tiquity, writes the author of Beverlac, "but a tumulus and some earthworks in the hall close, looking towards Goodmanham, apparently the site of an ancient residence." We have frequently observed in the preceding pages, that this disputed Station has been placed by the antiquarians, at Londesborough, Goodmanham, Millington, Old Malton, &c.; and it is not improbable that its foundations are yet undiscovered; though, for ourselves, we incline to the supposition that Millington was the ancient Delgovitia. Near this town, however, are several ancient barrows, but they appear to be Danish rather than Roman monuments, and afford reason to believe that this place has been the scene of a bloody action between the Danes and Saxons, of which no account is preserved in history. Weighton, or Wighton, lay on the Roman way called Humber Street, and Mr. Wright, an excellent antiquarian, suggests that it was anciently Weg-tun, or town on the way.

Before the Conquest the manor of this place belonged to Morcar, Earl of Northumbria, but to whom King Wm. granted it we know not, for we find nothing of it till the 5th Edward II. (1312), when, it being in the hands of Pane Tibetot, the ancestor of the Earls of Worcester, he obtained of that monarch, a charter for a weekly market here on Tuesday, and an annual fair on the eve, day, and morrow of St. Mary Magdalen. In the reign of Henry VI. the manor belonged to Henry de Bromflete, who obtained a grant of a weekly market here upon Wednesday, and two fairs; one upon the festival of the Invention, and the other upon the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. He had been an eminent warrior in the time of Henry V., but in his old age he led a very pious retired life; and at his death he gave this lordship, with several others, to be sold, and the price of them to be laid out for the weal of his soul, in the endowment of chantries, and other works of charity. The chief proprietors of the soil at present are Lord Londesborough (Lord of the Manor), Thomas William Rivis, Esq., the Hon. Charles Langdale, and William Constable Maxwell, Esq.

The Town of Market Weighton is small, but busy and well built, and is situated on the road from Beverley to York, on the western side of the Wolds, 19 miles E.S.E. from York, with which it is connected by a railway. It is distant 10 miles W. from Beverley; 12 N.E. by N. of Howden; 18 N.W. by W. of Hull; and 190 miles N. by W. of London. From a hill near the town, it is said that on a clear day, the towers of York, Lincoln, and Beverley Minsters may all be seen. The Foulness rivulet crosses the eastern part of the town, and at the distance of two miles to the south, supplies the head basin of the Market Weighton Canal, which extends southward to the Humber, near Faxflcet, a distance of ten miles, crossing Walling Fen, and cut soon after the drainage and enclosure of that and the other fens and marshes in the neighbourhood, during the latter part of the last century. The Market, held every Wednesday, is well supplied, and since the opening of the railways from this town to York and Selby, the corn market has much improved. Fairs are held for cattle and sheep, May 14th; for horses, Sept. 23rd; for horses and cattle, Sept. 24th; and for sheep, Sept. 25th. The latter fair for sheep is one of the largest in the county. Here is a branch of the York Union Bank; also, a branch of the Hull Savings' Bank, established here in 1831.

Petty Sessions are held here every alternate Wednesday, in a room in the Police Station, a neat brick building, erected in 1843. The Railway Station is a commodious edifice on the north side of the town, a short distance from the head inn, the Londesborough Arms. The Selby, Tadcaster, and Market Weighton District Agricultural Association held their first annual show, in 1854, at Selby; their second at Tadcaster; and the next will be held at Market Weighton, in 1856. Lord Londesborough is the president of this society, and amongst its vice-presidents are Lords Wenlock and Muncaster, and Sir W. M. E. Milner.

The Living is a Discharged Vicarage, with the Curacy of Shipton, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter of York, rated in the King's Books at £4. 13s. 9d., and now returned at £176. nett per ann. The great tithes, and the small tithes of the new enclosures for the manor of Market Weighton and Shipton, were commuted for land in 1773, under an Enclosure Act; and other small tithes were commuted for a rent charge of £100. per annum, in 1846. Patron, the Archbishop of York; Vicar, Rev. Robt. Spofforth. The Church (All Saints or St. Peter) is situated near the centre of the town, and is a handsome Gothic edifice, with a good Norman tower at the west end. The nave has side aisles, a south porch of stone, and a clerestory, and the chancel has a north aisle. The windows of the aisles are of three lights, with perpendicular tracery; the clerestory windows are small; and the east window of the chancel was formerly circular headed, but is now pointed. The tower is embattled and pinnacled, and contains six bells. The interior is neat; an arcade of three pointed arches on each side, supported by octagonal pillars, separate the aisles from the nave; and the aisle is divided from the chancel by two pointed arches. There is an organ in the gallery, and beneath is a plain circular font. The Vicarage House is a large brick building, situated some distance from the church.

The Independents, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel here; and the National School, built in 1842, at a cost of £600., is

supported in the usual way; there are at present four pupil teachers in it. In the centre of the town is a neat Temperance Hall, erected in 1841.

At the enclosure in 1773, the Church Estate, which was appropriated for the repairs of the church from time immemorial, was mostly exchanged for about 83 acres of land; and the other portion of it consists of three houses, with gardens, &c. The poor have several rent charges and legacies, left by various donors, distributed amongst them, the chief of which is £600. left by Dorothy Barker in 1800. Wm. Bradley, commonly called the Yorkshire Giant, was born at Market Weighton, in 1792, and when 19 years of age, measured 7ft. 8in. in height, and weighed 27 stone. Professor Airey, of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, was also born here.

The Hamlet of Arras, situated 3 miles E. of Market Weighton, consists of one farm, the property of W. C. Maxwell, Esq., and in the occupation of Mr. Wm. Stephenson. Upon this farm, and at a neighbouring farm, Hessleskew, are a great many barrows. Their form is circular, and their size generally small; and in some instances, they are so slightly elevated above the surface as to be nearly indistinct. About 200 of these barrows were examined by the Rev. Edward W. Stillingfleet and B. Clarkson, Esq., in the year 1817, and in almost every tumulus they opened was found a human skeleton, some very perfect, and others in every stage of decay. The position of the bodies, except in one or two instances, was in the direction of north and south, and the skeletons invariably rested on a dry bed of chalk. great number of ornaments were also found in these barrows, such as bracelets of brass, jet ornaments, brooches, amber, and brass rings, &c., but no coins, or anything bearing the slightest resemblance to weapons or implements of a domestic nature. One tumulus contained a skeleton of a horse on one side of the interment, and that of a pig on the other; and near the horse were two very large bridle bits, one of fine brass, very neatly wrought, and the other of iron, much corroded. In the same barrow were two chariot wheels, of about three feet in diameter, and the rim two inches wide. Mr. Stillingfleet has in his possession the iron rims of two chariot wheels, one found at Arras, and the other at Hessleskew; and along with one of them were found several brass ornaments, and a chain, which appear to have been appendages to the chariot or harness. This locality was visited by the Yorkshire Antiquarian Club, in May, 1850, and three of the tumuli were examined; and in one of them was found a human skeleton, in very good preservation, laid nearly on the face. The arms were so placed beneath the body that they covered the knees, which were bent, and drawn up to the chin. The thigh bones each measured 19 inches. It is considered very

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probable that this place, which is situated on the line of the old Roman road, has been a burial ground attached to a Romanized British settlement. The Rev. George Oliver is of opinion that the ornaments found in these ancient graves are striking indications of a British settlement.

Shipton Chapelry. The area, 1,570 acres, is included with the parish; the population in 1851 was 426 persons, exclusive of 32 residents who were temporarily absent when the Census was taken. The rateable value is £1,732.; and the assessed property, £1,962. The principal landowners are Lord Londesborough, the Rev. William Blow, and Mr. Thos. Stephenson.

The Village, which is very pleasant and well built, is seated on the road to York, about 14 mile N.W. of Market Weighton. The Chapel is an ancient structure, with a square tower, in which are two bells. The inner door of the porch is Norman, and much admired. In a small gallery in the interior is a good harmonium, presented by Miss M. Lister. The living is annexed to Market Weighton. A Wesleyan Chapel was built here in 1833, and a Primitive Methodist Chapel in 1834. The School is endowed with two yearly rent charges, viz:-£5. 14s., left by John Hutchinson, in 1714; and £2. out of copyhold lands surrendered by Eliz. and John Barker, in 1742. The master instructs six free scholars from Market Weighton, and four from Shipton. Thomas Meedson gave a yearly rent charge of 10s. to provide caps for the free scholars.

S. Ireland, a celebrated voltigeur, was born in this village, and this is said to be the birth place of the renowned witch, Mother Shipton.

SANCTON. The townships of Sancton with Houghton and North Cliff are comprised in this parish. The united township of Sancton and Houghton contains 3,410 acres; and 438 inhabitants. Its rateable value is £2,628.; and the assessed property amounts to £4,972. The surface is hilly, the soil sand and chalk, and the scenery is varied and picturesque. Sancton and Houghton are two distinct manors. The principal landowners are the Hon. Charles Langdale (Lord of both Manors and lessee of the appropriate rectory, which belongs to the Archbishop of York) Mr. William Stephenson, Mr. John W. Campbell, and Mr. John Inman.

The Living is a Discharged Vicarage, rated in the King's Books at £6. 1s. 10d., and now returned at £49. per ann. Patron, the Hon. Chas. Langdale; Vicar, Rev. Andrew Keir. The great tithes were commuted in 1770, for an allotment of 295 acres. The Church (All Saints) stands on rising ground north of the village, and is a handsome edifice, consisting of a nave, chancel, and octagonal tower at the west end, in which are three bells. Each angle of this beautiful tower is guarded by a light buttress which terminates

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near the top in a crocketed pinnacle, and in either front there is a pointed window of two lights. There is a porch on the south side of the nave, and a large window of three lights, and the chancel has single lights. The church was repaired in 1828. The interior is neat. The font is octagonal. On the floor of the chancel are several memorials of the family of Langdale; one of which is to the Rt. Hon. Marmaduke Langdale, Baron of Holme-onSpalding-Moor, who died in 1661.

The Village of Sancton, which is small, is picturesquely seated in a narrow valley, about 24 miles S.E. of Market Weighton. The Manor House, a large brick building, in the occupation of Mr. William Stephenson, stands on high ground, a short distance north of the church. A small Wesleyan Chapel was built here in 1840.

Houghton adjoins Sancton on the west, and is a very scattered district. Houghton Hall is the seat of the Hon. C. Langdale, son of the 16th, and brother of the present Lord Stourton. He was born in 1787; and married, first in 1817, the daughter of the 6th Lord Clifford; and secondly in 1821, the daughter of Marmaduke Wm. Haggerstone Constable Maxwell, Esq. Mr. Langdale represented Beverley in Parliament, from 1832 to 1835, The mansion is fine, the lawn or park extensive and well wooded, the grounds are disposed with much taste and judgment, and there is a fine sheet of water, divided in the centre by a cascade, &c. In connexion with the hall is a Catholic Chapel, erected in 1829; the interior is very neat and chastely fitted up, the altar being situated in an apse at one end; and on a tribune at the other end is a good organ. There is a house for the priest, the Rev. John Glover; as well as a Catholic School, which is supported by Mr. Langdale. Another school in this place is endowed with £20. per ann., out of an estate at Skirlaugh, under the will of Marmaduke Langdale, dated 1609. A short distance from Houghton Hall, is a curious old building (now a farm house) of stone, embattled, with a flat roof. A farm house called the Manor House is now occupied by Mr. Thomas Dickinson, farmer.

North Cliff Township. - Area, 1,298 acres, of the rateable value of £771.; assessed property, £728.; population, 81 souls. Sir Wm. Worsley is Lord of the Manor, and owner of the entire township, except a few acres.

The Hamlet is small and scattered, and lies about 3 miles S. of Market Weighton, at the foot of an abrupt declivity which rises from a sandy plain. The Hall, in the village, now in the occupation of Mr. Wm. Appleton, farmer, appears to be but a portion of a very ancient mansion. Some of the walls are three feet in thickness. Two of the rooms in the interior are wainscotted with carved oak, in the style of the "olden time."

VOL. II.

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