KIRKBY RAVENSWORTH
Kirkby Ravensworth (fn. 1) parish is composed of the
townships of Dalton, Gayles, Kirby-on-the-Hill,
New Forest, Newsham, Ravensworth and Whashton,
of which New Forest contains the hamlets of Helwith,
Hallgate (fn. 2) and Casey Green. The area is 15,404
acres, of which 1,278 are arable, 6,073 permanent
grass and 212 woods and plantations. (fn. 3) The soil is
loam, the subsoil Yoredale Rocks. There is lead in
this district and a certain amount of coal. (fn. 4) Stone is
now worked. The chief crops raised are wheat,
oats, barley and turnips, but nearly half the parish is
barren moorland. Watling Street extends along
nearly the whole of the northern boundary of the
parish. From it on the east New Lane runs threequarters of a mile south-west to Ravensworth, a
pretty village standing about 700 ft. above the
ordnance datum, over which rise the ruins of the
Fitz Hugh keep with a park of about three-quarters
of a square mile in extent to the south. The church
stands prominently on a mound above the road on the
north side of a square green which has the grammar
school, almshouses, manor-house and cottages grouped
round it on three sides and a well in the middle. The
village is much as it was when Leland described it in
the 16th century: 'Ravenswathe Castel in a Mares
Grounde—a Parke on a little hilling ground by hit.
It is a iii Miles by North west from Richemont, and
therby is a praty village . . . and by hit cummith
a Bekke caulled Ravenswath Bekke' (fn. 5) (now Holme
Beck).
The 16th-century grammar school is a rectangular building measuring about 76 ft. from east
to west, and 18 ft. in width exclusive of buildings
which appear to be later additions. There are a
ground and first floor, the latter reached by a newel
stair built in a square projection at the north-east
end; this turret is, however, filled up and a modern
wood stair is now used. On the south side is the
schoolmaster's house, a two-story cottage built in
1706, with a sundial inscribed 'mox nox.' The
walls have been much repaired, and in the north
side are a number of later windows. There is one
four-light window, with plain heads in a square
setting, on the first floor. On the ground floor
on both sides are several two-light mullioned
windows and various small square-headed lights
irregularly placed. The interior of the school is
plain, with an inscription concerning the foundation,
and on the first floor is a large cupboard made in
1784 containing the charter and documents relating
to the school, their safety being ensured by three
locks, the keys of which are held by the three trustees.
The school is still in use under its original foundation, and every second year the ceremony, minutely
detailed by the founder, is carried out for the
selection of three trustees by a system of drawing lots.
Names of candidates are written on papers and
placed each in a wax ball, a number of which are
put in a vessel of water and drawn from, the names
of the non-elected being preserved in case of a
vacancy during the two years of office, when a further
drawing takes place.
Following the road north-west from Kirby Hill
the small village of Gayles is reached, spread along
the road at the foot of a steep wooded slope. In the
middle of the village a field road leads up to the
hall, a building of early 17th-century date, its
mullioned windows being blocked or replaced by
larger classical windows at the end of the 17th century. In the centre room on the ground floor, which
probably formed an entrance hall, but now is cut off
by a partition, is some late plaster work on the beam
and ceiling consisting of Greek fret design with roses.
The south wing of the house is remarkable for the
number of small rooms intended for storage of both
wine and provisions, and outside the house are two
small cellars rubble vaulted and provided with a stone
ledge or bench on each side apparently for the same
purpose.
Gayles Manor House, close to the entrance to the
hall, is a neatly built house in the classical style, and
had once a pleasure garden with flights of steps and
stone borders to the paths and flower beds. It is
now a farm with modern additions and alterations,
but the garden is being cleared and renewed. One
mile north-west of Gayles is Dalton, and between
them is the earthwork called Castle Steads. Dalton
village consists of a number of stone-built houses,
several of them in 18th-century classical style, and
a row of plainer houses with gardens in front
grouped round cross-roads. There is here a modern
church built in 1898 and also a Wesleyan chapel.
About a quarter of a mile beyond the village on
the west side of the road is Dalton Hall, a rectangular house with projecting gable behind in which
are mullioned windows now blocked. The kitchen
has a large open fireplace adapted for modern use,
and at the back of the wall which carries the fireplace
are large corbels supporting a massive stone chimney
above. Beyond Dalton the road continues 1¼ miles
north-east to Newsham village, where there are the
remains of stocks and a portion of a stone cross.
On the southern boundary of the parish near the
Richmond road is a hollow stone known as the Plague
Stone, which, filled with water or vinegar, was used
as a receptacle for money during times of plague,
when exchange was thus carried on between villages
in the endeavour to avoid infection.
Holme Beck after skirting Ravensworth runs past
the hamlet of Whashton before it enters Hartforth
Wood. Jagger Lane bounds Whashton on the southeast.
Watling Street, going north-west from Ravensworth, passes East Dalton fields, possibly the site of
the Saxon town Vilfaraesdun, where Oswiu king of
Deira, in flight before Oswi of Bernicia, assembled
his troops and bade them disperse. (fn. 6) In the northwest of the parish Newsham township extends north
of Watling Street. From the Roman road Dyson
Lane runs south, crossing Dyson Beck by a bridge to
the village of Newsham; to the south stretch wide
moors and woods.
Dalton was the scene of a curious mediaeval story
that runs as follows:—It would appear that in
1289 John Fraunceys, a freeholder of Gayles, owning 3 oxgangs of land, (fn. 7) 'fell into grievous sin,'
and while his neighbours were attending the divine
offices of the church on Sunday he, like a 'brutish
man, used to visit his brutes, turning his back on
the church and wandering over hill and dale.' On
one Sunday, however, extending his wanderings
further than usual, he visited 'a remote place,'
which can perhaps be identified as Frankinshawe, (fn. 8)
a wild mountainous solitude 'full of the Powers
of the Air.' These 'Powers' were represented
as dwarfs that were deformed in visage and simulated the habit of an abbot. They called upon
him to hear the service which they mockingly performed. When they afterwards flew away he was
irresistibly drawn to fly with them, but calling to
mind the Passion of Christ he remained upon the
earth until the 'Spirits of Iniquity' left him. On
arrival at his home he took to his bed, and struggled
for eight days to fly, until by a full confession and
absolution he was cured. (fn. 9)
There are records of the inclosure of common
lands in Tudor times. Whashton Law Hagg was
inclosed in the time of Henry VIII, Birckhagg a little
later. (fn. 10) There was a question in 1592 of common in
Whashton in the 'springes, wooddes, groundes and
hagges' called Blingell Hagg, Lodge Hagg, Birke
Hagg, Colebrowe, the Oke Ympe, Kelston Hagg and
the Payle Hagg. (fn. 11) In 1593 ground called the Flatts
in Ravensworth was said to have been inclosed with
consent of all the tenants, (fn. 12) and in 1604 the tenants
of Bowes were said to have made 'intakes' in the
moorland hamlets of New Forest. (fn. 13) There were
Inclosure Acts for the common fields in 1772–3 and
1776–7. (fn. 14)
A survey of the manor of New Forest in 1606–7
gives the following boundaries, still the boundaries of
its civil parish, and interesting for their place-names:
'Beginning at the rivulet (fn. 15) near Slapewathe next the
Standingstone and thence ascending the rivulet as far
as the Skalegreeneford, and then ascending by the
Long Greene Beck (a beck still forming part of the
boundary) as far as the Wham called the Marisikehead,
and thence direct as far as the stone called the
Pinhill on the hill called Frankashowe (fn. 16) (now Frankinshawe) and then directly westwards to the spring
called the Skegg Arundel Well (there is still a spring
at this point though nameless), and thence descending
by the stream called Arundel Beck (Arndale Beck)
as far as the stream called the Forest Beck.' (fn. 17)
Some 13th-century names in Gayles are Gildusberg, Saysine, Lyolfesenge, Machrustindale, Austgail,
Heuningum, Chiristrerane, Austkeldrane, Gressemanneshenge, (fn. 18) Nonthewath, Baunelandes, (fn. 19) Bolerunsletes. (fn. 20)
Two mills at Ravensworth called Holme Mills
belonging to the lord of the manor are mentioned in
the middle of the 16th and the early 17th century. (fn. 21)
A corn-mill still stands on the Holme Beck. There
were mills at Dalton Michael and Gayles (Dalton
Travers) in 1251, the former in the possession of
Henry son of Ranulf lord of Ravensworth, the latter
owned by Robert Travers. The same water-course,
unknown to Henry, turned the wheels of both mills,
and this, when he discovered it, seems to have given
him great offence, for he immediately diverted the
stream so that Robert could no longer grind. Whereupon Robert in revenge made a ditch from Dalton
Beck by which he diverted the water from Henry's
mill to the injury of the whole neighbourhood. (fn. 22)
There was a water-mill in Gayles in 1440 (fn. 23) and
1597–8, (fn. 24) and one at Dalton Norris in 1561, (fn. 25) but
there is now only one mill on Dalton Beck. There
used to be a water-mill at New Forest which belonged
to the Earl of Richmond, (fn. 26) and in 1598 there was
one at Newsham, (fn. 27) where one still exists.
A public elementary school at Ravensworth was
erected in 1841, and one at Dalton was rebuilt in
1894.
There are Wesleyan chapels at Gayles, Dalton,
Newsham and Whashton.
The minor poet Cuthbert Shaw, son of a shoemaker, was born at Ravensworth in 1739. (fn. 28)
Castle
Of the history of RAVENSWORTH
CASTLE little is known. It was the
stronghold of the Fitz Hughs, lords of
the manor of Ravensworth, the descent of which it
has always followed. (fn. 29) King John visited it in
1201, (fn. 30) and in 1391 Henry Fitz Hugh received
licence to inclose 200 acres of land around the castle
to make a park. (fn. 31)
Shortly after Leland's visit in the middle of the
16th century it began to be pulled down, and at the
close of that century the bailiff of the manor was the
chief offender in taking cartloads of stone from
the fabric for his own use. (fn. 32) It was said to have been
utterly 'ruynated' in the time of William Marquess
of Northampton, and in 1616 nothing was left, it
was reported, but the old walls inclosing 1 acre of
land. (fn. 33) A small portion of the building itself, however, still remains to-day. The remains of the castle
occupy flat ground at the bottom of the valley. It
consisted originally of a rectangular walled and moated
inclosure, the longest side running roughly north and
south, a square gate-house at the north-west corner
and other buildings of uncertain position within the
walls. The remains now consist of the gate-house and
five fragments of walls and buildings. The gate-house,
measuring 29 ft. by 25 ft. 6 in., with flat buttresses
at the angles, is of early 14th-century date. The
ground floor is entered on the east side by a door
3 ft. 3 in. wide with a shouldered arch. North of
this door are the remains of an external stair
leading to the first floor. From this point a straight
stair in the wall leads to the south-east angle, where
a newel stair, now in ruins, led to the upper floor
and roof. The north wall has large rectangular
loopholes on the first and second floors and a
trefoiled light on the third floor. The west wall
has three narrow cross-shaped loopholes; the south
wall has no windows, the east wall one small trefoiled window and two double-light trefoiled
windows above.
On the south side the wall of the outer inclosure
joins the gate-house, having at this point a 14thcentury gateway 10 ft. 8 in. in width; the remains of
a causeway led up to it, and there was doubtless a
drawbridge over the moat. The portcullis grooves
remain. On the east wall of the gate-house are traces
of the junction of the outer wall.
The mounds marking the line of outer walls
extend southwards to the south-west angle, where a
fine section of wall 45 ft. long remains in position;
this appears to have been a projecting bastion, for a
section of wall 7 ft. long forms an angle with it at
the northern end, and at the south end the angle is
complete to where the wall turned east, as the moat
indicates. This wall has a drain opening into the
moat and two small round openings splayed within,
perhaps for a similar purpose. Near the south-west
angle of the court is a less perfect section of wall
30 ft. long, including a square window of some size,
facing east. Within the southern area of the
inclosure is a fragment of walling with a curiously
lofty door or arch 3 ft. 10 in. in width. There is
also a gabled wall about 25 ft. in length in the
middle of the inclosure, with a small window and
ruined doorway.
Manors
RAVENSWORTH (Ravenesuuet,
xi cent.; Rasueswaht, xii cent.; Raveneswade, 1201; Ravenswath, xiii–xvi cent.;
Ravenswath alias Ravensworth, xvi–xviii cent.), where
there were 12 carucates of land at geld, was
among the possessions of Count Alan at the time of
the Domesday Survey, (fn. 34) and continued to be held of
the honour of Richmond, as did the other manors in
this parish, until the overlordship merged in the
Crown. (fn. 35)
Torphin had a 'manor' here in the time of the
Confessor, and Ravensworth was included in that
part of Torphin's fee which was given to Bodin.
According to Breton historians Count Alan had two
bastard brothers settled in England, (fn. 36) and these were
in the 15th century identified with Bodin, an important landowner at the time of the Domesday
Survey, and Bardolf. (fn. 37) In support of this theory
it is said that Count Alan had a brother Bardolf,
and Bodin also had a brother Bardolf. (fn. 38) According
to the same genealogy Bodin in his old age, moved
by desire to serve God and renounce the world,
gave all his lands to Bardolf, while he and another
brother Ribald, lord of Middleham (q.v.), became
monks of St. Mary's Abbey, York. Bardolf, who
strangely enough, if the above story is true, held
nothing at the time of the Domesday Survey, is supposed to have been ancestor of the Fitz Hughs. The
Fitz Hughs certainly succeeded him in his possessions;
but the lands of Bodin came as often to the Fitz Alans
as to them, and were sometimes divided between
these two families. (fn. 39) Perhaps Bodin left co-heiresses,
one of whom espoused Bardolf, the other Scolland,
ancestor of the Fitz Alans. (fn. 40)
Fitz Hugh. Azure fretty and a chief azure.
Acharis son of Bardolf founded the abbey of Fors,
afterwards Jervaulx, during the reign of Stephen, (fn. 41)
and is said to have died in 1160–1. (fn. 42) He left a son
and heir Hervey, (fn. 43) who is mentioned before 1171, (fn. 44)
and, having assented to the removal of the abbey of
Fors (called Charity) by Earl Conan to the bank of
the Jore, was considered the founder of Jervaulx
Abbey. He is said to have died in 1182, (fn. 45) and was
succeeded by his eldest son Henry, (fn. 46) who is mentioned
in 1200–1, (fn. 47) was alive in 1210, (fn. 48) but died before
1211–12, when his brother Richard held his lands, (fn. 49)
presumably as guardian of Ranulf son of Henry.
Ranulf succeeded, and is mentioned in 1225 (fn. 50) and
1235. (fn. 51) By 1238 (fn. 52) he was succeeded by his son and
heir Henry, who left sons Ranulf and Hugh.
Ranulf died childless, and by 1278–81 (fn. 53) was succeeded by his brother Hugh,
who died in March 1303–4, (fn. 54)
leaving a son and heir Henry,
with whom the family began
to take the surname Fitz
Hugh. Henry Fitz Hugh
served in the Scottish wars,
was governor of Barnard
Castle 1315, was summoned
to Parliament as a baron
1321–51, and died in 1356.
His son Henry died in his lifetime, leaving sons Hugh, who
married Isabel daughter of
Ralph Lord Nevill and died without children, and
Henry, who married Joan daughter of Henry Lord
Scrope of Masham. Henry succeeded his grandfather and died in 1386, leaving a son and heir
Henry, (fn. 55) his eldest son John having been slain at
Otterburn. (fn. 56) Henry spent his whole life in the
king's service, acted as constable of England at
the coronation of Henry V, and afterwards lord
chamberlain of the king's household. It is also
reported that he travelled more than once to Jerusalem,
and beyond it to Grand Cairo, and fought with the
Saracens and Turks. By the help of the Knights of
Rhodes it is said that he built a castle called St. Peter's
Castle on that island. He married Elizabeth daughter
and sole heir of Sir Robert Grey, kt., and died
11 January 1424–5. (fn. 57) His eldest son Sir William
died in 1452 and was succeeded by his son Henry, (fn. 58)
who married Alice daughter of Richard Nevill Earl
of Salisbury, and died in 1472. Richard, eldest son
and heir, was constituted in 1486 Governor of the
castles of Richmond, Middleham and Barnard Castle,
and died in 1487, (fn. 59) leaving a son George, a minor, who
had livery of his lands in 1509, but died without
issue four years later. Alice wife of Sir John Fiennes, kt.,
and Sir Thomas Parr, kt., son of Elizabeth, daughters
of Henry Fitz Hugh his grandfather, were found to
be his cousins and heirs (fn. 60) and entered into possession
of his lands.
Parr, Marquess of Northampton. Argent two bars azure in a border engrailed sable.
By agreement Sir Thomas Parr received, with
others, the manors of Ravensworth, Dalton and
Whashton in this parish, and
died seised in 1518, leaving a
son and heir William, a
minor, (fn. 61) created Marquess of
Northampton in February
1546–7. He was attainted
for his support of Lady Jane
Grey in 1553, but was fully
pardoned by Queen Mary in
1558, (fn. 62) and on the accession
of Elizabeth he recovered his
marquessate and part of his
lands, which, however, in
accordance with the conditions of the regrant, passed to
the Crown (fn. 63) on his death without issue in 1571. (fn. 64)
His estates remained in the Crown till 1625, when
they were sold by Charles I to the City of London. (fn. 65)
In 1633 Jerome Robinson of St. Trinians (Easby)
and John Robinson of Applegarth bought the
manor of Ravensworth from the citizens. (fn. 66) Leonard
Robinson held it in 1657, (fn. 67) and in 1676 James
Cooke and Lucy his wife, Seth Robinson, Anne
Robinson and Elizabeth Robinson conveyed it to
Sir Thomas Wharton, kt., (fn. 68) from whom it descended
to Philip his son and heir. Philip's daughter and
heir Mary married (1) James Campbell, brother of
Archibald first Duke of Argyle, and (2) Robert
Byerley, (fn. 69) who thus became possessed of the manor in
right of his wife. (fn. 70) In 1764 Elizabeth Byerley, only
surviving daughter of Robert Byerley, bequeathed
the manors of Ravensworth, Kirby-on-the-Hill and
Whashton to trustees to be sold for the benefit of her
five cousins, Frances Lady Legard, Jane Fisher, Philadelphia Lady Cayley, Henrietta Digby and Lucy
Osbaldeston, daughters of her late aunt Sarah Digby. (fn. 71)
Christopher Cradock was owner in 1857 of Ravensworth and Whashton. Major S. W. K. Cradock is now
lord of the manor.
The lord of Ravensworth held a court leet at which
the tenants of Dalton Michael and Dalton Norris,
Whashton and Layton appeared. (fn. 72)
DALTON (Dalton Michell, xiii–xiv cent.; Dalton
Michel in Broghtonlyth, xiv cent.; Dalton Ryel,
xiv–xv cent.; West Dalton, xvii–xviii cent.; West
Dalton or Dalton Ryall, xviii cent.).—In 1086 there
were two Daltons and in 1286–7 three Daltons, all
of which appear to have been in the present parish
of Kirkby Ravensworth. (fn. 73) One of the Daltons of
the Domesday Survey (Daltun) was held before the
Conquest by Torphin with 4½ carucates and by
Gospatric, whose lands passed respectively to Bodin
and Count Alan, with 3½ carucates. The other
Dalton (alia Daltun) with a 'manor' and 4 carucates
was held before the Conquest and in 1086 by
Gospatric. (fn. 74)
In 1286–7 these lands were divided into three
portions, each known as Dalton (fn. 75) ; the mesne lordship
of 'Dalton Norreys' descended to the Fitz Hughs,
that of 'Dalton Michael' to the Fitz Alans and their
successors, (fn. 76) and the third portion, known as 'Dalton
Travers' or 'Gayles,' with part of 'Dalton Norreys,'
was in the hands of the Aske family. (fn. 77) This last fee
perhaps represents the lands held by Count Alan and
Gospatric after the Conquest, and may have been
granted by Earl Conan to his kinsman Conan de
Aske. (fn. 78)
The mesne lordship of Dalton Michael belonged to
the Fitz Alans and their successors until 1400, (fn. 79) and
seems then to have fallen into abeyance: sixteen years
later this place was held directly of the earl. (fn. 80) The
manor took its name and the alternative denomination of Dalton Ryel or Ryal from its tenants the lords
of Ryal in Northumberland, who already possessed it
in 1251. (fn. 81) In or about 1266–7 Thomas son of
Michael son of Michael lord of Ryal died seised,
leaving a son and heir Michael, (fn. 82) who held Dalton in
1286–7, (fn. 83) and afterwards settled it, on the marriage
of John Fitz Hugh with his daughter Isabel, to them
and their heirs. (fn. 84) Isabel as Isabel de Ryall in
1308–9 sold the manor to John de Stapleton. (fn. 85)
Sir Nicholas de Stapleton, kt., lord of the manor of
Stapleton, settled this and other manors in 1339–40
on himself for life with remainder to Miles his son
and Isabel wife of Miles and their issue. (fn. 86) In 1345–6
Henry son of John, (fn. 87) grandson of Henry son of John
Fitz Hugh by Isabel Ryall, (fn. 88) claimed the manor
under Michael de Ryall's settlement. Henry died
without issue and in 1350 his claim was prosecuted
by his aunt and heir Beatrice daughter of Henry and
wife of Thomas de Fencotes (fn. 89) ; but in 1358 Thomas
de Fencotes and Beatrice quitclaimed it to Miles de
Stapleton of Haddlesey. (fn. 90) Dalton Ryall henceforth
followed the descent of Stapleton, passing in 1373–4, (fn. 91)
as a member of Stapleton, to the Methams of Metham.
The Methams still had it in 1539, (fn. 92) but by 1627 it
had come into the possession of George Meynell. (fn. 93)
The Meynells of Kilvington and Yarm held the manor
until the middle of the 18th century, (fn. 94) when this
branch of the family died out in co-heiresses—
Elizabeth, married to Thomas Witham in 1748,
Anne Clementina to Simon Thomas Scrope of Danby
and Frances to Stephen Walter Tempest of Broughton. (fn. 95) The manor descended to these daughters, (fn. 96)
of whom Frances joined with her husband in conveying
it to Thomas Lister in 1749. (fn. 97) Soon after 1788 the
manor was sold by Simon Thomas Scrope to Francis
Hutchinson of Newsham; it was at this date that the
hall was converted into a farm-house. William
eldest son and heir of Francis Hutchinson mortgaged
the manor; the mortgagees foreclosed and sold it to
George Sowerby, who was succeeded by his son
Thomas, the owner in 1879. (fn. 98) Colonel Harry John
Sowerby, D.S.O., is the present lord of the manor.
DALTON NORRIS (East Dalton, xiii–xviii cent.;
Dalton Norreys, xiii–xvi cent.; Dalton Norres, xv–
xvi cent.; East Dalton alias Audley Dalton alias
Dalton Norris, xvi–xviii cent.).—The mesne lordship
descended to the Fitz Hughs, though in 1286–7 the
Abbot of St. Mary's, York, was said to hold 1 carucate
directly of the Earl of Richmond, and at the same
date Hugh son of Henry (Fitz Hugh) was said to
hold his lands in Dalton of Matthew de Thornton
of Thornton Steward and Matthew of the earl. (fn. 99)
There is no further trace of Matthew de Thornton
or his descendants in this place. (fn. 100) The Fitz Hughs
appear to have been ever afterwards mesne lords
of the whole vill (fn. 101) ; and in 1604 the manor was
still held of the manor of Ravensworth. (fn. 102)
The sub-tenants of Newsham held part of Dalton
Norris in early times. (fn. 103) When the family of Norris first
appeared is not clear; but the place was called East
Dalton until 1267 (fn. 104) and in 1271 Dalton Norris. (fn. 105)
Alice 'la Noreys' appears to have been granted lands
in Newsham by John de Hunton about this time. (fn. 106)
In 1286–7 John Norris held two-thirds of Dalton
Norris of Elias de Middelton and he of Margery de
Newsham. (fn. 107) The family of Norris is not heard of
after this century in Dalton Norris.
Ayscough. Argent a fesse between three asses sable.
The rest of Dalton Norris was held by the Askes.
Somewhere between 1182 and 1212 Conan de Aske
made a grant in Dalton to Marrick Priory of the
2 oxgangs of land which Wihtmai his father's wife
held. (fn. 108) In 1286–7 John de Aske held 1 carucate in
Dalton Norris in demesne. (fn. 109) This younger branch
of the family of Aske seem to have gradually acquired
the whole of the manor. Richard Ayscough married
a daughter and co-heir of a Robert Aske of this family
somewhere about this time. (fn. 110)
Thomas Coupland and
Eleanor his wife, formerly
wife of Thomas Leeds of
Westwick, and the heirs of
Eleanor, granted tenements
here in 1459 to William
Ayscough, Robert Ayscough
and Simon Ayscough and the
heirs of Robert. (fn. 111) In 1558
Sir Francis Ayscough, kt.,
and Elizabeth his wife granted
the manor to Marmaduke
Clarionett. (fn. 112) Marmaduke
died in the following year,
having settled all his lands in East Dalton on his
younger son Marmaduke for life, with reversion to
his elder son William, aged eight. (fn. 113) In 1584 Thomas
Thackwrey and Margaret his wife granted the manor
to Roger Meynell, (fn. 114) but in 1594 the Pilkingtons of
Durham held it. (fn. 115) John Pilkington, D.D., died seised
in 1604, leaving a son and heir John, (fn. 116) who died in
1610, leaving a brother and heir Thomas. (fn. 117) In 1626
Ralph Hutton and Margaret his wife and Noah Pilkington granted the manor to Sir William Lambton,
kt., and Robert Lambton and the heirs of William. (fn. 118)
Again, in 1771, it was conveyed by Thomas
and Mary Metcalf to Richard Brown. (fn. 119) There is
now no village of East Dalton, though 'East Dalton
fields' preserve the names.
GAYLES (Dalton Travers, xiii–xvi cent.; les
Gayles, xv cent.; Dalton-in-le-Gales, xvi cent.;
Dalton Travers alias Dalton Gayles, xvi–xix cent.;
Dalton Travers alias Gailes, 1563).—The Askes were
mesne lords of this manor under the Earl of Richmond
from or before 1262 (fn. 120) ; and under the Askes the
family of Travers was enfeoffed.
Kirkby Ravensworth Church from the South-west
Alan of Britanny, lord of Richmond, who died in
1146, (fn. 121) granted the waste land of the wood of Gilling
to 'Warin Travers the old,' otherwise called 'Warin
Archarius,' son of Hervey. (fn. 122) In 1186 Warin Travers,
presumably a successor, granted this land to St. Agatha's
Abbey. (fn. 123) Perhaps he is the Warin, son of Peter de
Dalton and nephew of Conan de Aske, (fn. 124) who granted
13½ acres of his demesne in Dalton to St. Agatha's
Abbey. (fn. 125) His son Robert confirmed in 1246 to
John le Franceys a grant made by Warin to Robert
le Franceys, father of John. (fn. 126) He was alive in
1250–2, (fn. 127) but died soon afterwards, leaving by his
wife Beatrice three sons—Warin, who died childless,
Gilbert, who became a monk in his eldest brother's
lifetime, and Robert, who succeeded Warin, and
before 1262 had sold his tenements in Dalton to
Roger de Aske and Robert de Wycliffe. (fn. 128) The lastnamed Robert Travers confirmed the grants of his
father Robert and grandfather Warin to the nuns of
Marrick in Dalton. (fn. 129)
Roger de Aske granted these tenements before
1262 to Wischard de Charron son of Wischard, (fn. 130) to
whom also the Abbot of St. Agatha's Abbey granted
whatever the abbey held here. (fn. 131) In 1280 Wischard
de Charron granted the manor to Wischard his son,
who held half Dalton Travers in demesne in 1286–7. (fn. 132)
Wischard was one of the knights of the shire for the
county of Northumberland in 1310 and lord of
several manors there. He left a daughter and sole
heir Joan wife of Bertram Monboucher. (fn. 133) In 1319
Bertram and Joan entailed their manor of Dalton
among other possessions (fn. 134) ; their son and heir
Reynold was aged seventeen in 1332, (fn. 135) in which year
Lady Alice de Charron paid 3s. subsidy in Dalton (fn. 136)
and may have been holding the manor. Reynold
son of Bertram and Joan left a son Bertram, who
appears in Fuller's 'List of Northumberland Worthies,'
and died in 1388 seised of the manor of Dalton. (fn. 137)
Bertram his son and heir was followed by a son and
grandson of the same name, and on failure of heirs
the lands passed to Isabel sister of Bertram the grandfather. (fn. 138) She married first Sir Henry Hetton, kt.,
by whom she had a son William, who died without
issue, and several daughters; her second husband was
Sir Robert Harbottle, Sheriff of Northumberland in
1406, (fn. 139) who died in 1419–20, leaving a son Robert
by her, (fn. 140) sheriff of the same county in 1439. Bertram
son of Robert had issue Ralph and died in 1462. (fn. 141)
In 1507 Margaret widow of Ralph, who was knighted
in 1482, (fn. 142) claimed one-third of the manor as dower
against Wischard his son, (fn. 143) but Wischard denied her
claim, as Sir Ralph no longer held the manor when
he married her. (fn. 144) Wischard died seised in 1512,
leaving an infant son George, (fn. 145) who died seised in
1528. (fn. 146) His estates were partitioned in 1534
between his sisters and heirs, Eleanor wife of Thomas
Percy and Mary wife of Edward Fitton, Mary
receiving the manor of Dalton Travers. (fn. 147) Mary died
a widow in 1556. She was succeeded by her son
and heir Sir Edward Fitton, (fn. 148) who the following year
sold tenements in Dalton Travers to George Bowes. (fn. 149)
These were presumably the manor. Richard Bowes
and Elizabeth his wife, the heiress of the Askes, (fn. 150) had
made a conveyance of the 'manor' in 1534, (fn. 151) but as
this was the year of the partition of the Harbottle
lands it may have been a quit-claim. In 1563–4
George Bowes and Jane his wife conveyed the
manor to William Wycliffe, John Saire and Richard
Gascoigne. (fn. 152) In 1576 Sir George Bowes, kt., sold the
same manor to William Wycliffe and Robert Smelt
and the heirs of William. (fn. 153) Thomas Wycliffe was in
possession in 1779 and living here in 1792. (fn. 154) In
1796 John Wharton was among the parties to a conveyance of the manor to Thomas Wycliffe. (fn. 155) In 1815
Sir Charles Blois, bart., and Clara his wife and Lucy
Willey, widow, conveyed a moiety of the manor to
Hugh Duke of Northumberland, (fn. 156) and Gayles is
now the property of his descendant the Duke of
Northumberland (fn. 157) and of the Rev. John Shaw of New
South Wales.
In 1174–5 a Benedict de Dalton, who must have
had some territorial connexion with one or all of
these Daltons, paid 10 marks to the king, who was
then holding the honour of Earl Conan, for permission
to recede from a lawsuit against his nephews. (fn. 158)
KIRBY-ON-THE-HILL must have been the carucate of land granted by Bardolf and Count Stephen
to St. Mary's, York, with the advowson of the
church, (fn. 159) as this place is composed of a carucate and
the parish church is at Kirby Hill, not at Ravensworth. The mesne lordship belonged to St. Mary's
Abbey until the dissolution of the monasteries. (fn. 160)
Under the abbey, however, it continued to be held
by the successors of Bardolf. (fn. 161) The manorial rights
descended with the manor of Ravensworth (q.v.).
NEW FOREST has always descended with the
forest and manor of Arkengarthdale. (fn. 162) It is now
part of Arkengarthdale, but 'a distinct and known
part.' (fn. 163)
A court was held by the Earl of Richmond in
1436–7, and three tenants at this date paid gressoms. (fn. 164)
NEWSHAM (Neuhuson, xi cent.; Neusom, xiii
cent.; Neusome in Broghtonlithe, xiii–xv cent.).—
Before the Conquest Ulchil, who possessed 5 carucates, and Sport, tenant of 2 carucates, had halls at
Newsham. In the Survey of 1086 it follows directly
after Broctun, a place whose situation is now unknown, and, like Dalton Michael, Newsham was
described in 1439 as 'in Broghton Lythe.' (fn. 165) At
Broctun before the Conquest Ulchil had a 'manor,'
afterwards held by Bodin, (fn. 166) but no further history of
the place has been found. It apparently coalesced
with Newsham at an early date, for at the time of
the Domesday Survey 5 carucates were geldable in
Broctun and 7 in Newsham, and in 1286–7 12 carucates were accounted for in Newsham. (fn. 167) The mesne
lordship of 5 carucates in Newsham descended from
Bodin to the Fitz Hughs, and the mesne lordship of
another 5 descended from Bodin to the Fitz Alans, (fn. 168)
but was unknown in the time of Gale. (fn. 169) The remaining 2 carucates were held of the Mowbrays and their
successors under the Earl of Richmond. (fn. 170)
Newsham is one of the Yorkshire manors that passed
from the Miniots of Carlton Miniott to the Markenfields. (fn. 171) Roger Miniot had a grant of free warren in
1285 in his demesne lands of Middleton (Tyas),
Kneton, and Newsham in Broughtonlithe, (fn. 172) and in
1301–2 he paid by far the largest subsidy in Newsham. (fn. 173) No further mention is found of the Miniots,
but in 1497 Thomas Markenfield, kt., died seised of
10 carucates of land in Newsham, (fn. 174) and the Markenfields probably held the manor until the attainder
of Thomas in 1569. Thomas was one of the chief
instigators of the plot of the northern earls and
was executed. His brother John was also attainted,
but the York Commission reported that he was 'very
young, under twenty, and was attainted onely to
bring his title to his brother's lands (if he have any)
to the [Queen]; and it was not meant that he shold
dye, for that he hath no lande and is within the
compass of the commission for compounding.' (fn. 175)
This document is a very interesting illustration of
Tudor methods. The manor of Newsham must
have been granted to Lord Burghley, who held it in
1593 (fn. 176) ; his son the Earl of Exeter held it in 1609. (fn. 177)
Diana daughter and co-heir of William Cecil, second
Earl of Exeter, married Thomas Bruce, first Earl of
Elgin (fn. 178) and lord of Whorlton in Cleveland (q.v.),
and in 1728 Newsham still followed the descent of
Whorlton. (fn. 179) It was conveyed by Joshua Glover and
Elizabeth his wife to Mark Milbank in 1830, (fn. 180) and
is now in the possession of Sir Powlett Charles John
Milbank, bart. (fn. 181)
In 1240 Roger eldest son of Gilbert de Hunton, (fn. 182)
in Patrick Brompton (q.v.), granted 6 carucates of
land in Newsham and Dalton to his younger son
Roger, (fn. 183) who died without issue before 1258–9.
Margery, already wife of Warin de Scargill, (fn. 184) Cassandra
wife of Brian Piggot and Maud were his sisters and
heirs. (fn. 185) In 1286–7 the descendants of the two lastnamed held their lands—the Fitz Hugh fee—in Newsham of Margery as Margery de Newsham. (fn. 186) Margery
is last heard of in 1306–7. (fn. 187) She had a son Roger, (fn. 188)
who was assessed for the subsidy in 1301–2. (fn. 189) As
Roger Miniot is mentioned in none of the returns
and the Middletons succeeded to his lands in Middleton
Tyas (q.v.), as they did here, it may be suggested that
this is Roger Miniot. Maud, the other heiress of
Roger de Hunton, married John de East Layton, and
in 1286–7 William de Middleton held her share and
in 1312 called Thomas her son to warrant it to him. (fn. 190)
In 1316 William de Middleton was returned as joint
lord of Newsham, (fn. 191) which probably included at this
date Dalton Norris—where William was probably
lord—for in 1312 the two places were alluded to as
one vill. (fn. 192) Peter de Richmond brought a suit against
William de Middleton the younger in 1346–7 for a
rent of 24s. in Newsham, (fn. 193) and this is the last mention
of the Middletons in Newsham.
In 1286–7, by what title does not appear, Henry
Picot or Pigot, (fn. 194) presumably a connexion of Cassandra
who was holding part of the Fitz Hugh fee at that
date, held the Fitz Alan fee of Newsham (fn. 195) and was
assessed for the subsidy in Newsham in 1301–2. (fn. 196)
Brian Pigot was joint lord of the vill in 1316, (fn. 197) and
in 1340 a Brian Pigot of Mansfield settled tenements,
a mill and quarter of a knight's fee in Mansfield and
Newsham on himself for life, with successive remainders
to his son John and his heirs, and to Henry son of Sir
Geoffrey le Scrope, kt., and his right heirs. (fn. 198) Sir Henry
Scrope, kt., gave the manor to Stephen Scrope, from
whom it descended to his daughter Joan. (fn. 199) She
married Sir Roger Swillington, kt., and as his widow
died seised in 1427. (fn. 200) Her heirs were Conan son of
Roger Aske and Elizabeth his wife, her daughter,
Isabel wife of Robert Conyers of Sockburn, another
daughter, and Margaret wife of William Edlington,
a third daughter. (fn. 201) The 'manor' seems to have
been divided among these co-heirs, for in 1486–7
Christopher Conyers died seised of one-third, (fn. 202) and
in 1420 his son William died seised of the same,
leaving a son and heir Christopher. (fn. 203) There is no
further mention of the manor.
The 2 remaining carucates of Newsham belonged
before the Conquest to Sport, and were held in 1086
by Count Alan in demesne. The Mowbrays were
mesne lords in the 12th and 13th centuries, (fn. 204) and
Dalton Travers was still assessed with 'Mowbray's
fee' in 1522–3. (fn. 205) Walter Bardolf was under-tenant
in the reign of Henry II, and with the consent of
Roger de Mowbray granted these 2 carucates to
Guisborough Priory (fn. 206) ; Hugh son of his brother
Ralph, living 1221 and 1235, confirmed the grant. (fn. 207)
The Barninghams, however, who succeeded the
Bardolfs here as at Newsham, held these 2 carucates
in demesne, and all that the priory had was all services
and homages, which were quitclaimed to them by
William de Barningham (fn. 208) in the early 13th century. (fn. 209)
Guisborough Priory held these services until 1428 (fn. 210) and
had 12s. rent in Barningham and Newsham (perhaps
including Dalton Travers) at the time of their
dissolution. (fn. 211)
In 1332 Sir Richard de Barningham, kt., settled
part of a fee in Newsham, Dalton Norris and elsewhere
on himself for life, with remainder to Sir Geoffrey le
Scrope, kt., who was duly seised. Sir John le Scrope
in 1424 prayed that right might be done him with
respect to the above settlement. (fn. 212) The Scropes of
Upsall held this small fee called a manor of Newsham
till 1566, when Henry Lord Scrope sold it to Francis
Tunstall, (fn. 213) the lord of Barningham, who died seised in
1586. (fn. 214) After this time the Tunstalls are only said
to hold tenements in Newsham, the manorial rights
being probably lost.
WHASHTON (Wassington, Quassyngton, xiii–xv
cent.; Quasshyngton, Quassheton, Whashton, xv–xvi
cent.; Washton, Whasheton, xvii cent.) is not
mentioned in Domesday Book.
Henry ancestor of the Fitz Hughs was mesne lord
of half the manor in 1250–2, (fn. 215) and probably held the
other moiety in demesne.
Under him Robert son and heir of Eudo de
Whashton, son of Bonde, a minor, held the other
moiety, (fn. 216) but it had escheated to the mesne lord, also
tenant of the other moiety, by 1286–7, (fn. 217) and the
manor has since followed the descent of the manor of
Kirkby Ravensworth (q.v.).
Church
The church of ST. PETER AND ST.
FELIX (fn. 218) consists of a chancel 26 ft. 6 in.
by 16 ft. 6 in., north vestries, nave
38 ft. 6 in. by 18 ft. 6 in., north aisle as long as the
nave and 12 ft. in width, south aisle 29 ft. by 11 ft.,
south porch at the west
of the aisle, and a west
tower, 16 ft. square, all
measurements being internal.
The oldest building on
the site of which any
traces now remain had
an aisleless nave of the
same size as at present;
its south-east angle is still
to be seen. It was probably of early 12th-century
date, and the chancel
which was attached to it
was replaced c. 1180 by
that which still stands,
though a good deal
altered in the end of the
13th century. The north
vestry was added to the
chancel about 1300, and
a north aisle to the nave,
the chancel arch being
probably widened at the
same time. In 1397 the tower and south porch
were built, and the south aisle of the nave, with the
clearstory, belongs to the second half of the 15th
century.
In modern times, besides the repair of window
tracery, buttresses, and walling, the space between
the vestry and the north aisle has been roofed in to
form an additional vestry.
The chancel has an east window, c. 1280, of three
uncusped lights, with pierced spandrels in an arch of
two chamfered orders with a double-chamfered label.
There is a similar and contemporary window of two
lights at the south-east, and below it a small projecting piscina with a half-round basin. The walls of the
chancel being in the main of 12th-century date have
a splayed plinth and shallow pilaster buttresses with
a projecting corbel course at the eaves, which is broken
into by the head of the south-east window. Some of
the corbels, with human heads, are probably 14th
century additions. The present south doorway, a
plain pointed opening of the date of the windows,
has a blocked 12th-century window over it, and
immediately to the west, part of the 12th-century
south door, now blocked and the plinth carried across
the blocking in imitation of the original work. At
the south-west is a window of two trefoiled lights,
c. 1310, which half destroys the doorway.
On the north side of the chancel is an original late
12th-century round-headed window now opening into
the vestry, and to the west of it the 14th-century
vestry door, with continuous quarter-round mouldings.
The external string, corbel table and buttresses
of the 12th-century wall are visible in the vestries,
the plinth having been cut away in the old vestry but
not in the new. The upper part of the middle
buttress remains over the 14th-century doorway. A
second 12th-century window is probably hidden under
the plaster at the north-west of the chancel, and the
east window of the north aisle appears to be similarly
covered up.
Plan of Kirkby Ravensworth Church
The vestry has a two-light east window, very like
the south-west window of the chancel, and a single
trefoiled north window, both original, c. 1300. In
the east wall is a small projecting piscina with a halfround basin and a square recess behind it, and in the
wall between the vestry and the chancel below the
sill of the 12th-century window is an opening widely
splayed towards the vestry, giving a view of the high
altar. A modern doorway gives access on the west
side to the new vestry, which is lighted by a single
light copied from that of the old vestry.
The chancel arch has been much pulled about and
probably widened, but its jambs show late 12thcentury features. There are three engaged shafts in
each jamb, the middle one having been pushed back
into the respond in a clumsy way. The base of that
on the south is set about 4 ft. above the floor as a
corbel, as if to allow for a low stone screen across the
archway; that on the north side rests on a plain
square block. The arch is pointed, of two orders,
the outer square and the inner chamfered; in the
middle of the soffit is a groove evidently made to
receive the boarding above the rood screen. The
arch does not fit the jambs, and its details suggest that
the widening and insertion of the present arch were
made c. 1320.
The north arcade of the nave is of three bays.
Its east respond seems to be part of a re-used early13th-century clustered column, which had a central
and four flanking shafts. Only one of the shafts
remains; it has a moulded ring and the usual base
moulding of a hollow between two rounds; the two
piers of the arcade are octagonal, with very simple
capitals, and arches of two chamfered orders, the
chamfers of the outer order having broach stops above
the piers; the easternmost arch is lower than the
other two, and its point is much to the west of its
centre line; this is an alteration made for reasons
connected with the rood-loft. In the west respond
of the arcade the western jamb of a late 12th-century
doorway has been retained in its original position; it
is of a single chamfered order and has a moulded
abacus.
The north aisle has a recess in its east wall, marking
the place of a blocked window, and there are two
north windows, the first a 15th-century insertion of
two cinquefoiled lights with sunk spandrels under a
square head, and the second a modern copy of it or
a restoration of a similar one. The north doorway
is at the north-west angle of the aisle, and is a plain
piece of 14th-century work of the date of the aisle.
The west window is a single trefoiled light, apparently
reset, with a label on mask stops.
The south arcade is of two bays with an octagonal
central pier. The capitals are even more simple
than those opposite, and the bases are hollow
chamfers. The south doorway is pointed and of
two quarter-rounded orders, with a label of the same
section square above. In the apex of the arch outside
is set a shield partly pendant, and the label has human
head stops.
The south aisle has a two-light east window of
late 15th-century style, the jambs and mullion of
which do not fit the tracery, and two modern south
windows, also of 15th-century style. In the east
wall of the aisle is an image bracket. There is a late
15th or early 16th-century clearstory to the nave,
with three two-light windows a side, having threecentred arches and moulded labels.
The west tower is a fine massive building, opening to the nave by a sharply-pointed arch of two
chamfered orders dying out at the springing. It is
of three stages, the ground stage lighted on the west
by a two-light window with trefoiled heads and on
the south by a single cinquefoiled light, in the outer
east jamb of which is a shallow recess, perhaps to hold
a lantern. The stair is at the south-east, and at the
other angles are large buttresses, setting back with
gabled heads at the base of the third or belfry stage.
The second stage has small trefoiled lights in its north
and south walls, and the third has on each face tall
square-headed openings of two trefoiled lights. Below
the embattled parapet, at the heads of the buttresses,
are shields, that at the south-east bearing a saltire,
perhaps for Nevill, and that at the south-west a fesse
between three cauldrons (?). On the south face of
the second stage is a clock-dial; the clock has
been in working order since the early part of the
18th century. The date of the tower is given
by an inscription on the south-west buttress,
'a.d. mo ccco lxxxxviio,' to which has been added in
later lettering, 'This church built Anno Dom 1397.
M.T.' The first stage of the tower has a ribbed
stone vault with a central bell-way, the western
corbels of the vault being carved as crouching figures,
while the eastern are plain.
The south porch is of one build with the tower,
and has an outer arch with a niche over it with a
vaulted canopy. The embattled parapet is built of
large square stones, and appears to be later than the
pinnacles of the angle buttresses. In the middle of
the parapet is the figure of a man seated with crossed
legs and apparently playing a musical instrument.
There are many ancient carved stones built into
the walling, the finest in the porch being about 27 in.
long by 12 in. in height, and carved with an arcade of
interlacing round-headed arches. In the south aisle
are part of a small 12th-century capital with a human
face and a volute and other fragments with cheveron
and diaper ornament of the same date. Over the
south-west window of the chancel is the half-figure of
a man with his arm raised, and in the east wall one
arm of an early cross-head.
The roofs are modern, the chancel being highpitched and the nave low. The marks of the former
steep gable of the nave are seen on the tower wall.
The font is probably an 18th-century reshaping of
an old bowl. It has no stem, but rests directly on a
moulded base.
A late 14th-century gravestone has been reversed
and used as a lintel to the north-east window in the
north aisle. On it is a calvary cross and the inscription '+ hic iacet gerardus de nornmavile de eivs
anima ddevs misereatvr.' Below the piscina in a
moulded panel, apparently of 17th-century date, is
an inscription in Latin to Lucy Robinson, and at the
east end of the north aisle is a pretty alabaster monument to Francis Laton, 1609, and his wife Ann,
1622. Over a belfry window is set a coffin slab,
carved with a long cross, a sword, a bow and arrow
and a horn. Several other slabs have been cut up to
form steps up the tower.
There are a good modern oak chancel screen and
pulpit, but the only old woodwork consists of some
carved pew fronts dated 1639 with large poppy heads,
now standing in the tower.
A curious relic in this church is the wood-bound
will of Dr. John Dakyn, once incumbent of this
church. He took part in the Pilgrimage of Grace, (fn. 219)
but managed to exculpate himself and left a legacy for
the foundation of a grammar school in 1555. It has
iron hinges and two chains. On one side, covered
with talc, is the written black letter inscription,
'Whoso these Statutes will overlooke, Read them
and after clasp the book'; and on the other side,
'Whoso these Statutes to read is able, Do so and
afterwards close up the table.' The writing inside
begins with the words, 'An example of some statutes
or clauses of them to be hanged up publicly in the
parish church,' &c.
Of the two bells one is inscribed 'Venite exultemus
domino SS 1664,' and has a shield with the arms a
cheveron between three bells impaling three flagons.
It is by Samuel Smith.
The plate consists of a silver cup with the York
mark 1701 and maker's name W. Williamson, and a
silver paten with the London mark 1714. There
is also a pewter flagon.
The registers begin in 1678.
Advowson
There were a church and priest at
Ravensworth in 1086. (fn. 220) The advowson and 1 carucate of land were granted
by Bardolf (fn. 221) the lord of Ravensworth and also by Count
Stephen (fn. 222) to the abbey of St. Mary, York, and the
advowson remained in the possession of this monastery
until its dissolution, (fn. 223) after which the king granted it
in 1546–7 to the Bishop of Chester and his successors,
with licence to appropriate it when it became vacant.
The bishop was to appoint a 'vicar,' to find him a
sufficient house, to maintain him competently, and to
distribute yearly among the poor of the parish a
reasonable sum of the fruits of the church. (fn. 224) In
1859 the Bishop of Chester exchanged this advowson
with the Bishop of Ripon, (fn. 225) who is now the patron.
The living is a perpetual curacy called a vicarage since
1868.
There was a chapel of St. John the Apostle and
Evangelist in Ravensworth Castle, and in 1468
Henry Lord Fitz Hugh had licence to found a perpetual chantry, to be called the chantry of St. Giles.
Two chaplains were to celebrate divine service daily
in this chapel for the good estate of Henry and Alice
his wife and their souls and the souls of the ancestors
of Henry and the founders and benefactors of the
hospital of St. Giles at Brompton Bridge in Easby
parish. (fn. 226) There was another chapel of St. Wolfray
at Dalton Norris, now commemorated by High
Chapel Pasture and Chapel Gill. It was in ruins in
the 16th century. (fn. 227) Two 'parochial chaplains' are
mentioned in 1457. (fn. 228) The new church of St. James
at Dalton was erected in 1898.
Charities
The grammar school was founded
under a licence to John Dakyn,
LL.D., (fn. 229) to found a school and almshouse. (fn. 230) By an Order of the Charity Commissioners
dated 14 November 1905, establishing a scheme
determining the educational foundation, forty-nine
one hundred and thirty-fifths of the gross yearly
income of the schoolmaster's charity, the residence
and premises belonging thereto, with the ground floor
of the school building, were allocated to the school.
The endowment consists of houses and farms in East
Cowton and near Richmond of about 600 acres in
extent, producing an income of about £1,000 a year.
In 1666 John Heslop by deed gave a close called
the Lunns for the poor, subject to the payment of 5s.
to the minister of the parish and 5s. to the feoffees.
An allotment of 1½ acres was added on the inclosure
of Whashton Common. The land produces about
£10 a year, which, subject to the above payments, is
distributed among the poor.
Thomas Lax, by will proved at Richmond 22 April
1851, left £300, now represented by £307 7s. 6d.
consols, dividends to be applied for the benefit of the
minister and schoolmaster. In 1904 the stock was
transferred to the official trustees, and £200 consols
allocated for the minister and £107 7s. 6d. consols to
the Lax Educational Foundation.
In 1756 Thomas Buckton by will devised his estate
called Cramma Farm, charged with the annual payment
of £3 to a schoolmaster for teaching poor children of
the township, not exceeding six in number.
For Dr. Bathurst's educational charity see under
Arkengarthdale.