in England.*

But however " Ale.\ander's Hill " ol)tained its name, it is certain
that its contents were prehistoric. The mound was fully 150 feet in
circumference, composed of earth and stones, and at the base were
found several large slabs, in all probability composing a kistvaen.
But it is now more than fifty years since the mound was removed,
for the sake of loose stones, which were broken up for the repair of
the highways, and no accurate account has been preserved of its
contents. A local smith obtained several weapons and other articles
of bronze from it, which had been thrown out by the workmen in
course of excavation, and fragments of broken urns and pieces of
bone were also picked up on the site.f But of the exact nature of
the finds nothing now seems to be known, and the very site of the
tumulus, a little to the west of the old windmill on Follifoot Ridge,
is hard to determine.

In following the road from Fannal station to Follifoot this site is
passed on the left hand, and the wide plain below, now enclosed, was
formerly known as Bicker Flat, and the name is still preserved in
Bicker, Becker, or Beaker Cottages (as it appears on the Estate
Map) by the roadside near Follifoot. Perhaps it was the scene of
some great contest in prehistoric times. The name suggests the
Anglo-Saxon Becca, which Somneri (1659) and Lye (1772) render as
a mattock or pick-axe. Though bicker, according to Prof. Wright's
Dialect Dictionary, has the several meanings of to fight, ijuarrel,
contest, to pelt, hurry or move noisily. Tennyson says of the brook :

" .\nd sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down the valley."

There are several other tuiiuili in the adjoining Rudding Park.

Another large circular tumulus still exists by the wayside leading
from Kirkby 0\erblow o\er SpofTorth Haggs towards Spoftorth, near
the junction of the two roads, and is shewn on the Ordnance Map.
I have no knowledge that this mound has ever been examined. It
is raised five or six feet above the natural ground-level, and is

• Bates's Nvrtlnimbcriand, page 138. Royal visits were not infrequent in this
district in early times. On one occasion, September 25th— 26th, 1323. Edward
II. stayed at Haverah Park, probably at ■■John o^Gaunfs Castle," about six
miles to the west of Alexander's Hill.

t Although it is doubtful whether any bronze articles found in North England
are older than the Roman occupation, it should be remembered that bronze
weapons are rarely or never found on Roman sites. The Celts or natives carried
them away.

upwards of 150 yards in circumference, but owing to the slope of the
ground the precise dimensions of the thrown-up mound are difficult
to determine. It has been known in recent times as Hannah Lee's
Hill, after an old widow woman who for many years lived in an
adjoining cottage, the ruins of which still remain.

Of works constructed during the Roman occupation the parish of
Kirkby Overblow contains but the scantiest traces. At a place
called Horn Bank, near Rigton, on the west side of the parish, on
the crest of the hill on the north side of the Horn Bank farmhouse,
there were formerly to be seen very distinct indications of three
camps, each encompassed with fosse and rampart. Hargrove
supposed them to be Danish, but as two of them were of a square or
rectangular form, and the other circular, they were in all probability
relics of the Romano-British contest, at first occupied by the native
tribes and subsequently as a temporary camp and look-out post by
their conquerors. The site commands a wide and uninterrupted
view in e\ery direction, while close at hand is a copious spring of
good water. This spot many years ago was converted into a bathing-
place, but is now broken down and abandoned. Hargrove states
that in May, 1787, "a large boss of a bridle and several other
fragments of gilt brass" were discovered near the entrenchments,
but what became of them is not stated. The site has long been
ploughed, and little or no trace of these earthworks is now discernible.

It is, however, quite possible that so ad\antageous a point may
have been occupied by later invaders, and there is abundant evidence
in local place-names of Anglo-Saxon and Danish conquest. Horn
was a well-known Anglo-Saxon patronym, and occurs in the name
of Hornington, i.e., the settlement of the sons of Horn, in the parish
of Bolton Percy, lower down the Wharfe valley. This Hornington
was, moreover, lorded before the Norman Conquest by one Gamelbar,
who was also at the same time lord of Rigton, embracing Horn
Bank. There is, of course, nothing to shew that this Horn was ever
in possession of the Horn Bank camps, or even that the name was
derived from that of any chief.* These protective works had in all
probability, as I have suggested, originated in Romano- British times,
and the old Roman road running north and south from Adel to
Ripley, lies just below Horn Bank on the west. This road appears
to have been connected with the Roman road to Aldborough,
Catterick, and over Stainmoor to Brough and Kirkbythore to
Carlisle, and wtis protected along its whole course by numerous
forts or camps. In the famous loth century battle of Stainmoor we
read of the prowess of one Horn, son of an Anglian prince UalthcHjlf

• Sec Thos. Holderness's East Kidiii;; Place Numa, s.v. Hornsea, page jj.

who li\ed in the Nortli Riding of \'orkshiie. After repelling at
Allerton Moor a Danish invasion Haltheolf held a feast at Pickering,
and then marched witli his army towards Westmorland, but was
himself soon afterwards slain by King Malkan, a Viking, on the
plain of Stainmoor. Malkan eventually returned to Ireland, and at
the battle of Yolkil the death of Haltheolf was avenged by Horn,
his son, who slew the Viking with his own hand !*

In their marches Haltheolf and Horn doubtless traversed the
Roman road from Aldborough over Stainmoor, which is connected
with the road coming out of Lancashire and over Addingham Moor
to Ilkley,! thence by Watling Street House over Blubberhouses
Moor to Ripley,; where it is joined by the road coming north from
the camps at Adel and Horn Bank, Rigton. Mr. John Thorpe says
evident traces of these roads are still in existence (1865) on Wipley
Moor and in Hollingbank Wood, near the end of which the junction
seems to ha\e been formed, thence passing northward to Catterick.§

The Roman road from Ilkley to Adel runs over the south side of
Otley Chexin in a south-easterly direction through fields between
Cross Lane and York Gate road, about 600 yards west of the York
Gate plantation. Thence it may be traced above Cookridge Hall,
close to the north side of the fish-pond. It crops up again on the
south side of Green Gates, on Carlton Moor, running east and west
to the high road from Bradford to Otley by Pool Bank, and is lost
on this road between the bench-mark of the Ordnance Survey, 649-7
feet and 673-6 feet, about 300 yards south of the four-lane ends,
where is the Bramhope camp and St. Helen's Wood before
mentioned.

From Adel the road went almost due north by the camps at
Castley and Horn Bank to Ripley. This road is not shewn on the
Ordnance maps, and running through enclosed lands little or no
trace of it is now visible in the parish of Kirkby 0\ erblow. But
according to the map prefixed to Grainge's History of Harrogate, it
appears to have been crossed by the railway just above Weeton
station and thence taking east of Rigton Moat by Horn Bank across
Nor Beck at Maw Hill, and over Pannal High .\sh and Harlow
Hill it went through Killinghall, where are traces of another Roman
camp described in my Niddcrdale, page 316.

* See Tram. Cumb. and Westmd. Aiitiq. Soc, vol. v.. jiage 6y : ix.. 448, and vol.
ii. (New Ser., 1902), pages 231-33

t See my Uf-f-er IVIuiy/edalc, page 272.
X See Grainge's Timble, page 84
§ History of Rifley, page 6.

CHAPTER II.

The Parish of Kirkby Overblow : The Norman
Settlement.

'.^HE original parish of Kirkby Overblow embraced the

^^i-'-yik ^^'^ ancient townships of Kirkby Overblow, Stainburn,
^^^,W\ i Rigton, Kearby-with-Netherby, and Sicklinghall, cov-
ering an area of about 10,900 acres, and extending
east and west a distance of nine miles, with an average
width of two miles. In 1871 the township of Stainburn was severed
from the parent parish, and now forms a separate ecclesiastical parish.
No doubt the original parish was formed before the Norman
Conquest, and its church ministered to these townships until the
existing daughter church at Stainburn was erected in the nth
century, owing to the remoteness of this township from the mother
church. The two churches are six miles apart, and serving a wide
and exposed upland district, the need of a chapel-of-ease at Stainburn,
on the western extremity of the parish, was felt at an early time.

Although no church at Kirkby Overblow is mentioned in the
Domesday inquest, there can be no doubt of the existence of such an
edifice in the Saxon era, as the place is described in that invaluable
testimony as " Cherchebi," that is, the " church village."

By this name or its equivalent " Kirkby," the place continued to
be known down to the 13th century, which it is well to remember in
the much-discussed name of the modern version " Overblow." Those
who argue for a Danish interpretation of this adjunct " Overblow,"
forget that it is not until nearly two centuries after the Conquest
that the addition which is now spelled " Overblow " first appears in
written evidences. It is clearly an English addition. In the grant
by Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid in 1212 it is " Kirkby Hornblower;" in the
Charter Rolls for a.d. 1280 it is written " Kirkeby Orblawere;" in
Kirkby's Inquest (1284-5) it is " Kyrkeby Orblauers," and in the
Feodii Miiitum (1302-3) it is " Kyrkby Orblauers." But — and this is
important — in the Nomina Villarnm (1315) the affix is explained thus :
" Kirkeby Feres."

This adjunct I take to be the Latin fcrrum, iron, wlience ferrens,
pertaining to iron (forges), the art of making iron. Consequently
the name ' Overblow ' is obviously a corruption of the plain English
' Ore-blowers,' an addition to the original name intended to distinguish
the place from tlie numerous other Kirkbys in Yorkshire and else-
where.

This deduction is moreo\er abundantly supported by documentary
and other evidences. The monks of Fountains appear to have
enjoyed the liberty to take wood to make charcoal for the use of
their forges within the townships of Stainburn and Rigton, and
Roger de Mowbray, chief lord of Rigton, gave to the same monks a
similar right in his forest of Kirkby Malzeard.* In other parts of
the parish of Kirkby Overblow, as well as in the adjoining forest of
Knaresbro', similar privileges were also enjoyed. John Blomere
(forgeman) and wife appear at Rigton in the Poll Tax of 1378, and
John of Kirkeby, blomer, also appears in the Poll Tax of 1378 for
Knaresbro'. The entire district bears evidence of the former
existence of these open-air bloomeries, and the refuse may be picked
up almost anywhere on the hill-sides facing the wind. Near some
of the old smelting-pits, not large enough to hold green-wood, small
heaps of carbonized charcoal have been found. Great mounds of
scoriae also existed in various places in the district, but some of these
have been quite recently removed or dispersed for the repair of
neighbouring paths and roads. Within the parish of Kirkby Over-
blow, as well as at Spofforth, and in the adjoining Crimple valley,
traces of these accumulations are abundant. At Mill Hill there are
evidences of a refuse-heap of an iron-forge containing several
hundred cart-loads. At Spofforth two forges are mentioned in 1258,
and ironworks in Creskeld Park in 1352.I Old Michael Stanhope, a
physician who lived in the time of Charles I., in describing the
Harrogate waters, observes :

" The whole soil where the water rises is full of ironstone, and the former
ironworks here have occasioned the total consumption of wood in the Forest.
Within a mile of the Spaw are still to be seen the ruins of a great iron-work ;
and by digging a little you may still find plenty of ironstone in most places even
exposed to the day in broken banks on the earth's surface."

This was written in 1632, and as the ironworks were then
apparently long obsolete, it is evident that they originated in
monastic times. At Horn Bank, a little below the Roman camps,
before described, were to be seen many and good remains of these

* See Burton's Mon. Ebor., page 175 ; Thoresby's Diary, May 17th, 1703; and
my Nidderdale, page 483.

t Sec my N iddci ihile , page 221. and Lower WJuirfcdule, page 502.

old blast-furnaces.* Iron scoriae and other relics of these ancient
furnaces are likewise found on the hill-sides of every township in the
parish, and quite recently much ironstone debris was come upon in
making the new carriage-road to Low Hall from the Knaresborough
road at Kirkby Overblow. Consequently it cannot be doubted that
this late affix to the original name of the parish is a modern corruption
of the compound " Ore-blowers," in allusion to the prevalence of
iron-smelting in the locality in early times.

Turning now to what we know from actual records of the occupa-
tion of the parish at the Norman Conquest, it will be pertinent to
refer to the invasion of Yorkshire by Tostig, the barbarous Earl of
Northumbria, in 1066. Earl Edwin, with his brother Morkar,
marched from Laughton and Barwick to York, and the opposing
armies met at Fulford, some two miles down the Ouse. Edwin and
Morkar were routed, and a few years afterwards, when the whole of
England was in possession of the Normans, the two earls were
virtually prisoners of the Conqueror, but according to the Anglo-
Saxon Chronicle, they eventually escaped, and wandering in the woods
were treacherously slain by their own people a.d. 1071. Tradition
points to a place in Kearby, in the parish of Kirkby Overblow,
where the once-powerful Earl Morkar lay encamped or took refuge
from the pursuit of his enemies. It is still known as Morkar Hill.
Kirkby Overblow was thus lost to the old Saxon or Danish
proprietors, and the next testimony is that of Domesday.

I propose to record here all that is said of the places in the
ancient parish in the order in which they appear in this important
survey. Thus it will readily be seen by a reference to this place to
whom the various lands belonged at this critical period, when I come
to trace the history of the several townships.

BoRGEsciRE Wapentae (Claro Wapentake).

Lands of William de Percl

Manor. In Cherebi (Kearby) Wibert had four carucates of land for geld,
where two ploughs may be. Now William [de Perci] has it. Wood pasturable,
there, two quarenteens in length and one in breadth. The whole one leuga in
length and one in breadth. In King Edward's [the Confessor] time it was worth
twenty shillings ; now sixteen pence.

Manor <iiid bcreu'kk. In Cherchebi (Kirliby Overblow) and Todoure (lostf)
Gamelbar had six carucates of land for geld, where three ploughs may be. Now

* For a description of the construction and method of working these ancient
iron furnaces and kilns sec J. Hunter-Duvar's book on the Siouc, Bronze, and Iron
Ages, pages 205-7 ■ *"' ^'''O Yorlis. Archill. J! , i., 1 10-15.

f Three of the carucates were in Todoure. Two fields in Kearby township called
Todd Close and Todd Garth, and a Todd Close at Sicklinghall, are the only
places in the parish that carry any suggestion of the site of this lost village.

I.S

William [rle Ferci] lias two plouRhs there and eleven villanes and four bordars,
with four ploughs, and two acres of meadow. Wood pasturable, one leuga in
length and one in brearlth. In King Kdward's time it was worth forty shillings,
now twenty-four shillings The whole manor two leugae in length and two in
breadth
Soke of this manor is in Walton ( Walton Head) one carucate of land for geld.
Miuwr. In Berghebi (Barrowby) likewise soke of Chirchebi (Kirkby Over-
blow) one carucate of land for geld, and one plough may be there Five villanes
are there with one plough.

Westreding Lands of Gjslebert Tison.

Manor. In Kistone (Rigton) Gamelbar' had two carucates for geld. Lind
to one plough.

Lands of the King's Thanes.

Manor. In Ristone (Rigton) .\rchil had two carucates of land for geld.
Land to one plough The same has it now, and it is waste. In King Edward's
time it was worth ten shillings.

Borgescire Wap' (Claro Wapentake).

Lands ok Ekneis de Burun.

Soke. In Berghebi (Barrowby) three carucates, and Distone (North
Deighton) four carucates, and Gemunstorp (Ingmanthorpe) one carucate and a
half. The soke is in Holsingoure (Hunsmgore). Together for geld, eight
carucates and a half. The land is to four ploughs. Ernegis has there one soke-
raan and four villanes and two bordars with two ploughs. In King Edward's
time they were worth twenty-eight shillings ; now, five shillings.

West Treding (West Riding) Lands of the King

Two manors. In Sidingall (Sicklinghall) Eghebrand Uleric had si.\ carucates
for geld. Land to three ploughs. Twenty-five shillings.

Four iiuiiiors. In Stanburne (Stainburn) four thanes had five carucates for
geld. Land to two ploughs. Forty shillings.

Borgescire Wapentae (Claro Wapentake).

In Cherebi (Kereby; W. de Perci four carucates.

In Berghebi (Barrowby) Erneis [de Burunj three carucates In the same
place W. de Perci one carucate.

In Cherchebi (Kirkby Overblow) W. de Perci three carucates.

In Waltone (Walton Head) and Todoure (lost) W'. de Perci four carucates.

In Sidingall (Sicklinghall) the King six carucates.

In RisTON (Rigton) the King two carucates. In the same place Gislebert
Tison two carucates

In Stainburne (Stainburn) the King five carucates.

it will be seen from this enumeration of lands within the parish
in 1083-6 that the total cultivated and pasturable area was then
thirty carucates, worked by thirteen ploughs, though the number of
ploughs of De Burun's holding in Barrowby is not stated. It would

' .-\lso at this time Gamelbar and Ulf had each a manor in Rosset (I'annal),
but at the final adjustment of the Domaday inquest these two manors are stated to
be held by the King and Gislebert Tison.

seem, however, that each two carucates was worked by one plough,
consequently these manors must have been worked on the three-field
system of husbandry. By this system the carucate contained i8o
acres, of which one-third lay annually fallow. Thus, while 120
acres, or only the cultivated area,* was annually taxed, the whole
area of 30 carucates, each of 180 acres, was regularly and systemati-
cally under cultivation. We are therefore to conclude that the large
e.xtent of 5400 acres was subject to taxation in 1083-6, or very
nearly one-half the land of the whole parish, which included
considerable woodland. This is a surprising quantity, and shews
that the parish must have been populous and long cultivated before
its acquisition by the Normans.

The question of woodland is one of significant importance in this
parish, where so much of its area was thus appropriated. Not less
than one-half the land comprised within the manor of Kirkby
Overblow was in 1083-6 woodland, providing food and mast for man
and beast, while a large proportion of the manor of Kearby was
similarlv engaged. If the square leuga contained, as it is calculated,
1440 statute acres, these two manors must have embraced between
them an area of nearly 2000 acres of woodland, but as there were
only ten carucates, or 1800 acres, of land taxable within these two
manors in 1083-6, it certainly looks as if only the arable land was
taxed. For these two townships contain together an area of 3630
acres, and their boundaries have probably remained unaltered since
Norman times.f It should, however, not be forgotten that the
Domesday carucate for geld was a variable quantity, and was intended
essentially to be a unit of assessment, rather than a certain measure
of the extent of a manor.

At the final adjustment of the returns of the surveyors in 1086, it
appears that of the 30 carucates that had been held by Anglian or
Danish proprietors in the time of Edward the Confessor, 13 were
now in the hands of the King, viz., 6 in Sicklinghall, 5 in Stainburn,
and 2 in Rigton ; 12 carucates had been granted to William de Perci,

' The fiscal hide [or carucate] of Domesday contained (or often did) 120 fiscal
acres, and the normal areal hide 120 actual ones, which perhaps accounts for the
statement that a like quantity was tilled by each plough per annum, which is
opposed to the common experience and knowledge of any English farmer of
arable, and would predicate weather suitable for constant aration ; whereas 30
weeks in the year is perhaps a high estimate of the period during which land can
be worked, and 40 to 60 acres may be roughly taken as the present land of one
plough. A. N. Inman's Domesday and Feudal Statistics (1900), page 41.

t But Mr Inman considers that no doubt can exist that wood and rough
pasture were included in the carucate in 1086 (Domesday, page 41). Canon Isaac
Taylor contends that only arable land was taxed, not woodland See Domesday
Commemoratiiin volumes (1888), page 349, &c.

viz., 4 in Kearby, 3 in Kirkby Overblow, 3 in Todoure, i at Walton
Head, and i at Barrovvby ; Erneis de liurun had 3 carucates in
Barrowby, and -Gislebert Tison had 2 carucates in Rigton. This
was how the land of the parish was apportioned twenty years after
the conquest of England by the Normans, and I purpose in the
ensuing chapters tracing the history of the several townships forward
from these Domesday owners. And in this recital many of our most
distinguished northern families will be found identified with the story
of local life here from this early period.

As to the ancient boundaries of the parish it will be proper here
to exhibit these as pourtrayed in the oldest record extant. This is
preserved among the parish papers, and is a description of the
boundaries and landmarks as they existed in the year 1362. The
document, however, appears to be a 17th century recapitulation of a
grant or confirmation made by Archbishop Thoresby in the eleventh
year of his pontificate. It is as follows :

The Bounders of the Parish of Kirkhv Overblow in 1362.

To all true people to whom this present writing shall come to be heard or
seene, be it knowne that these be thee bounders of the parish of Kirkby Over-
blowes granted by our hoUie Farther John the Arch Bishope of Yorke in the
yeare of our Lord 1360 (sic) Beginning with the same at the bounders of
Woodhall as it lyeth by the waiter of Wharfe unto the bounders of the Lordshippe
of Kearby as it lyeth on both sides of Wharfe unto the bounders of Wetherby
and from these bounders of Wetherby unto the bounders of barraby Grange and
so by the Sand Beed to the foot of Hobsike with Eight Acarrs of Land lying on
the west side of the said sike within the Ridding and soe unto the freer flosh
betwixt Swindon and the parish of Harwood and so upp the sike to Tenny pitt
and so upp unto Kringle pitt betwixt the feild of Kesuicke and Swindon and so
by right line unto Swindon Becke and so uppe the becke running betwixt
Helthwate Hall and the lane unto the Smith Steades and from the Smith Steades
upp the Slacke on the west side of the Broddells unto the heade of the Slacke
turning west downe the sike betwixt Rigton and Helthwate Hall into Meerbecke
and so following the bounders betwixt the Lordshipp of Rigton and Helthwate
Hall and so furth by the bounders betwixt Rigton and Hubye and so upp the
Meerdike above Hubye and so upp by the bounders of Hubye by the becke
running betwixt Kirkhowe and Normared and from thence to Lingcroft Brigge
and from Lingcroft Brigge into Staineborne Becke and from Stainborne Becke
unto Thruften and from Thruffen unto the well besides the way that goeth from
Staineborne to ffarnley and from the well to Hellyne Hurst sike and so upp by
the becke which divideth Staineborne and Linley and so upp by the same
bounders unto East Hillshowe and from thence unto Sandwates and from thence
into Renfast staves beside Craven guit and so unto Standing Stone upon the
moore and Beckwith Shaw and so downe the hollowe sike that falleth into
Crimple and so downe Cremple betwixt Brackenthwate and Beckwith Shawe and
furth as the Becke runeth betwixt Rossitt and the Stonie Rigge with certaine
places on the north side of Cremple called litle Rossett of the which the parson
of Kirkby overblowes shall receive the tenths of Wool and Lame and Calfe as
due to the Kirke for certaine causes as it appeareth in the Bull when the parish

of Pannell was divided from the parish of Kirkby overblowes. the said person of
Kirkby overbloiies shall divide his tenths eavenly to two parts, the one part to
himself and the other to the person of Pannell, and downe Cremple by the foot
of Butte sike unto the beunders of the parish of Spofforth an3 soe turne upp the
sike by right Ijne to Swarthowe and from thence even East to the Mere Cross
into Brackinhurst and soe furtb by right Ijne unto Anne well and soe upp
Alisander Hill betwixt the bounders of Walton Head and ffollifoot by right Ijne
into Hee Snape Becke and soe foUowinge the bounders betwixt Spofforth parke
and the Hall Moore unto the bounders of Tettlene by the out paill of Spofforth
parke unto the bounders of Horshouse and so furth eaven to the Lund Head and
then turne even East by the bounders betwixt Horshouse unto the East nooke of
the March and soe turne even south to Sicklinghall Moore and then turne East
by the bounders betwixt Sicklinhall Moore and Addethorpe into Kicker and so
downe Kicker into Rosseing and soe upp the becke betwixt Stokeld Wood and
Todd Closse unto the bounders of Skirik and then turne eaven East from
Skiricke becke by the wood side by Stockeld to the head land of the New Closse
then turne even south by right Ijne to the Marie pitt and so to the pitt in the
Land Closse and soe downe between the bounders of barraby and Ljnton and
soe down by the bounders betweene Ljnton and Wood Hall unto Apple Garth and
from the Apple Garth unto the water of Wharf.

The following note is appended :

And thus for Causes and Artickles shewed and declared before our holly ffather
aforesaid they have given and granted clearly unto Robert Edey person of
Kirkby-overblowes aforesaid and all his successors all manner of duties that is
duable without any interupcon of any of these parishes that bounders upon him
as appeareth openly in the Bull under the Lords Seall and in witness whereof
Sr Henry Percye Lord of thee Lordshipp of Spofforth and the Patrone of the
aforesaid Kirk of Kirkbyoverblowes Sr Richard Tempist Knight Sr William
Newport person of Spofforth and Sr Robert Edey parson of Kirkby and many
others being present in the mannor of Cawood at ye deklaration of this Bull
before our holly tfather John aforesaid the Arch Bishop of Yorke the tenth of
November in the year of our Lord God 1362 and in the eleventh year.

The statement that " when the parish of Pannell was divided from
the parish of Kirkbyoverblowes " must refer to the division for
tithes. Pannal was an ancient rectory, but was appropriated to the
House of St. Robert of Knaresborough, and a vicarage was ordained
in 1348. The church stands on the edge of the parish, away from
the principal population, as if it had been intended to serve some
other place. The first rector on record became Archdeacon of
Rochester, and resigned the living of Pannal in November, 1271.
Pannal, I may add, is not mentioned in Domesday, though Beckwith
and Rosset (cited in the above grant) are both named.

CI I A mi: I

KiKKiiv ()vi:uiii.()i.\ : Eaki-v Makokim. History.

•5f!A\'IN(i staled on page i6 that Kirkl)y ()\erblo\v formed

7^, \, part of the possessions of William de Percy in 1086,

y^ifjilJi 1 shall now endeavour to trace its ownership through

SffisJ^j *^''^ succeeding centuries. But its transmission during

the first two centuries following the Conquest is not

without complexities, this period not being very fruitful in genealogical

evidences. Yet the story, though complicated, I have construed as

follows.

W illiam de Percy, the original grantee, died in the Holy Land in
1096, and his heart was buried in Whitby Abbey. One of his
grandsons, Walter de Percy, was nf Rougemont, in the parish of
Harewood, and Kirkby Overblow, I may here observe, has always
been reckoned as an appurtenance of the manor of Harewood. This
Walter appears to have left no issue, and was a younger brother of
William de Percy, whose son William, the founder of Sallay Abbey,
died in 1168. He left two sons, who both died unmarried, and two
daughters, co-heiresses, who shared the estates.* The younger
sister, Agnes, was mother of Henry de Percy, who married Isabella,
daughter of Adam de Brus, son of Robert de Brus, founder of
Guisbrough Priory, and ancestor of the famous Robert Bruce, King
of Scotland. The elder sister, Maud, married William de Newburgh,
Earl of Warwick, who died s.p. ante 1184, and was son of Roger de
Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, who died in 1153. The latter married
Gundreda, daughter of William, second Earl of Warren, by whom
he had a daughter Gundreda, who became the wife of William de
Lancaster, first Baron of Kendal. Most probably she or her son,
William de Lancaster, inherited Kirkby Overblow or a moiety
thereof on the death of Maud de N'ewburgh, daughter and co-heiress
of William de Percy.

It appears to have been in this way that Kirkby Overblow
descended, as a member of the Percy fee, to the great Barons of
Kendal. The first Baron died before 1 1 70, and was succeeded by

* See pedigree in my Loiver Wharfedalc, and Tiiv Tliomand Years of TadcasUt
History, page 18.

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his son William de Lancaster, second Baron of Kendal, who died in
1 184. This notable fatnil}', it may be stated, held the Barony of
Kendal of the De Mowbrays, and not of the Crown, but of the
Honour of Westmorland. Rof,'er de Mowbray, the famous founder
of ]5yland Abbey, vvlio among his vast possessions held Rigton in
Kirkby Overblow parish, was in rebellion in 11 73, and his lands
were confiscated. In 1189 the Barony of Kendal was granted by
charter of Richard 1. to the celebrated and powerful noble, Gilbert
Fitz Reinfrid, who had married Helewise, only daughter and heiress
of William de Lancaster, second Baron. Her mother, Helewise,
was a sister of another local landholder, William de Stuteville, who
had served with his father, the sheriff of Yorkshire, as one of the
leaders of the royal forces in the wars with Scotland, and was
rewarded in 11 77 with the wardship of the Honour and Castle of
Knaresborough, a lordship bounded on the south by the parish of
Kirkby Overblow. So that the territories of Fitz Reinfrid and
Stuteville adjoined.

This great Baron, (iilberl I-'itz Reinfrid, also succeeded in 1205 to
the Honour of Lancaster, and was High Sheriff of Lancaster in
1206, and of Yorkshire in 1211-14. Having by his marriage with
Helewise de Lancaster, succeeded to the estates of that heiress, he
became one of the wealthiest and most powerful noblemen of his
time. The bulk of his properties lay in Lancashire and Westmor-
land, but he also held lands in Yorkshire. They are enumerated in
the Black Book of the Exchequer* He had an estate at Moncktonf in
Yorkshire, and he held the manor of Kirkby Overblow. In 1212 a
fine was levied betw^een Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid and Helewise, his wife,
plaintiffs, and Robert Bainard, deforciant, respecting 3^ carucates
and 2 bovates of land in Kirkby Hornblower (sic) and Tydour [see
page 14). The said Robert recognized the right of Helewise to the
land and thereupon Gilbert and Helewise granted it to him, Robert,
to be held by him and his heirs from them, and the heirs of Helewise
in perpetuity, together with a moiety of the advowson of the church,
the other moiety of the advowson to remain with Gilbert and
Helewise. Homage to be done to Gilbert and Helewise by the said
Robert, with the assent of William de Percy, chief lord of the fee.+

It would thus appear that in 1212a moiety of the manor of Kirkby
Overblow was granted by the heiress of the De Lancasters, Barons
of Kendal, and that the presentation to the church was also in
moieties, the common practice of that age. But before the end of
the century the Bainard moiety appears to have been absorbed by

Lib. Ni'^ Scacc. page 340. f See Suitees Soc.. vol. fi;, page 42 n.

:j: Abbrcviatio Placitoriim, page 83.

the owner of the other moiety. As will be seen by the prefatory
pedigree, Gilbert's mother was a daughter of Ranulph de Meschines,
Earl of Chester, brother of William de Meschines, who married
Cecily de Romelli, by whom he acquired the lordships of Skipton
and Harewood.* Gilbert is stated by Jonesf to have married Helen,
only daughter and heiress of William de Redman (whose posterity
succeeded to Harewood) who died in i i6o, but I can find no authority
for this statement. Nor does there appear to be any evidence of
the existence of a William de Redman at this time..| Henry de
Redman, lord of Levens, in Westmorland, a valuable property
granted to him by Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid, Baron of Kendal and lord
of Kirkby Overblow, j married ca. 1184, a daughter of Adam, Dean
of Lancaster-! Mr. William Greenwood thinks that this Adam, the
Dean, was a Pennington, a member of the ancient and illustrious
family, now represented by Josslyn Pennington, fifth Baron
Muncaster.*' This Henry de Redman, conjointly with Gilbert Fitz
Reinfrid, was Sheriff of Yorkshire 12th to 15th John.**

Both Henry de Redman and Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid were in the
Barons' rebellion, and in 1215 both were taken prisoners at the
surrender of Rochester Castle to King John. Gilbert was eventually
fined in the enormous sum of 12,000 marks for release and relief of
his lands, and among the hostages he provided for his future fidelity
were Benedict, son and heir of Henry de Redman, and the heirs of
Roger de Kirkby (Ireleth) his son-in-law, including William de
Wyndsor and others.

Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid died in 1220, having by his marriage with
Helewise de Lancaster left one son and four daughters. The son,
William, assumed his mother's name and became William de
Lancaster, third Baron of Kendal. He was High Sheriff" of
Lancashire in 1233. In 1242 we find him presenting to the church
of Kirkby Overblow. ff He had consequently succeeded to his
mother's interest in the manor and advowson. He was a party to
many property transactions in Lancashire and Westmorland. He
enfeoffed Sir Robert de Leyburne, a knight in the service of Walter
de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, in the manor of Skelsmergh in West-

* Vide ray Lotcer Wharjedale, page 462. t I'"^'' History of Harewood, page 40.

I See pedigree of Redman of Levens and Harewood in my Lower Wharfedale,
pages 470-1

§ Ttans. Cumh. and West. Antiij. Soc, Vol. iii., (N. SO, page 277.

II Farrer's Lancashire Pipe Rolls, page 52.

^ Trans. Ctimb. and IVest. Autiq. Hoc., Vol. iii., (N. S.), page 277.
'* Dodsworth MSS., 79. fo. 115.
tt Archbp. Gray's Register.

nuirland,'- and the same Sir Robert de Leyhurne was a witness to
W illiam de Lancaster's grant of lands at Preston, &c., to Patric,
son of Thomas, son of Gospatricf These Leyburnes were a notable
family loop resident in Westmorland, and from them descended the
titled families of Hellinf^ham, Pennint,'ton, iiulmer, and Curwen, as
also the Lords Dacre, Mounteagle, and Howard, Dukes of Norfolk. +

William de Lancaster (IIL) married Agnes de Brus, of Skelton,
hut lie had no issue. He died in November, 1246, having given to
Furness Abbey, for the health of his soul and that of Agnes his
wife, and as compensation for the sacred soil which his body was
destined to displace within the walls, the whole of Scaithwaite and
Egton, together with the fishing in the lakes of Thurstonwater
(Coniston) and Winandermere, &c., his body to be buried in the
choir of the Abbey, close to that of his grandfather, the first I^.aron
of Kendal. §

Thus slumbering within the ruins of the beautiful Abbey of
Furness lies this old lord of Kirkby Overblow. Little should we
have expected looking among the mouldering tombs of that distant
monastery for one of the bygone nobles of our parish ! Leaving no
issue his patrimony was divided between his two sisters, Helewise,
wife of Peter de Brus, and Alice, wife of William de Lindesay!
There appears to have been one other sister, possibly two, viz..
Serota, wife of Alan de Multon, who died without issue, and another,
the wife of Roger de Kirkby (Ireleth).[| The Barony of Kendal was
then divided between the families of De Brus and De Lindesay.
The heirs of the latter were the De Courcies.H and it was apparently
through this family that the lands in Kirkby Overblow were
transmitted. Margery Fitz Gerald had inherited Harewood through
De Courcy,** and De Courcy had a moiety of the Barony of Kendal,
&c., obtained by marriage of Alice, sister and co-heiress of William
de Lancaster, who presented to the church of Kirkby Overblow in
1242. This Margery Fitz Gerald married Baldwin de Redvers, Earl
of Devon, who died in 12 16, leaving a son of the same name, who
was father of Isabel de Redvers, wife of William de Fortibus, Earl
of Albemarle, who became heir of her brother, Baldwin, Earl of
Devon, at his death in i262,tt and was lady of the manor of Kirkby

Nicholson and Burn's Weitmorland, i., 133. f Yorks. Anhal.Jl., page 87.
X See also my Romantic Richmondshire, pages 364-5.
§ Furness Couclier Book, fo. 208-9.

II See Trans. Ctimb. and IVestmd. Antiq. Sac, vol. iii. (N.S.), page 27S.
f See Ferguson's Westmorland, page 118, and for pedigree of De Courcy see
Baker's NortlnimJ<ton.

'* See my Lower Wharfedah, page 462. ft Cat. Inq.. fjn.. i.. 23.

0\erblow in 1284-5.* Lady Isabel had also half the manor of
Rigton, in the parish of Kirkby Overblow, which she confirmed to
the monks of Fountams. I

But the precise time of the acquisition of the manor of Kirkby
Overblow by the Lady Isabel, Countess of Albemarle, is not very
clear, as four years before the return made by John de Kirkby, viz.,
in 1280, I find this manor held in trust by the celebrated Lord
Chancellor, Robert Burnell, who had been Archdeacon of York, and
who was at the time he held the Chancellorship of England, Lord
Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was lord of Acton Burnell, near
Shrewsbury, and was not only a capable and energetic church
dignitary, but was likewise one of the most prescient statesmen
England has ever known, and is spoken of as " beyond doubt the
most able man that ever held the office of Lord Chancellor." J
Kirkby Overblow, no doubt, was a very small holding among the
vast possessions owned or held in trust by this great State dignitary.
He had no doubt a great deal to do with the framing of the many
legislative acts which mark the reign of Edward I. as the most
progressive and prosperous between the Conquest and the Reforma-
tion ; indeed in no era has public jurisprudence made such rapid and
important advances. Edward I. has been aptly described as the
English Justinian, a title to which it may be conceded he is in no
small measure indebted to the legal acumen and open-niindedness of
his great Lord Chancellor Burnell. He w'as appointed Chancellor,
2ist September, 1274, ^^'^ held the office for 18 years until his death
in 1292, and it was during this period, as Sir Matthew Hale
observes, that more was done to settle and establish the distributive
justice of the kingdom than in all the ages since that time put
together !

Chancellor Burnell, as I ha\'e said, held the manor of Kirkby
Overblow in trust for Joan Burnell, who appears to have been a
daughter of one of his younger brothers. On October 25th, 1275,
he entered into an agreement with William de Graystock to farm
this manor, and in it contemplated a marriage of William with Joan
Burnell. William son of Thomas, Baron Graystock, bound himself
to this Robert, Bishop of Bath and Weils, or to Joan Burnell, to pay
the large sum of £'iog for corn and stock which he had received
from them at Michaelmas in 1275, from the manors of Morton-on-
Swale and Kirkby Oreblawer. This sum was to be paid or credited
to the Bishop or Joan Burnell if John, son and heir of William de
Graystock, or any of the heirs of the said William, marry Joan

* K\r]ihy's Jmjiiest. f liurton's i\/oH. Eior., page 196.

I Introd. to Visitation uf Shioj'ihire (1623). Part I., page 15 {18S9).

Burnell, but if they do not marry the said Joan, llien Wilham de
Graystock, or his heirs, shall pay ^500 at the end of five years from
Michaelmas aforesaid ( 1275), together with tiie aforesaid /"log. For
payment Wilham de ( jraystock charges his lands, goods, and chattels
to the distraint of the Bishop and Joan. This deed is dated at
London on the e\e of SS. Simon and Jude, 3rd I'Mward I.*

William de Graystock died in 1288, having married Mary, daughter
of Roger de Merlay, 13aron of Morpeth in Northumberland, and by
her left several sons, the eldest of whom, Thomas, died s.p. The
second son, John de Graystock, who was assigned to marry Joan
Burnell, was in the Scottish wars, and in 1287 claimed the inheritance
of his grandfather, Roger de Merlay. Leaving no issue he settled
his estates on his brother Ralph, who was summoned to Parliament
as Baron Graystock in 1295.! He was also in the wars with Scotland,
and was concerned in the quarrel between the King and his favourite
Hugh le Despencer and the peers headed by the great Earl of
Lancaster, which led to the Battle of Boroughbridge in February,
1322. Ralph, Baron Greystock was present at that battle, having
previously been ordered to abstain from attending a -meeting of the
rebellious peers to be holden at Doncaster on the 2gth No\'ember
preceding. He died a few months after the e.xecution (22nd March,
1322), of the unfortunate Earl of Lancaster. J

I can discover no evidence that either of the brothers Graystock
married Joan Burnell. Ralph married Margery, widow of Nicholas
Corbet, and daughter and heiress of Hugh, Baron Bolebeck, by
whom he had a son Robert, who paid subsidy for lands at Morton-
on-Swale, ist Edward HL (1327). Perhaps the differences between
the Graystocks and the Despencers, favourites of the King, may
account for the marriage not taking place. Sir Edward, son of
Sir Philip Burnell, heir of Bishop Burnell, j had married Olivia,
daughter of Hugh le Despencer, and died s.p. in 1315. The Bishop
himself had always espoused the Royal cause and to King Henry
and his son Edward L, he was indebted for his many advancements.
But neither Dugdale nor the Visitations of Shropshire indicate a
Joan Burnell, who appears to have been the ward of her imcle, the
Chancellor and Bishop, and heir to the manor of Kirkby Overblow,
&c.

That the marriage of Joan did not take place within the stipulated
five years from 1275 seems also evident from the fact that the Bishop

• Calendar of Clusc Rolls, 3rd Edward I., m, 4 d.

t Dugdale's Baronage i , 740.

I See Leadman's Battles fought in Yorkshire, page 49.

§ Cal. Gen., ii., 464.

in gth Edward I. (1280), obtained from the King a charter of free
warren " in omnibus dominicis terris suis de Morton-super-Swale, Kirkeby
Orhlau'cre d Osmundcrle in com. Ebor."'* Thus we find in 1280 the
Bishop claiming, by virtue of this charter, all game found within the
manors of Kirkby Overblow, &c. Previous to this time it had been
royal property, and no doubt trespassing and appropriation had been
frequent.

Within five years of this time, 1284-5, Isabel, Countess of Albemarle,
was returned as lady of the manor of Kirkby Overblow, which she
held of the heirs of Percy for the fourth part of a knight's fee. She
had long been a widow. Her husband died in 1255, and on the
2oth November Henry HI. (1268), the King granted the marriage
of the widow Isabel, then aged 31, to his second son Prince Edmund,
Earl of Cornwall, but the marriage did not come off. The Prince
instead was married in 1269 to her youngest daughter, Aveline de
Fortibus, eventually the sole heiress of her father.f She died in
1272 and the Prince married (secondly) Blanche, Queen of Navarre.
He died in 1297 leaving no issue, and his vast properties reverted to
the Crown. He had succeeded to the great Honour of Lancaster in
1267, and in 1272 on the death of his father, Richard, Earl of
Cornwall, brother of Henry III., he succeeded to the lordship of the
Castle and Honour of Knaresborough.J In the same year that
Bishop Burnell obtained his charter of free warren in Kirkby
Overblow, the famous writs of Quo Warranto were issued, and the
Prince was called upon to shew by what warrant he claimed free chase
in Knaresborough Forest, including its appurtenances in Plumpton,
Folyfayt, Kirkebi Orblawre, Kesewyk. Wytheton, Westhow, Hubie,
Ryghton, Lindeley, Tymble and Blubberhuses &c. He produced
the charter of Henry HI., granting to his father, Richard, Earl of
Cornwall, free warren throughout his demesne lands.

The Prince, at any rate, by his marriage with the daughter of the
Countess of Albemarle had a prima facie claim to the manor of
Kirkby Overblow. But the Countess was then living and survived
all her issue, and she disputed his claim to free chase, &c., within
her manor, and a costly suit followed, but at length the court found
in her favour, only excepting that the Prince was to have the right
to hunt in Swindon Wood and to all attachments and amercements
of the same, by the metes and bounds following, namely : " beginning
from the bank of the Werf and so ascending by the beck which runs
through the town of Witheton [Weeton] between the wood of
Rigton and of Swindon, enclosing Plolker, and so by the said beck

' Cal. Charter Rolh. 9th Edwiird I., ami sec Gale's Reg Hun. de Riclini., p. 136.
t Coll. Top. et Gen. (US39), page 264 J See my Nidderdale, page 276.

up to the ditch (syke) which runs throu^'h the middle of the town of
Waleton and so descendinj^ between the covert of Swindon Wood from
the field of Kirkeby as far as the bank of Werf, taking all the esplees
thereof forthcoming from the said wood, as in herbage, pannage of
hogs, as well demesne as foreign, minerals found, honey and wax,
animals said to be waifs, if any chance to be found, and eyries of
birds of prey, to take, give and sell estovers at will, and all other
esplees which appertain to the same wood, without view or livery of
any Forester of the said End or of his ancestors, and doing all other
things as of her own demesne wood. And that the said Karl or his
ancestors ought not to have anything in the wood, save hunting and
attachments of the same and this within the metes and bounds
aforesaid." This was the Lady's petition in 1279-80.

The Countess died at the age of 56 in 1293, having conveyed most
of her property to the Crown. This included Harewood and Kirkby
Overblow, and the events following the acquisition of these valuable
properties by the Crown, form a remarkable episode in their history.

CHAPTER IV.

r'll

KiRKBV Overblow : Manorial Records from the
Fourteenth to the Present Century.

^^^JHF galaxy of illustrious names hitherto connected with
7 /^^Su:i '^^^ parish has perhaps few equals in local history, and
succeeding events also form a curious and engrossing
story. For seventeen years following the death of the
~ Countess of Albemarle the King retained the manors

of Harewood and Kirkby Overblow in his own hands. Here I may
state that it was one oT the prerogatives of royalty that on the death
of a peer without surviving issue, or whose heirs were under age,
the lands of such subject were appropriated by the Crown and so
held until the heirs attained their majority. In the case of males
this seems always to have been at the age of 2i, and of females at
the age of 14, but by the Statute of Westminster, passed in the time
of Chancellor Burnell, a trustee of the manor of Kirkby Overblow
from about 1275 to 1280 {see page 24), two additional years were
granted in the case of the heir-female, extending her majority
to the age of 16, for no other reason apparently than to benefit
her ward.

The Countess having left no surviving issue, the King enjoyed the
fruits of these manors with but little concern as to their rightful
heirs, nor do I find any record of an enquiry upon the subject until
after the death of the puissant King Edward I. In 1309 a jury was
empanelled on the petition of W'arin de Insula and Hugh de
Courtenay, as heirs-at-law of the late Countess, and it was then
declared that the said Warin and Hugh were the rightful lieirs to the
manors of Harewood and Kirkby Overblow, &c. In the next year
(1310) it was found that Robert, son of Warin de Insula, and Hugh
de Courtenay, were heirs of the said manors, but the Crown was
not disposed to part with them until both heirs were of full age.
The circumstances are explained in tiie following original document
which 1 lind among the Close Rolls of 4th Edward II.:

Grant of Manors of Harewood and Kirkhv Ovicrblow. a.u. 1310.

To Walter de Gloucester escheator this side Trent. Order to deliver to Robert
DE Insula son and heir of Warin de Insula seizure of the manors (among
others) of Harewood and Kirkby Oreblower co. York upon the death of Isabel
DE FoRTiHus, late Countess of Albemarle, a tenant in chief of the late king
which the said Warin prayed the late king to deliver to him as next heir of the
said Isabella, but the late king retained them in his hands on account of the
minority of Hugh de Curteney then in his wardship, by reason of the claim
thereto that his nearest relations made for him before the king and his council,
which HukIi, upon attaining his majority, prayed to have livery of the same as
his inheritance, but he was answ^ered that they must remain in the King's hands
until the said Robert, then a minor in the King's wardship, came of age, for the
same reason as they were retained in the King's hands during the minority of the
said Hugh ; the said Hugh and Robert, having both come of age, have sought to
have livery of the same manors and have appeared before Robert de Brabazon
and his fellows, justices of Oyer and Terminer ; it was found by process before
them that the said Robert and Hugh acknowledged that the manors of (Heyford
Waryn, &c.) Harewode and Kirkeby Oreblower with the exception of a messuage
and carucate of land in Loftehous within the said manor of Harewood ought to
descend to the said Robert as next heir of said Isabella as of the inheritance
falling to her from the part of Margery, late wife of Baldwin de Vernon, grand-
mother of the said Isabella and kinswoman of said Robert because the said
Isabella died without an heir of her body, as appears by the said process, the
king having taken homage from the said Robert for the said manor.

The like to John de Hothum escheator beyond Trent to deliver seizin to the
said Robert of the manors of Harewood and Kirkbye Oreblower, co. York,
excepting a messuage and a carucate of land in Lofthous within the manor of
Harewod.

To Walter de Gloucester Escheator. Order to deliver to Hugh de Curteneye
seizin of . . . and a messuage and carucate of land in Lofthous. Robt. de
Insula and said Hugh having acknowledged the same ought to descend to said
Hugh as nearest heir to said Isabella, as of the inheritance falling to her of the
part of Baldwin de Vernun her grandfather and kinsman of said Hugh, because
she died without an heir of her body, the king having taken homage of the said
Hugh for the premises.

The like to John de Hothum escheator beyond Trent to deliver to said Hugh
seizin of said messuage and carucate of land in Lofthous.

Next among theXlose Rolls of 6th Edward II. (131 2) 1 find the
following mandate concerning these same manors :

To him who supplies the place of the Treasurer and to the Barons of the
Exchequer. Order to acquit Master Andrew de Tang of 8oi. yearly from
July i8th in the 4th year of the king's reign for the manor and borough of
Harewood and the manor of Kirkby Urblawere, committed to him by the late
King on Feb. 15th in the 28th year of his reign, during the minority of Robert,
son and heir of Warin de Insula, rendering therfore the above yearly sum, the
present King having, on July iSth aforesaid, taken the homage of the said
Robert, then of full age, for all the lands that his father held in chief which he
ordered Roger de Wellesworth escheator this side Trent to deliver to him

By these orders the manor of Kirkby Overblow passed to the
family of De Insula or De Lisle of Rougemont in Harewood parish.
In 1348 John de Insula, who was one of the founders of the Order of
the Garter, released to Sir Richard Tempest, Knight, all his rights in
the advowson of the church of Kirkby Overblow.* This distinguished
noble. John de Insula, who was a commander in the wars of the
Black Prince, died from the effects of an arrow-shot in Gascony
in 1356. He left a son Robert, who died without issue, and a
daughter Elizabeth, married to William de Aldburgh, the builder of
Harewood Castle, who succeeded to the lordships of Harewood and
Kirkby Overblow. f He died in 1377 and was buried in the old
church at Aldborough near Boroughbridge. Neither the Aldburghs
nor their predecessors the De Lisles, appear to have ever resided at
Kirkby Overblow-. In 1378 their principal tenant here was a John
de Rodon, who, in the poll-tax imposed in that year, was assessed at
the rate of an esquire, viz., 3s. 4d. He had then in his service a
man servant and two maid servants, each of whom were taxed at 4d.
He was no doubt a member of the old family of Rawdon, of Rawdon,
in the parish of Guiseley. In the ancient church at Guiseley is a
memorial window inscribed to Francis Rawdon and his wife Dorothy
daughter of William Aldburgh, armiger, who died in 1660 after a
wedded life of 57 years. The arms of Rawdon, Follifoot, and
Beckwith appear in the window together with this coat : argent, on
a fess, sable, three escallops of the first, a canton ermine, impaling
argent, a fess between three cross crosslets azure (Aldburgh).

William de Aldburgh's son William dying without issue in 1391,
the estates descended to the two daughters of the elder William, as
co-heiresses. The eldest, Elizabeth de Aldburgh, married (i) Sir
Brian Stapylton of Carlton, near Snaith, and (2) Sir Richard
Redman of L.evens in Westmorland, who was Speaker of the House
of Commons, and who died in 1426.! Her sister Sybil de Aldburgh
was the wife of Sir William Ryther, of Ryther Castle, who died in
1440, and of whose illustrious family I have already discoursed at
length in the chapters on Ryther in my Lower Wharfedale
volume.

In i5th Richard II. (1393), a fine was entered between Sir Robert
Constable, of Flamborough, Kt., and Sir Peter Tilly, Kt., plaintiffs,
and William de Ryther and Sybil his wife, and Elizabeth, late wife
of Sir Robert Stapelton, Kt., defendants, respecting 40 marks going
out of the manors of Harwode and Kereby, with the appurtenances,

• Dodsworth MSS. 85 fo. 121 b.

t Dodsworth MSS. 159 fo. 194 b.

J For pedigree of Redman see my Lotvcf Whurfedalc, pages 470-1.

and of 60 messuages, 20 tofts, 100 acres of meadow, 1000 acres of
pasture, with appurtenances in Harewood, Kereby, East Keswick,
and Kirkhy Overblow.*

\'>y the will of Sir Richard Redman, dated May ist, 1424, the
manors of Kirkby Overblow and Kereby were bequeathed to Brian
Stapilton, son of Sir Brian Stapylton, first husband of Elizabeth de
Aldburgh, when he should come of age, but conditionally that
neither he nor his iieirs should disturb or dispute with his successors,
thr Redmans, in their possession of the castle and manor of
Harewood. In the event of any such disturbance or litigation
ensuing, the two manors of Kirkby Overblow and Kereby were to
revert to the heirs of Redman. Both families, however, continued
to enjoy their respective estates in peace for many generations, and
Kirkby Overblow, with Kereby, remained with the Stapeltons until
its sale by Sir Richard Stapelton, Kt., to Sir Wm. Mearing in 1564.

In 1567 there was a final concord made between Brian Stapelton,
son and heir apparent of Sir Richard Stapelton, and Sir William
Babthorp, Kt.,t Christopher Twyselton, Esq., Thomas Meyring and
John Langton, gents , respecting the sale of the manor of Kirkby
Overblow, including 18 messuages and 12 cottages, 20 tofts, one
dovecote, with some 1300 acres of land and 20 acres of wood in the
same and in Kereby. The sum of ^300 was paid for the same by
the four parties named. The Hearings were closely related to the
Stapeltons ; Sir Richard Stapelton, of Carlton, having married for
his second wife, Elizabeth, widow of William Mearinge, by whom
he had two sons, William and Richard. The latter was born at
Kirkby Overblow in 1562, and in his i8th year was admitted a
fellow commoner of Caius College, Cambridge. The first wife of
his half-brother, Brian Stapelton, of Carlton, was the Lady Eleanor,
daugiiter of Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland, whose kinsman,
George Neville, esquire, was party to the purchase of lands in
Carlton and Snaith from the above Sir Richard Stapelton in 1564.

The Stapeltons of Carlton and Wighill were, as related in my
Lower Wharfedak, of the same stock, and Katherine,J daughter of
Henry Stapelton, of Wighill, who died in 1631, married Sir George
Twisleton, of Barley, near Selby, who was created a baronet in 1629.
He left no issue, and his widow married Sir Henry Cholmley and
had several children. The Cholmleys were lords of the manors of
Ingleton and Bentham, co. York.§

* Harl. MSS.. Vol. 802.

t He was one of the Queen's Council in the North, a famous lawyer, and son
of William Babthorp, of Osgodby, gent.

X The pedigree in the Wilson MSS. gives her name as Mary.

§ See my Cinven and Noith-West Yorhihire Higlihimls, pages 1S7, 205, &c.

Sir Richard Cholmley was brother-in-law to Henry Neville, 5th
Earl of Westmorland, whose vast possessions were forfeited by his
son, the 6th Earl, for having joined in the great religious rebellion
known as the " Rising in the North." The Nortons of Norton
Conyers, the Percies of Spofforth, and the Johnsons of Lindley and
Walton Head, at Kirkby Overblow, were all concerned in that
disastrous enterprise. Thus we see that the families of Neville,
Stapelton, Cholmley, and Twisleton were all related, and all had a
greater or lesser interest in the parish of Kirkby Overblow. The
Twistletons were of the same stock as the Barons Saye and
Sele. John Twisleton, Esq.. of Drax, near Snaith, married the
Hon. Elizabeth Fiennes (elder daughter and co-heiress of James,
second Viscount Saye and Sele, by his wife Dorothy, elder daughter
and co-heiress of John Neville, Lord Latimer), by whom he had an
only child, Cecilia, who became the wife of George Twisleton, Esq.,
of Woodhall, in the parish of Womersley.* A Philip, son of Robert
de Saye, of Moreton Saye, and rector of Hodnet, near Market
Drayton, appears to have acted as a trustee of lands belonging to
the Leyburnes at Great Berwick, co. Salop, in 1308. This manor
had been the property of the Despencers, a daughter of which house
had married the heir of Bishop Burnell, as previously related {see
page 25), a trustee of the manor of Kirkby Overblow in 1275.

The Twisletons were in all probability descended from the
Twisletons of Twisleton, near Ingleton, in the Hundred of Lonsdale,
where a Dominus Willelmus de Twisleton, and a Reginald de
Twisleton, are recorded as living at Ingleton in 1297.1 John
Twisleton, alderman and goldsmith of London, married Alice,
daughter of Ralph Latham, goldsmith, of Upminster Hall, in Esse.x,}
who purchased the Barley Hall estate, near Selby, and died in 1525.
His son, Christopher Twisleton, who was party to the purchase of
the manor of Kirkby Overblow in 1567, married Anne, daughter of
John Beer, Esq., of Dartford, Kenfr.§ He died in 1581.J1 Fiennes
Twisleton, only son of the above George Twisleton, was, I may add,
a captain on board the Phcenix at the ever-memorable relief of Derry
in July, 1689 — a siege heroically defended by the Rev. George
Walker, D.D., whose father had been for some years vicar of
Stapelton 's manor of Wighill, near Tadcaster.lf

• See the Case of Col. Thos. Twisleton, of Broughton Castle, co. O.xford, in
relation to the Barony of Saye and Sele, to be heard before the Lords' Committee
for Privileges. June. 1781. with pedigree of Twistleton and Fiennes, Minutes of
Evidence, &.c. Printed in 1847. Sec also Yorks. Ai-c/iel. Jl., xv., page 166.

f Yorks. Record Series, xv., g. J Plumpton Correspondence, page 235.

§ Jbid, page 245. || Inq.f.m., 241!) Elizabeth.

II See my Two Thousand Years of Tiidccisler History, page gg.

After tlie death ol Chiistoplier Twisleton tlie manor passed in
moieties and was again divided as the lands were sold and descended
through various owners. In 1581 Edward Wright and Agnes his
wife, conjoint))' with Richard Coates and Margaret his wife, purchased
of William Yaxley, Esq., certain property in Kereby, together with
a moiety of the manor of Kirkby Overblow. Then in 1590 Richard
Coates disposed of his moiety of the moiety of the manor to James
Ilird and Agnes his wife, and next year the Stapeltons disposed of
their interest in the manor to Henry and Robert Norton. The latter
parted witii his share of the manor, and certain property in W'hitkirk,
at Miclutlmas, 1591, to Leonard Brough, gent., and Henry Fourd.
In 1598 the Nortons' portion was in possession of Lawrence Edwards,
who in the same year purchased of the Wrights and Knaptons a
messuage and lands in Kirkby Overblow.

Thus the manorial interests have gradually dwindled, having been
parted with as the lands ha\e passed to different owners. Early in
the 19th century the Shore and Sheepshanks families were the
principal landowners. The Shores are an old Sheffield family, from
whom descended William Shore, for many years a banker in Sheffield.
He died in 1822. His son took the surname of Nightingale in
pursuance of the will of his maternal uncle, Peter Nightingale, Esq.,
of Lea, and was father of the celebrated Florence Nightingale.
The elder brother of William was Samuel Shore, who was High
Sheriff of Derby in 1761 and died in 1828, aged 90. His second
wife was the only daughter and heiress of Freeman Flower of
Gainsborough and Claphani, who died in 1797, having left the Low
Hall estate, Kirkby Overblow, to his son-in-law, the above Samuel
Shore. Mrs. Jane Shore, his widow, died about 1850. The Low
Hall property, with the manorial rights, was sold to William Fenton
Scott, Esq., of Woodhall. It may be noted as affording a remarkable
instance of the survival of an ancient feudal custom, now rendered
obsolete by the Game Acts, that at this time the manorial title
included the right to shoot six pheasants annually in Swindon Wood.
This was a prerogative doubtless derived from the 13th century
concession to Prince Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, to have free chase
in Swindon Wood, which lay within the lordship of Kirkby Overblow,
though reckoned parcel of the Forest of Knaresborough (sec page 26).
The history of the interesting old Low Hall homestead will be
separately described.

At the present time the most considerable landowner in the town-
ship is the Earl of Harewood. But in addition to Lord Harewood's
estate and the Low Hall lands, now owned by Thomas Lister
Ingham, Esq., there are many smaller freeholders.

CHAPTER V.

ThK FaRIKH CllUUCIl OI- KiRKliV U\liUULOW.

HAT memories of bygone races, of changes of life and
dynasty, of quaint ceremonies, manners and customs
rooted, perhaps, deep down in the dim ages of
superstition, gather round our old parish churches !
Their crumbled stones seem to embody the records of
the parish from its very birth, and upon their walls we read the
stories of the living past, while in the dust around the sacred piles
are gathered the centuries of weal and woe that make up the life of
every ancient parish.

When the parish of Kirkby Overblow was first formed we have
no definite knowledge. But we know that upon the division of the
dioceses the parishes were formed on the lines of the old territorial
or tribal arrangements, which had preceded the creation of the
heptarchic kingdoms.* These might consist of a single township,
or, as in the case of Kirkby Overblow, of a cluster of townships
constituting a parochial division, the priest's share or parish of a
single priest. But long before this happened in the eighth century,
or earlier, Christianity had been, I doul>t not, preached in our midst.
In the opening chapter I have referred to the old holy-well of
St. Helen, and the existence of this ancient tutelary spring so near
the mother church is specially interesting, as it enables us, perhaps,
to trace the springs of local Christianity to their very source in far-
off Roman times. And what a picture of holy teaching and of long-
continued worship on one spot does not this favoured site suggest !
This is no haphazard or fanciful speculation. Haddan, indeed,
regards the attestation of the British Bishops at Aries in 314, as
proving the existence of diocesan episcopacy in the British church,
and testimony is not lacking to the existence of a priesthood at that
time.

Often in later times a beautiful preaching cross was erected close
to the holy-well, or if the old well failed or fell into disuse, as at
Bisley in Gloucestershire, the cross was erected directly over it.

* See Stubbs's Cuiistit. Hist. 0/ England, i., 225.

For this in turn was substituted a building of wood or stone, and if
erected in Norman times, the older cross, if of stone, was often
broken up and built into the walls of the later church. But in any
case it was, as a rule, not far from the holy-well where the people
had first gathered, perhaps in the old pagan days.*

The inhabitants of Kirkby Overblow have always been proud of
their historic holy-spring, and in 1811 a sum of ^32 us. 5d. was
expended by the surveyors in repairing it and walling it round.
Perhaps the original church was dedicated to St. Helen, but in the
14th and 15th centuries the tendency seems to have been towards
superseding purely local saints by the favourite names out of the
service-books. Subsequently it seems to have been the policy of
the Reformers to do away with the ordinary calendar-saints and to
adopt the very non-committal dedication to All Saints. t A great
many of our most ancient churches ha^■e changed their ascriptions
to All Saints, and this is notably the case in Wharfedale. For many
centuries, at any rate, the church at Kirkby Overblow has borne the
dedication to All Saints.

That the church existed before a.d. 1083 is evident from the fact
that while it is not specially mentioned in Domesday, the vill itself is
described as Cherchebi. Hence the inference that the Saxon
church was of no value in 1083, owing to the Norman ravages and
depopulation which had reduced the taxable lands of the manor by
nearly one half. The Domesday inquest was intended merely as a
table of values, and what was of no value at the time of the inquisition
was not entered. As elsewhere explained it by no means follows
that where a priest or church are not mentioned in the Survey, none
existed. J There are well-ascertained Saxon churches now existing
wholly or in part, unrecorded in the Conqueror's rate-book. And as
regards the parish of Kirkby Overblow there is one feature of the
church, which I will refer to presently, that seems to suggest a
probability that in the 8th century when the church at York with
its thirty altars was rebuilt, church extension was going on in the
surrounding district. The existence also of a Norman chapel-of-
ease (the present church) at Stainburn, affords additional evidence
of the pre-existence of the mother church at Kirkby Overblow.

Following the Domesday record the earliest documentary allusion

* It is noteworthy that the populous and flourishing town of St. Helens in
Lancashire was not known by that name as late as the 17th century. In the
Commoiin'cidth Church Survey it is spoken of as in the town of Windle, where is
" a chapell called St. Ellen chapell."

t See Miss Arnold-Forster's Studies in Church Dedications.

J See my Lower Wharjedale. page 63, &c.

to the existence of n < luiii h, appears in an attestation of one " J lenry
tiie priest of Cliircaiji," to a charter of St. Peter's Hospital, York,
ca. 1 150.' 'l"he rectory at this time was probably helc! in moieties as
there is evidence it was a little later, when in the reign of John, the
De Lancasters, ]-5arons of Kendal, presented to it.f

But in the actual building, just referred to, there is ocular proof
of the existence of a church in the Saxon style. The north wall
looks early and is very thick
— the later window-splays
being forty inches wide, but
the internal face has long
been concealed beneath a
thick coating of plaster and
limewash.J Upon the ex-
terior, however, near the west
end, there is a very rudely
constructed doorway, now
blocked ; the base stands 24
inches above the level of the
present flagging of the church
which is 29 inches above the
original earth-level. Thus
from the bases of the jambs
to the earth-level inside there
is a space of 53 inches. The
head of this doorway consists ^axon Doorway. Kirkby Overblow.

of a single stone, bow-shaped, 6 inches thick on the face, having a
simple moulding, resting on equally plain jambs, without impost or
capital. It has a very crude Saxon look about it ; the four stones
composing the jambs being of different dimensions and roughly
dressed. The uppermost one on the left measures 15 by ii| inches,
the lower one 27 by 11 to 12 inches ; the upper one on the right is
16 by n inches, and the lower one 25 by 12 inches; all face
measurements, as the thickness of the stones cannot be gauged.

It will thus be seen there is a crude representation of " lon.g and
short work," and consequently this doorway may be ascribed middle

• The charter is given in the Thoresby Soc, vol. ix., page 232.

t Sec ante, page 20.

J Saxon walls are rarely more than 30 inches thick, and are usually built solid,
with no interior rubble between the two faces. But at Heysham this is not the
case, the two faces are formed of roughly-squared blocks of gritstone, with an
intermediate rubble of 6 to 9 inches composed of fragments broken off the face-
stones, and filled in with a hard cement made of lime, sand, sea-shells and small
stones The walls vary in thickness from 27 to 32 inches.

or late Saxon. It has probably undergone some alteration at the
base, as the foundation-stones are laid in even courses below it (««.
sketch), and the ground of the churchyard has also been raised for a
roadway on this side of the church. The space between this later
coursed-masonry and the inner face of the arch is only 53 inches
high, and between the jambs 27 inches wide. Saxon doorways are
usually small, or rather high and narrow, and no original doorway
can have been constructed with so low an entrance as this one. But
as the three courses of masonry measure ig inches to the bases of
the jambs this would give a doorway 6 feet high. The well-known
Saxon doorway of the ruined church of St. Patrick, on the headland
at Heysham, in North Lancashire, is about 7 feet high and 27 inches
wide; the tower doorway at Kirkdale, which Rickman believes to be
a portion of the original building, is a little wider, but is 8 feet
high ; the true base being concealed below ground. There are also
similar Saxon doorways at Kirk Hammerton, Ledsham, and
Laughton-en-le-Morthen in Yorkshire.

As might be expected in a large and populous parish the church
underwent alteration and extension at an early period. Considerable
rebuilding appears to have taken place in the 14th century. The
north transept is of this date and appears to have been a private
chapel, although I can find no evidence of the endowment of any
chapel or oratory within the church.* In its south wall is a piscina
having a plain trefoil-head, an indication that an altar has stood
here, which must have joined it on the east. The window above
consists of two plain lights, having a quatrefoil head, containing two
fragments of ancient coloured glass. On the north side is a large
window of three stained lights ; in the centre is a representation of
the Crucifixion, and on either side are figures of St. John and
St. Mary. Beneath this window is a neat brass inscribed as follows :

In honour of the Holy Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in memory of
John Walker and .Vnn his wife. Thomas their son, and Isabella Farquharson,
their daughter. Ann Walker, by her last will and testament has caused this
window to be dedicated, ad. MDCCCXCIII.

John Walker died 5th January, 1854, aged 55, and Ann his wife,
daughter of John Purchon, of Moor AUerton, died 20th August, 1844,
aged 39. Both are interred in the churchyard beside the tower on
the west side.

On the same north wall is a tablet of wood, painted black and

* In the Metropolitan Church of York was the Chantry of Our Lady, of the
foundation of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland (d. 1537) and Mary his wife,
which was maintained by a yearly rent of iocs., coming out of the parsonage of
Kirkby Overblow, Siirtces S'oc, vol. gi, page 22.

suiinouiUctl by the arms ut Dodsoii ol' Luw Hall, of whom I give
some account in a subsequent chapter. This memorial is to Miles
Dodson, Esq., who lived thr<)Uf,'h the troublous era of the Civil War
and died igth September, 1657, aged 68, and is interred here. He
is piously described as " a man fearing God, charitable to the poor,
and a peace-maker amongst his neighbours." Adjoining this memorial
is another to a worthy woman, Elizabeth Hanks, daughter of John
Banks of Wetherby, and for forty-eight years a servant in the family
of Mrs. Jowett of Bradford. She died in 1798, aged 70.

The church is now a substantial and spacious edifice, consisting
of chancel, nave, south aisle, north transept, and massive western
tower. In 1778 the building was new-roofed, repaired, flagged and
paved, and Mrs. Cooper, wife of the rector, ga\e the communion
table. In 1780 the church was again repaired, and shortly afterwards
the old tower was largely rebuilt and restored, at a cost of about
^250, which was met by \'oluntary subscriptions. The following
inscription recording the circumstances appears on the south face of
the tower.

TURREM HANC LABKNTfM
REFICI CURAVrr

Cs. Cooper, S.T.P ,

HujusCE EccLESi.^ Rector.

Ann. Dom. zyHi.

[Chas. Cooper, S.T.I'., rector of this church took care to reconstruct this falling

tower. A.D. 17S1.].

On the same side is an octagonal sun-dial bearing the motto and
date: " Vivite, ecce fugio, 1712." [Live, lo ! I fly.]

As appears by a document among the parish papers, a covenant
was made between Nathan Drake (rector from 171 3 to 1729) on the
one part, and .\lbany Dodson (of Low Hall) on the other part, that
the parishioners should purchase a church clock, and that ten acres
of land should be enclosed from the waste by Albany Dodson, and
should belong to him and his heirs for ever, on condition that he
regularly paid a man to wind up the clock and keep it going.
Albany Dodson was also to pay £1 to the schoolmaster. A new
clock was put up in 1782. In 1816 the clock was repaired at a cost
of Z15 by Mr. Goodall of Tadcaster; in 1823 a new face was put on
and in 1831 it was repaired and cleaned by William Moorhouse
of Birstwith.* In May, 1850, the churchwardens agreed that
Mr. Richard Snow have two months allowed to make the church
clock go in a satisfactory manner, and that the churchwardens have
one month from that time to judge of its efficiency. Snow apparently
did the work satisfactorily, for in that year and in 1851 he received

* See my Nnldeiilalc, page 394.

£b 5s. for repairs to the clock, and in 1852-4, he received £\ per
annum for attending to it.

In 17S9 the rector, Dr. Cooper, presented the communion plate,
the silver cup excepted. In 1790 the chancel was new roofed, the
east window repaired with stone, a new door made, and the battle-
ment added ; the cost, about ;^200, being borne by Dr. Cooper. He
also in 1795 re-paved the chancel, and in 1802 generously added a
new porch. The south front of the church was also raised. In 1803
he placed a stained glass window at the east end of the chancel,
which was remo\ed when the present handsome window was erected
in 1882. It consists of three lights filled with beautiful full-length
figures representing Faith, Hope, and Charity. The ground-work
is composed of stars, with the sacred monogram alternating. The
design at the base of each light is a shield bearing an emblem of the
Christian virtues. The tracery lights contain the letters in Greek of
xMpha and Omega, together with the sacred monogram. This window
was raised by voluntary subscriptions at a cost of about ^100.

A thorough restoration of the fabric took place in 1871-2, under
the direction of Mr. G. E. Street, whereby many structural alterations
were made and 140 additional sittings obtained. The old square
deal pews were removed and handsome open benches of pitch-pine
were substituted. Two new windows were made in the north wall
of the nave, the chancel-arch was rebuilt, and the tower-arch and
west window were thrown open. The flat plaster ceiling was also
removed and replaced by an open roof. A new stone pulpit, executed
by Messrs. Freeman of Sicklinghall, was also placed at the north-
west end of the nave. The total cost of this important restoration
was about ;£'i200, all raised by public subscription except a grant of
Lib from the Incorporated Society. The church was re-opened by
the Bishop of Ripon on the 30th January, 1872.

A further improvement was effected in 1885, when the church was
heated on the hot-water principle, and in i8go the interior was first
lighted with oil-lamps, suspended from the ceiling, thus doing away
with the old system of candles placed in hanging brackets. In the
same year a new doorway was put in the chancel by the Rev. J. J.
Toogood, then rector. The chancel unfortunately took fire on the
night of Dec. 3rd, i8qi. The flames were observed about 10-30 p.m.
and Dr. Wilson of Kirkby Overblow at once rode to Harrogate
for a fire engine, which arrived at midnight, and in about three
hours the flames were subdued. Much injury was done to the
organ and several monuments were either destroyed or spoilt, but
singularly the stained east window and the altar-table completely
escaped. The damage, covered by insurance, amounted to about

^4oo. The lire is supposed to have originated from the overturning
of a lamp by a dog not observed in the church, as next day the
charred body of a dog was found among the debris in the church.
The work of restoration was done by Mr. )ohn Hall Thorp of Leeds,
at the expense of the insurance company. A new memorial tablet
was put up and two new windows were erected on the south side ot
the chancel, and filled with cathedral glass, and cathedral glass was
also put in the north window of the south aisle at the same time.
On the niiilli wall ol the chancel is a brass tablet inscribed :

In memory iil tlic Kev. J.J. Toogood, M.A.. Prebendary of Wells Cathedral,
for j4 years rector of this parish, who died August nth, 1892, aged 84. The
lectern was placed in tlio church by the friends and parishitmers who erected this
tablet

Beneath this is another brass inscribed :

Erected by the parishioners in memory of the Rev. Edmund Snowden. M.A.,
Hon. Canon of Wakefield and Proctor of Convocation, for nearly two years
rector of this parish. Died July 21st, 1894, aged 62.

In the chancel there are also memorial tablets to the Rev. W illiani
Bethel], D.D., rector, who died in 1685; the Rev. Francis Rogers,
rector, who died in 1712 ; the Rev. Chas. Cooper, D.D., rector, who
died in 1804; Christopher Bethell, Esq. and Ann his wife, of Swindon,
in this parish, who both died in 1797; and William Symondson, Esq.,
son of the Rev. Lister Symondson, vicar of Pannal. Mr. Symondson
was secretary to His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, and
treasurer to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign
Parts. He died in 1775, aged 54 years.

On the north wall there is a 17th century memorial to Dame Bridget,
daughter of Sir John Bouchier, of Beningbrough, co. York, the
Parliamentarian and M.P. for Ripon during the Commonwealth.
She was wife of the Rev. \Vm. Bethell, D.D., rector of the parish,
and akin to Sir James Bourchier of Felstead, Essex, whose daughter
Elizabeth married, in 1620, Oliver Cromwell, the Protector.*

The inscription, though a little effusive and characteristic of the
time, is in excellent Latin and it seems almost perfidy to offer a
translation of it. The late Bishop Wordsworth, whose family was
connected with the Favells of Kearby, told the late rector,
Mr. Toogood, that it was one of the most beautiful pieces of Latin
in mcmoriam which he had ever read. it appears on the tablet
extended in the following form :

* One can understand the Bethells, of Swindon, .siding with llie Parliament
during the strife with King Charles, and also for the special effort that was made
by the Royalist troops to sack their family mansion at Swindon. Eventually in
a daring exploit of the Royalists from Knaresborough the house was completely
wrecked.

Sep. 12. 1662. Evita decessit charissima mea Conjux Brigeta.

Epitaphium.

Brigeta Johannis Bouchier Militis,

Filia natu maxima.

Gulielmi Bethel Presbyteri,

Uxor unica,

Nobiliore tumulo digna,

jacet hie.

Parentibus semper morigera, Conjugi suo fidelis amans obsequens.

Undecim bonae spei tiberorum mater indulgens,

Domi custos, et curatrix sedula ;

Liberorum nutrix, educatrix pia, prudensq,

Non iracunda, superba, tumens.

Sed omnibus facilis. fidelis amiciS.

Proquinquis chara, dilecta proximis •

Conjuge suo quindecim annos vixit, sine lite, sine rixa,

Nunqiiam simul irati, semper jucnndi simul :

yuibus una eademq ma;stiti£e gaudiiq materia ;

Hanc immatura mors hinc rapuit infaelix puerperium !

Pariundo periit : imo : non periit sed ad coelum pie et placide emigravit :

Maritum suum mjestum relinquens, Liberos pi?e setate dispendii sui non,

Sat capaces in posterum heu, nimum capaces futures.

A marito nunquam satis dilecta nee deflenda satis,

Qui erepto sibi unico vita; solatio,

Exitum suum gemens praestolatur,

Et tantum sub spe resurrectionis ad vitam,

Se eonsolatur in Deo suo.

H. S. E.

Reverendus Vir

Gulielmus Bethel S T. P.,

Hujusee Eeelesice per annos xxxviii.,

Reetor

Qui familiam unde ortus est Ingenuam

Ingenius exornavit moribus

Obit Ann. Dom.

MDCLXXXV.

Sept. i2th, 1662. My most beloved wife Bridget departed this life.
Epitaph.
Bridget, eldest daughter of John Bouehier Knight,
Only wife of \Vm. Bethel Presbyter,
Worthy of a nobler monument.
Lies here.
To her parents always obedient, to her husband faithful, loving and submissive,
I The indulgent mother of eleven hopeful children, | The guardian and careful
manager of her home, | The prudent nurse and pious instructress of her chil-
dren, I Not swollen with anger or pride, | But courteous to all, faithful to friends,
I Dear to relations. Beloved by neighbours, | She lived fifteen years with her
husband without quarrel or dispute, | Never angry together, always rejoicing
together, | To whom tlie occasions of grief and joy were one and the same. | Un-
timely death snatched her away, unhappy time of travail ! | She perished in
child-birth, nay, she perished not. but departed piously and peacefully to

Heaven, | Leaving her sorrowing Iiusband and children, on account of their age.
not capable of grasping their loss, | But, alas, will he too capable in the future. |
By her husband never enough beloved, nor enough to be mourned, | Who. his
only consolation in life being snatched from him. | Sighing, awaits his departure,
and only in the hope of the resurrection to life | Consoles himself in his God.

H. S. E
The Kev. William Bethel. ST P.. Rector of this cinirch for 38 years, who.
upright, by his manners adorned the noble family from wliich lie sprang, died

A.D. 1685.

A brass on the iiorlli wall ol the nave worthily connnemorates a
hero of the late war, I'"rancis Henry Snowden, Corporal South
African Light Horse, son of the above Canon Snowden. He was
wounded near lilandslaagte, April 17th, 1900, whilst rescuing a
comrade under fire, and died at Fort Napier Hospital, Maritzburg,
on the 27th April following, aged 37 years. " Quit you like men,
be strong," is the apt motto on his epitaph.

At the east end of the south aisle is a marble tablet surmounted
with a beautifully sculptured head in alto-relievo, with the arms:
5a. an escutcheon, ai\ within an orle of owls, or. (Scott) quartering
gu. a cross ermine between four fleurs-de-lis (Fenton). It is a
memorial to Wm. Lister Fenton-Scott, Esq. of Woodhall, in this
parish, Registrar-General for the West Riding during a period of
16 years, who died 8th October, 1842, aged 61. Near it is another
tablet commemorating Wm. Fenton-Scott, Esq., who died in 1813,
aged 66, and Mary his wife, who died in 181 5, aged 58. Against
this east wall is placed a 15th century tomb-slab bearing the device
of a floriated cross, with a shield of arms on each side of the shaft.
On the dexter side the shield has a bend
sinister between five fusils, three on the
dexter side and two on the sinister side of
the bend, surmounted by a lozenge (?) for a
crest, and on the other the shield bears
three hammers (sable) two and one with
crest : a hammer through a tun (Hamerton).
This stone was recovered from the church
floor during the restoration in 1871. The
stone is much worn in parts and several
of the fusils are nearly obliterated. This
shield is curious ; the bend sinister being
of rare occurrence in armorial bearings ; it
is regarded as a stain or abatement in
family honours. I conclude it commemor-
ates William Plumpton, Esq., of Kirkby
Overblow, brother of Robert Plompton o

York, both illegitimate sons of Sir Wm. Plumpton, Kt. Sir William
married in 1415 a second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Brian
Stapleton, Kl., by whom he had a numerous family, and one of his
daughters, Isabel Plumpton, became the wife of Sir Stephen
Hamerton, of Hamerton and Hellifield Peel, in the parish of Long
Preston. If William Plumpton, of Kirkby Overblow, also matched
with a Hamerton, the fusils on the shield should properly bear each
an escallop shell, and there are faint appearances of this distinction
upon the stone. These arms were first adopted by Sir Robert de
Plumpton, who died in 1295, the five fusils being the arms of Percy,
and they were differenced by the bearing of an escallop, gules, for
Plumpton, in token of this family's subordination to the Percies.*
William Plumpton, the bastard, is described in 1490 as " of Kirkby
Overlars, gent."t

The top of the church is rather difficult of access, being ascended
by a series of ladders. The roof of the tower is slated and ridged,
not covered with lead as is generally the case. There are three
bells, the oldest and largest being inscribed " God is my defender,
1598," and the others "Jesus be our speed, 1634," ^^'^ " I^ack and
Chapman of London, Fecit, 1769."

The appurtenances of the church in 1786 comprised one silver
cup (dated 171 7), a pewter chalice with two plates and a scarlet
velvet cushion for the pulpit. In 1789 the following additions were
made ; one plated chalice, one plated paten, one large plated dish
and two plated plates, all dated 1789. The brass lectern was placed
in the church in 1893 as a memorial of the Rev. J. J. Toogood,
rector of the parish. In 1898 the brass font ewer was presented to
the church by the children of Kirkby Overblow in memory of a
worthy lady, Mary wife of Robert Burton, of Spacey House, who died
8th January, 1898. In the winter of 1898-9 the floor of the sacrarium
was laid with encaustic tiles at the expense of Miss Snowden, as a
memorial of her brother, the Rev. Canon Snowden, and during his
incumbency the altar-cross, vases, and frontals and credence-table
were placed in the church.

The church is said to stand equi-distant between the eastern and
western oceans, and from the ample churchyard, which is 370 feet
above sea-level, there is an expansive and beautiful view over the
valley of the W'harfe and surrounding hills. The old terriers of the

* There is a similar anomaly upon the tomb-slab of Laurence Hamerton
(d ca. 1470), in Long Preston Church. The slab was probably placed there by
his grandson, Sir Stephen Hamerton, who married Isabel Plumpton, and died in
1500. and upon it are 5 shields of arms, one being of Hamerton empaled with
time plain fusils, doubtless intended for Plumpton.

t See Camden Soc. Pnb,, vol. 4 (1839I, Plumpton Corres , l.\xxiv., 98, &'C.

church describe the burial f(round as comprising exactly one acre,
which is happily suggestive of Longfellow's poetical lines :

I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which calls
The burial-ground God's-Acre ! It is just ;

It consecrates each grave within its walls,
And breathes a benison o'er the sleeping dust.

The western portion of the churchyard was added in 1849, the land
for the purpose having been given by the Rev. Mr. Blunt, the
rector. Opposite the porch, on the south side, is the stump of a dial-
stone, probably the gift of Joshua Waite, a churchwarden in 1745,
whose initials are cut upon it. He was a benefactor to the parish
in various ways.* On this side of the ancient burial-ground lie
generations of the oldest yeoman families of the district, including
the Stables of Field House, Harlands of Lund Head and Kearby,
BrearclifTes of Barrowby, Ridsdales of Low Hall and Walton Head,
Dunwells of Brackenthwaite, &c. Upon the stones within the
sacred enclosure are many examples of the poet's craft of varying
merit. Among the older ones, the following to the memory of a
young woman may be cited as perhaps the best :

Like flowers that open with the morning sun.

And die away before one course is run.

So bloomed this flower and ]>romised much delight,

But oh ! she withered with the shade of night !

Transplanted now she ever shines

In better soil and far more happier climes.

Young people all prepare to die

As life is short and death is nigh.

Repent in time, make no delay,

I in mv bloom was called away.

Neither remiss is the following metaphysical flight :

Involved in this dust, lo, here I lie.

Reader, mistake me not, it is not I,

It is my dust that in this dust remains.

My better part the heaven of heaven contains.

.Another interesting old tombstone commemorates Richard Burdsall,
of Chapel Hill, Kearby, who was buried on gth March, 1766. He
was a buckle-maker by trade and was father of the Rev. Richard
Burdsall, the founder and pioneer of local Methodism, of whom
some account will be found in the chapter on Kearby. The quaint

* This stone has been mistaken for the base of an old cross, but the present
rector and myself had the soil removed and we found the initials L W. upon it.
In the churchwardens' accounts for 1731 is also an item for " Raising the dial
post," which doubtless refers to this.

and rudely-cut inscription on the stone was almost obscured by the
soil having accumulated around it. It reads :

Death
Hath me [ear
Summond & i must app
Before the bar of god

My doom to hear

May thou that reads

Take notis of this text

If death wonce seaz the

Judgement is the next

August the gth 1769.

As Burdsall died in 1766, the date below the inscription must indicate
the time when it was carved.

Under the east window is the family tomb of the Fenton-Scotts of
Woodhall, and near the rectory grounds, behind the chancel, are
the burial-places of the Rev. J. J. Toogood and Rev. E. Snowden,
rectors. On the west side of the tower is the family vault of the
Walker family, of whom there is a memorial in the church. In the
old portion of the ground, adjoining the west wall, is a monument
to the memory of Jeremiah Bourne Faviell, of Sawley Hall, late of
Stockeld Hall, who died June 19th, 1876, aged 65. His widow,
who was a daughter of the late Edmund Dawson, of Barrowby
Hall and Kothwell Haigh, died August ist, 1902. All the stones in
the churchyard are of local sandstone with the exception of two slabs
of limestone. One of these, near the south wall of the church,
commemorates the Rev. Lyster Simondson, curate of Kirkby
Overblow, and in 1745 instituted vicar of Pannal, who died 9th
November, 1750, aged 72.

The church and churchyard walls, stiles, and gates are repaired
by the parish. The chancel is maintained by the rector. New gates
for the churchyard were set up in 1816 at a cost of £^ los., and
again in 1831 three new posts were put up at a cost of £2 15s. and
new gates for ^'3 2s. In 1786 the rector's fees for every marriage
with license was los. ; by banns is.; every churching 8d. ; every
burial is. 4d. ; if in the south aisle of the church 3s. 4d., or in the
great aisle 6s. 8d. ; if in the chancel by the liberty of the rector,
usually 13s. 4d. In 181 7 the charge for making a grave was is. 6d.
and mortuaries were paid throughout the parish, according to law,
at I OS. each.

The old churchwardens' accounts contain many references to the
provisions made for those coming to church in carriages or on horse-
back from distant parts of the parish. Thus we find such entries
as these :

O IS.

od.

t4 4S.

ijd.

O IS.

od.

O 2S.

6d.

1754. Spent when we asked leave to get stones for the

church stable ...
■755- Spent wlien we met about the church stable

1757. Paid for church stable building ...

1758. Spent when ye stable was reared ...
'759- Paid for stones and leading for horseing-stone ...

In 1787 16 tons of slate were used in roofing the church stable,
which cost £\ 5s. 2cl., and William Faviell was paid 19s. gd. for
doing the work. In February, 1874, it was decided to offer the
' stable to Mr. Kinder, to enable him to improve his cottage property,
and shortly afterwards Mr. Hinder bought it for ^"30, and the money
was devoted principally to the building of a convenient coal-house
in the churchyard.

The registers of the church commence with the year 1647 but
they do not contain anytliing which calls for particular mention.
The entries, with one or two exceptions, are made without comment.
They commence with this observation: " Sept. 5, 1647. William
Bethell, Parson of Kirkby-overblows, took possession of the said
church, since which time liave been christenings, burialls, and
weddings as follow."

The Rev Charles Hanocock.

rH.\m"r,K' \[.

ThK I^l'CTORY AN'D RkCTORS Ol' KlUKBV () VI: 1< HI.OW.

ll.WI'^ stated that early in the I3tli century, anil
piobably earlier, the rectory was held in medieties,
ii)nse(iuent upon a division of the manor. This
splitting of benefices in rich li\ings like that of Kirkby
()\erblow — one of the most valuable in Yorkshire —
is not to be deprecated in the same manner as in the case of small
livings, where one incumbent may, without liurthen, discharge the
whole duties of the parish. But the rectory of Kirkby Overblow
was richly endowed in early times by irrevocable gifts, the parish is
also of wide e.xtent, and in the provision of its spiritual needs has
many charges upon it. The incumbent's position can therefore by
no means be regarded as a sinecure.

When the living was consolidated I have not ascertained, but in
the reign of Edward I. the advowson was held by the Crown, during
the minority of the heirs of the Countess of Albemarle. Subsequently
it reverted to the Percies, chief lords of the fee, and in 1348 it was
conveyed by John de Lisle, of Rougemont, to Sir Richard Tempest,
as executor of Henry, Lord Percy, father of the first Earl of North-
umberland, who was slain at Bramham Moor in 1407.

On November 5th, 1362, according to Torre, at the supplications
and submissions of Sir Richard Tempest, Kt., and William de
Newport, rector of Spofforth, executors of the testament of Henry,
Lord Percy; and also on the 7th November, 1362, at the submission
of Robert de Ede, then rector of the church, made to the ordination
of John, Archbishop of York, he the said Archbishop, by virtue of
the King's license upon this account obtained, that the said Robert
de Ede, rector of the church, and all his successors shall be called
Provosts of the same church, and shall have all cure of souls of the
parishioners thereof, and receive and dispose of all the fruits and
profits thereof to be con\-erted to the use of the church, and bear all
burdens pertaining to the same :

Item : That there be four fit chaplains to celebrate masses and other divine
offices in the church for ever in this subsequent form, viz. ; Whereof one chaplain
to be in the Cathedral Church of York, bearing the name, state, and habit of one

of the parsons of the church, amongst whom he shall be present at divine offices
celebrated therein for the souls of the Archbishops and of Lord Henry de Percy
and of Mary his consort, their progenitors and successors. ,

And the three other chaplains shall have their perpetual chantries to which
they shall be presented on every vacation by the said Sir Richard Tempest and
William de Newport, and the heirs of the said William, which said chaplains,
being canonically instituted by the Archbishop (in reverence to the bodies of the
said Lord Henry de Percy and Mary, his consort, interred in the monastery of
Alnwick) shall celebrate masses and other divine offices perpetually in this manner,
viz. ; in the castle of Alnwyk, nigh the said monastery. That on Sundays one
shall celebrate the office of the day ; the second the mass of S. Trinity, and the
third for the souls of the said Henry and Mary deceased. On Mondays one shall
celebrate the office for the day ; the second the Mass of Holy Angels, and the
third for their souls aforesaid. On Tuesdays every of them shall celebrate for
their souls aforesaid. On Wednesdays one shall celebrate the office of the day ;
the second the Mass of St. John Evangelist, and the third for their souls aforesaid.
On Thursdays one shall celebrate the office of the day ; the second the Mass of
Corpus Christi, and the third for their souls before specified. On Fridays one
shall celebrate the office for the day ; the other the Mass of St. Cru.\. and the
third for their souls aforesaid On Saturdays one shall celebrate the office of the
day ; the second the Mass of St. Mary the Virgin, and the third for their souls
aforesaid, unless the Feasts of Nine Lections or other lawful cause do hinder.
And on all holy days they shall say in the said chapel for their souls a placebo,
dinge, and full offices of the dead.

Which said four perpetual chaplains shall have for their siistentation £^0 of
silver, viz. : to every one 50s.. paid out of the fruits of the Church of Kirkby
Overblow by the said Rector or Provost and his successors, quarterly in the year
in the church hereof And in recompense of the damage done to the Cathedral
Church of York by this appropriation, which by a lawful custom used to receive
the fruits of the said Church during its vacancy, the Archbishop ordained that
the said Provost for the time being do pay to him and his successors the annual
pension of 20s. and to the Dean and Chapter is. per annum at Pentecost and
Martinmas by equal portions.

After the Reformation the advowson came to tlie Crown and was
exchanged with the Duke of Somerset.* It transpired, however,
that the Duke of Somerset was not entitled to the advowson, and
that it belonged to the Earl of Egremont, who therefore continued
to present. t George Wyndham, Esq., the adopted heir of George
O'Brien, 3rd Earl of EgremontJ (with whose nephew, George
Francis, 4th and last Earl, that title in 1845 became extinct), was
created 14th April, 1859, Baron Leconfield, of Leconfield, in the
East Riding. His son Henry, second Baron Leconfield, died in
January, 1901, when his second son, Charles Henry, third Baron
Leconfield, succeeded to the proprietorship of the advowson.

According to Pope Nicholas's Taxation (1292) the rectory is

' Sfe Act of Parliament, 3rd and 4th William and Maiy,

t Ibid.. 3rd William, 383.

J See my Two Thousand Years of Tadcasler Ilistuvy, page 34.

\aluccl at ^,26 13s. ^d., and in tlie re\isecl taxalion (1318), conset|uent
upon tlie destructions of the Scots, it is reduced to ;(fio. In the
King's Books (26th Henry VIII.) it is valued at ^20 is., and in the
Parliamentary Survey (1649-53) ^t /^6o per annum. The following
pensions are recorded as payable out of the profits of the church,
viz.: to the chaplain at Stainburn ^4 ;" to the chaplains in the chapel
at Alnwick £"15 ; to the Archbishop /Ji ; to a chantrist in York
Minster £^ ; to a chamberlain in the same los.

There are a number of interesting terriers relating to the property
of the church. The earliest of these is dated November 1613 and
is signed by Thomas Kdwards (rector), William Harrison (church-
warden), and Thomas Wilkes. It enumerates the parsonage-house
with its barns, stable, dove-cote, oxhouse, waynehouse, and swine-
cote, also a garden, orchard, and yard ; the whole embracing an area
of I acre i rood and 7 perches. There are lands and tenements in
Kirk Field, Swindon I'ield, Cross Field, the Common Ing, and
tenements in Kirkby Overblow, covering together 57 acres and 5
perches. There are also other rights m the township of Kirkby
Overblow, together with " houses, lands, and tithes of corn, hay. wool,
lamb, geese, ducks, chickens, calves, pigs, bees, eggs, with other privy
tithes in Sicklinghall, Kereby, Netherby, Barraby and the Low
Grange, Stainburn and Rigton." To the church also belongs the
feed of the chapel-yard at Stainburn. There are 100 acres of glebe,
and the gross income was returned in 1902 as amounting to /"818,
with house.

There are seven houses belonging to the glebe, with about an acre
of land attached to each, which in 1786 were in the possession of
Elizabeth Lawn (widow), Robert Cocket, John Blakey, Robert Drury
(these in Kirkby Overblow), Hugh Bethel, Esq. (Swindon), Joseph
Tate (Sicklinghall), and Peter Harland (Rigton). Each of these
houses pays 4s. a year rent to the rector, and 40s. at the entrance of
every new rector for admitting them tenants ; as also 12s. at or upon
the exchange of every tenant. Only Mr. Bethell, and after him the
Earl of Harewood, pays for his farm per year 3s. 4d., and he pays 5s.
more yearly for a little piece of Swindon Field taken ofT. These all
pay at Lady Day, although the rents are due half-yearly.

The list of rectors and provosts, as recorded by Torre, begins with
the year 1243. But a century before this time there is recorded,
" Henry, the priest of Chircabi," who was witness to a charter of

* In the Returns of the Dissolved Chantries (1548) it is stated that the parson
of Kirkby Overblow gave to the priest of Stainburn Chapel five marks {£j 6s. 8d.)
yearly for his stipend. There were then 500 communicants in the parish of
Kirkbv Overblow.

grant of land in Bianihope to the Hospital of St. Peter, York, ca.
1150.* And in 122.S there appears " Jernegan, parson of the church
of Kirkby Orblawers," who was one of four defendants in an action
brought by Roger de Creswell, 13th Henry HI., touching the
advowson of the church of Panhale.f The following records to the
institution of Thos. Jaggard, 1639, are from Torre, and from that
date thev are continued from the registers, &c.

Iiistitiiietl-
4 Aug.. 1243

Name.
. .Will, de Brettegate
7 May, 1305 . .Joh. de Fontibus
12 Dec. 1313 ..Will, de Boresworth
II May, 1316 . .Joh. de Clatford
29 June. 1323 ..Ric. de Otringham
14 Mar. 1347 ..Joh. de Asseby
20 Feb., 1355 ..Edm. de Spynel

I Mar,
15 Dec.
10 Feb
10 Mar

7 Oct.
21 Dec ,
17 Jan.,

8 June,
24 July,
17 April

9 Oct ,
24 Nov.,
19 May,

3 Jan.,
Mar.,

4 Mar.,
17 May, 1475
24 Sep., 1496

Robert Ede . .
Peter de Wellom
Will, de Woderove
Robt. de Spytell
Thos, de Walton
Thos. Sparrowe de Watton
1383 ..Will. Sparrowe de Watton
1387 . .Thos. de .-Xnlaby
■394 • .J"h. Whitwell
1397 . .Will. Farman
.Joh. Nesse
.Robt. Staynley
.Joh Dene
.Will. Bowre ..
.Nic. Ravvdon. .
.Ric. Nunde . .
.Geo. Oughtred
.Thos. (vel. Ric.) Poole

1361
1362
1364
. 1364
1373
1382

1428
1428
1442

145"

, 1462

1466

Patyon.

Uo-i,' viuiitea

Will, de Lancaster

Edward I. . .

Rob. de Insula,

mil

..Res.

ditto.

..Res.
..Diedt

Ric. Tempest, mil.
exec of Lord Percy

..Died

ditto.

..Res.

ditto.

..Res.

ditto.

..Died

.Hen. Percy, mil

..Res.

ditto.

..Res.

ditto.

..Died

ditto.

. . Res.

ditto

..Res.

ditto.

..Died

ditto.

..Res.

ditto.

..Died

ditto.

. . Died

ditto.

..Died

. .Geo. Duke of Clarence Res

ditto. ..Died

. . Henry, Earl of North. Res.

. . Feoffees of the Earl

of Northumberland. .Died

20 Dec
22 Jan.

1573
1575
1^88

.Thos Lakyn, S.T.P. ..
.Will. Tallentj-re
. Richard Dodson
2 June, 1613 ..Thos. Edwards, M.A...

27 Sep., 1639 ..Thos. Jaggard, M.A. ..

Will, Bethell, D.D. . .

28 Jan.. 1685-6.. Francis Rogers, MA .. .. .. ..Diedi7i2

9 .\pril, 1713 : Nathan Drake, M..\. ..

23 .\pril. 1729 ..Thos. Hayter, D.D. . .

* Thonsby Soc, vol ix., page 231.
t Harrison's Gilling IVest, page 61

I During the two years 1347-48 half the clergy in the West Riding succumbed
to the Black Death

. . Leonard Turner . . Died

. . Hen. Earl of Northbd.Died

ditto. ..Died

. ..\lgernon. Earl of N. .

. . Died
..Died
. . Died
. . Res.

Instituted. Name. J'uliun. Ilowvueuled.
8 Dec, 1749 ..Thqs. Chapman, D D.

27 Nov., 1769 . .Thos Metcalfe, M A. . . .. .. ..Died

4 May, 1774 . .Chas. Cooper, D.D .. .. .. ..Died

25 Oct., 1804 . .Hon. Jacob Marsliain. ])1). .. .. ..Died

1843 . .James Tripp, B. A. .. .. .. ..Kes.

18 Oct., 1847.. Hen Geo. Scawen Blunt, M..\. . .. ..Kes.

21 Dec, 1858.. Jon Jas Toonood, M A. . .Lord Leconfield ..DicdK.O

Dec, 1892 . . I'^dmund Sniiwden, M A. .. ditto. . . Died K O-

Oct., 1S94 . .Cliarlcs llaiidcock •• •■ ditto. Present rector

Such a catalof,Hie of names can have little interest unaccompanied
with biographical details. Although necessarily brief, yet some
notice is requisite, especially in view of the fact that the important
living of Kirkby Overblow has been held in the couise of centuries
by many learned, able, and distinguished men.

Of the first on the list we know nothing excepting that he was
presented to the living on the nomination of William de Lancaster
(not " Ancaster " as Torre writes it), the third of that name, who
was Baron of Kendal, cS:c. A Nicholas de Brettegate appears in
1202 as party to a quitclaim concerning a free tenement in York, ■•
where the Farcies, first lords of Kirkby Overblow, had a residence
in Wahngate, nearly opposite the ancient church of St. Denis.

Little can I say either of Joh. de Fontibus, rector in 1305. But
as William de Kigton was Abbot of Fountains in 1311 it is possible
that tile above John of Fountains was in some way connected with
the Abbot, who sprang from Rigton in the parish of Kirkby Overblow.
Perhaps he was the Joh. de Hou'ton, a monk of Fountains, who was
ordained deacon by Archbishop GifFord in i274.t

Richard de Otringham, who was rector in 1323, no doubt took his
name from the ancient village and manor of that name, near
Patrington, which was an old property of the Lascelles.J Richard
de Oteringham founded the chantry in Otteringham church ca. 1220,
and he was the seventh Abbot of Meaux. A Richard de Otringham
was ordained acolyte in Beverley Minster, i6th September, 1309,
and in 1318 he was made vicar of Kneveton in the diocese of York.§
Most probably he was the same person who became rector of Kirkby
Overblow.

In 1364 Will, de Woderove was rector, as he was also of Spofibrth,
and it he be of the W'oolley family it is perhaps the earliest record
of a Woodruffe of W'oolley. The first mention of this family of

* Pedes Fiuium Ebor , ii , page 70.

t Memorials oj Fotmluins, vol. i., page ijg.

J See my Lower Whavjedale, page 472.

§ Beverley Chapter Aet Book. i.. pages 253, 361, &c.

Woolley, says Hunter, is in a deed of Stainton in 1378, to which
Richard Woderouffe is a witness. The pedigree in South Yorkshire
starts with a John Woodruffe, of Woolley, esq., Receiver of King
Edward I\'., who married Elizabeth, daughter of Lawrence
Hanimerton, of W'igglesworth in Craven. And these Hammertons,
as I have shewn on page 43, were related to the Plumptons of
Kirkby Overblow.

Peter de Wallow resigned in 1364 for the church of Almondbury.

Thos. de W'atton, rector in 1373, was so named from Watton near
Driffield, where was a Gilbertine monastery, founded in 1148 by
Eustace Fitz John, lord of the Honour and Forest of Knaresborough.
The site of the Abbey passed by marriage to the Bethell family,
who long resided at the mansion known as Watton Abbey. In the
17th century a member of this family became rector of Kirkby
Overblow.

In 1382 and 1383 we have two rectors of the name of Sparrowe,
also of Watton. Whether they were father and son I have no
information.* Although clerical celibacy was insisted upon through-
out the Continent, and after the Norman Conquest in England also,
it was strongly opposed and constantly evaded. j At Kellington,
near Pontefract, for example, we have the remarkable fact of a
grandfather, father, and son holding that rectory from about 11 85 to
1244, when Archbishop Gray interrupted this parental succession
and the rectory was put into other hands. J

Thomas de Anlaby was rector from 1387 to 1394 when he resigned. ■
He was rector of Spofforth in 1404. He was doubtless one of the
Etton family, whose pedigree, only from the 17th century, is given
in the Heralds' Visitation at Beverley in 1666. Jordanus de Etton
and William, son of Peter de Anlaby, were benefactors to Watton
Abbey. Robert, son of Lawrence de Etton, and Will, de Ferrarius
of Groby, and Margaret his wife, daughter of Henry, second Lord
Percy, had certain manorial rights in Cottingham,§ an ancient
property of the Stutevilles, and afterwards of the Lords Wake.
Joan, wife of Hugh Wake, was a niece of Helewise de Lancaster,
whom I have mentioned as holding part of the manor of Kirkby
Overblow.

The next rector on Torre's list is Joh. Whitwell in 1394, but as
appears by the last will of Dame Margery, relict of Sir William de
Aldburgh, Kt., lord of the manor of Kirkby Overblow, a Richard de
Bilesfeld was rector in 1391.

' A William Sparrow, chaplain, occurs in 1396. Sec Plumfton Cortes., p. 29.
t See Asplin's English Church History. J Thoresby Sac, vol. ix., page 49.
§ See Poulson's Beverley, i.. 393, and Oliver's Beverley, page 463.

Will. Faiman was rector in 1397, and he was party to a feoffment
of the estates of Sir Robert Fliimpton in i2tli Henry IV. (1411).*
It would h(' interesting^ could we connect him with " I'arnion the
priest of llan!vvot)d," in the 9th century. t l">ut the f^enealogy of a
family "f this name appears a little inxolvcd. 1 (iiid among the
freemen of 'I'ork in 5th Edward III. (1331), a William I'^arman who
is stated to be father of John, de Thornton (in Lonsdale ?], and
singularly at the same time are entered as freemen also William Sele
and Thomas Kydd de Twisilton, names that occur in the manorial
records of Kirkby Overblow. The Kidds were an old Ingleton
family, and one Rich. Kyd was living at Sicklinghall in 1378.

The ne.\t rector was Joh. Nesse, in 1428, and a Joh. Nesse like-
wise appears among the freemen of York in 1432. This rector
resigned the living within seven weeks. He was followed by Robert
Staynley or Stanley (as written in his last will). In 1441 he gave
6s. 8d. towards the building of Harewood Bridge. He died in June,
1442, committing his soul " to God Almighty, St. Mary, and All
Saints, and his body to be buried in the Ouire before the High Altar,
under a marble stone there lying."

William Bower was instituted rector in 1451, and is recorded to
have died intestate, and administration was granted to Richard
Redman, Esq., 24th January, 1462. .Apparently he was not rector
at the time of his death, as in 1452 the following transaction took
place. William Medilton, esquire, gave to John Vavasour of Newton,
James Hamerton, Robert Roos of North Dyghton, esquires, William
Vavasour, rector of the church of Kirkby Oreblawers, and Thomas
Galloway, his manors of Stockeld, Stubham, and half the manor of
Bemesley, &c., in trust. Dated at Stockeld, 1452.; This William
Middleton married a Hammerton, and his descendant, Peter
Middleton, was buried in the churchyard of Kirkby Overblow, as
appears by his will dated 20th September, 1549.

In 1466 we have the name of Ric. Nunde as rector. He died
intestate and administration was taken 12th April, 1475.

In the 300 years preceding the Reformation we have the names of
25 rectors, or to include omissions, 27 rectors; and in the 350 years
following this event the names of 18 rectors are recorded. As many
of the rectors resigned tiie cure, this information provides no proof
of their greater longevity in the second period, though it does afford
some testimony to the improved conditions of life in this period as
compared with the first.

* See my Nidderdale, page 239.

t See my Loii<cr Wbarfedale, page 4C3.

X Turner's Yoyks. County Mag., 1S91, page 271.

'J"he first name on Torre's list after the Kel'ormation is Thomas
Lakyn, in 1573, but it would appear that he succeeded a Richard
Poole, who is stated to be rector of this church, and on 23rd January,
1573, administration of his effects was granted to his sister Agnes
Hanley, widow.

The rector instituted in 1575 was Will. Tallentyre, and upon one
of the beams in the choir was this inscription : " Gulielmus Talentyre,
rector, O.xoniensis Coll. : Regina;, quondam Socius, hanc fabricam
construxit." He died in 1588 and by his will recommended his soul
to God Almighty, and his body to be buried in the chancel nigh to
his brother. The Talentyres were related to the ancient family of
Coghill of Coghill Hall, Knaresborough.* Thos. Coghill, gent, of
Ivnaresborough, who died in 1585, married Isabella Talentyre of
Carlisle, sister of the rector of Kirkby Overblow.

This rector was succeeded by Richard Dodson, of the family of
Low Hall, whose pedigree I record on page 78. He died in 1612
and was buried in the chancel " on the north side of the bluestone."

Before the outbreak of hostilities in King Charles's time, Thomas
Jaggard was rector, and he was followed by the Rev. Wm. Bethell,
D.D., who first appears as rector in 1647, when the registers
commence. He was of a local family who had sided with the
Parliament during the war. They were long resident at Swindon
Hall in this parish, "a goodly house," which had been almost totally
wrecked by the Royalist soldiers during the great strife. In the
Parliamentary Survey of ca. 1652 it is recorded of Kirkby Overblow
that William Bethell " diligently performeth the cure." He died in
March, 1685, but apparently he did not hold the rectory after the
Restoration, as I find by an inquisition made in 1672 that a Francis
Sherwood is described as " vicar of Kirkby Overblow." It appears
that Sir Edwin Sandys, prebendary of Wetwang (1568 — 1602), with
consent of the Archbishop, his father, had bequeathed (among others)
to the vicar of Kirkby Overblow and his successors an annuity of /^2o.t
In 1672 it was affirmed that his son and successor, Richard Sandys,
who had been a colonel in the Parliamentary army, had not paid the
same to the then nicii)', Francis Sherwood, for seven years past.
Another of the many instances of the misappropriation of a local
benefaction at this period. It has probably to do with the dissolved
chantries, which may concern the origin of the school. Lawton says
the four chaplains received /20 annually out of the profits of the
church (see page 38).

The next institution was in Jan., 1685-6, some ten months after the

* See my Niddcrdak, page 312.

t The vicars of Wetwang and the vicars of llie ]irebend were distinct.

(leatli of Dr. I'.itlicll. I'rancis Rogers, the new rector, was apparently
of a \'ork family, as lie is described as of York at the time of his
marriage with lilizabeth Aikeroyd of York, in the Minster, April ist,
1684.* The date readily suggests the inference that Mr. Rogers
ran the risk of making an " April fool " of himself on his wedding-
day. But the sequel from the registers is that he lived happily with
his wife for over eleven years, when she was taken from him by death
in July, 1695, having borne him six children. Mrs. Rogers was
apparently of a less robust constitution than her husband, whose
health perhaps had given way through the bringing up of so many
children. But the rector himself seems to have been a man of
exceptional vigour of body and firmness of nerve. Thoresby, for
example, tells us in his Diaiy for May 17th, 1703, that he once came
to Kirkby Overblow on a visit to parson Rogers, "whose furious
dog," he remarks, " 1 was the less concerned for, because of his
master's art, who when a young spark at the University has frequently
boxed the fiercest mastiff's they could set upon him, and can even yet
by a peculiar cast of his eye make the stoutest turn tail, or if by
chance one madder than ordinary venture to encounter him, a few
cuffs make him retreat yelling." This is a remarkable statement,
for any human being voluntarily attacking with his unaided fists the
" fiercest mastiff," is a deed of daring probably never before heard of.f
Mr. Rogers in 1709 was collated to the prebend of Grindall in
York Minster. He died in 171 2, and was buried at Kirkby (J\erblow
Oct. 24th. He was succeeded by the Rev. Nathan Drake, 1\I.A.,
son of Joseph Drake by his wife, a Pulleyn of Burley. He had been
master of the Grammar School at Snaith, and vicar of Market
Weighton from 1689 to 1695, and of Sheffield from 1695 to 1713,
when he was instituted to the rectory of Kirkby Overblow. Before
his death in April, 1729, aged 69, he appears to have been assisted
by Francis Drake, a relative, whose name appears as " curate " in
the registers for 1727. Mr. Drake was a differently-tempered man

■ A family of this name, whose pedigree is given in Hunter's Deanery of
DoiiCiister, was long seated at Netherthorpe, near Rotherham-

t The Rev. M. 13. Wynne. M .-V , himself a parson who has had considerable
experience with fierce dogs, and is author of a well-known book on the mastiff,
tells me the story is incredible He says no dog, however savage, will meddle
with a man if he have some particular strong-smelling drug about his clothes ;
otherwise it is impossible to frighten a sound, untamed, and sa\age mastiff. He
tells me of an incident that happened at Stathern in the seventies ; a strong man
offered to fight a keeper's night-dog (a bitch) for half-a-crown. The encounter
took place. The dog was muzzled, and the man had a strong ash-plant to thrash
her with. Immediately she was let loose she flew straight at his throat, and
felled him backwards, breaking his thigh. He regarded this as pure accident,
and vowed that as soon as he was well he would have anotlier turn with her.
,'\nd so he had. The dog again made a quick and savage leap at his head,
knocked him down and again broke his thigh ! " And, " adds Mr. Wynne, "any
well-trained night-dog would have served your parson Rogers just the same "

to his predecessor, the dog-fighting parson Rogers. He was fond of
rural contemplation, devoted to literature and antiquities, and was a
kinsman of the celebrated historian of York, Francis Drake.* He
was well acquainted with Thoresby, the antiquary, in whose
Correspondence there is a letter dated Sheffield, 27th November, 1707,
from which we learn that the rector of Kirkby Overblow was
" second cousin to Mr. Nathan Drake, my late dear namesake, and
brother to cousin Drake of Pontefract." This Nathan was an officer
in the Royalist army during the Civil War, and assisted in the
defence of Pontefract Castle during the siege. A descendant of the
same name, Nathan Drake, M.D., was author of a four-volume work
entitled The Gleaner, being essays selected and arranged from scarce
and neglected volumes. It was published in 181 1. He was also
author of two volumes entitled Evenings in Autumn (1822), which
refers to the beautiful country about Rievaulx Abbey and Helmsley,
and in one part he speaks of his relatives in the North. The family
was long seated in the old parish of Halifax, being a branch of the
Devonshire family which produced the famous Elizabethan navigator.
Sir Francis Drake.

Mr. Drake was succeeded by the celebrated divine, the Rev. Thos.
Hayter, D.D., who, upon his resignation of the rectory of Kirkby
Overblow in 1749, became Bishop of Norwich, and in 1761 he was
translated to the Bishopric of London. He was a native of Chagford
in Devonshire, and was one of the executors and one of the three
residuary legatees of Archbishop Blackburn in 1743. Bishop Hayter
died at Cambridge in 1762, leaving a fortune of about ;^25,ooo.

In 1760 the living was sequestrated, and in the parish register
Thomas Metcalfe signs as sequestrator in 1762. His death is
recorded in the registers in the following form : " The Rev. and
Worthy Thomas Metcalfe, rector of this parish, died at Busby Hall,
i774."f He was descended from the famous Chancellor Metcalfe,
of Nappa Hall, Wensleydale.

As will be gathered from the text, the succeeding rector, the
Rev. Dr. Cooper, was a great benefactor to the church and parish.
He was a prebend of Durham Cathedral, and died at the age of 80,
leaving behind him the memory of a good and honoured name. The
parish register has this entry : " In 1804 the Rev. and Worthy
Chas. Cooper, D.D., rector of this parish, died Oct. yth. Buried
the i8th, 1804, by me John Metcalfe, curate."

* A Memoir of Francis Drake, F.S..\., F.K.S., appears in the Yorlis. Arclial.
Jl , vol. iii., pages 33-54.

t See my liichmonihhire. page 14.S. In the church of St. Maurice, York, is a
memorial to Elizabeth, his daughter, who died in 1772, aged 15.

His successor, the Hon. and Rev. Jacob Marsham, D.D., was the
third son of Robert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney, F.R.S., D.C.L.,
&c., by his wife Priscilla, daughter and heiress of Chas. Pym, of the
Island of St. Christopher. His grandmother was the eldest daughter
and co-heiress of the celebrated Admiral, Sir Cloudesley Shovel, Kt.
He was hoiM in 1759, and married the only daughter and heiress of
Joseph l5ullock, Ksq., of Caversfield, O.xon. He was a canon of
St. George's, Windsor, prebend of Rochester and Wells, and vicar
of Wateringbury, Kent. During his incumbency of Kirkby Overblow
his nephew, the Rev. Jacob J. Marsham, acted as curate, and built
for himself a house here called Castle Cottage. Dr. Marsham died
in ICS43, having been rector of the parish for a period of nearly forty
years.

The Rev. J. Tripp, next rector, was of an old Somersetshire family,
from whom descend the Barons Tripp, of Holland. It did not seem
likely on his appointment to Kirkby Overblow that he would live
very long. He had never been very strong, and when near middle
life was obliged, through some affection of the lungs, to go to Madeira.
On his return and shortly before he settled here, a certain nobleman
had asked Lord Egremont to give the rectorship to his son. Lord
Egremont answered that he was sorry, but could not, as he had just
given it to Mr. Tripp. ■' Ah," replied the noble lord, " then we
shall have to wait but a few months as poor Tripp is broken down and
cannot last very long ! " The bracing air of Kirkby Overblow,
had, however, a wonderful effect on the new rector's health, and
gradually he " picked up " and became a hale and comparatively
vigorous man. On leaving Kirkby Overblow in 1847 he became
rector of Spofforth, and remained there till his death in 1880, at the
surprising age of 92.

The Rev. Mr. Blunt, wlio was rector about twelve years, was a
nephew of the patron of the living. The first Lord Leconfield
married the only daughter of the Rev. William Blunt, M.A., of
Crabbett, Sussex, who was descended from the Blunts or Blounts of
Bolney, Sussex. Mr. Blunt was the eldest son of the Rev. Henry
Blunt, rector of Chelsea. He took his B.A. degree at Pembroke
College in 1845 and M.A. in 1849. During his incumbency of
Kirkby Overblow he instituted services at Sicklinghalland at Rigton
on Sundays, and generally a lecture in the week. He was also the
means, with Lord Harewood's help, of causing the present school
at Rigton to be built, and Mrs. Blunt at her own expense built the
adjoining master's house. On leaving Kirkby Overblow in 1858,
Mr. Blunt became rector of St. Andrew's, Holborn, and was chaplain
to the Lord Mayor of London. He died in 1899.

He was a man of wit and resource, and of him many anecdotes
are related. It was often said that he was the most marrying
parson in London, and being fond of a joke he used to relate the
particular satisfaction he had on one occasion of raising money for
his parochial wants. It appears that the famous politician, Benjamin
Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield), was, when twelve years old, baptized
at his parish church of St. Andrew. When the controversy about
the great statesman's Christianity was at its height, Mr. Blunt seized
the opportunity of writing to the papers, and stated that proof would
be given on applying to him. So numerous were the applications
for certificates with which to refute all doubters, and the profits so
fortunate, that when some years later the question was again raised,
Mr. Blunt was more than suspected of starting the subject !

Mr. Blunt in 1858 exchanged livings with the Rev. Jonathan
James Toogood, M.A., Balliol College, Oxford, Prebendary of Wells,
and who was also for many years Rural Dean of Wetherby. He died
at Kirkby Overblow nth August, 1892, aged 84, having been rector
of the parish for 34 years.

The Toogoods are an old south-country family, who in monastic
times held lands in Dorset under the Abbots of Sherborne. Their
name is found in the Sherborne parish registers as early as 1541.
Our rector, though descended from this family, was a native of
Bridgwater in Somerset, and was educated at Harrow School, where
he gained the second prize of Sir Robert Peel, and stood second for
the first medal given by Sir Robert Peel. From Harrow he went to
Balliol College, Oxford, where he became an active member of the
boat clubs, and rowed in the first race between Oxford and Cambridge,
when his crew proved victors. Many stories are told of his prowess
as an oarsman and in the hunting-field. He was a tall athletic man,
yet of iieavy build, and in his first boat-race rowed at 14 st. 10 lbs.
But this was only obtained by starving, and after the race it is said
he ate a couple of ducks and then walked back to Oxford ! On his
leaving school he had a grey horse called " Forester" given to him by
his father as a reward for good work done. Mounted on this famous
animal he did wonderful deeds. He once jumped a wall 5 feet high,
and cleared 29 feet in the spring. It was nothing unusual to see
liini jump hedges sitting backwards, holding to the animal's tail. I
am also told on good authority that he once rode over 100 miles,
through three counties, in one day, to see his future wife. Such was
love's young spell ! It is remembered, too, at Spofforth how he once
gave the lead to some members of the Bramham Moor Hunt whose
horses had refused a high hedge.

He was passionately fond of the country, and when lesidiiil in

LoikIoii used to walU in the parks and sitting' under a tree would
shut his eyes and, with his feet rustling in the dry leaves, imagine
himself back in the country. Upon exchanging the living of
St. Andrew's, llolborn, with the Rev. Mr. Blunt, he entered upon
his duties at Kirkby Overblow with much earnestness of purpose
and evident appreciation of his changed position. In his later years
he was unhappily subject to fainting-fits, but determined to die at
his post. The leather-covered iron bar at the entrance to the pulpit.

Rev. Prebendary J, J. Toogood. M.A.

and the brass hand-rail above the pulpit steps, were put up in
i8gi for the aged preacher's assistance. Of a naturally vigorous
constitution, he had also a kindly disposition, and was an earnest
preacher, and, with the exception of the occasional sickness that
befel him in his last years, he retained his faculties to the end.
Indeed his constitutional alertness was remarkable. I am told that

on one occasion, when above 75 years of age, he went pkickily to
the assistance of a farmer who w-as being savagely attacked by a bull
in a field at Swindon. The animal had knocked the man down and
was kneeling on him and trying to gore him with his horns. At that
critical juncture Mr. Toogood, who usually carried a heavy walking-
stick, approached the infuriated beast and dealt it two severe blows
on the head, which caused him to desist, look round and shake
himself. The aged parson then helped the farmer to get up and out
of the field, the animal following at a safe distance behind.

Mr. Toogood left two daughters, the eldest of whom was married to
the Rev. Edmund Snowden, M.A., fourth son of John Snowden, Esq.,
J. P., of Somersetshire." He was Hon. Canon of Wakefield and
became rector of Kirkby Overblow shortly after his father-in-law's
decease in 1892. The appended short pedigree shews the several
family connections.

JONATHAN TOOGOOD=j=Ann, dau. of— Giles.
M.D. in Bridgwater. 1
b. 17S4 ; d. 1870; bd. at Torquay. |

Jonathan James=pHarriet, dau.

b. at Bridgwater, Som
erset, Feb. 20, 1808 ;
rector of St. Andrew's,

Holborn, 1850-58 ;

rector of K. Ov'rblow

from 1858 to 1892 ;

Rural Dean of
Wetlierby, Preben-
dary of Wells Cathe-
dral : d. at Kirkby
Overblow, Aug. 11, '92

of George

Lovell, Esq.,

of Rookley

House.
Hants. Died
at Kirkby
Overblow,
Christmas
Day, 1SS4.

John Giles,
M.D. at

Bridgwater.

Isaac Baruck,

M.D. at

Torquay.

two sons

Charles William,
Henry, md. in the law,
and has London,

issue. Octavius, (md.)
India Civil
Service-
Alexander, (md.)
2nd Bengal
Fusiliers, and
Hon. Corps
of Gentlemen-
at-.'\rms.

Alice Ann=

b. June 20,

1S35 ; md. at

St. Andrew's,

London. 1858

:Edmund Snowden, b. at Bishops
Hull, near Taunton, March 30,
1832 ; vicar of St. Thomas's Ch.,
Huddersfield, from 1859 to 1892 ;
rector of K. Overblow, 1892-4 ;
Hon. Canon of Wakefield Cath.
Died 2rst July, 1894.

Edith Emma^John Hy. Cop-

b. 1836 ;
married at
Kirkby Over-
blow, 1864.

leston, rector

of Offwell,

De\'on, and

Rural Dean of

Honiton.

1 — ; — r 1

Francis Henry.
Percival Lovell,

curate at Al-

mondbury (1903)

Cecil John,

Ernest George,

S. A. C.

as Sergeant.

John Henry
Herbert,

md.
Elizabeth
Boucher.

I
Two sons.

Edmund Lovell. Reginald Guy
Waters Edward. Charles
Frederick James, Ernest,

died young. and

four daughters.

Charles E.,
md. Helen
Leigh, d. of

General

Holmes.
Has I dau.
Arthurjames

b. and bd.
at K. O., 1861. and 7 daughters.

Although Canon Snowden lived to enjoy his new charge but two
short years, his good offices and frit-ndly bearing at Kirkliy ()\erblow

* Sec notes on Snowden family in Lincutiibhire Notes mid Queues, January. 1894.

will Um'^ be a happy recollection. It is, however, as vicar of
St. 'Ihoinas's Church, Huddersfield, for a period of 33 years that he
is best known. Full of a natural enthusiasm and enerj^y, he infused
such earnestness into the work of the parish as made, it is said,
his church the most popular place of worship in the town. He was
a High Churchman, and was practically the pioneer of the High
Church movement in and around Huddersfield. As the Guardian of
August 1st, 1894, truly observed, the strong position w^hich the
Church to day holds in Huddersfield and neighbourhood, and the

Rev. Canon E. Snowden, M.A

marked growth of Church principles there, are largely due to the
work and influence of Edmund Snowden. But over thirty years of
unflagging labour in a smoky manufacturing district had its effect
upon a naturally good physique, and it was hoped that the purer air
and comparative quiet of Kirkby Overblow, might produce a revival
of bodily vigour, and enable him to minister here usefully for many
years. But it was not to be. Canon Snowden's health was too far

spent and he died at Kirkby Overblow, 21st July, 1894, aged 62.
He lies interred in the churchyard here. There is a memorial to
him in the church, and also one to his second son, Francis Henry, a
Corporal in the South African Light Horse in the late war. Corporal
Snowden had previously been prospecting on the veldt when the
Matabele war began, and greatly distinguished himself. He was
awarded the Matabele medal. Under Lord Dundonald he was one
of the first to enter Ladysmith, subsequently doing scouting beyond
Elandslaagte. There he got into ambush, with another officer and
ten men, when the Boers fired among them, killing one man and
wounding three. Among the latter was brave Snowden, who would
have escaped, but he rode back to rescue a comrade, and in getting
him on to his horse was shot. The shot proved fatal, for the gallant
Corporal died in hospital ten days later. He had received the South
African medal with three clasps for Cape Colony, Tugela Heights,
and the Relief of Ladysmith, now in the possession of Mrs. Snowden,
his mother.

Canon Snowden was succeeded at Kirkby Overblow by the
present capable and energetic rector, .the Rev. Charles Handcock,
whose activities and long residence in this and the neighbouring
parishes have made his personality well known over a very wide
district. It will be a pleasure therefore to his parishioners and
many friends to see his portrait, from an excellent photograph by
Mr. Davey, of Harrogate, permanently preserved at the opening of
this chapter.

The rector is descended from an old Northumberland stock —
the present head of the house in that county being Mr. William
Handcock, of Leazes Hall* — and his family settled in Yorkshire about
the middle of the 18th century. He is the fifth son of Mr. Robert
Handcock, F.R.S.A., and was born at Cad Beeston, Leeds, in 1842 ;
received his education at the Leeds Grammar School, and afterwards
proceeded to the London College of Divinity. He was ordained
deacon 1870, and priest 1872, by the Bishop of Manchester. He
held the curacy of Milnrow, Lancashire, 1870-3, and after a curacy
of six months at Pulborough, Sussex (1873), was preferred by the
Hyndman's Trustees to the vicarage of Holy Trinity, Macclesfield,
a benefice which he held until 1877.

After his varied clerical experience he settled in 1877 in the Deanery
of Wetherby, in his native county of York, where he has laboured
with characteristic energy and success ever since. He was vicar of
Wetherby from 1877 to 1887, where his zeal, affable bearing, and

* See Notes uit the History, is~c., of the Valley o) Derweiit (^iSgi), pages 35-37.
published by (,. and T. Coward, Carlisle.

special adaplal)ilily for church work marked him for a larger and
more important sphere of action. In 1887, on the presentation of
the Kl. lion. 1.1)1(1 Lcconfield, he was promoted to the valuable
living ol Spulloi til, in which parish he laboured for seven years, and
then again on Lord Leconfield's patronage he became rector of the
adjoining parish of Kirkby Overblow.

This is not the time or place to speak of Mr. llandcock's faithful
pastorate in the three neighbouring parishes where he has spent the
best years of his life. He is happily still with us, and as a clergyman
of wide and ripe experience it may be said of him, that in all public
matters appertaining to the church and parish he is always consulted.
He is a capable organizer, and endowed with that restless industry
which is so useful and even necessary to the successful carrying on
of the work in a widely scattered rural district. As a friend and
sympathiser with every deserving movement he is well known, and
in all endeavours to promote any good object he is courteous and
obliging to a fault. It is indeed largely by his help and encourage-
ment that this story of his ancient parish has been undertaken, but
as some acknowledgment of this help is expressed in the Preface, I
need only remark here that I have found in him a friend faithful,
painstaking, and reliable, qualities which ha\e enabled me to fuHil
my task with pleasure and also with a fuller measure of completeness
than otherwise could have been the case.

chai'TJ':r \ji.

The ViLLAGii ov Kiukhv Overblow: its Institutions
AND Old Customs.

i^'l 1 1'. \illa,<,'c ol Kirkby Overblow stands in a most pleasant
and licallhfiil npland district, amid scenes and places
of great historic interest, as may be gathered from the
text. Though it cannot boast of ocean breezes, yet
its naturally open and elevated situation, nearly 400
feet above the sea,* renders its atmosphere singularly pure and
bracing, and the district, which includes Harrogate, only five miles
distant, is well-known for its health-giving properties. Drawing a
line from ]:!ridlington Bay to Morecambe Bay the village stands
equi-distant between the eastern and western seas. It occupies a
ridge of high land formed by an escarpment of the " Third Grits,"
of the Millstone Grit series of rocks. From Addingham Edge by
the " Cow and Calf," Ilkley, the famous Otley Chevin, and onwards
along the south side of the Wharfe by Harewood to Collingham,
these Third Grits form a more or less bold and lofty escarpment
above the valley, and extending northwards to Kirkby Overblow are
a characteristic feature of the scenery. Copious springs of pure soft
water are frequent in the formation where the grit rock overlies the
shale, and doubtless where these occur, as at Kirkby Overblow, they
have been a prime factor in the early settlement of the villages.

From whichever direction we approach the village the views are
fine and of wide extent. From Stainburn Hill, the highest point,
on the way to Sicklinghall, the prospect is remarkably fine ; the eye
ranging eastwards over a vast extent of country, scattered with
village, and spire, and farm, away to the blue haze of the Wolds and
the moors even beyond Helmsley. From a field-gate here looking
due east, the Minster towers at York rise conspicuously in the middle
landscape, at a distance of 17 miles. Southwards a dozen miles
away, lies the far spreading city of Leeds. Nearer us may be seen the
old Castle and Bridge at Harewood, with Col. Cust's house con-

* The church and rectory stand 365 feet above sea-level, while by comparison
the church and rectory at Spofforth are only 120 feet above the sea.

spicuous, while westward rises the top of Otley Chevin with Runibalds
Moor beyond. We are also able to distinguish the towers and spires
of many churches, including SpofForth, Hunsingore, Kirk Deighton,
Weeton, and Knaresborough. Many a country town and hamlet
may also be descried ; while the silvery Wharfe for many miles may
be seen meandering through green and fertile pastures, and by ancient
hall and homestead in its devious course towards the picturesque
districts of Boston Spa and Tadcaster. Rarely, indeed, anywhere in
England, may one discover so fine a view from the king's highway.

Much has been said in recent years about improving the aspects
of our rural villages by making the houses and cottages not only
comfortably habitable but attractive and picturesque. In these days
of much travelling the sight of a pretty village gives zest and delight
to the visitor or passing tourist, and leaves a favourable impression
on the mind, which memory loves to dwell upon. Local builders,
in many places, have not been slow to realise this idea, nor have the
villagers themselves failed to perceive that their houses, open spaces,
and roadsides may be made attractive for very small outlay, and
that such outlay has in many ways proved a real benefit to the
villages encouraging it. Though much of the old village of Kirkby
Overblow may not lend itself to such outward picturesqueness, yet
it is pleasing to observe that many of the cottages, with their little
garden strips before them, make a really pretty show in the fine
season. This is especially the case at the eastern approach to the
village, illustrated at the beginning of this chapter, where for several
years past the cottage fronts have made quite a charming display,
nor has even the village smith been lacking in the happy discernment
which seeks to convert the necessarily grimy environment of his
rustic abode into a thing of beauty and sweetness.

All the land of the township has been cultivated from an early
period, but in the adjoining township of Rigton a considerable area
was enclosed in the year 1774, and in 1799 — 1800 enclosure acts
were obtained for Kearby. There were 60 inhabited houses in 1901
having a ratable value of about /3500. The population of the
parish in that year (1901) was 1047, apportioned as follows ; Kirkby
Overblow 308, Rigton 370, Sicklinghall 225, Kearby 144. This is
an increase of 79 On the population of the parish in 1S91. The
highest point reached was in 1841 when there were 1375 inhabitants
in the four townships. In 1787 they numbered 1058.

The village of Kirkby Overblow, as already observed, has a clean
and healthy appearance, and cases of exceptional longevity have
been numerous. Epidemics of any kind are happily of rare
occurrence. There is a resident doctor, Init his practice covers a

wide circuit. The villaf,'e has also a post office, issuitif,' money orders
with savings hank, and telegraph office, and there are several inns.
Letters are addressed : Kirkby Ox'erblow, Pannal S.O., near Leeds.

The first Parish Meeting was held on December 4th, 1894, and
Dr. M. A. Wilson was appointed chairman. On April nth, 1895, a
meeting was held to elect the first Parish Council, and a poll resulted
in the return of Messrs. George Wardman, M. A. Wilson, Nathan
Barrett, Joseph Myers, and Joseph Ridsdale.

The trade of the district is chiefly agriculture, but it is worthy of
note that at Field House, the home of the Stables family, a modern
dairying business has been established by Mr. Alfred Rowntree,
a kinsman of the well-known firm of cocoa manufacturers. A large
business is now being done with all parts of the country. The
making of Wensleydalc cheese is one of the specialities, and for
several years in succession the cheese made at the Kirkby Overblow
establishment took the first prize at the British Dairy Farmers'
Show at Islington. Also in 1902 the first prize was obtained at the
Royal Agricultural Show and also at the Yorkshire Agricultural
Show.

Turning now to the village itself, the dominant feature is the old
parish church, already described. Adjoining it is the pleasant and
spacious rectory, a building for the most part dating from the i8th
century, with its large, well-kept gardens in front. During a high
wind in February, 1903, a large elm tree was blown down against
the drawing-room window, breaking one of the panes, and in the
grounds, at the same time, a magnificent old cedar of Lebanon was
brought down and was removed with some difficulty.

Of the village School its early history is a little obscure. About the
time of Charles II. eleven acres of land were given for the education
of four poor children, and on the first page of the oldest register it
is stated that the Rev. Francis Rogers, rector from 1685 to 1712,
gave /"iS to " building of ye school house." In 1780 the new school
room was built, and the Rev. Dr. Cooper, rector, gave the timber
for the building, and Mrs. Cooper generously contributed six guineas
towards its erection. The master's house was erected in 1790 at a
cost of about /"105, raised by subscription, in consideration of which
he educated two poor children. Four others also receive instruction
from the above bequest of eleven acres of land given for that purpose.
At the visitation in 2809 the following report was presented :

We have an English School. There is a house for the Master to live in and
about II acres of land belonging to the said school, annual value thereof ten
guineas. The school is taught by Ralph Snowball. The schoolmaster is regularly
licensed by the Archbishop or ordinary. He is a man of sober and honest con-
versation, diligent and careful in the duty of his place. He teacheth the scholars

the church catechism. He causeth them to come to church on Sundays and Holy
Days and sees that they behave themselves (luietly and decently. The number
of children taught are four for the land and two for the house They are taught
reading, writing, and arithmetic, and are generally put out to husbandry and
sometimes to trade or to service.

According to Lawton £i per annum is also paid by the rector, and
there is £i is. per annum out of the Swindon estate, towards the
maintenance of the school, but nothing is known as to the origin of
these grants. The master and children were appointed by the rector,
and the overseers were responsible for keeping the school in repair.
There are no deeds or writings relating to the land.* The school is
now conducted as a Public Elementary School. In 1871 the school-
room was rebuilt at the expense of the late Earl of Harewood. The
guinea from the Swindon estate has long been discontinued, and in
its place the Earl of Harewood contributes an annual donation of ^5.
The rector also contributes £1, and other subscribers £ii, annually,
and there is in addition to the rent of the land, an annual grant from
the Education Department, making up a total of about £bo. The
Earl of Harewood and the rector for the time being are joint trustees
of the property. f

The schoolmasters and mistresses have been during the past
century, Ralph Snowball (in 1809) ; James Weeks, 1837 ; John
Christian Brooke (son of the schoolmaster and parish clerk of
Harewood), 1837 to 1871 ; George Barr, 1871 to Dec. 21st, 1883 ;
Thomas Lawrence Drinkwater, Jan. 7th, 1884, to Dec. i6th, 1887;
Ann Branwood, 9th Jan., 1888, to i8th Nov., 1893 ^ Benj. Frederic
Brooke, 21st Nov., 1893, to 14th July, 1894 > Mrs. Annie Thomas,
Oct. to Dec. i8th, 1894; John Evans, 4th Feb., 1895, to Nov. 5th,
1896; Walter Henry Tooby, Nov. loth, i8g6, died Dec. i6th, 1901 ;
Harold Berry, 1902 to the present time.

The Wesleyan Chapel was built in 1843, chiefly, if not entirely at
the cost of Mr. Wm. Stables, of Field House, to whose memory
there is an inscription in the chapel. He died in 1862. But the
seeds of Methodism were first sown in the neighbourhood a century
before this date at the adjoining village of Pannal. A class was
established there as early as 1760. .\ccording to the Memoir of
Mr. Bryan Proctor it appears that he, Mr. Proctor, was at that time
living with an uncle at Stank, near Harewood, and he went to hear
a sermon froin a local preacher, "a poor man out of the West Riding
of Yorkshire." Soon afterwards he became converted. About the
same time his widowed mother, who was living at Pannal, began to
entertain travelling ministers, and especially Christopher Hopper,

* Vide Churity Rcf^oft for 1S20. t I'"/t' Charity Commiss. Rcfort, 1894.

who was one of the earliest Methodist preachers, lit- proposed to
form a class, and in this proposition he was supported liy John
Pawson, of Ilarewood, and Richard Burdsall, of Kearhy. Alto-^ether
some seventeen persons offered themselves and formed the first
Methodist class in the neighbourhood.

At Kirivhy OveiMow the Stables and Kidsdales were the pioneers
of local Methodism. A class was formed in 1778 in connection with
the Society, whicli at that time was in the Leeds Circuit. About
1790 the Otley Circuit was formed and Kirkby ()verl)low was taken
mto it, and thenceforward services were held regularly. For some
time the members assembled in one of the rooms at Low Hall
occupied by the Kidsdales, and afterwards they met for worship in
an outhuilding at I'ield House, the home of Mr. Wm. Stables.
Here they continued until that Kfnlleman gave the land, &c., for
the new cliapel which was opened m 1843. Old Mrs. Kic'lsdale, of
Lnu I lall, tor 36 years the widow of Mr. James Kidsdale, wiio died in
1810, took an earnest part in promoting the cause of early Methodism
and remained a consistent member of the Society up to her death'
For a long time she had charge of a class of females who used to
meet at her house for devotional exercise. For more than 65 years
she resided at Low Hall, and then in 1846 she removed with her son
Wiiham to Walton Head, where she died in October of that year at
the age of 91. Her equable temper, upright bearing and simple
heartedness were an example to all who knew her through a life more
than ordinarily prolonged, and her memory will ever remain sacred.
Since her time many have been the good and faithful here in this cause
The overseers in 1806-7 built a row of cottages at the north
entrance to the village, for the purpose of providing apartments for
poor persons. They usually went by the name of Brigg Hall and
continued m use down to 1862, when they were sold by auction.
Over and above this provision the overseers had occasionally rented
separate cottages in the village for the accommodation of the poor
or had them through the bounty of private owners rent-free. The
following record preserves an interesting example of this kind :

Memorandum of an agreement made between Mrs Sarah Harland of the one
part and the Overseers of the Poor of Kirkby Overblow of the other part The
said Mrs Harland doth hereby agree to let the said Overseers put a poor person
and his family ,nto her house called St. Helen's Cottage in Kirkby Overblow rent-
free, for such time as the said Mrs, Harland shall think proper. ' The said family
to hve in the kitchen in the day time, and to have a room upstairs to sleep in
.\nd the said Overseers for the time being shall deliver up possession to the said
Mrs. Harland. or to whom she shall appoint at the end of a week's notice
Witness our hands this Sth day of February. 1822. &-c.

At a meeting held 6th April, 1827, it was resoKed that no more

cottages should be taken by the overseers for the poor, so long as the
township was incorporated with Carlton Workhouse. The meetings
for parish business were originally held at one or other of the inns,
but in 1837 they were transferred to the village school and have been
held there ever since.

The onerous duties of the overseers are apparent in the many and
divers concerns they managed. Their old accounts also illustrate
many curious and now obsolete customs of the place, which help us
to picture village life in the past. Let me mention some of these.

" Old customs ! how I love the sound,
However simple they may be,
Whate'er with time has sanction found.
Is pleasant and is dear to me,"

exclaims the author of the Fainncvs Boy. To begin with I find the
township is charged in 1801 with the expenses attending the death of
Susannah Hartley, viz. : a coffin tire los., crape 4s. .Sd., tea, su.gar,
and butter at the wake, 3s. 3d., and is. given to Mr. Close and
Esther Burniston for sitting up with the corpse. In Peacock's list
of Yorkshire papists for 1604, only two persons are returned as
recusants in Kirkby Overblow, viz. : Thomas Gilstripp, gent., and
Elizabeth his wife. There is nothing to shew that the above
Susannah Hartley was a Roman Catholic, and it is not improbable
that the items refer to a custom which has survived from very early
times. The old English " wake," from the A.-S. wo'ccan, to watch,
a vigil, arose from the custom of reckoning church festivals from
sunset to sunrise, the night being passed, more particularly in ancient
times, in watching and prayer. The " wakes " partook very much
of a public character, all the village being often present. In the
above instance the relatives of the deceased provided bread and
cakes, and the town subscribed for " tea, sugar, and butter."

The overseers were likewise under the obligation of providing
medicine and attendance for such persons as were unable to pay.
In 1787 appears a charge to the town of 6d. paid to John Renton for
bleeding one Marshall. In 1809 the sum of £^ 5s. was paid to
Dr. Richardson for inoculating the poor children, and they are careful
to make it known that " they all did well." The accounts again
contain entries of amounts paid to men working by what was locally
called House Row. The ratepayers were compelled to find work
for men who owing to advanced years or other causes were unable
to do the same amount of work as young and able-bodied men.
This work was paid for by the employer at its value, the Overseers
supplementing it to a living wage. Each House Row man had a
certain number of days to work at each house, according to the

ratiiblc \alue of the farm, settled by the overseers. There had been
various ways of reckoning, but in 1827 it was decided that the House
Row men should find their own victuals, and receive their wages
entirely in money. Then there were other forms of relief. In 181 1
a cow is bought for Joseph Renton at a cost of /"ii, at which
excellent gratuity one may be tempted to e.xclaim, " Well done,
Joseph ! " In the same year James Marston receives £t, to buy a
horse, and in 1812 John Briggs is presented with a scythe at a cost
of 8s. In 1810 Michael Steele gets a full bottle of the best gin,
costing 4s., ordinary medicine, apparently, having failed. This
seems to have been poor Michael's only bodily salvation, and may
we hope it gave ease and perhaps length to his days ?

The old Constables' Accounts likewise throw light upon many
bygone things and customs. In 1741, the first year of which the
accounts are extant, the Constable was sworn in at Spofforth, the
charge being is., evidently the custom of the court-leet. At this
time there is an entry of " three monthly searches " at a charge of
IS. each, and a further charge of 7s. for conveying the King's baggage
to Pontefract. There are also similar entries in the succeeding years,
which have no doubt reference to the rising of the Young Pretender,
and the pursuit of him by the Government troops through Yorkshire,
as I have related in the History of Tadcaster. A troop of cavalry is
reputed to have lodged at Swindon Hall, near Kirkby Overblow,
during the northward march of General Wade's army, and a room
in the hall was afterwards always called the " Captain's Chamber."
In 1745, or shortly before the decisive battle of CuUoden, there is a
charge of 3s. 6d. for going to Boroughbridge about Papists; likewise
in the same year a charge of 6s. for Wm. Symondson and two horses
to Ferrybridge.

Among the many duties that fell upon the churchwardens or
overseers in the early part of the 19th century were those attendant
upon the charge and payment of prize and bounty-money due to
petty officers, seamen, marines and soldiers. In the overseers'
accounts for Kirkby Overblow appears an item in 1794 of "expenses
to navy-men, ;^2i 17s. id." In 1802 the sum of £& 13s. lod. is
entered for "substitutes wages to serve in Militia for Kirkby
Overblow and Kearby-cum-Netherby." In 1803-4 ^r " wages
and expenses relating to the Militia and the Army of Reserve,
£"64 9s. I id." In 1805 "paid the quota of a man for the Army of
Reserve, £■] 7s." This was collected by a special rate. In 1804
the following iiad one horse each in the Harewood Troop of
Volunteers : Hugh Barrett, Henry Burniston, Robert Drury,
Thomas Issott, and Samuel Wilkinson.

The churchwardens had been also long accustomed to visit the
streets and public houses on Sunday mornings and drive loiterers to
church, a practice which continued here till 1858, when it was
decided to stop it " unless there be a law to compel them."

The accounts also contain many references to the ancient pinfold
and stocks. Of the antiquity of the pinfold we possess no certain
knowledge, though it would appear to have existed many centuries.
In 1378 Alice, daughter of William the Pynder, was li\ing at Kirkby
Overblow, which seems to premise the existence of a pinfold at that
era. The pinders were appointed at the annual court-leets, and in
1775 the swearing in of a pinder cost is. In 17S5 Robert Whitehead
was paid Ss. for a pinfold door, and in 1793 a lock was provided at a
cost of IS. A new lock in 1827 cost is. 6d. In 1853 the door was
renewed. Next with regard to the stocks, also of high antiquity, a
new pair was provided in 1750 at a cost of 6s. and colouring them
cost 5d. In 1814 the sum of 15s. 6d. is paid to S. Whitehead for
stocks making and wood, and in 181 7 a further expense of 17s. was
incurred in repairing the stocks, and 6d. for setting them up. They
appear to have been wilfully broken, as an item follows in this year
of los. " received from the young man who broke the stocks." In
1798 2d. is paid for armorial bearings on the constable's staff. In
1819 a pair of handcuffs cost 2s. 6d., and a lock is. 4d. In 1836 a
new staff turning costs gd. and a brass plate and engraving 5s. 6d.
In 1755 there is a charge of is. for a " hue and cry " to Rigton. In
1761 2s. 6d. was spent " when the dogs was killed." In 1743 there
is a charge of 6d. " when viewer came to view the windows." This
of course has reference to the obnoxious wdndow-duty, when rich
and poor alike were taxed for the light of heaven ! The duty was
first imposed in 1695 and continued till 1850, when it was happily
repealed. The shutting up of windows brought about by this
objectionable impost was no doubt the cause of much sickness and ill-
health. The Spaniards have a wise old saw which says, " Where
the light (.or sun) never enters, the doctor must ! "

In 1802-3 there were only four persons in Kirkby Overblow who
paid duty for more than six windows, viz., the Rev. Dr. Cooper
(rector), 52 ; Hugh Barrett (Walton Head), 9 ; Samuel Wilkinson,
12; and John Stables, 7. The annual tax on Dr. Cooper's 52 windows
amounted to ^30 15s., and besides that he had inhabited house-duty
to pay, i6s.* He was also taxed in 1802-3 £^i ^°^ fo"'' n"*^!^ servants ;
It may be noted that in the year following, by the new assessed Tax Bill,
which took effect 141!) April. 1804, all windows 11 ft. high or 4 ft. 6 in. broad,
including the whole opening of the wall in which the window is fixed, was
charged as two windows, unless erected prior to April 5th, 1785 ; excepting also
the windows of shops or warehouses.

/"lo for one four-wheel carriage; ^lo 1 6s. for tliree riding-horses;
£i 5s. for two oilier horses; £1 los. for three dogs; £^ 2s. for
armorial bearings; £1 3s. for hair-powder; and £7. lis. 8d. for
land-tax ; total ^76 i8s. 8d. This amount, however, was exceeded
by his successor at the rectory, the Hon. and Rev. Dr. Marsham,
whose year's taxes for the same things amounted in 1808 to
£<jZ 7s. I id. Ur. Marsham had fewer windows (38), hut kept more
horses, carriages, and dogs. In 1827, Robert Marsham, I£sq., Henry
Marsham, Esq., Jacob Marsham, Esq., George Marsham, Esq., and
William Style, Ivsq., held game certificates at a charge of £1 14s. 6d.
each.

Among the following entries in the old churchwardens' accounts
we are reminded of many customs and usages now obsolete.
1743. Paid to ringers for ringing nine o'clock.

[This occurs annually U|) to 1800, when the custom apparently changed
to ringing at 8 o'clock. The custom of ringing at 8 o'clock on Sunday
mornings is still maintained. The bells were also rung on the
anniversary of Gunpowder Plot, and they were also rung every 29th
May, being the King's birthday.]
1746. Paid to Ringers on thanksgiving-day for the victory over rebels at

Culloden More, is.
1755. Paid for widening Burnt Bridge. i6s.

1758. Paid to the Ringers wlien the King of Prussia gained a complete victory, is.
1765. Spent upon Tong singers, is ijd.
1769. Spent when old bell was taken down and new one put up, 4s. 6d. Carriage

and expenses of new and old bells, 8s.
1782. Church whitewashing and ale. is. 4d.
1795- Spent upon Birstal singers, 5s.
179S. Dog whipper's salary, 6s. 6d.

1809. 'Woodwork and paint to keep birds and pigeons out of steeple, 3s. 7id.

1810. Oct. 25. Ringers for King's .\ccession when he entered into the fiftieth

year of his reign, 5s. 3d.

1813. Iron chest, £(:> 15s.

1820. Black cloth for hanging the church when George III. died, ^4 15s,

1826. 'Wm. Harland for writing music for the use of the singing seats, 5s.

1829. Wm. Harland's bill for writing church music, £1 los.

1831. Black cloth, /i 6s. 6d. ; expenses when George IV. was buried, 2S. 3d.

1837. Black cloth for pulpit and desk, £1 2s. 'Wm. Pool for putting it up, 2s.

1850. Candles for evening service, £1 6s. 3d.

The medifeval method of conveying the corpse by horse-litter to
the place of burial does not appear to have prevailed at Kirkby
Overblow for a long period. There are many references to the parish
hearse from the i8th century down to 1854, when it was decided
that the churchwardens procure a fresh funeral carr with four wheels
and springs, and also procure fresh harness. The new hearse was
purchased at a cost of £2b.

CHAPTEH VIII.

KiRKBv Oviikiii.ow : CJi.L) Homes and Families.
I. Low Hai.i, and the Dodsons.

JOW Hall, the principal house in the township, was
long the seat of the Dodsons, a family of position and
influence in former times, but of whom we possess no
connected record. After much fruitless correspondence
with persons of this name in various parts of the world
I have had to remain content with the following particulars and
pedigree, which have been collected from Hunter, the Wilson .l/5.S".,the
parish registers, as well as other sources. The difficulty of compilation
will be apparent when it is remembered that nearly one-third of the
whole number of northern gentry disregarded the summons of
Sir Wm. Dugdale, the King's Herald, to appear before him (in 1665)
with proofs of their arms and pedigrees. xVs a consequence of this
indifference many law suits and much uncertainty with respect to
family descents and inheritance have arisen in later times. In Claro
Wapentake there were no fewer than seventeen genteel families who
neglected to answer at the Visitation ; among those in this district were
Mr. Dodson of Kirkby Overblow, also Mr. Gale, Mr. Fran. Steele,
and Mr. Thomas Dickenson of Kirkby Hall ; and Mr. John Wood
and Mr. John Catherall of W'etherby. In Barkston Ash there were
sixteen contumacious, including Mr. Hen. Drewell of Bramham-
cum-Oglethorpe, Mr. Plant, Mr. Lekringhall and Mr. Geo. Rhodes
of Lotherton and Aberford, and Mr. Wm. Marshall of Tadcaster.

The first mention of a Dodson in the parish I have met with is of
the Rev. Richard Dodson, who was instituted to the rectory of
Kirkby Overblow in 1588. In 1591 he purchased a messuage with
land at Kirkby Overblow, of James Hird and Agnes his wife. He
died in Jan., 1612-13, and on March 28th, 1614, there is a receipt
for dilapidations from Miles Dodson, executor of Richard Dodson,
late parson of Kirkby Overblow, to Thomas Edwards, the then rector.
Though no relationship is stated there is no doubt he was his son.
This Miles Dodson appears to have been an important personage in
liis time, and there is a monumental tablet to his memory in the

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church. Jn ;i IcUcr chiteil October, 1649, Allxmy J'"ealherstonhaugh
addresses him as his " loving brother." He does not, liowever,
appear to have resided at Kirkby Overblow before 1625, as before
this lime he is described as of Leathley. He had property at
Beckwith and Kossett, and owned a mediety of the rectory of Sutton-
on-Derwent, obtained througli his wife, and in 1641 there appears a
lease to him of part of the tithes of Kirkby Overblow, made by the
rector, the Rev. 'I'hos. Jaggard. He liad also pre\iously leased the
tithes of Garton and Cjrimslon in 1 loiderness, and from an old terrier
at Goodmanham, near Market Weigluon, it appears that certain
lands belonging to the glebe there had been made over by the rector,
Thomas Dodson, M.A., to Marmaduke Grymston of Grimston Garth
in Uolderness, and that they were then (1637) lost to the lectory.
A family relationship existed between the Dodsons and Grimstons,
as Marmaduke Grimston, of Garton in Holderness, had licence in
1609 to marry Lucy Alured of Sculcoates, and in 1603 a similar
licence was granted to Henry Alured, gent., son and heir of John
Alured, Escj., of Charter House, to marry Frances, daugliter of
Francis \'aughan, Esq., late of Sutton-on-Derwent, deceased. Her
brother, Sir Henry, son and heir of Francis \'aughan, had licence
in 1596 to marry Susan, daughter of Edward Stanhope, Esq., of
Grimston* {see page 85), and a daughter of the above Marmaduke
Grimston married in 1642 Leonard Beckwith, Esq., of Handale
Abbey, kinsman of Edward Beckwith, whose daughter was the first
wife of Albany Dodson of Low Hall.

Miles Dodson was a near neighbour of Richard Goldsborough of
Walton Head, who, in 1612, released to Richard Hutton, sergeant-
at-law, and Agnes his wife, the manor, &c., of Goldsborough. t
Thoresby, the antiquary, relates that he had in his possession an
embroidered coif, or cap, worn by Judge Hutton's lady, which had
been given to him by Albany Dodson, armiger, of Kirkby Overblow. J
The Judge resided at Goldsborough and died there in 1638-9.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Miles Dodson, in common with
most of the local gentry, sided with the King, though he managed
somehow to escape punishment and the confiscation of his property.
In July, 1648, he and Francis Steele, of Barrowby, were indicted
for that they had acted as Commissioners of Array and had collected
moneys for the Earl of Newcastle, and had also ridden in his army.
These charges they confuted, and on the nth January, 1650, they
were dismissed. But Dodson's sympathy, if not very truculent, was
decidedly for the Royal cause, and he was implicated in the charges

* Hayl. MSS.. 2156 and 7060. t Yorks. County il/a^'., 1894, P^g^ 4J-

I Due. Leod., s. V. " Antiquities," page 42.

brought by Sir Richard Hawksworth, of Hawksworth, in the parish
of Otley, against Sir John Goodrick of Ribston, his brother-in-law.
Sir John, who was a Colonel in the King's army, had in October,
1642, sent one of his Captains with a squadron of horse to Hawks-
worth Hall to arrest Sir Richard. The latter thereupon was taken
to York and kept a prisoner for nearly two years. Sir Richard had
married a sister of Sir John Goodricke, from whom he was separated,
and Miles Dodson, it was stated, had been active in fomenting the
feeling of animosity that existed between the Goodrickes and
Sir Richard Hawksworth. He had persuaded Lady Hawksworth
to live apart from her husband, who seems to have been a man of
peculiar temper, and contrary to every tradition of his house, had
taken up arms against the King. It was further stated that Miles
Dodson and others had been party to the appropriation of lands, &c.,
at Mitton in Craven, belonging to Sir Richard Hawksworth, and
that they had compelled the tenants to pay their rents to them during
the time of the hostilities, and moreover it was affirmed they had
been to Hawksworth Hall and carried away all the deeds and
writings appertaining to the above property.* These charges were
wholly denied, and although Hawksworth recovered the property,
yet Sir Richard and his wife were never reconciled. Let us hope,
however, that the character borne by Miles Dodson was justified by
the terms of his epitaph in the church, before quoted, that he was
" a peace-maker amongst his neighbours." At any rate the verdict
of the Commonwealth judges was in his favour. He died in 1658,
and his will, a copy of which I append, was proved in London before
the Judges for Probate, 20th May, 1658, by Lucie Dodson, his
widow. This was during the Commonwealth.

Will of Miles Dodson, Esq., of Kirkby Overblow.

All glorie honour praise power and thanksgiving be given to God the father
Sonne and holy ghost. I Myles Dodson of Kirkby Overblow in the county of
York esquier doe make constitute and ordaine this my last will and testament
this nineteenth day of .\prill in the year of our Lord God 1657 in manner and
forme following, ffirst I bequeath my soul to God hoping to sing praises to him
everlastingly in his heavenly kingdom. And my desire is that my bodie be buried
in the chancel or quire of the church of Kirkby Overblow so near as may be on
the northside of the bluestone in the said quier. And I doe give and bequeath
unto the persons hereafter mentioned these gyfts and legacies hereafter following,
ffirst I give and bequeath unto Lucy Dodson my wife horsehowse lease in being
from the Kight honourable the Earl of Northumberland and lease to her
disposing the use and benefit of the lease I have in Whitwell for her life. .\lso I
give and bequeath unto Thomas Dodson my grandchild ffive hundred pounds of
lawfull English money, to be paid unto him when he shall accomplish two and
twentie yeares of age. Conditionally if he do not enjoye the estate which is
conferred upon him by Indenture by me formerly made and redeemable by Peter

* See my paper on Hawksworth Hall in the Dradfoid Antiquary for 11J03.

Dodson his father upon the payment or satisfaction of fifteen liundred pounds in
money or lands to that worth and value at the judgment of the ffeoflees imployed
and intrusted in the said Indenture for setling the estate upon the said Thomas
Dodson. Also I give and bequeath unto Lucie Dodson daughter unto Peter
Dodson my grandchild one hundred pounds of lawful linglish money, To be paid
her when she shall accomplish one and twentie yeares of age. I give and
bequeath unto Mary Dodson, my cousin Thomas Dodson his daughter, tenne
pounds of lawful Ivnglish money, And whereas my father did lend five pounds
unto Thomas Dodson her father I desire her eldest brother who enjoys his father's
lands to paye the said five pounds unto his said sister Mary Dodson. Also I give
to all my grandchildren every one severally tenne shillings a piece to buy them
Bibles. And I give and bequeath unto Kdmond Wood my servant five pounds
of lawfull English money. And to all the rest of my household servants that live
in my family at the time of my death everie of tliem five shillings. I doe make
constitute and ordaine my faithful! and loving wife Lucie Dodson e.xecutrix of
this my last will and testament, In witnesse hereof I have put to my hand and
seale the day and yeare above written. Miles Dodson.

Witnesses hereof the day and year above written we whose names are here-
under written. Miles Steile Jane Gray

Anne Dodson William Adcocke (his mark)

The cousin, Thomas Dodson, mentioned in the will, married a
Norton of Langthorne, in the parish of Bedale, of the same family
who, as previously recorded, purchased the manor of Kirkby
Overblow in the time of Queen Elizabeth. In 1667 Thomas Dodson
of Kirkby Overblow, and Ellen his wife, obtain leave to bring an
action to recover money due to the said Ellen by a settlement made
by her father, Thomas Norton, late of Langthorne, in 1648. There
are three daughters recorded of the marriage, Dorothy Norton,
Katherine Norton, and Ellen Norton, and the last mentioned was
married, apparently, to a kinsman, Edward Dodson.

I find two sons of Miles Dodson recorded as well as five daughters,
one of the latter, Joanna, married John, son of John Gale, Esq., of
Scruton, near Bedale, whose mother was a Thwaites of Marston,
and whose aunt Dora married for her second husband. Sir Thomas
Fairfax, father of the first I-ord Fairfa.x.- It was this " Mr. Gale "
who neglected to report his family lineage at the Visitation in 1665.
He was then evidently living at Kirkby Overblow, and had purchased
or obtained an estate there from his father-in-law, Miles Dodson, as
in 1656 a fine was levied whereby John Gaile, Miles Steele, and
George Pickering appear as plaintiffs, and Miles Dodson, gent., and
Lucy his wife, as deforciants, respecting several messuages with
lands in Kirkby Overblow. f

' See pedigree of Gale in Thoresby's Due. Lead. (Whitaker's ed. 1816), p. 203.

t Miles Gale was rector of Keighley 1679 — 1720. He was cousin-german of
Dr. Thos. Gale, Dean of York. A Thomas Gale was rector of Linton in Upper
Wharfedale, 1716 — 1750 ; and there was a Humphrey Dogeson (Dodson ?) rector
of the adjoining parish of Burnsall in 1570—16—, at the same time as Richard
Dodson was rector of Kirkby 0\erblow.

Peter, eldest son of Miles Dodson, appears to have died in his
father's lifetime, leaving a son Thomas, heir to his grandfather, who
married but apparently left no issue.* The following particulars are
taken from his will, dated 7th February, 1706-7, and proved at York :

Will of Thomas Dodson, Esq., of Kirkbv Overblow.

All my personal estate to be sold for payment of my debts.

Sister Lucie Hinde ;^io a year for life out of my real estate.

Aunt Margaret Harrison's annuity of ;f 10 for life to be continued out of my real
estate.

Rest of profits of real estate to go for payment of debts till all paid, and then I
give it to Albany Dodson my nephew for gg years subject to said annuities,
he also paying to Edeth Dawson and Francis Moreton my sister Hinde's
2 daurs, £1^0 each, and after the sd. gg years I give sd. real estate to the
heirs male of sd. Albany Dndson and to their heirs for ever.

Servant Mary Green 20s,, and to Ruth Wood los., Edward Higgins los., Matthew-
Holmes IDS., and Jason Theaker 5s.

Martin Dawson ^5 for the business he hath done for me.

Nephew Albany Dodson executor.

Supervisors, my kinsman Wm. Pickering o( Yorhe gent., and .Abraham Goodgian
formerly my servant ^5 each.

If it happen that any of my creditors wd. have their moneys sooner than it can
be raised either out of the personall or yearly profitts of my reall estate, I
impower my sd. exor. and supervisors to mortgage part of the lands for same.

Witnesses : Fran. Rogers, Robt. Watson, Josh. Sharp, Mart. Dawson.

No probate in Register [170G].

The Registers of Kirkby Overblow contain an entry in 1651 of
the marriage of Sarah Dodson with George Pickering. I ha\'e not
been able to prove the identity of this daughter, but in the above-
cited will of Thomas Dodson he mentions as supervisor " my
kinsman Wm. Pickering," possibly a son of this match.

.\lbany Dodson, of Low Hall, in early life made a voyage from
Cork to the West Indies, and published an account of it. He was
executor of his uncle Thoinas Dodson's will and was residuary legatee.
In February, 1718-19, he was visited by John Warburton, F.R.S.
and F.S.A., who was shortly afterwards appointed Somerset Herald.
Warburton made a poor and very insignificant drawing of the hall,
hardly worth reproducing. It is preserved in the Lansdowne Collections
at the British Museum. Albany was twice married, his first wife
being a daughter of Edward Beckwith, of Nutwith Cote near
Masharn, an old property of the Beckwiths and their seat for several
centuries. Her mother was Ellen, daughter of Welbury Norton,
Esq., of Sawley, sister of Thomas Norton, grandfather of the first
Lord Grantley. Albany left a family, but I am unable to say whether

* Among the H';7soh MS5. at Bolsterstone, are two letters, dated ifijgand 1646,
from Peter to Miles Dodson ; likewise a " Prayer by Miles Dodson," and an
Inventory of the goods of Miles Dodson, dated 1657.

«3

any of them continued to reside at Low Hall. Jiut probably they
did, as Ann Smithson, who was born in 1714, married Albany Dodson
his son, who is described as of Kirkby Overblow. These Smithsons,
says Mr. Grainge, were accoimted the wealthiest family in the Forest
of Knaresborough. After Albany's death, Ann was married again
to Sir Thomas Denison, Judge in the Court of King's Bench. He
died in 1765 and his lady in 1785. Albany took his mother's name
of Beckwith and died without issue. Low Hall appears shortly
afterwards to have been sold to (Sir) Henry Ibbetson of Leeds, who
married Catherine Foljambe in 1736. After the elder Albany's death
in 1727, his widow went to live near Leeds, and there her son Albany
died in i 732.

There is a strong probability that the Hev. Dr. Cliarles Dodson,
who rose to eminence in the church, was a close connection of the
family. He was apparently living in the district in the time of
Albany Dodson, as in his youth he was at Threshfield Grammar
School, near Grassington.* Having been educated for the Church
he became Bishop of Ossory in 1765 and was translated to the See
of Elphin in Ireland in 1775, where he remained till 1795.! Little
is recorded of him and I have only been able to learn that he died in
Dublin, January 21st, 1795, and was buried at St. I5ridget's in the
city. J There is no memorial of him in Elphin Cathedral which was
largely repaired in his time. According to Burke he bore for arms :
sahle, a chevron between three Catherine wheels, or, and his crest
was the head of Janus couped at the neck proper. These are the
arms and crest which appear on the 17th century oak mantel-piece
at Low Hall, and they differ completely from the arms and crests of
any other family of Dodson.;; The Yorkshire descent of Bishop

* See my Upper Wharfedale, page 426.

t Elphin in co. Roscommon, was formerly seat of a Bishopric, said to have
been founded by St I^atrick in the 5th centur'y. The Bishopric was amalgamated
with Kilmore and Ardagh in 1833.

% Since the above was written I have received a communication from the
Deputy-Keeper of Public Records, Dublin, quoting Cotton's Fasti, which says
that Dr. Dodson '■ was an Englishman, educated at St, John's Coll., Cambridge,
where he took his degree of M.A., and that for some years he kept a school at
Stanwi.x m Cumberland ' The old town of Stanwix (an important Roman
station) stands north of the Eden, and is a suburb of Carlisle. But neither the
county histories nor local pedigrees contain any reference to him or the school.

§ Lord Monkbretton, whose family name is Dodson, bears anin : a fess raguly,
plain cotissed between six fleurs-de-l'is, all gules, a sword fess-wise, point to dexter
ppr pomel and hilt, or; ciest : two lions gambs erased, and in saltire gules en-
twined by a serpent head to dexter ppr. The arms of the Rt Hon. John George
Dodson, MP. are; arg. a fess nebule gu., between six fleurs-de-lis: cnst : two
lions gambs in saltire, gu. The latter crest is borne bv the Westmorland and
Sussex Dodsons. Fairbairn also gives the crests of two other families of Dodson ;
(i) a demi griffin, segreant, (2) three faces, two male and one female, conjoined
m one neck, male face on top, and male and female to sinister and dexter. See
also CUamben's Journal, 1892, page 460.

'^4

Dodson needs, however, confiriiiatidii, iiiasiimch it is well known
that at that time arms were often assumed without official authority.
Tile good Hisliop must, however, have had fair reasons for the
adoption of tiiis coat, and tiic prohahility is he belonged to the
Low Hall family.

It would appear that after the Dodsons left the Low Mall about
the middle of the i8th century, it was occupied by a well-to-do
yeoman family named Stables. They were in all probability
connections of the Stables of Tanshelf who recorded their lineage
at Dugdale's Visitation in 1665. Of this branch was Wm. Stables,
of Pontefract, a Lieutenant of Horse for Charles L, who had to
compound for his estates after the war. He married, in 1656, Jane,
daughter of Gervase Hammerton, of Alborough, co. Lincoln, a
connection of the Hammertons whom 1 have noticed among the
memorials in the church of Kirkby Overblow. A daughter of this
Low Hall family in 1780 became the wife of the Rev. Rd. Burdsall,
the founder of local Wesleyanisin, of whom some account will be
found in the notice of Kearby. The Stables became prominent
Wesleyans, and in the large room on the ground floor of the Low Hall
services were held some time before the chapel was erected at
Kirkby Overblow in 1843.

In this room there is a very handsome Jacobean carved oak
mantel-piece, admirably wrought with various armorial devices and
other ornament. Through the courtesy of the present owner,
T. L. Ingham, Esq., I have been permitted to make a drawing of
this unique work, an engraving of which is here appended. In the
centre appear the arms of Dodson, (or) a chevron, ermine, between
three Catherine wheels (gules), surrounded with an elaborate scroll
pattern. On the right is a shield of 10 escallop-shells, the centre
one bearing a crescent, for a second son, possibly of Thurland, though
I can discover no match with this family. The Gales, however,
who intermarried with the Dodsons, were long resident at F"arnley
Hall, near Leeds, the old home of the Danbys ; and Robert
Danby, Esq., married Cassandra, daughter of Edwd. Thurland, Esq.,
by whom he had a son and successor, Wm. Danby, Esq. But this
goes back to the 14th century.*

To the left is another shield also cut in oak, bearing, apparently,
the arms of Sandys : a fess dancettee between three crosses crosslet

* Since the above was written I find a more immediate connection of Thurland
with Kirkby Overblow. Mary, daughter of Robert Plumpton (died 1546), was
wife of Edmund Thurland, Esq .of Gamston-on-Idle, co Notts., and consequently
brother-in-law to Wm. Plumpton, who died in 1601, and was buried at Spofforth.
See pages 44, 96, &c. The probability is there was a match between this family
and the Dodsons, which accounts for the Thurland arms on the old oak mantel.

fitchee (gules). Edwin Sandys was Archbishop of York at the time
that Richard Dodson was rector ot Kirkby Overblow, and Edwin
Sandys, prebendary of Wetwang, bequeathed to the rector of Kirkby
Overblow and his successors, an annuity of £10, possibly as I have
elsewhere suggested, towards the founding of a school. What
became of this annuity, or whether its payment was continued I
have not discovered. There is no such sum as £10 included among
the local charities, but in the composition made with the Parliament
by Sir Henry Vaughan, of Whitwell, in the parish of Ecclesfield,
after the Civil War, I find mention of an annuity of £io due to one
Miles Dodson for his life. But as the Vaughans were also of Sutton-
on-Derwent, and as Miles Dodson married a daughter of the rector
of Sutton, the annuity has probably to do with a marriage settlement.*

In addition to this fine old mantel-piece, the entrance hall and
other parts of the house are panelled with old Forest oak, some of
which is carved. Formerly there was a beautifully-executed frieze
in one of the bedrooms, as well as other fine specimens of carved
work, which have been removed by a former owner. Externally the
house is a picturesque 17th century building, entered from a spacious
courtyard, having a very massive and imposing gateway. On the
south side is an old orchard.

The Hall, as related in the records of the manor, was, with 130
acres of land, sold by the Scotts of W'oodhall, in 1899, to Thomas
Lister Ingham, Esq., the present lord of the manor and owner of
the house and estate. For more than a century prior to the sale in
1S99, the old hall had been tenanted as a farm, first by the Ridsdales,
and afterwards by the Thorntons and Wardmans. Sec page 100.

Mr. Ingham's family originated in Norfolk, and settled at Ossett
in Yorkshire early in the 17th century. From this branch descends
the Rev. Benjamin Ingham, who married in 1741 Lady Margaret
Hastings, fifth daughter of Theophilus, seventh Earl of Huntingdon,
and was father of Ignatius Ingham, Esq., of East Marton, in Craven.
The Rev. Benj. Ingham's nephew, Joshua Ingham, resided at Blake
Hall in the parish of Mirfield, an old patrimony of the Inghams, and
notable as the birthplace of Dr. John Hopton, the famous Bishop of
Norwich in the reign of Queen Mary. Joshua Ingham, Esq., D.L.,
&c., of Blake Hall, married in 1831 Mary Cunliffe, eldest daughter
of Ellis Cunliffe Lister-Kaye, Esq., of Farfield Hall, Addingham.
He died in 1866. He was father of the present proprietor of Low
Hall, who, as stated above, is lord of the manor, and who has
recently made many alterations and improvements about the manor-
house where he resides.

* Sec Yorks. Record Scries, vol. xx,, page 45.

CHAPTER IX.

II. W'ai.tox Hi;ad.

"1.A

lALTON Head is the range of high h^nd lying to tiie
east of the turnpike road between Harewood Bridge
and Harrogate. Near Buttersyke Bar (3^ miles from
Harrogate), there is a guide-post at Dawson Lane
end {ih miles from Kirkby Overblow), and in the
perambulation of 1577 mention is made of two stones standing in
this lane, the spot being now marked by one stone bearing the letters
and date, " K. F., 1767," on that side of the stone ne.xt to the lands
of the Forest. Mention is also made of "ye Wynd ~Mill at Walton
Head, adjoining upon ye common of Swindon." Following this lane
(in the perambulation of 1767 stated to be "the church-way from
Rigton to Kirkby Overblow "), we pass in half-a-mile the solitary
farm of Walton Head, the representative of the capital mansion of
the manor of Walton mentioned in Domesday. It is now the property
of the Earl of Harewood, and is known as Low Sneap House. The
original mansion has apparently stood within a piece of moated
ground situated on the south side of the existing homestead. The
space encompassed by the moat measures about loo yards by 80
yards, and there is also a smaller area of about 45 yards by 30 yards,
similarly enclosed by a broad ditch and inner rampart formed by the
soil thrown out of it.

At the period of the Reformation a family named Pool was living
here, and one Henry Pooll of Walton Head, died in 1550, and his
will was proved August 7th. It was doubtless a member of this
house who became rector of Kirkby Overblow in 1496. In the i6th
century the estate was held by Sir Thomas Johnson, Kt., of Lindley,
one of whose daughters married Richard Fawkes, of Farnley, who
died in 1587, and was brother of Anthony, whose widow married
Philip Bainbridge of Scotton, kinsman of Guy Fawkes. Henry
Johnson inherited large properties from his father,' most of which
he sold during the troublous times of the Catholic conspiracy that
led to the great northern rebellion in 156Q. Joining the insurgents,
' See Surlees Soc, vol 106, page 205.

he was in consequence attainted, and his lands forfeited. Subsequently
however, he obtained a pardon and his lands were recovered. The
commissioners, at the instance of Lord Sussex and the Attorney and
Solicitor General, surveyed various confiscated properties in this
district, including Tadcaster and Spofforth, parcel of the Earl of
Northumberland's possessions, and they also surveyed Walton Head,
Leathley, and Farnley, part of Henry Johnson's lands. Writing to
Sir \Vm. Cecil from Ripon, April 21st, 1570, they say of Johnson,
that having sold the greater part of the land his father left him, the
rest he has conveyed by fine to himself and his wife and their heirs.
They also add that " he has built a small house at Walton Head."
He married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Norton, of Norton
Conyers, a family similarly implicated in the same disastrous cause ;
the melancholy downfall of this old Catholic family forming the
subject of Wordsworth's pathetic poem of the White Doe of Ryhton.
There is, indeed, more than a suspicion that the mother of Guy
Fawkes, the Gunpowder conspirator, was a Johnson of Lindley or
Walton Head. Margaret Johnson, Henry's sister, married Richard
Fawkes of Farnley, a cousin of Anthony Fawkes, whose widow-
married Philip, father of Dionis Baynbridge, step-father of Guy
Fawkes.* It will also be remembered that when Fawkes w-as
accosted in the cellar under the House of Lords on the eve of the
Plot, November 4th, 1605, he said his name was John Johnson, and
that he was a servant of Thomas Percy, f and came from near
Spofforth in Yorkshire. Six out of the seven principal conspirators
came from the surrounding district, or had family connections there.
Percy was akin to Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, lord of
Spofforth, and patron of the church of Kirkby Overblow, who was
fined ^3o,ooo.J He married a sister of Christopher and John
Wright, two of the band of confederates. Although 1 can discover
no evidence to connect these Wrights, who were both natives of
Yorkshire, with the Kirkby Overblow family of that name, it is very
probable that they were related. In 1534 I find Sir Everard Digby^
and others concerned in the purchase from Guy Wright, esq., of the
manors of Kereby, Scotton (the home of Guy Fawkes), and Sutton,
&c., witli lands there; and in 1598-9 a Christopher Wright, and Agnes
his wife, sold a house with lands in Kirkby Overblow to Thomas
Wright. About the same time the said Christopher Wright was
party to the sale of messuage, lVc, in Kirkby Overblow to Laurence
Edwards, a relation no doubt of the Thomas Edwards, who was

* See my paper on Hawkswnrtb Hall in the Bichljfid .hilujiiaiy for 1903, p. 271.
f See my Nidderdalc, page 343. J Ibid., page 345. § Ibid., page 344.

instituted lo liie rectory in 1613. A(^;iin, in 1590 James Wright,
gent., obtained the rectory of Farnham in Nidderdale, together with
lands in Farnham, Section, Kirkby, and Kerehy in the jiarish of
Kirkby Overblow.

Edmund, third son of above Richard Norton, the insurrectionist,
in 1569, purchased the manor of Sallay in 15S9, wliile Henry Norton,
his younger brother, is stated to have purchased the manor of Kirkby
Overblfnv.* His father's sister, Anne, had married in 1538 Robert
Plunipton of Flumpton, great-grandson of Sir Wni. Flumpton, Kt.,
who had two illegitimate sons, Robert Flumpton of York, and
William Flumjiton, gent., who is described in 1490 as "late of
Kerkeby ()rblaes.|"'

Henry Johnson, of Walton Head, old Norton's son-in-law, left
two daughters, coheiresses one of whom, Elizabeth, named after her
mother, Elizabeth Norton, became the wife of Richard Goldsbdrough,
son of the unfortunate Richard Goldsborough, of whom some account
will be found in the chapter on Creskeld in my Lower W'harfedale
volume. The Visitation of 1585 describes Richard Goldsborough
as of Walton Head ; as in an inq. p.m., dated September 24th, 1588,
Flenry Atkinson (one of the Creskeld family), he is described as late
of Walton Head, and he died possessed of various properties in
Kirkby Overblow. Perhaps there were two good family seats at
Walton Head. J Also by a licence dated 1602, authorizing the
marriage of Robert Mitford, gent., to Susan, daughter of Richard
Goldsborough, it appears that the latter was then still resident in
the parish of Kirkby Overblow. He died in 1612, leaving a son
Richard and four daughters. It was doubtless this Richard who
was living at W^alton Head in 1612, when he ceded all his claim and
rights in the manor of Goldsborough, &c., to Richard Hutton. He
afterwards li\ed at Stainburn, and in 1618 his marriage licence
informs us that he was then about to be married to Mary Cooke of
Middlesmoor in Nidderdale.; He was in all probability the pro-
genitor of the Baildon branch of the Goldsborough family.

The Goldsborough interest in Walton Head went to their kinsfolk
the Goodrickes of Ribston. The other daughter of Henry Johnson,
of Walton Head, named Frances, was the first wife of Sir Francis
Baildon, of Kippax Hall. She died in 1587, and was buried at
Kippa.x 2ist May. Sir Francis married secondly Margaret, daughter

■ Plantagenet Harrison's GfffiH^' IVcst, Norton ped., page 109.

t Plumfton Conesfondeiice, page gS.

J .\t the present time there are 11 inhabited houses at Walton Head.

S Yorks. Archirl. J L, .\iv., 469.

of Richard Goodricke by his wife Clare Norton. Consequently
Sir Francis Baildon's wives were cousins, and granddaughters of old
Richard Norton, who was attainted in 1570, as before related.*
Richard Goodricke was High Sheriflf of Yorkshire in 1591, and he
purchased \\'alton Head from his brother-in-law. Sir Francis
Baildon, in i582-3.t His wife was a daughter of the second Lord
Eure, who was lineally descended from Baldwin, Earl of Flanders,
by his wife Alfuth, one of the daughters of Alfred the Great, and
through her ancestors, Katherine de Aton, Eleanor Greystock,
Muriel Hastings, and Margery Bowes, she could claim descent from
William the Conqueror, Henry III., Edward I., and Edward III.,
Kings of England.]:

The second son of this illustrious match, William Goodricke, of
Skidby and Walton Head, was a colonel in the Parliamentary army.
A long account of him will be found in Mr. Goodricke's valuable
history. He was concerned in the disputes with Sir Richard
Hawksworth and his wife, the friend of Miles Dodson, of Kirkby
Overblow {see page 80). Colonel Goodricke married Sarah, daughter
of Mr. William Bellingham, of Bromby, in the parish of Frodingham,
CO. Lincoln, by his wife Frances, only daughter of Alex. Amcottes,
of Aisthorp, co. Lincoln, Esq., and sister of Rich. Bellingham, Esq.,
who became Governor of Boston, New England. By indenture,
dated 20th August, 1613, Sir Henry Goodricke, of Ribston, settled
upon William Bellingham, Esq., Sarah's younger brother, and
Sir Francis Baildon, as co-trustees, a moiety of the manor of Walton
Head for the use of Sarah Goodricke during her life. Col. Goodricke
died in January, 1663-4, ^-t the age of 80, and in his will describes
himself as of Walton Head, in the county of York. Apparently he
resided there during the latter years of his life.

By inquisition taken after the death of the above Sir Henry
Goodricke in 1641, it appears that he died possessed of, among other
property, the manors of Hunsingore and Great Ribston, a capital
messuage called Trinities in Micklegate, York, and the manor of
Walton Head with other premises there, which latter were held of the
" \'ery Noble Algernon, Earl of Northumberland," as of his manor
of Spoffbrth by fealty only in free and common socage, and are
worth per annum (clear) £^. Sir Francis Goodricke, Kt., his son,
by his will dated 31st July, 1671, ordered ^3000 to be raised for the
payment of his debts out of his manors and lands in the counties of
York and Lincoln, and his manor of Walton Head and certain lands
in Little Ribston were, among others, to be sold for that purpose.

• Sec C. A. Goodricke's privately-printed ///.■./. 0/ the Govdrichc Family (iSy7)
Append., page 7. 7 lt>id., page 8. % Ibid., page 14.

All his manors anil lands he devised to his nephew (Sirj John
Goodricke, younger son of his late brother Sir John Goodricke, Bart.,
of Ribston, the Royalist commander before mentioned, whose manor-
house at I-lunsingore was entirely destroyed during the great war.
Sir John Goodricke died in 1705.

As before stated Walton Head now forms part uf the estates of
the Earl of Harewood. I'or many generations it has been the home
of the Barrett family, who were living at Harewood early in the
i8th century. Abraham Barrett, of Harewood, and Hannah Waite,
of Kirkby Overblow, were married at Kirkby Overblow Dec. 27th,
1734, and in 1762 Abraham, son of Hugh and Elizabeth I^^arrett,
was baptised. Hugh Barrett, who was overseer in 1770, died at
Walton Head in 180S. His grandson, David Barrett, was in 1854
presented with the best of two old bibles then in the church at
Kirkby Overblow, as some acknowledgment of his services as
churchwarden, &c. He was very conservative of the old ways and
customs, and strongly resented the formation of the Burial Board
for Kirkby Overblow and the making of the new cemetery. When
he died he was at his request interred in the Wesleyan burial-ground,
the then rector taking the first part of the service in the church, and
concluding it at the frrave-side.

CHAPTER X.

III. Swindon.

X a schedule to the act of 51st George III. (181 1) for
taking an account of the population, it is stated that
that part of the township of Kirkby Overblow called
Swindon is in the Constabulary of Pannal. There
are eight inhabited houses in Swindon that pay poor-
rates and church-rates to Kirkby Overblow, but they pay land-tax,
assessed-taxes, property-tax, and constable-rate to Pannal ; they
repair their own highways and join with Pannal relating the militia.
The number of inhabited houses is at present six.

The principal of these is Swindon Hall, now a farm-house. The
original hall has been moated, and traces of the moat are still
apparent. When Knaresborough Castle was garrisoned for the
King many disastrous forays were made into tlie surrounding district,
and Swindon Hall, which at that time was occupied by Sir George
Marwood, of Busby, in Cleveland, was almost totally wrecked and
its contents stolen or destroyed. Sir George had married a daughter
of the owner, Sir Walter Bethell, father of the then rector of Kirkby
Overblow, whose wife was related to Oliver Cromwell (str page 41).
The Bethells, being in this way connected with the family of the
redoubtable Cromwell, had raised money and forces in the cause of
the Parliament during the great war.

Formerly and doubtless for a long period anterior to the Civd
War, the cattle and stock belonging to the estate were in the
night-time, as well as during periods of national disorder, kept
within a large fold or enclosure, adjoining the moated (hall) enclosure.
This ancient cattle-fold included an area about 100 yards by 80
yards, and consisted of a flat field encompassed with a high earthen
rampart, having an outer ditch or trench, similar to that at
Rougemont and Rigton, but not so large.

After the Civil Wars the Hall was re-built, and was the occasional
residence of the Bethell family, owners of the estate, whose name
occurs amongst the earliest entries in the parish registers. In the
middle of the i8th century it was however let to the Waites, and

Hut,'li Waite died tlicre 161I1 Sept., i 761, aged 55, and was succeeded
by his brother, Joshua Waite, a prominent inhabitant of the township,
and a churchwarden, whose initials appear on the old dial-stone in
the churchyard, elsewhere mentioned. He died at Lead in 1789, aged
81, leaving by his last will three several sums of £iio each, the interest
whereof was to be employed in teaching and clothing two poor
boys and in the distribution of bread at Candlemas annually to the
deserving poor of the three townships of Kirkby Overblow, Rigton,
and Kearby-cum-Netherby. The two e.xecutors were to divide
equally the ^240 if the bequests were not carried out. One share
only seems to have been thus appropriated, and was applied to the
purchase of ^200 three per cent, consols, the interest of which,
together with 5s. issuing out of the Scalebords rent-charge, is paid
annually in this fortn : 20 poor persons in Kirkby Overblow receive
3s. each, 12 in Rigton 2s. 6d. each, and 12 in Kearby and Clapgate
2s. 6d. each. The distribution in kind was given up some years ago.

Joshua Waite's nephew, Hugh Gill, was, with his cousin, Joshua
Collett, executor of the above will. He was one of the leaders of
the early Methodists, and was born at Swindon Hall 26th March,
1753. Subsequently, when a young man, he went to reside with
his father at Lead Hall, near Towton, where he lived for nearly
thirty years, and then removed to Weeton. There he died 27th
April, 1S27, having been for nearly half-a-century an active and
capable local preacher.

A former owner of Swindon was Sir Walter Bethell, Kt., of
Alne, CO. York, one of whose sons, Sir Slingsby Bethell, was M.P.
for Knaresborough in 1658, and Sheriff of London in 1680. He was
a friend of Pope, the poet, and a writer of various political tracts,
one of which, entitled The World's Mistake in Oliver Croiim'ell, -published
in 1694, subjected not only the author and his book but his family's
relationships with the late war to the liveliest criticism. He was a
man of undoubted ability, but of very singular habits, and his
parsimony was such that when Sheriff of London he was publicly
censured for the frugality of his entertainments.

Another of Sir Walter's sons was the Rev. Wm. Bethell, D.D.,
rector of Kirkby Overblow, who married Bridget, daughter of Sir
John Bouchier,* by whom he had a family of eleven children. Her
beautiful epitaph in the church I have already noticed on pages
41-43. Their eldest son, William Bethell, Esq., was born at
Kirkby Overblow in 1650,! and he married (i) Mary, daughter of

* For pedigree of Bouchier ice Clay's DugdaU, page 305

t The registers record the baptism of Wilham, son of William Bethell. 24th
November, 1C50.

Bevercotes Cornwallis, Esq., of Lincoln, who died in 16S7 ; and (2)
Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir John Brooke, Bart., of York.
There is a memorial to his first wife in the north aisle of the choir of
York Minster. He died in 1699, and was succeeded by his eldest
son, Hugh Bethell, Esq., of Ellerton, near Pocklington, who died in
1747, aged 58. His kinsman, Christopher Bethell, Esq., of Durham
Park, Middlesex, obtained the Swindon property. He was the
fourth son of Sir William Codrington, Bart., of Dodington Park,
CO. Gloucester, and was born in 1728. He died in September, 1797,
and his body was brought from Grosvenor Square, London, and
buried with great funeral pomp in the family vault at Kirkby
Overblow. He married the Hon. Ann, only daughter of Samuel,
Lord Sandys, of Ombersley Court, Worcestershire. Lord Sandys
in 1 74 1 was appointed Chancellor and Under Treasurer of the
Exchequer, and was sixth in descent from the Rt. Rev. Dr. Edwin
Sandys, Archbishop of York, who died in 1588. It was his son,
Sir Edwin Sandys (died 1629) who left an annuity of /'20 to the
rector of Kirkby Overblow, possibly the fruits of the dissolved
chantries, which may have been intended for the purposes of local
education.* The Hon. Ann Bethell died in June, 1797 — three months
before her husband — and was also buried at Kirkby Overblow.

The Hall was pulled down about 1830, and the present substantial
farm-house was built on the site. The ancient gateway, however,
still remains to testify to the character of the house in former times.
Round about the trees and flowers grow luxuriantly, and the spot
altogether is one well favoured by nature. The surrounding district
is charmingly pictures(]ue, and is especially attractive in the spring-
time when the hawthorn blooms and hedge-row and coppice are
enlivened with song. Big game was also at one time abundant in
the neighbourhood, and the wild stag gambolled over mead and hill.
At a Sheriff's turn held at Knaresborough Castle before Sir \Mlliam
Haryngton in May, 1422, one John Bolton, of Pannal, was indicted
for that he " did shoot with an arrow one stag at Swyndon."

Part of this district lying between Riddings Barn on the Wharfe
and Swindon Grange is called Floly Land. The whole of this
neighbourhood now belongs to the Earl of Harewood.

• Educational institutions survived the Reformation witli some difficuhy.
Many schools, however, were continued with the profits of the dissolved chantries,
but there were many that disappeared simply because the benefactions were in
the hands of courtiers who wanted tlie money, and often very inadequate sums
were set apart for supporting those that were continued (sir page 86).

CHAPTER XL

I\'. Otiiicr Old Families in the Township of Kirkby
Overblow.

i|HK (loll-tax Ie\ied by Kicluird II. in 1378 for carrying
on the costly wars with France is the most valuable
directory of local names that has come down to us
from ancient times. It is not only a census of all able
and respectable inhabitants in the country — beggars
and criminals being excluded — but it furnishes us also with many of
the trades and occupations of the people at that time. At Kirkby
Overblow we learn that there were then 31 married couples and 30
single adults above the age of 16, including two widows, living in
the township. Reckoning an average of four under 16 years of age in
each family, we arrive at an approximate population of 225 for the
whole township 525 years ago, or very nearly what it was thirty
years since. No doubt this had been much larger a century earlier,
as the Scottish wars after Bannockburn, and the plagues and famines
that followed, greatly diminished the population throughout the
country.

The principal resident in the township in 1378 was John de
Rodon, esquire, taxed at 4od. {see page 30). But as we have to do
with all classes in the life of a parish it will be useful to know that
there were two smiths, one paying i2d. and the other 6d., one tailor,
6d., one weaver, 6d., and one shoemaker, 6d. The rest paid 4d. It
will thus be seen that after the squire the blacksmith was the
principal layman in the village in 1378. A smithy, the indispensable
appurtenance of village life, has existed at Kirkby Overblow for a
long period. The oldest smithy known was that which existed sixty
or seventy years ago near the centre of tlie village, and was a
thatched building which time had greatly decayed. The present
smithy is of no anticiuity. Isaac Barker, of a respectable family,
was blacksmith in 1780, and he was followed by James Blaker, who
was here in 1820. The present intelligent representative of that
useful handicraft is Mr. Hugh Bateson, who, in February, 1902,
succeeded Mr. W. H. Tooby as Assistant Overseer and Clerk to
the Parish Council. He is an enthusiastic reader and compiler of

ancient lore, and to him tlie present writer is grateful for many a
useful note. The Batesons are of an old and respectable local
family, and one of them, the Rev. Leonard Bateson, was rector ot
SpofForth, 1567-73.

Among the principal landed families who had seats at Kirkby
Overblow were the Plumptons, Aliddletons, and Stapletons, whom I
have already alluded to. Several marriages took place between
these families. Thomas Middleton, of Kirkby Overblow, " sometime
man of law," J. P., married in 1468, in the chapel at Plumpton, Joan,
daughter of Sir William Plumpton, and Peter Middleton, their son
and heir, also resided at Kirkby Overblow, and died there in 1549
without issue.

Another old family of some note was the Amplefords, a name that
is found in the Poll-tax of 1378 for Little Ribston, where they
continued to reside down to the i6th or 17th century. Several
members of this family were freemen of York in the 14th century,
and left wills. A John de Ampelford was living at Kirkby Overblow
early in the reign of Henry VL, and his will was proved Nov. loth,
1427. Richard Ampleforth was one of the witnesses to the will of
William Plumpton, Esq., who was buried at SpofForth in 1547, aged
62, and was grandson of Sir William Plumpton, the father of
Wm. Plumpton, of Kirkby Overblow. This Richard was doubtless
a son of the " Rychard Ampilforth of the parish of Kirkby over-
blaws," whose will was proved March 7th. 1530. In 1536 Richard's
widow, " Katharine Ampulforthe of Kyrkby Ouerblowes." along
with her sons, John and Richard Ampulforthe, sold a messuage with
lands in Ribston to George Pulleyn. The Pulleyns or Pullans were
long resident at Kirkby Overblow, and their name occurs frequently
in the oldest register commencing in 1647.

So also the Bramleys, who were living at Kirkby Overblow before
the Reformation, and of whom there are several early wills preserved.
A Peter Bramley was buried at Kirkby Overblow Oct. i8th, 1774.
These Bramleys were of the Fewston stock, and were living at
Timble in 1378. John Bramley, who was born in 1775, married
Ann, daughter of Thomas Simpson, of Felliscliffe, by whom he had
a son, John, who died in 1853, and two daughters. One of the
latter, Mary, married James, youngest son of Benjamin Kent, of
Tatefield Hall, in Rigton township, and the other, Ellen, was the
wife of John Yeadon, of the Nunnery, Arthington. The only son
of the above John Bramley, also named John, married Mary, daughter
of Simeon Moorhouse, of Gill Bottom, Norwood, an old estate of the
Fairfa.xes, who sold it to the Moorhouses.* The latter were of an

* Sec my Midderdatc, page 394.

old Craven stock, and were akin to the Archers and Elsworths of
Sicklinghall.

I have mentioned on pa<,'e 87 the Pooles of Walton Mead, a family
which in its several branches continued at Kirkhy Overblow down
to i|mte recent times. 'J'he name is frequent in the re<,'isters. On
30th November, 1698, is the burial entry of one Elizabeth Poole,
whose death is recorded at the age of 100 years. The Halls, noted
in the Poll Tax of 1378, occur frequently in the registers from 1653
to 1686, and again in the i8th century. The wills of a William
llauie, dated 1566, and of John Haule, dated 1568, both of Kirkby
Overblow, are preserved at Ynvk.

In a Survey of the possessions of the Earls of Northumberland
and Westmorland, in the counties of York, Westmorland :md
Cumberland, taken upon their attainture in 1569, it is stated that
to the manor of SpofiForth belongs a Leet Court. At this court sue
"all the tenants and inhabitants of Spofforth, Lynton, Kereby,
Wetherbye, Kirkby Overblowse, Sicklynghall, Follyfett, and Lyttle
Kibston, within all which places the lord of Spofforth hath all wayfes,
estrayes, felons, goods, and all other amercemente and profitts
belonging to the said court." Then follows a list of all tenants, with
their holdings and rents, which fill some 16 folio pages. Among the
free tenants appear the names of George Paver, Alice Parke (farmer
of the chantry of St. Mary), the Rector of Spofforth, John Vavisour
(manor of Woodhall in Kirkby Overblaws), Richard Stapleton and
Wm. Hall of Kirkby Overblow (a descendant, doubtless, of John of
the Hall, at Kirkby Overblow, in 1378), Thos. Goldsburgh, William
Plumpton, the Constable of Kirkby Overblow, 2s. yearly, the Bailifif
of Follyfett, renders los. lod. yearly, and many others. Among the
"cottagers" are Christ. Wryght, Steph. Parke, Richard Mydelbroke,
Nich. Gell, &c., and among those at Lynton appears the name of
Robt. Pearson, who pays 6s. 8d. for the use of two acres of land and
an ancient chapel. This chapel at Linton was perhaps an early
foundation of the Percies, and the site is known as Chapel Garth.
All the tenants of the manor pay yearly to the lord for a pasture in
which they have common pasture for their cows, according to a rate
assessed among them, 33s. 4d. They have also a piece of ground
called Crakeflatts, occupied by two tenants in turn paying 2s. 6d.

Among the Linton tenants are James and John Wylson. A John
Wilson of Kirkby Overblow married Mary Key of Leeds, July 22nd,
1652. They were connections, doubtless, of the Wilsons of Walton
Head, and of Wm. Wylson of Swinden in Kirkby Overblow, who
died in 1595. In his will he mentions his wife Elizabeth, his brother
Thomas, and daughters Maud and Jane Wylson. The witnesses

are Thomas Gellstroppe, Richard Cullingworthe, and Robt. Sotheran.
This Thos. Gellstroppe, gent., was living at Barrowby Grange, and
he and his wife Elizabeth are returned as Papists in 1598 — 1604,
and were the only recusants so declared at this time in the parish of
Kirkby Overblow. There were, however, a hundred others in the
surrounding district.

The Favells were a family of some consequence in the parish in
the 17th century, who sprang from the Favells of Burnsall in Craven,
in which district they were large landowners at an early period."
Christ. Favell of Burnsall, who died about 1630, married Elizabeth,
widow of Wni. Shute, of Shutenook in the Forest of Knaresborough,
and they had a son James who lived at Kearby, and died in 1658.
A son of this James was Henry Favell of Kirkby Overblow, who
was steward to Algernon, Earl of Northumberland, lord of Spoffbrth,
&c., and patron of the churches of Spofforth and Kirkby Overblow.
This nobleman was interred at Petworth in 166S. Mr. Henry Favel
was also secretary to Oliver, Lord Grandison, and brought up a
family at Kirkby Overblow. He died in 1656, having married
Dorothy, daughter of Christ. Wright of Maltby, solicitor to George,
Earl of Cumberland, father of the celebrated Lady Anne Clififord,
Countess of Pembroke, Dorset, and Montgomery. From the above
match descend the P'avells of Normanton, to whom there are many
memorials in Normanton church.

The Cullingworths, who no doubt took their name from the
Domesday village of Cullingworth in the parish of Bingley, are of
lon'T standing in the parish of Kirkby Overblow, and numerous
entries of the family appear in the oldest register. Griffith Culling-
worth, who died in 181 1, aged 80, was overseer at Kirkby Overblow
in 1767, and was grandfather of Griffith Cullingworth, bookseller
and publisher, of Leeds, who died in i860, aged 55. The latter
married in 1836, Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Gledhill of Eddercliffe,
Liversedge, in Birstal parisli, and left two children, Sarah and
Charles James Cullingworth, M.D., Hon. D.C.L. Durham, Obstetric
Physician to St. Thomas's Hospital. London.

The first entry in the baptismal register, commencing 1647, is of
Roger son of George Spacy. This family no doubt originated the
name of the well-known Spacey Houses, between Kirkby Overblow
and Harrogate. Among the older families entered in the registers,
other than those already mentioned, are those of Wood (mentioned
in the Poll Tax of 1378), Wray, Young, Harland of Barrowby,
Reynolds, Lowson, Dibb, Walker, Mallory, Addison, Lupton, Swale,
Norfolk, Denison of North Rigton, &c. From the middle of the

* See my Upper WUarfedale, pages 297 and 302.

i8th century the follovviiif,' names occur, Hudson, Wardman, Dunwell,
Stables, Brearclifl'e, Kidsdale, &c. 'J"he Stj^bles have been located
in neigh bourinf( parishes from an early period and in 1378 were
living at Kirk Deighton. The Stables of Low Hall I have mentioned,
and they were also living at Field House, in Kirkby Overblow,
which was their own property. Mr. William Stables built the
Wesleyan Chapel at Kirkby Overblow almost if not wholly at his
own cost, and there is a tablet to his memory in the chapel. He
died October ylh, 1862, aged 68. There are also memorials in the
chapel-yard to him and Martha, his wife, who died 26th October,
1873, aged 73, as also of Matthew their son, who died at Barlow
Hall, Selby (see page 32), 21st April, i860, aged 37, and Sarah his
wife, who died 13th January, 1852, aged 30, and several of their
children. William Stables, the elder, resided at Heatherwick (now
Stank), removing from there to a house called Sandy Gate, or
"Stables' House," in the parish of Harewood, which was built for
him in 1761. He died in 1787, leaving issue, Elizabeth, John,
William (named above), and Mary. The three last mentioned
resided some time on a farm belonging to their father at Kirkby
Overblow. .Mary married the Rev. Richard Burdsall, of Kearby,
and on their marriage they went to live at York. Their daughter
Mary became Mrs. John Lyth, who died in i860, aged 78, and was
mother of the eminent Wesleyan divines, the Revs. R. B. Lyth and
John Lyth, D.D.

The Ridsdales, who are still at Kirkby Overblow, huve also been
settled in the surrounding villages for a long period. At Low Hall
they resided from at least 1777, when James Ridsdale, who was
then living there, married Frances Squires of Lofthouse, Wakefield.
His father, James, died in 1790, aged 68. But in 1771a William
Ridsdale was overseer of Kirkby Overblow, and it is very probable
the family was at the Low Hall at that time. The above James
Ridsdale, of Low Hall, died in February, 1810, and was a prominent
Methodist. A memoir of him appeared in the Methodist Magazine
for 181 1. He was succeeded by his son William, who removed to
a farm at \\ alton Head in 1846, where he died 2nd May, 1859 aged
76. For some time after 1846 Low Flail was tenanted by William
Thornton, who was followed by Charles Wardman. He removed
to Paddock House, Sicklinghall, leaving Low Hall in the hands of
his son, George Wardman, who died 30th December, 1865, aged 39.
His widow, who was a Harland of Lund Head, carried on the farm
till the spring of 1900, assisted by her son George, when a change
of ownership necessitated a removal, and a farm was taken at
Kearby.

-' /■?

•-5^.* r

lOI

ni \i''ii:i< xii.

History anu Asi'kcts or thi-: Townships or thk

ANCIENT 1'aUISII OI' KiRKBY OviiUHI.OW.

I. Stainburn.

ued to

^^>^;^-.^fHE old Saxon township of Stainburn* contin
P%5)^i '^"'''" P'"'^ "* the ancient parish of Kirkby Overblow
^?J/ i SO recently as 1871, when it was constituted a separate
^-Zfrrs^i ecclesiastical parish. There would, however, appear
to have been a chapel and resident priest here at an
early period, for not only have we the evidence of the existing
Norman building, but in early grants of local property to Fountains
Abbey we have the records of several chaplains of Stainburn.
William, clericus, de Staynburn, gave among other donations to the
Abbey, three acres in the territory of Stainburn, namely those which
are most to the east in the culture of Eadolfriding, in frankalmoign.
He also confirms to the monks 30 acres of land in Stainburn, w^th
the common pasture of the said \ill outside ; corn and meadow for
200 sheep, which they had of Robert de Lelay ; and they may have
the 30 acres next the three acres which he gave them in Eadolfridinf,
to wit, furrow to furnnv.t The said William, clerk, of Stainburn,'

• In my Upper Wharfedak (page loS) it is suggested that the suffix ■' burn " in
Stainburn and Washburn may be derived from the Norse loan-word " borran '
(meaning a site abandoned or in ruins). There appears, however, to be no
recorded instances of place-names compounded with " borran " (so spelled), and
therefore it seems more reasonable to assume that the A.-S. bunt (a stream) is
implied in all places compounded with this substantive in Yorkshire ; though
nowhere in Yorkshire is it used in this sense, the Scand. word "beck" having
supplanted it.

t This interesting field-name. Eadulfridding, apparently connects Stainburn
with the stirring epoch of St. Wilfrith and the great religious revival of the 7th
century. Eadulf, who had family connections with this district,- his grandfather
having being buried at Collingham {see my Loner Whar/edcile, page 34O), succeeded
Aldfrith as King of Northumbria in 705, and though he reigned but two months,
his name was a " household word " throughout the northern kingdom so long as
he lived. He is mentioned at the Council of Nydd. and in Wensley church is a

also gave the monks two acres and one rood which abut on the

cemetery of the chapel of Stainburn, and three roods which abut on

the lands of the church [of Kirkby Overblow] . This cannot have

been much after the year 1200, and the clerical grantor was in all

probability a member of the original Lelay or Leathley family, whose

descendants assumed the patronym of Stainburn.* The subjoined

descents are proven by their grants recorded in the Chartulary of

Fountains Abbey.

William^p
the clerk, son of William j
de Stainburn,

Jeremias, \Villiam=pDiana Alice=\VilIiam, son of

son of William, the ob. \ de Horton Thurstan.

clerk, of S-, gave land in S.

to Fountains Abbey. Alice, daughter of Diana,

quitclaimed what Wm, de S., her grandfather,
and Jeremias, her uncle, had given to the monks of Fountains.

Probably of this family, too, was Adam, son of Thomas, son of
Hugh, the chaplain, who gave an oxgang of land in Stainburn, with
his body there to be buried, to the same monastery. The above
Robert de Lelay was, together with his father William (living in
1201) and his brother Hugh, a witness to the charter of Gundreda
de Haget to Bilton in the time of Henry II. (niite 11S9).

Isolda, daughter of the above Hugh de Lelay, married Roger
de Poictevin,t who died ca. 1224, and in her widowhood (she was
living in 1235) gave the same monks of Fountains the whole village
of Stainburn, containing five carucates of land (exactly the quantity
that was taxed in 1066), as well in demesnes as in service, which
grant was confirmed by Roger Paytevin, the younger, her grandson,
who was living in 1276.

memorial of two of his sons, Eatbereht and Aruni, ca. 740 (sec my Rtchmondshirc.
page 380"). In Northumberland the name is perpetuated in the village of
Edlingham. anciently Eadulfingham and Eadwulfincham ((f., home of the
descendants of Eadulf), vide Surtees Soc, vol. 51, pages 68, 143. A monument
bearing his name is preserved at .\lnwick Castle. It was found in 1789 in the
ruins of St. Woden's Church at Alnmouth. See Bishop Browne's Theodore and
Wilfrith. page 288.

' Although grants continued to be made to the Abbey, Stainburn and Rigton
were reckoned in the Forest of Knaresborough, and were subject to the forest-
laws, and were not finally disafforested until 12th Edward II. When the lordship
of the Forest of Knaresborough reverted to the Crown on the death of the Earl
of Cornwall in 1300, the King appointed Miles Stapelton and John de Insula
wardens of the Forest ; the latter family having been lords of Rigton probably
induced the King to disafforest the manor in favour of the monks.

t See Upper Wharf cdale, page no. The arms of the family of Poictevin or
Paytefin were those adopted by the monastery of Kirkstall. Sec Thoresby Soc.,
vol. iv , page 178, and for pedigree of Lelay see vol. xi., page 2.

I03

Before the Norman Conquest there had been four manors within
the township, held by as many thanes, and the whole contained five
carucates which were worked by two pIouf,'hs. In 1086 the entire
estate wvas in the hands of the Crown and had not then been granted
out, though it must have been shortly afterwards. The fact of the
manor being returned in 1086 as worth so much as 40s., and no
church being then mentioned, offers strong testimony to the
supposition tliat no church had been built or at anyrate endowed.
Subsequently when the whole of the estates at Leathley passed to
the Percies at the end of tiie 13th century, who were also lords of
Kirkby Overblow, we find them presenting to the church of Kirkby
0\erblow from the 14th to the 17th centuries. The advowson was
then settled on the Crown, and in 1536 a pension of ^4 per annum
is stated by Lawton to have been payable out of the rectory of
Kirkby Overblow to the chaplain at Stainburn, no doubt an ancient
provision of the Percies.* There are, however, some curious
complications in the early history of this manor and the origin of
the church that need explaining. The latter has frequently been
stated to have belonged with the whole vill or township of Stainburn
to Fountains Abbey, and Burton in the Monasticon Ehoraccnse (page
211), makes the same assertion, but there are no records to confirm
these statements. Stainburn manor, as I have said, was at the
Conquest a Crown possession, and subsequently came to the
De Lelays.t and afterwards to the noble house of Albemarle, while
Rigton, in the same parish, came to the family of De Insula or
De Lisle, of Kougemont, who had succeeded, partly by descent,
partly by marriage, to the lordship of Harewood in 1274. Shortly
after this time Stainburn and half Rigton were lorded by the Abbot
and Convent of Fountains.

But the parish had undoubtedly been formed before the Conquest,
and evidence in support of this fact is to be found in the Domesday
name of Chenhcbi (Kirkby Overblow), and in the establishment of
the existing chapel-of-ease at Stainburn, by the Norman lord of the
manor of Kirkby Overblow, long anterior to any grant in Stainburn
to Fountains Abbey. Indeed about the same time that Fountains
Abbey became possessed of the village of Stainburn, I find by an
undated charter, though obviously written between the years 1303
and 1313, that one John, son of Adam de Wytegift, gave to John de
Gillings, Abbot of the monastery of the Blessed Mary of York, 5 tofts

In the Certificates of the dissolved chantries the stipend allowed by the
parson of Kirkby Overblow to the incumbent of Stainburn is given as 5 marks
or £i 6s. 8d. See Surtees Soc, vol. 92, page 39S.

t See Thoreshy Soc. vol. .xi., page 23, &c.

I04

and 4 bovates of land in the vill of Staynburn. There were also
other religious houses possessed of lands in the township besides
Fountains Abbey.

Indeed, little doubt can exist that the Percy family, who were
lords of the manor of Kirkby Ox'erblow at the Conquest, and
undoubtedly founders of the Norman church there, had obtained a
site in Stainburn whereon to erect a chapel-of-ease to the mother
church. And this was to remain within the ecclesiastical liberty of
the parish of Kirkby Overblow (as it had been before the Conquest),
and the rectors of the mother church were to continue to serve the
cure or provide a chaplain, which they have continued to do down
to the present time. They had also the feed of the chapel-yard.

There are many early references to the church property at
Stainburn in the grants to Fountains Abbey, and although the latter
might own land, which they evidently did, that came up to the very
edge of the kirk-garth or cemetery at Stainburn, yet no further ;
their proprietary interest stopped there. The original of the following
grant, in proof of this, is among the archives at Farnley Hall.

Staynburn, 14th Edward III (1340)- Laurence son of William de Castelay
gives to Adam, son of Robert del Cote of Stainburne, and Margery, his wife, and
the heirs of Adam, a toft in Staynburn between the land of the rector of the
church of Kyrkeby on the one part and the land of the Abbot of Fountains on
the other part

On the other hand in the only charter (temp. Richard II.) of
confirmation by the Crown of grants to Fountains Abbey, cited by
Dugdale,* in which the name of Stainburn occurs, there is no mention
of a chapel, nor from the circumstance of its being an appanage of
the church of Kirkby might we expect such. In the same sentence,
however, that contains the allusion to Stainburn, it is expressly
stated that the monks have the vill of Crosthwayt in Cumberland,
with the church of the same vill, but they have only certain rents in
Stainburn, which at the Dissolution were returned as amounting to
£2^ 4s. 3d. per annum. t

Nearly the whole of the township of Stainburn passed by grants
at various dates and by various owners to the great Abbey of
Fountains. The principal donors were the Lelays and Poictevins,
including William, the clerk, of Stainburn, who, in addition to the
grants recited, also ga\e the monks one messuage here, with pasture
for 100 sheep, and common pasture of the same village, with all
that he had on the west of the land of Robert de Lelay, and all his
meadow about Esekelde.J Stainburn, like Leathley, descended, as

* Man. Aug., v., 310. t Ibid., page 31S.

I Burton's Mon. Ebor., page 201.

I05

staled, to the house of Albemarle, and Isabel, Countess of Albemarle
and Devonshire, and Lady de Lisle, confirmed to the monks the
village of Stainburn, with a moiety of Rigton, and one toft and one
oxgang ill Iluby, &c., of the fee of Harewood. King Edward III.,
in the 23rd year of his reign, confirmed this grant,* and in 1315
the Abbot of Fountains was returned as lord of the manor of
Stainburn.

In 13 18 the Scots, following up their success at Bannockburn,
entered Yorkshire in strong force. They set fire to Northallerton
and Boroughbridge, and then came on to Knaresborough, which was
also plundered and burnt. The authorities at Ripon iield hasty
council, and paid the marauders 1000 marks to spare their town
from robbery and destruction. The large property-owning monastery
of Fountains was a heavy loser by this disastrous invasion. f By a
writ tested at York, 13th Edward II. (1319), the Abbot of Fountains
stayed the execution of the collection of tlie eighteenths due from
the tenants in the townships of Rigton, Stanyburgh (Stainburn),
Rippelay, Sedbergh in Lonesdale, Burton, Thornton, Twysilton,
Ingleton, cVc, as the tenants were great sufferers through the
depredations of the Scots, and were unable to pay their accustomed
rents and ta.xes. Similarly, the King, as lord of the adjoining
Honour and Forest of Knaresborough, e.xcused the tenants of all the
townships in this territory from the like obligation. The marauders
turned Pannal church into a temporary garrison, and when they
quitted it almost razed and burnt it to the ground.

It is impossible to gauge accurately what the population of the
township of Stainburn was in the period preceding the fateful
invasion of the Scots. But it must have been considerable as
population was reckoned in those days, and in all probability equal
to that of many of our present large towns and cities, such as
Dewsbury, Halifax, and Bradford. The Black Death of 1348-g had
greatly reduced the numbers in Yorkshire, so that when the second
terrible outbreak occurred in 1361-2, there were naturally fewer left
to destroy. This second visitation appears to have been particularly
bad in the neighbourhood of Stainburn, and in 1362 the Archbishop
of York, as apostolic legate, and chief lord-spiritual of the parish of
Kirkby Overblow and its, dependent chapels, granted the inhabitants
of Stainburn a license to hold services in their cemetery during the

* Siirtces Soc, vol, 67, page ^3.

■f So, too, was Bolton .^bbey. which was so impoverished that the monastery
could not maintain its regular inmates. Several of the canons were boarded for
some time at other of the Austin Priories.

io6

continuance of the pestilence.* Possibly a cross was erected for the
purpose in the churchyard (see page 112).

One can understand the bad effects and greater difficulty there
would be in getting rid of the contamination in close and low-lying
villages in the valleys, but in a high, open and naturally salubrious
locality like Stainburn it may be supposed the inhabitants would
sooner recover. Perhaps this was the case ;t at any rate the Poll
Tax returns of a.d. 1378 shew that Stainburn was then accounted
among the more important places in the West Riding. Its population
exceeded either Dewsbury or Halifax, and its taxablevalue was also
higher than these places, and not far behind that of Bradford.
There were 16 householders, married and with families, then living
in the township of Stainburn, and there were 25 single adults, many
of whom were servants in the employ of the principal tenants.
Amongst these were two carpenters, evidently in a large way of
business from the amount, i2d., they contributed to the King's levy ;
one weaver who paid i2d., another weaver who paid 6d., and a mason
or builder who paid 6d. The rest worked on the land and paid
4d. each.

The Abbot of Fountains having the chief interest in Stainburn
had a resident bailiff here, and about the middle of the 15th century
there is an entry of 4d. paid to one Adam FaucydJ for the expenses
of a journey to Stainburn. The same messenger also travelled to
Crosthwaite in Cumberland at an expense of 3s. 4d., and to Kendal
for 6s. 8d. The route taken from the Abbey to Stainburn would no
doubt be by the old road through Killinghall and Beckwithshaw, a
distance out and home of about thirty miles.

In a return of the possessions of the Abbey, certified in May,

* The Archiepiscopal Registers at York contain many references to the great
fatality prevailing in that city in 1349 In July and August of that year there are
no fewer than six entries of commissions to consecrate burial-grounds in and
around York, in order that the victims of the plague may at least find rest in
hallowed ground.

t The mortality in the low-lying districts of York and East Riding was
certainly much greater than among the western hills. Among 95 registered
clergy in the East Riding, for example, there were in 1349 no fewer than 60 deaths ;
while of 96 clergy in the West Riding only 45 died. Sec the Antiquary, May, 1901.
The district of Kirkby Overblow has never been much troubled with serious
epidemics. After the hardships and privation of the Givil War there was a local
outbreak at Rigton, and in 1645 the sum of 20s. was allowed by the West Riding
authorities for the continuance of a watch there to prevent the spread of the
disorder. In that year 1325 persons died of the plague in Leeds alone

\ A member of the old family of Fawcett, who were long in the service of the
monastery, and became afterwards freeholders on the monks' lands in Littondale
in Craven.

I07

1535' t" ''"-■ Kiiif^'s Commissioners, accordinj^ to tiie statute of 26th
Henry VIII., we have under the heading,' of " I'eoda " this entry of
the payment of the bailiflTs salary at Stainburn :

" Raclul|il)o Lealome. ballivo de Stanburn, 33s. 4d."

Soon after the suppression of the monastery, Stainburn was acfjuired
by the Palmes family, of Lindley, who about this time had
intermarried with the Johnsons, Vaughans, and Beckwiths {see Low
Hall), connections of the Dodsons of Kirkby Overblow. Subsequently
it came to the Fawkes's, of Farnley, who are now sole landowners.

The township, as part of the ancient parish of Kirkby Overblow,
has always from time immemorial contributed its (juota towards the
expenses connected with the mother church. All five townships
within the parish paid etjual shares towards the cost of repairs to
the church, care of the bells, ringing and chiming, surplice-washing,
plate-cleaning, &c. The smaller townships, however, were often
obliged to lay a lid. rate, when a id. rate was sufficient to meet the
proportion in the larger townships. There appears to have been a
good deal of trouble with the people of S.tainburn during last century,
in obtaining their proportion of the levies. In April, 1809, the sum
of £^ 4s. was paid for the repair of the churchyard wall at Kirkby
Overblow. The churchwardens at Stainburn objected to pay a fifth
portion of this expense, presenting the excuse that they had a chapel
and services of their own to provide for. The amount, however,
was paid on Jan. ist, 1810. Yet the same difficulties went on, and on
one occasion, in 1845, legal proceedings were instituted, but eventually
the advice of Archdeacon Musgrave was sought, and he wrote to
Mr. F"awkes and advised his tenants to pay the accustomed rate,
which they did. But legal fees amounting to £^4 4s. 8d. were
incurred, and by an oversight on the part of the Kirkby Overblow
churchwardens they failed to secure the costs of the case, and had
to pay their solicitor £1 15s. 8d. more than the total amount of the
rate due from Stainburn.

In 1 87 1 the township of Stainburn was, as already stated, made a
separate parish, and henceforward became exempted from such
exactions of the mother church. In the 17th century the Parliamen-
tary Conmiissioners recommended this to be made a distinct parish,
adding, " that although the merit and ability of Mr. Bethell be such
as we cannot advise the lessening of his present maintenance during
his life, yet the ;^2o which he alloweth at Stainburn may be augmented
by the State, out of the public allowance for the present." The cure
was augmented in 1775 with /"200 by lot, and in 177S with /r2oo to
meet a benefaction of a rent-charge of £12 per annum from the

io8

Rev. Charles Cooper, D.D. ; and in 1826 with ^"400 by lot. The
register of baptisms and burials, which have taken place here since
Norman times) begins with the year 1803: but up to 1871 marriages
were celebrated only at the mother church of Kirkby Overblow.

The oldest of the church terriers relating to the property of the
rectory of Kirkby Overblow, is dated 1613, and it sets forth the
names of the houses and lands, with their tenants, in Stainburn, the
whole embracing an area of about 22 acres. The feed of the chapel-
yard also belongs to the rectors of the mother church; also the
tithes of corn, wool, lamb, at Midsummer ; of geese and ducks at
Michaelmas ; of chickens at the Feast of All Saints ; of calves at
Martinmas ; of eggs at Easter, with other privy tithes tiien also due ;
likewise tithes of bees and of pigs, and of hay at a certain stint.

In 1776 an Act of Parliament was obtained by which the rector
of Kirkby Overblow had a composition for the then enclosed land of
Stainburn, and also an allotment of land out of Stainburn Common
adjoining to his allotment on Rigton Common, which allotment was
accounted at 100 acres and in 1786 was let to Francis Fawkes, Esq.
It is further stated in a terrier for this year (1786), that the rector is
possessed of the corn tithe throughout the parish of Kirkby Overblow,
e.xcept at Rigton and Stainburn, by the two late Acts of Parliament ;
and also except at Woodhall, where a Modus dccimandi quo jure qnarc
injuria, has obtained, so that all that great lordship pays only a mark
(13s. 4d.) a year as a composition, "which only had been paid as a
personal agreement for the tithe of the Park, as the Rev. Dr. Bethel,
one of the former rectors (1647 to — ) hath deposed."

The ancient church, dedicated to St. Mary the \'irgin, occupies a
fine, elevated position, and from its surrounding "God's acre"
commands a lovely view of the far-extending Wharfe valley. Not-
withstanding necessary renovations, from time to time, it is highly
interesting to find the venerable building retaining almost the same
aspects it wore when first erected, nearly eight centuries ago. The
last important restoration was very carefully carried out in 1894
during the incumbency of the late vicar, the Rev. Walter Hall, the
work having been entrusted to Mr. C. Hodgson Fowler, F.S.A., of
Durham. The roof of the building was raised to its original pitch,
new floors of stone and wood on concrete were put down, the old
gravestones being relaid, new oak fittings for the chancel were
introduced and those in the nave were repaired. An entirely new
vestry was also added. Thus, while modern comforts and conveniences
have been obtained, there has been no interference with the original
character of the building itself, and it remains an almost unique
example of an original village church of Norman times. Moreover,

log

it afluids ample lestiinony of the importance of the township and of
the necessity that existed so early for a chapel-of-ease to the mother
church of Kirkby (3verblo\v. Indeed, it may be questioned whether
such towns as Bradford and Halifax had so good and commodious a
place of worship at this early time. The comparatively large (see
page 1 06) population had no doubt grown upon an old Celtic stock,
and remained strongly tinctured with Celtic customs and tiaditions,
down to and even beyond the Norman Conquest.

The dimensions of the building apparently bear out the deductions
I advanced with respect to the Celtic influences that are evidenced
in the old church in the adjoining parish of Leathley.* At Stainburn
we have a nave 40 feet long and a chancel 20 feet long by 15 feet
4 inches wide (same as at Leathley), though the width of the nave,
184 feet, is smaller than that given by William of Malmesbury for
the original British church at Glastonbury, which was 26 feet wide
and 60 feet long. Of course it is only by the collection of a great
many data from other places that we may expect to arrive at any
satisfactory explanation of the significance of these measurements.
Consecjuently it would be unsafe to lay it down as a properly
ascertained fact that our ancient churches were built on some
recognized principle, as our earliest Christian churches, and par-
ticularly those that originated under the Rornish rather than the
Celtic priesthood, arc so various both in form and size. The small
choir in these early buildings is also to be noted. The shortness of the
choir, in comparison with the nave, is one of the distinctive features
in early monastic as well as in parish churches, and is in marked
contrast with the fashion of the 13th to 15th centuries, when the
choir was made nearly as long as the nave.

The nave and chancel at Stainburn are alike early Norman, but
there is an impression that the chancel was the original church,
because of the peculiar position of the existing bell-turret at its west
end. There can, however, be no question as to the coeval age of
both nave and chancel ; the bell-turret being irierely an early
Decorated addition set upon the original chancel-arch gable ; the
old Norman coping of which was very apparent alongside that of
the later turret. See the prefatory illustration.

In the east wall is a Perpendicular window of three good lights.
These are interesting for their chaste, simple outline, unaffected by
the fashion of cusping which had been introduced more than a
century before this late end of the church was rebuilt. W'ith the
exception of this east end, the external walls of both chancel and
nave present the usual characteristics of the early Norman style, a

* See my Upper Whayjedale, pages 115-116.

strongly-built solid mass of well-jointed masonry, but without a
single buttress or pilaster.* It may be noted that there are four or
fiive flat-faced stones, circular in form, which bear groove-marks on
their surfaces. These have been described as Saxon sun-dials, but
they may be the worn bottom-stones of disused or broken querns, or
primitive hand-mills, many of which have been found in the
neighbourhood.

The chancel-arch consists of two plain orders having simple
abaci, + and the chancel no doubt was originally lighted by narrow,
splayed windows of similar design to the Norman slits still existing
in other parts of the church. These lights are identical in form with
those in the tower at Leathley. The wide splays are wholly internal,
and their external bases consist not of finished stones, but of the
usual coarse wide-jointed masonry. The larger one of these Norman
windows at the east end of the south side (no windows were made
on the north side) apparently has been placed in a higher position
than the others, in order to light the original holy-rood or rood-loft,
which seems to me rather remarkable evidence of the existence of
such a feature in an English country church so early. There is
much, however, to be said in favour of this rood-loft supporting the
usual figures of our Lord crucified and the Blessed Virgin and
St. John. Moreover it is not improbable that in early times, in the
absence of a lattice, there would be a movable curtain suspended to
the rood-loft or beam, which would serve as a screen during the
celebration of the holy mysteries. It is also likely that the bell,
which was suspended as now, above the chancel-gable, would serve
as a sanctus or mass-bell, as most singularly it occupies the position
of the sanctus-bell in large churches. The bell was, of course, rung
at the most solemn part of the service, as at the conclusion of the
ordinary, or upon the elevation of the host and chalice after
consecration.

There is, moreover, a deed preserved at Farnley Hall which
throws some additional light on this subject. It is dated i8th
Richard II. (1394), and recites that one John de Esshe, and Agnes
his wife, gave to Thomas Tromp and John Sotheron, a toft and a
croft in Stainburn, in length and breadth between the land of the

" This church, as also the tower of Leathley church, are often stated to be
Saxon because of the absence of buttresses, a circumstance, however, which is
no criterion of age, as buildings of every style and period are to be found without
buttresses or pilasters.

t The abacus in Saxon architecture is usually a plain flat stone without either
chamfer or moulding, while the Norman abacus has generally a plain cliamler
on the lower edge.

Ill

Al)hot of I'ouniains on tlu; ciisl, and the land of St. Leonard on the
west. This property was to be held by them in fee, on condition
that they paid yearly to the pirposttns of the chapel of Stainburn, at
Christmas, the sum of i8d., to be spent in two torches for the
elevation of the body of Christ in each mass there celebrated, and
to do other thinf^s necessary in the chapel. A special grant of land
for such a purpose shews the importance of the ritual and the regard
in which it was held at this place, and it is therefore highly probable
that a holy-rood existed over the entrance to the chancel. Rood-
lofts, indeed, have been rarely noticed, or at any rate preserved, in
this country before the 14th century, while only two, I believe, now
exist in Yorkshire, namely at Hubberholme and Flamborough, and
both these are i6th century work.

The curious, triangular-headed late Decorated window, between
the two Noi man lights on the south side, has evidently been intended
to light an altar connected with some private obituary service on
that side of the chancel-arch. It appears from the chantry certificates
of 1548, that one Percival Lindley* had granted certain freehold
land of the annual value of i8d., for the maintenance for ever of a
light in the chapel of Stainburn, but whether for an obit or for the
high altar is not stated. The most western window in the nave is
obviously a late insertion made to light one of those modern, but
often necessary, disfigurements in many of our ancient churches, a
west gallery. The large square-headed window, of three lights, in
the south wall of the chancel is also a late insertion, apparently of the
17th century. The porch is Decorated work of the middle of the
14th century, and has a singularly interesting roof of that age, but
which, judging from the apices of the principal timbers, was repaired
probably when the east end of the church was rebuilt about a
century later. Above the south front of the porch is a small trefoil-
headed niche, but minus the effigy of Our Lady which no doubt
originally tilled it. The walls of the porch are formed of large
squared blocks of millstone grit, upon two of which on the east side
is some strange lettering, but what it signifies I am unable to
determine. One of the inscribed blocks measures on the face 22 by
12 inches, and the other adjoining it is 18 by 12 inches.

The font is noteworthy. The bowl, which is 4^ inches thick, is
polygonal, and has on its upper edge a bead moulding. The base is
circular, and in the intersections of the interlaced arcading are
sculptured various rude designs. The ancient oak-cover is said to be
of the same age as the font, which dates from about the middle of
the 12th century. The cover consists of four attached boards, not

* Of the old local family of Lindley. See Upper Wliaipedale, page 63, Ac.

planed but adze-hewn, and the cross-handle is of very curious
design.

In the church-yard is the socket of an old cross, in shape
quadrilateral, externally expanding towards the base. It is 22 inches
high, and is 6 feet 4 inches in circumference at the top, and 8 feet at
the base. The square, straight-sided cavity is 13^ inches in diameter
and 8 inches deep. Its large size proclaims its post-Conquest origin,
although if the old rune-stone in Bingley church, which is much
larger, be the base of a Saxon cross, as contended by the Rev. D. H.
Haigh,* mere dimensions cannot be accepted as an infallible guide
to the age of such monuments. I can, however discover no reason
why a preaching-cross may not have stood here contemporaneously
with the first church at Kirkby Overblow. But see page 106.

There are two tomb-stones near this old cross-base which bear
the unusually early date of 1636. Interments have been infrequent
on the north side of the burial-yard doubtless for the reason stated
in my Upper Wharfedale volume, page 212. There is an ancient
right of way, still maintained, across this portion of the sacred
enclosure.

The township embraces an area of nearly 3000 acres with a sparse
population (about 300), living chieHy on scattered farms. The
whole district is elevated and salubrious and is celebrated in the
records of family longevity. Take for example the single family of
Holmes. Abraham Holmes died January 28th, 1808, aged 85, and
his father, Charles Holmes, when he died was 87, and his mother,
Mary, was aged 91, while his brothers Thomas died aged 87, Charles
aged 86, Abraham 85, and sister Mary 86 ; thus the six total 522
years, or an average of 87 years each of father, mother, and four
children. They were all born at Stainburn.

The Poll-tax of 1378 shews that there were two wheelwrights or
carpenters then living at Stainburn, besides two weavers and a stone-
mason. The old wooden and thatched dwellings were apparently
giving way to erections of stone, which has always been plentiful in
the neighbourhood. Evidently the township and district found work
enough to employ a mason and builder. No public inns existed at
that time, but each house might brew ale of proper quality according
to law- and the custom of the manor. In 1835 there were two
licensed victuallers in the township, a wheelwright and a blacksmith.

In addition there was a school then (1835) conducted by John
Emsley. The old school, which was built about 1786, continued in
existence for some time, and the squire of the parish at that time
gave ^10 a year towards the education of tiie cottagers' children.

* See my Old Bingley, pages 150 — 152.

113

This school was discontinued about 1858, and the children attended
the school at Leatliley until 1861, when the present school at
Stainburn was erected by Francis Hawksvvorth Fawkes, Esq., lord
of the manor. The head teachers have been Miss Flizabeth Fox,
1871-80; Miss Elizabeth Charlesworth, 1880-3; ^^'ss Mary H.
Shepherd, 18S4-8; Mrs. .'\. E. Lumby, 1888-95; Mrs. Naylor, 1895-7 '
Miss Maria Moore, 1897-1900; Miss Annie J. Clough, 1900 to
the present time. A Wesleyan chapel was built in 1836.

There is no vicarage house at Stainbiun. The incumbents have
generally been curates of Kirkby Overblow, and men who have been
respected for their integrity, scholarly aptitude, and high moral
purpose. But as in lay life so in clerical life there have been
exceptions among them. One of the incumbents of Stainburn who
lived near the end of the i8tli century, is well remembered for his
eccentricities- and unfortunate love of strong drink. He was a
bachelor and allowed no woman about his house, which continued
for many years in a very dirty and unseemly state. The door was
generally kept locked, and no one could see inside as the windows
were never cleaned. The incumbent, however, is said to have been
an earnest man, but his abilities in this direction were greatly marred
by his appearance in the pulpit, for he generally stood up in a pair
of old stockings mended by himself with a piece of his shirt. In
other respects, too, his personal attire was remarkable. He might,
indeed, have employed himself usefully to supplement his income,
but no ! he preferred to pass his time within the precincts of the
public house. Sometimes he would enter the inn rubbing his hands
with a sort of glee on his haggard countenance, then settling down
declare he would have a whole pint of the best ! He was long a
curiosity at Stainburn.

114

115

CIIAl'TKR XI 11.

II. North Rigton.

HE pleasant upland township of North Rif,'ton-" (so

called to distinguish it from East Rigton in the parish of

Bardsey), is not only the largest and most populous of

the five townships embraced by the ancient parish

of Kirkby Overblow {see page 68), but possesses

more features of archaeological interest than any other of the

parochial divisions. It is also particularly memorable for having

given an Abbot, William of Rigton, to the great landowning monastery

of Fountains, who was lord of a moiety of the manor as well as of

all Stainburn. Abbot William of Rigton reigned during the troublous

era of the Scottish wars that led to Bannockburn and its disastrous

sequel, when all building operations at the great monastery were at

a standstill. Shortly after his election in 131 1 he was summoned by

writ tested at Berwick-on-Tweed, to a Parliament held at London

on August 8th, 131 1. He died after a reign of 5 years, i month and

27 days, and was buried within the Abbey, but the stone laid upon

his grave must either have been removed or is uninscribed.

Rigton appears to have been originally included in the Royal

Forest of Knaresborough, which was certainly afforested at the time

of the Domesday survey, and was subject to an assized rent of 20

shillings. But in the reign of King John, the " Forest of Wherndale "

(W'harfedale), so-called, was disafforested. Henry III., in 1256,

confirmed this, stating moreover, that " all woods which have been

made forests by King Richard, our uncle, or by King John, our

father, unto our first coronation, shall be forthwith disafforested,

unless it be our own property." In 1318 a further order w-as granted

for the disafforesting of " Stanburn et Ruggeton in Foresta de

Knaresburgh."f It was in this year that the victorious army of

Scots ravaged the north of England, and the Abbot of Fountains in

consequence pardoned his tenants at Rigton and Stainburn from

* The name of this place is generally supposed to mean ridge totim, but the
prefix Rig is probably a personal name. It is also interesting to note that the
oldest document in which the word Edda, as a genealogical term occurs, is the
Lay oj Rig, a poem which in editions of the older Edda is included in the group
of its mythic songs. Sec Saga Book of the Viking Club, i., 219-39.

t Rot. Put., i2th Edward II., pt. i., m 15 d.

ii6

paying their rents. The church at Pannal during this raid was
burnt to the ground. The Percies had also to excuse their tenants
at Spofforth, W'etherby, Linton, Kirkhy Overblow, Kearby, &c., who
could not meet their accustomed dues.

Rigton, which had been granted to ( jilbert Tyson at the Conquest,
subsequently came to Nigel de Albini," father of the celebrated
Roger de Mowbray, the Crusader, and lord of a hundred manors, who,
it is not generally known, had in addition to his several castles, a
town-house in Ousegate, York. W'hitaker cites a charter of this
Roger, granting the manor of Hebden in Craven to Ughtred son of
Dolphin, son of Gospatric de Rigton. But no authority is given for
these descents, nor is the early date mentioned, ca. 1120, probable.
Roger de Mowbray was a minor in 1 120 and was living in 1181, and
his grant is probably nearer the latter date than the former. In
1 187 Ketel the son of Ughtred, along with Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid,
granted to Henry de Redman certain lands at Levens and elsewhere
in Westmorland. The Mowbrays were lords paramount thereof,
who had granted the great Barony of Kendal to the Lancaster family,
whose heiress in 1 184 married the above Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid. It
is not unlikely that this Ketel son of Ughtred, father of Simon de
Hebden (a relationship amply proved in the Chartulary of Fountains),
was the Asketel de Furneys, who had the manor of Ainderby near
Northallerton, and was father of Gilbert de Furneys, father of
William de Lancaster, first Baron of Kendal (see page 20). William
de Lancaster, son of Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid, confirmed a grant of
lands at Preston, Holme, and Hutton, made by Patric grandson
of Gospatric,! possibly the Gospatric de Rigton, ancestor of the
De Hebdens.J At any rate we find that one Robert de Furneys was
holding in 1284-5 0"^ carucate of land at Ainderby-Fourneaux of
the Honour of Richmond, and the same Robert was also holding
conjointly with the heirs of William de Plumpton, at this time a
moiety of the village of Rigton, of Roger de Mowbray, who held
in capite of the King. In 1315 Richard, son of Robert Furneaux,
and the Abbot of Fountains are returned as joint lords of Rigton.
This Richard died before 1331, leaving several sons, and the family
continued to reside in the district for several generations afterwards.
Alice Fourneys appears at Kirkby Overblow in the Poll-tax of 1378,
and there were families of the same name living at this time at York
and at Wadworth, near Doncaster. The family probably sprang
from Fourneaux, near St. Lo, on theborders of Brittany.

* See my Upper Wharfedale. page 135. t Hist. MSS. Com. Report, 10, part 4.
I See also an original cliarter of Gospatric, the Earl, ante 1090, in the Scottish
Historical Review, vol. i. (1903"), page 63.

Upon the sequeslralion of the possessions of Fountains Abbey
the lands at Ri^ton were valued annually at £-i i8s. 5d., and John
Fowler was then (1539) bailiff. The manor, but not all the lands,
was retained by the Crown until 1556, when it was sold for
£"226 7s. 6d. to Sir W illiam Fairfax, of Steeton, grandfatiier of the
first Lord Fairfax.* .Amonj^ the tenants of the manor in 156X were
Sir Thomas Wentworth, h'rancis Palmes, f,'ent., Laurence Ki<;hley,
gent., John I'udsay, George and Robert Wilkes, John Hardistye,
Jacob Jolmson, Wilfrid Harrison, John Robinson, Robt. Thompson,
of Wetherby, and others. When the great Lord Fairfax of Civil
War fame died in 1671, it was stated in his will that he was seized
of the manor of Rigton, among others, which he devised to his only
daughter, Mary, the Duchess of lkukinf,'ham, for the term of her
natural life, and after her decease to the lieirs male of the bcxly of
Thomas, Lord Fairfax, the testator's grandfather. A codicil names
a bequest to his uncle, Charles Fairfax, of Menston (died 1673), and
the heirs of his body, /"50 per annum out of the following farms.
In the manor of Rigton, one farm called Spoute Farm, now (1671),
in the occupation of Francis Ingle, and one farm in Rigton called
Mawson's farm, now in the tenure of Thos. Topham, and one farm
called Hardistyes, now in the tenure of Richard Hardistye, and also
out of the farm in Rigton belonging to William Smith, and also the
warrant upon the common there. Lord Fairfax also gave to John
Mawson, his bailiff at Rigton, the annual sum of £^ durin,-; his life,
out of William Ingle's farm at Rigton.

The heirs of the first Lord Fairfax, mentioned in the will, were
the American line,t and Catherine, widow of the fifth Lord Fairfax,
who died in 1710, sold all the Yorkshire property, at a great sacrifice,
to pay off the debts on her estates in Kent. She died in 1735, and
her son Thomas, when he grew up and succeeded to the title, was
very wroth to find that all the Yorkshire property had passed away
from his family. Robert Wilkes, Esq., a descendant of the Wilkes
family who were living in Rigton during the time of the monasteries,
bought Rigton under a decree in Chancery in 1716.; The manor
eventually descended to his great-granddaughter, the only daughter
and heiress of Charlton Palmer, Esq., of Beckenham, Kent, and wife
of the Rev. Thos. Pollock, D.D. The latter sold it to Lord Harewood
in 1796. He is now the principal landowner, but there are, besides,
many lesser freeholders.

Among the old landowning families in the township, besides the

* The Fairfaxes were landowners at Rigton before tliis time.
+ See pedigree in my Lower U'Jiaifedale, page 169.
J Ibiil., page 168.

ii8

ancient families of De Lelay and Middleton, elsewhere named, were
those of King (a William King, yeoman, bought lands in Rigton of
Sir William Fairfax in 1543), Hill, Hardisty, W'ilkes, Dibb, Watson,
Gill of Brackenthwaite, Brerecliff, and Thompson. These were all
property owners at Rigton in the time of Queen Elizabeth, as may
be gathered from the feet of fines of that period.

Of the ancient manor house no knowledge is preserved, but the
enclosure known as Hall Green probably marks the site. In the
poll-tax of 1378 appears the name of Walter of the Hall and his
wife, at Rigton, but whether he was a Furneys, a descendant of the
lords of the manor, we have no means of ascertaining. Richard
Furneys of Rigton, died in 1331 and left three sons, Richard. Robert,
and William.

Opposite the Hall Green farm (Mr. H. Rathmell), and behind the
school-house, is a remarkable moated enclosure, which is generally
believed to mark the site of the ancient manor-hall. A field lower
down by the Otley and Harrogate road is known as Castle Banks,
but no tradition attaches to it, nor does it seem to be connected with
the moat. The area within the moat is about 50 yards north and
south and 30 yards east and west, and on the outer scarp it is about
80 yards by 60 yards. The moat is from 10 to 12 feet deep, and
about 40 feet wide, but at the south-west angle it is nearly 60 feet
wide, and the two elevations have probably been connected with a
drawbridge. A large oak beam of some such structure was found
at the bottom of the moat in the course of draining some years ago.
No stone or foundations of any kind have been discovered on the
site, which is significant. It seems to me, therefore, highly probable
that no building has ever stood there, and that the enclosure is one
of those places which I have elsewhere noted, as having been made
for the lodgment of cattle, &c., in a warlike era. Such defences
were especially needed also in times when wolves and other wild
creatures infested our dales, while at the same time they afforded
some security against the raids and forays that were frequent in a
former age of civil war and strife. Such moated enclosures are
occasionally found remote from any house or farmstead, as near
Marple and Offerton, and at Heaton Norris in Lancashire.

There are not any very old houses remaining in the village,
although there is plenty of visible evidence of its ancient occupation
in the number of stone querns, and other objects, which have been
turned up in the neighbourhood. In iSgo one ancient quern was
found three feet below the surface while draining on the north side
of Spout House (Mr. F. Carver). Traces of mediaeval iron-works
(see page 13) are also found on the liill slopes at the west end of

119

Rigton and near the top of the hill on the north side, while much
iron scoriae has been dug up at various places, especially in the
gardens of Mr. Isaac H. Robinson.

A generation ago many of the houses wore an antique look with
their rude masonry and tliick roof-thatches. The village inn, the
Square and Compass, had such a covering down to 1896, when it was
partly rebuilt and modernized. Six thatched houses, however, still
remain, an interesting survival exceeding in this respect any other
village of similar population in Wharfedale, if not in Yorkshire.
Among these it is curious to note His Majesty's Post Office, which

Thatched Post Office. North Rigton

stands cosily down by the wayside, with its roof of dry thatch as
durable as, and distinctly more picturesque than the conmion-place
slates of our own time. I present a view of it from a photograph by
Mr. R.Dobson.ofUrswick, brother of the North Rigton schoolmaster.
Also the prefatory picture shows another picturesque old thatch in
Rigton Back Lane, on the road leading to Beckwithshaw.

Modern ideas have done away with such antique features as
thatched roofs in dwelling-houses, though they are still not uncommon
among old churches, and one may count a dozen such well-thatched
churches in the county of Norfolk alone.

I20

At the highest point of the village is Chapel Hill. The site is
now occupied by cottages. Tradition says that an ancient chapel
once stood here, but of its origin and history nothing is recorded.
Jones, however, in his History of Hareimod (page 217), in explaining
the name of Almes Cliflf refers to a belief that the name arose " from
the distribution of almes at certain times, agreeably to the tenor of
legacies left to the chapel which stood there in the i6th century, and
was at tiiat time dedicated to St. Mary. The site of the chapel now
goes by the name of Chapel Hill." I can discover no confirmation
of this statement, but as Almes Clifil and Chapel Hill are fully a
mile separated, can this " distribution of almes " have reference to
the chapel at Stainburn, which was dedicated to St. Mary ? Jones
cites no authority. But in the massive stone-work of the adjoining
walls it would appear that a building of some consequence had
formerly stood here. One of these stones, measuring 30 inches long
and 13 inches broad, I observed bore on its surface portions of a
sculptured cross. It had e\idently been used for a gate-post, and
was afterwards broken for a wall-stone. Many human bones have
been dug up in the vicinity.

At the north-west of the Chapel Hill there stood an old tithe-barn.
It was pulled down about forty years ago. In a terrier of church
property at Kirkby Overblow, dated 1693, 1 find mention of this
interesting structure, also in 1S09 I find it stated: " Rigton has
a tithe-barn 49 feet by 29 feet, and a fold before the same 45 feet
by 30 feet, bounded on the south and west by the glebe in possession
of Peter Harland, on the north by \Vm. Beck, and on the east by
Rigton Towm Street." An Act of Parliament was obtained in 1775
whereby in lieu of all tithes, both great and small, due to the
Rev. Dr. Cooper, then rector of Kirkby Overblow, certain lands
were allotted.

Since the formation of the ecclesiastical parish of Stainburn in
1871, North Rigton, although in the parish of Kirkby Overblow, has
been served by the vicars of Stainburn. There is no church at
Rigton, services being held in the school-room. The last vicar of
Stainburn, the Rev. Walter Hall, is succeeded this year (1903) by
the Rev. Ernest H. Stott, curate of St. Clement's Leeds, and
formerly curate at Otley and Spofforth, who will also have the
spiritual charge of North Rigton. He will reside at the Clergy House
at Rigton, as there is no vicarage at Stainburn. For a few months
before Mr. Stott's appointment the duties at Rigton had been taken
by the Rev. Wm. E. Taylor, M.A., a clergyman who has done
valuable mission work in equatorial Africa, and is well-known for his
translations of the Gospels and other religious works in Swahili.

The National Scliool occupies a pleasant and convenient site at
the low end of the village. It was built in 1851 by the Rev. Mr.
Blunt, rector of Kirkby Overblow, and the Karl of Harewood and
has accommodation for about 100 scholars. The rector of Kirkby
Overblow and the luirl of Harewood are joint trustees and there are
four managers. Prior to the erection of tlie present edifice, the
village school was held in the small building at the south-west
entrance to the village, where the road branches off to Stainburn.
It is now used as a Sunday Scliool by the Wesleyans. Since the
passing of the luhuation Act in 1870, there have been six masters
of the National School, the present master, Mr. Joseph G. Dobson,
having held that position for the past fifteen years, and under his
able guidance the results have been of a highly satisfactory character.
The neighbourhood of Rigton is healthy and bracing, and there is
still a large extent of moorland in the township, well stocked with
grouse. Formerly tlie wild bracken grew in considerable quantities
in some parts of the townsliip, a circumstance which no doubt gave
name to the ancient hamlet of Brackenthwaite here, overlooking the
Crimple. In former times no one might mow or take brackens from
these lands without leave of the lord of the manor. The court-rolls
of the manor contain many indictments for taking brackens without
the lord's licence.

Brackenthwaite is not mentioned in Doiuesdav, but a I'lumpion
charter of the time of Henry II. is witnessed by a Henry de
Brakenthwaite and Adam de Brakenthwaite, shewing that there
were farmholds here at that time. The Plumptons owned this place,
and afterwards the Middletons, of Stockeld.- Several good old
yeoman families are also connected with the place, and from their
wills we learn that the weaving of home-spun was carried on here in
olden times. Soon after the Reformation hand-loom weaving seems
to have been the chief vocation of some members of the Gill family.
A Christ. Gyll, of Brackenthwaite, died in 1566, and in his will is
described as a webster. Other well-to-do members of this family
living here about this time were engaged in husbandry, and perhaps
combined home-weaving with their trade as farmers. A Thomas
Gyll, of Brackenthwaite. who left a will dated December 4th, 1554,
is described as sherman (A.-S. scirman, shireman, an overseer,
bailiff), t and others of this name, who left wills, are referred to as
husbandmen. These Gills were descendants of the families which
were settled at Blubberhouses and Little Timble in the 14th century.

* See Ciimden Soc. vol. iv., page 20, &c. ; Burton's Mun Ehor , page 201.

t An inleresting survival ol a very ancient office Before the Conquest the
" shireman " acted as judge for hearing of disputes concerning lands.

122

Mr. Robinson Gill, of New York, U.S.A., a native of Blubberhouses,
built and endowed the Library and Free School at Timble in 1891-2.
See Mr. Grainge's History of Timbk.

Other families living here were the Dunw'ells (also of Stainburn,
one of whom left three pounds annually for the poor of Stainburn),
Sutills, Brerecliffs, Norfolks, Robinsons, and Isles, all of them old
Forest families. Grace Isles, of Brackenthwaite, who was born in
1724, married a Joshua Hanson, descended from the ancient family
of Hanson, of Norwood and Woodhouse, Rastrick, who bore arms,
or, a chevron counter-compone, argent and azure, between three
martlets, sable. Their pedigree is recorded in Sir William Dugdale's
Visitation, 1666. Several of the houses here are of respectable age,
and one of them bears the initials and date, B.M.S., 1687.

Another substantial old farmstead in the township is Tatefield
Hall, which has undergone much alteration and improvement during
the past thirty years. About the older parts of the house are many
curious mason-marks. In 1560 the property was bought by William
Hill of Richard Aldburgh, Esq., and Eleanor, his wife, who was a
daughter of Thomas Goldsborough, of Goldsborough. Richard's
mother, it may be noted, was a daughter of Sir Ralph Bourchier, of
Beningbrough, whose family were nearly related to Oliver Cromwell,
the Protector. Whether the Hill family ever resided at the Hall is
uncertain. In the sixteenth century they lived at a house in Rigton
called Woodhead, and a Wm. Hill resided there in 1590. For a
considerable period Tatefield Hall has been the property and home
of the Kent family. Indeed there is a tradition that the last
Prior of Knaresborough, whose name was Thomas Kent, died at the
Hall in Richard Aldburgh's time.* Benjamin Kent was living at
the Hall early last century, and his wife Dinah died there in 1827,
aged 48. Mr. B. B. Kent, the present owner and occupant of the
house, is now chairman of the Parish Council.

Horn Bank is another large farm in the township which has been
in the occupation of the Wilkinson family for many generations.
The present house was built about seventy years ago. It is the
property of Lord Harewood. On the north side of the house are
traces of the Roman camp mentioned on pages lo-ii.

At the south-western verge of this township are the picturesque

heights of Almes Cliff, locally pronounced Aulms or Orms Cliff.

The name is doubtless of good antiquity, although I have met with

no earlier mention of it than in Saxton's Map (1577), where it is

spelled Almosclyffe, and in a fine of 1591, when one William Gille

purchased two messuages with lands " in Rygton near Almnscliff."

* In the I'annal registers the name of Kent appears as early as 1665. Perhaps
they were in that parish earlier. A Will, de Kent was vicar of Pannal 1349-64.

123

Many guesses have been made about the meaning of this name, but
the true derivation will, perhaps, never be known. Hargrove derives
it from the Celtic al, a rock, and mias, an altar, quoting Shaw's Celtic
Dictionary as his authority. Another i8th century writer believes that
the principal high rock, with its holy-water cavities on the surface,
has served as an altar to the Druids, and that Almnus and Alumnus
are titles of Jupiter, to wliom this high altar was dedicated.

If the present one-syllable pronunciation was originally a com-
pound, thus Al-mes, 1 should have little hesitation in referring its
origin to the Anglo-Sa.xons, who undoubtedly named the adjoining
townships of Stainburn and Leathley. /El or El in Anglo-Saxon is
fire, whence perhaps ^Imightiga, the Almighty, originally fire-mighty,
in allusion to the pagan sun-god. "/Elmesse " is also literally fire-
mass, a fire or burnt offering, alms or alms-ofTering {see page 120). As
there is no evidence of any ellipsis in the compound it is impossible
to construe it into .Elmetes, that is foreign bounds, or one might be
tempted to define Almes Cliff simply as the cliffs of Elmete.

These majestic crags, which form so conspicuous a feature in the
landscape for many miles round, stand upon an ancient boundary,
and have for a long period separated the two great lordships of the
Earls of Harewood and the Fawkes's of Farnley. Geologically
they belong to the lowest bed of the millstone-grits, that is the
Kinderscout grits, which are well exposed in the Pannal quarries,
and in various parts of upper Wharfedale, notably at the well-known
Strid in Bolton Woods. The Rev. H. T. Simpson, M.A., a former
rector of Adel, thought there was no other spot in the kingdom
which exhibits clearer testimony to the existence of Baal or sun-
worship than at Almes Cliff, where, he says, bonfires are still lighted
(1879) on the first of May, a memorial of the old fire or sun-worship.
At the summit of the great Altar-rock (so-called), which stands about
forty yards south of the chief group, are various shallow cavities and
ducts. The former are generally believed to ha^'e received the sacred
water used in the Druidical rites as it fell unpolluted from heaven.-

Many stories and traditions hover about this place. On the west
side several caverns have been formed by the tumbled rocks, and one
of these, which has never been penetrated to its extremity, is known
as the Fairies' Parlour. At one point the fissure narrows, and is
inaccessible, but standing up against it and listening, you may, it is
said, hear a noise as of rocking, and the older country-folk around will
tell you it is the fairies in their rocking-chairs whiling away the time !

• One of these natural basins (which many believe to be the originals of the
Christian holy-water stoup) is j feet across and about iS inches deep, and another
smaller one, near it, has in late times been called the Wart Well, because its
water was supposed to be a sure cure for warts

124

125

CHAPTER XI\'.

IV. Kf.arby-vvith-Netherbv.

J ,i.'ril( )l '( ] 1 1 this is the smallest township in the parish
^1 it is by no means the least interesting, and one might
I . fill a whole book with the story of its illustrious lords
^1 and other families, notable sites, objects, anecdotes,
and traditions. It was probably in this township or
in the township of Kirkby Overblow, that the lost Todoure of
Domesday was located. Assuming that about half the land in the
parish was taxable in 1083-6, as it appears to have been, and allowing
for the less e.xposed and better tilled character of this place, as
compared with Rigton and Stainburn, the three carucates at Todoure
might very well have been embraced in either of the townships of
Kirkby 0\'erblow (2289 acres) or Kearby (1340 acres). Among the
curious old field-names at Kearby there appears the suggestive one
of Todd Garth, a narrow field on the roadside leading from Clapgate
to Chapel Hill. No family of this name is known to have ever
resided in the township, so that we are compelled to conclude that
it preserves a lingering element of the ancient Todoure, or that it
may be a survival of the Scand. word lod, a fox. In the latter sense
it is occasionally met with in Old English.* There is also on the
same farm a Todd Close, now thrown to a field called the Nun Ing.
How the latter got its name is not known, as there was no land in this
township belonging to any monastery, or is there known to have
been any ancient building on the site. But in this field there are
two wells, one of which was reputed sacred, and in former times
young and old resorted thereto with votive offerings, as they were
wont to do in former times at the famous St. Helen's well near
Newton Kyme.

Another enclosure in the same neighbourhood is Cross Field, and
below Barrowby is Burn Field, which may preserve a corrupt form
of the word Borran, meaning ruins, or the site of a deserted camp.
Then there is the singular name of Morcar Hill, which I have
explained on page 14. Silva Acres Lane is the road that leads from

' Sec Hymn 4 of l\iii's .Iniiii'eisaiy, by Ben Jonson.

126

Netherby to the river, and I find an interesting reference to this old
thoroughfare in the West Riding Sessions Records for 1597-8 to 1602.
By statute of i8th Elizabeth the Justices were empowered to
inquire into and determine the offences of not amending the high-
ways, and at the time above written the local authorities were
indicted for not keeping the " Silvacre loane " in proper repair.
Lidget Closes, on the north side of Clapgate, preserves the old
Anglo-Saxon Lidgate or Ludgate, a postern-gate. March Lane, a
very old lane (now no longer used as a cart road), leading from
Kirkby Overblow to Clapgate and Sicklinghall, suggests the A.-S.
mearc, Fr. marche, a boundary, which it is, lying beside the boundary
of the townships. Clapgate, which generally occurs near river-fords,
I have never seen explained. Can it explain the use of clappers to
warn horsemen-travellers after dark that the waters were out ? Bells
were also used for the same purpose. There is a ford at Netherby
and another lower down the river called Cartick Ford. The old road
from Harewood to Spoffbrth crossed the river here and continued up
Street Road to Clapgate and over Kearby Moor. This common was
enclosed in 1801, and shortly afterwards its first crop was sown and
reaped. At the same time several gates were placed across the
various lanes leading from the townships to mark the extent of
common-right. The old Saxon Lidgate served a similar purpose,
and when the common was taken in a five-and-a-half acre field was
denominated the Lidget Closes. These are very interesting survivals
of Saxon ownership.

Kearby at the Conquest came to the Percies (see page 15), and it
was afterwards held by the Arches family, lords of Thorp Arch, &c.,
and founders of the Nunneries at Monkton and Appleton. Thomas
de Arches, in 1258, held Kearby, or Kereby as then written, as of
the manor of Spofforth at an annual rent to the Percies of 6s.* In
1262 Osbert de Arches paid yearly 6s. 8d. for the use of the mill
pond at Kerbi, which was then attached to the manor of Harewood.
By the marriage of Eva, daughter of the said Osbert de Arches,
with William, Baron Cantilupe, the manor of Kearby came to the
latter family, and in 1284-5 they are returned as the owners thereof.
These Cantilupes were already well known in our district. They
were very distinguished people, who derived their patronym from
the manor of Cantilupe in Shropshire. William, lord of Kearby,
was summoned to Parliament from 1299 to 1308, and he presented
to the rectory of Cowthorpe in 1303 by reason of the dower of Eva,
his wife.f He was cousin to the famous Thomas de Cantilupe,
rector of Kirk Deighton, and afterwards Bishop of Hereford, and

* See my Niddeidak, page 221. t Ibid., page 135.

127

Lord Chancellor of England. He was canonized in 1320, being,
it is said, the last Englishman to receive that honour.

In 1292 William de Cantilupe and his wife were summoned to
shew by what right they claimed to have free warren in all their
demesne lands in Aston, Kereby, Ra\ensthorpe, Boltby and Trilleby,
and infangtheof and gallows in the same places.*

One would like to know where the old gallows stood at Kearby,
claimed by the Cantilupes, no doubt, by virtue of a pre-existing
custom, which ga\e to them the right to seize all goods of felons
taken and executed within the manor. It is, however, very probable
that while the old lords of the manor claimed and exercised this
privilege at Kearby, there were no established gallows, which even in
those days would be required but seldom, and when the necessity
arose, the unfortunate culprits would be hanged on some particular
tree.

William de Cantilupe died in 1309, and his son and heir, William,
the second Baron, died without issue. At his death a dispute arose
as to the rightful heirs to his various properties.! Kearby went to
the family of De Insula, or De L'IsIe, lords of Harewood, and in
1315 Robert del Hill [De L'Isle] was returned as lord of the manor.
From them it passed to the Aldburghs, Redmans, and Stapletons,
who held it until after the Reformation, as related in the history of
Kirkby Overblow.

In 1378 the principal resident in the township was W'illiam son of
Thomas de Nesfield, esquire, who paid 3s. 4d. poll-tax. In 1361
William de Nesfield was Escheator of the King in the city of York,
and in 1368 he was M.P. for county York. In 1349 he endowed the
chapel of St. Mary at Scotton, and in 1370 William de Nesfield and
Christiana his wife, had seizin of their manors of Scotton, Brereton,
&c., and lands in York, Burton Leonard, Scotton, Knaresborough,
Stockeld, &c.{ It was, doubtless, this William who was living at
Kearby in 1378. At this time there were in Kearby 17 married
couples and 17 single adults above the age of 16. These included a
weaver and a mason, and one William Fletcher, whose trade is not
specified. The rest were engaged in agriculture.

A century later we find both the Redmans and Favells, previously
mentioned, living at Kearby. In 1598 one Elizabeth Armistead,
formerly of Kearby, was charged with stealing certain sheets, &c.,
from the house of Christopher Favell of Kearby, and likewise the
same woman did feloniously take certain articles from the house of

* Plac. dc Quo Warranto, 225.

t Hunter's S. Yorks., ii. page 161.

X See ray Niiideidale. page 337 and Upper Wharfeduli. page 269.

128

Richard Redman at the same place. For these larcenies the poor
woman got a severe punishment. She was ordered to be delivered
to the Constable of Kearby, and he to cause her to be stripped naked
from the middle upwards, and " soundlie whypped throwe the said
towne of Keerbie," and by him next to be delivered to the Constable
of Kirkby Overblow, and he was to see to like execution within his
town. But this was not enough. She was then to be handed over
to the Constable of Wetherby and publicly exhibited with her stripe-
marks and lacerations in the market-place on market-day, as an
example to all beholders, and finally to be again whipped with the
cat through the town in manner similar to the foregoing.

Such disgraceful public chastisement, alike on men and women,
continued in force almost within living recollection. Happily, how-
ever, common decency no longer tolerates such exhibitions.

I have already mentioned the Favells of Kirkby Overblow {see
page g8). Edward de Fauvell held Thoralby manor and a capital
messuage of the King in capitc, and of the Honor of Skipton as long
ago as 1284-5. From this family came the Favells of Burnsall and
Kirkby Overblow. Christ. Favell entered his pedigree at York at
the Visitation in 1666. Katherine, wife of Henry Favell, gent., of
Pontefract, his brother, who died in 1699, was daughter and sole
heiress of John Stocks, of Doncaster, and widow of Richard Layton,
of Barrowby Grange, in Kearby township. James Favell. who died
in 1 714, married Lydia, heiress of Christ. Redman, and Redman
Favel, of Normanton, married Ann, daughter of Richd. Wordsworth,
of Normanton, who died in 1700. She was great-aunt to William
Wordsworth, poet-laureate. There are many entries of the family
in the registers of Kirkby Overblow. In 1701 it is recorded that
" Mr. \\'illiam Favell from Kearby," was buried Sept. 21st, and in
1745 the marriage is recorded of Edward Stead and Susanna F'ai\il,
Nov. I ith. Members of the family continued to reside in the parish
down to the present century.

In 1657 the Rt. Hon. Wm. Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, sold the
manor of Harewood, with Kearby, Swindon, &c., to Sir John Lewis,
Bart , and Sir John Cutler, Kt., two London merchants, who had
married two sisters, daughters and co-heiresses of Sir Thos. Foote.
The manor of Kearby subsequently came to the noble House of
Harewood, but in the meantime a good deal of property in the
township had changed hands, and the families of Crompton-Stansfield
and Wilson are now large landowners in the township.

Barrowby in this township was a separate manor at the Conquest,
or rather in two holdings owned by De Burun, ancestor of the poet
Byron, and De Percy [sec page 15). In 1302 there were two

129

carucales here ol' Uic Ice ul Do Kos, lords of Ribslon, i^c. This is
called Berghebi in Domesday, and indicates a village settled by Danes
upon a /;/// (ber}j;h), or in connection with a fortress or encampment
which may be of older date.* Indeed the aspects of the isolated
eminence on which the old Grange at Barrovvby stands sugj^est its
adaptation for such a purpose. On the nortli-west the herg, locally
known as Barrs Mill, descends very abruptly to the valley, and upon
this verge there is an ancient spring, of great importance in the main-
tenance of prehistoric and mediaeval strongholds. Several ancient
querns have been found in this vicinity. The eminence extends for
nearly half-a-mile. parallel with the valley, and at its south-eastern
extremity has the appearance of having been artificially scarped,
perhaps for a stockade. It commands a fine look-out, and I have
heard a tradition that from this point Hare wood Castle was stormed
during the Civil War. But there is no evidence of any such
destruction, and I consider the story very improbable. f

The Crompton-Stansfield family are the principal landowners at
Barrowby, their estate comprising an area of about 500 acres, including
two large farms. Miss C. A. Crompton-Stansfield has recently built
a handsome bungalow here, picturesquely placed in the screen of
sheltering woods, and commanding a beautiful view of the Wharfe
valley. In their summer glory of leaf and blossom the surroundings
of the bungalow are very charming, as will be seen from Miss Hand-
cock's excellent photograph engraved at the beginning of this chapter.
The estate came to the family through the Rookes of Royds Hall. J
Elizabeth Rookes, only daughter and heiress of Marmaduke Rookes,
married Christopher Hodgson, M.D., of Wakefield, and dying in
1789 left her estate at Barrowby to Wm. Rookes, Esq., of Royds
Hall. He married Ann, sister and heiress of Robert Stansfield, of
Bradford, who purchased in 1755, the ancient estate of Esholt Priory
in Airedale, and by this lady he left an only daughter and heiress,
who in 1786 became the wife of Joshua Crompton, Esq., of York.
Mr. Crompton died in 1832, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
William Rookes Crompton, Esq., who having inherited his mother's
estates assumed the additional name and arms of Stansfield. He
died in 1871, having bequeathed his property to his nephew,

* The root may be in the Old Norse berg, Dan. bjaerg, a stony eminence or
elevated rocl;v ground, often selected for a camp or look-out post. Borrowby in
the parish of Leake, and Borrowby in Lythe parish, are both written Bergebi in
Domeaiay. Burythorpe, in Domesday Beigetoif. in the East Riding, is situated
near the Roman road south of Malton. .\lso at Barugh, in Dvmeiday Bag, a
little north of Malton, is a Roman camp.

t See my Lotver Wharfcdale, page 476, &c.

J For early notices of the Rookes family of Royds Hall, scf Bradford Antiquary,
j88i, pages 20 — 25.

130

William Henry Crompton-Stansfield, Esq., of Esholt Hall, Colonel
in the army and M.P., whose daughters are the present owners of
the Barrowby estate.

Barrowby Grange (Mr. John Town) was almost entirely rebuilt
on the site of an older house in 1828. In the course of excavating
the kitchen many human bones were come upon, of which no
satisfactory account could be given. In the i6th century the house
was in the occupation of a family named Gelstropp, who appear
among the Roman Catholic recusants as resident here in 1604. They
were the only declared Roman Catholics living in the parish at that
time. But in 1679 I find a William Shillitoe avowing himself a
Popish recusant at Barrowby. A family of this name were lords of
the manor of UUeskelf, near Kirkby Wharfe, down to about 1840.

At the time of the great Ci\il War, a family named Steele, from
Leeds, was living at Barrowby, and Frances Steele of Barrowby, at
the close of the war, was indicted, along with Miles Dodson of Low
Hall, for collecting aid for the Royalist army, but the charge was
eventually dismissed. About this time, or shortly afterwards, the
family of Harland were living here. Robert Harland died here in
1669, and his son John married and brought up a family at Barrowby.
These Harlands eventually owned a good deal of property at Kearby.
They were a branch of the Sutton-on-the-Forest family, who were
lords of that manor, and resided at Sutton Hall near Easingwold.
Coming down to recent times, a Peter Harland of Barrowby Grange,
died in 1766 aged 52, and his son Peter died in 1813, aged 69. In
the yard at Barrowby Grange an old pump bears his initials and
date 1792. He left a son Peter, who died in 1832, aged 56.

The Harlands of Lund Head were of the same stock. James
Harland of Lund Head, died in 1877, aged 95. He had a son James
who succeeded him there, and who now lives at Harewood. Another
son, Thomas Harland, settled in Leeds, and has been successively a
Councillor and Alderman of that city. Miss Ann Harland, who
lately died at Kirkby Overblow, September 26th, 1903, aged 80, was
his sister. The Lund Head farm forms part of the Barrowby estate,
above mentioned, belonging to the Misses Crompton-Stansfield. It
has been tenanted for several years past by Walter H. Fawkes, Esq.,
third son of the late Rev. Frederick Fawkes, M.A., the squire of
Farnley Hall.

The Brearcliffes were also an old local family who long resided in
another house at Barrowby Grange. Toby Brearclifife died there in
1828, aged 62, and William, his son, died in 1859, aged 61. Matthew,
another son, died in 1892, aged 83, leaving a son William, who died
in 1893, aged 57.

'31

At Low Barrowby, the property of Lord lliuevvood, there is also
a good old house, which has been the home of the Mallories for
many generations. They are a branch of the knightly family of
Mallory of Studley, near Ripon, and were landowners at (Jriniston
near Tadcaster, in the 13th century.' The present Mrs. Mallorie of
Low Barrowby is a sister of the above Mr. [anies Ilarland of
Hare wood.

One might extend these notes on Kearby families almost indefinitely.
The Ridsdales, Wrays, Wardmans, Steads, and others might be
noted. The Wrays kept the well-known Clapgate inn early in the
19th century, and were followed by the Browns, who remained there
for the best part of a hundred years. The Wardmans have now
three farms in the township, namely Carlston House (with its curious
round hill of the name close by), Carlshead House, and Paddock
House. The Steads have lived at Town End or Owl End Wood,
locally Hooley Head, Kearby, for about a century. Mr. Michael
Stead has lately started a brewing business there under the style of
the Wharfe Spring Brewery. On his farm are the Todd Close, Nun
Ing, and Cross Field enclosures, previously mentioned. Strange
stories of sorcery and witchcraft are associated with this locality.
Some years ago, while digging in the garden in front of Michael
Stead's house at Town End, a curious old bottle full of needles was
found buried. It is generally thought to have been deposited there
by one of the old wizards of the neighbourhood. They had a won-
derful reputation for fortune telling at one time. Richard Burdsall,
the founder of local Methodism, tells us that he once went with a
friend to consult with an astrologer as to their future life. The wise
man told them that by tracing the planets he was able to tell men's
destinies. Burdsall was thereupon told that he was born under a
watery planet, and was in danger of being drowned, were it not that the
Moon's house, the house next to that under which he was born, was
a dry one ! Much more follows, showing how far superstition had
hold of the minds even of intelligent people. At that time there
were two well-known witc:hes living at Kearby, who, I am told, were
consulted by young and old, but chiefly by the female kind anxious
to settle comfortably in life. One of these was Jinny Pullan, who
lived down at Netherby, and the other was Joan, or better known
as Jan Janson, who traded in poultry, and woe betide the unfortunate
beings who did not accept her price when she went to make her
purchases ! They were sure to find their feathered ones dead on the
morrow ! The knowing ones of the neighbourhood used to declare
that they once beheld the startling spectacle of old Jan crossing the

* Sff my Lower Wharlidale, page 194.

132

Wharfe in a riddle, supported only by a broom stick ! Many other
wondrous tales are told about her.

And this reminds me of another local story of the Wharfe I have
heard, which may be here repeated. A man from Clapgate had
occasion to visit the Travellers' Rest, a public-house on the opposite
side of the valley. The iron bridge at Woodhall was not then built,
and the river had to be forded. On his return, half-seas over, in
crossing the river he fell amongst the stones and was unable to
extricate himself. He lay in such a position that the water soon
began to trickle into his mouth. Apparently this was not the stuff
for his palate, so imagining himself in a cosy corner he exclaimed :
" Not a sup more, thank you !" But the water still flowed in, and
his voice rose to a higher pitch : " I don't want a drop more, thanks !"
But still the water entered his mouth unheeded, and he then tried to
raise himself, at the same time shouting with an oath, " I want no
more !" A farm labourer who had witnessed the proceeding then
came to him and assisted him safely out of the " sups."

Kearby Feast, on which occasion the above incident is said to have
happened, used to be a big affair, and was attended by people from
most of the surrounding villages. It was commemorated on the
first Sunday after the 8th of May, and continued tor several days.
The sports which are now held at Clapgate were, in the early part
of last century, held in the Town's Pasture down by the river-side,
where horse-races and other festivities were indulged in.

At that time there was a boarding-school at Morcar Hill, kept by
a Mr. Samuel Hodgson. He had as many as fifty or sixty boarders,
chiefly from about Leeds and Bradford, but some of the boys came
from long distances, the school having a good repute. This was in
the thirties or early forties. The school was then gi\en up, as the
proprietor, for some unaccountable reason, failed. His son Alfred
continued to farm the adjoining land, but eventually gave it up and
emigrated to America. If one had the full record of this long-
deserted academy what an interesting story it would be ! Indeed,
what changes, what vicissitudes of human fate are compassed in the
life of a public school ! How reminiscent too of many lives and
fortunes would be the fast-vanishing story of the old deserted school
at Morcar Hill ! But few, doubtless, of the pupils are now living.
Amongst them, however, is the printer of this book, Mr. George F.
Sewell, who has been good enough to put together the following
interesting sketch of his recollections of the school sixty or more
years ago. Mr. Sewell, it may be added, as Honorary Secretary of
the Bradford Festival Choral Society, is well known in the musical
world about Bradford, and his impressions of the (juaint music

133

of the parish churcli at Kirkby Overblow are of more than passing
interest.

Among the earliest recollections of my youthful days are those connected with
the school at Morcar Hill. It was about the year 1840 that I became a pupil at
this school. The master, Mr. Samuel Hodgson, was a man of imposing presence,
much given to the use of words of ■■ learned length and thunderous sound," and
by no means unmindful of the ancient proverb, " Spare the rod and spoil the
child " Many of his pupils were from Leeds and Bradford. One portion of the
curriculum deeply impressed itself upon my youthful mind. Once or twice a
week the boys were mustered in regular order in front of the school-house, and
each boy in turn was compelled to drink a tumbler of that potent sulphureous
liquid yclept Harrogate water, a compound which, whatever its health-giving
properties may be, is a most nauseous draught. Probably it had its due effect
upon us, though I cannot say, but it reminds one forcibly of Dotheboys Hall and
Mrs. Wackford Squeers. In tho.se days, too, the Earl' of Harewood's hounds
often had a meet in this neighbourhood, and when they chanced to pass the
school-house in full cry, there was a perfect stampede amongst us. study was at
once abandoned, and the boys rushed out wildly in pursuit of the hunt !

On Sunday mornings llie pupils were marched in solemn procession to the
church at Kirkby Overblow, and the quaint and primitive appearance of the
interior, and the rude fashion of the singing is strongly impressed on my mind
even at this distance of time. These were the days when the organ had not yet
supplanted the bass viol, the clarionet, flute, and bassoon. Well do I remember
one of the strange, old tunes which was often sung. It is known by the name of
•■ Peru," and is of a peculiarly weird character. It is still to be found in some
old collections of psalmody, but I have never heard it sung since those days.
Chanting the psalms was then to be heard only in cathedral churches, and at
Kirkby Overblow they were read in alternate \-erses by the parson and clerk.
The Te Deum and the other canticles were sung to florid Anglican chants, and the
" amens " at the end of the prayers were uttered in sonorous fashion by the clerk.
The e.Nistence of the school was abruptly terminated by the bankruptcy of
Mr. Hodgson, and all the boys were sent home. A few months ago I paid a visit
to the old school, but how changed was the scene ! The building erected as a
temple of the Muses was then tenanted by poultry, and tilled with rubbish of all
descriptions. Where had formerly been heard the voice of learning, was now to
be heard only the quacking of ducks and the cackle of poultry. Altogether the
place had a melancholy and neglected appearance, and one which contrasted
strongly with the recollections of my youth.

Looking now upon the ruined and abandoned school, amid its
rustic surroundings, one is irresistibly reminded of the "vain
transitory splendours " pictured by Oliver Goldsmith in his poem of
The Deserted Village.

■■ Besides yon straggling fence that skirts the way.
With blossom'd furze, unprofitably gay.
There in his noisy mansion, skill'd to rule.
The village master taught his little school ;

But past is all his fame The very spot
Where many a time he triumph'd is forgot !"

134

But these few notes, it is hoped, will rescue the spot from complete
oblivion. Part of the old academy is now, as Mr. Sewell observes,
used as an outhouse attached to the farm occupied by Abm. Harper,
whose late father, Isaac Harper, was schooled here in the old days.*

Still another site of traditional note at Kearby is Chapel Hill, a
name it has borne from time immemorial, yet the origin thereof is
lost in obscurity. Tradition says that a chapel once stood there, but
I can discover no records of such a foundation. It was probably a
private oratory like many such still e.xisting in the Yorkshire Dales,
of which the origin and history are unknown.! Mr. John Bateson,
blacksmith, of Clapgate, has a few old notes on the district, and from
them I gather that about the year 1735 the river-course at the foot
of Chapel Hill was altered in consequence of a curve or bed. Some
twelve acres of land were then added to the Harewood side, yet the
owners and tenants of the land still pay rates to Kearby. In the great
frost of 1814 large quantities of stone for building purposes were
carried across the river, which was hard frozen here for several weeks.

The Wesleyans built their chapel at Kearby in i8og. But they
were a strong force in the district long before that time. The pioneer
of the sect, Richard Burdsall {sec -page 4.^), was born at Kearby, and
was the son of Richard and Judith Burdsall. He was baptized at
the parish church of Kirkby Overblow 22nd March, 1735. His
mother died in 1786. He died at the age of 88. He was a remarkable
man, of indomitable energy and perseverance. For 62 years he was

* Since the above was printed an interesting note has reached rae from
Mr John Rigby, of Blackburn, who was a pupil at the school so long ago as
i*'34-5- Mr. Rigby was born at Liverpool in 1822, and states that he was the
only boy from Lancashire at the time he attended the school. The lads he
remembers as boarders came from about Leeds and Huddersfield, and there were
also two sons of a Mr. Holmes, postmaster of Market Weighton. Recalling his
boyhood days, he writes: "The two years which I spent at Morcar Hill are
among the pleasantest in my recollection. The master was a generous man and
had a very kind and engaging manner. He was fond of music, and on one
occasion I remember, he mounted his favourite cob ' Jonathan ' and rode to York
to attend the Musical Festival there, and was absent several days. The boys
visited all the nice places round about, and the district is very dear to me. In
October, 1S76. I walked from Spofforth to Morcar Hill and saw my old master's
son, and then went on to Harrogate. I have also vivid recollections of going to
the old church at Kirkby Overblow, nearly seventy years ago. The clerk, named
Snowball, was an aged man with a quavering voice, and we boys used to try and
imitate his ' amen. " It was doubtless this old clerk who filled the post of village
schoolmaster in 1809 {see page 70). Mr. Rigby gives other reminiscences, remark-
ing that he was one of twenty boys from this school who were privileged seats
during divine service in Harewood Church in 1835, on the occasion of the visit
of our late Queen, then Princess Victoria. See Lim-er Wharfedale, page 473.

t See my Richmondshire, pages 218, 368, &c.

135

ill tlic

Wesleyan ministry, and continued to preach regularly up to
within 14 days of iiis death. He preached his first sermon in his
own house on the descent of Chapel Hill, and tiie pulpit he used
was kept there until about i860. His home at Kearby was eventually
licensed for preaching, and services were regularly held there from
about 1760 to 1782. At Linton, too, he preached in James Halby's
barn some time about 1762, and Methodism has continued there

ever since.

I have previously alluded to the thoroughly superstitious character
of the time, and in further illustration of this the following incident
IS related in connection with the rebellion of 1745. Many wild
rumours had got abroad, and much excitement prevailed in the
country, especially in those parts actually invaded by the armies.
"To add to the public fear and amazement," says Burdsall, "a
blazing comet appeared e\ery night in the west, which all considered
as a presage of approaching devastation and ruin. At the same
time," he goes on to say, " a great noise was raised in our neighbour-
hood about a people called Inghamites, and the general opinion was
that under the prete.xt of religion their intention was to join the
Pretender. It was even reported that they were on their way for
this purpose, and only eight miles from our village, and that many
of them had been put in a pond. I was not a little troubled at the
thought of their approach, and concluded that if those who had been
cast into the pond had been drowned, it would have been what they
richly deserved." As it happened part of General Wade's army
passed through Swindon and Kirkby Overblow in pursuit of the
retreating Jacobites.

Another strange story is related of a dream Burdsall had about
three months before he died. He was going, we are told, from Kirkby
Overblow to Kearby, the place of his birth, when he met a coffin
moving towards him, but how it moved he could not tell. He asked
whose coffin it was, and being answered that it was for Richard
Burdsall, he cried out: "Glory! glory! glory!" and so awoke
himself. He died Feb. 25th, 1824, and was interred in the churchyard
of St. Lawrence without W'almgate Bar in York. The funeralWas
very largely attended, there being several thousand persons present,
including the ministers of the circuit and many local preachers,
besides a large concourse of singers from New Street and Albion
Street chapels. He wrote a simple and unaffected memoir of himself,
which was re-issued with an appendi.x in 1838. It is now a rather
scarce book. He was spared to outlive all the obloquy and opposition
to which his denomination was so long subjected, and also to see it
become a \igorous and flourishing branch of the great Church of

136

Christ. He himself had done not a little to promote that end, and
as time went on found that in place of gibes and sneers and the
persecutions of his early life a generous catholicity of spirit grew up
among church-folk and dissenters, which has continued to the
present time.

Mr. BurdsalFs family was of respectable standing in this part of
the country. One of the family, the Rev. Thomas Burdsall, was
presented to the living of Cawood by Richard, Lord Protector,
October 27th, 1659, but was ejected by the Act of Uniformity in
1662. The Rev. Richard Burdsall, of Kearby, had a daughter Mary,
who married Mr. John Lyth, who died in 1853, and was descended
from the ancient family of Lyth or Leyth of Whitby, Scarborough,
and Newton Pickering. Several of the children of John and Mary
Lyth were greatly distinguished in the Wesleyan ministry. Richard
Burdsall Lyth, of York, was one of the first Wesleyan Methodist
missionaries to I'iji, and he translated portions of the Holy Scriptures
into the native tongue. He worked hard among the islanders and
lived to see the whole population converted to the faith of Christ.
His brother, William Robert Lyth, of York, was author of a poem
in four books, published in 1854, ^^^ ^ younger brother was the
famous Rev. John Lyth D.D., who was more than forty years a
Wesleyan minister, and for some time a superintendent of the
Wesleyan Missions in Germany. He died in 1886, aged 65. The
story of his life is told in the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine, and an
account of him and his lineage (with portrait), appears in Turner's
Yorkshire Genealogist, vol. i., pages 54 — 57.

Among other notable local Methodists mention should be made of
the Rev. Isaac Denison, who was born at North Rigton in 1797.
He died in 1859. .Seethe Wesleyan Methodist Magazine ior July, 1861.
Wm. Denison, of Huby, was also born at Rigton in 1786. His
father was the friend of Richard Burdsall, and one of the earliest
members of the Wesleyan community. He himself was a member
of the body for 44 years, of which period he was 27 years a class
leader. He died in 1859.

137

CHAPTER XV.

V. SlCKl.INGHALL.

r'i.

r^xi^^rf^'"''^ ancient township lies at the eastern extremity of

e parish, and its eastern boundary, a little beyond

Woodhall, is nine miles distant from the western

boundary of the township of Stainburn. Thus the

outermost limits of the old parish of Kirkby Overblow

are nine miles apart, with an averajje breadth of two miles, and as

previously explained, thi.s wide area was embraced in the original

" priest's share " or parish.

The village and township enjoy a pleasant southern aspect on a
wide verdant slope reaching down to the Wharfe towards East
Keswick and Collingham. The name of Sicklinghall is peculiar,
and may indicate the hall or seat of the sons or family of the original
Anglo-Saxon owner. In Domesday it is written Sidingale and
Sidingal;* in Kirkby's Inquest (1284-5) it is Siclinghalle ; in the
Knights' Fees of 1302 it is Sykelynghall, and in the Nomina Villamm
(1315) it is written Sigglinghall.t

In 1083-6 the manor was in the hands of the Kinj,', and it seems
probable that it formed part of the Conqueror's original grant of the
Honour of Skipton and Harewood to Robert de Romille. The
manor of Addingham, in W'harfedale, w^as included in this grant,
and early in the 13th century this manor was in the hands of the
Vavasours. John le Vavasour obtained a charter of free warren
there in 1251, and John le Vavasour, presumably the same person,
was lord of Sicklinghall at the same time. According to the Hundred
Rolls he was living at Woodhall in this township, 2nd Edward I.
(1273). He died soon afterwards, and his widow, Alice, daughter
and heiress of Robert Cockfield. was returned as lady of the manor
of Sicklinghall in 1284-5. She was succeeded by Walter le Vavasour
(apparently not her son), whose widow, Elena, was lady of the manor
* Not Sidingall as printed on page 15.

t Silsden, which occupies a sunny slope on the north side of the Aire valley,
is usually written in ancient documents Siglesdene, most probably derived from
the Anglo-Saxon iigcl. the sun. gen. ugles, hence the valley of the sun, or sunny
valley.

138

in 1 3 15. These Vavasours were large landowners in Wharfedale,
their principal seat being at Hazlewood Castle, near Tadcaster, and
they were also long resident at Weston, near Otley, a manorial
property held by them for nearly fi\e centuries. Sir John \'avasour
of Weston, married Margaret, daughter of Sir Peter Middleton,
High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1334-5- He died in 1356, and according
to his inquisition p.m., he died seized of Stubham, Stockeld,
Sicklinghall, Newsam near Spofforth, and Ireby in Cumberland.
There were other marriages subsequently between the Middletons
and the \'avasours of Hazlewood and Weston. For many centuries
members of the latter family resided in the parish of Kirkby Overblow.

Among the Stockeld Deeds* are many references to an ancient
family who took their name from this place, and whose arms were
the same as those borne by Gervase Paganel or Paynel.f In the
13th century Nicholas de Secelinghall was a witness to a deed of
John ill John de Stockeld, of lands in Stockeld, and his brother,
Robert de Sicklinghall, gave lands in Azerley, near Kirkby Malzeard
ca. 1244, to provide a light in the Knights Templars' Chapel on
Penhill, in Wensleydale.J John fil Nicholas de Secelinghaw is
witness to a quitclaim by Radulphus de Stockelde and others to
Henry de Cas (tley ?). In 1321 Robert de Sicklinghall is witness to
another quitclaim of lands in Stockeld. And it is apparently a son
of this Robert, namely William fil Robert de Sicklinghall, who is
concerned in a grant of land in Wetherby to Simon de Werreby.§
A Thomas de loft de Sinclinghall also appears in 1 344.1

The Knights Templars had an old property in Sicklinghall, and in
1307 a writ was issued commanding the Sheriff of Yorkshire to
attach all the Templars in his jurisdiction, seize all their lands and
goods, together with their charters, writings, and muniments, and
certify the Treasurer and liarons of the Exchequer of his proceedings.
Immediately following the issue of this mandate, an inventory was
taken of all the possessions of the Templars in Neusom, Wythele,
Etton, Westerdale, Wetherby, Sikklinghale, Coupemanthorpe, &c.
These properties were transferred to the Knights of St. John of
Jerusalem, and in an account of their possessions, made in 1338, they
are stated to hold a carucate of land in Sicklinghall.*

The population in 1378, as derived from the Poll Ta.\ returns for
Sicklinghall (or Syglynghale as then written) consisted of only about
a dozen families, and none of the names enumerated in this tax now

* Cited in the Yorks. County Mag., vol. i., page 35, 26y, &c.

t Yorlti. Aiclucl. J I., vii., 446. J Sec my Riclimoiidsliirc, page 420.

§ Ancient Deeds, vol. 3, d749 (Public Record Office).

II Yorks. Co. Mill;., page 270. ^ Sec my \'iddcydalc, page lyg.

139

occur in the township. The principal local resident, and presumably
lord of tlie manor, was Kichard de Middton, fmihlaiii, doubtless of
Stockeld, who paid 3s. 4d. ; the rest paid 4d. each. Among the
names are Crokebayn, Diconwyfdowson, Hardy, Lyghfote, Golias,
Redeberd, and Pynder. The latter patronym was derived from the
office or occupation followed by its owner, and the old pinfold still
stands by the road side at the west end of the village.

Among the older local families were those of Longfellow and
Pullein. The former were yeoman farmers at Stockeld early in the
17th century. Put their name is found in tlie earliest registers of
the neighbouring parishes of Otley, Guiseley, llkley, Leathley, &c.
John Longfellow, a Sicklinghall benefactor, had a younger brother,
William Longfellow, of Horsforth, who died in 1704. He was
lineal ancestor of the famous American poet, and his daughter
Mrs. Timothy Stables, succeeded to an interest in the Horsforth
property. John Stables, a descendant of Timothy, it is sad to note,
committed suicide in October, 1805, through trouble brought on by
the murder of his brother William Stables, in the July previous.
Whether they were related to the Kirkby Overblow Stables 1 have
not ascertained. The Longfellows owned various properties about
Horsforth* and in Wharfedale. John Longfellow, above mentioned,
was a property owner at llkley, laut he died at Stockeld in 1605-6,
and made various charitable bequests to the local poor. He left
I OS. annually to the poor of Spofforth, 3s. 4d. to Follifoot, and 5s. to
Sicklinghall. In the Charity Commissioners' Report there is mention
of a rent-charge of 13s. 4d. for the benefit of the poor of Spofforth
parish, but the donor is said to be unknown. Probably it is John
Longfellow's gift.

The Pulleins were living at Sicklinghall in the 17th century, if
not earlier, and their name occurs frequently in the oldest registers
of the parish. A branch of the family, which sprang from Scotton
in Nidderdale, was long resident at Burley in W'harfedale, which
manor they purchased of the Middletons early in the 17th century.
Some of the family were living at Ribston before the Reformation,
and George Pulleyn bought of the Ampleforths of Kirkby Overblow,
a messuage with lands at Ribston in 1536. A Francis Pullein of
Sicklinghall, died in 1638, and a copy of his inquisition p.m., is
preserved among the Yorkshire MSS. (No. 173) at the Leeds Public
Library.

Two of the oldest families in the township of Sicklinghall were
the Archers and Elsworths, whose names are very frequent in the
parish registers. There are no Archers in the parish now. This, it

* See my Airedale, Goole to Malham, pages 94-5

I40

may be stated, is one of the oldest surnames on record, and is found in
Yorkshire at an early period." It was clearly given to a family or
to families who originally shot or fought with a bow, and the latter,
as a forester's weapon rather than as a warlike one, is of high
antiquity .f The first Archer of Sicklinghall I have met with is one
John Archer, who was buried " in the Kirke of Alhallows of Kirkeby
Overblowers" in 1521. By his will, dated 13th July, 13 Henry VIIL,
he bequeaths 3s. 4d. to the said kirke for 2 torches : to the high
altar, lad. ; to the chantry altar, 4d. ; and to Our Lady's altar a
whie or young heifer. These bequests are interesting, and show
that there were at least two altars in the church, the third altar of
Our Lady being in the Metropolitan Church of York. This chantry
was of the foundation of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland
(who died 1537), and among other property was endowed with a
yearly rent of loos. coming out of the parsonage of Kirkby
Overblow.]; The testator also leaves to Sir William Nowitt,
chaplain, los. for a trentall of masses, and the said priest, with
Richard Bilburgh and \Mlliam Gristhwaite, are witnesses to the
will. He leaves a widow and two children, but their names are not
stated. There was a Ralph Archer, of Thorp Arch, who died in
1609, and of whose effects administration was granted to \\'illiam
Archer, his natural and lawful son. Martin Archer was buried at
Kirkby Overblow, April 14th, 1677, and his widow, Bridget, in 1682.
Their eldest son, Matthew Archer, of Sicklinghall, was baptized at
Kirkby Overblow Jan. i6th, 1652, and married at Skipton-in-Craven
Sept. 26th, 1680, Mary, daughter of Thomas and Ann Moorhouse,
of Close House, in the parish of Skipton, lineal ancestors of the
present writer. § Matthew Archer's children are mentioned in their
grandmother's will, dated 1698, in my possession.

But the Moorhouses seem to have been living in the parish of
Kirkby Overblow long before this time. I find that in April, 1591,
a marriage license was granted for John Brerey, of Fewston, to be
married to Elizabeth Morehouse in the church at Stainburn. The
Brereys were a good old family resident at Menston, in the old parish
of Otley, for many centuries. |[

The above Mary Archer had a sister, Ann Moorhouse, who
likewise married a Sicklinghall yeoman of good family, named John
Elsworth, whose children are also mentioned in their grandmother

' See Memorials oj Families 0/ the surname Archer, quarto (i86i).
t See Genesis, xxi., 20. % Surtees Sac., vol. 91, page 22.

§ For pedigree of Moorhouse, from 1378 to the present time, see my Upf-er
Wharfedale, pages 338-9.
II See my Upper Wharfedale, page 161.

'4'

Moorhouse's will. l"or nearly two centuries they lived in one house,
which was pulled down a few years ago and a new one was erected
on the site by Mr. P'oster, of Stockeld, and is now tenanted by
Mr. Groves. John Hlsworth died in 171 1, and his wife Ann in 1702.
I-5oth are buried at Kirkby Overblow. They left a numerous progeny,
and their descendants have continued at Sicklinghall and neighbour-
hood as yeoman proprietors to the present time. A daughter of
Mr. Elsworth, of Dun Keswick, was recently married to the son and
heir of Sir James Swales, Bart., of Kudfarlington.

Roman Catholicism has never been wholly extinct in the district
from the time of the Reformation, although only one family is
mentioned for the parish of Kirkby Overblow in the returns for
1604. Hut Richard Burdsall, in referring to events of more than a
century ago, says that there were then many families of this
persuasion living at Sicklinghall. They then attended the Catholic
chapel at Stockeld. Some still remain here, and in the village they
have now a handsome church, with a monastery attached, called the
Lys Marie Monastery, of the Order of the Immaculate Conception.
The church, together with the house, was erected in 1852, at a cost
of about ^8000, by Peter Middleton, Esq., son of the " good
Mr. Middleton," of whom some account will be found in my volume
on Upper Wharfedale. They have also a church at Wetherby,
opened in 1872, which is served from Sicklinghall.

Since the building at Sicklinghall was put up, two wings have
been added by the Order for the monastery, and a beautiful Lady
Chapel has also been annexed to the church in memory of the
founder and his wife, who are interred there. All the windows are
richly stained, the east window of three lights being particularly
handsome. In the churchyard there are many beautiful memorials,
including a stone monument in the form of a wayside-cross, which
was erected to the memory of Rev. Dr. Cornthwaite, the first
Catholic Bishop of Leeds (1878), who died in June, 1890, aged 72.

The village is pleasantly and picturescjuely situated on the sunny
side of the Wharfe, and lies on a favourite round for carriage drives
by Harewood Bridge, Wetherby, and Harrogate. There were
formerly three inns in the village, but now there is only one, the
Scott Arms, a very picturesque-looking building, with a long front of
four projecting bays, and between each window there usually hangs
in the fine season very prettily-arranged baskets of flowers. In the
heat of summer it is difficult to resist the temptation to leave the
dusty road and step beneath its overhanging eaves for a brief respite
in its well-shaded rooms. The design of this pretty wayside hostelry
might be imitated with advantage in many other country places.

142

No doubt in former times, and probably down to near the close of
the 17th century, most of the houses were " post-and-pan " or half-
timber structures, with thatched roofs, dating perhaps from the 14th
or 15th century. A terrible conflagration broke out among them in
1684, when no fewer than 23 houses and 2 large barns, with kilns,
&c., together with their contents, were almost totally destroyed by
the fire. The buildings were valued at ^1180, and the goods lost at
^843. It was a sad affair, and the cause of much distress. Letters
patent were issued soon afterwards, and collections were made
throughout England on behalf of the unfortunate sufferers. '■' A
similar disastrous fire occurred at Follyfoot a few years later (1690),
when nearly a dozen houses and other buildings were destroyed, and
the inhabitants had to petition the country for relief. In a terrier of
glebe lands, cV-c, belonging to the rectory of Kirkby Overblow in
1693, I find the Sicklinghall fire alluded to in the following reference
to the church appurtenances :

Item. In Sicklinhall, one house wch- was burnt down, to wch. belongs one
acre of ground.

Much rebuilding and improvement have taken place within the
last fifty or sixty years, and the village now presents a quite up-to-
date aspect. Long after the great fire some of the houses retained
their roofs of picturesque old thatch. A tenement of this description
stood at the back of the post-office, and for a long time was tenanted
by Thomas Batty. It was removed about 1830, and the houses
adjoining, including the post-office, were built on the site. There
was also an old thatched building where the school stands at the top
of the village, while the cottage at the bottom of the village, now
occupied by old Mrs. Linfoot, was also thatched. The pinfold, near
the pond, is not used now, and the old village stocks, which
disappeared thirty or forty years ago, stood opposite the east
entrance to the burial-yard of the Roman Catholic Church. Before
the latter was built the site was occupied by an old cottage and
smithy.

In 1830 an agreement was made between the guardians of the
poor of the townships of Sicklinghall, Rainton, Skipton, Baldenby
and Marton-le-Moor, to house their poor at Great Ouseburn, and in
order to better maintain and employ them, they decided to rent
certain buildings and land there suitable for a garden. The W'etherby
Union Workhouse was not opened till 1862.

Besides the Catholic church, at Sicklinghall, there is a very neat
Protestant church (St. Peter's), which was built about twenty years

* The Leathley parish accounts contain an entry of 14s, lod collected on
July I2th, 1OS5, for the benefit of the sufferers.

143

ago. From about 1850 the church services at Sicklinghall were held
in the school-room. Thirty years later, a strong desire for a more
suitable building for divine service, ripened into a determination by
Mrs. Johnstone Scott, of W'oodhall, to raise funds for the purpose,
and her e.vertions were crowned with success. The foundation stone
of the church was laid by H. H. Johnstone Scott, Esq., on Sept. 12th,
1881, on land given for the purpose by that gentleman, and the
building was dedicated to the service of Almighty (iod on September
2oth, 1882. It is built of stone in the Gothic style of architecture,
— ashlar lined--with apsidal chancel (after the manner of the early
Christian churches), vestry, bell-turret, &c. It accommodates about
100 persons. The pulpit was given by the Rev. J. J. Toogood,
rector, and the church in 1901 was lighted, by subscription, with a
four-light lamp, corona and brackets.

^SM^>^ ^^^m.im^m&u,.^^(^

St. Peters Church. Sicklinghall

The School at Sicklinghall was built by Mrs. Fenton Scott, of
Woodhall, in 1850, and the building is the property of the owner
of the Woodhall estate, H. R. Johnstone Scott, Esq., in whom it has
always had a generous supporter. Since 1871 it has been carried on
as a Public Elementary School under the Act. The head teachers
have been: Mr. Haigh, 1864-6; Mr. J. Wilkinson, 1866-8; Miss
Anne Brooke, 1868-70; Miss Whiteley, 1871-84; Miss Hannah
Mary Slather, 1884-93; Miss Elizabeth Healey, 1893.6; Mrs. Dykes,
1897-8 ; Miss Florence Roundhill, 1898 to the present time.

144

The church occupies an elevated position near the main road
leading to Kirkby Overblow. All the country traversed by this
upland road towards Clapgate was for centuries a wild open moor,
and was not enclosed till 1801. Round about were several gates
placed at the various lane-ends to prevent cattle straying from the
open common. No gates are there for that purpose now, although
there is one in front of the comfortable old hostelry at Clapgate,
which, however, " hinders none." Upon it we read the legend :

This gate hangs well and hinders none,
Refresh and pay and travel on.

And as we travel on towards Sicklinghall, enjoying the fresh breezes,
we give a wide berth to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, clean, tidy,
and well managed though it is known to be. This airy institution,
which was built at a cost of ^3000, was opened two or three years
ago and serves a wide district round Wetherby. Leaving it on our
right we soon come in sight of the way-side pond, with the gable
and turret of St. Peter's Church rising picturesquely beyond, as
displayed in the engraving on page 143.

Sicklinghall has also a Wesleyan Chapel dating from 1822. Before
the chapel was built, services were held in a house in the village.
Richard Burdsall tells us that for nine years in succession, from
1763 to 1772, he preached once a week there in a house specially
licensed for the purpose. The society suffered much persecution in
its early efforts to promote the cause of Methodism in the village.
One night in particular, observes Mr. Burdsall, much opposition
and annoyance was experienced while he and his friends had
assembled for worship. The mob collected and made fast the door ;
they then surrounded the house with kids of whin or furze as out-
works, after which a dead sheep was let down the chimney. Other
unseemly opposition to their services took place at difTerent times
though happily these ungodly proceedings are now long of the past.
With that catholicity of spirit which should govern every well-
regulated community we have wisely learned to yield our prejudices
to the nobler cause of the Master.

.\lthough any irreverence or interruption in the proper exercise of
the divine ofSces has always been punishable by law, yet it often
happened in former times of perfervid animosity in matters of
religion that the people took the law into their own hands, and did
pretty much as they liked. Other breaches of public discipline and
misconduct were generally amenable to the Church. This was
especially the case in criminal offences, as ordained by the very old
law of sanctuary, '■■ though in later times when the parties were

' Sec my Upper iVIiarJcdalc, page 37.

adniilted guilty, it was customary to go througii the ordeal of a
public confession in the church. If the offender refuse, abscond, or
suffer apprehension for further misconduct, recourse was had to
excommunication, with its divers civil and ecclesiastical penalties.

'I lie registers of Kirkby Overblow illustrate a case of this kind.
It is therein recorded that on November ist, 1729, one John Beane,
of Sicklinghall, was excommunicated for contumacy in a case of
immorality. It was evidently necessary in this case to resort to this
extreme indictment. Ordinarily such offences were punishable by
public penance, as above stated, before the congregation in church.
On a certain Sunday or festival the penitent, clothed in a white sheet,
walked, candle in hand, barefooted, in front of the procession at the
church, then kneeling before the high altar uttered a prayer for
forgiveness. This ordeal was inflicted on male and female alike.
But for particular offences, severer measures were adopted, and a
law enacted in the time of the Commonwealth ordered the culprit to
be publicly whipped at the church on Sunday. Although I have met
with no record of the exercise of this custom within present
recollection, the act remained in the Statute Books so recently as
1876, when it was repealed. In some churches there was a special
penance-chair provided for the offender to occupy during divine
service. Thus at Kildwick-in-Craven I find it stated that among
the appurtenances of the church in 1695 was "one Pennance stool."
But I have not discovered that any such penitential chair was ever
in use at Kirkby Overblow.

The country round about Sicklinghall is very pleasant, and is
well cultivated. Among the old field-names I have noticed Black
Hill {see page 7), Great and Little Gilbert (has this any connection
with the famous old lord, Gilbert Fitz Reinfrid, mentioned on page
21 ?), Temple Spring, Kilsyke, Tod Garth, and Skerry Grange, the
two latter forming part of the old estate of the Middletont,. The
principal family seats in the neighbourhood are Stockeld Park
(Robert J. Foster, Esq., D.L.), which, however, is in Spofforth
parish, and Woodhall, situated near the south-eastern verge of the
township of Sicklinghall.

Woodhall — a name significant of the picturesque old style of
building, — is a very ancient residential property, and though not
mentioned in Domesday, it appears in written evidences as early as
the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of 2nd Edward I. (1273),
John le \'avasour is recorded as then living at Wodehall in Claro
Wapentake, and there is every probability that it was the manor-
house of the lords of Sicklinghall from a much earlier period.
William fil Robert de Wodehall gave lands in W'etherby to the

146

Knights of the Temple, but whether he was of the Vavasour family
is uncertain. But the Vavasours were lords of the manor of
Sicklinghall in the middle of the 13th century, and probably, too,
when the Knights Templars founded their preceptory at Ribston in
1217. The Vavasours were long resident at Woodhall. One of the
family was rector of Kirkby Overblow in 1452 [see page 55s and the
manor of Sicklinghall, including Woodhall, was theirs, apparently, at
that time, and continued in their possession till after the Reformation.
In 1569 a fine was entered between Thomas, Earl of Northumberland,
and others, plaintiffs, and John \'avasour, defendant, touching the
" manors of Hassylwood, Freston, Kelfeld, Sykelynghall, Addyngham,
Leyde, Newstede, and Wodehall, and the advowsons of Tyrnscue
and Addyngham churches." It will thus be seen that they had very
extensive properties in Wharfedale at this time. John Vavasour
died without issue in 1610, and was succeeded by his brother Ralph,
who is described as of Woodhall. He seems to have been the last
of his family to reside there, and left a son who succeeded him at
Haslewood, and a daughter Frances, who married a Percy of Scotton.
There was also a Robert \'avasour, a wealthy London haberdasher,
who in his will, proved in 1575, describes himself as of Kirkby
Overblow.

Woodhall eventually came to the family of Scott, who were
resident there about a century ago. Wm. Fenton Scott, of Woodhall,
died in 1813, aged 65, and was buried at Kirkby Overblow, and his
widow died at York in 1815, and was interred with her husband.
William Lister Fenton Scott, who up to the time of his death in
1842, was Registrar of the West Riding for a period of 16 years,
married in 1821, Charlotte, daughter of Richard Johnstone, by his
second wife, Margaret, daughter of John Scott, Esq., of Charterhouse
Square. Mr. Johnstone, in 1793, assumed the surname and arms of
Vanden Bempde, and was created a Baronet in 1795. He was
succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Vanden Bempde-Johnstone,
Bart., of Hackness Hall, co. York, who married Louisa Augusta,
daughter of the Most Hon. and Rt. Rev. Edward \'ernon Harcourt,
D.D., Archbishop of York. He had issue two sons and three
daughters; the eldest son, Harcourt, was in 1 881, created Baron
Derwent of Hackness, and the second son, Henry Richard, assumed
the surname and arms of Scott, of Woodhall, on succeeding, in
i85o, to the property of his uncle, the late Mr. William Fenton Scott.
He is the present squire of Woodhall. He married in 1866 Cressida
Elizabeth, third daughter of William SelbyT^owndes, Esq., of
Whaddon, Bucks., and has issue three sons and one daughter. The
present Hall is a plain Georgian building of no arcliitectural interest.

147

The foundations of the older homestead are traceable below the
present house near the river.

The old family of Scott was long connected with the famous
Bramham Moor Hunt. The late Mr. Fenton Scott will long be
remembered for his exploits in the hunting field; his striking presence
having become ([uite historic in connection with the old Bramham
Meets. He was a tall, and rather thin, but \ery sprightly gentleman,
standing considerably more than si.\ feel in height, and as I have
heard it said in the district, he was a nonesuch after the hounds.
Many stories are told of his hunting feats. On one occasion when
sly-foot was hard pressed and had swam the Wharfe at a well-known
dangerous spot, the horses were brought to a sudden standstill, — all
but that ridden by Mr. Scott, who, not hesitating, leapt into the deep
water. Lord Harewood, who was close by, called out, '• My dear
fellow, you will surely drown." " No, no, my Lord," replied the
daring huntsman, looking round,-'' a man will never drown so long
as he can see Collingham Church steeple." And he got safely across.

Other stories might be related, but this volume has already
exceeded the prescribed limits. I have now traced, mostly from
unpublished sources, the history of every township in this wide and
interesting old parish, and given some account of its old families
and homesteads, antiquities, traditions and folk-lore, together with a
narrative of events illustrative of bygone manners and customs. In
the ensuing pages will be found a short account of a few notable
places in the neighbourhood.

148

Castle Walk. Knaresborough.

149

Brii.i<' Noticks ()1- I III. District.

Knaresborough.

of the territory embraced by the parish of" Kirkby
Overblow was formerly included in the I'orest of
Knaresborough, as already shewn, and the wardens of
the royal Forest had anciently divers relationships
with the old lords of Kirkby Overblow. As Knares-
borough and its Castle have also been intimately associated with the
life-story of the same ancient and wide parish described in the
preceding pages, a rare and curious view of the Castle as it appeared
when complete, has been deemed worthy of preservation in the Lar^e
Paper edition of this work. It is reproduced from an old draught
preserved in the Duchy of Lancaster office, and engraved in 17^5.
Though a crude and characteristic drawing of the time, it shews the
lofty battlemented towers, and keep, with drawbridge, apj)arently as
they existed before the great Civil War.

In 1083-6 the manor and Forest of Knaresborough included eleven
berewicks or villages, farming 41^ carucates of land, worth in the
Confessor's time six pounds. After the Conquest it was declared all
waste (unproductive), and yet it renders an annual income of 20s.
This premises that the manor was afforested in the Conqueror's
time, although no stone castle was then in existence.

The first reference to the existence of a' castle at Knaresborough
is found in the oldest Pipe Roll (1130), where it is stated that Eustace
Fitz John held the manors of Burc (Aldburgh) and Cnaresburg
(Knaresborough), at an annual rent of 22 pounds, and of this sum
one half had been spent on the King's works at Knaresborough'.
This expenditure clearly indicates that the royal stronghold was then
in course of erection. The building went on for a long time. The
great keep was not built till the early part of the 14th century.
Edward III., m 1371, bestowed all the profits and privileges of the
castle, manor, and honour of Knaresborough, together with the Priory
of St. Robert, at Knaresborough, on his son, the great John of Gaunt,
first Duke of Lancaster. From that time to the present they have
belonged to the Duchy of Lancaster. It is interesting to note that
m John of Gaunt's time, his nephew, Thomas Chaucer, son of the
illustrious poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, was Constable of the Castle.

15°

During the Civil \\"ar the castle was garrisoned by the Royal
troops, who made many disastrous forays into the surrounding
district. On one occasion they entered the township of Kirkby
Overblow, and nearly annihilated the homestead of the Bethells,
kinsfolk of Oliver Cromwell. E\entually, after a stout resistance,
the castle was taken by Lord Fairfax, and in 1647 it was ordered,
with many other Yorkshire castles, to be made untenable, and no
garrisons to be maintained therein. The order was carried out at
Knaresborough by destroying the great curtain wall, seven to eight
feet thick, and blowing away part of the keep.

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Market Place. Knaresborough.

Before its destruction the castle must ha\e presented a very
massive and imposing front. The buildings and walls enclosed an
area of nearly two-and-a-half acres, and were flanked with eleven or
twelve lofty towers, of which only portions of six now remain.
5^^ the large plate in the best edition of this work. The existing
ruins appear but scant and fragmentary, with the e.xception of the
King's Tower or Keep (which includes the dungeon), and this
has been a very strong building of large proportions. The Keep
is in form a rectangle, about 62 feet by 52 feet, and consists of
three floors or stories. The dungeon is below and has a singularly

arched roof. In the centre is a large and plain circular column from
which spring twelve groins or ribs, arranged in groups of three, some
of tile intermediate spaces being filled with cross ribs, the whole
forming a well-proportioned octagon. The design is believed to be
unicjue. Another remarkable feature of the castle is a subterranean
tunnel or sally-port, 72 feet long, which was opened out in i8go.
In it were found 33 solid limestone-balls, or ancient stone shot.
Many relics of interest are preserved in the castle, and are shown to
visitors on payment of a small fee.

Besides the castle there is a good deal of other interest in and
about the picturesque old town. The Parish Church is a very old
foundation, and is mentioned in a.d. 1114 among the donations to
Nostel Priory. The church, which was thoroughly restored in
1870- 1, contains many beautiful memorials in sculpture and in
stained glass. Among them is a superb altar-tomb bearing a full-
length effigy by Boehm, of Sir Charles Slingsby, who was accidentally
drowned in 1869. He was the last heir-male of the ancient family
of Scriven Park.

The oldeA houses in the town are those surrounding the Market
Place ; some of the cellars beneath them being hew^n out of the solid
rock, and are no doubt of great antiquity. The foundations and
presence of disused socket-holes shew that buildings before many
of those now existing have occupied the sites. Markets have been
in all probability held here from Saxon times, as Knaresborough,
being a burgh town, would be the most suitable centre for the
collection of the produce of the district. It was not, however, until
Edward II. visited the town in 131 1, that it was chartered for a
weekly market and one fair annually, with the assize of bread and ale.
There are many ancient inns and noteworthy buildings in this
vicinity, which are described at length in my large work on
NiDDERDALE. The old bay-windowed house over the entrance to
Savage Yard is notable as the place where the invincible soldier and
statesman, Oliver Cromwell, lodged at the siege of Knaresborough
Castle. The bed in which he slept is preserved at the picturesque
old Manor House down by the river-side. In a small cottage in the
White Horse yard lived the notorious Eugene Aram, who settled in
Knaresborough in 1734. After his removal to Lynn the dwelling
was made into a weaving-shop, and afterwards into a brew-house.

Other objects of interest are the celebrated Dropping Well, and
Mother Shipton's Cave. The famous sorceress is reputed to have
been born here in 1488. On the opposite bank of the river is
St. Robert's Chapel, a very curious excavation in the rock, and
originally known as the " Chapel of our Lady " and " Our Lady's
Chapel in the Crag."-

152

'53

Harkogati;.

T is hardly beyond living recollection when "Harrogate,
the magnificent," was a " wild common, bare and
bleak, without tree or shrub, or the least signs of
cultivation," for so wrote Smollett in the last quarter
of the 1 8th century. And Thomas Pennant remarks
in 1777 that the place contained "several excellent inns scattered
along the edge of a dreary moor." Remotely bleak and tenantless
it lay on the road to nowhere in particular, only excepting it was on
the old hunting " gate " or way from the town and castle of Knares-
borough to the royal park at Haverah, anciently Heywra, Hayra,
Hawra, &c. From this circumstance, I opine, Harrogate or Hawra-
gate, obtains its name. In 1461 and 1502 (vide I'lmnpton Correspondence)
it is written " Harrygate."

In 1786 the estate belonging to Lord Loughborough, on the south
side of the Stray, began to be planted with oak, ash, hornbeam,
American chestnut, &c., and from that time to the present not a
year has gone by without some improvement having taken place in
planting, building, laying-out, and generally increasing the attractions
of this great Yorkshire Spa. In 1796 Nicholson's drawing of Low
Harrogate was engraved, and I give a reproduction of it. The
appearance of the place at that time possesses now a real historic
interest, when the whole ground and its aspects have been so
completely transformed. No fewer than five inns are shewn in this
valuable picture ; commencing on the left side we have the old
White Hart (rebuilt in 1846), then the Bine Bell (where the saddler's
shop was afterwards built), ne,\t the Crown (where Lord Byron wrote
a characteristic poem, To a beautiful Quaker), and then the Crescent (a
century ago known as the Half Moon), and lastly the Sit-an. A stream
ran in the hollow below the tall tree in the view. Cold Bath Road
was at that time called Robin Hood's Lane.

Sir William Slingsby, of Scriven Park, has the credit of being the
first to discover the medicinal qualities of the Harrogate waters.
Hargrove gives the date 1571, but it was probably near 1600 when
he ordered the old Tewit Well (the spot being a favourite haunt of
the moorland lapwing) to be walled in and protected. He was born
in 1 562, and was the seventh son of Francis Slingsby, Esq., and Mary
his wife, who was sister of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland,
lord of Spofiforth, and patron of the rich livings of Spofiforth and
Kirkby Overblow.

154

155

Spofi-or'i

y'lIIS ancient and interesting parish has a long and notable
history, which might well form the subject of a separate
volume. The parish formerly einbraced the town-
ships of Follifoot, Linton, Plumpton, Little Kibston,
Stockeld, and Wetherby. For many centuries the
manor belonged to the Percies, Earls of Northumberland, and here
they resided before either Alnwick or Warkworth came into their
possession. In 1223 Spofiforth was chartered for a weekly (Friday)
market. In 1309 Henry de Percy obtained a license to rebuild and
fortify his manor-houses at Spofforth and Leconfield. This was the
origin of the once stately castle here, which is now a picturesque
ruin. Twice has the old fortress suffered destruction at the hands of
conquering enemies. During the Wars of the Roses it was " sore
defaced," as Leland quaintly puts it, for Henry Percy, Earl of
Northumberland, a partizan of the House of Lancaster, fell on
the blood-stained field of Towton, and the victorious Yorkists
subsequently marched on to Spofforth, where they wrecked the
castle and much of the surrounding park. In 1559 it was restored
and made habitable by Henry, Lord Percy, and it continued to be
occupied up to about the time of the Civil War. During that stormy
period the castle again suffered at the hands of the destroyer, since
which time it has gone steadily to decay, the wild birds sheltering in
its crumbling recesses, and the grass growing in its once stately halls.
Before the railway was made in 1847 it was possible to trace the
former extent of the ancient pleasure-grounds, with their spacious
vivary or fish-ponds, and many encompassing walks.

From the relative value of the manor before and after the Conquest,
it would appear that no church existed at Spofforth in Saxon times.
But a Christian community undoubtedly existed here long before
the Norman invasion, and a few years ago there was found in the
church — forming a step in the tower, — a fragment of a sculptured
Saxon cross. Though small, it is a precious relic of early Christianity.
The church no doubt owes its origin to the early Percies, by whom
it was richly endowed. From its foundation the rectory has been in
their gift and that of their heirs to the present time. The church
was largely rebuilt, with exception of the tower, in 1855, and is a
spacious and imposing edifice, possessing in its architectural details
and memorials of the past, much historic interest. There was

i5'J

formerly a great deal of ancient armorial glass in the windows, and
on the external walls there are two consecration crosses. 1 present
a view of the old church from a rare original, very kindly lent to
me by the Rev. Chas. Handcock, rector of Kirkby Overblow and
formerly rector of SpofTorth.

In the north wall of the choir (formerly in the south wall), is the
recumbent figure in stone of John de Plumpton, who died early in
the 14th century. He is represented clad in chain-mail, and holding
a shield bearing his paternal arms: five fusils in fesse, each containing
an escallop shell. Other members of the Plumpton family are
interred here, likewise the Middletons of Stockeld and Spofforth
Park, and the Pavers of Brame. There were two chantries within
the church: (i) that of Our Lady of Pity, founded in 1503 by the
e.xecutors of Nicholas Middleton, of North Deighton, brother of
Thomas of Kirkby Overblow, and (2) the chantry of Our Lady
founded by one of the parsons and others. William, the father of
Nicholas Middleton, died in 1474 and was buried in the chapel of
St. Anne in Spofforth Church, and he left £^ towards the building
of the bell-tower. There was also a pre-Reformation chapel at
Wetherby and another at Follifoot within the parish, likewise at
Plumpton Towers was the chapel of the Holy Trinity, and at
Rougharlington, in the same township, was the ancient chapel of
St. Hilda, the home or heritage for some time of St. Robert of
Knaresborough.

The country around Spoftbrth is very picturesque and diversified
with many features of interest. Plumpton Rocks, in this parish,
is a remarkable place much visited in the summer season. The
grounds enclosing the rocks cover some twenty acres, and are
attractively laid out with walks, and planted with a variety of trees
and shrubs. They were begun by Daniel Lascelles, Esq., who
bought the estate from the last of the Plumptons in 1760.

Follifoot is also a pleasant village in the old parish of Spofforth,
about which little hitherto has been written. It should not be
confused with the Folyfait or Follithwaite m the parish of Wighill,
which like our Follyfoot or Folyfait, as often spelled, gave name to a
family of some consequence in early times. Alan de Folifait granted
lands by the Wharfe side, near Wighill, to the monks of Kirkstall,*
and in 1313-14 he had license to found an oratory in his manor of
Folyfait in the liberty of the Ainsty. In 1315 he was joint lord of
that manor with John de Bekethorp. A Jordan de Foliot is witness
to a grant by Henry de Lacy to the Abbot of Kirkstall, and the

♦ In 17S6 they were Crown lands known as Kirkstall Ings, iilnis Follyfoot Ings
in Wighill parish.

157

name of Sir Richard I'oliot appears as the first witness to a deed of
Joan de Stuteville, the heiress of the Stutevilles, and niece of
Helewise de Stuteville, who married William de Lancaster, Baron
of Kendal and lord of Kirkby Overblow. He died in 1184.* In
13 1 5 the manor of Folyfait (in Spofforth ), as then written, was held
by the Austin Prior of Newluirgh, in Coxwold parish.

There was an ancient corn-mill in the township, and in 1300 the
Master of the House of St. Robert of Knaresborouj^h complained
that Henry de Percy and Richard Somer had unjustly disseised him
of a water-mill in Folyfayt near Spoford. The Percies were chief lords
of the fee and tlie Plumptons held under them, but the inhabitants
of Follifoot owed suit of court at Spofforth. I'Vom the Plumptons
their lands in Follifoot went to the Middletons, and in 1598 William
Middleton, Est]., and Ann his wife, conveyed this manor with others,
by fine, to William Ingleby, Esq. and Sampson Ingleby, gent. The
latter was then steward to Earl Percy, and lived at Spofforth Castle.

The village of Follifoot is thoroughly rural and retired, but modern
improvements have done away with almost every feature of ancient
interest. No very old houses remain. The oldest is one which was
formerly thatched and bears the initials and date B. S., 1681. The
present manor-house is not very old, while opposite stands the
Poplars, the residence of Miss Leak, a substantial iSth century
dwelling, in which the Roman Catholics at one time held services,
now nearly a century ago. Father Laycock is said to have been the
last priest to reside there. Near this house and at the back of the
Hamvood Arms is the Follifoot cricket field. While digging a trench
in this field, about nine years ago, five or six human skeletons were
discovered lying together, along with the remains of a horse. They
are supposed to be relics of a fray during the Civil Wars.

The old stocks and pinfold are still in evidence, and on the main
road in the village is a good inn, the Radcliffe A rms. There is a neat
modern Church and a Wesleyan Chapel. Rudding Park, close to
the village, is the seat of Sir Joseph P. P. Radcliffe, Bart., and is an
extensive estate beautifully laid out and containing much fine timber
as well as many uncommon trees and shrubs. The estate also
possesses a rare archaeological interest. See page 9. On the top of
one of the ancient tumuli stands a curious late Saxon cross. The
property was purchased by Lord Lougiiborough, in 1788, from the
executors of Thomas Wilson, Esq., brother to the then Bishop of
Bristol. The present Hall was erected in 1807.

* The family expired in an heiress, Olivia de Folifaite, who married John,
ancestor of the Marquis of Hastings, who was son of the celebrated benefactress,
Lady Elizabeth Hastings, of t^dstone.

SUBSCRIPTION LIST.

The * denotes siihscribers to the Large Paper edition, and the figures after the names
refer to the number of copies subscribed to of the Ordinary edition.

♦The Rt. Hon. and Most Rev. William Dalyrymple Maclagan,
Archbishop of York, Bishopthorpe, York.

DD,

'Armvtage, Sir George, Bart.,

Kirklees Park
*.\ckroyd. George, Harden Hall

Ackroyd, John, Rodley
•Ackroyd, J. W., Scarborough
•Adshead, Geo. H., Pendleton

Anderson, T . M D, B Sc, York.

Angus. Dr., Bingley
*Appleton, Henry, .-Vrthington
*.-\rmitage, R., Farnley Hall

.A.rundel, C. E., Capt., Leeds
'.Atkinson, Rev. Dr , Cambridge

Atkinson, C. J., Bath

.\tkinson. Rev. E., London, S W.
•Atkinson, W. F.. Ilkley

.A-tkinson, C. J. P., Burley

Ayrton, William, Liverpool

•Beverley, Rt. Rev. the Bishop of,
Bolton Percy

•Backhouse, J., Harrogate
Baildon, W. Paley, F.S A., London
Bailey. Chas.,F L.S., St. .Anne's-on-Sea

*Barber, John, J. P., Harrogate

'Barker, E., Madron, Cornwall
Barker, T., Pannal
Barrett, N., Walton Head
Barwick, J. M., Low Hall

*Batman, .Alfred E , Horsforth

*Bateman. Walter, FoUifoot Ridge
Bateman, Walter, Wibsey
Bateson, Hugh, Kirkby Overblow

•Bateson, John. Clapgate
Bateson, John, Kirkby Overblow
Bateson, Thomas, Kirkby Overblow
Bayford, E . Barnsley
Baynes, John, J. P., Ripon
Beanlands. Rev. Canon, Victoria,

British Columbia
Bedford, Jas. E., Headingley
Bell, George. T^aisterdvke
Bell, JohnH., M.D., Bradford
Bellamy, Rev. R. L, B.D.. Halifax
Bellhouse, Miss, Roundhav

Berry, H.. Kirkby Overblow

Berry, James, Grimsargh
"Bethell. William, Rise Park

Bibbs, E. J., Wolverhampton

Bilbrough. William R., Leeds

Bingley, Godfrey, Leeds

Binns. Priestley, Bingley

Birkett, Thomas, Kirkby Overblow

Blackmore, Re\. J. C, Treeton

Boothroyd, W., Brighouse

Bradford, J. H., Headingley
♦Brammall, J. H., Sheffield

Brayshaw, S., Swindon

Brooke, Benj., Harrogate
*Brotherton. E .A. , M.P , .Arthington

Brown, William, Northallerton
•Brownridge, Charles, M Inst.CE.,

F.G.S., Birkenhead (i)
'Bulmer, .Miss. Leeds
"Burnlev, James, J. P.. Bramhope

Burrelf, B. A , F.I.C., Leeds

Butterfield, E. P.. Wilsden

*Cranbrook, Rt. Hon. the Earl of,
Hemsted Park
Calvert, J. .A., Kearby
Camidge, Wm., F.RHist S , York
Canham, Rev H., Leathley Rectory
Capperman, Mrs. R., Filey

•Carter, F. R., Potter Newlon
Carter, J. W., F.E.S., Manningham
Carver, Francis, North Rigton
Charlesworth, John, Horbury
Clapham, J. .A., Shipley
Clay, Aid. J W,, F S A., Rastrick
Clayton, John, Bradford

'Cliff, Byron. Bramley

'Close, J. W„ Leeds
Clough, Annie J., Stainburn (2)
Cole, Rev. li M , ^LA.. Wetwang
Cole, George B , Bradford
Collier, Rev. C. V., M A.. F.S.A.
Collins, F., Pateley Bridge
Cook, Robert B . Scarborough

139

'Coombs. Thomas, Hramley

Cooper, Richard, Gisbiirn

Cooper, C. H., Bradford

Coope, Miss, Paimal

Cotton, T. A., J.l'., Hishopstoke
*Creswicl<, Mrs., Hereford [2

••Cromplon-Stansfield, C. A., Barrowby

Cudworth. Wilham, Bradford
♦Cullingwortl). Cliarles J., M.D., Hon.
I) C.L., Diirh,, London, \V.

Cunhfle. Walter, London, W.

Cust, Lieut.-Col , Harewood Bridge

'Darwin, Francis, J. P., Creskeld
•Dalby, Fred. W., Compton

Dale, Rev. Bryan, M.A., Bradford

Dales, Miss Jane, Clap Gate

Darling, Mrs., Sicklinghall

Darlington, Latimer, Harrogate

Darlow, Stephen, Bingley

Dawson, Rev. S, T., Harrogate

Dawson. Thomas, Leeds

Dean, W., Kirkby Overblow
*Denison. Miss, Kirkby (Jverblow

Denison, Miss F. Me'thley
*Denisan, J. A., Dunkeswick

Denison, R. W., Manningham (2)

Denton, J. B , Hnby
*Dickons, J N., Heaton (i)

Dinsdale, R., Kirkby Overblow

Dobson. John Urswick

Dobson, Joseph G., North Rigton
'Drinkwater, J. C, Middlewich
'Duncan, J. Hastings, M.P., Otley
•Dunn, Mrs.. York (3)

Dyson, George, Marsden
*Dyson, Hiram, Salendine Nook
'Dyson, John, Weeton
*Dunwell, M. J., Lesness Park, Kent

* Effingham, the Rt. Hon. the Earl
OF, Tusmore Park

Eastburn Jas. C, Bradford
*Eckersley, Jas. C. Carlton Manor

Edmondson, Mrs.. Huby

Edmondson. T. W., New York, U.S A.

Edmondson & Co . Skipton (4)

Emmett, James, Leeds

Emslev, M. W , Low Town, Pudsey (2)

Eshelby, H. D , F.S.A , Oxton

**Farrah, John. Harrogate (2)
Farrer, John, Oulton
Fawcett, Edwin, Lidget Green
Fawthrop, Joseph, Bradford
Federer, Prof. Chas A . Bradford

*Ferrand, \Vm , D.L., St. Ives

"Fielden. Mrs. J., Dobrovd Castle

•Firth, William, Bradfurd

•Fisher, E W , Huddersfield
Fortune, Riley, F.Z.S., Harrogate

'Fortune Wilson, Bradford

•Foster.Col.W.H.. MP. Hornby Castle
•Forster, Miss, Kirkby Overblow

Foster, George, Boston Spa
•Foster, John, Horton-in-Ribblesdale
•Foster, Robert J., D.L.. Stockeld Park

Frost, Rev, G, P. H., Otley Vicarage

•Garnett-Oh.mk, Mrs., Skipton
•Gaunt, Leonard, Farsiey (2)

Geldard, Rev Canon, Kirk Deighton
•Gerr.-ird. John, Worslev

Gill, John W., Bradford
•Goldsbroiigh, Rev. .\ , M.A., Pickering

Gomersall, Rev. W. J., F R.S.L.,
Hampstead

Goodricke, C. A., Croydon
•Gott, James, Bradford

Gray, Thomas, York

Greaves, E,, J P., Otley
•Greenwood, A., Burley-in-Wharfedale
'Greenwood, Capt.. Swarcliffe

Greenwood. Harry. Baildon
•Greenwood, W . Isleworth (i)

Gregory, J. Vessey, Newcastle-on-Tyne

Groves, Arthur, New Southgate

'Hawkesburv, the Rt, Hon Lord,
F.S.A., Kirkham Abbey (i)

Hales, Prof. J. W., F.S.A., King's Coll.

Hall, Mrs. G. P., Leeds
•Hall, Harry H , Menston
••Handcock, Rev. Charles, Kirkbv
Overblow Rectorv (6)
•Handcock, Dr., Leeds

Handcock, Miss G., Leeds
•Handcock, Misses. Boston Spa
•Handcock, Dr. W., Bradford
'Hanson, C. E . Bradford

Hansom, Joseph, London, S W.

Hardcastle, C , Leeds

Hardy, W S.. Enfield

Hargreaves. Dr , Wetherby

Harland, Miss, Kirkby Overblow

Harper, Annie, Stainburn

Harper, F , North Rigton

Harper, Joseph, Swindon

Hartley, Rev. W H S., M.A., Morton

Haswell, Lieut.-Col., North Shields
•Hawkyard, Dr., Hunslet

Haworth, R. T., .\ccrington

Hebblethwaite, S M,, Harewood

Hepworth. Miss, Kirkby Overblow

Hewgill, Rev Wm., M.A., Lytham

Hey. Harry, Dewsbury
'Hevwood, John, Manchester (i)

Hil'l, John, Morley
•Hinchliffe, G. H., Leeds

Holgate. R., Leeds

Holmes. Rev. H. C . Birkby

Holmes, W H , B.C.L.. Truro. Nova
Scotia

Hopkinson. John. Watford

i6o

'Hopper, Charles. Croft Spa
*Howarth. J. H., F.G S., Halifax ( i)
Hudson, Rev. Canon, Horncastle
Hudson, Thos. A., North Rigton
•Hurst. Josh. S.. J.P , Copt Hewick
Hutchinson, John H.. Catterick

'Ingilbv, Sir Henry, B.^rt, Ripley
Castle
••Ingham, Thomas Lister, Kirkby
Overblow (2)
Ingerfield, A., Kirkby Overblow
•'Irving. Rev. R. G., Scarborough (2)

Johnson. Dr. C. J B., Birmingham

Johnson, Wm.J.. Bradford
•Johnson, W. Norfolk, Horbury
•Johnston, James, M.D. Manningham

Jones. George Fowler. Malton (2)

•KiTSON. Sir James, B.\rt , M.P.,
Gledhow Hall

Kellner, F. F. G., B.A., Harrogate

Kent. Bramley. B., Tatefield Hall
•Killingbeck. Mrs , Kidderminster

King. Mrs. Wm., North Rigton
•Kippax. Mrs , Halifax
•Kirkby, R L-. Middlesborough

Kirkbride, Rev. M.. Mangere. New
Zealand

Kirkwood, S.. Bramley
•Kitching, T., Morecambe
•Knowles, C. H , Harrogate

LUPTON. Wm. C, J.P , Bradford {2)
Laing. .Vlex . Kirkby Overblow
Lancaster. Seth, Bradford
Lancaster, W. T., Leeds
Lascelles, Rev M G., Harewood
Leadman, Alex , D H., F.S A ,
Pocklington
••Leak, Miss, Follifoot (?)
•Leatham, Claude, Wentbridge
Lee, Rev. W., Lerwick, Shetland Isles
Lee, C. J., Kirkby Overblow
Lee, George, Weeton
Lewis. David, Sicklinghall
Libraries :

Bingley Public Library
•Blackburn Public Library
Bolton Subscription Library
Boston Public Library, USA
Bradford Church Institute
♦Bradford Free Libraries (12)
•Bradford Hist, and .-\ntiq Society
Bradford Library and Literary Soc.
Bradford Mechanics' Institute
Brighouse Free Library
Cardiff Central Library
Chicago Newljerry Library
Clitheroe Free Library
Colne Public Library

Derby Public Library
•Dewsbury Public Library (i)
Edinburgh Public Library
Glasgow, Mitchell Library
Halifax Public Library (2)
Harewood Literary and Scient.Inst.
Harrogate Public Library (2)
Hull Public Libraries (4)
Hull Subscription Library
Keighley Institute
Kirkby Overblow Reading Room
Leeds Church Institute
Leeds Institute
Leeds Old Library
'Leeds Public Libraries (4)
•London. Guildhall Library
•Manchester Public Library
Middlesborough Free Library 12)
Newcastle-on-Tyne Free Lib (2)
New York State Library
Oldham Free Library
Rochdale Public Library
•Salford Royal Museum
Shipley. Salt Schools
South Shields Public Library
Syracuse. U S.A . Public Library
♦Wigan Public Library
•York Bootham School
'York Public Library (i)
*Liversedge. F J., Manningham
Lofthouse, J. H , Harrogate
'Longbottom. David. Silsden
Lord. Edmund, Pontefract
Lumb. G. D., Leeds

'Mevsey-Thompson. Sir Henry, Bart.

M.P . Kirby Hall
•Marsham-Townshend, Honble. R..

London, W.
•McDowall. J. G , M.D . Menston
•Mallorie. Mrs J.. Low Barrowby

Mann, Mrs . Pool

March, H.. Chapel Allerton

Margerison, S.. Calverley

Marston. Jas.. Otley

Maude. William. Manningham
•Maw. William, Bradford
'Melrose, James, York
•Metcalfe, John, Bradford
•Metcalfe, J. Hawkridge, Major. J. P..
Patelev Bridge

Metcalfe-Gibson, Mrs., M. A.. Raven-
stonedale

Milligan. W. G , Otley

Mills, F. A., Kirkbv Overblow

Mills, F. W., F R M S., Huddersfield
"Milne-Milne, Samuel, Calverley

Mitchell, Mrs. H , Harrogate

Mitchell, Herbert A. S. J.. Morley

Mitchell, William. Manningham
•Moorhouse, Jas. ICllison, Shipley o)

Morfitt, Mrs., Horsforth

i6i

Morkill, J W , J.l'., Bell Busk
Morrell. W. \V . J.R, York
Muff, Kred. B., Ilkley
Musgrave, F. W , Otley
Musgrove, Geo. S , Harrogate
•Myers, S. P., J P., Bradford
Myers, Joseph, Kirkby Overblow

•Norfolk, His Grace the Duke of.

Earl Marshal, London
•Naylor, E., Bradford

Nesfield, Geo. Blow. London, S.W.

Nevin, John, Mirfield
•Newton, William, Bradford

Norfolk, J H., Leeds
•Norwood, W., Major, Wakefield

OuBFiELD, George, Bradford

•Powell, Sir Francis S., Bart., M P.,

Horton Old Hall
•Paget, Emilv, Skipton
•Parke, Geo.'H., F.L S , &c., Wakefield
"Parker, Jnu., Col , Browsholme Hall (i)

Parker, Daniel, Otley

Parker, Thomas, Oldham
•Parkinson, C. H , Brafferton Lodge (i)

Parkinson, Geo S . Bradford

Patchett, John, Bradford

Pattison, Frank, W., London, W.

Pawson, A. H , Farnley

Payne, Charles, Withernsea

Payne, J. B., Harrogate
'Peacock, C. J , D.D S , Tunbridge

Wells
•Peacock, Fred G , Crossbills

Pearson, Kev. W , M A., Spofforth

Peel, H. H , Heckmondwike
•Petty, S. L., Ulverston

Pickard, George, Swindon Hall

Pickard, M , Barrowby
•Pitcher, W. N. & Co., Manchester (2)
•Pitts, J , Otley

Pocklington, H., Leeds

Poole, Richard, Baildon

Porter, Miss, Ilkley

Potter, Robert, Halifa.v

Preston. John Y., Windhill

Procter, Prof. H R., Ben Rhydding

Procter, J. W., Nunthorpe
•Pudsev, Col., V D., J. P., Hull

Pullein, Miss C, Rotherfield

•RiPON, Most Hon. the Marquess of,
Studley Royal
Randall, Joseph, Sheffield
Readhead, Robinson, Flamborough
Redman. Richard T., Prestwich
Reffitt, Frank, Bradford

•Rhodes, W V , Cleckheaton (i)

•Ridley, T W., Coatham
Ridsdale, Joe, Kirkby Overblow

•Rigby, John, Blackburn

•Robinson, J H., Bingley
Roebuck, W. Denison, F L.S , Leeds
Ross, Percival, M.Inst C K . Bradford
Roundel!. Charles S , J P , Brighton
Roundhill, Miss. Sicklinghall
Rownlree, Alfd., Kirkby Overblow (2)

•Rowntree, Arthur, B.A , York
Rownlree, Miss K., York
Rowntree, James, Folkton Manor
Rudd, R H , Bradford
Ryder, Rev. A, D , MA,, Maresfield

•Save and Sele, Rt. Hon. Lord,

Sunbury House
•Sampson, John, York (6)

Saville, Mr., Kearby
'Scott, Henry R. Johnstone, Woodhall
•Scott John, Jun., Skipton (i)

Severs, Dr. George, Ix)ndon, W.
'Shackleton, F. R., Dublin Castle (i)
'Shackleton, William. Pudsey

Shaw, Giles, Southport

Shuffrey, Rev W A , M.A , Arncliffe

Sill, Alfred H., Redcar

Sinclair. J. F., Otley

Singleton, James, Leeds
•Skidmore, Charles, Stipendiary Magis-
trate, Bradford

Skirrow, Miss. Huby

Skirrow, George H , Huby
•Sheer, John, Idle
•Slingsby, F.Wm , Thorpe Underwood

Smith, Alfred, Keighley

Smith, .-^rmistead, Keighley
•Smith, Richard, London, S.W.

Smithson, George R., Spofforth
•Snowden, Mrs., Ealing (i)
'Snowden, Rev. P. L., Longley Old

Hall (i)
•Sowden, John, .\.M., Bradford
'Speight, Louis M , Leicester

Spofforth. Markham, London

Stables, Rev. W. H., Over Vicarage
'Stanyforth, E. W., Kirk Hammerton

Stead. John James, Heckmondwike

Stephenson. J., Bath

Stevens & Brown, London (2)
•Stokes, John, M D , Sheffield

Stott, Rev. E. H., North Rigton

Stott, Herbert, Headingley

Strange, .-\lfred, J P.. Burnley

Streicher, C. A.. York (2)

Sturdy, William, Huby

Summerscales, J., Kirkby Overblow

Sykes, Arthur F., Bradford

Symondson, George, Waltham Abbey

'Tempest, Sir Tristram, Bart.,
Tong Hall
Tempest, Mrs., Broughton Hall
Tacev, Dr., Bradford

1 62

Taylor, Rev. R. V.. B.A.. Melbecks

Tempest, S.. Bradford

Terry, Percival, M.A. (Oxon), Retfcrd

Thackeray, C. M , Bradford

Thorns. Thomas E., Otley

Thrippleton, John, Leeds

Tilburn. John. Elvin?ton (2)

Tihon, Joseph, Kirkby Overblow
*Topham, Lupton T., Lutterworth

Town, Mrs. H., Barrowby Gran.sje
'Tuke, Wm Murray, Saffron Walden
"TurnbuU, Thomas, Otley
♦Turner, Benj., M.I A,, Barnsley (i)

Tweedy, Fredk., Wchof, North Wales

Tweedy, Walter, Pudsey

Tw'isleton, Thomas, Stead Hall

Umplebv, George, Thorner

*Waddington, Samuel, Hvde Park, N.

Walbank, N. H., Bingley '

Walker. Miss, Selby
•Walker, Henry, Leeds (6)

Walker, JohnF., M.A., F.G.S., York

Walker, John, Gilstead

Walker, W. H., Bradford

Walshaw, Thomas, Wakefield
♦Walton, F. F., Hull

Ward, H Snovvden, Hadlow

Ward, Thomas F., Middlesbrough

Wardman, George, Leeds (2)

Wardman, Robert, Macclesfield

Weatherill, G. F., Farnley

Webster, .\lbert. Bradford

West, Henry C , Harewood

West, Thomas, Harewood
Westerman, Mrs., Weeton Grange
Wharton, Hiram, Liversedge
Whitaker. James, Otley
Whiteley, James, Queensbury
Whitweil, Wm., F.LS., Stourbridge
Wilkinson. Charles, Kirkby Overblow
Wilkinson, [ohn H, F.R.G.S.,

Horsforth (2)
Wilkinson, Mrs. M., Bingley
"Wilkinson. Thomas, Eldwick
Wilkinson, Capt. W., Bishop .Auckland
WUks, D. T,, Pannal
'Willans, F., Gosforth
Williams, John Lord, Bradford

Williamson, Miss, Kirkby Overblow
'Williamson, Councillor T. Atkmson.

Bradford
♦Wilman. W. A.. Bradford
•Wilson, Bernard, M A , Sedbergh
•Wilson. John H., J. P., Harrogate
-Wilson, J. R. R., Leeds
•Wilson, Dr., M..-\.. Kirkby Oxerblow (i)

Wilson, Richard, ,\rmley

Wilson, Sam. Earnshavv, Bradford (2)

Wilton, Rev. Canon, Londesborough

Winterburn, George, Bolton

Wood, Henry, Sicklinghall (2)

Wood, John, Flockton

Wood, Richard. Buttersyke Bar
♦Woodcock, Henrv Brook, Low Moor
•Woolley, Alfred, 'Bradford

Wright, James, Keighley (2)
♦Wurtzburg, John H., J. P., Leeds

Young, J. P., Leeds {2)

i63

INDliX OF SURNAMES.

Adcocke, 8i

Addison. g8

Aikeroyd, 57

Albemarle, 8, 2jj, 24, 26,

28, 29, 49, 103, 105
Albini, 116
Aldburgh, 30, 31, 54, 122.

127
Aldfrith, loin
A 111 red, 79
Amcotles yo
Ampleford, 96
Anlaby. 52, 54
Aram, Eugene, 153
Archer, 39, 97, 140
Arches, 126
,\rchil, 15
Argentum, 2op
Armistead, 127
Arnold- Forster, 36n
Ariini, io2n
Asplin, 54n
Asseby, 52
Atkinson, 89
Aton, 90

Baethorpe, 31

Baildon. 89, 90

Bainard. 2op, 21

Baker, 23n

Baldwin, 90

Banks, 39

Barker, 95

Barr, 70

Barrett, 69, 73. 74, 91

Bates, 8, 9

Bateson, 3, 95, 96, 134

Batty, 142

Baynbridge, 87, 88

Beaconsiield, 60

Beane, 145

Beck, 120

Beckwith, 30, 7Sp, 79, 82

83. 107
Beer, 32
Bekethorpe, 157
Bella Aqua, 2op
Bellingham, 23, 90
Bempde, 14G
Berry, 70

Bethell, 41. 42, 43, 47, 51,

52. 5C>. 57. 92. 93. 94.

107, 108, 150
Bilburgh, 140
I'lilesfeld, 54
Blackburn, 58
Hlakey, 51
Hlomere, 13
Blunt, 45, 53, 59, Oo, 61,

121

Bolebeck, 25
Bolton, 94
Boresworth, 52
Bouchier, 41, 42. 62p, 93,

122
Bower. 52, 55
Bowes, 90
Brabazon, 29
Brakenthwaite, 121
Bramley, gf)
Brearcliffe, 45, 99, 118,

122. 130
Bramwood. 70
Brerey, 140
Brettegate, 52. 53
Briggs. 73
Brooke, 70. 94. 143
Brough, 33
Brown, 131
Browne, io2n
Brus, ig, 2op, 23
Buckingham, Duchess of,

117
Bullock, 59
Bulmer. 23
Burdsall, 45. 46. 71, 85

99, 131, 134, 135, 136.

141, 144
Burke, 33

Burnell, 24, 25, 26, 28, 32
Burniston, 72, 73
Burton. I3n. 44. 103. I04n

I2in
Burun, 15, 17, 128
Byron, 128, 153

Cantilupe, 126, 127
Carver, 7, 118
Castelay, 104, 138
Catheral, 77

Cecil, 88
Chapman. 53
Charlesworth. 113
Chaucer. 149,
Cholmley, 31, 32
Clatford, 52
Clifford, 98
Close, 72
Clough, 113
Coates, 33
Cocket, 51
Cockfield, 137
Codrington, 94
Coghill, 56
Collett. 93
Constable. 30
Constantius, 6
Constantine, 5, 6
Cooke, 78p. 89
Cooper, 39, 40, 41, 53, 58,

69. 74. 108. 120
Coppleston, 62p
Corbet, 25
Cornthwaite. 141
Cornwall, Earl of, io2n
Cornwallis, 94
Crompton, I2g
Crompton-Stansfield. 128,

129. 130
Courcey. 23
Courtenay, 28, 29
Creswell, 52
Crokebayn, 139
Cromwell, Oliver, 41, 92,

122, 150, 151
, Cullingworth, gS
, Cumberland, Earl of, 98
Cunliffe, 86
Curwen, 23
'. Cust, 67
Cutler, 12S

Dacre, 23

Dalby, 135

Danby. 85

Dawson, 46 78p, 82

Dene, 52

Denison, 78P. 83, 98. 136

Despencer, 25. 32

Dibb, 98, 118

1 64

Dickenson, 77
Digby, 88
Dobson, 119, 121
Dodson. 39 52. 5G, 77 7Sp.

79, So, 81, 82, 83. 85,86.

90, 107, 130
Drake, 39, 52, 37, 58, 78p
Drewell, 77
Drinkwater, 70
Drurv, 51, 73
Dundonald. 64
Dunwell. 45, 99, 122
Dykes, 143

Eaoulf. loin
Eatbereht. io2n
Edey, iS, 49, 52
Edgar, King, 5
Edmund, Prince, 33
Edwards, 33, 51, 52, 77, 88
Eghebrand, 15
Egremont. 50, 59
Ellis, 78p

Elsworth, 97, 139 140 141
Emsley, 112
Esshe, no
Etton, 54
Eure, 90
Eusebins, 6
Evans, 70

Fairbairn, 83n

Fairfax, 81, g6, 117, iiS,

150
Farman, 52, 55
Farquharson. 38
Farrer, 22n
Fauconberg, 2op
Faucyd, 106
Favell, 41, 46, 47, 98, 127,

128
Fawkes, 87, 88, 107, 108,

113, 123, 130, 151
Featherstonhaugh, 79
Fenton, 43
Ferguson, 23n
Fetherstone, 78P
Fiennes, 32n
Fitz Gerald, 23

John. 54, 149

Reinfrid, 8, 12, 20, 21.

22, 116. 145
Fletcher. 127
Flower, 33
Foljambe, 83
Foliot. 157

Follifoot, 30, 156, 157
Foote, 128
Foster, 141, 145
Fourd, 33
Fowler, 108, 117
Fox, 113

Freeman, 40
Furneis, 2op, 116. 118

Gale, 26n, 77. 78p, 81, 85

Galloway, 55

Gamelbar, 10, 14, 15

Gaunt. 2op. 149

Gell. 97

Gelstroppe, 98. 130

Giffard, 53

Giles. 6ip

Gill. 93. 118, 121, 122

Gillings, 103

Gilstrip, 72

Glanville, 8

Gledhill. 98

Gloucester, 29

Goldsborough, 79. 89, 97,

122
Goldsmith, 133
Goodall, 39
Goodgian, 82
Goodricke, 80, 90, 91
Golias. 139
Gospatric, 23, 116
Grainge, 11, 83. 122
Grandison. 98
Gray, 54, 81
Graystock, 24, 25, 90
Green, 82
Greenwood. 22
Grimston. 79
Gristhwaite, 140

Haget, 102
Haigh, 112, 143
Hale, 24
Haltheof, 10, 11
Handcock, 3. 53, 64, 65,

129, 156
Hall, 97. loS, 120
Hanley, 56.
Hanson. 122
Hamerton, 43. 44, =54 55.

85
Harcourt, 146
Hardistye, 117, 118
Hardy, 139
Harewood, Earl of, 33, 51,

59. 70. 87. 91, 94. 103.

117, 131, 133, 147
Harland, 45, 51, 71, 75,

98, 99, 120, 130, 131
Harper, 134
Harrison, 51. 7Sp, 82, 8gn,

117
Hartley, 72
Haryngton, 94
Hastings, 86, 90, 157
Hawkesworth. 80, 90
Hayter. 52. 58
Healey, 143

Hebden, 116
Higgins, 82
Hill, 118, 122, 127
Hind, 78p, 82
Hird, a. 77
Hodgson, 129. 132. 133
Holmes, 62, 82, 112, 134
Holderness, ion
Hopper, 70
Hopton, 86
Horn, 10, II
Horton, io2p
Hothum, 29
Hou'ton, 53
Howard, 23
Hudson, 99
Hunter-Duvar, I4n
Hunton, 54
Hutton, 79. 89

Ibbetson, S3
Idle, 78p

Ingham. ^^, 85, 86
Ingle. 117
Ingleby, 157
Inman, i6n

Insula (or de Lisle), 28,
29, 30, 49, 102, 103, 105,

Isles, 122
Issott, 73

Jaggard, 52, 56, 79

Janson, 131

Jernegan, 52

Johnson, 32, 87. 88, 89,

107, 117
Johnstone. 146
Jones, 120
Jowett, 39

Kave, Lister-, 86

Kent, 96, 122

Key, 97

Kidd, 55

Kighley, 117

King, 118

Kirkby (IrelethI, 2op, 21,

22, 23, 24
Kirkeby, John of, 13
Knaptun, 33

Lacv, 22, 157
Lakyn, 52, 56
Lancaster, 8. 19, 2op. 21,

22. 23. 37. 53. 5-1. 1115.157
Langton, 31
Lascelles, 53. 156
Latham, 32
Lawn, 51
Laycock, 157
Leadman. 25n

1 65

Leak, 157

Lealome, 107

Leconfleld, 50, 59, 65

LekriiiKliall, 77

Lelay, 2op. loi, 102, loj,

104, 118
Lewis, 128
Leyburne, 22, 23, 32
Lindley, 11 1
I.indesay, 8, 2op. 23
Linfoot, 142
Lisle {sec Insula)
Longfellow, 139
Loughborongli, Lord, 153,

157
Louvain, 2op
Lovell, flip
Lowndes, Selby-, 146
Lowson, 98
Lumby, 113
Luplon, 98
Lye, 9

Lyghfote, 139
Lyth, 99, 136

Mallokv, 98, 131
Marshall, 72, 77
Marsham, 53, 59, 75
Marston, 73
Marwood, 92
Mauley, 2op.
Mawson, 117
Mearing, 31
Merlay, 25
Meschines, 2op, 22
Metcalfe, 53, 58
Mitford, 8g

Middieton, 55, 96. 118, 121,
13S, 139, 141, 145, 156,

157
Monkbretton, Lord. 830
Moore, 113
Moorhouse, 39, 96. 140,

141
Moreton, 78p, 82
Morville. 2op
Morkar, 14
Mounteagle, 23
Mowbray, 8, 13. 21, 116
Multon, 23
Musgrave, 107
Mydelbroke, 97
Myers, 69

Navarre, Queen of, 26
Naylor. 113
Nesfield, 127
Nesse, 52, 55
Neville, 31, 32
Newburgh, 19, 2op
Newcastle, Earl of. 79
Newport, 18, 49, 50

Nicholas (Pope), 50
Nicholson, 153
Nightingale, a
Norfolk, 98, 122
Northumberland, Earl of,

80,98
Norton, 32, 33, 78p, 81, 82,

88, 89, 90
Nowitt, 140
Niinde, 52, 55

O Bkien, 50
Otringham, 52, 53
Oughtred, 52

Paganel, 138
Palmer, 117
Palmes, 107, 117
Parke, 97
Parr, 2op
Paver, 97, 156
Pawson, 71
Pearson, 97
Peel, 60
Pennant, 153
Pennington, 22, 23
Percy, 14, 15, 16, 18, ig,
2op. 21, 26, 32, 38n, 44,

49. 50. 53. 54. 88, 90, 97.
98, 103, 104, 116, 126,
128, 140, 146, 153, 155,

156. 157
Pickering, 81, 82
Plant, 77
Plumpton. 43, 44, 45, 55,

S^n, 8g, g6, g7, 116, 121,

isf^. 157

Poictevin, Paytefin, 102,

104
Pollock, 117
Poole, 52, 56, 87, g7
Port, 2op
Poulson, 54n
Proctor, 70
Pudsay, 117
Pullan, g6. 131
Pullein, 57, 139
Purchon, 38
Pym, 59

Radcliffe, 157
Rathmell, 118
Rawdon, 30, 52, 93
Redeberd, 139
Redman, 22, 30, 31, 55,

116, 127, 128
Redyers, 8, 23
Renton. 72, 73
Reynolds, 98
Rhodes, 77
Richardson, 72
Rigby, I34n

Ridsdale, 45, Og, 71, 86, 99,

131
Rigton, 53, 115
Rinder, 47

Robinson, 117, 119, 122
Rogers, 41, 52, 57, 58, 69,

82
Romelli, 22, 137
Rookes, 129
Ros, 2op, 55, 129
Roundhill, 143
Rowntree, 69
Ryther, 30

St. Helen, 5, 6. 7, 36
Sandys, 56, 85, 86, 94
Saye and Sale, 32, 55
Scott, 33, 43, 46, 86, 143,

146, 147
Sewell, 132, 134
Sharp, 82
Sheepshanks, 33
Shepherd, 113
Sherwood. 56
Shillitoe, 130
Shore, 33
Shovel, 59
Shute, 98
Sicklinghall, 138
Simpson. g6, 123
Slingsby, 151, 153
Smith, 117
Smithson, 78p, 83
Snow, 39

Snowball, 69. 70, 134
Snowden, 41, 43, 44, 46,

53, 62, 63, 64
Sumer, 157

Somerset, Duke of, 50
Sotheran, 98. no
Spacey, 98
Sparrowe, 52, 54
Spynel, 52
Spytell, 52
Squires, 99
Stables, 45, 69, 70, 71, 74.

85. 99. 139
Stainburn, loi, io2p, 104
Standeven, 78p
Stanhope, 13, 79
Stanley, 52, 55
Stansfield, 129
Stapelton, 30, 31, 32, 33,

44, 96, 97, io2n, 127
Slather, 143
Stead, 128, 131
Steele. 73, 77. 7g, 81, 130
Stockeld, 138
Stocks, 128
Stott, 120
Street, 40
Sussex, Lord, 88

1 66

Stuteville, S. 2op, 21, 54,

157
Style, 74
Sutills, 122
Swales, gS, 141
Symondson, 41, 46, 73

Tallenivre. 52, 56

Tang, 29

Tate. 51

Ta. lor, i6n, 120

Tempest, iS. 30, 49, 50

Theaker, 82

Thomas, 70

Thompson, 117, n8

Thoresby, 17, 57, 58

Thornton, 55, 86, 99

Thorpe, 11, 41

Thurland, 85

Thwaites, 81

Thweng, 2op

Tilly, 30

Tooby, 70, 95

Toogood, 40, 41, 44, 46, 53

60, 62, 143
Topham, 117
Tostig, 14
Town, 130

Tripp, 53, 59
Tromp, no
Tunbrigge, 2op
Turner, 55n, 136
Twyselton, 31, 32, 33
Tyson, 15, 17, 116

Ulf, 15
Uluric, 15

Valines, 2op
Vaughan, 79, 86, 107
Vavasour, 55, 97, 137, 138

145, 146
Vernon, 29
Victoria, yueen, 134

Wade, 73. 135

Waite. 45, 91. 92. 93

Wake. 54

Walker, 32, 38. 46. 98

Warburton. 82

Ward. 78p

Wardman. 61. 86. 99. 131

Warren, Earl of. 19. 2op

Watson. 82. 118

Watton. 52. 54

Weeks, 70
Wellesworth. 29
Wellom. 52, 54
Wentworth, 117. 128
Whitehead. 74
Whiteley. 143
Whitwell, 52, j4
Wibert. 14
Wilfrith. loin
Wilkes. 51. 117. 118
Wilkinson, 73.74, 122, 143
Wilson, 40, 69, 97. 12S. 157
Wodehall, Robert de. 145
Woderove, 52, 53. 54
Wood, 77, 82, 98
Wordsworth, 41, 88, 128
Wraye, 98, 131
Wright, 9, a, 88, Sg, 97,

Wvndesore. 2op. 22
Wyndham, 50
Wynne, 57n
Wytegift. 103

Yaxley, a
Yeadon. 96
Young. 98

AQCl

167

GENERAL INDEX.

I'hi fif;iiies III heavy lyf'C indicate where the place is specialty described.

Aberford, 77
Addelthorpe, 18
Addingham. 1S6. 137. 146
Adel, b, II, 123
Africa. 120
Aldborough, 10, I4y
AleNander's Hill, S, g, iS
All Saints, Dedications to,

Almes Cliff, 7, 120, 122

Almondbury, 54, 62

Alnwick, 102

America, 132

Anecdotes and Folk Lore,
57, 59, 60, 61, 7(j, 91, 93,
113, 131, 132, 133, 134,
135, 144, 147

Arthington, 96

Aston, 127

Baildon, Sy

Bardsey, 115

Barrowby, 15, 17, 45, 46,

51, 79,98, 125, 128
Barwick, 14
Beamsley, 55
Beckwithshaw. 17, 106
Bedale, 81
Beningbrough, 41
Bentham, 31
Beverley, 53
Bilton, 6, 102
Bingley, 98, 112
Birstal, 75, 98
Birstwith, 39
Blubberhouses. 26. 121
Bolton Percy, 10
Boroughbridge, 25, 73, 105
Boston, U.S.A., go
Boston Spa, 58
Brackenthwaite, 45, 118,

121
Bradford, 105, 129, 132, 133
Bramham, 49, 60, 77, 147
Bramhope, 6, 11
Brough, 10
Bucks, 146
Burley, 57, 139
Burnsall, 6, 81, 98. 128

Burnt Bridge, 75
Burton Leonard, 127

Cambridge, 31, 58, 60, 83
Carlisle, 5O, 83
Carlton, 30, 31, 72
Carlton Moor, 11
Castley, 11, 20
Catterick, 10, 11
Cawood, 18. 136
Christianity, early, 5, 35,

155
Civil War, 58, 79, 85, 90,

92, 150. 157
Cleveland. 92
CoUingham, G7, loi, 137
Coniston Water, 23
Cottingham, 20, 54
Coupmanthorpe, 138
Cowthorpe, 126
Coxwold, 157
Creskeld. 13, 89
Cumberland, S3, 97, 104,

106, 13S
Customs, old, 33, 46, 51,

72. 73. 74. 75. 97. 127,

128. 145

Denton, 6
Derby, 33
Derry. 32
Devonshire, 58
Dewsbury. 105, 106 [16
Domesday Measurements,
Doncaster. 25, 116, 128
Dorset. 5o, 98
Driffield 54
Durham, 58, 108

ECCLESFIELI), 86
Elandslaagte, 43
Escrick, 6
Esholt, 129, 130
Essex, 41

Farnham. 19
Farnley (Leeds) 85

(Otley ) 87, 88. 104

no. 123, 130

Felliscliffe, 96
Fewston. 96. 140
Field-names, old. 7, 9. 94.

loi. 125, 126. 145, 156
Fires. Village, 142
Flamborough. 30. in
Folk-Lore, sec "Anecdotes"
Follifoot. 7. 8, 26. 97. 139.

155. 156
Fountains Abbey. 13. 24.

53, loi, 102, 113, 117
Fulford, 14
Furness Abbey , 23

(JAINSBOROUGH. a

Garter, Order of, 30
Gascony, 30
Geology, 67, 123
Gloucestershire, 94
Goldsborough. 79, 89, 122
Goodmanham. 78, 79
Grassing ton. 83
Great Berwick, 32
Guisborough. 19
Guiseley, 30, 139

Hackness. 146
Halifax. 58, 105 106
Hareuood, 17. 19, 22. 23.

27. 28, 29. 30. 55.67. 70.

73, 78, 91, 99, 103, 105,

129, 134, 137, 141
Harewood Bridge, 7. 55,

67
Harlow Hill, 11
Harrogate, 13, 40, 64, 67.

133. 141. 153
Haverah Park. 7, 9
Hawksworth, 80
Hazelwood, 138, 146
Healaugh, 6
Hebden-in-Craven. 116
Hellifield. 44
Helmsley 58. 67
Helthwaite Hill, 17
Hereford. 126
Heysham. 37. 38
Hoibeck. 6
Holderness, 79

1 68

Holy-wells, 5, 36, 125
Horn Bank, 10, 11, 13, 122
Hubberholme, iii
Huby. 17, 26, 105, 136
Hudddersfield, 62, 63, 134
Hunsingore, 15, 90
Hutton, 116

Ilkley, ir. 67, 139
Inghamites, 135
Ingleton, 31, 32. 55. 105
Ingmanthorp, 15
Ironworks, Ancient, 13
Ireland, S3

Kearbv, 12, 14, 30, ji, 41,
45, 51, 68. 71, 73,85, 88,
93- 99. 125
Keighley, 78
Kellington, 54
Kendal, 19, 20, 21, 23, 53.

116, 157
Kent, 32. 59, 117
Keswick, Dun, 26, 141

East, 31, 137

Kildwick-in. Craven, 145
Killinghall, 11, 106
Kippax, 89
Kirkby Ireleth. 20, 23
Kirkby Malzeard, 13, 138
Kirkby Overblow :

Boundaries, 17, 137

Charities. 56, 71, 93

Church, 5, 6, 8, 12,

20, 21, 35, 75. 104,

133

Churchyard, 45. 46, 55

CustoiBS, (iee " C " )

Families, 38, 44, 45,

77,95

Free- warren, 26. a

Inns. 74

Manor, 8. 14, 19

Meaning of name, 12,

Parish Council, 69, 95

Population, 92

Rectors, 37, jS, 49.

86, 104

Rectory, 49, 69

Registers, 47, 82, 145

Roman Catholics, 72

School, 56, 6g, 86, 94

Terriers, 51

Trade. 6g

Wesleyans, 70, 85, 99

Woman whipped at,

128
Kirk Deighton. 68. 99. 126
Kirk Hammerton. 38
Kirkstall, 102. 156
Knights Templars. 138. 14O

Knaresborough, 8, 13. 18. Norton Conyers. 32.
21, 26, ^i, 54. 56. S^, 87, Norwood, 96
93, 98, 115. 122, 127. Nostel Priory, 151
149^ 156 Notts, 85

Lan'cashire. 64, 118, 134
Lancaster, 20, 21, 22, 26
Laughton -en-le-Morthen,

38
Lead, 93, 146
Leathley, 20, 78. 79, 103,

109, no, 113, 123, 139,

142
Leconfield, 50
Ledsham, 38
Ledstone, 157
Leeds,4i, 64, 71, 78, 83, 97,

98, 106, 120, 130, 132,

139. 141
Lincolnshire. 85. go. 94
Lindley, 26, 32, 87, 107
Linton. 18, 97, 116, 135
in-Craven, 78, 81

Lofthouse, 29

London, 25, 32, 59. 5i, 64,

69, 93. 98, 146
Longevity, local. 112
Long Preston. 44
Low Hall, 33. 39. 45, 56,

71. 77, 99. 130
Lund Head, 45, gg, 130

Macclesfield, 64
Malton, 129
Market Drayton, 32
Market Weighton, 57, 134,
Marton, East, 86
Marton-le-Moor, 142
Marston, 81
Masham, 78, 82
Meaux. 53
Menston, 117, 140
Mirfield, 86

Moated places, 87, g2, 118
Monckton, 21, 126
Moor AUerton, 38
Morcar Hill, 14, 132
Morpeth, 25

Morton-on-Swale, 24, 25,
26

Netherbv, 12. 51, 73, 125,

131
Newton Kyme, 6, 125
Nidderdale, 8g
Normanton, 98, 128
Northallerton, 105, 116
North Deighton, 7, 156
North Rigton,7, 10, 12, 13,

15, 21, 24, 26,51, 53,68.

93, 98, 102, 105, 106, 115

136

OSGODBY, 31

Ossory, 83

Otley, 78, 138, 139

Chevin, 11. 67

Oxford, 32, 59, 60

Pannal, II, 15. 18, 41, 46,
52, 70, 92, 94, 116, 122.
"123
Patnngton. 53
Pippin Castle. 7
Plagues. 52. 105, 106
Plumpton, 26, 96, 155, 156
Pocklington, 94
Pontefract, 57, 73, 85
Prehistoric relics. 5. 7. 8. 10
Preston. 23, 116

Railway made, 155
Rainton, 142
Rastrick, 122
Rebellion of 1745, 73, 75.

135
Ribston. 7, 89, go, g6, g7,

129, 139. 146
Rievaulx Abbey, 58
Rigton. See North Rigton
Ripley, 11, 105
Ripon, 41, 88. 131
Rochester, 59
Rome, 6

Roman remains, 6, 10
Roman Catholics, 72. 73.

88, 98, 130, 141, 157
Rossett, 17, 79
Rotherham, 57
Rougemont, ig, 20, 30, 4g,

103
Rougharlington, 156
Royds Hall, I2g
Rudding Park, 79
Fiyther, 30

St, Helens, Langs., 36
St. Helen's Wells, 5, 6, 35
Sallay Abbey, 19
Sawley, 82, 89
Saxon doorways, 37

crosses, 155, 157

Scarborough, 136
Scottish Invasion, 105, 115
Scotton, 87, 127, 139, 146
Scriven, 151, 153,
Scruton, 78
Sedbergh, 105
Selbv, 31, 32, 99
Sheffield, 33, 57. 58

169

Shrewsbury, 24
Sliropshire, 126
Sicklinghall, 7. 12, 14, 15.

40. 51, 55, 67, 68, 97,

137
Silsden, 137
Skipton. 22. 128. IJ7. 140,

142
Skipwith. 6
Snaith. 30 32. 57
Somersetshire. 0. 59. 60. 62
Spacey House, 44, y8
Spofforth. 13. 18. 20. 32. 49.

53, 54. 59. 60, 65, 67, 88.

96, 98. 120. 139, 155
Stainburii. 12, 13. 15. 36,

.51. 89, 101. 115. 120. 140
Stainmoor. 10, 11
Steeton. 117
Stilliiigfleet. 6
Stockekl. 18. 46. ^^ 121.

127. 138. 139. 141. 145
Sutton-on-Derwent, 78 79.

on-the-Korest. 130

Sussex 59, 64, 83
Swindon 17.26 41.51,56.
62, 70. 73 87, 92. 97-

128. 135

TADC,\STKIi, 7, 39. 77, 131

Tatefield Mall, 96, 122
Thatched Churches. 119
Thorp .Vrch, 7, 20. 126,

140
rimble, 26
Todoure, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21,

125
I'ong, 75
Torquay, 62
Traditions, 6, 14, 120, 123.

134. 157

Ulleslkelf, 130

Vacci.nation, Early, 72
Village improvements, 68

Wakefield, 62, 99, 129
Walton, Head. 15, 17, 27,

32, 45, 71, 79, 87, 97.

99
Walton, 54
Weeton 11, 26, 68, 93
W^iUs, 41, 59, 60, 62
Wensleydale, 58, 69
Wesleyans, 45, 71, 93, 99,

loi, 134, 144, 157

Westhow, 26

West Indies, 57, 78, 82

Westmoreland, 23, 30, 31,

97, 116
Weston, 138
Wetherby, 7, 17, 39, 60,

62, 64, 77, 97, 116, 117,

128, 138, 142, 156
Wetwang, 56. 86
Whitby, ig, 20, 136
Whitkirk, a
Wigglesworth, 54
Wighill 31, 32, 156
Windermere, 23
Window-tax, 74
Windsor, 59
Womersley, 32
Woodhall, 7, 17, 18 32, 33,

43, 46, 86, 97, 108, 132,

■37- '43. 145
Woolley, 53, 54
Worcestershire, 94

York, 6, 36, 38, 44, 49, 52,
53. 57. So, 89, 94. 116,
135

r<3 0-1

Demy 8vo, 532 pages, cloth, gilt, by post, 12s. 6d
Large Paper Edition, 30s., Out of Print.

THE HISTORY, ANTIQUITIES,
AND SCENERY OF

bower WF)arfedale,

BY H. SPEIGHT.

An Original and Full History and Description of the Parishes of

Aberford .\rthington, Bardsey, Bilbrough, Bolton Percy, Boston Spa, Bramham

Cawood, Church Fenton, Collingham, East Keswick,

Harewood, Healaugh, Kirkby Wharfe, Newton Kyme, Ryther, Tadcaster,

Thorp Arch, UUeskelf, Walton, Wetherby, and Wighill.

Fifty Full-page and Seventy Half- page Illustrations.
With Maps, Plans, and numerous Pedigrees.

PRESS OPINIONS.

"Mr. Harry Speight has added to his monument as the great Yorkshire
peregrinator of his generation another big volume filled with the lore and legends
of Lower Wharfedale. He will be found to ha\e grappled with his task with
the same degree of exhaustiveness and detailed painstaking as have marked the
workmanship of his other books, and the region now surveyed being so crowded
with the annals of famous men and great events, these qualities imply a vast
amount of industrious research .A large proportion of the village histories are
now compiled and published for the first time. Deep divings into parish chests,
a wide correspondence with the representatives of old families, and the loan of
unique manuscripts, an extensive knowledge of antiquities in general, and those
of the country in particular, have enabled Mr. Speight to amass a volume full of
interest to the general reader, and invaluable as a work of reference. Hut only
a careful inspection of the bock can convey an adequate sense of the vast
amount of curious and significant facts which he has accumulated from by-way
villages, the verv names of which are quite unknown to fame. It treats of a
region profoundly interesting to everyone who feels the pride and charm ot
bygone days and deeds. His book makes an invaluable contribution to the
history of this great county." — Yoi-kshirc Daily Observer.

" It is the most interesting work which has ever been published dealing with
the district. No less than four chapters of the book are devoted to Cawood,
three to Bolton Percy, two each to Ryther and Church Fenton ; an interesting
chapter is that dealing with Nun .Appleton and Appleton Roebuck ; other chap-
ters deal with Colton, Steeton, and the Fairfaxes, Bilbrough, Kirkby Wharfe,
Grimston Park, UUeskelf, round about Towton, Saxton, and .Aberford. Nine
chapters are devoted to Tadcaster. from which we learn that the town was a
royal residence prior to the Conquest. An account is given of Wetherby, its
importance as a coaching-town, and very interesting is the account of the
antiquity of Wetherby Chapel. Another chapter is devoted to Micklethwaite and
Wetherby Grange." — Wetherby News.

LONDON ; ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER liOW, E.C..
And all Booksellers.

WORKS BY HARRY SPEIGHT.

Romantic Ricbmondsbire.

A Complete Account of the HISTORY. ANTigUITIES and SCENERY of the

Picturesque Valleys of the Swale and Yore, and surrounding moors and glens,

with Folding Maps, Plans of .\bbeys and Castles, and more than loo Illustrations.

In two cditiivis, Demy 4to, 521 pages, extra plates, 30s. Out of print.

Deiiiv Si'o., cloth, J2s.,bvpost. Few remain.

'■ The ablest contribution to the history and antiquities of Richmondshire since

the time of Dr. Whitaker." — Darlington and Stockton Times.

Didderdalc and tbe Garden or tbe Pidd.

Embraces a complete histor\- and description <.)f e\er\- town, \illage, hamlet and
notable building from Nun Monkton to Knaresbro' and Whernside. Numerous

Illustrations and Maps.
Demy 8vo., 514 pages, 10s. Out of print. Demy 4to, e.xtra plates, 30s. Out of print.

Upper Ulbarfedale from Otkp to Cangstrotbdale.

With Map. Plans. I'olding Pedigrees, and nearly 150 Fine lUiistratiuus.

Demy 4to., 30s. Out of print. Demy Hvo., 51 S pages, 12s. Few remain.

" The most comprehensive work on the district extant."

Companion volume, £ou)er Ulbarfedak,

532 pages. Demy 4to., 30s. Demy Svo., 12s. Od., by post.

Che Craven and Dortb Ulest Yorkshire l^igblands.

•' With the exception of Whitaker's * History of Craven,' published earlv this
century, the district has never had a competent historian, but Mr. Speight now
supplies the deficiency in an admirably competent manner." — Times.
Demy Svo., cloth, 470 pages, 10s. Out of print.
Demy 4to., gilt top extra, frontispiece plate, 30s. Out of print.

Cbrougb jliredale from Goole to malbam.

The work embraces a histor\" anel description nt e\"er\" place on the banks of
the Aire between Goole and Malham. with brief descriptions of objects of interest
from six to ten miles round the principal places.

Chapters on Geology, Folk-Lore, &c. Seventy Illustrations and Map.

C<i'u'« .S'i'i',, .ihli pages, cloth limp, 5s. Wiy fa.' reiihiiii.

Cu)0 Cbousand ji'ears of Cadcaster l)i$torp.

It deals with every aspect of Tadcaster life and history, its present and former
aspects, its antiquities, natural productions, institutions, old families, trade, Ac.
Also with the attractive environs of Tadcaster.

The ■work is beautifully illustrated.
Demy Svo., 120 pages, 2s., by post, 2s. 3d.

Most of his works are out of print,

But odd copies may occasionally be had on direct application to the author,

HARRY SPEIGHT,

BiNGLEY, Yorkshire,
the los. editions at 15s. to 20s., and the 30s. editions at 40s. to 50s., according to

condition and rarity.

LONDON : ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.,
Or from tlic .\uthor, H Speight, Binglev, Yorks,

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY

Los Angeles
This book is DUE on the last date stamped below.

rormL9-42m-8,'49(B5573)444

-*D1 g;pfiight. -

Kirkby
Iver hinw and
district.

690
K63S7U

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Full text of "Kirkby Overblow and district. Being a record of the history, antiquities, folk-lore, and old customs of the ancient parish of Kirkby Overblow in the West Riding of Yorkshire. With brief notices of adjacent places"

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