WRAY WITH BOTTON
Wra, 1229.
This township consists of a long strip of hill-side
land extending along the Hindburn from the Wenning
on the north, south-east and south to the Yorkshire
border, when a height of 1,784 ft. above sea level is
attained. Wray, with a separate area of 1,247½ acres,
occupies the northern end, the village, as in other
cases, lying at the foot of the hills, from which the
level ground extends beside the Hindburn as far as
the Wenning. Botton, 5,277½ acres, has scattered
farm-houses and a mill. The total area is 6,525 acres, (fn. 1)
and in 1901 there was a population of 499.
From the village of Wray one road goes west to
Hornby and Lancaster, another north to Wennington,
crossing the Hindburn by Mealbank Bridge, and a
third east over Hindburn Bridge to Bentham. Minor
roads lead up the wooded valley. The Settle and
Lancaster branch of the Midland railway crosses the
northern end of the township.
The land is mostly used as pasture; the soil
is gravelly with subsoil of clay. There is a cattle
fair held on Shrove Tuesday. Bobbins are made.
Seventy years ago hats and nails were manufactured
here. (fn. 2)
The township is governed by a parish council.
Manor
WRAY, a part of the Hornby fee, does
not appear to have been at any time
regarded as a manor. It was named in
the grant of free warren to Geoffrey de Nevill in
1279. In 1285 there were two free tenants there
rendering 12s. a year and a number of farmers and
cottagers paying 108s. (fn. 3) In 1319 there were twenty
tofts, 16 oxgangs of land, and 76 acres of land and
meadow in the hands of various tenants, who paid in
all £9 18s. 10d. to the lady of Hornby. (fn. 4) BOTTON
or Bottin comes into notice in the 16th century as a
hunting ground. (fn. 5)
The history of the place has left little trace in the
records. One John del Woods, outlawed in 1389,
held a messuage and land there of Sir Robert de
Nevill as of his manor of Hornby. (fn. 6) Thomas Marshall
of Wray in 1631 compounded by a fine of £10 for
having refused knighthood. (fn. 7)
In connexion with the Church ot England Holy
Trinity was built in 1840 at Wray, and a district was
assigned to it. The patronage is vested in trustees.
There are also chapels of the Wesleyans (1848)
and United Free Methodists (1867), (fn. 8) and a meetinghouse of the Society of Friends of ancient foundation, it having existed in 1668. (fn. 9)
A free school was founded by the will of Captain
Richard Pooley, 1685. (fn. 10)