TOPCLIFFE
Topeclive (xi cent.); Toppecliva (xii cent.).
Topcliffe is a large parish situated on the lower
reaches of the River Swale, which is joined by the
Cod Beck about a mile below Topcliffe village.
The ecclesiastical parish comprised in 1831 the
townships of Asenby, Baldersby, Catton, Dalton,
Dishforth, Elmire with Crakehill, Marton-le-Moor,
Rainton with Newby, Skipton-upon-Swale and Topcliffe. All these are now separate civil parishes; and
Baldersby (now including Rainton with Newby),
Dishforth, Marton-le-Moor and Skipton (which
includes Catton) have since been constituted distinct
ecclesiastical parishes.
The soil of this district is loam on a subsoil in part
of Keuper Marls; alluvium also occurs. The area of
the parish, with all the hamlets, is rather over 16,564
acres; 8,113 of these are arable and 414 wood. (fn. 1)
The inhabitants are mainly engaged in agriculture,
wheat, barley, oats and turnips being the chief crops
grown. The general elevation is undulating but low,
seldom rising more than 100 ft. above the ordnance
datum except in the west corner of the township of
Marton-le-Moor, where it reaches 200 ft. in a few
places. Some of the low ground sloping down to the
Swale and Cod Beck is liable to floods.
There are villages or hamlets in all these townships
except Elmire with Crakehill and Newby. Apart
from Topcliffe, which is more considerable, they
consist of small groups of houses, with churches at
'Baldersby St. James' (more than a mile to the southeast of Baldersby village), Dalton, Dishforth, Martonle-Moor and Skipton. There are Wesleyan chapels
at Dalton, Dishforth, Rainton and Skipton, as well as
at Topcliffe, a Primitive Methodist chapel at Dalton,
and a Baptist chapel at Dishforth.
The name of Gristhwaite, formerly a hamlet in the
parish, survives in two adjacent farms in the northeast of the township of Topcliffe.
Baldersby Park, the residence of Mr. John Brennand, was formerly called Newby Park and is situated
in the township of Rainton with Newby. The
extent of the park is about 200 acres, and it is well
wooded and stocked with fallow deer.
The ancient road known as Leeming Lane forms
the western boundary of the parish, while the main
road from York through Boroughbridge to Northallerton and the north crosses the Swale by Topcliffe
Bridge. A wooden bridge was certainly built here
before 1227, when a royal mandate was issued for
four oaks from the forest of Galtres for the bridge,
which was then broken down. (fn. 2) It was probably by
this same 'Bridge of Tymbre' that Leland entered
the place. (fn. 3) The bridge was a favourite rendezvous
for Parliamentarian troops in the Civil War, as thence
they might 'divide either to Carlisle or Newcastle or
to both.' (fn. 4) In 1640, when the Scots were advancing
south, 12,800 men were 'lodged betwixt York and
Topcliff Bridge.' (fn. 5) When there was a talk of insurrection in 1663 the rebels were said to have chosen
this as their meeting-place and to have marched thence
to Northallerton with 'Freedom' as their password. (fn. 6)
The place, indeed, probably owed its origin as well as
its importance to the crossing of the river.
The village would seem to have been originally
built round a market-square, on the west and river
side of which is the fine old church of St. Columba.
The main road from the bridge enters by the southwest corner of this square and leaves it on its way to
Northallerton by the northern angle. This original
plan is now, however, obscured by the erection of
blocks of houses on the central part of the square.
Some trace of the original arrangement remains in
that the fair is held all over the village, though
naturally the greater part of the stalls are pitched on
the cobbled space facing the south side of the square
where are the remains of the old market cross. The
fair took its origin from a grant which Edward III
in 1327 gave to Henry de Percy for the vigil, day
and morrow of the Translation of St. Thomas, (fn. 7) and
for a weekly market on Wednesdays. The market
days were on Thursdays and Fridays in 1792, (fn. 8) but
are now abandoned. Fairs are now held on 17, 18
and 19 July. The first day is devoted to the sale of
sheep, the second is a good horse fair and the third
day is 'Lady Fair' when 'the lads take their girls
round to the sweet and trinket stalls which supply
fairings.' Until recently 'bough-houses' invited
custom by displaying a green branch above their
doors. During this fair two men appointed by the
lord of the manor parade the streets to keep order;
one carries an ancient halberd, the other a pike.
A road runs east from the south-east corner of the
square for about half a mile to Gallows Green, where
the lord's gallows stood in the woods in the 13th
century. (fn. 9) Until recently the green was an open
common on which gipsies encamped at fair-time,
but it has now been inclosed. At Gallows Green the
road forks, one branch going north by east to Thirsk,
the other in an easterly direction to Dalton and
Sessay. This second branch crosses the Cod Beck at
Dalton Bridge about three-quarters of a mile from
Topcliffe; just beyond the bridge, near a farm-house
called Manor Lodge, a road goes towards the south
through Elmire and Crakehill, passing near the present
Manor House, a modern farm-house standing on the
opposite side of the Cod Beck to the site of Cock Lodge.
There are traces of old foundations in the orchard of
this farm and the grass is raised into a kind of terrace.
The road from Topcliffe to Thirsk passes the old
Tollbooth, which stands at the south-east corner of
the square. A flight of stone steps leads to a chamber
in the upper story, where the lord of the manor still
holds his courts leet. In this chamber is an old oak
table upon which tradition (probably incorrect) asserts
that the 'ransom' of Charles I was paid to the Scots.
About 150 yards beyond the Tollbooth Winn Lane
leads, at right angles to the main road, to a field
called Manor Wood, where is the site of Cock Lodge,
about three-quarters of a mile south-east of the village.
Charles I dined at Topcliffe on 11 May 1646 on his
way north with the Scots, and took leave of Sir Henry
Slingsby there. (fn. 10)
Castle
It has been suggested that a stronghold
was raised here in the time of the Conqueror. (fn. 11) However this may be, it is
known that in 1174 Geoffrey Bishop-elect of Lincoln
fortified a castle here in support of his father,
Henry II, (fn. 12) and as a rival to Mowbray's fortress of
Thirsk. Geoffrey gave the custody to William de
Stutevill and in the time of the war (tempore werre)
spent £7 10s. 2d. in building and strengthening it. (fn. 13)
Little is known of the history of this castle, but the
earthworks now known as Maiden's Bower show that
it was of the mount and bailey type. Edward III
spent a few hours here in August 1333. (fn. 14) The old
castle, which probably never had any masonry defences,
was superseded by a manor-place, called Cock Lodge,
slightly to the north-west of the older site. It was
here that Henry fourth Earl of Northumberland was
killed. He had made himself unpopular in Yorkshire
by his betrayal of Richard III, and met with resistance in levying a tax in 1489. He sent for help, but
a mob collected and on 28 April marched on Cock
Lodge. The earl was the first man to be slain. (fn. 15)
This was a favourite home of the unfortunate Henry
Earl of Northumberland. (fn. 16) Leland describes it simply
as 'the praty manor place of Topclif,' which, he says,
'stondith on a hille about half a mile from the toune,
almost on the ripe of the Swale.' (fn. 17)
Topcliffe Parks lie in the north of the parish and
on either side of the highway to Northallerton, in
this part called the New Road; previous to the
making of this the way followed the course of the
Swale for some distance, then bearing to the right.
The park is first mentioned in 1314, (fn. 18) and ten years
later (fn. 19) poachers were active, as they were in 1332
and 1344. (fn. 20) The names of Moskerry or Moskwith
and of Berbelond were applied to these parks in the
14th and 15th centuries, (fn. 21) but in the 16th century
these names had disappeared and the Great and Little
Parks are mentioned. The office of forester of the
Moskwith or Great Park was hereditary in the 15th
century. Joscelin de Topcliffe left a daughter and
heir Beatrice, who married Adam the Forester, and
lived at the beginning of the 14th century. (fn. 22) Their
eldest son Alan died without issue and was
succeeded by his brother Richard, who left daughters
and co-heirs, Maud and Christina. (fn. 23) Christina widow
of William Berkesworth was succeeded in office by her
daughter Margaret, who left daughters and co-heirs.
Isabel the younger in 1454 quitclaimed to her sister
Elizabeth and her husband Oliver Stockdale her
right in the office, (fn. 24) which carried with it a house,
two gardens, an orchard, considerable land in the
park, housebote and haybote. (fn. 25) Christopher Stockdale
was parker at his death in 1554, when he left a son
and heir Anthony. (fn. 26) Anthony Stockdale held land
of the manor of Topcliffe in 1557, (fn. 27) and was succeeded by his infant son Richard. Richard with
Ellen his wife sold the office with its appurtenants in
1599 to Edmund Norton for £200. (fn. 28) Richard
Norton was keeper of the Little Park in 1539 (fn. 29) and
Edmund Norton was made under-keeper by Henry
Johnson, son and heir of Sir Thomas Johnson, (fn. 30) to
whom Henry VIII gave a lease of the herbage in
1537. (fn. 31) At this date the herbage was valued at
£10 (fn. 32) yearly, but in a further grant of 1542 the
herbage of 'Haverlaunde' within the park was
especially reserved for the support of the deer. (fn. 33)
Among the fees received by royal officers in 1607
were £6 13s. 4d. to the steward and master of the
game here, £6 1s. 8d. to the keeper of the great
park and 6s. 8d. to the paler of both parks. (fn. 34)
Among the incumbents of the parish were Robert
Darley Waddelove, afterwards Dean of Ripon, who
lived from 1736 to 1828, (fn. 35) and William Henry
Dixon, an antiquary, who lived from 1783 to 1854. (fn. 36)
Asenby contains 1,178 acres and lies on the south
bank of the Swale. The village street lies just off
the road from Northallerton to Boroughbridge on
the east. On a small hill at the south end of the
village there was an elaborate maze cut in the turf,
but it has become obliterated during the last few
years. (fn. 37) The land is generally low, rising to its
greatest height at Sheephills (fn. 38) ; it is not, however,
without charm, and the view over the Swale from
the gravel-pits east of the village may be especially
mentioned.
Skipton Old Hall, Topcliffe
Elmire with Crakehill occupies the most easterly
portion of the parish, scattered farms—for there
are no villages—covering 995 acres. Close to the
Swale lies the Chapel Garth, possibly that messuage
and close called Watergarths granted as a possession
of the late chantry of Elmire to Richard Okeham in
1560. (fn. 39) In a field to the south of this are traces of
a considerable building. Crakehill Farm lies south
by east and near the parish boundary.
The modern parish of Dishforth contains 1,764½
acres and lies south of Rainton and east of Leeming
Lane, which forms its western boundary. The village
is built along the road from Boroughbridge to
Northallerton and contains a number of substantial
18th-century stone and brick houses. A farm-house
on the west side of the street has two large early
17th-century ashlar-faced chimney stacks with numerous offsets. On the same side is the Crown Inn, a
late 17th-century stone building with a gable towards
the street. At the northern end of the wide village
street is the Grange. The church stands on an island
in the midst of the street. In a garden in the village
are a stone figure of Atlas supporting the world and
an early cross supposed to have come originally from
Topcliffe Church. Place-names of 1639 are Westend, Moreflat, Autrystone and Stonecausey. (fn. 40)
Catton, a township covering 842 acres, lies close to
the east bank of the Swale, which here runs almost
due north. The village is reached from Topcliffe
station and the Northallerton road by a lane which
runs across Catton Moor, and is further west termed
Caldron, and later Sandycap Lane. Catton Hall, the
residence of Mr. Henry Rob, lies beside the road to
Skipton and is surrounded by a park which is bounded
on the north by the railway line.
Skipton lies still further north; the road from
Catton enters the village from the south and passes
Skipton Old Hall and Skipton Hall before reaching
the village street. The old hall stands at the south
end of the village and is a
picturesque ivy-covered building of red brick dating from
the end of the 17th century.
It faces west and is rectangular on plan, with two projecting wings to the front
and the tiled roof has a deep
wooden cornice to the eaves.
Between the ground and first
floors is a moulded brick
string-course. The south
wing is now disused and
turned into outbuildings. It
is roofed with stone slabs.
At the western end of the
street lies Skipton Bridge.
This is first mentioned in
1368, (fn. 41) when it is said to
have replaced a ford of which
the lord of Topcliffe had had
the profits. There was, however, still a ferry here in
1389. (fn. 42) The mediaeval chapel
must have stood near the Swale, (fn. 43) but it has long
disappeared, and Skipton had no church until the
Misses Elsley built St. John's at the north-east end of
the village in 1842. The Wesleyan Methodist chapel
dates from 1811.
Manors
TOPCLIFFE has been identified with
Taddenesscylfe, (fn. 44) where in 947 Archbishop Wulfstan and all the Northumbrian Witan took an oath of allegiance to King
Eadred. (fn. 45) In the reign of Edward the Confessor it
belonged to Bernulf, (fn. 46) but after the Conquest it was
granted to William de Percy, (fn. 47) and became for many
generations the chief seat of the family of Percy in the
North Riding. The descent of the manor is, with
some intervals, the same as that of the family until
the middle of the 18th century. Besides over eighty
lordships in Yorkshire, (fn. 48) William de Percy obtained
extensive property in Lincolnshire (fn. 49) and other
counties. Topcliffe together with 4 berewicks at
the time of the Domesday Survey (fn. 50) was assessed at
26 carucates. The first William de Percy, or 'les
gernuns,' died in 1096, and was succeeded by his
son Alan, who was succeeded by another William (fn. 51) ;
after this the pedigree of the family during the 12th
and early 13th centuries is very confused and the
authorities contradict one another. This last William,
however, is generally said to be that William de Percy
who founded Handale Abbey in 1133, (fn. 52) took part in
the battle of the Standard in 1138, (fn. 53) and founded the
abbey of Sawley in 1147. (fn. 54) He married Alice de
Tunbridge as his first wife (fn. 55) and had several children. (fn. 56)
All his sons probably died in their infancy except
Alan, who was living in 1147, (fn. 57) but predeceased his
father and was succeeded by his two sisters, Maud
and Agnes. Maud, who married the Earl of
Warwick, died without issue and Agnes became the sole
heir. She married Josceline de Louvain, half-brother
of Queen Adeliza, the second wife of Henry I. (fn. 58)
The frequently accepted tradition that Josceline took
the surname of Percy on his marriage has been shown
to be erroneous, (fn. 59) although his descendants were
known by that name. Agnes de Percy had at least
four sons, of whom Henry seems to have been the
eldest and Richard the youngest, (fn. 60) although Richard
occurs in some of the evidences as the 'son and
heir' of Agnes. (fn. 61) Henry died before his mother,
and, though he left a son William (then a minor),
nearly the whole barony of Percy was usurped by his
brother Richard. (fn. 62) In 1204 Richard de Percy had
livery of all the lands which had belonged to his
mother Agnes, (fn. 63) and those which his aunt Maud
Countess of Warwick held of the fee of Chester. He
was one of the barons who took part against King
John and was among the twenty-five who were
appointed to enforce the observance of Magna Carta. (fn. 64)
He and his nephew seem to have had many disputes. (fn. 65)
In 1218 it was agreed that the manor of Topcliffe,
among others, should remain to Richard and his
heirs. (fn. 66) The final compromise, however, was not
made until 1234, (fn. 67) when it was settled that the
patrimony of the Percys should be divided between
Richard and William during Richard's life and at his
death should devolve upon William with a small
reservation for Richard's son Henry. (fn. 68) In 1244
William nephew and heir of Richard de Percy did
homage for Richard's lands, (fn. 69) but he died in the
following year (fn. 70) and was succeeded by his son Henry,
who died in 1272. (fn. 71) In the return of 1284–5
Henry's son John (fn. 72) appears as the lord of the manor
of Topcliffe, (fn. 73) but this return must have been made
just before or just after his death without issue, as in
1284 he is said to have been succeeded by his younger
brother Henry, (fn. 74) who had livery of his lands when
he came of age in 1294. (fn. 75) His son Henry (fn. 76) in 1335
obtained licence to settle the manor of Topcliffe on
himself and his heirs. (fn. 77) In 1405, after the rebellion
of Henry Percy first Earl of Northumberland, grandson of the last named Henry, the manor was granted
to the king's son John and his heirs, (fn. 78) but the earl's
grandson was restored to his dignities in 1414. (fn. 79) At
his death in 1455 he was seised of the manor of
Topcliffe. (fn. 80) His son and heir Henry third Earl of
Northumberland fought for King Henry and was
slain at the battle of Towton. He was in consequence
attainted in the subsequent Parliament and all his
honours forfeited, and in 1462 the manor of Topcliffe was granted to Richard Nevill Earl of
Warwick, (fn. 81) whose son John was created Earl of
Northumberland in 1464 or 1465. This dignity
was, however, cancelled in 1469, (fn. 82) and Henry Percy's
honours and lands were restored in 1470 to his son
Henry, who was murdered in 1489. (fn. 83) His grandson,
called 'Henry the Unthrifty,' (fn. 84) died without children
in 1537. His heir was his nephew, the son of his
brother Thomas, but this Thomas, having been
attainted, was considered incapable of transmitting
his brother's honours, (fn. 85) and, although the earl had
made over his property to the Crown with a view
to its ultimate restoration to the family, (fn. 86) it was not
until 1557 that a great part of it was regranted to
his nephew Thomas Percy. (fn. 87)
In 1543 the manor of Topcliffe was conferred upon
Edward Archbishop of York, (fn. 88) but it was returned to
the king by his successor in exchange for other
property in 1545. (fn. 89) In 1552 the manor was granted
to John Dudley Earl of Warwick, who had been
created Duke of Northumberland in 1551. (fn. 90) He was
attainted, however, in 1553, and in August 1557
Topcliffe was restored to Thomas Percy, who had
been created Earl of Northumberland, with a special
remainder to his brother, in the previous May. (fn. 91)
Under Elizabeth the earl joined in the conspiracy of
1569 (fn. 92) and was beheaded at York in 1572. By his
attainder the ancient barony of Percy, the barony of
Poynings (which had been brought to Henry Percy,
afterwards third Earl of Northumberland, by his wife
in 1456), (fn. 93) and the earldom of Northumberland became
forfeited, but the honours conferred on him in 1557
were saved by the special remainder in their creation
and devolved upon his brother Henry. This earl was
suspected of plotting in favour of Mary Queen of
Scots, was imprisoned in the Tower, and was found
dead in his bed from a pistol shot, supposed to have
been self-inflicted, in 1585. (fn. 94) He was seised of the
manor of Topcliffe, which descended to his son
Henry, (fn. 95) the unfortunate earl who was suspected of
complicity in the Gunpowder Plot, though probably
with no other foundation than his relationship to Sir
Thomas Percy, who had a chief part in it. An
enormous fine was imposed upon him and he was
imprisoned in the Tower for more than fifteen years.
In 1621 he was at last released, and in 1628 received
a confirmation of his barony of Percy. (fn. 96) He spent
the last years of his life chiefly at Petworth in Sussex. (fn. 97)
He died seised of the manor of Topcliffe in 1632,
leaving as his heir a son Algernon, (fn. 98) who at his death
in 1668 was succeeded by his only son Joscelin, who
died in 1670. (fn. 99) The latter left an only daughter
Elizabeth, who in 1682 married Charles Seymour
Duke of Somerset. Their son Algernon, who became
Duke of Somerset in 1748, was in the next year
created Lord Warkworth, Earl of Northumberland,
Lord Cockermouth and Earl of Egremont, with special
remainders in default of male issue. He died in 1750,
leaving an only daughter Elizabeth the wife of Sir
Hugh Smithson, bart., and a great dispersion of his
titles took place. (fn. 100) The earldom of Egremont and
barony of Cockermouth went to his nephew Sir
Charles Wyndham, bart., (fn. 101) who acquired the manor
of Topcliffe, which descended to his son George Earl
of Egremont. (fn. 102) He died unmarried in 1837, (fn. 103) having
settled this manor and many other lands on his eldest
illegitimate son George Wyndham, who in 1859 was created
Lord Leconfield. He died in
1869 and was succeeded by
his son Henry; on his death
in 1901 the estate passed to
his eldest surviving son Charles
Henry, the present Lord
Leconfield.
Percy. Azure a fesse indented or.
Louvain. Or a lion azure.
Wyndham, Lord Leconfield. Azure a cheveron between three lions' heads or with a border wavy or for difference.
Very full regalities seem to
have been claimed by the lords
of the manor; in 1276 it was
said that the bailiff of Topcliffe would not permit the
royal bailiff to enter his liberties in the exercise of his
office, (fn. 104) while Henry de Percy
had had his gallows here for the last fifty years. (fn. 105)
Court leet and view of frankpledge are mentioned in
1551, (fn. 106) while the fishing rights granted to John
Morton in 1571 (fn. 107) once belonged to the lords of the
manor. (fn. 108)
In 1086 ASENBY (Estanesbi, xi cent.; Aysaneby,
Ayscenby, xiii cent.; Escanby, Aystanby, xiv cent.)
was a berewick of Topcliffe (q.v.), which it has always
followed in descent, Lord Leconfield being the present
lord of the manor. Its 6 carucates were assessed at
half a knight's fee in 1284–5, and in 1314–15 mention
is made of the Percys' court here. (fn. 109)
Archil had a 'manor' in BALDERSBY (Baldrebi,
xi cent.; Balderby-in-les-Broome, xv cent.) before
1086, and at that date it was in the possession of
Count Alan. (fn. 110) The overlordship came into the
hands of the Percys before 1284–5, (fn. 111) and continued
with them. Arthur son of Godard gave the vill
of Baldersby to the abbey of Fountains in 1159,
and Gikel de Baldersby gave the house the site of
the grange. (fn. 112) Further lands were acquired, and in
1284–5 the abbot was said to hold as one grange the
whole of Baldersby, this including the sites of the
vills of Birkhou and Eseby, (fn. 113) which evidently stood
between Baldersby and Rainton, (fn. 114) but had disappeared
before that date. This grange remained with the abbey
until the Dissolution, (fn. 115) and was leased as the 'manor' of
Baldersby to Richard Norton 'of Hartforth' in 1544
for twenty-one years, (fn. 116) and as the 'grange' for a similar
term to Robert Constable in 1578. (fn. 117) In 1603 the
'manor' of Baldersby was granted in fee farm to
John Hayward and Robert Parker, (fn. 118) possibly as
trustees for Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury, who
was seised of the manor at her
death in 1607. She settled it
on herself for life, with remainder to her son William
Lord Cavendish (fn. 119) (by her first
husband, Sir William Cavendish), who was created Earl
of Devonshire in 1618. (fn. 120) The
manor followed the descent of
this family (fn. 121) until 1845, when
it was sold by the sixth Duke
of Devonshire to Mr. George
Hudson (the Railway King).
In 1854 Mr. George Hudson
sold the manor and estate to
William Henry seventh Viscount Downe, who died
in 1857, leaving Baldersby to his widow, Mary
Isabel Viscountess Downe, for her life. She died in
1900, and Hugh Richard Viscount Downe then succeeded to the estate. He sold it to the present owner,
Mr. John Brennand, who does not, however, hold
any courts. (fn. 122)
Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire. Sable three harts' heads cabossed argent.
In 1540 Sir Richard Gresham obtained a grant of
the site of the dissolved abbey of Fountains and the
site and capital messuage of the manor of Baldersby. (fn. 123)
This property in Baldersby passed from William and
Thomas Gresham to Stephen Proctor in 1597. (fn. 124)
He may have been succeeded by the Cloughs, who
held land there at the beginning of the 17th century, (fn. 125)
for Edmund Clough and Francisca Jackson, widow,
sold a so-called 'manor' to Dorothea Perrott in
1661. (fn. 126) George Perrott received a conveyance of
this manor from Andrew Perrott and his wife and
John Alcock and his wife in 1747, (fn. 127) but no further
history of it can be traced.
In 1292 the Abbot of Fountains was granted free
warren in his demesne lands of Baldersby, (fn. 128) and this
privilege was confirmed to Stephen Proctor in 1604. (fn. 129)
CATTON (Catune, xi cent.; Catton Northby,
xvi cent.) was assessed at 6 carucates at the time of
the Domesday Survey. It had previously consisted
of four 'manors' held by Bernulf, Torn, Carle and
Ulgrim, but in 1086 it was in the hands of William
de Percy. (fn. 130) The demesne lands and overlordship
followed the descent of the manor of Topcliffe (q.v.).
Lord Leconfield is now lord of the manor.
In 1284–5 the vill contained 8 carucates, of which
6 were held of Baldwin de Skipton, (fn. 131) who held of
Wibert Capon, who held of John de Percy. (fn. 132) William
son of Baldwin de Skipton granted land here to
William son of Ivo de Carlton, (fn. 133) and this fee
apparently descended with the manor of Carlton
Miniott (q.v.), for John Miniott obtained a grant of
free warren in his demesne lands there for himself and
his heirs in 1333. (fn. 134) A John Miniott held land in
Catton in 1368, and the so-called 'manor' evidently
descended through an heiress in his family to Sir
Randle Pigot, kt., who was seised of it at his death in
1503. (fn. 135) Joan Pigot, one of his daughters and co-heirs,
married Sir Giles Hussey, but their son Thomas, who
came into the possession of Catton, was afterwards
attainted, and it was probably granted like Carlton
Miniott (q.v.) to George Lamplugh, who died seised
of it in 1588. There appears to be no material for
any subsequent history of this holding in Catton.
DALTON (Deltune, xi cent.) was a berewick of
Topcliffe in 1086, (fn. 136) when it belonged to William de
Percy, and the overlordship afterwards followed the
descent of Topcliffe Manor (q.v.). In 1284–5, when
Dalton consisted of 6 carucates of land, 10 oxgangs
were held of John de Percy by Mauger le Vavasour,
who had subinfeudated them to an unnamed tenant. (fn. 137)
The heir of Mauger appears as one of the holders in
Dalton in 1368. (fn. 138) Another tenant at that date,
whose interest has survived, was Marmaduke Darell.
When Dalton was first called a manor, in the 15th
century, it was in the possession of his descendant
Sir George Darell, kt., who was seised of it at his
death in or before 1466. (fn. 139) The descent of Dalton
Manor has since followed that of Little Thirkleby, (fn. 140)
and it is now in the possession of Viscount Downe.
In DISHFORTH (Disforde, xi cent.; Difford,
Disceford, xiii cent.; Disforth, xiv cent.) 6 geld
carucates were held by Torchil before the Norman
Conquest, and were granted to William de Percy
before 1086, when they were waste. (fn. 141) The overlordship followed the descent of the manor of
Topcliffe (q.v.).
The earliest known tenants bore the territorial
name. Baldwin de Dishforth, son of Ralph (fn. 142) de
Bramhope (also called de Hirton), (fn. 143) was succeeded
by a son Ralph, whose widow was known as Emma
Darell. (fn. 144) Marmaduke Darell, son of Ralph, was living
in 1253. (fn. 145) His son Thomas de Dishforth (fn. 146) was in
1284–5 holding of the Percys 6 carucates, of which
2½ carucates were in demesne, while a further carucate
was held by John de Dishforth. (fn. 147)
In 1299 Harsculph de Cleasby acquired land in
the vill from Thomas de Thirkleby and Muriel his
wife, (fn. 148) who may have been connected with the
Dishforths. John de Cleasby in 1314 sold the manor,
as it was then called, with that of Ellerton-on-Swale (fn. 149)
(q.v.), to Henry le Scrope (fn. 150) of Bolton, who obtained
a grant of free warren here in the same year. (fn. 151) The
manor descended with Bolton to Emmanuel, the last
Lord Scrope of Bolton, (fn. 152) who died without legitimate
heirs in 1630. No later material for the history of
Dishforth Manor has been found; the land in the
township is now mostly freehold and belongs to the
Crown.
In 1253 Marmaduke Darell confirmed to Fountains
Abbey the grants made by his ancestors (fn. 153) ; the abbot
was returned as holding 3½ carucates of Thomas de
Dishforth in 1284–5, (fn. 154) and his was the only name
mentioned in the return of 1316. (fn. 155) The abbey's
lands here (fn. 156) are now held by the Marquess of Ripon.
ELMIRE (Elvetemere, xiii cent.; Elnydmere,
Elmetmere, xiv cent.; Eldmer, xv cent.) was probably
assessed at the time of the Domesday Survey under
CRAKEHILL (Crecala, xi cent.; Crakhale, Crakhall,
xiv cent.), then a berewick of Topcliffe belonging to
William de Percy, with whose successors the overlordship remained. (fn. 157)
Crakehill appears never to have been a manor. It
was associated with Elmire at the beginning of the
14th century, and has since followed the same descent.
Marmaduke Darell is the earliest known tenant in
Elmire, and obtained a grant of free warren in his
demesne lands here in 1246. (fn. 158) He was succeeded
by a son Thomas, who was living in 1285. (fn. 159) Thomas
was succeeded by Marmaduke Darell, who in 1301
came to an arrangement with William Darell (fn. 160) by
which Marmaduke released all claim to the manor
of Sessay and in return was to hold the manor of
Elmire for life, with reversion to William and his
heirs. (fn. 161) The agreement evidently took effect, for in
1338 it was in the possession of William Darell,
lord of Sessay, (fn. 162) which manor it has followed in
descent to the present day.
GRISTHWAITE (Greswait, Grisetwayt, xiv cent.)
is not mentioned in the Domesday Survey. In a
document of 1314 it is described as a hamlet, and
there were then said to be four tenants in bondage,
and six cotters, and a water-mill, only, 'because the
said hamlet was burnt and destroyed and those who
were tenants were killed by the Scots.' (fn. 163) Gristhwaite
was probably never a real manor, although so called
in 1380 (fn. 164) and during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Its descent follows that of the manor of Topcliffe. (fn. 165)
No mention of MARTON-LE-MOOR occurs in
the Domesday Survey, but it was evidently among the
lands granted to William de Percy. (fn. 166) During the
12th century it was held by Alan de Mering, and
the grange of Marton with 5 carucates of land was
granted by him to the abbey of Fountains. (fn. 167) The
abbot obtained a charter of free warren there in
1292, (fn. 168) and in 1328 his suit to Topcliffe court was
remitted by Henry de Percy. (fn. 169) In 1592 the manorplace was granted to Peter Cawston for twenty-one
years (fn. 170) ; the manor was granted in 1602 to Peter
Bradwall and Robert Parker, (fn. 171) who may have represented the Countess of Shrewsbury, as she was seised
of it in 1602 and at her death in 1607. (fn. 172) After
this date the descent of Marton-le-Moor followed that
of Baldersby (q.v.) until the 19th century. The present
lord of the manor is Mr. R. C. de Grey Vyner.
The history of NEWBY is closely interwoven with
that of Rainton, and the overlordship followed the
descent of Topcliffe Manor (q.v.). In 1284–5 John
de Newby held the 2 carucates of which the vill
consisted. (fn. 173) Some land was alienated by members of
this family to the abbey of Fountains (fn. 174) and became
united with the principal holding in Rainton (q.v.),
the Abbot of Fountains being returned as lord of
Rainton and Newby in 1316. (fn. 175) The daughter and
heir of a John de Newby is said to have married into
a family named Green. (fn. 176) A Richard del Green was
living in 1315, (fn. 177) and may have been an ancestor of
the Richard Green of Newby, 'esquire,' who died in
1421. (fn. 178) Early in the 16th century Richard Green
complained that the trustees of Richard his father
refused to put him in possession of his 'manors of
Catton, Aysenby, Dishforth, Crakehill and Rainton.' (fn. 179)
It was perhaps this Richard Green who died seised of
the 'manor or capital messuage' of Newby in 1549
and left a son Henry. (fn. 180) On his death in 1557 he was
succeeded by his son John, (fn. 181) who in 1576 sold the
manor to Sir John Dawnay; he sold it to William
Robinson in 1586. (fn. 182) This holding has since followed
the same descent as William Robinson's property in
Rainton (q.v.).
At the time of the Domesday Survey a 'manor'
and 9 carucates in RAINTON (Reineton, Ranewat,
Rainineton, xi cent.; Raynington, xiii cent.) which
had belonged to Torchil before the Conquest were in
the hands of Count Alan. (fn. 183) Before 1284–5 the overlordship of nearly the whole vill of Rainton had come
to the family of Percy. Two carucates and 5 bovates,
however, were at that date said to belong to Thomas
de Arches, and to be subinfeudated to the hospital of
St. Leonard. John de Dishford was mesne lord
under the Percys of half a carucate of land which
was held of him by the priory of Newburgh. Other
tenants in Rainton were Hugh de Cestre and Stephen
de Dalton. Their holdings were apparently acquired
by Newburgh Priory before the spring of 1314–15,
when that house held 1 carucate here. (fn. 184) Then, as
in 1284–5, the principal tenant was the Abbot of
Fountains, (fn. 185) who was returned as lord of the vill in
1316. (fn. 186) At the Dissolution the abbey held a manor
and land in Rainton worth more than £36 (fn. 187) ; the
hospital of St. Leonard had property there to the
value of over £9. (fn. 188) The Fountains holding was
leased under the name of the 'site of the manor' to
William Mallory in 1555 for twenty-one years, and
this lease was renewed to him for twenty-one years
in 1574, (fn. 189) 1588 (fn. 190) and 1600. (fn. 191) In 1602, however,
Peter Bradwell and Robert Parker obtained a grant
of this manor, (fn. 192) probably on behalf of the Countess
of Shrewsbury, who was seised of it at her death
in 1607. (fn. 193) The property afterwards followed the
descent of Baldersby Manor (q.v.) until the 19th
century.
De Grey, Marquess of Ripon. Vert a cheveron between three harts standing at gaze or.
Another manor of Rainton, which evidently represented the St. Leonard holding, came into the possession of William Robinson, an alderman of York,
in or before 1602. (fn. 194) He was seised of it at his death
in 1616, and his son Thomas (fn. 195) was in possession in
1624. (fn. 196) The manor afterwards followed the descent of
Norton-le-Clay (q.v.) to
Thomas Philip Earl de Grey,
who died in 1859, leaving
two daughters but no sons.
He was succeeded in all his
titles, except the barony of
Lucas, by his nephew the
Marquess of Ripon. The
other holding in Rainton,
which had been acquired by
the Countess of Shrewsbury
and descended to the Dukes
of Devonshire, probably became merged with this manor, the Marquess of
Ripon being the present owner of the manor of
Rainton with Newby (q.v.).
At the time of the Domesday Survey SKIPTON
(Schipetune, xi cent.; Skipton Bridge, present day) was
a berewick of Topcliffe (q.v.) and the overlordship
followed the same descent as Topcliffe Manor. In
1284–5 Baldwin the son of John de Skipton was the
mesne lord of 10 oxgangs out of the 6 carucates of
land there. (fn. 197) The names of the tenants do not occur
in this return, but a family with the territorial name
of Skipton held land in the vill (fn. 198) probably about this
time, and Laurence de Skipton was one of the tenants
in 1314–15. (fn. 199) Possibly land here as at Catton
(q.v.) passed to the family of Carlton, for before
1333 John Miniott had acquired property in Skipton
and was granted free warren in his demesne lands
there in that year. (fn. 200) The name of a John Miniott
occurs among several holders of land in 1368, (fn. 201) and
his estate seems afterwards to have been called
the 'manor' and to have descended with Catton
(q.v.) to George Lamplugh, who died in 1588.
He left a son Edward, but the 'manor or capital
messuage' is next found in the possession of John
Clough, who settled it on his son and heir Edmund
in 1600 on his marriage with Katharine Wilson.
Edmund died in 1613 and was succeeded by his
son Thomas, then a minor, (fn. 202) who obtained livery
of the manor of Skipton in 1624 after he came of age. (fn. 203)
Thomas Clough died in 1629, leaving an only child
Edmund, aged three months, on whom he had
settled the manor with contingent remainder to his
own brother John and other relations. (fn. 204) The manor
remained in his family, and James Clough was in
possession in 1681. (fn. 205) In 1710 the names of James
Clough, senior, and other members of the family
occur among the defendants in a fine as to the manor
of Skipton, (fn. 206) but it is uncertain how long they retained
their interest there. There are now no manorial
rights, and the land is chiefly in the possession of
Mr. Henry Rob, Mr. Charles Rob and Mr. E. Brooksband.
Henry de Skipton gave to the Abbot and monks of
Fountains, probably in the 13th century, a free passage
over the River Swale (fn. 207) ; he also confirmed to them the
firmage of a fishery in the river. (fn. 208)
Churches
The church of ST. COLUMBA
consists of a chancel 29 ft. 6 in. by
25 ft. 6 in., a north chapel of the
same length and 22 ft. wide, a north vestry, nave
54 ft. 4 in. by 26 ft., north aisle 21 ft. 10 in.
wide, west tower 14 ft. 3 in. by 13 ft. 1 in., and a
south porch. These measurements are all internal.
There is no evidence of any building on this site
earlier than the 14th century, to the latter part of
which century belong the east window, the lower
part of the south chancel wall containing an aumbry,
a piscina and three sedilia, and a piscina in the east
wall of the north chapel. In 1855 the whole
building was re-erected with the exception of the
parts above mentioned, and was made one bay shorter
at the west end.
An old water-colour in the vestry shows a small
east view of the church before this rebuilding. The
east window was as at present, but in the south wall
were four two-light windows, one single light high
up, and one three-light window, all with two-centred
arches, the heads of the lights being plain and without
foils. There were three buttresses to the chancel,
and to the west of them was a priest's doorway. The
porch was of Renaissance character. The tower had
three stages, with 15th-century windows in the top
stage and an embattled parapet surmounted by
pinnacles at the angles. The south-west corner of the
tower was shored up by a large buttress. Another
buttress supported the centre of the south face.
The roofs were lead-covered, with a lean-to over
the north aisle.
The late 14th-century east window of the chancel
has four cinquefoiled lights with tracery. The north
side of the chancel has a modern arcade of two bays
communicating with the chapel. The first window in
the south wall is a modern restoration in cement with
a few old stones. To the west of this is a modern
window. The old part of the south wall, which is
thicker than the rebuilding above, contains near the
east end a square aumbry with slightly chamfered
edges. To the west of this are a piscina and three
sedilia, each with cinquefoiled heads and chamfered
jambs and divisions. The piscina has a sexfoiled
basin. The base of the piscina and the seats of the
sedilia have a large projecting edge roll, which in the
case of the latter comes very near the floor, which has
been raised at a later date. On the south side of the
east window of the north chapel is an old piscina
with chamfered jambs and two-centred head and
a basin with eight foils. All the walls are of stone.
The open-timber roofs are plastered between the
rafters and covered outside with green slates.
In the porch are some old stones, among them the
head of an ancient cross and a fragment which might
be either part of a font or a mortar. In the east
window of the north chapel are some fragments of
old glass, including part of a Lucy shield.
The communion table is a good example of early
Jacobean woodwork.
Fixed upright against the wall of the north aisle
is a very fine brass of Flemish workmanship to
Thomas de Topcliffe, who died in 1362, and his
wife Mabel, 1391. When the brass was removed
from its slab, during the restoration of the church,
the greater portion of it was found to be palimpsest,
the reverse of a portion of the marginal inscription
showing part of an inscription in Flemish. The
figures are inclosed in rich canopy work, with flanking shafts on buttresses containing niches with angels
playing various musical instruments, and their heads
rest on cushions supported by angels. In the niches
of the canopy work above their heads God the Father
is twice represented receiving the soul of each. The
man is bearded and wears the civil dress of the period
with a short sword hanging from his right side; his
hands are in prayer and his feet rest on a lion. His
wife is represented in the veil head-dress and a gown
with buttoned sleeves reaching to her knuckles, while
at her feet is a small dog with a bone. Surrounding
the whole is a marginal inscription, parts of which are
missing, with the symbols of the Evangelists at the
corners and shields of Topcliffe, a cheveron between
three peg-tops, in the centre of the longer sides. (fn. 209)
On the north wall of the chapel is a large marble
monument with a bust surrounded by a wreath and
cherubs on either side to Sir Metcalfe Robinson, bart.,
who died in 1688. To the east of this is a wall
monument to Sir William Robinson, 1736, and on
the west side one to Sir William Robinson, bart.,
son of Sir Tancred Robinson, 1712.
In the tower are four bells: (1) with the inscription
'Jesus be our speed, 1622'; (2) '+ Jesus be our
speed, 1620'; (3) 'Deus salvet ecclesiam suam,
1725,' bearing the mark of Samuel Smith of York;
the fourth was recast by Warner in 1880.
The plate consists of two silver cups with covers
and a paten and a plated flagon. The larger cup is
inscribed 'This communion cup and cover was
dedicated and given by Sr Metcalfe Robinson Baronet
to ye Church of Toplyffe in Yorkshire 1669.' It
bears the London mark of the same year. The second
cup is inscribed 'Topcliffe Tho: Gregory William
Raper Churchwardens March 26 1664.' The hall
marks are indecipherable. The paten bears the inscription 'This dedicated to God service ye Charge
of ye Parish of Topcliff Anno Dni 1680.' The
maker's mark is H. L. The flagon is copper, plated
with silver, and dates from the end of the 18th
century.
The registers begin in 1569.
The church of ST. JAMES THE GREAT at
Baldersby is a modern building of brick and stone,
and was erected in 1857 by Lord Downe from
designs by Butterfield. It consists of a chancel, nave,
north and south aisles, south chapel, north vestry and
organ chamber, and south porch with tower over.
There are eight modern bells, cast by Taylor of
Loughborough about 1850. It is a vicarage in the
gift of Lord Downe.
The plate, which is silver-gilt, consists of a chalice,
paten, flagon and almsdish. This service, which was
designed by Butterfield, was presented by the late
Lord Downe in 1857.
The church at DISHFORTH, of which the invocation is unknown, is a small modern building,
consisting of an apsidal chancel, nave with a small
bellcote above the west gable, and a north aisle with
a baptistery at its west end. There is an old holy
water stoup in the west wall with a plain round
basin, and an old gravestone (now set at the entrance
gate), in which are the matrices of two small figures,
an inscription below, and four small shields at the
corners. Whether these belonged to the former
church or were brought from elsewhere is unknown.
The living is a perpetual curacy in the gift of the
vicar of Topcliffe.
The plate consists of a silver cup of 1792 and a
paten of 1844.
The church of MARTON-LE-MOOR was built
in 1830, and is a perpetual curacy in the gift of the
vicar of Topcliffe.
The plate consists of a plated cup and flagon of
1861.
The church of ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
at Dalton is a chapel of ease of Topcliffe, and was
built of stone in the Early English style by Lady Downe
in 1868; it consists of a chancel continuing into a
nave, a north vestry, west bell-turret, and south porch.
It is roofed with green slates.
The church of ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
at Skipton-on-Swale is a small building erected in
1842 in the Tudor style and consists of a chancel
and nave. On the south side is a small porch, and
there is one bell in a small bellcote to the south-west.
The living is a vicarage in the gift of the Archbishop
of York.
The plate consists of a silver cup and paten and
an electro-plated flagon. The paten and cup bear
the Sheffield hall marks for 1863.
Advowsons
A church existed in Topcliffe at
the time of the Domesday Survey,
and it was granted by the second
William de Percy to the use of the fabric of the
cathedral of York. (fn. 210) This grant was confirmed by
his grandson Richard, the dean, Roger de Lisle,
covenanting to supply a chaplain for the chapel of
the Blessed Mary in the churchyard of Topcliffe
Church. (fn. 211) Before 1292 a vicarage had been
ordained. (fn. 212) The advowson has remained with the
Dean and Chapter of York. (fn. 213)
In the 13th century there was a chapel at Rainton
which was given by Thomas son of Alan de Arches
to the abbey of Fountains. (fn. 214) About that time there
was also a chapel of St. Michael at Skipton. (fn. 215) At the
suppression of chantries in the 16th century there
were six chantries or chapels in the parish of Topcliffe.
The chantry of St. Mary the Virgin in the parish
church had been founded in 1499 by Richard Grome
and Thomas Allanson; among its endowments were
lands in Dalton and Catton. (fn. 216) The incumbent said
mass, prayed for the founders' and all Christian souls,
and helped the curate to minister to the parishioners.
Another chantry of St. Mary the Virgin in the
churchyard of Topcliffe was founded by one of the
Earls of Northumberland. (fn. 217) Within the parish
church was a service or gild also of St. Mary the
Virgin, which was said to be without endowment;
one of the duties of the incumbent was to teach six
children to sing for the choir. A chantry within the
manor chapel of Topcliffe had been founded by one
of the Earls of Northumberland. The commissioners
appointed in 1548 recommended that, as an assistant
curate for the parish was necessary, William Topham,
the former incumbent of this chantry, should be
appointed.
There was a chapel, without endowment, in Dishforth, about a mile and a half distant from Topcliffe
Church. It was supported by certain people in the
parish, and the incumbent was removable by them.
Another chapel a mile and a half from the church
was St. Giles in Elmire, (fn. 218) founded before 1338,
when Sir William Darell obtained licence to grant a
messuage and 6 oxgangs of land in Crakehill and
Elmire for a chaplain to celebrate divine service
there daily. (fn. 219) Messuages belonging to this chapel in
Elmire and Dishforth were in the possession of
Richard Okeham in 1559. (fn. 220)
Charities
The charities subsisting in the
ancient parish of Topcliffe were until
the year 1901 under the management
of feoffees appointed in accordance with a decree
of Commissioners of Charitable Uses dated 16 June
1674. By a scheme of the Charity Commissioners
established by an order dated 5 July 1901 the several
parochial charities were consolidated, the body of
trustees to consist of thirteen persons, one ex officio
trustee, the vicar of Topcliffe for the time being, and
twelve representative trustees, two appointed by the
parish council of Topcliffe, one by each of the parish
councils, or parish meetings of the other nine townships of the parish, and one by the district councils
of Thirsk and Wath alternately.
The charities included in the said scheme (as varied
by a further scheme of 19 May 1905) are so far as
they can be identified as follows, viz.:—
Pullaine Leesland, consisting of 2 a. 3 r. 25 p. in
Topcliffe, devised in 1613 by will of the Rev. Ralph
Kay to the vicar of Topcliffe, let at £6 10s. a year;
land at Firby, containing 6 a. purchased with certain
poor stock in 1717, let at £15 a year; land at
Topcliffe, containing 3 a. 2 r. 23 p., devised in 1735
by will of George Rockcliffe for poor of Asenby, let
at £10 a year; land in Asenby, containing 6 a., the
gift in 1747 of George Easterby, let at £12 a year,
for distribution of cloth in certain of the townships;
land and cottage in Dalton, known as the Dalton
Poor's Land, containing 2 a. 1 r. 21 p., let at £7 a
year.
William Dinmore's Charity, deed, 1676, rentcharge of £5 on land in Fawdington, now belonging
to Sir Edward F. Coates, bart., M.P.
John Bell's Charity, deed 1679, rent-charge of
£2 10s. on land in Elmire, now belonging to Lord
Leconfield.
John Geldert's Charity, deed, 1723, rent-charge of
£1 on land in Dalton, now the property of Mr.
Robert Horner of Dalton Bridge.
There are also the following sums of stock, representing certain poor stock, timber money, and
accumulations of income: £278 8s. 11d. consols and
£111 3s. 4d. consols; also £360 Midland Railway
£2½ per cent. debenture stock, arising from legacy for
poor by will of Thomas Durham in 1865, and
£130 13s. 4d. Great Northern Railway 3 per cent.
debenture stock. In 1905 there was also £12 10s.
in the Thirsk Savings Bank in trust for the poor of
the parish of Topcliffe and £39 7s. 11d. in the
same bank in trust for the poor of the township of
Topcliffe.
Under the provisions of the scheme the net annual
income is applicable for the benefit either of the poor
generally of the area to be benefited or of such
deserving and necessitous persons resident therein as
the trustees may select under one or more of the
following heads:—
(1) Subscriptions in aid of the funds of hospital or
convalescent home or institution in which children
suffering from any bodily infirmity are taught a
trade;
(2) Contributions towards provision of nurses for
the sick and infirm, cost of outfit for any person
under the age of twenty-one years entering upon a
trade or into service;
(3) The supply of clothing, &c., and loans.
In 1905 £63 was expended in coals, groceries and
money to the poor of the several townships in proportion to the population and £17 10s. in the
distribution of cloth and woolsey.
The Topcliffe Grammar School, including benefactions of William Robinson, will, 1633, and Henry
Roper, will, 1674. (fn. 221)
Thomas Durham's Charity for National school,
will 1865, £120 Midland Railway 2½ per cent.
debenture stock.
Land in Topcliffe and Dalton, containing 2 a. 3 r.
23 p., let at £6 10s. a year, under the administration
of the trustees appointed by above-mentioned order
of the Charity Commissioners of 5 July 1901. The
rent is paid to the Dishforth National school.
The Rev. Francis Day's Charity, will 1764, trust
fund £130 13s. 4d. Great Northern Railway 3 per
cent. debenture stock, income applied by the same
trustees for educational purposes in the townships of
Baldersby, Rainton, Marton, Dalton, Catton and
Skipton.
Township of Asenby.—Mrs. Ann Barker, by will
proved 20 April 1860, left £100 for the poor of
Asenby, invested in £108 19s. 10d. consols with the
official trustees, dividends to be applied in the
purchase of clothing or coals to be distributed
at Christmas by the owner or principal tenant
of testatrix's Asenby estate and the rector of Topcliffe among poor inhabitants not receiving alms or
relief.
Township of Dishforth.—William Pinckney, by
will 1870, left £166 13s. 4d. consols, the dividends
to be paid to the minister of the Baptist chapel.
Richard Abel, by will proved 24 August 1901,
left £90 consols, the dividends to be applied for the
benefit of poor at Christmas as trustees think proper;
stock held by the official trustees.
Township of Rainton.—A sum of £41 10s. 11d.
consols is held by the official trustees as a school
prize fund. The trust is regulated by a scheme of
the Charity Commissioners of 14 June 1889.