of £1,000. The great tithes have been commuted for £508. 10s., and the vicarial for £140. The Prebendary of Riccall is the impropriator and patron, and the Rev. Alexander Crigan is the present Vicar. The Church is a fine ancient structure, composed of the usual parts of a village church. The nave has a clerestory, the whole edifice is embattled and pinnacled, and the tower, which is low and massive, contains three bells. It is in the Early Norman style, with portions of the Early and later English. The entrance doorway is semicircular, of three mouldings, resting on two cylindrical columns and a pier. The outer moulding has a series of birds' heads; and the second and third mouldings, representations of St. Michael overcoming Satan, and some curious and ludicrous subjects. On one of the capitals is an uncouth sculpture of SS. Peter and Paul. The chancel window is pointed and of five lights, but is nearly blocked up. The interior of the church is neat, and contains several handsome monuments to the Wormley, Richardson, Masterman, Eglin, and Jackson families. The chancel contains a neat piscina, and there is a small organ on a gallery at the west end of the nave. The Vicarage House is a good commodious residence. In the parlour window is the rebus of Thos. Elcocke, Vicar in 1696, a cock perched on the letter L; and in the garden is a spring called the Lady Well, having been, probably, in Catholic times, in some way connected with devotion to the Blessed Virgin, in whose honour the church is dedicated. The Village is large and well built, and pleasingly situated on the banks of the Ouse, about 3 miles N. of Selby, and near it is a good Staith for landing coal, sand, &c., and at which quantities of corn, potatoes, &c., are shipped. In the village is a Wesleyan Chapel; the School, established by subscription in 1791, is endowed with about £6. per annum, and there is a house and garden for the teacher. The poor parishioners have several benefactions. Riccall Hall, the seat of the Richardson family, is a neat red brick mansion, with the family arms sculptured over the door of entrance. On the bank of the Ouse are the remains of La Wel Hall (now a farm house called Wheel Hall), an ancient episcopal palace belonging to the See of Durham. The foundations of the palace may still be traced, and are very extensive, and the whole was surrounded by three broad moats, the river being its western boundary. The Prebendal Manor House is a large red brick building, apparently erected in the latter end of the reign of James I., with parts of a considerably earlier date. It had two round towers, one of which, three stories in height, still remains, and contains a winding staircase. Some of the walls of this house are three feet in thickness, there are some strong pointed arches in the interior, and the whole building is surrounded by a moat. It is now a farm house, in the occupation of Mr. Richard Moon. Riccall Grange is held by Mr. William Crompton. SKIPWITH.-The townships of Skipwith and North Duffield are comprised in this parish. The area of the former is 2,569 acres; and its population numbers 283 persons. There are about 800 acres of common in the township, and the rateable value is £1,653. The entire parish contains 5,789 acres, and the assessed property amounts to £6,104. The parish is situated near the rivers Ouse and Derwent. The principal landowners in Skipwith township are John Arthur Parker Toulson, Esq. (Lord of the Manor), and Lord Wenlock. On Skipwith common are many conspicuous tumuli, which are by popular tradition connected with the defeat of the Norwegian army, which, as we have seen above, landed at Riccall, in 1066. Here the tumuli are called Danes' Hills. Some are of opinion that here was located an early British settlement, on the outskirts of the Forest of Galtres. The Benefice is a Discharged Vicarage, rated at £10. 11s. 3d., and now worth £300. per ann. Patron, the Crown; Vicar, Rev. Alexander Crigan. The tithes, &c., were commuted in 1809. The Church (St. Helen) is a fine ancient stone structure, consisting of a nave, with aisles, clerestory, and porch, a spacious chancel, and a large massy tower, embattled and pinnacled, which contains three bells. The church wall is almost entirely built of sepulchral stones, many of which exhibit crosses flory and the remains of incriptions. Three pointed arches divide the aisles from the nave; between the nave and chancel is a neat screen of open work, in the chancel is a piscina, and some old oak seats still remain. The font is ancient, large, and circular; and there are memorials to the Parker and Toulson families. The Village is neat and pleasant, and stands about 5 miles N.N.E. of Selby, on the York and Howden road. On the moor are several tumuli, and near the church is the moated site of an ancient mansion. The School was founded and endowed by Dorothy Wilson, in 1717, with £20. per annum. (Sec vol. i., page 564.) The master has also a house and garden, and £14. per annum, the dividends of £451. 2s. 8d., three per cent consolidated bank annuities, purchased with £400. (less the legacy duty) left by the Rev. Joseph Nelson, in 1817; and he is required to teach free 14 children from each township. The poor have some small rent charges. Skipwith Hall, the seat of J. A. P. Toulson, Esq., is a large brick mansion, three stories in height, built about 250 years ago, by the Toulson family. It stands a little east of the church. A farm called the Charity Farm is in the occupation of Mr. John Long. Peel Hall is the name of a farm house occupied by Mr. Thos. Hessel; and the Grange is a small farm house. North Duffield Township.-Area, 3,220 acres; population, 422 persons; rateable value, £3,491. The chief proprietors of the soil are Rt. Scholfield, Esq. (Lord of the Manor), Rev. J. D. Jefferson, and the Rev. Roxby Roxby. At the enclosure 177A. 3R. 21P. of land were allotted to the Vicar in lieu of tithes, and 340 acres to the impropriator. The Village is scattered, and stands on the road from Selby to Market Weighton, about 5 miles N.E. of Selby, and 14 S.W. of Skipwith. A large fair for cattle, &c., is held annually, on the village green, on the 4th of May. A Primitive Methodist Chapel was built here in 1821, and a Wesleyan Chapel in 1833. Duffield Castle stood on the banks of the Derwent, and the mound and ditches of it may still be traced. It was the seat of Lord Hussey, who was executed for joining his neighbour, Robert Aske, of Aughton, in the insurrection called the Pilgrimage of Grace, in the reign of Henry VIII. (See vol. i., p. 189); but at what period it was destroyed is not known. Blackwood House and Derwent Cottage are the names given to two farm houses, the former in the occupation of Mr. Robert Sayles, aud the latter of Mr. Samuel Chantry. STILLING FLEET.-This parish lies on the east bank of the river Ouse, and includes the townships of Stillingfleet with Moreby and Kelfield. Acaster Selby, in the Ainsty Wapentake, on the opposite side of the river, was formerly a township to Stillingfleet, but is now an independent Ecclesiastical District. (See vol. i., p. 648.) Stillingfleet with Moreby township contains 2,770 acres, and 419 inhabitants; rateable value, £3,341. In the reign of Edward III. this lordship belonged to John, Lord Grey, of Rotherfield, and it was afterwards held by the Lord Evers, the last of whom was attainted for joining the rebellion called the Pilgrimage of Grace. (See vol. i., page 189.) The estate afterwards passed to the Lawsons, one of whom bequeathed it, about eighty years ago, to William Preston, Esq., from whom it descended to Hy. Preston, Esq., the present Lord of the Manor. Lord Wenlock is also a principal landowner here. The Living is a Discharged Vicarage, in the gift Dean and Chapter of York, who, as trustees of St. Mary's School, are impropriators. It is valued in the King's Books at £9. 7s. 6d., and now at £412., having been augmented, in 1737, with £200. of Queen Anne's Bounty, and £200. given by the Rev. Robt. Potter and Ralph Nixon. Vicar, Rev. Chos. Hawkins. The Church (St. Helen) is a fine edifice, comprising a nave with aisles, a chancel with north aisle, and an embattled and pinnacled tower at the west end, in which are three bells. The inner door of the south porch has a beautiful circular arched entrance, the sweep having five mouldings of single and double chevrons, leaves, and birds' heads. On the north side of the church is another but a smaller Norman doorway. The remainder of the edifice is of various styles of architecture, and the walls are partly built with sepulchral tablets, with foliated crosses, &c. The arches of the interior are pointed, and rest on octagonal columns. In the south aisle is the recumbent effigy of a crusader, in chain mail, one of the family of Moreby; and above it is a more ancient mural monument, with mutilated figures of John Acclom, of Moreby, who died in 1611, and Isabel his wife. The pave of this church was new roofed and repaired in 1828, at the joint expence of the Rev. F. Kendall and the parishioners; and the above-mentioned doorway on the south side was well repaired in 1829, at the expence of Archdeacon Markham. The Vicarage House is a large brick building. The Village is seated on both sides of a stream which runs into the Ouse, and over which is a good stone bridge of one arch, erected in 1820. It lies about 7 miles S.S. by W. of York. A small Wesleyan Chapel was built here in 1820. The National School was erected in 1853, at the cost of the Dowager Lady Wenlock, and it is supported by Lord Wenlock, Henry Preston, Esq., and the Vicar. Moreby lies about 1 mile N. of Stillingfleet. Moreby Hall, the seat of H. Preston, Esq., is a large and very elegant mansion of cut stone, erected at an immense expense by Mr. Preston, in 1827, and first occupied in 1831, when that gentleman was High Sheriff of Yorkshire. It is in the Elizabethan style, and is constructed of the beautiful and durable white freestone from the quarries at Park Springs, near Leeds. The grounds lie on the banks of the Ouse, and are very beautiful. The Moreby estate is held of the Crown, by the service of presenting a red rose to the Sheriff when demanded. Kelfield Township.-The area is 1,729 acres; population, 421 souls; and rateable value £1,350. The land is copyhold, and the chief owners of it are H. Preston, Esq. (Lord of the Manor), and Lord Wenlock. The place is noted for the luxurious growth of potatoes, rape, mustard, and flax. The Village is small but neat, and is situated 6 miles N.N.W. of Selby, and 1 mile S. of Stillingfleet. A Wesleyan Chapel was built here in 1815, and a Primitive Methodist Chapel in 1852. The School is endowed with £440. 16s. 8d., navy five per cents., purchased with £400. left by Mrs. Mary Stillingfleet, in 1802. It has also an annuity of 26s. left by the Rev. Mr. Turvey. The old Manor House, occupied by a farmer, is still nearly encompassed by a moat. The Grange, a good farm house, is the residence of Mrs. Charlotte Wormley; and the Lodge, another farm house, is in the occupation of Mr. Jonathan Dunn. Here are two extensive brick and tile manufactories; and there is a ferry at this place across the Ouse to Cawood. THORGANBY.-This parish, including West Cottingwith, comprises 3,190 acres; and the amount of assessed property is £2,771. The population of Thorganby is 170, and of Cottingwith 218 souls. The soil is partly clay and partly a sandy loam, in good cultivation; the surface is generally flat, but the scenery, which is enriched with wood, is of pleasing character. The principal landowners are the Rev. Joseph Dunnington Jefferson (Lord of the Manor), S. Brocklebank, Esq., Thos. Reaston, Esq., and Rt. Blacker, Esq. Here was the Benedictine Priory of Thickett, founded by Roger Fitz-Roger, in the reign of Richard I., and which continued to flourish till the Dissolution, when its revenues were returned at £23. 12s. 2d. The site, conventual buildings, and lands, were granted, in 1542, to John Aske, to whose family the patronage or foundership had descended from the family of Hayes. In 1822 a handsome mansion, called Thickett Priory, was erected on the site, by J. D. Jefferson, Esq., and is now the seat of his son, the Rev. J. D. Jefferson. The house is of brick with stone dressings, and contains a neat domestic chapel. In a tympanum on the top of the edifice are the arms of the possessor. Thorganby Hall is a large brick building, near the church. The Living is a Perpetual Curacy, valued at £53., and augmented with £400. of Queen Anne's Bounty, in 1799 and 1817. The patron, impropriator, and incumbent, is the Rev. Joseph D. Jefferson. The tithes were commuted for allotments at the enclosure, about the year 1810, and other tithes were commuted in 1840. The Church (St. Helen) is a small structure, having a nave, chancel, and tower. The latter appendage is of stone, and is embattled and pinnacled; and the body of the church is of brick with stone dressings, and appears to have been built late in the 17th century. The Village stands about 9 miles S.E. from York. The parish School and master's house were built by Thos. Dunnington, Esq., who in 1783 endowed it with a rent charge of 40s. per annum. It has also £10. 10s. per annum, left by Robt. Jefferson, in 1803; 40s. left by Richd. Blythe; and 40s. left by Thos. Bradford; making a total of £16. 10s. per annum. The School was rebuilt in 1820, by the late J. D. Jefferson, Esq. The poor parishioners have 23 acres of land in Cottingwith, and 7 acres in Thorganby, supposed to have been bequeathed to the parish by Lord Valentia, about 1580. They have also a rent charge of £6. per annum, left by Robert Jefferson, Esq. West Cottingwith adjoins Thorganby on the north, and forms, with that place, a long straggling village on the banks of the Derwent. Here is a ferry across the river. |