PRIEST HUTTON
Hotun, Dom. Bk.; Presthotone, 1307.
This township, formerly also called Nether Hutton,
occupies a hilly tract 1,085 acres in extent (fn. 1) ; the
surface is broken by numerous spurs of the hills to
the north-east, the general descent, east to west,
being from nearly 500 ft. above sea level at Dalton
Park to less than 100 ft. near Tewitfield. The
population in 1901 was 172.
A branch of the Lancaster and Kendal road goes
through the western end of the township; from it a
minor road extends south-east to the village, and then
turns south to Borwick. The railway from Carnforth
to Wennington runs through the eastern end, near
the Keer. The Lancaster and Kendal Canal crosses
the extreme south-west corner.
Matthew Hutton was born here in 1529, and,
being educated at Cambridge, adopted Protestantism
and became one of the leading divines in England
after the accession of Elizabeth. He was Master
of Pembroke College and Regius Professor in his
University, and after holding a number of dignities
became Bishop of Durham in 1589 and Archbishop
of York in 1 596. In his later see he showed himself
a vigorous persecutor of those who clung to the old
religion and in 1604 wrote protesting against any
relaxation of the laws concerning them. He died in
1606. He was thrice married, and purchased an estate
at Marske in Yorkshire, where his descendants have
since continued. He was a benefactor to his native
place, founding the school and hospital at Warton. (fn. 2)
Thomas Wilson, 1747–1813, of mark as master of
Clitheroe School, was another native; he is noticed
among the rectors of Claughton. (fn. 3)
Manor
In 1066 HUTTON was, like Warton,
one of the manors held by Torfin of
Austwick. (fn. 4) Afterwards probably it was
granted to the Lancaster family and assigned by
them to the endowment of Warton Church, thus
acquiring its distinctive prefix. (fn. 5) One moiety of the
manor appears to have been retained by the rectors
of Warton in demesne, forming an important part
of the rectory manor, which included lands also in
the remaining townships of the parish. (fn. 6) The other
moiety was held of the rectors by the Lancasters of
Caton (fn. 7) and their successors, Harrington (fn. 8) and Mounteagle. (fn. 9) Other land, though not called a part of the
manor, was held by the Crofts of Tewitfield of the
rector of Warton. (fn. 10) In 1331 a fourth part of the
manor belonged to a family surnamed Hutton, of
whose history nothing is known. (fn. 11)
Lord Mounteagle in 1594 sold or mortgaged his
manor of Priest Hutton to Robert Bindloss, (fn. 12) and
afterwards it descended like Borwick. (fn. 13) The Croft
estate is later found in the possession of Washington, (fn. 14)
Lawrence (fn. 15) and Middleton of Leighton. (fn. 16) One or
two other names occur in the inquisitions. (fn. 17) It does
not appear that any manor is claimed now.
Whitebeck Mill was in 1560 the subject of a dispute between Richard Ashton and George Middleton.
The latter claimed under a lease from Lord Mounteagle
to his father Gervase, and when plaintiff cut off the
stream of water he ordered it to be turned on again. (fn. 18)
There is a Methodist chapel in the Tewitfield
corner of Priest Hutton.