THE WAPENTAKE OF BULMER
containing the following parishes:— Alne; Bossall; Brafferton; Brandsby with Stearsby; Bulmer with Henderskelfe; Crambe; Crayke; Dalby with Skewsby; Easingwold; Foston with Thornton-Le-Clay; Haxby; Gate Helmsley; Upper Helmsley; Holtby; Huntington; Huttons Ambo; Marton with Moxby; Myton-Upon-Swale; Newton-Upon-Ouse; Osbaldwick; Overton; Sheriff Hutton; Stillington; Stockton-On-The Forest; Strensall; Sutton-On-The-Forest; Terrington; Thormanby; Warthill; Whenby; Wigginton
Index Map to the Wapentake of Bulmer
The name of this wapentake in 1086 was Bolesford, (fn. 1) though the vill
of Bulmer appears in the Domesday Survey as 'Bolemere.' It acquired its
present name before 1166, when William de Cornbrough owed a mark for
a false claim in 'Bulemersur.' (fn. 2)
The variations between the Domesday 'Bolesford' and the modern
Bulmer Wapentake are not very numerous. A considerable area entered in
the Survey under the city of York (fn. 3) is, however, now part of this wapentake.
It includes Heworth (in St. Cuthbert and St. Giles's parish), Osbaldwick,
Stockton-on-the-Forest, Clifton and Rawcliffe in St. Olave's parish, Overton
and Wigginton. Overton and Stockton-on-the-Forest were returned elsewhere
in the Survey as part of the West Riding. (fn. 4) In 1316 Overton with Myton and
Foston, and the townships of Claxton and Harton in Bossall parish, were
entered under the liberty of St. Mary, (fn. 5) while Haxby, Alne (with Tollerton
township), Strensall, Osbaldwick and Stillington were placed under the
liberty of St. Peter. (fn. 6)
The summary of the wapentake made in the Domesday Survey included
Gate Helmsley, which is elsewhere entered in the soke of Catton, and in
1316 was placed in the wapentake of Ouse and Derwent (fn. 7) ; it is now part of
Bulmer Wapentake. Hildenley, now in Ryedale Wapentake, is entered in
the summary under 'Bolesford,' and Cold Kirby, which belongs to Birdforth
Wapentake, is also mentioned there.
The parish of Easingwold and the township of Huby in Sutton-onthe-Forest were granted to the Earl of Lancaster before 1276. (fn. 8) There was
consequently a tendency to regard them as part of his honour of Pickering,
and they were entered under the honour in 1316. (fn. 9) A 17th-century survey
of the duchy of Lancaster has this remark on Easingwold: 'Many of the
recordes of this manor are in the custodie of one William Goodrick, whoe
spent much monie of his owne and other mennes in a suit to prove
Esingwalde and Hubie to be noe member of the Honor of Pickering. . . .
This manor lyeth within the Hundred or Wapentack of Bulmer, within the
confines of the Forest of Galtres.' (fn. 10)
The fee of this wapentake has always belonged to the Crown. In the
inquiry of 1276 (fn. 11) it was found that the Prior of Holy Trinity, York, the Prior
of Kirkham, the Prior of Malton, the Abbot of St. Mary's, York, the Prior
of Marton, the Abbot of Byland, the Master of St. Leonard's and Henry
son of Odo held various lands from which the king received no suits,
services or wapentake fines. The city of York, the Dean and Chapter of
St. Peter's, the Abbot of St. Mary's and the Abbot of Byland claimed
return of writs, amends of the assize of bread and ale, &c. The commissioners reported that these liberties were a hindrance to justice, because
thieves and robbers took refuge there, and the king's ministers dared not
enter to take them. (fn. 12)