ELTON
Eligtune (c. 1180) Elleton (c. 1200).
The compact parish of Elton, consisting of a single
township, lies to the west of Stockton; it has Long
Newton to the south and west, Redmarshall and
Norton to the North. The southern boundary is
formed by Coatham Beck, flowing east to the Tees;
beside it is the lowest land in the parish, about 50 ft.
above sea level, but the surface gradually rises towards
the north-west till 170 feet is attained at the junction
with Redmarshall. The area is 1,444 acres.
The principal road is that going west from Stockton
to Darlington. On it are situated the few houses of the
village with the church and inn. The hall and Spring
House lie to the south, Viewley Hill to the west,
Sandy Leas nearer the centre, and Elton Moor in the
north. There are several plantations.
The soil is clay. The parish contained 345 acres of
arable, 906 of permanent grass, and 144 of woods and
plantations. (fn. 1) Wheat and oats are grown. Stone
quarries were formerly worked.
The history of Elton has been without much
notable incident. In the story of St. Godric, a leprous
woman from 'Hailtune' near Darlington is said to
have been cured at his intercession; Norman the
priest of the vill took her to the hospital at 'Badela'
and afterwards showed her, cured, to his parishioners. (fn. 2)
To the Northern Rising of 1569 the parish contributed four men, of whom one was executed. (fn. 3)
The Protestation of 1641 was signed here. (fn. 4)
MANOR
Bishop Aldhun (990–1018) gave
ELTON among other lands with his
daughter Ecgfrida to Uchtred son of the
Earl of Northumbria. It was restored by her to the
bishopric when she became a nun. (fn. 5) After the Conquest
Elton is found among the possessions of the Brus
family, apparently held of Hartness. (fn. 6) On the forfeiture of Robert de Brus in 1306 the overlordship
must have been granted to Robert de Clifford as an
appurtenance of the manor of Hart (q.v.). (fn. 7) Elton is
subsequently said to be held of the Clifford family. (fn. 8)
About 1184 Robert de Brus confirmed Elton to
William son of Silvester de Humez, stating that his
father had granted it to Peter Werenge, ancestor of
the said Silvester; it was to be held by the service of
a fourth part of a knight's fee. (fn. 9) The wardship was
given to Peter de Humez till William should become
a knight; if he should die without issue the land was
to go to Robert de Humez and Peter de Humez. (fn. 10)
William de Humez was in possession of the advowson
in the time of Bishop Philip de Poitou (1197–1208). (fn. 11)
His heir is not known. Sir Henry de Ewe from
Elton is included in the list of the bishop's knights
in 1264. (fn. 12) Before 1284 Robert, son and heir of Sir
Robert Gower of Faceby (Yorks), released to his
father all claim on land which Sir Robert had by
inheritance or purchase in the vill of Elton. (fn. 13) The
younger Robert and his wife Christiana had a grant
from John Tylliol of the county of Cumberland of
a capital messuage with eight tofts and eight oxgangs
in Elton, to be held of Robert de Brus as chief lord of
the fee. (fn. 14) An estate in Elton subsequently descended
in the Gower family for nearly three centuries. Sir
Robert Gower the younger
was dead in 1315, when there
was a dispute between Alan
the Chaplain and Adam the
reeve of Elton concerning the
payment for his obit. (fn. 15) He had
sons John and Laurence, (fn. 16) who
are not, however, mentioned
in connection with Elton. It
seems, however, to have
followed the descent of Faceby,
which in 1341 was held by
William Gower, tenant of
Elton in 1344. (fn. 17) He died
before November 1346 when
the advowson was in the king's hands owing to
the minority of his heir. (fn. 18) Richard Gower of
Marton in 1364 released to Gilbert de Wauton,
Christiana his wife, and Elizabeth her sister, all
his right in the manors of Elton and Faceby
(Yorks). Elton did not, however, subsequently
descend with Faceby. (fn. 19) In 1378 Thomas Chancellor
as guardian of Thomas son of William Gower presented to the church, and it was found that Joan
widow of Sir William Gower had last presented. (fn. 20)
Thomas Gower of Elton appears to have come of
age by 1382. (fn. 21) He was apparently succeeded by
Laurence Gower, perhaps his nephew, who died seised
of half the manor. Laurence was the son of Laurence
the son of William the son of John Gower of Elton
and Agnes his wife. (fn. 22)
Gower. Azure a cheveron between three talbots argent.
He had two sons Thomas and Edward. The
former left a son and heir Ralph, who was dead in
1546, when it was found that his heir was Edward's
grandson, Laurence Tregos alias Thorowgood or
Strodar, son of Anne the daughter of Edward. The
inheritance comprised a moiety of the manor of Elton,
with 12 messuages and 460 acres of land and lands
in Little Stainton. (fn. 23) In 1552 Richard Stoughton
and Margaret his wife conveyed to Henry Wethereld
5 messuages and 340 acres of land in Elton and Little
Stainton. (fn. 24) Later conveyances must have put Wethereld in possession of the whole estate of the Gowers,
of which he died seised in 1559. (fn. 25) His son and heir
was Roger, (fn. 26) who appears to have sold this part of
the manor to Thomas Errington. In 1595 Thomas
Errington died in possession, leaving a son and heir
John, then nine years old. (fn. 27)
John Errington, being a recusant, took sides with
the king in the Civil War, and was a colonel. His
son, John Errington the
younger, also served with the
royal forces, and in 1644 their
estates were sequestered by the
Parliament. (fn. 28) A fifth was
allowed to Mary, wife of the
elder John. (fn. 29) Finally the estates
were confiscated under the
third act of 1652, (fn. 30) and sold. (fn. 31)
They were recovered at the
Restoration, and in 1664 John
Errington and Anne his wife,
with his son John, conveyed the
manor to Henry Lambton. (fn. 32)
John Errington was probably
unable to retrieve his losses occasioned by the war, and
in 1682 he sold his lands to Sir Robert Shafto, whose
descendant John Shafto of Whitworth (q.v.) made a
settlement in 1798. (fn. 33) He sold it before 1802, the date
of his death, to Thomas Wade. (fn. 34) It descended to his
son, the Rev. Albany Wade, rector of Elton from 1840
to 1855, and by his trustees was sold to Mr. John
Stapylton Sutton, who afterwards sold his estate here
to the late Thomas Appleby of Hartlepool. Thomas
Appleby died in 1909, and was succeeded by his son
Mr. John Stanley Appleby, who between 1914 and
1926 sold all his lands except one farm mostly to the
tenants. The New Hall which he built and two
farms were purchased about 1924 by Mr. Robert
Ropner (second son of the late Sir Robert Ropner,
Bt.), who resides at the hall. (fn. 35)
Errington. Argent two bars with three scallops in the chief all azure.
That part of the manor which did not belong to
the Gowers was probably held by the Bowes family
as early as 1435, when they had two-thirds of the
advowson. (fn. 36) How they obtained it is unknown, and
the earliest record of its possession is some feoffments
of the 'manor' in 1469 by William Bowes of Dalden, (fn. 37)
whose widow had lands assigned her in this place in
1474. (fn. 38) There was another feoffment of 'the manor and
vill' of Elton by Ralph Bowes in 1497. (fn. 39) Again, it was
included in a feoffment made in 1512, (fn. 40) and in 1516
the Bowes' manor of Elton was said to be held of
Henry Clifford. (fn. 41) Dorothy, a daughter and coheir of
George Bowes, married Cuthbert Collingwood, (fn. 42) and
in 1574 they sold 'the manor'
of Elton to Thomas Serjeantson and John, Thomas, and
Christopher Jefferson. (fn. 43) An
estate, amounting to 10½
oxgangs, with part of the
advowson, probably part of the
Bowes' property, was bought
by Robert Conyers from John
Mitforth senior and John
Mitforth junior. (fn. 44)
Bowes. Ermine three bent bows palewise gules.
Robert Jefferson's lands at
Elton are mentioned in
1651. (fn. 45) In 1664 a settlement was made by Margaret Jefferson, widow, and
John Jefferson, (fn. 46) and in June 1703 Elizabeth widow
of Sir John Jefferson and her son John sold two
messuages, lands and the advowson of the church to
John Jefferson, yeoman, of Norton. (fn. 47) Anne, the
eventual heiress of John Jefferson, in 1760 married
Thomas Hogg of Norton, from whom is descended
Mr. John Ewer Jefferson Hogg of Norton, sheriff of
the county in 1903. (fn. 48)
Another part of the Jefferson estate appears to have
descended, by the marriage of Thomas Sutton with
Rachel Jefferson in 1692, to their grandson George
Sutton, who died in 1817, and from him, through his
cousin Elizabeth Sleigh, who married John Hutchinson, to her son George, who took the name of Sutton. (fn. 49)
He was father of Mr. John Stapylton Sutton, mentioned above.
In 1311 it was found that 4 oxgangs in Elton had
been granted by Maud, kinswoman of Robert de Brus,
to Guisborough Priory, and that the gift had been
confirmed by Robert. (fn. 50) These lands were described
as 'the Manor of Elton' in 1344. (fn. 51)
The lands formerly held by Guisborough Priory
were in 1544 granted by the Crown to Sir Thomas
Wharton Lord Wharton. (fn. 52) In 1612 Philip Lord
Wharton and Dorothy his wife had land in Elton
among other places. (fn. 53) John Lord Lumley (1609)
held land here of the king. (fn. 54)
The freeholders in 1684 were Sir Robert Shafto,
John Jefferson, Thomas Dodd of Dalton, and John
Hendry of Norton. (fn. 55)
CHURCH
The church (fn. 56) of ST. JOHN consists
of a chancel 19 ft. by 15 ft., with vestry on
the north side, nave 33 ft. 3 in. by 18 ft.,
and south porch 4 ft. 6 in. square, all these measurements being internal. There is also a bellcote over
the west gable containing two bells.
The structure dates from the 12th century, but was
almost entirely rebuilt in 1841. The plan, however,
remains unchanged, and some ancient features have
been retained internally. The external appearance of
the building is entirely modern, the roofs being of slate
with overhanging eaves, the nave windows are small
lancets, (fn. 57) and the east window is of two trefoiled lights
with a circle in the head.
The chancel arch is an interesting example of 12th-century work, forming a stone screen of three openings,
all with semicircular moulded arches, the middle one,
or chancel arch proper, being 6 ft. 10 in in width.
The arches are divided by rectangular piers with
attached shafts facing the nave, standing on stone
walls 2 ft. 8 in. high on either side of the middle
opening. The shafts have moulded bases and cushion
capitals with chamfered imposts, the outer jambs of
the side openings, which are only 3 ft. in width, being
square with imposts only. The arches spring at a
height of 8 ft. 9 in., and the middle one is ornamented
with plain beak-heads. The whole of the stonework
is original.
The doorway to the vestry is also of late 12th-century date, but is not in its original position. (fn. 58) It
has a semicircular arch of a single order, with plain
chamfered head and jambs and moulded label. The
roof of the chancel is lower than that of the nave, but
the floors are on the same level.
The original 12th-century south doorway has been
rebuilt inside the church, and has a semicircular arch
with cheveron moulding springing from chamfered
imposts. Only the arch itself is old, the jambs being
plastered, and a modern pointed arch, which alone
shows to the porch, has been introduced below.
On the south side of the chancel is the cross-legged
effigy of a man in chain armour with feet resting on
a talbot. It has not been identified, but in 1714 was
referred to as 'Gower's statue.' (fn. 59) The monument
possibly commemorates Robert Gower the younger,
who died about 1315, for whom there was an obit in
the church.
The fittings erected in 1841 were square, high,
painted deal pews, with a pulpit of similar type under
the southern opening of the screen, and a reading
desk below the north opening. These were removed
in 1874 and pitch pine seating substituted. The
font and the pulpit (which is of wrought iron) also
dates from 1874. (fn. 60)
A painted wooden rood screen was erected in 1907
by Mary Scott in memory of her sister Eleanor. It
fills the three openings of the stone screen, over which
is a rood and its accompanying figures, the whole being
a fine piece of decorative design. It has doors to the
middle opening, and the lower portion contains painted
figures of SS. Matthew, Andrew, Peter, Paul, James,
and James the Less. (fn. 61) In 1925 a heating chamber
was added on the north side of the nave by Mrs.
Morrison, daughter of the late Mr. J. Stapylton
Sutton, in memory of her parents. A painted figure
of the Virgin and Child was erected at the north-east
corner of the nave, as a memorial of the Peace of
1919.
In the floor of the chancel is a stone to Mary, wife
of Henry Doughty, rector, who died in 1683, and on
the north wall a tablet to John Sutton of Stockton,
who died in 1792. (fn. 62)
The plate consists of a silver chalice of 1570, made
at York, a plated paten, and a flagon made from a
plated cup. (fn. 63)
The registers begin in 1573.
ADVOWSON
The advowson was anciently an
appurtenance of the manor, though
it seems to have been in dispute as
early as 1185 when William de Howden paid 2
marks for licence
to cancel an agreement whereby he
quitclaimed it to
Peter de Humez;
the church was
then endowed with
an oxgang of
land. (fn. 64) Bishop
Philip (1197–
1208) appears to
have claimed it,
perhaps regarding
Elton as a dependency of Norton,
for he gave a formal
release to William
de Humez of all
right in the advowson of the chapel
(not church) of
Elton, as being
William's by hereditary right according to the verdict of the lawful men of the
vicinity. (fn. 65) In 1316 the king presented because of
his custody of the lands and heir of Robert de
Clifford, deceased. (fn. 66) The king again presented in
1346 by reason of his custody of the lands and heir
of William Gower. (fn. 67) In 1435 it was found on inquiry that out of three turns of presentation Sir
William Bowes had two and — Gower the third. (fn. 68)
The advowson of Elton church was included in the
conveyance to Henry Wethereld made in 1552 by
Richard and Margaret Stoughton. (fn. 69)
Elton Church from the South-West
A third part of the advowson was acquired, presumably from the heirs of George Bowes, by Robert
Conyers of Coatham Stob, and with land in Elton is
mentioned in his will of 1566. (fn. 70) It was forfeited
with the manor of Coatham Stob by his elder son
Ralph in 1569. (fn. 71) In January 1572–3 it was granted
to Roger Manners, (fn. 72) from whom it was probably
purchased by the Errington family. In 1667 John
Jefferson and John Errington were said to present
alternately, (fn. 73) but in 1758 it appeared that the successors of the Erringtons were entitled to two thirds,
while Miss Ann Jefferson had one. (fn. 74)
The Shafto right was sold to Wade along with the
manor, and descended to the Rev. Albany Wade, whose
representatives
about 1870 sold to
Mrs. Elizabeth
Milner. (fn. 75) The executors of this lady
have now the larger
share (two turns)
and Mr. J. E.
Jefferson Hogg of
Norton the smaller
(one turn).
The rectory was
valued at £4 6s. 8d.
in 1291, (fn. 76) but this
was reduced as in
other cases before
1318, when £2
was the value. (fn. 77) By
1535 this had risen
to £7 1s. 5½ d. (fn. 78)
An acre of land
given for the maintenance of a light was in the
tenure of John Sayer in February 1562–3 when
it was leased to Christopher Chaytor; this land
was included in a Crown sale of former church lands
in 1609. (fn. 79)
There are apparently no endowed charities in this
parish.