STANWICK ST. JOHN
Stenuueghe, Stenwege, Steinueges (xi cent.) ;
Stanwegg, Steinewegges (xiii cent.) ; Staynwigges (xv
cent.) ; Stanwigge (xvii cent.).
Stanwick St. John parish was composed in 1831 of
the townships of Stanwick St. John and Aldbrough,
together with Caldwell, East Layton and Carkin,
which lie to the east separated from the rest of the
parish by the parish of Forcett, but Carkin has now been
joined to the township of Forcett. The area of the
present parish is 5,856 acres of land, of which rather
more than half is arable and a large amount pasture. (fn. 1)
The subsoil is Yoredale Rocks, the soil loamy and the
chief crops raised are wheat, oats, barley and turnips.
The Roman road that runs north from Scotch
corner to the Roman station at Piercebridge skirts
Aldbrough and forms part of the eastern boundary of
the parish. At Lucy Cross a lane starts from 'the
Street' and, passing through Aldbrough and between
the parks of Carlton and Stanwick, goes to Forcett
and on to Caldwell, where it divides, one branch
going to Wycliffe, another north-west across the Tees
to Winston. The ground gradually rises from
300 ft. above ordnance datum at the Roman road
to 440 ft. at Caldwell to the east.
Leland gave the following account of the locality
when he visited it:—
There appere great ruines in a valley of a howse or a
litle castel at Albruch village, and thereby rennith a bekke.
It standith a ii miles south from Perse Bridg on Tese.
There appere ruines of like buildinges at Cawdewelle village
a ii miles west from Alburcge. Cawdewel is so caullid of
a litle font, or spring, by the ruines of the olde place, and
so rennith into a bekke half a quarter of a mile of. This
bekke rennith thens to Alburcg and a v. miles of into Tese,
ripa citer. This bek risith in a marish about a ii. myle
southe west above Caldwell. And betwixt thes two villages
appere diverse hillettes cast up by hand, and many diches,
wherof sum be fillid with water, and some of these dikes
appere abowt S. John's, that is paroch chirch to both the
aforsaid villages. The dikes and hilles were a campe of
men of warre, except menne mighte think they were of
ruines of sum olde towne. The more likelihood is that it
was a campe of men of warre. (fn. 2)
Camden wrote 'From Cataractonium' [Catterick]
'the military way divides into two branches, the
northernmost leading by Caldwell and Aldburgh
which last in our language signifies Old-town. What
was its antient name I cannot easily guess: it seems
by its ruins to have been a large city, and near it is
to be seen a ditch running through the little village
of Stanwig, for almost eight miles between the Tees
and Swale.' (fn. 3) This ditch was already known as
Jack Dike in 1580, (fn. 4) and the entrenchments bordering
Stanwick Park are called the Jack Dike Arches. The
earthworks are, however, probably only the mediaeval
inclosure of the park. (fn. 5) There was a small camp by
Scots' Dike at Sow Hill near Caldwell. (fn. 6) Objects of
the early Iron Age have been found at Stanwick and
Langdale.
Aldbrough Green, Stanwick
The church lies on the north side of Stanwick
Park. Opposite to it is the manor-house, within
which is a plain oak stair of the 16th century and
some later panelling. On the first floor is some
roughly executed Jacobean plaster work surrounding
a fireplace. There is a circular stone dovecote in the
garden. Leland wrote 'Mr. Keterick dwellith at
Stanewiche having a preaty place.' (fn. 7) Stanwick Park,
the seat of the late dowager Duchess of Northumberland, stands in a well-wooded park of about 60 acres
in extent, in which is an elaborate system of earthworks. The hall is a classical building, consisting of
a central block with an open court to which an east
wing was added in 1842. Rain-water pipes in the
court bear the dates 1662 and 1842. There are two
large gardens, one adjoining the east wing, and the
other, with a shrubbery and garden, to the west of the
house. It is probably to this house that Lady Oxford
refers in her journey to Scotland in 1745 'as a very
pretty house, the staircase fitted up with painting,
stucco and gilding in a very pretty taste. The best
apartments are all up one pair of stairs.' (fn. 8)
About 2 miles to the north-west of Stanwick
Church is an isolated portion of the parish with
the village of Caldwell. Close to the chapel is a
circular stone dovecote. A mile and a quarter
south-east of Stanwick is the village of Aldbrough,
picturesquely grouped round a large green. The
Aldbrough Beck runs through the green and is
crossed by a modern carriage road and an earlier
narrow bridge of three stone spans 100 yards to
the north-east. The village has a modern chapel of
ease. At Carlton there is another green and to the
north-east of the village is Carlton Park, traversed by
the beck. The house has been rebuilt on the site of
the previous hall. East Layton had its 'Towne
Green,' which was inclosed by the lord of the manor
in the 16th century when the Laytons inhabited
'Lonyng House.' (fn. 9) Layton Hall is the residence of
Mrs. Maynard Proud.
Of the mill in Aldbrough mentioned at the time
of the Domesday Survey (fn. 10) there is record until 1619. (fn. 11)
A mill was standing in Caldwell in 1421, (fn. 12) one in
Carlton in 1558 (fn. 13) and one in East Layton in 1668 (fn. 14) ;
these are now represented by a mill in Caldwell only.
The following ancient field-names, &c., occur in
this parish: Naman's Leazes, Ucker flat, Foxberry,
Greystone, Saw Hill, Cote Hill.
There are Wesleyan and United Methodist chapels
at Aldbrough and public elementary schools at
Aldbrough, Caldwell and East Layton.
Manors
STANWICK.—There were two Stanwicks at the time of the Domesday Survey,
both soke of Count Alan's 'manor'
of Gilling (fn. 15) (q.v.); the overlordship descended
to the lords of Richmond. (fn. 16) Of these vills the
southernmost, assessed at 1 carucate, must have been
absorbed in Gilling by the end of the 13th century, (fn. 17)
and was possibly identical with Nether Sedbury in
that parish (q.v.). The other vill, composed of 3
carucates, was held before the Conquest by Tor and
afterwards by Enisan in demesne under the count. (fn. 18)
The manor very shortly passed to the Rollos family,
by whom it was held until King Stephen disseised
Richard de Rollos for serving the empress and gave
his lands to Roald the Constable. Henry II made
an arrangement between the two by which Roald
was to hold the manor for life with reversion to
Richard de Rollos and his heirs. (fn. 19) The Rollos
returned to Normandy in the reign of John and
their English lands were forfeited and confirmed by
the king to Roald the Constable. (fn. 20) The fee of the
Cleasbys extended into Stanwick, but in 1314 John
de Cleasby granted whatever services he had there to
Henry le Scrope, (fn. 21) and the mesne lordship of Stanwick descended to the subsequent lords of Constable
Burton (fn. 22) (q.v.).
After the departure of the Rollos Maud de Morville (fn. 23) held part at least of Stanwick in demesne, and
in 1222 granted 10 oxgangs to the knights of the
Temple, (fn. 24) the gift being confirmed by her granddaughter and successor Avis Marmion (fn. 25) in 1254. (fn. 26)
John Marmion was returned in 1316 (fn. 27) as joint lord
of the vill with the descendant of Roald, but his
right by this time was a mesne lordship, which is not
mentioned again and had ceased to exist in 1347–9. (fn. 28)
By 1275–6 the Templars had acquired 2 carucates
of land in Stanwick and the remaining carucate was
held by the Abbot of Egglestone, who had it of the
gift of the mesne lord Roald son of Roald. (fn. 29) These
two religious bodies held these lands in 1286–7, (fn. 30)
and Egglestone Abbey still had lands in Stanwick in
1307, (fn. 31) but in 1347–9 the Hospitallers, the successors
of the knights of the Temple, held the whole 3 carucates of Stanwick (fn. 32) and continued to have some rights
there until their dissolution. (fn. 33)
The manor was held under them by the family of
Catterick from at least the 15th century. The servant
of William Catterick of Aldbrough is mentioned in
1441, (fn. 34) and in 1478 John Catterick died seised of a
messuage and 1 carucate which he held of the Knights
Hospitallers. He left a son and heir John, (fn. 35) who held
them when he died in 1508 or 1509, leaving a son and
heir William, (fn. 36) who died in possession of the manor
or capital messuage. In 1556 Anthony son and heir
of William, (fn. 37) having an idiot son Thomas, (fn. 38) settled
the property on such sons as should be born to him
subsequently in tail-male, with successive remainders
to his brothers George and Francis and their male
issue. Anthony held the whole 3 carucates of
Stanwick, one of Henry Lord Scrope as of his fee of
Roald, a second of the queen as of her castle of
Richmond, and a third of the heirs of Matthew de
Carkin, (fn. 39) who held under the Templars in 1286–7.
Anthony had no issue after
the above settlement, and on
his death in 1585 (fn. 40) his property went to his brother
George. The Cattericks held
Stanwick till 1638, when
Anthony Catterick conveyed
it to Hugh Smithson, (fn. 41) son
of Eleanor daughter and heir
of George Catterick of Stanwick and ancestor of the
Smithsons, Dukes and Earls
of Northumberland. Hugh
Smithson was created a baronet
in 1660 and was succeeded
in 1670 by his son Jerome, who died in 1684, leaving
a son and heir Hugh. Sir Hugh, the third baronet,
left a grandson and heir Hugh, who married Elizabeth,
descendant of the ancient
family of Percy and daughter
and heir of Algernon Duke
of Somerset and Earl of
Northumberland. (fn. 42) Hugh
succeeded his father-in-law as
Earl of Northumberland in
1749–50 and changed the
name of Smithson for that of
Percy. After many other
honours George III made him
Earl Percy and Duke of
Northumberland in 1766.
He was succeeded in 1786
by his son Hugh, (fn. 43) who died
in 1818, leaving a son and heir Hugh. Hugh's
brother Algernon became duke in 1847 and died
without issue in 1865, when his cousin George, son
of Algernon first Earl of Beverley, succeeded him. (fn. 44)
His son Algernon George became duke two years
later, (fn. 45) and dying in 1899 was succeeded by his son
Henry George, (fn. 46) the present owner of Stanwick.
Smithson, baronet.Or a battled chief azure with three golden suns therein.
Percy, Duke of Northumberland. Azure a fesse indented or.
ALDBROUGH (Aldeburne, xi cent.; Odeberne,
Haudeburg, Aldeburgh, xiii cent.), where Tor had
held a 'manor' and 8 carucates before the Conquest,
was in the hands of Count Alan at the time of the
Domesday Survey, (fn. 47) and was still held of Richmond
Castle in 1630. (fn. 48) Enisan was the under-tenant in
1086. (fn. 49) In 1392 the Archbishop of York confirmed
to St. Mary's Abbey, York, their possessions in
Aldbrough and Caldwell, among other places, and one
third of the tithe of sheaves from the demesne lands
of 'Nisard' Musard, then deceased. (fn. 50) Aldbrough,
like Stanwick (q.v.), passed from Enisan partly to
the constables of Richmond and the Scropes (fn. 51) and
partly to the Rollos. (fn. 52) The constables held 4 of
the 8 carucates in Aldbrough in demesne as one
manor, which Roald son of Alan the younger granted
to the king, who in 1247 gave it to Peter of Savoy,
with free warren in its demesne lands, saving to his
family their mesne lordship of the other 4 carucates. (fn. 53)
Peter of Savoy died in 1269, and Henry III then
gave the manor to the Earl of Richmond in exchange
for the manor of Wissett (co. Suffolk). (fn. 54) From this
time the manor follows the descent of the manor of
Catterick (fn. 55) (q.v.) until 1619, when Sir Francis
Barrington sold it to Humphrey Wharton and his
heirs. (fn. 56) The Whartons, as lords of the manor,
appointed gamekeepers for Aldbrough in 1726–7 (fn. 57)
and 1753 (fn. 58) and still possessed it in 1796. (fn. 59) Like
Stanwick, it is now in the possession of the Duke of
Northumberland. In 1538 Ralph Carr, merchant of
Newcastle-on-Tyne, was said to have died seised of
the 'manor'—no doubt the capital messuage. (fn. 60)
In 1281 the Earl of Richmond and his heirs had
a grant of a weekly market on Tuesday at Aldbrough and a yearly fair there on the vigil, feast and
morrow of St. Michael, (fn. 61) but there is no further
mention of this market or fair. Peter of Savoy
granted Aldbrough to Harsculph de Cleasby for life, (fn. 62)
and Harsculph seems to have been called locally 'de
Aldbrough.' Ivo son of Harsculph de Aldbrough
is mentioned in 1286 (fn. 63) ; Ivo de Aldbrough was
Constable of Barnard Castle in 1326, (fn. 64) and John son
of Ivo de Aldbrough and Sybil his wife held lands
here in 1375. (fn. 65)
CALDWELL (pronounced and often spelled
Cawdwell until the 19th century) belonged to the
fee of Count Alan at the time of the Domesday
Survey, (fn. 66) and continued to be held of the lords of
Richmond. (fn. 67) Tor held a 'manor' and 6 carucates
in Caldwell before the Conquest, afterwards Enisan
was tenant under the count. (fn. 68) Enisan's fee passed
to the constables of Richmond and ultimately to
the Scropes of Bolton, who held Caldwell in
demesne. (fn. 69) When Emanuel Scrope Earl of Sunderland died in 1630 his estates were divided among
his illegitimate children, (fn. 70) and the manor of Caldwell
came to Earl Rivers and his wife. (fn. 71) Afterwards,
however, it passed to the descendants of Mary
eldest daughter of Emanuel Lord Scrope, who was
married to Charles Duke of Bolton. Jane, the
eldest daughter of the Duke of Bolton and Mary, was
married to John (Egerton) Earl of Bridgewater. (fn. 72)
On the death of Francis third Duke of Bridgewater
the earldom and the entailed Bridgewater estates,
among which were the Yorkshire manors, descended
to General John William Egerton, son of John
Egerton, Bishop of Durham, and grandson of the
third earl. (fn. 73) The earldom of Bridgewater is now
extinct and the entailed estates have descended to
the Earls Brownlow. John first Earl Brownlow
married in 1810 Sophia second daughter and coheir of Sir Abraham Hume, bart., by Amelia
sister of Francis last Earl of Bridgewater. Their
son becoming heir to the Bridgewater estates, by
royal licence assumed in 1849 the surname of
Egerton. (fn. 74) He died in 1851, leaving a son John
William Spencer Brownlow, who in 1853 succeeded
his grandfather as Earl Brownlow and died in 1867,
leaving a brother and heir Adelbert Wellington
Brownlow, the present lord of the manor of Caldwell.
In CARLTON (Cartun, 1086; North Carleton,
xvi cent.) at the time of the Domesday Survey there
were 2 carucates at geld 'inland' to Aldbrough. It
belonged to Count Alan, (fn. 75) and continued to be held
of the lords of Richmond. (fn. 76)
Geoffrey Scales held half a knight's fee in Carlton
and Barforth (fn. 77) in 1211–12, and Roald was said to
be mesne lord in 1286–7, (fn. 78) probably as lord of
Aldbrough. (fn. 79)
Geoffrey Pigot held 2 carucates of the vill in
1286–7, the remaining carucate being held, half by
John de Layton of Hanlath de Halnaby, half by
Hanlath of Roald. (fn. 80) In 1316 his son (fn. 81) Ranulph
held the vill, (fn. 82) and in 1334 Edward III granted
free warren in Carlton to him and his heirs. (fn. 83) The
Pigots of Clotherham held Carlton till 1503, when
Ranulph Pigot died, leaving co-heirs Margaret, Joan
and Elizabeth, daughters of his brother Thomas. (fn. 84)
Margaret wife of Sir James Metcalfe, kt., of Nappa, (fn. 85)
died in possession of the manor 3 February 1530–1,
her heir being her son Christopher, aged sixteen. (fn. 86)
Sir Christopher Metcalfe conveyed the manor in
1564 to George Catterick, (fn. 87) whose grandson (fn. 88) John
Catterick sold it in 1667 to George Witham (fn. 89) of
Cliffe in Manfield (q.v.). Thomas Pulleine, Master
of the Stud to William III and
Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1696
and 1703, purchased Carlton
Hall from the Withams. (fn. 90)
Wingate Pulleine held the
manor in 1728 and 1734, (fn. 91)
and Henry Pulleine had
four men-servants here in
1780. (fn. 92) It is now in the
possession of the Duke of
Northumberland.
PULLEINE of Carlton. Azure a bend cotised argent with three scallops gules thereon and a chief or with three martlets sable therein.
Three carucates in EAST
LAYTON (Latone, Laton,
xi–xvcent.) were soke of Count
Alan's manor of Gilling at
the time of the Domesday
Survey, (fn. 93) and the overlordship continued to belong to the lords of Richmond. (fn. 94)
Layton of East Layton. Argent a fesse between six crosslets fitchy sable.
Before the Conquest Torphin held Layton; afterwards Bodin held 3 carucates
there of the count. Bodin's
land descended to the Fitz
Hughs, (fn. 95) and part of East
Layton was afterwards always
held by the family of Layton
of the lords of Ravensworth. (fn. 96)
There were 3 more carucates of land in Layton which
at some time became part of
the fee of the family of Rye,
lords of Brignall (q.v.), whose
heiress Margery brought it
to the family of Charles in
1226–7. (fn. 97) The latter were
returned as mesne lords in 1286–7, and in 1386
Richard le Scrope, probably as lord of Brignall,
claimed wardship in East Layton, (fn. 98) though in 1375
both the Laytons, East and West, were returned
among knights' fees belonging to the manor of
Crakehall, (fn. 99) a possession of the Nevills of Raby, from
whom it descended to Ralph Earl of Westmorland. (fn. 100)
A branch of the family of Layton are the first
recorded under-tenants. There was a Thomas son
of Michael de Layton, marshal, in the 13th century. (fn. 101) In 1259–60 lived Alan de East Layton,
dead in 1273, whose son John (fn. 102) held 3 carucates
in East Layton in 1286–7. (fn. 103) Thomas son of John (fn. 104)
was returned in 1316 with three others as joint lord
of East and West Layton. (fn. 105) In 1332 Thomas de
Layton paid the subsidy in East Layton, (fn. 106) and in the
following year obtained a grant of free warren in
Layton to himself and his heirs. (fn. 107) In 1347–9 John
de Layton of Barforth held East Layton (fn. 108) ; his
daughter Maud married John Cleburn, and their
son John was heir in 1386 (fn. 109) ; shortly afterwards
Nicholas de Layton and his parcenaries held East and
West Layton (fn. 110) perhaps as lessees during the minority
of the heir.
In 1428 John de Layton was lord, (fn. 111) and as John
Layton of Sproxton died seised in 1461, leaving a
son and heir John, a chaplain. (fn. 112) Elizabeth, married
to Henry Pudsey, (fn. 113) was daughter and heir of John
Layton, but East Layton must have been settled on
the Laytons of Sproxton in tail-male, for they
retained it until the 16th century. They settled at
Sexhow in Cleveland at the close of the 14th
century, (fn. 114) and became possessed later of estates at
Skutterskelfe (fn. 115) in Hutton Rudby parish.
In 1527–8 John Layton of Sproxton conveyed the
manor of East Layton to Sir Thomas Wentworth of
West Bretton, his heirs and assigns, (fn. 116) evidently as
trustee, and he in 1530 granted it to William Layton
(of Sproxton) and his brother Robert Layton (of
Skutterskelfe), their heirs and assigns. Robert died,
and William thereupon settled it on himself for life,
with remainder to Robert son of the said Robert and
his heirs. In 1567, however, Robert son of William
Layton of Sproxton claimed the manor, evidently by
virtue of the previous settlement, against Thomas
Layton (of Skutterskelfe), who seems to represent
the interest of Robert Layton; arbitrators decided
that £400 should be given by the one to the other
claimant. But 'both the said parties were very
desirous to pay, but not to depart with the land,'
whereupon the following equitable arbitration was
made, confirming the previous alienation by William:
Robert Layton of Sproxton came to the land as heir
to his father, but Thomas was to have it to himself
and his heirs and pay Robert £4,000. (fn. 117) This
Thomas seems to have been head of the family of
Layton of Sexhow and Skutterskelfe, the estates of
Skutterskelfe having come into the family by the
marriage of his father with the heiress of the Linleys.
He died in 1584, leaving a son and heir Charles, (fn. 118)
but East Layton again became the possession of a
younger member of the family. In 1589 a John
Layton of Sexhow was lord, and granted the manor
to Robert Meynell on condition that for eight years
he should pay £50 yearly. Since Robert did not fulfil
the condition, John by indenture 19 January 1600–1
and by his will 26 March 1601 granted the manor
to his relative, the above Charles Layton. He died
the same year, (fn. 119) and Charles Layton died seised in
1617, leaving a son and heir Thomas, aged twentythree, who had been knighted three years previously. (fn. 120)
In 1646–7 Sir Thomas and his son Thomas Layton (fn. 121)
and in 1652 Thomas Layton and Robert and Brian
Layton made settlements of the manor. (fn. 122) Mary
daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas married Sir Henry
Foulis of Ingleby in Cleveland, (fn. 123) and in 1668 Robert
Layton conveyed East Layton to their son David. (fn. 124)
Robert made another conveyance in 1672, (fn. 125) but
David Foulis was again a party to a deed concerning
the manor in 1677. (fn. 126) In 1703 Robert Layton of
Norwich brought a suit against Sir James Brookes,
bart., whose father Sir John Brookes had obtained
possession of East Layton by virtue of a mortgage
made to him by the Laytons, and had conveyed his
title to Sir James Brookes of Skelton, his eldest son. (fn. 127)
The result of this suit is not recorded, but the main
branch of the Yorkshire family of Layton had become
extinct at the close of the 17th century. (fn. 128) Bridget,
daughter of Sir Thomas Layton and co-heiress of her
brother Charles, married in 1671 Thomas Frewen,
and to them and their descendants the Yorkshire
estates of the Laytons came. (fn. 129) Among these, however, East Layton does not seem to have been
included, for in 1770 John Jenkins and Honora his
wife conveyed Skelton, East Layton, &c., to Samuel
Manley. (fn. 130) By a deed of 1784 Henry Brewster
Darley and Edward Tomkinson conveyed the manor
of East Layton to the Rev. William Dade and Peter
Robinson, (fn. 131) son of George Robinson. Peter Robinson
divided the estate by his will between Thomas Barker
and William son of John Colling of Walworth, and
died in 1799. William Colling left the estate to John
Colling for life, and afterwards to Thomas Allison. (fn. 132)
Thomas Barker and Elizabeth his wife conveyed the
manor in 1830 to George Allison, (fn. 133) and in 1842 it
was purchased by Edward Rounthwaite Kemp from
Thomas Allison. (fn. 134) Mrs. Maynard Proud, the heiress
of Edward Rounthwaite Kemp, married first Charles
Septimus Maynard, and secondly John Proud, (fn. 135) and
now holds the manor.
Churches
The church of ST. JOHN BAPTIST, almost entirely rebuilt in 1868,
consists of a chancel 14 ft. 3 in. by
34 ft. 3 in. with north vestry, nave 58 ft. 4 in. by
19 ft. with a south aisle 11 ft. 4 in. wide, and a
porch and tower 12 ft. 8 in. by 13 ft. 6 in., inside
measurements.
The pointed chancel arch of two chamfered orders
rests on semicircular shafts having octagonal moulded
capitals, one of which appears to be original but
re-worked and of the 13th century. The chancel
roof is of modern deal, and in the north wall of the
chancel are a modern vestry door, a three-light early
16th-century square-headed window, two modern
aumbries and a modern recess containing a much-worn
female figure in sandstone. The modern east window
is two-centred, of three trefoiled lights with flowing
tracery. The south wall has a lancet window with
a rear drop arch under which is a modern piscina of
13th-century style, three modern sedilia in the same
style divided by shafts, another similar lancet and
a three-light square-headed window of domestic
character. The priest's door has a segmental arch
and a modern square-headed low-side window to the
west of it.
The nave roof is higher than the chancel, but of
similar low pitch and design. On the south is an
arcade of four bays with pointed arches of two
chamfered orders and hood resting on octagonal piers
with capitals and bases which appear to be late 13thcentury material re-tooled. The tower arch is of
early 13th-century style. In the north wall are
three modern two-light cinquefoiled tracery windows
of different designs in the style of the 14th century.
The aisle has a pointed three-light window of the
late 13th century in the east wall, and in the south
are a very late 13th-century trefoiled piscina re-tooled,
a modern aumbry, a window blocked up behind the
organ, and two three-light trefoiled modern decorated
windows with two-centred segmental heads. The
doorway, of late 13th-century date, has a two-centred
arch entirely re-tooled. In the west wall is a modern
lancet window.
The tower has a large lancet window at the west
end, partly old.
The exterior of the chancel has a projecting
parapet and a small chamfered plinth. On the south
wall is a plain string under the windows stopping on
each side of the single buttress which is between the
two lancet windows; there are no labels. The east
wall has one square buttress at each angle, a low
chamfered plinth, a gable cross, and a hood mould,
chamfered above and hollow-chamfered below, running
round the window. On the north side is a buttress
in five stages and there is a label to the three-light
16th-century window.
The vestry, entered by a doorway on the east side,
has no angle buttresses.
The north wall of the nave has a projecting
parapet and low chamfered plinth; there is one
square buttress at each angle and two similar
buttresses divide the wall into three bays.
The tower is in three stages with an embattled
parapet and clasping angle buttresses of four stages
extending only the height of the first stage. There
is a modern external semi-octagonal turret on the
north side containing the stairs, and the top stage is
lighted on all sides by windows of two lights with
octagonal dividing shafts. The west side has a lancet
in the lowest stage and there is a shoulder-headed
window in the west and south walls of the middle
stage.
The aisle has projecting parapets. In the porch
are some coffin-slabs and 12th-century architectural
details, placed there at the rebuilding; it has diagonal
buttresses at the angles and a moulded plinth. The
external doorway is of two hollow-chamfered orders
without capitals, and the inner doorway is of the
12th century, re-tooled and rebuilt, consisting of two
chamfered orders, the inner continuous and the outer
resting on the moulded capitals of shafts with bases.
In the south wall of the aisle are also fragments of
early carvings and one buttress of five stages east of
the easternmost window. The window in the east
wall has two chamfered orders and a label with
13th-century masked stops.
Amongst the monuments in the church are four
recumbent effigies. One of these on the ledge of
the east window in the south aisle is that of a
lady with joined hands, the features being badly
mutilated. There are two effigies much alike on
the sills of windows in the south aisle, apparently of
civilians. There is another of a woman in a recess
in the north wall of the chancel. At the east end
of the south aisle is the large tomb of Sir Hugh
Smithson of Stanwick, who died in 1670, and his
wife Dorothy Rawsthorne of Plaistow in Essex, who
died in 1691. The alabaster figure of Sir Hugh leans
on his left elbow on a pillow. He wears a wig and
is clad in armour, holding his sword in the left hand;
a helmet is standing by his head. The feet rest
against his crest, a demi-lion gules coming out of a
crown or and holding a sun. At the feet of the
marble figure of his wife is a demi-lion coming out of
a crown holding the Rawsthorne castle. The base of
the tomb is of white marble, and above it is black
marble representing hangings under a slab of the
same colour. At the foot is a shield with the arms:
Smithson, quartered with 2, on a fesse engrailed
three quatrefoils, for Catterick, 3, checky in a border;
impaling three roses gules. There are two shields
partly coloured at the west side; the first has the
arms of Anthony Smithson impaling Barkham. The
other is quarterly of six, the first three quarters as in
the shield at the foot, the fourth a bend ermine
cotised between six martlets, the fifth a fesse between
three pears and the sixth Gules a bull passant, impaling Sable a cheveron between three stars. Above
the tomb is a later inscription to these two persons,
with a shield above it of Smithson impaling Rawsthorne.
South of the chancel is a mural monument to
Anthony Smithson, the son of the above, who died in
1688, and his wife Susanna, daughter of Sir Edward
Barkham of South Acre in Norfolk, who died in 1674,
with a shield of the arms of Smithson differenced
with a molet impaling Argent three pales gules with
a cheveron or over all, for Barkham. Opposite is
one to Hugh Smithson, who died in 1729. On the
north wall of the nave is a brass plate to Elizabeth
widow of Anthony Catterick, 1591. She was
daughter of Roland Tempest of Hornsett, Durham.
At the end, cut in Roman letters, is 'cuius animae
deus misereatur.'
There are three bells, all by Samuel Smith of
York: no. 1 inscribed 'Venite exultemus Domino
1677, SS. Ebor'; no. 2 'Gloria in altissimis deo
1677, SS. Ebor'; and no. 3 'Glora in excelsis deo
1685, ih, pw churchwardens SS. Ebor.'
The plate consists of an old chalice with only the
lower part of the maker's mark tm legible—it is
chased with a band and thistle ornament, a paten
of the same date without any mark, a large pewter
flagon, a modern plated flagon and flat paten.
The registers begin in 1667.
Advowson
The church in Aldbrough
mentioned in 1086 (fn. 136) must have
been the church of St. John's Stanwick, as no other church is mentioned in any ancient
records. Probably Aldbrough was the head of the
Saxon parish, and lost its prestige in its decay. Alan
son of Roald the Constable granted all his right in
the church of St. John to the abbey of St. Agatha, (fn. 137)
and this grant was confirmed by Henry II. (fn. 138) Pope
Honorius III (1216–27) also granted that the abbey
should have the church to their own uses save
the provision of 12 marks to the vicar for the time
being. The Archdeacon of Richmond confirmed the
nomination by the abbey of Geoffrey a clerk as vicar;
but the official of the Archbishop of York came to the
church with armed men, ejected the priest and instituted Master Lawrence de Topcliffe. Lawrence being
inside held the church like a fortress, and did not
allow access to the parishioners, it was pleaded; but
the canons had to confess that, they and certain laymen
having approached the church, one of their number
let fly an arrow at the crossbow-man in the bell-tower
of the church, who, stunned with the blow, fell from
the tower, broke his neck and expired. They said,
however, that their abbot was away when they did
it and they placed themselves under the protection
of the pope, appealing from the archbishop's excommunication. (fn. 139) Walter Archbishop of York in 1228
passed sentence; for homicide, arson and sacrilege he
deprived them of all right in the church of Stanwick,
but wishing to act mercifully towards them he granted
them instead the tithes of sheaves of Barton, Brettanby,
Layton, Cleasby and Barforth, reserving to himself
the advowson. (fn. 140) The abbot finally acquiesced, (fn. 141) and
in 1230 the archbishop recited that the abbot and
convent had granted him the patronage and that he
granted the church—as a prebend of Ripon—to
Master Lawrence de Topcliffe. (fn. 142) In 1365 the vicar,
Henry Greathead, petitioned the pope, saying that
'the value of the rectory containing as the parish does
seven scattered and well-peopled townships exceeds
100 marks, out of which a small portion is assigned to
the vicar, who is in such fear of the said canon that
he cannot safely meet him in the city or diocese of
York.' The archdeacon was ordered by the pope to
inform himself and make order for assignment of a fit
portion for the vicar. (fn. 143)
The rectory or prebend (fn. 144) came to the Crown
when the collegiate church of Ripon was dissolved.
The mansion-house in Ripon was sold by Edward VI, (fn. 145)
and the prebend was granted to the Dean and Chapter
of Ripon in 1604, (fn. 146) and in 1608 to Francis Philips
and Richard Moore, their heirs and assigns. (fn. 147) The
'hundred of the prebend' was said in 1609 to be
within the whole parish of Stanwick and chapelry
of Cleasby. (fn. 148)
In 1622 the advowson was conveyed by Anthony
Calcott and Margaret his wife to Humphrey Wharton, (fn. 149)
and has ever since been held by his descendants.
The living is now a vicarage with Caldwell annexed
in the gift of Henry Anthony Wharton of Skelton
Castle (q.v.).
Chapels were built at Aldbrough and Caldwell in
the late 12th or early 13th century, and Geoffrey
Abbot of St. Agatha's granted Roald son of Alan the
Constable and his men a perpetual chantry there.
Roald and his heirs were to maintain the chaplains and
on seven days every year (Christmas Day, Purification of the Virgin, Palm Sunday, Easter Day, Whit
Sunday, Nativity of St. John the Baptist and Ascension
Day) the men of these chapelries and the chaplains
were to attend at the mother-church, the chapels
being closed; in Lent the parishioners were to go
to the mother-church for confession and all sacraments were to be administered at Stanwick. (fn. 150)
The present church of ST. PAUL at Aldbrough
was erected in 1890 as a chapel of ease to the parish
church, and in 1844 a chapel of ease was built at
Caldwell by the dowager Countess of Bridgewater.
East Layton chapelry is mentioned in 1619, (fn. 151) but
the present chapel of ease to Stanwick was erected in
1895 by Mrs. Maynard Proud. There was a chantry
to the Virgin in the parish church in 1542. (fn. 152) The
'Beggar Tithe' in Caldwell belonged to St. Martin's
Priory at Richmond. (fn. 153) The chapter of Stanwick is
mentioned in the early 13th century. (fn. 154)
Charities
By deed dated 22 March 1844
the Right Hon. Charlotte Catherine
Anne Countess of Bridgewater above
mentioned gave a sum of £304 11s. 4d. consols as a
stipend for the master of the school established at
Caldwell. The stock is held by the official trustees,
producing an annual income of £7 12s.
An annual sum of £2 is received for the use of
the poor of the township of Aldbrough, under the
title of Towry's Charity, out of a farm in Aldbrough,
which is understood to have been originally made as
a consideration for carrying a small stream of water
through the farm.
An annual payment of £1 10s. is made by Miss
Charlotte Starkey in respect of a house and shop in
Petergate, York, in accordance with a gift by Ann Cass
in 1696, and a sum of £1 a year is paid by Miss
Easton of West Layton out of a close in the township
known as Mary Close in respect of a gift by Robert
Leach in 1712. These sums are distributed in money
to the poor of East Layton in the parishes of Forcett
and Stanwick St. John.