HURWORTH
Hurdewurda (xii cent.).
The parish of Hurworth lies on the north bank of
the winding Tees, and comprises the townships of
Hurworth on the west and Neasham on the east,
the former having an area of 2,438 acres and the
latter of 1,636, making 4,074 acres in all, of which
74 acres are inland water. It is bounded by
Darlington on the west, where the Skerne forms part
of the boundary, Haughton le Skerne on the north,
Dinsdale on the east, and Yorkshire on the south.
The surface is mostly over 100 ft. above the ordnance
datum, but there is a considerable expanse of lower
land in the centre, between the villages of Hurworth
and Neasham, and through it Cree Beck and another
stream flow south to the Tees. This river makes
several sharp turns through the lower lands, though
its banks usually rise steeply from the river on one
side or the other, and are in many places clad with
trees. The village of Hurworth is pleasantly situated
on one of these steeper banks. It has the Grange on
higher ground to the west, Pilmore and Rockliffe in
the river bend to the south; the Moor is in the
north. To the east the Tees turns sharply to the
south and north again, and then passes Newbus
Grange and the site of Neasham Priory. Further
to the east it passes below the village of Neasham,
behind which the surface rises to 180 ft. above the
ordnance datum. The river again bends south, passing
the Hall and then east towards the Sockburn peninsula. In the north end of the township are houses
called Low Maidendale and Hunger Hill. (fn. 1)
The old north road from Yorkshire over Croft
Bridge towards Darlington passes through the west end
of the township. The bridge was built on the site of
an older one (fn. 2) in 1673, and has seven arches, of which
two are within Durham. (fn. 3) A village called Hurworth
Place sprang up by the bridge about the time of the
making of the railway in 1829. (fn. 4) From the bridge
a road goes eastward through both the villages on to
Dinsdale, with a branch south-east to Sockburn.
The main line of the London & North Eastern
railway runs north through the west side of the
parish; it crosses the Tees about half a mile below
Croft by a bridge made in 1840, and has a station
called Croft Spa close to the public bridge; the
old railway from Darlington to the same place runs
alongside to the west. At the east end of Hurworth
village there is another bridge across the Tees, and
there are fords near Neasham village called High
Wath and Low Wath.
The soil is various, with clay in some places. Two-thirds of the land, i.e., about 2,600 acres, were arable
seventy years ago, (fn. 5) but now the agricultural land is
divided into 1,015 acres of arable, 2,270 of permanent grass and 279 of woods and plantations. (fn. 6) Barley
is grown, also potatoes and turnips and fruit. Bricks
used to be made near Croft and draining-tiles at
Skipbridge. There was formerly some weaving of
linen cloth, and the red sandstone in the river bed
was worked. (fn. 7)
An old subscription pack, the Hurworth Foxhounds,
has kennels about a mile north of the village. (fn. 8) There
are rifle targets in Neasham.
There is a village hall and reading room, built in
1864.
The Tees being liable to sudden and violent floods,
there used to be a man appointed to 'warn the
water,' i.e., to give the inhabitants lower down the
river notice when a flood had reached Neasham. (fn. 9)
The history of the parish has been quite uneventful.
Of the families holding manors in the parish in the
13th and following centuries only the Chartenays are
known to have resided here. (fn. 10) Neasham was probably
the place where Margaret, daughter of Henry VII,
in her bridal journey to Scotland in July 1504,
paused on her way from Northallerton to Darlington: 'She was met by Sir Ralph Bowes and Sir
William Aylton, well appointed, with a fair company
arrayed in their liveries, to the number of forty
horses, well appointed and well horsed. In the said
place of [Neasham] was the said queen received with
the abbess and religious with the cross, without the
gate; and the bishop of Durham gave her the cross
for to kiss.' (fn. 11) At the Dissolution the 100 acres of
demesne lands of the priory lay scattered among the
common fields; the house had a grange at Little
Burdon, a tenement and a cottage or messuage in
Neasham, while close by the gate of the house stood
nine cottages, probably for the labourers. (fn. 12) Among
Neasham place-names in the 17th century were
Haire close, Tan flatts, Middleton Mouth and Little
Ox closes. (fn. 13)
Six Hurworth men joined the Northern rising of
1569, and one of them was executed. (fn. 14) The protestation of 1641 was signed here. (fn. 15)
The chief celebrity is William Emerson, a mathematician. He was the son of Dudley Emerson, a school-master, and was born at Hurworth in 1701. Educated
at Newcastle and York, he afterwards took pupils at
Hurworth, and then devoted himself to mathematics.
He died at Hurworth in 1782 and has a monument
in the church. His wife died two years later; there
were no children of the marriage. (fn. 16)
A parish council elected in each of the townships
of Hurworth and Neasham regulates local affairs.
Names of certain portions of the 16th-century
common fields have been preserved, for among the
lands assigned to the maintenance of the church
lights were buttes in the Greendike within the
Castle field, buttes in Crakehall Dike, an acre in
Goslinge Myres and an acre in Skiton. (fn. 17)
The Wesleyan Methodists and Primitive Methodists
have chapels at Hurworth, and the former have another
at Hurworth Place (Croft), built in 1870.
There was a school at Hurworth before 1770,
when it was refounded.
MANORS
HURWORTH, which was in the
wapentake of Sadberge, (fn. 18) was held in
the 12th century in thegnage with
Hepple in Coquetdale, Northumberland. (fn. 19) The
earliest thegn of Hepple whose name is known is
Waldef, whose daughters held land, apparently of their
father's gift, in Hurworth and Neasham. (fn. 20) Waldef's
son William was the tenant in 1161. (fn. 21) He was
succeeded before 1177 by his son, another William, (fn. 22)
who left three daughters and co-heirs. Of these
Elizabeth married William Bardulf, who in 1200
paid 30 marks to hold the Northumberland lands
for one knight's fee instead of in thegnage. (fn. 23) Hurworth continued to be held by a money rent. According to the 14th-century inquisitions the tenants
also owed the service of custody of the gaol at
Sadberge. (fn. 24)
In 1206 the king authorized the marriage of Elizabeth widow of William Bardulf with Ivo Tailbois,
who was chamberlain of Robert de Vipont. (fn. 25) Ivo
and Elizabeth and Elizabeth's sisters held the thegnage
lands in Hurworth in 1212 for a rent of 60s. (fn. 26) The
sisters married Richard de Chartenay and Roger de
Butemont respectively, who performed their service
by the hands of Ivo. (fn. 27) The name of Elizabeth wife
of Ivo Tailbois occurs in 1211 and Ivo in 1213. (fn. 28)
In 1218–19 it was found that the marriage of the
widow of Ivo Tailbois was in the king's donation and
that she had married Nicholas de Farendon. (fn. 29)
Shortly afterwards it was stated that Robert Tailbois
ought to be in the king's wardship, but his mother
held the land and had made fine for his custody. (fn. 30) In
1229 Roger de Butemont claimed in Hepple against
Nicholas de Farendon, Elizabeth his wife, Richard
de Chartenay and Maud his wife. (fn. 31) About 1235
Nicholas de Farendon and Elizabeth held the lordship of Hepple in her right. (fn. 32) Roger de Butemont
held a third part of Hepple of Nicholas and Elizabeth,
with other lands, by a rent of 16s., and Maud de
Chartenay held the remaining third by the same rent. (fn. 33)
The conditions at Hurworth were probably identical,
but there are no means of tracing them in detail.
Elizabeth Tailbois in 1252 obtained a grant of
free warren for Hepple, (fn. 34) and died about 1256 holding
the knight's fee in Northumberland and leaving a son
and heir Robert, aged forty, (fn. 35) who paid 100s. relief
and had livery. (fn. 36) Robert died about a year later,
leaving a son Robert, of full age, (fn. 37) who paid the
same relief. (fn. 38) Robert Tailbois is recorded to have
made certain exchanges of land in Hurworth, viz., in
Gesslingmir with Richard de Cabury and in Grimwathflat with Walter de Butemond. This Walter sold
other land to Richard de Cabury. (fn. 39) It is probable
that about that time the Butemond or Butemont share
fell to the other partners for lack of issue, for Robert
Tailbois in 1281 was found to have held a moiety of
Hepple; his son Luke was twenty-three years of
age. (fn. 40) In 1275 the elder Robert Tailbois had possessed right of gallows and assize of bread and ale at
Hepple, (fn. 41) while in 1293 Luke Tailbois and Richard
Chartenay had infangenthef,
gallows and assize of ale
there by ancient custom. (fn. 42)
Luke Tailbois was employed
by Edward I as collector of
subsidies, justice, and otherwise, (fn. 43) acting as Sheriff of
Northumberland in 1303–4. (fn. 44)
He died about 1316 holding a
moiety of Hepple and leaving
a son William, aged thirty, as
heir. (fn. 45) In 1337 Sir William
Tailbois had licence to grant
certain lands to his son Henry
and his wife Eleanor, daughter
of Sir Gilbert de Boroudon, (fn. 46)
through whom Henry's descendants became possessors of Kyme, Lincoln, about 1436. (fn. 47)
Tailbois of Hurworth. Argent a saltire
and a chief gules with
three scallops argent
therein.
Sir William Tailbois chivaler died in or before
1366 holding a third part of the manor of Hurworth
by a rent of 8s. and keeping the gaol of Sadberge,
receiving 22s. rent for the manor of Neasham and
for two-thirds of the manor of Hurworth; he also
had two-thirds of the advowson of the church. His
heir was his son Henry, thirty years of age. (fn. 48) From
this it would appear that Sir William was, like his
ancestor Ivo in 1212, responsible for the whole
service of the manor. Henry Tailbois died in 1369
holding the manor of Hurworth and 5 oxgangs
of land there of the bishop by the twentieth part of a
knight's fee and suit of court at Sadberge; also three
cottages and 11 oxgangs of land by a rent of 8s. 6d.
and keeping Sadberge gaol. His son and heir Walter
was eighteen years of age. (fn. 49) This return was corrected
by another taken in 1373 recording that he held
the capital messuage, 16 oxgangs of land, &c., half
the advowson of the church, and a third part of the
mill, by a rent of 9s. and suit of court and keeping
with his partners the gaol at Sadberge. (fn. 50) Eleanor
the widow of Henry received her dower after taking
the oath not to marry without the king's licence. (fn. 51)
Walter, the heir, having proved his age, received his
lands from the escheator in 1371. (fn. 52)
Walter Tailbois in 1386 made an exchange with
Robert de Ogle by which he received the second
moiety of Hurworth for his lands in Hepple, (fn. 53) thus
putting an end to the divided lordship in both places.
The second moiety had descended with half of Hepple
in the Chartenay family. The immediate heir of
Richard and Maud de Chartenay was perhaps Philip
de Chartenay, who with Nicholas de Farendon
witnessed a charter touching Hepple (fn. 54) ; his son
Richard made a grant of land in Hepple to Luke
Tailbois in 1287, (fn. 55) the deed being dated at Hurworth. He seems to be identical with the Sir
Richard Chartenay living at Hurworth in 1264 (fn. 56)
whose name occurs in 1293. (fn. 57) He had a brother
Robert, to whom he granted the manor of Hepple, (fn. 58)
and it seems probable that the latter adopted the
name Hepple as a surname. In 1304 Robert de
Hepple had died seised of half the manor of Hepple,
leaving a son Robert, (fn. 59) and in 1315 Luke Tailbois
and Robert de Hepple held jointly the advowson of
Hurworth Church. (fn. 60) In 1331 Robert de Hepple
had licence to settle his moiety of Hepple on Robert
de Ogle and Joan his wife. (fn. 61) A similar settlement
was probably made for Hurworth, since ten years
later it was among the lands of Robert de Ogle
mentioned in a grant of free warren. (fn. 62) In 1355
Robert de Ogle the younger was found to have
held a moiety of the 'manor' of Hurworth on Tees
jointly with Ellen his wife by grant of Robert de
Ogle the elder; it was held of the bishop in
socage by a rent of 18s. and a sixteenth share of
the custody of Sadberge gaol. Robert son and
heir of the younger Robert, then three years of
age, (fn. 63) subsequently made the exchange with Walter
Tailbois.
Walter Tailbois was a knight in 1389 (fn. 64) and died
21 September 1417 holding the manor of Hurworth
(except half an acre) with the advowson of the church
by knight's service, suit of court, keeping the gaol,
and a rent of 25s. 6d.; his heir was a son Walter,
aged twenty-six. (fn. 65) The younger Walter Tailbois
had livery of his Durham lands in 1417 (fn. 66) ; he
died in 1444 holding the manor and advowson,
and leaving his son William, aged twenty-six,
to inherit. (fn. 67) William Tailbois and Elizabeth his
wife complained of the finding of the jury in
the inquisition, and judgement was given in their
favour, the manor of Hurworth being restored to
them. (fn. 68) The family had for more than half a century
been associated with Lincolnshire. (fn. 69) Walter Tailbois
and his son Walter were described as 'of South
Kyme' in 1439, (fn. 70) but do not seem to have been
summoned to Parliament as barons of Kyme.
Sir William Tailbois, son of the younger Walter,
was an adherent of the unpopular Duke of Suffolk,
and was in 1450 charged with an attack on Lord
Cromwell in the Star Chamber. (fn. 71) He took the
Lancastrian side in the Wars of the Roses, was made a
knight at the second battle of St. Albans, 17 February
1460–1, by Prince Edward, son of Henry VI, (fn. 72) and
was shortly afterwards attainted. (fn. 73) In May 1464 he
fought at Hexham and he was beheaded at Newcastle
on 20 July. (fn. 74) Before this he was styled Earl of
Kyme. (fn. 75) In 1462 the manor of Hurworth and
other estates were granted to trustees for Elizabeth his
wife, daughter of the Yorkist Lord Bonvill, for her
life. (fn. 76) Their son Sir Robert was restored in blood
in 1472, (fn. 77) and at his death in 1495 (fn. 78) was recorded
to have held the manor of Hurworth and the advowson of the church and rent from the manor of
Neasham. (fn. 79) His son and heir George, aged twenty-four at that time, was made a knight at the battle of
Blackheath in 1497, (fn. 80) but about a year later was
found to be a lunatic. (fn. 81) He must have recovered,
for in 1499 he obtained pardon for any intrusions
made upon the manor and vill of Hurworth. (fn. 82) In
1512 he had licence to alienate the manor of Sotby, (fn. 83)
and made his will 18 January 1512–13, (fn. 84) after
which he joined the expedition to France with a
retinue of twenty-five men. (fn. 85) In 1517 he was again
a lunatic, (fn. 86) and appears to have remained insane to
the end of his life, (fn. 87) about twenty years later. (fn. 88) At
the Durham inquisition in 1539 it was found that
he had held Hurworth; the heir was his grandson George, Lord Tailbois, aged sixteen years, being
son of Gilbert, Lord Tailbois, son of George. (fn. 89) This
Gilbert had married ' the beautiful Elizabeth Blount,'
a mistress of Henry VIII, (fn. 90) and he was styled Lord
Tailbois, though in the Parliament of 1529 his name
is recorded among the knights as a representative of
Lincolnshire. (fn. 91) He died in 1530, (fn. 92) and his son George
died in 1540, (fn. 93) leaving a younger brother Robert as
heir. (fn. 94) He also died without issue in 1541, and the
inheritance passed to his sister Elizabeth, Lady Tailbois,
wife of Thomas Wymbish, (fn. 95) who had livery of the
manor of Kyme, &c., in May 1542. (fn. 96) Elizabeth had
no children, (fn. 97) and in 1550 joined with her husband
in the sale of the manor of Hurworth and advowson
of the church to Sir Leonard Beckwith of Selby, the
dower of Elizabeth widow of Sir George Tailbois
being preserved. (fn. 98)
Sir Leonard Beckwith died on 7 May 1557, (fn. 99) and his
son and heir Roger, then sixteen years of age, in 1577
sold the manor of Hurworth, but not the advowson
of the church, to Henry Lawson of Neasham and
George Ward of Hurworth. (fn. 100) The Lawson moiety
descended with the Neasham Priory estate (fn. 101) to the
Jenison family; in 1727 it was sold by John Jenison,
who had registered his estate here as a Papist ten
years before, to John Bland. (fn. 102) The successor of John
Bland was apparently the James Bland of Hurworth
who died in 1770, and whose daughter and heir
Barbara married William Wrightson of Cusworth
(Yorks.). (fn. 103) William Battie Wrightson, her son and
heir, was a landowner in Hurworth in 1855. He
died in 1879 and was succeeded by his brother
Richard Heber Wrightson, on whose death in 1891
the estate devolved on his nephew William Henry
Battie Wrightson. Mr. Robert Cecil Battie Wrightson, son of the latter, succeeded his father, but owing
to questions between him and the rector as to the
ownership of the lordship, all
rights in the manor of Hurworth have been made over to
the Parish Council. (fn. 104)
Wrightson of Cusworth. Or a fesse checky
argent and azure between
three griffons' heads
razed azure.
George Ward did homage
to the bishop in 1578 for his
moiety of the manor, and took
the oath of supremacy. (fn. 105) This
moiety, which consisted of 10
oxgangs, descended in January
1607–8, after the death of
George Ward, to his son John,
then aged fifty, in accordance
with a settlement made in
1579 on the occasion of the
son's marriage with Joan
Charnley. (fn. 106) John Ward was in 1631 succeeded by two
granddaughters, namely his son George's children
Frances wife of Francis Anderson and Anne Ward,
aged fifteen and eleven. (fn. 107) Francis Anderson and Frances
his wife leased land in 1637 to John Burnett for
4 years (fn. 108) ; and Anne with Cuthbert Appleby her
husband conveyed meadow land to Anthony Lodge
in 1661. (fn. 109) Francis Anderson, Thomas Aislaby and
Elizabeth his wife were vouchees in a recovery of
a fourth part of the manor of Hurworth in 1660,
and eight years later Cuthbert Appleby and Anne
his wife conveyed a messuage and land here to William
Place. (fn. 110) A fourth part of the manor was sold to
Robert Hilton in 1702 (fn. 111) by the heirs of Cuthbert
Marley and Anne his wife and by John Pemberton
and Mary his wife, daughter of Christopher and niece
of William Place who had died without issue. In
1751 Mary Harrison conveyed a fourth part of the
manor with four messuages, 300 acres of land, and
£40 rent to William Hutchinson. (fn. 112) There does not
seem to be any later record of this part of the manor.
The capital messuage with lands, &c., sold in 1750
by George Hobson and his daughters by Mary Pyatt
his late wife to Francis Murgatroyd may have been
attached to it. (fn. 113)
Sir Thomas de Ingleby and Katherine his wife had
the bishop's pardon in February 1376–7 for acquiring
half an acre in Hurworth held in chief. (fn. 114) It was
probably at about the same time that Sir Thomas
acquired the land held of the lords of Hurworth,
which was subsequently known as INGLEBYS
MANOR. Thomas died in or before 1380, and it
was found that he had held in conjunction with
Katherine his wife half an acre in Hurworth of the
bishop and eight messuages and eight score acres of
Walter Tailbois by fealty. Henry his son and heir was
of full age. (fn. 115) Henry de Ingleby, clerk, was in 1383
found to have held land in Sadberge; his brother
John, aged twenty-four, was
heir. (fn. 116) John Ingleby of Ripley, Yorks, in 1409 was recorded to hold the half-acre of
the bishop and six messuages,
31 oxgangs of land, &c., of
Walter Tailbois by fealty; his
son Thomas was of full age. (fn. 117)
Thomas died in 1415 holding
the same estate; his son and
heir William was eight years
old. (fn. 118) William, son and heir
of Thomas son and heir of John
Ingleby, in 1442 held land in
Hurworth of Walter Tailbois; his heir was a son John
aged eight. (fn. 119) John Ingleby died 21 September 1456,
just after coming of age (fn. 120) ; he left a son and heir
William, who came of age in 1476 and had livery of his
lands. (fn. 121) He took part in the expedition into Scotland
in 1482 and was made a knight there by the Duke
of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III. (fn. 122) He died in
1501 leaving a son John, aged twenty-four, as heir. (fn. 123)
John died in 1502, his heir being his son William,
aged nine. (fn. 124) The wardship was granted by the
bishop to Thomas Berkeley and Eleanor his wife,
widow of John Ingleby. (fn. 125) William died in 1528
holding lands in Hurworth of George Tailbois and the
bishop; his son and heir William was ten years of
age. (fn. 126) Cecily the widow, a daughter of George
Tailbois, had dower assigned to her. (fn. 127) John Fawcett,
clerk, sold an estate in Hurworth, perhaps Ingleby's
manor, to Henry Lawson of Neasham in 1567. (fn. 128)
Henry Lawson in 1607 held the manor in Hurworth
late of William Ingleby and 8 oxgangs belonging to
it. (fn. 129) The manorial rights subsequently descended
with the Lawson estates.
Ingleby. Sable a star argent.
Another part of the land attached to the Ingleby
Manor was acquired by William Wormeley, who in
1603 died seised of 4½ oxgangs 'late of Ingleby.' (fn. 130)
He had also bought from Ralph Tailbois in 1567 an
estate of 14½ oxgangs, (fn. 131) probably including the 13
oxgangs of which Henry son of Henry Tailbois had
died seised in 1444 (fn. 132) leaving a son John. This junior
branch of the Tailbois family held of the lords of
Hurworth. (fn. 133) William Wormeley left a son Robert,
who in 1628 and 1634, with Margaret his wife and
William Wormeley his son and heir, mortgaged his
estate to Thomas Thompson, rector of Hurworth,
and to Sir John Lister respectively. Robert being a
papist, his lands were sequestered in 1644. (fn. 134)
Other tenants of land in Hurworth were Christopher
Foreman (d. 1621) (fn. 135) and Richard Thompson (d.
1628), (fn. 136) who held of James Lawson, and Ninian
Kirsopp (d. 1631) who held 4 oxgangs of the heirs
of James Lawson and John Ward. (fn. 137) John Lister died
in 1642 holding 12 oxgangs in Hurworth, of which 5½
oxgangs were held of the Ingleby Manor, (fn. 138) receiving
manorial rents from certain houses in the township. (fn. 139)
According to Surtees the rector was lord of ' a small
copyhold manor ' at the beginning of the 19th century, (fn. 140) but nothing is known of its history.
Engelais, sister of Emma de Tees and daughter of
Waldef the thegn, gave one ploughland in Hurworth
to Neasham Priory on its foundation, (fn. 141) and in 1535
a rent of 5s. was paid to the bishop for the priory's
lands in Hurworth. (fn. 142) The house itself received at
this time £4 yearly from their lands here from ' the
heirs of Thoreby.' (fn. 143)
In 1684 the freeholders were Hamond Beaumont,
Cuthbert Bore, Thomas Bromley, Francis Buckle,
Thomas Bulman, John Burnett, Anne Byerley, Ninian
Gresham, James Hamilton, Michael Harrison, William
Jennison, Timothy Kitchingman, Benjamin Lister,
Anne Marley, Judith Richardson, George Slaney,
Robert Smith, William Walker, and Robert Ward. (fn. 144)
Pilmore House was owned by Gordon Skelly about
1820 (fn. 145) and by Robert Surtees of Redworth about
1855. (fn. 146)
NEASHAM
NEASHAM (Neshaim, Nesham, Nessham, c. 1160)
was evidently part of the original fee held in
thegnage by Waldef the thegn of Hepple. He
appears to have given it to his daughter Emma, whose
descendants subsequently held it of the lords of Hurworth. (fn. 147) Emma daughter of Waldef and wife or
widow of Ralph de Tees founded about 1150 the priory
of Neasham. (fn. 148) Ralph her son, also called Ralph son of
Ralph, consented and added to her gift. (fn. 149) This Ralph
also married an Emma, and in 1198 she as his widow
claimed dower in Neasham, Grimthorpe and other
places against his son, William son of Ralph. (fn. 150) This
William was also a benefactor of the priory, Sir
William Bardulf attesting the charter, which must
therefore be earlier than 1206. (fn. 151) William son of
Ralph died in or before 1218 when his heir was
given up to the king by Robert de Roos. (fn. 152) Ralph son
of William paid relief and had livery of his father's
lands in Yorkshire and Durham in 1227. (fn. 153) William
son of Ralph occurs in 1253 (fn. 154) and 1254, (fn. 155) and in conjunction with Joan his wife in 1269. (fn. 156) Joan was
daughter of Thomas son of William de Greystock, and
was thus aunt of John Lord Greystock, who in 1297
obtained licence to enfeoff Ralph her son in the
manor and barony of Greystock. (fn. 157) This Ralph son
of William married Margery, widow of Nicholas
Corbet and daughter and co-heir of Hugh de Bolebeck,
thus greatly increasing his possessions (fn. 158) ; he was
a benefactor to Neasham Priory, granting land called
Milne-hills between Kent and the nuns' land, and
free milling; Luke Tailbois was a witness to one of
his gifts. (fn. 159) He took part in the Scottish wars of the
time and did other public service, being summoned
to Parliament in 1295. (fn. 160) He died, well stricken in
years, in 1316 holding the ' manor' of Neasham of
William Tailbois by a rent of 16s. a year, and was
buried at Neasham. (fn. 161) His son and successor, Robert,
then a man of about forty, died before the following
April. (fn. 162) The family having obtained the Greystock
estates now assumed Greystock as a surname and the
descent has been traced in the account of Coniscliffe
(q.v.). The rent paid for the manor is generally
given as 16s., but Sir Walter Tailbois is said in
1417 to have received 20s. for it from Ralph Lord
Greystock. (fn. 163) In 1436 the service of guarding onefifth of the gaol of Sadberge was said to be attached
to 24 oxgangs held of the bishop. (fn. 164) The manor was
extended at 10 messuages, 200 additional acres of land,
20 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, and a
water corn-mill; the fee included a passage or ferry
over the Tees, with its boat, worth 6s. 8d. a year, and
the advowson of the priory of Neasham. (fn. 165)
The manor descended to the Dacres and Howards (fn. 166)
and incurred forfeiture and sale under the Common-wealth with the other estates of Sir Francis Howard. (fn. 167)
In 1651 complaint was made that the horse boat
formerly at Neasham for the accommodation of the
neighbourhood was missing, to the prejudice of the
common packet; it was maintained by Sir Francis
as lord of the manor. (fn. 168) The manor was sold to Lord
St. John, afterwards Marquess of Winchester, and by
him to Sir William Blackett, (fn. 169) who in conjunction
with Julia his wife sold it to Charles Turner in 1699. (fn. 170)
It descended to Charles Turner's great-grandson Sir
Charles Turner, second baronet. (fn. 171) He sold it to
William Wrightson in 1803, on whose death in 1826
it descended to his eldest son Thomas. Thomas
about 1850 sold the hall (which
he had built) and part of the
estate to Col. James Cookson,
but retained the manor. The
manor descended in 1872 to
the eldest son of Thomas, the
Rev. William Garmondsway
Wrightson, who lived at the
Old Hall. The new hall was
purchased in 1892 from Joseph
the son of James Cookson by
Sir Thomas Wrightson (who
was made a baronet in
1900), son of the above-named
Thomas, who also purchased
the Neasham estate from his
nephew, son of the Rev. W. G.
Wrightson, and so became lord
of the manor. (fn. 172) Sir Thomas
died in 1921, and was succeeded by his son Sir Thomas
Garmondsway Wrightson, the present owner.
Wrightson of Neasham, baronet. Or a
fesse invected and checky
azure and argent between two eagles' heads
razed sable in the chief
and a saltire gules in the
foot.
NEASHAM ABBEY
NEASHAM ABBEY, as the priory estate is now
called, was acquired from the Crown by James Lawson
of Newcastle, brother of the last prioress, in 1540. (fn. 173)
The prioress continued to live
at Neasham, and her will,
dated 1557, has been printed. (fn. 174)
In 1543 the purchaser had
licence to grant the priory
with its lands in Neasham,
Hurworth and Dinsdale to
trustees, to be settled on himself for life, with remainder to
his son Henry Lawson and his
male issue, and in default
to his other sons, Edmund,
William and George. (fn. 175) Henry
Lawson died in 1607 holding
the site of the monastery of
the king and various lands in Neasham, Hurworth
and other places. (fn. 176) James his son, aged thirty-six,
was heir. He had livery of his lands in 1610, (fn. 177)
and died in 1631 holding the same lands as
his father. (fn. 178) His son James, on whose marriage with
Frances daughter of Sir William Vavasour he had
settled his estates, had died in February 1628–9. (fn. 179)
James son of the latter was four years old at his
grandfather's death, when he was found to be the
heir. (fn. 180) He died, aged sixteen, about 1643, and his
co-heirs were the representatives of his aunts—Frances, married in 1617 to Richard Braithwaite, by
whom she had a son Thomas, and Anne wife of Henry
Jenison, who had a son William. James's mother, a
'Papist,' married Philip Dolman, a 'delinquent.' (fn. 181) The
estates were sequestered by the Commonwealth authorities, and in 1652 Thomas Braithwaite's estate was
in the third Act for Sale, but he was allowed to
compound for his moiety of the estate at a fine of
£793 7s. 2d. He was described as a 'recusant
delinquent.' (fn. 182) His father Richard, of Burneside near
Kendal, was the author of Drunken Barnaby and other
pieces; he was a Royalist and
compounded for his sequestered estates. (fn. 183) Two-thirds of
William Jenison's estate was
sequestered for his religion,
and it does not appear that
any other 'delinquency' was
alleged against him. Jenison
died in 1655, and a complete
survey of the estate was made.
It included the ' house called
Neasham Abbey otherwise
Neasham Nunnery,' with various closes called Flowerpiece,
Heathan Slacks, Brankinholme, Birkcarr, &c.; Hungerhill, now in Neasham, was then considered to be
in Hurworth. (fn. 184) He left a son and heir Thomas,
aged eight, who died without issue in 1677, when a
brother William succeeded. William's son John in
1727 sold the manor of Hurworth to John Bland,
as stated above. (fn. 185) The Neasham estate, however,
appears to have been successfully claimed by Sir John
Lawson under a settlement of 1544, or another of
1623. (fn. 186) He was made a baronet in 1655, (fn. 187) and in
1666 sold two-thirds of the estate to John Ramsay and
one-third to Nicholas Pearson, who may have been acting for Thomas Jenison. In 1672 this third part was
sold by Thomas Jenison, Jane Jenison and Nicholas
Pearson to Thomas Cooper, under whose will it
passed to Jane Hargrave. Her son Thomas Holme
afterwards owned this portion. (fn. 188) The owner of the
abbey in 1855 was Thomas Wilkinson (fn. 189) ; Mrs.
Wilkinson now holds it. It is at present the residence
of Mr. George Tristram Edwards.
Lawson of Neasham.
Argent a cheveron
between three martlets
sable.
Jenison. Azure a
bend between two swans
or.
Gocelin Surtees in 1367 held land in Neasham of
John de Aislaby, which had been mortgaged to him
by Thomas son of Adam de Neasham. (fn. 190) The
overlordship of this land belonged to the Surtees
family of Low Dinsdale (q.v.). (fn. 191) Henry Tailbois
of Hurworth (d. 1444) held his land here of
Thomas Surtees. (fn. 192) Thomas Coundon of Neasham
(d. 1498) held his lands, jointly with Margaret his wife,
of Thomas Surtees. (fn. 193) His son Thomas, then thirty
years old, who died in 1526, held similarly, (fn. 194) and his
son, another Thomas Coundon, succeeded. In 1545 he
died, leaving a son Thomas, aged seven in 1548. (fn. 195) His
son, also Thomas, recorded a pedigree in 1612, when
his son Thomas was eight years old. (fn. 196) William Sayer
(d. 1531) held lands in Neasham of the prioress. (fn. 197) John
Sayer (d. 1635) left as heir his niece Dorothy Bulmer. (fn. 198)
Lawrence Sayer's sequestered lands in Neasham were
rented at £20 in 1645. (fn. 199) Mention of Lawrence Sayer
and Gilbert Crouch's land occurs in 1670. (fn. 200) According
to a plea of 1604 George Browne was in possession of
a capital messuage and land here which he leased
before 1593 to William Greenwell. (fn. 201) William may
have subsequently bought the property, for he
certainly held lands in Neasham partly of the Crown
and partly of the heirs of Thomas Surtees; his widow
married Marmaduke Wyvill before 1604, and by
1619 his daughters Eleanor and Jane had married
John Taylor and Ralph Hedworth respectively. (fn. 202)
The freeholders in 1684 were Sir John Lawson, bart.,
Robert Burnett, Miles Garry, the heirs of Thomas
Lumley, Thomas Mowrey, Noah Pilkington, the heirs
of George Sayer, and John Waite. (fn. 203)
CHURCH
The church of ALL SAINTS stands
near the east end of the village on the
south side of the main street close to the
bank of the Tees, and when seen from the opposite
side of the river, grouping picturesquely with the
irregular roofs of the houses on and along its steep
bank. The site is an ancient one, and a fragment of
a pre-Conquest cross was found in 1871, (fn. 204) but the
building is almost entirely modern and of little or no
antiquarian interest. The whole body of the church
was rebuilt in 1831–2, hardly any ancient features
being left save the piers of the arcades and some
portions of the outer walls of the nave. In 1871
the church was again almost entirely rebuilt, the old
piers being still retained together with some portions
of the 1831 building. The fabric, however, is practically of 1871 date, and consists of a chancel with short
north and south aisles, north and south transepts,
nave with north and south aisles, south porch, and
west tower. (fn. 205) There is also a small chapel at the
east end of the north aisle. The building is in the
late Gothic style, and is faced with ashlar, the roofs
being covered with blue slates. The tower has an
embattled parapet with angle pinnacles and a vice in
the north-east corner.
Surtees, writing before 1831, describes the old
building as consisting of chancel, nave, north porch,
and low west tower, the nave having regular aisles
each with three pillars supporting round arches. Two
of the pillars of the south aisle were plain cylinders
and the rest octagonal. (fn. 206) The east window was
square-headed and of four lights divided by a transom.
The other windows were modernized and irregular.
The chancel arch was pointed, and on the west front
of the tower were three shields with the arms of
Nevill, Tailbois and Dacre. (fn. 207) Hutchinson, at an
earlier date, describes the building in much the same
terms, (fn. 208) from which it would appear that part of the
nave, at any rate, belonged to a 12th-century church,
which had been considerably altered, perhaps at the
end of the 15th century. The two cylindrical piers,
which have moulded capitals, now stand one on either
side of the nave at the west end, and the semicircular
arches have given place to pointed. The three
shields are built into the west wall of the new tower
outside.
The church contains two interesting effigies, now
in modern recesses at the west end of the nave aisles.
One of these has the head encased in a cylindrical
helmet and the sword is unsheathed and held erect.
The feet are broken, and on the left arm is a shield
charged with three water bougets on a fesse. The
figure, which is of Frosterley marble, was discovered
in excavating the foundations of a house near the site
of Neasham Abbey. (fn. 209) The second effigy is that of
Robert Fitz William, who assumed the arms of Greystock and died in 1316. The figure is in complete
mail, with sleeveless surcoat, and the head rests on
two cushions. The hands are folded in prayer and
the feet rest upon two lions in combat. The shield
bears the arms of Greystock, and is supported by a
jewelled belt passing over the left shoulder. Along
the sides of the monument is carved foliage, and
below the legs are two or three heads, apparently of
dogs. The effigy was originally in Neasham Abbey,
whence it was brought to Hurworth, and it is probable that the other figure was originally in the abbey
also.
Transepts were first built in 1831–2, each containing a gallery, and there was a gallery also at the
west end across the first bay. The chancel as then
built was considerably less in length than at present. (fn. 210)
The font and all the fittings are modern. The
quire stalls are of oak taken from an old tithe barn
pulled down about 1879. (fn. 211)
There is a monument with Latin inscription to
William Emerson, the mathematician, who died in
1782. The inscription has been recut. (fn. 212)
There is a ring of six bells, by Taylor of Lough-borough, cast in 1872, given in June of that year
by Lucy Jane Colling in memory of her husband,
Thomas Colling. An old bell by Samuel Smith of
York has been preserved: it bears the inscription,
'Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Leonard Wastell Rectour
1682. S: O: C: E: churchwardens.' (fn. 213)
The plate is all modern, and consists of two chalices,
a flagon, and an almsdish of 1869 and two patens
of 1873, all presented by the Misses Williamson in
memory of their father. (fn. 214) There are also two chalices,
two patens, a flagon and an almsdish presented in
1889 under the will of Robert Henry Allan of Blackwell Hall, Darlington.
The registers begin in 1559.
In the churchyard is a memorial cross to those who
fell in the Great War which was erected from subscriptions raised by the women and children of the
parish.
ADVOWSON
The advowson of the church was
anciently appurtenant to the principal manor of Hurworth. Thus
Luke Tailbois and Robert de Hepple joined in presentation about 1315 (fn. 215) ; the king in 1363 presented
a rector by reason of his wardship of the heir of
Robert de Ogle (fn. 216) ; and in 1479 Sir Robert Tailbois
obtained a recognition of his right as patron. (fn. 217) The
advowson was included with the manor in the sale by
Wymbish to Beckwith in 1550, (fn. 218) but excepted in the
sale by Roger Beckwith to Lawson and Ward in
1577. (fn. 219) A moiety was, however, probably sold to
Henry Lawson at that date, for 'Lawson of Neasham'
was the patron shortly afterwards, (fn. 220) and in 1607
Henry Lawson was said to have held the advowson, (fn. 221)
as was his son in 1631. (fn. 222) The Jenisons inherited
the Lawsons' share, (fn. 223) which was acquired in the early
18th century by Dr. Johnson, the rector from 1714
to 1761. (fn. 224) Thomas Johnson, presumably his representative, presented in 1784. (fn. 225) This part was later
held by William Hogg, who sold it to the Rev. R. H.
Williamson, rector 1832–91. (fn. 226) The other moiety
was acquired by Robert Byerley of Middridge Grange,
to whom in 1693 Edward Beckwith of Elvet in
Durham, described as grandson and heir of Roger
Beckwith, released all right in the advowson. (fn. 227) Robert
Byerley presented in 1712. (fn. 228) This moiety was
afterwards acquired by the Carr family, and Ralph
Carr of Cocken presented in 1761; it descended
to the Milbankes, and was then sold to Robert
Hopper Williamson of Whickham, who was one of
the patrons in 1823, — Johnson being the other. (fn. 229)
Mr. Williamson's son was the rector named above
who purchased the other moiety, and thus became
sole patron. He died in 1891, and was succeeded
by his nephew, Mr. W. H. Williamson. The
patronage was acquired by Mr. T. H. Faber in
1899 and is now in the gift of the Church Association Trust. (fn. 230)
The chapel of St. Oswald in the parish church was
endowed with a bovate in the common fields, where
other pieces of ground were assigned to the maintenance of lights; all these plots were granted by the
Crown in March 1579–80 to Edward Earl of Lincoln
and others. (fn. 231)
In 1291 the benefice was taxed as worth £54 a
year, (fn. 232) but after the Scottish devastations of the time
of Edward II this was reduced to £30 6s. 8d. (fn. 233)
In 1535 the estimated value was £27 7s. 4d., of
which 2s. was paid to the archdeacon. (fn. 234) The tithe of
hay belonged to Sherburn Hospital. (fn. 235)
CHARITIES
The Poor's House Charity formerly
consisted of the Church Row House,
acquired in 1730 for the use of the
poor. The property was sold in 1840, the proceeds
being invested in £182 8s. 9d. consols.
William Andrews—as stated in the Parliamentary
Returns of 1786—left £20 for the poor, now represented by £21 13s. 9d. consols.
The sums of stock belonging to these charities are
held by the official trustees. The annual dividends,
amounting together to £5 1s. 8d., are distributed to
the poor in sums of 10s. each.
The Mingay Fund.
In 1859 Mary Mingay by
her will bequeathed £100, the income thereof to be
distributed in warm clothing at Christmas to poor old
men and women. The legacy, less duty, was invested
in £94 14s. 9d. consols, with the official trustees.
The annual dividends, amounting to £2 7s. 4d., are
distributed in articles in kind.
The National school has been dealt with already. (fn. 236)