KIRKBY WISKE
Chirchebi (xi cent.); Kierkebi upon Wisch, Kirkeby
wysk (xiii cent.).
This parish is composed of the townships of Kirkby
Wiske, Maunby, Newby Wiske and Newsham-cumBreckenbrough. (fn. 1) Its area is about 6,000 acres, of
which 2,495 are arable land, 3,177 permanent grass
and 293 woods and plantations. (fn. 2) The subsoil is
Red Sandstone with recent Alluvium by the Swale.
The soil is very fertile, the chief crops being wheat,
barley and turnips. Mines and quarries at Newsham
were conveyed with the manor (q.v.) in 1826, and
there are disused brickworks at Maunby. This is the
lowest parish in the wapentake, its general level being
about 100 ft. above ordnance datum. It is traversed by
the Wiske, which in the south-west joins the Swale,
the western boundary of the parish, and the low grounds
near the rivers are not infrequently flooded. (fn. 3) Whitaker
pictures the church, parsonage and village of Kirkby
'protected from this inconvenience by being placed on
a gentle elevation. Here the tranquil Wiske lingers
among rich meadows or tracts of pasture ground.' (fn. 4)
The stocks at Kirkby Wiske are mentioned in 1691. (fn. 5)
They remained outside the churchyard wall until
1883, when they were accidentally burned in a
5th of November bonfire. (fn. 6) In 1612 'the foote
plankes and the causey of the horse-bridge' were
ordered to be repaired by the inhabitants. (fn. 7) In 1666
Wiske bridge was in decay and in 1673 £100 was
to be estreated for finishing the new one. (fn. 8) There is
now a stone bridge. Near the village are traces of
an ancient encampment and a tumulus, in which
human remains have been found. 'In clearing the
foundation for the rector's residence in 1855 upwards
of forty human skeletons were found, apparently those
of fine young men buried in haste.' (fn. 9) A mill and dovecote in Kirkby and Maunby still existed in 1713. (fn. 10)
Roger Ascham, the tutor of Lady Jane Grey, was
born at Kirkby Wiske. His father was, at his birth,
house-steward of Lord Scrope of Bolton and is
mentioned in Robert Lascelles's will as holding the
tithes of Newsham. (fn. 11) William Palliser, Archbishop
of Cashel, was also a member of a local family and
born here in 1646. (fn. 12)
South of Kirkby Wiske is Breckenbrough. Its capital
messuage is mentioned in 1304, (fn. 13) the park and lodge
in 1561, (fn. 14) and in 1618 there was a house there
described as having 'two strong, large brick-towers of
three stories high, between them only the hall which
is faire and large, high roofed, well lighted and a
large and good chimney. From each of these towers
goes out a wing towards the gate, which make a handsome four-square courte, . . . a very fayre square
garden, adjoyning to the south side of the house.' (fn. 15)
Of Breckenbrough Castle nothing but a marble step
remains; the old Breckenbrough Hall was sold by
J. C. Hucks to Mr. Samuelson, who pulled it down and
built the modern hall. (fn. 16) The road from Thirsk through
Breckenbrough meets the Topcliffe road south of
Kirkby and goes through Newsham to South Otterington. The boundaries between Breckenbrough and
Sand Hutton in the 15th century were these: the
'syke that rennys estewarde by ye south ende of Stubthornehill and Wodsall feld syde, . . . an olde dyke,
yat begynnys at ye sayd syke procedyng westward by
ye southe ende of Brakenhyll, . . . thorn yat stondes
at Moskarende to the hye way betwyx Sand Hoton
and Neusome, . . . fro that way westward by furesyke to ye water of Swale.' (fn. 17) At Moorhouse Farm
in Newsham in 1642 was born George Hickes, the
nonjuror and titular Bishop of Thetford, famous for
his Linguarum veterum septentrionalium thesaurus, 'a
stupendous monument of learning and industry.' (fn. 18)
Newby is close to South Otterington. In 1610
the inhabitants of each place were responsible for the
repair of the bridge over the Wiske between the two
places and of the causeway at both ends of the
bridge. (fn. 19) The lanes from South Otterington and
Maunby to Newby go on to Sowber Hill. (fn. 20)
There are a Wesleyan chapel at Maunby, a Church
school at Kirkby Wiske erected in 1870 and a girls'
and infants' school at Newby Wiske erected in
1860.
The following names in this parish occur in 13thcentury documents: Thurskeryate, Wymundker, Gildhuswra, Barbotflat, Lassiflat, Sinderwat, Magnebysic,
Hengerdekelde, Thorndikeflat, Siuencross. (fn. 21)
Manors
KIRKBY WISKE always belonged to
the honour of Richmond. (fn. 22) Before the
Conquest Ulchil held 1½ carucates as
one 'manor,' and Ligulf, Tor, Siward and Gamel
held the rest with one hall. In 1086 it was held
by Picot, who also held of Count Alan Maunby
and Solbergh (fn. 23) in this parish, Thrintoft in the
parish of Ainderby Steeple, and Scruton (q.v.).
'Since,' wrote Gale, 'the family of Lascelles frequently affected the name of Picot and all the
possessions of this Picot came to them and remained
in their family for several generations, there is every
reason for supposing Picot to have been their
ancestor.' (fn. 24) The Lascelles did not at first hold
Kirkby Wiske in demesne; the mesne lordship was
held by Roger de Lascelles in 1209–10, (fn. 25) by his son (fn. 26)
Picot, and in 1261 by Roger son of Picot. (fn. 27) Roger
de Lascelles was mesne lord in 1286–7. (fn. 28)
The local family of Kirkby Wiske were lords of the
place in the 12th and until the middle of the 13th
century. In 1201 King John confirmed to the nuns
of Arden the grant of Henry de Kirkby Wiske in
Kirkby (fn. 29) ; before 1182 William de Kirkby granted
the church to Guisborough Priory. (fn. 30) William had
sons Eudo and Thomas, who are both called lord of
Kirkby Wiske. (fn. 31) Eudo son of William had a son
Eudo, who seems to have died without issue, and
daughters Ivetta, Iseult and Helen; Thomas had a
son and heir Richard and Richard a son Thomas. (fn. 32)
By 1286–7 Fountains Abbey, to whom they had
made large grants, (fn. 33) held 4 of the 6 carucates
here. Probably the remaining 2 carucates represent the demesne lands of the Kirkby family. These
seem to have escheated at some date prior to 1286–7,
when they were held by Thomas de Maunby of
Roger Lascelles. (fn. 34) Roger Lascelles left four daughters
and co-heirs: Joan, who married Thomas de Colewen;
Avis, who married Robert le Constable; Maud, who
married Robert de Tilliol; and Theophania, who
married Ralph son of Ranulph (fn. 35) ; the manor was
assigned to Avis and Robert Constable, head of
the family of Constable of Halsham in Holderness,
who was holding it in demesne in 1316. (fn. 36) The
Constables retained it until 1590, when Sir Henry
Constable conveyed these lands to William Middleton
(of Stockeld) and Peter Middleton his son and heir (fn. 37) ;
they in 1615 conveyed them to William Woode, (fn. 38)
who died seised in 1637–8, leaving a son and heir
William. (fn. 39) William died about 1656 and was
succeeded by his son John, a
minor (fn. 40) ; John in 1668 conveyed the manor and advowson to Sir Hugh Smithson,
bart., (fn. 41) of Stanwick (q.v.), to
whose descendants, the Dukes
of Northumberland, they still
belong.
Constable of Halsham. Barry or and azure.
Eudo son of William de
Kirkby Wiske gave 2 oxgangs
of land here to Fountains
Abbey and William his son
gave the ground on which
their grange stood with the
court, half the fishery in the Wiske, the mill-hall,
and 1 carucate in Gildhuswra. (fn. 42) Adam de Pontoise
(Pountayse) married Avis sister and heir of Roger
Lascelles son of Roger Lascelles (fn. 43) ; he, Avis and
Robert son and heir of Avis confirmed to the abbey
the mill-hall, fisheries and services that the family of
Kirkby Wiske had quitclaimed to them and all that
they formerly held of Thomas de Kirkby Wiske. (fn. 44)
In 1261 Picot son of Roger Lascelles and Roger his
son confirmed to Fountains all the abbey held of
the former's fee in this vill, viz. 4 carucates. (fn. 45)
These 4 carucates the abbey held in 1286–7. At
the time of their dissolution they had a rent of
£12 17s. 10d. from Kirkby Wiske. (fn. 46)
Lascelles of Sowerby and Breckenbrough. Sable a cross paty or.
BRECKENBROUGH (Bracanberg, Brakaneburg,
Brakenberg, xiii cent.) did not belong to the honour
of Richmond, but to the barons of Mowbray, under
whom it was at first held as a
mesne lordship by the Vescys
of Kildare, (fn. 47) but by 1418 it
was held directly of the Mowbrays as of their manor of
Thirsk (fn. 48) and its lords were
still in 1794 free tenants of
the lords of Thirsk. (fn. 49) The
branch of the Lascelles who
held Sowerby (q.v.), near
Thirsk, (fn. 50) of the Mowbrays,
and who may have been
cognate to, but were not the
same as, the line at Kirkby
Wiske, held Breckenbrough from its first mention in
1228 (fn. 51) until 1623–4. (fn. 52) They were usually described as of Sowerby until the 16th century, but
Breckenbrough seems to have then become their
most important seat. They were deeply concerned
in the plot of 1569. When the Earl of Northumberland was cross-examined as to his conference
'with any touching the marriage of the Queen of
Scots' he stated that Christopher Lascelles—then
lord of Breckenbrough—came to him 'and cast out
suche matter, howe necessary and commodious a
thing it might be to this realme, if the Queen of
Scots shoold marry the Duke, and so made a great
discourse, and said: Suche greate and like matter
hath bene set first abrooche by as meane men as he;
and the bringing it to effect must be by noblemen
and others of great estate.' Lascelles went away and
returned bringing a letter that purported to be from
the Queen of Scots, 'but it seemid not to be her
owne hand' and 'I dispatched him with faire
words.' (fn. 53) He was not executed, but probably
suffered heavily in his estate. The Earl of Sussex
wrote to Cecil giving an account of the part he had
taken in the disposal of the rebels' goods: he
gave certain goods to Lord Hunsdon's sons and to
Mr. Sadler's son, which was all he gave 'saving a
little of my Lord of Northumberland's stof that was
in Lassels house at Brackenborthe, which, upon
Sir George Bowes coming owt of Barnard Castle,
and the spoile of all he had, (fn. 54) I gave to him that
had nothing left.' (fn. 55) Christopher was succeeded by
his son Francis and he by his son Thomas, (fn. 56) who
was one of the gentlemen of the North Riding
selected to make a loan to the queen in 1588. (fn. 57)
William son of Thomas (fn. 58) conveyed the manor to
Sir Arthur Ingram, senior, kt., (fn. 59) in 1623–4, and the
line of Lascelles of Breckenbrough 'died out in
misery and distress.' (fn. 60) In 1663 Henry Ingram,
Viscount Irvine, son of Arthur Ingram, (fn. 61) sold the
manor to Sir Hugh Smithson, (fn. 62) who five years later
bought the manor of Kirkby Wiske. The manor
and castle then followed the descent of Kirkby
Wiske, (fn. 63) but the manorial rights have lapsed. The
Hon. George Lascelles of Sion Hill has been succeeded by his son Capt. David Lascelles, and the site
of the castle is on his property. (fn. 64)
The Lascelles in 1460 had court baron here. (fn. 65)
In 1278–81 the Prior of Newburgh pleaded that
he claimed amends of the assize of ale in Breckenbrough and other places by ancient right, (fn. 66) and in
1334 John de Mowbray confirmed the grants of his
ancestors, the founders of the priory, in these places. (fn. 67)
At the time of their dissolution the priory had 30s.
rent in Breckenbrough. (fn. 68)
MAUNBY (Mannebi, Manebbi, xi cent.; Magnebi, Munbi, Mannebia, xii cent.; Maugneby,
Mawnebi, xiii cent.; Magheneby, xiv cent.) belonged to the fee of Count Alan in 1086 (fn. 69) and was
a member of the honour of Richmond. (fn. 70) It was
assessed at 10 carucates, of which before the Conquest Ghilt held 8 and one 'manor,' 4 carucates
being soke of Northallerton. (fn. 71) Of the remaining
land of the 'manor' Eltor had 6 oxgangs and Sigulf
5 oxgangs with sac and soc. In 1086 Picot had
that land. (fn. 72) In 1279–81 Roger Lascelles held the
manor, (fn. 73) and it passed from him to the Constables, (fn. 74)
by whom it was held until 1590, when Sir Henry
Constable conveyed it with Kirkby Wiske to
William Middleton of Stockeld and Peter his son
and heir. (fn. 75) In 1621 William settled it on his
younger son William and his issue with remainder to
Peter and his issue; William the son died in the
same year, leaving an infant daughter Anne, who
died in 1630–1. (fn. 76) Sir Peter Middleton succeeded
under the settlement, (fn. 77) and the Middletons of
Stockeld held the manor until 1703–4, when Peter
Middleton and Elizabeth his wife conveyed it to
Charles Turner (fn. 78) of Kirkleatham (q.v.) in Cleveland.
The manor belonged in 1794 to Sir Charles Turner,
bart., (fn. 79) of Kirkleatham, who died in 1810, leaving all
his estates absolutely to his wife. (fn. 80) Peter Walker of
Maunby is mentioned in 1693, (fn. 81) and the manor
subsequently came into the possession of the family
of Walker. Maunby Hall was the seat of Mrs.
Walker in 1857 and of Thomas Stubbs Walker in
1873. (fn. 82) Thomas Stubbs Walker died in 1903, and
the estate was inherited by his only daughter, who
married in 1901 Major Alan Richard Hill-Walker,
V.C. (formerly Hill). (fn. 83) Mrs. Hill-Walker is the
present owner.
NEWBY WISKE (Neuby, xiii–xv cent.) was
always held of the lords of Kirkby Wiske as mesne
lords under the earl. (fn. 84) In 1286–7 William de
Holtby held 1½ carucates and Thomas de Maunby
the other 1½ carucates. (fn. 85) In 1310 Ranulph de
Maunby and his heirs had a grant of free warren
here, (fn. 86) and, in spite of the return of 1316 mentioning William de Holtby only as lord, (fn. 87) the
Maunbys appear to have been lords of Newby, for, like
Eppleby in Gilling parish (q.v.), which the Maunbys
held, Newby afterwards came to the family of Saltmarsh. Its descent, indeed, strengthens the suggestion made at Eppleby that Thomas de Maunby
left co-heiresses. Robert Saltmarsh and others were
seised in 1428 (fn. 88) ; Thomas Saltmarsh of Saltmarsh
gave 'the manor of Maunby' (i.e. Newby, probably
formed out of Maunby at some time subsequent to
the Conquest and still liable to bear its name) to his
brother Philpot for life and afterwards confirmed it
to Philpot and his heirs male; Philpot died seised
in 1430 and Robert his son
and heir succeeded. (fn. 89) In
1587–8 Thomas Saltmarsh
and Margaret his wife and
Roger Barker and Mary his
wife conveyed the manor to
Edward Willey of South
Otterington, sen., clerk. (fn. 90) In
1719 the manor of Newby
Wiske was registered as among
the estates of Edward Saltmarsh of Saltmarsh, a Roman
Catholic nonjuror (fn. 91) ; but, as
the descendants of Willey of
Newby afterwards held the
manor, the above conveyance seems to have been a
mortgage subsequently foreclosed. William Reveley
of Newton Underwood in
Northumberland married
Margery daughter and heir of
Robert Willey of Newby
Wiske, removed the seat of
his family to Yorkshire and
erected the Hall House at
Newby Wiske, (fn. 92) where he was
living in 1731. (fn. 93) He had a
son Willey and a daughter
Philadelphia, who married
Langdale Smithson and was
mother of Sir Hugh Smithson,
born at Newby and in 1766
created Duke of Northumberland. Willey the son had a daughter and heiress
Elizabeth, married to John Mitford of Exbury,
Hants. (fn. 94) John Mitford, who died in 1761, was the
father of William, his heir, the historian of Greece,
and of John first Lord Redesdale. William died in
1827, and his grandson and successor, Henry Reveley
Mitford, (fn. 95) in this year conveyed the manor of Newby
to Thomas Terry. (fn. 96) The Hall was the seat of
William Rutson in 1873, (fn. 97) and of Mr. John Rutson
in 1879; it is now the residence of Mr. Henry
Rutson.
Saltmarsh. Argent crusilly and three cinqfoils gules.
Reveley. Argent a cheveron engrailed gules between three spur-revels azure.
NEWSHAM (Neuhuse, xi cent.; Neuhusum,
xiii cent.; Neusum, xiii–xv cent.), like Breckenbrough, did not belong to the honour of Richmond.
It was soke of the royal manor of Northallerton in
1086 (fn. 98) and was afterwards held of the Mowbrays. (fn. 99)
Under the Mowbrays were the Stutevilles and afterwards their descendants (fn. 100) the Wakes. William de
Stuteville was mesne lord in 1202 when Isabel wife of
William de Huntingfield quitclaimed the dower from
her former husband Oswald de Stuteville in this place. (fn. 101)
In 1286–7 the under-tenant held Newsham of Jordan
Foliot, who held of the heirs of Baldwin Wake under
Roger Mowbray. (fn. 102)
Ligulf held Newsham before the Conquest, and his
successors were the family of Newsham, who sometimes took the surname Blount or Blund. Robert
de Newsham held the 4 carucates of which Newsham
was composed in 1202 (fn. 103) and his son Ranulph in
1269. (fn. 104) Ranulph gave the manor to William Lascelles
(of 'Brekenbrough') and Lucy his wife and Agnes
their daughter (widow of Sir William de Wyville, kt.,
in 1342–9); William died and Lucy married again
John de Barton of Fryton (q.v.), kt., who gave this
manor to John his son by Lucy. This John died in
their lifetime and John and Lucy then gave the manor
to Alan de Newsham, clerk, who in 1319 settled it
on Walter de Newsham and Alan his son and the
heirs male of Alan. In 1342–9 Margaret widow of
Walter held one-third of the manor in dower. (fn. 105) The
Lascelles, however, very shortly managed to reunite
Newsham to their manor of Breckenbrough. In 1345–6
William son of John de Lascelles brought a plea against
Alan de Newsham that he should warrant him half
the manor of Newby Wiske which he claimed to
hold of him (fn. 106) ; but from this time the Newshams are
never said to possess the manor. Alan de Newsham had a son Henry, against whom and Katharine
his wife in 1376 William Lascelles brought a suit
concerning lands in Newsham which they claimed to
hold by grant of John his grandfather. (fn. 107) Henry had
a son Thomas and daughters Cecily, Maud, Agnes
and Avis. Thomas left only a daughter Avis, married
to John Layton; he left an only son John, who died
without issue. Cecily's grandson then enfeoffed
Christopher and John Lascelles of her share in these
lands; Maud's son in 1446 had enfeoffed John
de Layton the father, Agnes and Avis having already
died without issue. The result was in 1493 a lawsuit between the Lascelles and the Laytons, in which
the former were successful. (fn. 108) Sir Roger Lascelles
died seised of the manor in 1551, (fn. 109) and in 1562–3
his son Christopher sold it to Christopher Lockwood (fn. 110) of Sowerby. Lockwood was secretary to the
Earl of Westmorland, and in 1569 was taken prisoner
'goinge towards the Erles campe.' (fn. 111) He seems to
have escaped, however, for late in the same year
he appeared with 4,000 armed men at Ripon and
was in arms until the following autumn. Failing
to appear at his trial when summoned, he was outlawed and attainted, but this manor had previously
been entailed by him and he was allowed to retain
his life interest in it. (fn. 112) In 1587–8 his eldest son
John had livery, (fn. 113) and in 1590 conveyed it to Hugh
Bethell and Thomas Scudamore. (fn. 114) Thomas Scudamore died seised in 1621, leaving a son and heir
William. (fn. 115) In 1623–4 William Scudamore and
others conveyed the manor to William Frankland (fn. 116)
of Thirkleby (q.v.). Thomas Frankland, the third
baronet, died in 1747, leaving daughters and co-heirs,
of whom Dinah Countess of
Lichfield (fn. 117) with her husband
in 1749 conveyed Great
Thirkleby and Newsham
Manors to Charles Henry, (fn. 118)
the fourth baronet. William
Lambert and Francis his wife
conveyed the manor to Samuel
Crompton in 1826. (fn. 119)
Frankland, baronet. Azure a dolphin or and a chief or with two saltires gules therein.
D'Arcy. Azure crusilly and three cinqfoils argent.
Conyers. Azure a sleeve or.
SOLBERGE or SOWBER
(Solberge, xi, xiii cent.; Solbergh, Solbir, Sowber, xiii
cent.) belonged to the honour
of Richmond and in 1086 was
held by Picot of the count. (fn. 120)
In 1286–7 John Breton held
its 3 carucates of Thomas de Raynevill (Reyneville),
who held of Roger Lascelles, probably the descendant
of Picot. (fn. 121) The Constables, who followed the Lascelles,
were always returned as mesne lords of Solberge, (fn. 122)
but after 1306–7 Thomas de Rayneville is not again
mentioned in connexion with this place. In 1306–7
Philip le Breton died seised of 'the capital waste
plot,' leaving a son and heir John, aged twelve. (fn. 123)
John, who had only a lease of Eppleby in Gilling
parish (q.v.) from his kinsman Thomas de Maunby,
possibly only held Solberge for a term of years, for
in 1316 Thomas de Maunby was returned as lord. (fn. 124)
By 1366, however, the Maunbys had been replaced
here by the Thwings, (fn. 125) and the manor descended
from the Thwings to the D'Arcys and from them
to the Conyers. (fn. 126) Sir John Conyers in 1490 died
seised of Whorlton, Solberge and other manors
by right of his wife. (fn. 127) His great-great-grandson
John on his death in 1556 left four daughters and
co-heirs, of whom Margaret died seised of this manor
in 1559–60. (fn. 128) Her sisters—Anne married to Sir
Anthony Kempe, Elizabeth married to Thomas
D'Arcy and Katharine married to John Atherton—
were her heirs. (fn. 129) Anne died seised in 1567, leaving
a son Henry, aged six. (fn. 130) In 1572–3 Anthony
Kempe and others conveyed one-third of the manor
to trustees, (fn. 131) who in 1577 conveyed it to William
Ayscough. (fn. 132) Thomas D'Arcy and Colubra his wife
conveyed one-third of the manor in 1580–1 to
Brian Ayscough and Dorothy his wife and William
Ayscough, (fn. 133) and in 1589 John Atherton and Katharine conveyed their part to the Conyers, (fn. 134) who in
1592 conveyed it to William Ayscough and Dorothy
Ayscough (Askwith) of Osgodby, in the East Riding
of Yorkshire, widow. (fn. 135) William died seised in 1635,
leaving a son and heir William. (fn. 136) In 1689 William
Ayscough (knighted in 1660) (fn. 137) made a settlement
of this manor. (fn. 138) Francis Fawkes of Farnley and
Margaret his wife, one of the two daughters and
co-heirs of John Ayscough of Osgodby, (fn. 139) made a
settlement of the manor in 1703–4, (fn. 140) and in 1713
Sir Walter Hawkesworth and Judith his wife, the
other daughter, (fn. 141) made a further settlement. (fn. 142) Probably the manor had already disappeared at this
date; the site covers several acres near the present
house called Solberge. (fn. 143) In 1770 the estate is
mentioned in the will of Fountayne Wentworth
Osbaldeston of Hunmanby, (fn. 144) and in 1821 the manor
was purchased from George Osbaldeston of Hutton
Bushel (fn. 145) by John Hutton of Sowber Gate. (fn. 146) His
descendant, Mr. John Hutton, now holds the estate.
Kempe. Gules three sheaves in a border engrailed or.
Ayscough. Argent a fesse between three asses sable.
William de la Pole held tenements in Solberge of
William Thwing in 1366, (fn. 147) and in 1389 his son
Michael, the attainted Earl of Suffolk, died seised of
the 'manor of Solbergh Parva' which he held of the
Constables of Kirkby Wiske. (fn. 148)
Church
The church of ST. JOHN THE
BAPTIST consists of a chancel 40 ft. 8 in.
by 22 ft., nave 43 ft. 2 in. by 21 ft. 9 in.,
north aisle, which continues one bay to the east of
the chancel arch, 63 ft. 1 in. by 13 ft. 9 in., south
aisle 42 ft. 6 in. by 7 ft. 6 in., west tower 12 ft. 2 in.
by 11 ft. 8 in., a vestry at the east end of the
north aisle 13 ft. 4 in. by 11 ft. and a south porch
9 ft. 11 in. by 9 ft. 9 in., all the measurements being
internal.
Plan of Kirkby Wiske Church
The history of the church begins in the 12th
century, when it consisted of a nave and a chancel.
Very little of this church is now left, the most important parts being a small piece of the original
south wall, now at the west end of the south nave
arcade, the fine south doorway, which belongs to
about 1160, (fn. 149) and some grotesque head corbels now
used to support the south aisle roof over the arcade.
Three more of these heads are built into the wall of
the heating chamber and others are lying loose with
other fragments, including the heads of two 12thcentury windows, in the churchyard. About 1310
the church was enlarged by the addition of the aisles.
That on the south is of its original width, but its
upper walling has been rebuilt, except that at the west
end, which contains its original window. The present tower was built in the 15th century, when an
almost flat roof was placed over the nave, the line of
which still shows over the tower arch, and the vestry
added, the windows being later insertions. In 1872
the north and south aisle walls were rebuilt, together
with the upper part of the east chancel wall, including the window and the buttresses at the angles.
The pillars of the nave were underpinned, the chancel
arch raised 6 ft. and the north and south walls of
the chancel and the nave roof were also raised. A
south porch has been added in recent years.
The east window is modern, although there is
reason to believe that it is an accurate reproduction
of the original design.
On each side of the east window is a niche, considerably damaged. That on the north has lost its
canopy. Its bracket shows a large head of Egyptian
type. That on the south had a vaulted, gabled and
crocketed canopy, slightly hollowed back, and a
bracket formed of a crowned head surmounted by a
moulded octagonal slab.
There are no north windows to the chancel, but
the south wall contains three good examples of 14thcentury work, somewhat repaired, each consisting of
two ogee trefoiled lights with two pointed trefoils
and a quatrefoil over. Between the second and
third of these windows is a priest's doorway of the
same date with a two-centred arch. Beneath the
first of the south chancel windows is a piscina, which
has a 14th-century octofoil basin, the projecting
portion being carved beneath with foliage. All the
upper part is new and consists of a moulded trefoil
head with crocketed label and foliated stops. To
the west of this are three sedilia with moulded jambs
and divisions and trefoiled heads with crocketed
labels similar to the piscina, but surmounted by
large foliated finials of 14th-century character bearing traces of old colour. These finials and a few
stones in the divisions are the only old parts left,
all the rest being modern restoration.
On the north wall of the chancel is an arched
recess, which has moulded jambs and trefoiled arch
with moulded label stopping on carved heads,
surmounted by a crocketed gable with large finial
and flanked by panelled pilasters with gabled and
crocketed finials and small tracery in the gables. In
the spandrel over the arch is a much worn boss. The
recess contains a slab, slightly tapering to the east,
without inscription or ornament except a beaded
edge, and resting on a plinth which has a foliated
band of ornament on its chamfered edge. The
whole recess has been largely restored. Near this
recess on the east side is a 14th-century carved head
projecting from the wall that may have served as a
bracket for an image or a lamp.
To the west of this recess is the doorway to
the vestry. The east window of the vestry has
two lights with a square head. In the north wall
is a single square-headed light, the inside sill of
which has a pair of shears carved on its chamfered
edge, this being a stone which was found elsewhere.
To the west of the vestry doorway is an archway
to the east end of the north aisle, now occupied by
the organ. The responds are semi-octagonal with
double chamfered bases and plain chamfered capitals.
The arch is two-centred and of two chamfered
orders, the inner order being similar in section to the
respond.
The jambs of the chancel arch are similar to those
of the arch in the north chancel wall, but without
the bases and with modern moulded abaci. The
arch is also pointed but flatter.
Kirkby Wiske Church from the South-east
The north and south arcades of the nave have
each three bays with two octagonal columns. The
arches are of two chamfered orders and the capitals
plain chamfered as in the north chancel arch, but a
scroll label runs round the arches on the nave sides,
returning at the ends and mitreing in a peculiar
inverted V-shape manner over the columns. On
the outer order of the south arcade arches and on
some of the stone of the piers and responds of the
same side are cut a number of [H]'s and [W]'s, some
being upside down. The north aisle contains four
modern north windows having two trefoiled lights
with a quatrefoil over. The third window from the
east appears to be slightly older than the rest, and
agrees in this respect with the west window of this
aisle, which has three trefoiled lights with quatrefoils
in the tracery.
The east window of the south aisle is modern and
has two trefoiled lights and decorated tracery. The
two windows of the south wall are modern and
similar in every respect to those of the north wall.
The west window of this aisle is a lancet of about
1310. The splay does not continue round the arch,
which is square, but stops short at the springing.
The south doorway already alluded to is placed near
the west end, and was set in this position in 1872 at
the time of the rebuilding of the aisles. The jambs
are of two orders, the inner with a large edge roll
with interlacing strap-work capitals and modern bases,
and the outer order square, with a detached shaft in
between the two. The shafts themselves are modern,
but the capitals are original and are scalloped. The
arch has two semicircular orders, the inner one being
enriched with beak-heads, some of which have lips,
&c., of 13th-century type of ornament. The outer
order has a series of low-relief zigzags carved on it.
The keystones of both orders are modern. Outside
this is a flat label with horse-shoe ornament, which
stops on two carved heads; but, although these are of
12th-century work, they do not belong to this position.
The label really finished on a flat circular stop.
The tower arch has two chamfered orders, which
die off into the walls without continuing to the floor.
The west window is of 15th-century date and has
three trefoiled lights with perpendicular tracery and
moulded label. The stairs to the belfry are in the
north-west angle and are approached by an inside
doorway.
The top of the tower has an embattled parapet
resting on a projecting cornice, and angle buttresses,
two of which rest on small squinch arches where the
nave and east tower walls abut. The top stage
contains on each side a 15th-century window of two
trefoiled lights in a three-centred head. Below each
of these is a single trefoiled light, the south one
being hidden by the clock face and the north one
opening into the roof.
There are two fonts, a modern one placed under
the tower arch and an old one, not now in use,
in the north-west angle of the nave. Its date is
uncertain, but it has probably been recut in the 15th
century. The bowl and stem are octagonal, the
former being coarsely moulded, with one side cut
away, as though it had been against a wall.
All the roofs are of modern open timber.
All the walls are of stone. The two buttresses on
the south of the chancel are original 14th-century
work with restored weathering. On the face of the
buttress which joins the west side of the south porch
are the marks of an old sundial, with the stump of
the gnomon still showing.
Under the east window of the south aisle is a brass
inscription to Christopher Carter, who died in 1688.
The tower contains three bells, the treble bearing
the inscription in Roman characters 'Jesus be our
speed,' 1656. The second was cast by Dalton of
York, 1784, and is inscribed 'Glory be to God in
the highest, Halleluiah.' The tenor is by Thomas
Mears, 1802.
The plate includes a cup and paten cover with the
York date letter for 1636 and the maker's mark T.H.
The flagon and almsdish are of pewter.
The registers begin in 1615, but are blank from
1644 to 1663.
Advowson
In 1182 Henry II confirmed the
grant of William de Kirkby Wiske
of this church to the Prior of Guisborough, (fn. 150) who in February 1211–12 quitclaimed the
advowson to Roger Lascelles (fn. 151) ; from this time the
advowson followed the descent of the manor. The
living is a rectory in the gift of the Duke of
Northumberland.
There was a free chapel of our Lady at Newby
Wiske, 1 mile away from the parish church. (fn. 152) The
foundation is not recorded, but in 1530 Christopher
Conyers endowed the incumbent with certain lands
to pray for the soul of the founder and all Christian
souls. 'The ancestors of Clewers' left money to
find a light in this chapel. (fn. 153) Henry Best and John
Welles in 1590 granted tenements in Newby lately
belonging to this chapel, leased by Queen Elizabeth
in 1577 to Brian Rogers, to the Dowager Lady
Katharine Constable. (fn. 154)
Stephen second Lord Scrope of Masham, in his
will proved 1406–7, left 20s. to the recluse of
Kirkby Wiske. (fn. 155) Robert Lascelles, who died
early in 1508, ordered his son Richard to find a
priest for ever to sing two days in the week at
Breckenbrough, and also bequeathed 20s. to the light
of St. Anthony in the parish church. (fn. 156) Fountains
Abbey paid a rent to the chantry of St. John at
Solberge before the Dissolution. (fn. 157) A chapel of ease
was erected at Maunby in 1871.
Theophilus Lindsey was presented to Kirkby Wiske
rectory in 1753 and resigned it in 1756; in the
controversy that arose on the publication of Blackburne's Confessional in 1766 he supported the Latitudinarian party and subsequently declared himself
a Unitarian. Under his auspices the Unitarian chapel
in Essex Street, London, was built. (fn. 158)
Charities
The following ancient payments
are still made in this parish, namely:
£2 2s. a year by Mr. J. Rutson of
Newby Wiske in respect of Thomas Pallisser's charity,
who also pays £1 a year under the title of Bowes'
Charity in respect of a gift of Thomas Ward, 1688,
and 6s. 8d. a year is received in respect of Widow Toes'
charity, 1693. An annual sum of 18s. is also received
and applied for the benefit of the poor of the township of Maunby.
William Crank, by will, date unknown, bequeathed
£30, the interest thereof to be applied in putting to
school or apprenticing poor children of the township
of Newby Wiske; this is invested in £53 9s. 4d.
consols with the official trustees, the dividends,
amounting to £1 6s. 6d., being applied in education.
The parish is possessed of about 13½ acres of land
in Bagby, known as Carter's Charity Estate, purchased
in 1688 with legacies of £100 and £50 bequeathed
by wills of Christopher and Thomas Carter, and of
2 r. 13 p. awarded on the inclosure of Bagby Common.
The lands are let at £25 a year, which with the
annuities above mentioned are applied in proportion
to the population between the several townships.
William Hutton, by will proved at York 1822,
bequeathed £200 to the vicar of North Otterington,
the rector of South Otterington, and to the rector
of Kirkby Wiske, to be placed in the public funds, and
interest applied as to £5 for distribution amongst
destitute widows and orphans in the respective parishes,
£1 1s. to be paid on 1 January in each year to the
vicar of North Otterington for a sermon to be
preached at the chapel of Thornton-le-Beans, when
testator's will was to be read over and the sacrament
to be administered, and the remainder of the interest
to be expended in purchasing wearing apparel for
men and women. The legacy is represented by £245
consols with the official trustees. After deducting
£1 1s. for the sermon, the dividends are applied for
the benefit of widows and orphans of the townships
of Thornton-le-Moor in North Otterington, South
Otterington and Kirkby Wiske in equal proportions.