Sheriff-Button.

(Hotun-Domesday. Shirhuton-Leland. Sherry-hutton-Camden. Sheriff-Hutton.)

HERIFF-HUTTON from houe, a tumulus, of which there are several adjoining the church, or hutte, a cottage; and ton, a town, houe-town or Hut-town. The term Sheriff was prefixed in consequence of its owner, Bertram de Bulmer, the founder of the castle, being appointed Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1154, an office which he long held, and with much distinction.

At the time of the Norman Survey, William Malet had seven carucates of land which he bought of Sprot in Hoton, for ten marks of silver. Nigel Fossard held the land of Turulf and Turchil, and Turstan, in Hotune, consisting of three manors of four carucates, unjustly, which he gave up into the hands of King William. In Hottune, Sprot had seven carucates. Gulbert, a vassal of Hugh's, had there one plough, and eleven villeins with two ploughs. Ligulf held the manor of Corlebrog, (Cornbrough,) where he had nine carucates of land to be taxed, and there might be six ploughs, Nigel then had them of the Earl (Morton.) Also one villein with one plough, and six acres of meadow. The whole one mile long and five quarentens broad. In the time of King Edward, (the Confessor,) worth 20s. then 2s.

In later days the town consisted of sixteen carucates, fourteen of which were held by the Lords Nevil of Peter de Malolacu, who held them of the king in capite.

Cornbrough contained seven carucates of land, whereof four were held by Ralph Nevil, who held them of Peter de Malolacu, and he of the king in capite. Robert Hacket held under the same tenure, one carucate of Marmaduke Thwing, and the other of the said Ralph. And the prior of Marton

held three and a half carucates, with a capital messuage and six tofts, being confirmed to them by Peter de Malolacu.

Cornbrough appears to have been a country house of the priors of Marton.

West Lilling was held under the same tenure by John de Farlington, and Welleburne, (Welburn,) Terrintone, (Terrington,) belonged to the soke of Sheriff-Hutton.

Farlington contained three carucates and one oxgang of land held by John de Farlington of Ralph de Nevil, and he of Peter de Malolacu, and he of the king in capite. The church was endowed with two oxgangs of land, and was given to the Priory of Marton with Sheriff-Hutton, and the prior and convent were bound to provide a priest, to celebrate in this chapel at their own cost.

After the Norman Conquest, the earliest account we have of the place is, that a castle was built here among the woods by Bertram de Bulmer, in the reign of King Stephen A.D. 1140, and in the civil wars between that prince and the Empress Maud, was seized for the king by Alan, Earl of Brittany and Richmond. It was afterwards purchased by Bertram, a descendant of the founder, who gave it in marriage with his only daughter Emma, to Geoffrey de Nevil. Ralph de Nevil, first Earl of Westmoreland, rebuilt, enlarged, and strongly fortified this castle.

It remained in the possession of this noble family until the death of Richard Nevil, Earl of Warwick, who was slain at the battle of Barnet, after which his lands were seized by Edward IV., and this castle and manor were granted (with the confirmation of an act of parliament) to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the king's brother, who had marrïed Ann, the daughter of Warwick. Richard, after the death of Edward IV. arrested Anthony Woodville, Earl of Rivers, (who was conducting Edward, the eldest son of the late king from Ludlow in Wales, to London,) and sent him prisoner to Sheriff-Hutton Castle, but he was afterwards removed to Pontefract Castle, and there beheaded along with Lord Grey.

After Richard had accomplished his cruel purpose by murdering the two young princes (Edward V. and his brother,) he imprisoned in this castle, Edward Plantagenet, Earl of War