MIDDLETON TYAS
Midelton (i-xiv cent.); Middleton Tiays (xiv cent.);
Middleton Tyers (xvi cent.).
The area of this parish is 6,243 acres, 1,935 being
arable land, 3,496 permanent grass and 84 woods
and plantations. (fn. 1) The chief crops raised are wheat,
oats, beans, barley and turnips. The subsoil is
Yoredale Rocks and Magnesian Limestone, the soil
partly clay. The parish is rich in minerals. There
are several limestone quarries, ironstone has been
traced, and Middleton was once famous for its mines
of copper, although none seems to have been worked
since the middle of the 18th century. In connexion
with these days of prosperity it may be mentioned
that there were sixteen public-houses in Middleton
in 1820, two of which are now used as cottages. (fn. 2)
The two branches of Watling Street that run from
Piercebridge and Barnard Castle respectively to
Catterick meet at Scotch Corner in this parish. A
tumulus called the Five Hills lies north of Middleton
Tyas village, from which Middleton Tyas Lane runs
to form four cross-roads at Scotch Corner. The
village is large, and is chiefly grouped round two
roads. The church, approached by a short road,
lies below the village to the east, the churchyard
being on the bank of the small Kirk Beck, which
flows south through the parish. The upper part of
the village is grouped round a small green, upon
which is a maypole. The tiled roofs, varied stone
and irregular construction of the houses have a very
picturesque effect, particularly at the west end, where
the houses on each side have small gardens between
them and the road.
Moulton Manor-house, Middleton Tyas
The present vicarage is a little over a quarter of a
mile from the church, but the previous building lies
on the north side of the village, and is known as the
Rookery. About the year 1750 Dr. Mawer, whose
somewhat fulsome epitaph figures on the chancel wall,
is reported in the registers as having carried on extensive and apparently remunerative copper workings
in the glebe lands, particularly in the field known as
Goose Hill, immediately to the south of the path to
the church. Traces of these works are still to be seen
in the mounds in this field as well as in the pieces of
stone showing the marks of a furnace, which are often
built into the houses of the village.
Rather more than a mile south of the village is
South Moulton, with a manor-house and hall. The
manor-house, now a farm-house, was rebuilt in the
first half of the 17th century, and is a characteristic
example of that period. Its front or east face
has slightly projecting wings, with the principal
entrance in the middle. The square doorway with
a moulded architrave is flanked by two windows;
over these is a moulded cornice or architrave stepped
up over each window and twice over the doorway;
the pair of ground-floor windows in each wing are
similar. The first-floor windows all have moulded
architraves and pediments over, the middle one (above
the doorway) being a half-round. The wings are
gabled and the middle space has a balustraded
parapet. The interior has been more or less altered
to suit later requirements, but the original black oak
stair remains, though now covered with paint; it has
twisted balusters and carved heads and pendants to
the newels.
Moulton Hall, a 17th-century building of three
stories, stands some way back from the road and is
approached by a drive. The entrance front, facing
east, has three gables, each with a hollow curve
surmounted by a small pediment. The entrance is
through a porch having a circular headed door with
a frieze and cornice above it, surmounted by a pierced
parapet. The whole of the front and sides—the
latter containing two similar gables—is rusticated,
the quoins being still more boldly rusticated. On
each side of the panelled hall are large rooms, and
behind is a finely carved staircase with a carved handrail, below which is a large Roman running acanthus
ornament in the place of balusters, and having
newels supporting beautiful oak vases, and their
under sides carved drops. The lower windows,
which are of three lights, have mullions and transoms with architraves supporting pediments, some
segmental. The upper windows are of two lights
with architraves, and above them are circular gable
lights.
Moulton Hall, Middleton Tyas
One mile north-west of the village is Kneeton
Hall, now a farm-house, a square building with a
gable projecting to the front at the south end. A
plain square-headed door opening into this portion of
the house has the date a.d. 1597, followed by some
illegible letters and 1616, inscribed above the head.
The house is built of rubble with squared quoins and
large stone-built chimneys. The southern gable and
the west or back of the house have some mullioned
and transomed windows, and the gables retain the
apex stones and curved 'kneelers,' but beyond these
there is no detail by which to date the various parts
of the house, which probably existed at the end of
the 16th century.
Near Kneeton Hall is a farm-house, known as
Under Kneeton, east of the Street. There have
been other houses here, pulled down of late years. (fn. 3)
A small Wesleyan chapel was erected at Moulton in
1835, but the present building, built by Dennison
Sanderson of Moulton Hall, (fn. 4) was opened in 1863.
In 1877 a Primitive Methodist chapel was built.
Gatherley Castle and part of Gatherley Moor (fn. 5) are
in this parish.
Manors
MIDDLETON TYAS, Kneeton and
Moulton in this parish were all land of
Count Alan in 1086 (fn. 6) and were afterwards members of the honour of Richmond. (fn. 7) All
three places belonged to Ulf before the Conquest,
and Middleton and Kneeton by 1086 had passed to
Ughtred, (fn. 8) who held of the count a 'manor' in each
place with sac and soc. (fn. 9) Middleton and Kneeton
were at first coupled together, (fn. 10) and the three joint
owners were often said to hold a moiety or a third of
a manor; but subsequent to the escheat of one of
these shares to the Crown the whole was granted
out as two lordships, and as such remained. The
7 carucates of land in Middleton were divided between two fees; the first consisted of 4 carucates, of
which in 1286–7 (fn. 11) a little more than 2 were held
in demesne. Meldred de Middleton and Gyllmichael
his brother lived in the 12th century. (fn. 12) Meldred
made grants in Middleton to St. Agatha's Abbey as
did William his son, Thomas son of William and
Richard son of Thomas. (fn. 13) The last-named with the
assent of Clarice his wife in 1209 granted 2 oxgangs
in Kneeton to St. Mary's Abbey, York, (fn. 14) and before
or in 1211 he granted all his lands of Middleton and
Kneeton—3½ carucates—to Gilbert son of Roger son
of Reinfrid. (fn. 15) This Gilbert married Helewise, only
child of William de Lancaster, and by her was father
of the third William de Lancaster, Helewise, who
married Peter de Bruce, Alice, who married William de
Lindsey, (fn. 16) and Serota, who married Alan de Multon
and died childless. The lands in Middleton appear
to have passed exclusively to the heirs of Alice, for by
1283 (fn. 17) Walter son of William de Lindsey had been
succeeded by his son William in the tenure of the
whole of the quarter of a knight's fee here. William
had an only child Christina, (fn. 18) who must have been
married to Enguerrand V (Ingelram, Ingram) de
Guines, head of the most powerful feudal house in
the north of France. (fn. 19) He was returned as joint
lord of Middleton and Kneeton in 1316. (fn. 20) In 1318
one-third of the manor of Middleton was settled on
Enguerrand and Christina for their lives with successive
remainders to their younger son (fn. 21) Robert de Guines,
to Baldwin his brother and to his heirs, and finally to
the right heirs of Christina. (fn. 22)
In 1334 Christina was dead,
and her son Robert de Guines (fn. 23)
was able to establish his right
to the profits of this fee. (fn. 24)
During the French wars these
lands were taken into the
king's hands. (fn. 25) Baldwin must
have died or forfeited, for
William de Coucy, eldest son
of Enguerrand and Christina,
succeeded him. (fn. 26) Although
he had not himself done
homage or had livery he
granted these lands to his son William, who in 1340
—at the interposition of the Count of Hainault, the
king's father-in-law—had pardon for acquiring them
and confirmation of his possession (fn. 27) ; and in the
same year he obtained a grant of free warren to himself and his heirs. (fn. 28) Robert had demised the manor
to William de Middleton for his own life, and William
de Coucy died seised of rents and the reversion of the
manor in 1341–2, and was succeeded by his brother
Enguerrand VI, (fn. 29) who was killed at Crécy in 1346,
his French domains having been devastated by the
English. He left a young son Enguerrand VII, whom
the English brought as a hostage to the court of
Edward III. To assure himself a powerful influence
in the north of France Edward gave him his daughter
Isabel in marriage and made him Earl of Bedford. (fn. 30)
In 1375 died Joan, widow of Sir John de Coupland,
kt., who held the Coucy manors, including Middleton,
by grant of the king for life, and the manors reverted
by the king's grant to Enguerrand and Isabel and their
issue. (fn. 31) Enguerrand VII was the last of the Coucys.
His whole life was spent in warfare. On the death
of his father-in-law Edward III he rallied to the
French side. He took an active part in the campaign of Flanders in 1382 and in the invasion of
Scotland. His remaining years were occupied by
annoyances in his own domains caused by his son-inlaw Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland. On his
death in 1397 his lands were divided between his
two daughters, Mary the elder succeeding to his
possessions in France, (fn. 32) and Philippa the younger,
Duchess of Ireland, receiving a grant from Richard II
in 1399 of the manors of
Middleton and Kneeton in
general tail. (fn. 33) Philippa died
childless in 1411, (fn. 34) and these
manors escheated to the overlord and descended with the
demesne lands of Richmond
(q.v.) until 1546–7, (fn. 35) when
they were granted to William
Parr Earl of Essex in fee. (fn. 36)
Created Marquess of Northampton in February 1546–7,
he was attainted in 1553, (fn. 37)
and, although he regained
many of his lands on the
accession of Queen Elizabeth, (fn. 38) these manors were
not among the number.
Coucy. Barry vair and gules.
Parr. Argent two bars azure and a border engrailed sable.
Boynton. Or a fesse between three crescents gules with a lion passant or upon the fesse.
In 1569–70 Roger Manwood, serjeant-at-law, (fn. 39)
seemingly acting for the Crown, conveyed the manor
of Middleton Tyas to Alice
Strickland. (fn. 40) Alice, seised of
half the manor, died a widow
in 1588, leaving a son and
heir Thomas Strickland, (fn. 41) but
the manor was settled on her
issue by her second husband (fn. 42)
Sir Thomas Boynton. Sir
Francis Boynton of Barmston (fn. 43)
and Dorothy his wife made a
settlement in 1613, (fn. 44) and Sir
Francis Boynton died seised in
1617. (fn. 45) The manor was in
1651 conveyed by Sir Francis
Boynton to Nicholas Shuttleworth, (fn. 46) and was still in the possession of the Shuttleworths of Forcett (q.v.) in 1773. (fn. 47) Leonard Lawley
Hartley was owner in 1857, Leonard Laurie Hartley
in 1879. (fn. 48) Mr. Colin Douglas Eyre was lord of the
manor at his death in 1910, when he was succeeded
by his brother Mr. Ralph Eyre, the present owner.
The second fee in Middleton Tyas held of the
honour of Richmond was in 1286–7 composed of
2½ carucates, of which 2 carucates were held in
demesne. (fn. 49) It was held until the 15th century by a
branch of the family of Middleton that may have
had for its ancestor Gyllmichael, brother of Meldred
de Middleton. (fn. 50) John and Henry, sons of Gyllmichael,
disputed between themselves the possession of certain
lands here and at Kneeton in 1194 and 1209–10. (fn. 51)
In 1268 a Henry de Middleton claimed the custody
of the manor of Melsonby (q.v.) against Brian
Fitz Alan, and in 1282 Henry de Middleton held a
quarter-fee in Middleton of the Earl of Richmond. (fn. 52)
He was living in 1286–7, when, besides his demesne
lands in Middleton, he held 1 carucate of Roger
Miniot in Kneeton. (fn. 53) Matthew de Middleton was
returned as joint lord in 1316. (fn. 54) The Middletons
continued to hold lands in Middleton and Kneeton
(q.v.), and a William de Middleton was living in or
about 1340, (fn. 55) but no connected history of this
holding has been found.
Hartley. Or a cheveron between three rings gules with a fesse azure over all.
Eyre. Argent a cheveron sable with three quatrefoils or thereon.
KNEETON (Naton, xi cent.; Kneton, xiii–xvii
cent.; Cneton, xiii cent.; Knighton, xvi, xvii
cent.) was among the lands of Count Alan in 1086, (fn. 56)
and afterwards became a member of the honour of
Richmond. In 1286–7 the 5 carucates here were
divided into two fees. (fn. 57) A mesne lordship over half
a carucate was held at this time by William de
Lindsey, (fn. 58) and this followed the descent of the manor
of Middleton Tyas (fn. 59) (q.v.).
Frank. Vert a saltire engrailed or.
The tenancy in fee was held by the family of
Kneeton. Elsi de Kneeton and Adam his son granted
lands to St. Agatha's Abbey, (fn. 60) and later, in the 12th
or early in the 13th century, Richard de Kneeton and
Thomas his son granted lands here to St. Martin's
Priory, Richmond, and to St. Mary's Abbey, York. (fn. 61)
In the reign of Henry III an Alan de Kneeton held
12 librates of land in Middleton and Kneeton of the
earl by drengage. His daughters Agnes and Cecily
married Henry Maunsel and Gilbert de Newton
respectively, and he had sons Walter and Ralph. (fn. 62)
Perhaps his eldest son was the Alan de Kneeton who
died without issue leaving Walter a brother and heir.
Walter had a son and heir Alan, (fn. 63) who held 2 carucates
in Kneeton and Middleton in 1280, when he made
a grant to his son Henry. (fn. 64) He held a quarter-fee
in these two places in 1283. (fn. 65) His son Thomas died
childless and was succeeded by his sister Maud, (fn. 66)
who married Geoffrey de Melsonby. (fn. 67) Geoffrey was
returned as joint lord in 1316, (fn. 68) and his son John
de Melsonby had succeeded by 1347–9. (fn. 69) In 1381
William de Morton and Katharine his wife conveyed
their right in the reversion of half the manor of
Kneeton, which Maud de Melsonby held for life,
to Sir Robert de Layton, kt. (fn. 70) By 1428 Thomas
Grandorge and others had succeeded the Melsonbys. (fn. 71)
Possibly a daughter of Thomas
may have married one of the
Franks, (fn. 72) but, however this
may be, William Frank (fn. 73) died
in 1466–7 seised of the whole
5 carucates (fn. 74) of which Kneeton was composed, leaving a
son and heir Thomas. (fn. 75) In
1496–7 Margaret Countess of
Richmond is said to have given
all her lands in Kneeton and
Middleton to Thomas Frank
at a rent of £10. (fn. 76) Thomas
died seised of the manor in
1515, but he held it only by right of his deceased
wife Isabel, with reversion to their son Marmaduke. (fn. 77)
Marmaduke was succeeded by a son Leonard and he
by a son Henry. (fn. 78) In 1584 Henry conveyed the
manor to Roger Gower and Charles Johnson. (fn. 79) Henry
was attainted, and Queen Elizabeth granted this manor
in fee in 1585 to Anthony Collins and Lawrence
Woodnett (fn. 80) ; they were possibly only fishing grantees,
for in 1588 Roger Gower and Charles Johnson
reconveyed the manor to Henry Frank, (fn. 81) who died
seised in January 1592–3. His eldest son Marmaduke died in his lifetime, and Henry was succeeded
by his son George, (fn. 82) on whose marriage the manor
had already been settled. George died in 1607,
leaving a son and heir Marmaduke. (fn. 83) Marmaduke
took the Royalist side in the Civil War and Kneeton
was sequestered, but finally compounded for. His
daughters and heirs in 1655 were Elizabeth wife of
Nicholas Salkeld and Prisca her sister. (fn. 84) Perhaps
Prisca was the Priscilla who with Francis Peacock her
husband in 1695–6 conveyed half the manor to
Marmaduke Hartley. (fn. 85) At the same date William
Irwin and Dorothy his wife (fn. 86) conveyed half the
manor to Marmaduke Hartley and his heirs, (fn. 87) who
in 1699–1700 obtained a conveyance of the 'manor'
(perhaps only half) from Dorothy wife of William
Irwin and Dorothy wife of Christopher Shaw. (fn. 88) The
Hartleys, to whom there are many tablets in Middleton
Tyas Church, were still living at Middleton Lodge
in 1880. (fn. 89) It is now the residence of Mr. Arthur
Francis Pease, D.L., J.P. In 1801 Leonard William
Hartley conveyed the manor to John Hunter. (fn. 90) Sir
Ralph Milbanke and Elizabeth his wife joined in a
settlement of 'the manors of Moulton and Kneeton'
in 1765. (fn. 91) Their granddaughter and heiress married
Lord Byron the poet, and the owner's mother, Mrs.
Eyre, was only sister of the present Lord Byron. (fn. 92)
Mr. Colin Douglas Eyre was succeeded in 1910 by
Mr. Ralph Eyre.
The second fee in Kneeton was held in 1286–7
by Roger Miniot, who had 3 carucates in demesne,
while the remaining carucate and oxgang were held
by under-tenants. (fn. 93) In 1285 he obtained a grant of
free warren in his demesne lands, and this was
allowed to him in 1289. (fn. 94) In 1302–3 he was said
to hold one-third of a knight's fee in Kneeton and
Middleton, (fn. 95) but he is not again mentioned. Possibly
at his death his demesnes may have come into the
hands of his chief under-tenant, Henry de Middleton, (fn. 96)
or his successors, for in 1347–9 the heir of William
de Middleton and John Melsonby were said to hold
the third part of a knight's fee here that had once
been held by Roger Miniot. (fn. 97) In 1428 this third
of a fee was held by Alice widow of William
Middleton, Robert Middleton, Thomas Grandorge
and others. (fn. 98)
MOULTON (Molton, xi cent.; Multona, xii cent.;
Mowlton, xvi–xvii cent.) was held by the count in
demesne in 1086. (fn. 99) It afterwards followed the same
descent as the manor of Arkengarthdale (fn. 100) (q.v.)
until that came to the Crown in 1483, and in 1628,
when Arkengarthdale was sold with Middleham to
the citizens of London, a rent from the farm of
the manor of Moulton was included in the conveyance. (fn. 101)
The Dowager Duchess of Bedford, by right of
her dower of the Richmond lands, held a court
here in 1441. (fn. 102)
In 1278 a grant was ratified by which the earl
gave the capital messuage of Moulton and its demesne
lands with other lands to the value of £25 yearly to
the abbey of Egglestone, to support six chaplains in
Richmond Castle (fn. 103) ; but according to an extent of
the earl's possessions in 1285 he had a capital
messuage and water-mill here, and the Abbot of
Egglestone, the Knights Templars, Simon de Moulton (fn. 104)
and Alexander the Smith held under him as free
tenants. (fn. 105) His free warren is mentioned in 1310. (fn. 106)
Christopher Rokeby subsequently had the Hospitallers' lands, and in February 1580–1 granted them
to Sir George Bowes (fn. 107) of South Cowton. (fn. 108)
Roger Radcliffe of Mulgrave had the 'manor' in
1585; his son and heir Francis (fn. 109) died seised in
1591–2, leaving a son and heir Roger. (fn. 110) In 1601
Ralph Radcliffe and William Radcliffe conveyed
tenements in Moulton to Christopher Smithson and
John Boulton. (fn. 111) The other part of the Templars'
lands also came to the Smithsons. Anthony Bulmer
died seised of a quarter of the manor of Moultoncum-Gatherley in 1584, leaving a son and heir
Bertram, (fn. 112) who in 1609–10 conveyed the manor of
Gatherley with Moulton to Christopher Smithson. (fn. 113)
In 1664 a warrant was issued for a discharge to
George Smithson of Moulton of £10 16s. 8d., the
fee-farm rents of Moulton and of other lands held
by him. (fn. 114) In 1765 and 1821 (fn. 115) the manor of
Moulton was in the possession of the Milbankes.
Its later descent is obscure, but it probably now
belongs to the Eyres.
Church
The church of ST. MICHAEL has
a chancel 30 ft. by 16 ft. with a north
vestry, nave 62 ft. long and tapering
from 16 ft. 3 in. to 14 ft. 3 in. in width, north
aisle 7 ft. 6 in. wide, south aisle from 8 ft. to 9 ft.
wide, a south porch and a western tower 11 ft. 6 in.
square, all interior measurements.
The irregularity of the plan is very marked, and
the evidence which has survived modern repairs
points to a very interesting process of development.
The north arcade of the nave dates from c. 1140,
and at that time the nave must have been of the
abnormal proportion of 60 ft. by 13 ft. That this
was not the earliest condition of the building is
suggested by the north-east quoin of the nave, which
is probably that of an aisleless nave of the beginning
of the 12th century. The normal length of such a
nave, given its width of 13 ft., would be about 30 ft.,
and it is probable that such a one existed here till the
addition of a north aisle in 1140, when its length was
exactly doubled, bringing it to the usual length of a
Romanesque nave of the larger parochial size. That
it was not also widened at this time is proved by the
fact that the western tower, added in the 13th century, is set centrally with the original narrow nave.
In the 13th century the chancel was rebuilt, being
as usual widened, and owing to the narrowness of
the nave its south wall was built well outside the line
of the south wall of the nave. There was probably
a south aisle to the nave at the time, but no evidence
of it remains. The north aisle walls also seem to
have been rebuilt in the 13th century, and in the
14th the present south arcade of the nave was set
out to the south of the line of the original south
wall abutting at one end against the south wall of
the chancel and at the other against that of the
tower, the width of the nave being thus increased
by 3 ft. at the east and 15 in. at the west. The
south wall of the aisle is parallel neither with the
old line of the nave nor with the 14th-century arcade,
and may be in part earlier than the latter.
Plan of Middleton Tyas Church
In modern times (1868) the chancel was practically
rebuilt and lengthened and a north vestry added,
the chancel arch heightened and a south porch built
to the nave; much of the window tracery is also
new.
All the chancel windows but that at the southwest are modern lancets; the south-west window is a
13th-century lancet, its lower part cut off by a
transom and forming a rebated low-side window.
Close to it on the east is a small blocked 13th-century
doorway, and the internal jamb of the window next
to it is also old and probably of the same date. The
chancel arch has jambs, renewed in parts, with
attached shafts and simply moulded capitals and bases;
the arch is of two chamfered orders. The nave has a
north arcade of six bays with semicircular arches of
two square orders, with chamfered labels towards the
nave. The central column is octagonal and the rest
are circular, with half-round responds at east and west,
the former of much less diameter than the latter.
All have scalloped capitals with slight differences in
detail, the abaci being square with a chamfer beneath,
and the bases have triangular spurs, only three of
them being old. In the east respond, about 5 ft. 6 in.
above the floor, is a stone shelf set askew towards the
south; it was probably for an image.
The south arcade is of four bays with pointed
arches of two chamfered orders. In the responds the
inner orders are carried on moulded corbels and the
outer orders die into the walls. The columns are
octagonal, the eastern one having a moulded bellcapital carved with naturalistic leaves, while the
others have small bells, and a greater number of
moulded members. The base of the eastern column
is rather more carefully treated than the others, and,
as the Lady altar was probably at the east end of the
south aisle, the more careful ornament of this column
may be due to its position.
The north aisle has an east window of two trefoiled
lights with a quatrefoiled circle in the head, of late
13th-century style and apparently ancient; in the
north wall are three two-light windows, of which only
the easternmost is old. It has a pair of lancets with
their heads in one stone, and a square lintel, the
others having similar lancets with a trefoiled piercing
over, under a two-centred arch. Further west is the
north doorway, of two continuous chamfered orders,
apparently 13th-century work, as is a small lancet
near it on the west. There is no west window to
this aisle.
The east window of the south aisle is of a most
unusual form, being quadrant shaped, divided into
three lights by vertical mullions; it has no cusping,
and seems intended to resist the thrust of the chancel
arch. The three south windows are modern, of two
lights, and the south doorway is 14th-century work
with small shafts in the jambs, under a modern porch.
A small piscina occupies the usual position at the east
end of the south wall; it has a half-round basin and
trefoiled head; to the west of it is a 14th century
tomb recess, 7 ft. 4 in. wide, spanned by a trefoiled
arch in a crocketed gabled head, the greater part of
which has been replaced in plain stonework. In the
recess is a beautifully carved coffin lid with a crosshead of eight interlaced trefoils, the surface and the
edges of the stone being richly carved with natural
foliage. Its date must be c. 1300. The west window
of the aisle is modern and like those in the south wall.
The tower is of four stages, each with chamfered offsets; it opens to the nave by a plastered arch of
doubtful date, and the west window of the ground
stage is modern. On the south side of this stage is a
small rectangular light, which is old, and in the
second stage are small lancet windows on the west and
south. The third stage is lighted on the north by a
small rectangular window, and the fourth (or bell
chamber) has on the north, west and south a pair of
lancets divided by a shaft; the shafts are modern.
The east wall shows signs of having once had a similar
window. The tower is finished by a modern moulded
parapet, above which rises an octagonal leaded spire
put up in 1868. In the angle of the tower with the
south aisle is a large square block of masonry reaching
up to about half the height of the second stage; it
seems to be nothing but a buttress.
The octagonal font is modern, of 13th-century
style. The pulpit, seats, &c., date from 1868, and
the oak chancel screen, which is of good design, is of
more recent date.
Besides the coffin lid already mentioned there is
another coped stone now standing beside the north
doorway. It has a roll edge in the form of a Latin
cross, and on the right side a shield with a chief and
two gimel bars. There are also the arm of an early
cross-head and other fragments. In the churchyard
lies a 15th-century slab with the indents of two brass
figures with scrolls issuing from their shoulders and a
space for an inscription below. Another stone
inscription marks the grave of an inhabitant who died
in 1783 at the age of 103.
In the chancel is a memorial to a forgotten worthy,
the Rev. John Mawer, who died in 1763, the master
of twenty-two languages. Frederick Prince of Wales
intended to send him to christianize Abyssinia, but
died before doing so, 'to the great mortification of
this excellent person, whose merits meeting with no
reward in this world will, it's to be hoped, receive it
in the next, from that Being which Justice only can
influence.'
There are three bells in the tower; the second
bears in beautiful Gothic capitals of the 14th century
'+ Consono quanto sono Michaeli cantica dono.
Hinc Michi: de celis fluxit nomen Michaelis.' Over
the initial cross is a dragon. The treble bears an
inscription set backwards and wrongly divided up,
but here given in its correct form:—
armigeri laudes resono de kneton ad auras
cum voce proclamo mistica sacra dei. 1662,
with a shield which seems to bear a pale; the tenor
has the inscription 'God savee (sic) his church 1665.'
The plate consists of a cup and large banded paten,
together with a small modern plated paten and flagon.
The registers begin in 1539.
A curious relic of the 18th century still preserved
in the church is an old wooden pitch pipe, which was
used to set the note for chanting and singing hymns.
Advowson
The church of Middleton was
given by Ughtred son of Ulf to the
abbey of St. Mary at York, and was
confirmed to the abbey by Henry II (fn. 116) and Count
Stephen of Britanny. (fn. 117) After the Dissolution the
advowson was retained by the Crown until 1860, (fn. 118)
when it was transferred to the Bishops of Ripon, (fn. 119)
now patrons. The vicarage is mentioned in 1292. (fn. 120)
The rectory was appropriated to the abbey, (fn. 121) and
the church dowered with 1 carucate of land. (fn. 122) The
vicar now divides the tithes with the lay rector and
keeps the south side of the chancel in repair. (fn. 123)
The chantry in the parish church mentioned in
1547 had for its purpose the performance of divine
service and the assistance of the curate in administering
sacraments, there being 200 'houseling people' in
the parish. (fn. 124) It was granted in 1549–50 to William
Winlow and others. (fn. 125) In 1543 Thomas Smithson
of Cowton Grange bequeathed 8d. to the rood light
in this church. (fn. 126) Adam de Kneeton some time in
the late 12th or early 13th century gave tenements
to the parish church, and in return the Abbot of
St. Mary's, York, granted him, with the consent
of the parsons of the said church, who celebrated
divine offices on the fourth and sixth days of the
week in the chapel of St. James of Kneeton,
a chaplain in the said chapel. (fn. 127) The invocation
of the chapel seems to have been changed, for in
1585, on the attainder of Henry Frank, Magdalen
Chapel at Kneeton was granted with the manor to
Anthony Collins and Lawrence Woodnett. (fn. 128) No
further mention has been found, but it is generally
supposed that there was a domestic chapel attached
to Kneeton Hall and that its foundations may be
traced. (fn. 129) In 1586 a chapel in the village street of
Moulton was granted by the Crown to John Awbrey
and John Radcliffe. (fn. 130) This 'small dilapidated edifice'
is now inhabited by the village carpenter. (fn. 131) There
is a chapel of ease there built by the late W. Ward
and the property of Sir Jonathan E. Backhouse, bart.
David Whitford, the 'soldier and scholar,' (fn. 132)
obtained dispensation in 1674 to hold the vicarage
of Middleton Tyas with the vicarage of Manfield. (fn. 133)
Charities
The Poor's Folk Close, the origin
of which is unknown, contains about
3 a. and is let in allotments producing
£6 a year, which in 1906 was distributed to twelve
poor people, together with a sum of 30s. a year,
under the name of Thomas's Dole, being the interest
on £30 lent on personal security, of which £20 is
understood, from an entry in the parish register, to
be the gift of John Shaw, who died in 1636.
Township of Moulton.—It appears from the parish
register that John Allen, who died in 1646, gave out
of his land at Gatherley 16s. yearly for ever to the
poor of Middleton parish. The annuity is paid by
Miss Barningham of Gatherley Castle and distributed
to poor widows.