ALNE
Alen (xi cent.).
Alne comprises the townships of Alne, Tholthorpe,
Aldwark, Flawith, Youlton and Tollerton.
The whole parish covers an area of about 9,992 acres.
It lies in the plain of York at a height varying between
50 ft. and 75 ft. above the ordnance datum, while much
of the land about the River Kyle in the south of the
parish is liable to floods. There is a large tract of
alluvium, but sand and loam are found in the west of
the parish. About 4,890 acres are under cultivation
as arable land and 3,950 acres are laid down to permanent grass. (fn. 1) Wheat, oats, barley and beans are
grown, while 188 acres are covered with woods and
plantations.
The main line of the North Eastern railway passes
through the parish and there are stations at Tollerton
and Alne, the latter being the junction for the main
line and the light railway to Easingwold.
The chief road is that running north-west from
York to Brafferton. On this road the villages of
Tollerton and Flawith are built, while the village of
Alne itself lies off the road and towards the north.
At the starting-point of the connecting lane stands
an old cross known as the Plague Stone; according to
tradition, when the plague was raging in Yorkshire
in 1604 the inhabitants deposited their goods and
purchase money on this stone.
The lane crosses the Kyle by Alne Bridge and runs
along the west side of Alne Park past an ancient
well. Alne Hall, now the residence of Mr. John
Swainston-Strangwayes, D.L., J.P., was in the Middle
Ages the country house of the treasurers of St. Peter's,
York. The house is mentioned in 1301, (fn. 2) when the
treasurer's proctor was pardoned for having received
Sir Erard de Baro into his house with venison
poached from the royal forest of Galtres. An interesting inventory is given of the manor-house in
1508, showing it to have been of considerable size
and well-furnished. (fn. 3)
The last treasurer, Lancelot Collins, was living
there when news was brought him of the insurrection
in Lincolnshire. (fn. 4) It was afterwards inhabited by the
Bethells, and in 1672 (fn. 5) Lady Bethell was licensed to
hold a Nonconformist meeting at her house at Alne.
There is a Wesleyan chapel at Alne, built in 1848.
Hall Garth, mentioned in 1611–12, was no doubt
near the site of the old manor-house. (fn. 6)
The Kyle flows through Alne Park and is joined
there by Whitecarr Ings Beck not far from the supposed site of a Roman road which crosses Alne Park.
The water-mill on the Kyle at the south-east
extremity of the park and close to Carrholme Bridge
formerly belonged to the treasurer of St. Peter's of
York, (fn. 7) from whom it passed to Thomas first Lord
Fauconberg. It was granted by him to John Russell, (fn. 8)
the miller, together with a cottage and meadows called
'Foggerlandsides' and 'Taberflatt.'
Windmill Field, beside the main road, no doubt
derives its name from the treasurer's windmill which
was leased by James I to Edmund Sawyer. (fn. 9)
The village of Alne lies to the north of the hall
and may be reached by either of two forking lanes.
It consists of a number of cottages of no great age
standing back from the road and with gardens in front.
The church of St. Mary lies down the more western
of these branches, but most of the houses are built
along a road running east and west. Snowfield Farm,
in the fields north of the village, was formerly included
in the treasurer's manor, and was granted (fn. 10) with a dovecote and fields called Longlanding Acre, Willingstoneing, Rothinge and Christenberking to various
freeholders in 1611–12. The township of Alne
covers 2,268 acres.
Tollerton is a large and picturesque hamlet with a
station lying a mile and a half south of Alne. It
contains no features of particular interest.
The township, covering 2,201 acres, in 1901 contained 504 inhabitants and is built along the York
road and a fork formed by a cross lane, the triangular village green lying at the junction of these two
roads. Here milling and malting are carried on, while
there are brick and tile works in the east of the township. There is a Wesleyan chapel, built in 1869.
York Bridge, Fleet Bank, Warehill, Wetland,
Middle Cavil and Breckland Fields with Angram
Closes probably represent the old open fields which
were inclosed under an Act obtained in 1810. (fn. 11)
West of Tollerton and bordered by Linton-uponOuse is Youlton, a hamlet lying on the road from
Aldwark Bridge over the Ouse to the Plague Stone;
it consists of a group of early 18th-century farmhouses and buildings. Its chief interest centres in its
hall, now occupied by Mr. J. W. Middleton. Here
stood the capital messuage of a younger branch of the
family of Roos, and traces of an extensive moat
remain in the field about the house. James I is said
to have rested here on the occasion of various journeys
between London and Edinburgh. (fn. 12) Youlton Lodge
lies in an isolated position among fields to the east of
the hamlet and close to the River Kyle. The township covers 803 acres.
The township of Aldwark, covering 2,337 acres,
lies on the east bank of the River Ouse. The village
stands on low ground by the river bank, and is built
along Rice Lane, which, leading from Aldwark
Bridge, runs parallel with the river for some distance,
and then turns north through the fields till it joins
the road from York to Brafferton. The houses in
the village on the west side have each a close running
down to the water, and just to the north-west of the
village is the town pasture. The moat marking the
site of Aldwark Hall lies in a large park at the southern
end of the village.
The present Aldwark Manor, the property of
Lord Walsingham and the residence of Mrs. Gunter,
is a large modern mansion; it lies considerably
to the south of the old house, of which no traces
are now left except these portions of the moat.
Close by is a field known as Chapel Garth. This
possibly marks the site of a domestic chapel. Legend
says that this neighbourhood was once haunted by a
wandering ghost, which was eventually exorcised
and confined under what is still called the 'Conjuring
Stone. (fn. 13)
To the east of Aldwark is Aldwark Moor, of which
the tract known as Hall Moor is the only part not
under cultivation.
In the 13th century meadows are mentioned called
'Coningsrise' and 'Aiketrelandes,' on the north side
between the water of the Ure and the high road which
goes through the middle of Aldwark (fn. 14) ; they belonged at an early date to Fountains Abbey.
Beyond the hamlet of Flawith is the larger village
of Tholthorpe, built on low-lying ground by the Kyle,
here called Derring's Beck. At the east end of the
village street is a large green with a pond of considerable size. The Methodist chapel stands near
the river, which is here crossed by a bridge; the
chapel was built in 1844 and restored in 1894.
The manor-house lies at the west end of the main
street. The eastern portion of the township is still
called Tholthorpe Moor, though it has been long
inclosed. To the south of the village lie Tholthorpe
Fields, which with 'the Heads' in the adjoining
township of Flawith, were inclosed under an Act
obtained in 1800. The township of Flawith covers
607 acres and that of Tholthorpe 1,776 acres.
The whole of this district, and indeed most of the
wapentake, once lay within the royal forest of Galtres,
the bounds of which were described in 1316 as
beginning at the foot of the wall of the city of York at the
bridge of Layrthorpe following the wall as it goes up to the
Boutham gates and so . . . to the river of Ouse thence to
Benningburgh and Newton Bridge and so by Lynton brook and
the midst of Lynton marsh going on to the west of the village
of Tollerton as far as Carne brig, and from the bridge of Carne
following the said brook through the midst of Alne marsh, and
so following the water of Kyle through the midst of Mikelbar
to Raskelf bridge and so going up by Waneless mill and Wyteker
brook between the demesne of our lord the king and Thornton
wood to the park of Crayk, going up and following the bounds
of the said park to the water of Foss and to the mill of Stillington and by the same water to the priory of Melsenby and so to
the Brendmilne of Farlington and so by the said water to the
mill of Bulford and so to Strensale and so to Huntingdon by
the same water even to the foot of the wall of Layrthorpe
bridge where the perambulation began, and in the aforesaid
perambulation were situated without the forest in the balliwick
of Kyle, the villages of Lynton, Aldwark, Tholthorpe, Brafferton,
Helperby, Flathworth, Miton, Faldington, Thornotby, Cessey,
Raskelf and Youlton with their woods and fields.
The aforesaid villages were in the forest at some time before
the enclosure of the forest made by Henry II. (fn. 15)
Alne itself was waste in 1086, and later was
included in the forest of Galtres. (fn. 16) From the 13th
century, however, the land was being assarted and
brought into cultivation. (fn. 17) Traces of its former
character may still be found in the names of Alne
and Tollerton Forests given to the wooded fields in
the east of those townships.
Archbishopric of York. Gules St. Peter's keys argent crossed saltirewise with the mitre of the pope or in the chief.
Manors
At the time of the Domesday Survey
and also before 8 carucates at ALNE
were included in the lands of the Archbishop of York. (fn. 18) The vill was assigned, probably in
the 12th century, together
with Tollerton to the treasurer
of St. Peter's, York, the two
forming one manor (fn. 19) in the
liberty of St. Peter. (fn. 20)
Alne remained in the hands
of the treasurer until the Dissolution, (fn. 21) when he held the
manor of Alne and Tollerton as well as the rectory
manor of Alne, both of which
came to the Crown, and were
granted by Edward VI to
Edward Duke of Somerset in
1547. (fn. 22) On his attainder they
reverted to the Crown.
Bellasis, Viscount Fauconberg. Argent a cheveron gules between three fleurs de lis azure.
Wombwell, baronet. Gules a bend between six unicorns' heads argent.
In 1612 the manor of Alne and Tollerton was
sold by James I (fn. 23) to John Ibson, Robert Fawdington, (fn. 24) Thomas Graver and John Fountains, yeomen,
for the use of the tenants. (fn. 25) These tenants, 'of purpose to preserve the said manor and services thereto
belonging,' sold it in 1618 to Sir Henry Bellasis,
bart., (fn. 26) and Thomas his son and heir, who as Viscount
Fauconberg held it in 1651. (fn. 27) From this time the
manor has followed the descent of that of Newburgh (fn. 28) (q.v.), and Sir George O. Wombwell, bart.,
V.C., J.P., is now lord of the manor.
In 1588 what would appear to have been the
RECTORY MANOR of Alne and Tollerton was
granted to Richard Branthwait and Roger Bromley, (fn. 29)
and before 1603 (fn. 30) it had passed to Sir Hugh Bethell,
who in that year settled it on his nephew Walter
Bethell and Mary Slingsby his wife in tail-male with
remainder to his own male issue and contingent
remainders to Hugh Bethell and others. In 1611
Sir Hugh Bethell died. (fn. 31) He left no sons, (fn. 32) his
heir being his only daughter Grizell, the wife of
Sir John Wray. In 1614 (fn. 33) she quitclaimed her
right to these lands in favour of Walter Bethell,
whose property was increased in 1618 by the
purchase of a fourth part of the treasurer's manor
from John Fountains. (fn. 34) Walter Bethell died in 1623, (fn. 35)
his son and heir Hugh being
nineteen years old. Hugh was
followed by a son Walter, who
held the manor in 1668. (fn. 36)
His son Hugh died without
children, (fn. 37) when the family
estates passed to a cousin
William Bethell. He died in
1699, leaving a son Hugh
and a daughter Elizabeth. (fn. 38)
Alne appears to have passed
to Elizabeth, who married Sir
William Codrington. (fn. 39) Her
third son Christopher assumed
the surname of Bethell, and
it seems probable he inherited
the family estates at Alne. (fn. 40) He married the Hon.
Anne Sandys and died without children, when Alne
apparently passed to his nephew Christopher Codrington, who also assumed the additional surname
of Bethell, and was holding this 'manor' in 1798 (fn. 41)
with his wife Caroline Georgiana Harriet, the
daughter of Lord Foley. (fn. 42) In that year his brother
William John took the name of Bethell and with it the
Alne estates. He died in 1831, (fn. 43) leaving one daughter
Emma, who died unmarried in 1874. (fn. 44) This estate
is probably identical with that now owned by
Mr. J. T. Mintoft.
Bethell. Argent a cheveron between three boars' heads sable with a star argent upon the cheveron.
At the time of the Domesday Survey a 'manor' of
8 carucates in ALDWARK (Adewerca, xi cent.;
Audewerk, Aldewerk, xiii–xv cent.; Aldwarke, xvi
cent.), once held by Ligulf, was in the hands of the
Count of Mortain. (fn. 45) It was granted, probably on
the count's forfeiture, to the Archbishop of Canterbury and formed part of the barony of Whorlton
(q.v.), which it followed in descent till 1418. With
Yarm (q.v.) it was divided in 1556–7 among the
daughters and co-heirs of John Conyers: Margaret,
who died unmarried in February 1559–60, Anne
wife of Anthony Kempe, Elizabeth wife of Thomas
Darcy, and Katherine wife of John Atherton. (fn. 46)
Anne Kempe died in 1567, (fn. 47) leaving a son Henry,
aged six, who died without children. (fn. 48) Elizabeth
Darcy left one son, Conyers Darcy, who in 1582–3 (fn. 49)
held two-thirds of the manor. In 1585 (fn. 50) John
Atherton and Katherine his wife sold their third of
the manor to Richard Frankland and Brian Askwith,
and in March 1587–8 Richard Frankland died (fn. 51)
seised of the whole manor, having a few days before
his death leased his lands in Aldwark for twenty-one
years to Hugh and William Frankland. (fn. 52) Richard
left three sons, of whom Henry, the eldest, succeeded
his father and married first Jane daughter of Sir
Charles Wren, on whom a settlement was made in
1591; they had one son Anthony. (fn. 53) Henry Frankland died in 1622, (fn. 54) leaving three sons, Anthony,
Thomas and Henry. In 1636 Anthony sold Aldwark
to his uncle Thomas, (fn. 55) who settled it the following
year on his nephew Thomas, Anthony's half-brother. (fn. 56)
Thomas died unmarried, and in 1644 Aldwark was
in the hands of his brother Henry Frankland. (fn. 57) He
married Dorothy Holcroft, a settlement being made
in 1650, (fn. 58) and was followed by his son Anthony, who
held the manor in 1672–3. (fn. 59)
Frankland, baronet. Azure a dolphin or and a chief or with two saltires gules therein.
Grey, Lord Walsingham. Barry argent and azure with three rings gules in the chief.
At some date between 1688 (fn. 60) and 1735 (fn. 61) it
passed to the branch of the family seated at Thirkleby
(q.v.), which it followed in descent until the death
in 1849 of Sir Robert Frankland, bart. (fn. 62) It then
passed to his eldest daughter and co-heir Augusta
Louisa, who had married Thomas fifth Lord Walsingham. (fn. 63) Her son Thomas Lord Walsingham is now
lord of the manor.
Early in the 13th century 6 carucates here were
held by Maud wife of Roger de Bavent (fn. 64) and possibly
tenant of the Meynells. In 1229–30 Geoffrey de
Bavent quitclaimed all right in 4 carucates here to
Stephen de Meynell, (fn. 65) who by 1245–6 had acquired
the whole fee. (fn. 66) Roger and Maud de Bavent gave
to Fountains Abbey I carucate of land and pasture
for 200 sheep, as well as a meadow called Coningsrise
and 12 acres called 'Aiketrelands.' To this grant
Maud de Bavent later added a culture here called
'Wideflat,' with a sheepfold. Both these grants
were confirmed by Andrew son of Roger de Bavent
and by Ralph son of Robert, the abbot receiving
a further confirmation in 1268 from Nicholas de
Middleton and John de Crancewyke. (fn. 67)
These lands were granted in 1547 (fn. 68) to Edward
Duke of Somerset; from him they passed to Robert
and Peter Fawdington, yeomen farmers, who sold them
to Thomas Waite. (fn. 69) They were again sold to
Thomas Dickinson; his sons Thomas and Richard
held them in 1684, and claimed that they were
exempt from tithes as part of the temporalities of
Fountains Abbey. (fn. 70)
No mention of FLAWITH (Flathwath, Flatwat,
xii cent.; Flawith, xvi cent.; Flowith, Flaworth,
xvii cent.) is found in the Domesday Survey, but it
was included later in the Wake fee (fn. 71) and in 1316 (fn. 72)
it was held together with Tholthorpe by William de
Roos as appurtenant to his manor of Youlton (q.v.).
In 1252 Luke de Flawith and Agnes his wife
granted a toft with 2 oxgangs and 8 acres of wood in
Flawith to the Master and Brethren of the hospital of
St. Leonard, York, (fn. 73) whose possessions were further
increased in 1322 by William de Hilderthorp. (fn. 74) At
the Dissolution these lands were valued at 10s. (fn. 75)
In 1086 THOLTHORPE (Turulfestorp, xi cent.;
Turoldestorp, xiii cent.; Thoraldthorp, Tolthorp,
xiv cent.) was soke of Helperby and in the
hands of the Archbishop of York. It eventually
formed part of the possessions of the treasurer of
St. Peter's, York, and followed the descent of his
manor of Alne and Tollerton (fn. 76) (q.v.).
Sixteen oxgangs of land here were in the hands of
the Wakes in the 14th century, and may have formed
part of the Mortain fee at an earlier date. The
overlordship continued in the Wake family till it fell
into abeyance. (fn. 77)
Before 1272 a mesne lordship was held by Geoffrey
de Mortimer, who died in that year, when his
widow Sybil received dower. (fn. 78) Geoffrey was followed
by a son and heir William, who in 1285 held 2 carucates and 3 oxgangs. (fn. 79) In 1301 William de Barneby
and Walter de Stokesby held lands in Tholthorpe, (fn. 80)
probably in right of their wives. Walter died before
1312 and in 1315 his widow Joan granted the manor
to Thomas de Tholthorpe and Alice his wife and
their heirs with contingent remainder to their daughter
Elizabeth. (fn. 81) In the following year Thomas son of
Walter de Stokesby quitclaimed the manor to Roger
Dammory and the lords of the vill were returned as
Roger Dammory and William de Barneby. (fn. 82)
The Stokesby portion was
granted in 1340 by Elizabeth
daughter of Roger Dammory
and her husband John Bardolf
of Wormegay to Sir Nicholas
Dammory, kt., for life. (fn. 83) No
further history of this holding
has been found. Various members of the family of Barneby
are mentioned in the 14th
century, (fn. 84) and in 1553 Robert
Barneby died seised of a
capital messuage here and was
succeeded by Lancelot his son. (fn. 85)
Certain lands here formed
part of the settlement made
in 1320 on William de Roos of Youlton (q.v.),
which they followed in descent until 1584. Richard
Ellerker then conveyed 'the manor' to his brother
Anthony, who in 1598 sold two messuages to John
Fountains, Thomas Wharff and Anthony Tennant. (fn. 86)
A great part of the land here is freehold.
Barneby. Argent a cheveron between three bears' heads sable having muzzles or.
In 1285 the Abbot of Byland held 2 oxgangs
and one toft in Tholthorpe, (fn. 87) and at the Dissolution a
messuage and lands here belonging to the house
were valued at 8s. (fn. 88)
The entry referring to TOLLERTON in the
Domesday Survey shows that 8 carucates here were
among the possessions of the Archbishop of York. (fn. 89)
This land was granted to the treasurer of St. Peter's,
York, and followed the descent of Alne (q.v.), being
now in the hands of Sir George O. Wombwell, bart.
In 1291 the treasurer was granted a market every
Wednesday at his manor of Tollerton and a yearly
fair on the eve, day and morrow of the Assumption. (fn. 90)
This grant was confirmed by Henry VIII in 1520. (fn. 91)
The grant of the market was confirmed in 1358,
when fairs were granted for the vigil, day and
morrow of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and
for the vigil, day and morrow of the Exaltation of
the Holy Cross. (fn. 92)
Before 1366 lands in Tollerton, held of this fee
in drengage, had been alienated by one of the treasurers
to Theobald de Tollerton; after his death they passed
to William his son and heir. (fn. 93) The latter alienated
them in fee to Master Thomas de Twyselton;
he was succeeded by his brother William, and they
eventually passed to the daughter of William,
who married Thomas Redman. (fn. 94) In 1367 John
Redman and Cecily his wife sold six messuages, 5 ox
gangs and other possessions in Tollerton to Robert
de Rawcliff. (fn. 95) This land evidently remained in his
family, three messuages being conveyed in 1513 from
Robert Rawcliff to Roger Rawcliff. (fn. 96) In 1552 (fn. 97) Ralph
Rawcliff sold the 'manor' and six messuages to Thomas
Lawson 'of Poppleton.' Thomas was succeeded by a
son Peter, (fn. 98) who with Elizabeth his wife sold the
manor to William Sheppard in 1577. (fn. 99) William
Sheppard and Elizabeth his wife conveyed land here
to Guy Calvert in 1581, (fn. 100) but no further mention
of this estate has been found. (fn. 101)
It seems probable that the greater part of YOULTON (Loletune, xi cent.; Yiolton, Yolton, xiii
cent.) was assessed with the neighbouring vill of
Linton-on-Ouse, where two 'manors' and 5 carucates
of land once held by Torphin and Torn were in 1086
in the hands of the Count of Mortain. (fn. 102) This land
followed the descent of Linton-on-Ouse (fn. 103) (q.v.), and
the manorial rights are now exercised by University
College, Oxford.
Roos. Gules three water budgets argent.
Ellerker. Argent a fesse between three water budgets gules.
A branch of the Roos family was enfeoffed in the
manor of Youlton perhaps as early as the beginning
of the 13th century, for a William de Roos disputed
the right of Stephen de Meynell to land in Aldwark
before 1245–6. (fn. 104) In 1301 William de Roos paid
subsidy there, (fn. 105) and in 1312 he was at the head of a
riotous party of forty-seven people (partly women)
who raided the property of Joan widow of Walter
de Stokesby of Tholthorpe, 'mowed her grass, burned
part of her turves in her moor there, and carried
away another part of her turves together with her
grass.' (fn. 106) In 1315 William de Roos held 1 carucate
in Youlton, (fn. 107) and the manor was settled on him
and his wife Elizabeth with remainder to Joan their
daughter in 1321 and 1322. (fn. 108) William died in 1345;
he had two daughters, Joan the wife of John de
Ellerker, and Margaret, who married Thomas de
Musgrave and died during her father's lifetime, leaving
a son Thomas, co-heir with his aunt Joan. (fn. 109) In
accordance with the settlement, however, Elizabeth
entered into possession (fn. 110) and was the tenant in
1352–3. (fn. 111) On her death the manor passed to the
heirs of Joan wife of John de Ellerker, and in 1369
it was in the hands of Nicholas de Ellerker and
Nicholaa his wife. (fn. 112) In 1415 Joan widow of
Nicholas de Ellerker held the manor. (fn. 113)
Robert Ellerker was farmer of tithes in Youlton
in 1508, (fn. 114) and was followed by a son Richard (fn. 115) ;
Richard had a son Richard, who died in 1584 seised
of a capital messuage or 'manor,' having two years
before his death made a settlement in tail-male on
his son and heir Richard on his marriage with Ann
Thornton. (fn. 116) The last Richard was followed by his
son Ralph, who died in 1639. (fn. 117) Richard son of
Ralph succeeded and married Jane Atkinson, on
whom a settlement was made in 1646. (fn. 118) He died
in 1658, (fn. 119) leaving two sons, Richard and Thomas,
and a daughter Elizabeth. (fn. 120)
Swainston. Azure a fesse or charged with three maidens' heads with veils in their proper colours.
Strangwayes. Sable two lions passant paly argent and gules with a quarter argent.
This land probably became part of the Strangways
estate. John Strangways, who was living in the
parish in the middle of the 18th century, left an only
daughter Frances, who married Alan Swainston and
died in 1799. Their eldest son John died without issue
in 1796 and his brother Edward was his mother's
heir. His eldest son and heir Edward Swainston
died in 1877, when the estate passed to John his son.
Mr. John Swainston-Strangwayes, D.L., J.P., is
now the owner of this property.
At the time of the Domesday Survey certain lands
in Youlton were soke of Helperby and in the hands
of the Archbishop of York. (fn. 121) They were appurtenant to the manor of Alne and Tollerton (q.v.),
which they followed in descent. (fn. 122)
Churches
The church of ST. MARY consists
of a chancel 30 ft. by 17½ ft., north
chapel 16 ft. wide, nave 49 ft. by
23 ft., north aisle (making a total width of 36½ ft.)
and west tower. All measurements are internal, the
total length being 78¾ ft.
The late 11th or early 12th-century church consisted of an aisleless chancel and nave, and of these
the chancel arch and perhaps the chancel door
remain; the rest of the structure was completely
rebuilt about 1150, probably on the same plan with
the addition of a west tower. In the 13th century a
north aisle was added to the nave, and in the following century the east window was inserted and the
north chapel added or rebuilt. The nave aisle was
largely reconstructed during the 15th century, and
at the same time the piers of the nave arcade were
altered, their capitals being probably of this date. In
the 18th century the west tower was rebuilt in brick,
a brick parapet added to the north aisle and other
repairs undertaken. In addition to this the church
has been restored in modern times.
South Doorway of Alne Church
The chancel has a late 14th-century three-light
east window, and in the wall are two stone brackets,
the northern being foliated like a column capital. In
the north wall is a deeply splayed 12th-century roundheaded window, now opening into the north chapel,
between which and the quire, further west, is a large
semicircular 14th-century arch of two continuous
chamfered orders, without capitals or bases. In the
south wall is an early 12th-century chancel door,
the lintel of which is carved externally with grotesque
beasts in low relief, now much weathered. Both
side walls of the chancel have 12th-century corbel
tables with grotesque heads; that on the north side
now supports the sloping roof of the chapel. The
chancel arch is plain and semicircular with square
responds having an impost chamfered on the lower
edge. To the north of it on the west or nave side
is a plain niche. The north chapel was built in the
14th century and has a three-light east window of
that date. In the south wall is a piscina and in the
north an aumbry and a two-light window. A
modern brick arch communicates with the north
nave aisle.
The nave has a north arcade of three acutely
pointed arches of 13th-century date resting on
octagonal piers apparently altered in the early 15th
century. The three 15th-century aisle windows are
each of two lights, but the first and third have been
restored. The brick parapet of the aisle is of 18thcentury date. In the south wall of the nave are two
square-headed 15th-century windows of
three lights. The south door is a very
rich piece of mid-12th-century work.
It is of two orders, the jambs having
one attached and one free shaft on each
side, both restored; the latter have
richly carved bases and blocks as capitals
tailed into the wall, and having chamfered abaci, plain on the west but
carved to the east pier. The attached
shafts of the inner order are carried up
to the under side of their abaci without
capitals. Of the two orders of the arch
the outer has cone ornament along the
edge, and each voussoir of both has a
well-carved medallion; the outer series
represents the following animals with
their names above them: 'vulpis,
panthna, ala, hiena, caladrius, draco (?),
terebolan, aspido,' &c., and the inner
Zodiacal signs, &c. The carvings are
in excellent preservation and comparatively few have been restored. The
south nave wall is built of finely jointed
ashlar. The well-moulded semicircular
tower arch is of 12th-century date, the
jambs having each a half-round shaft
with fluted capitals having voluted
angles and square abaci. The tower is
an 18th-century structure, the lower
part being of stone and the upper of
brick. The nave roof retains some
massive oak tie-beams.
The ancient fittings of the church
include a communion table with good
turned legs dated 1628, a small octagonal pulpit dated 1626 on a modern
base, and a 12th-century font. The
latter has a hemispherical bowl with a
band of carved foliage and fruit round the top and
knot work and two socket holes on the upper surface.
At the west end of the north aisle is an old parish
chest dated 1697. Against the north wall of the
chapel is a recumbent effigy in freestone of a lady
dating from the early 14th century. On her head
are a wimple and a jewelled band; beside it are
angels and the feet rest on a dog.
There are three bells, the first inscribed 'Soli deo
gloria, 1638'; the second 'Soli deo gloria pax hominibus, 1656'; and the third 'Te deum laudamus, 1765.'
The plate consists of a cup with cover (York,
1662), a paten (London, 1704) inscribed 'The Gift
of Elizabeth Wrightson to the parish church of
Allne, 1716,' and a pewter flagon and plate.
The registers begin in 1560.
The church of ST. STEPHEN at Aldwark was
built in 1846 by the late Lady Frankland-Russell,
and is a cruciform structure built of large pebbles
and brick with stone dressings. The transepts have
apsidal ends and the east window is wheel-shaped.
In the angle between the nave and north transept is
a small tower surmounted by a spire.
Advowson
The church of St. Mary at Alne
was a peculiar of the treasurer of
York. (fn. 123) After the Dissolution the
advowson followed the descent of the rectory manor
until after 1798, in which year Christopher Bethell
presented to the living. (fn. 124) Before 1817 it was in the
gift of the Earl Fauconberg, and in 1822 again in the
Bethell family, W. J. Bethell presenting (fn. 125) ; from him
it passed by 1829 to R. Bethell, and continued in
the hands of Sir C. Bethell-Codrington from 1836
to 1873, when W. Bellhouse was the patron. (fn. 126) He
and his trustees continued to hold it until 1905,
when it was purchased by Mr. R. Kershaw of Crow
Nest, Halifax. (fn. 127) Since 1911 the living has been in
the gift of Mrs. J. Stott.
The patronage of the church of St. Stephen at
Aldwark followed the descent of Alne. (fn. 128)
The chapel at Tollerton, endowed with lands in
Alne called 'Ladyland,' was probably a domestic
chapel belonging to the treasurer of York. A feoffment of its endowments was made in about 1544 to
Anthony Ellerker and others for the purpose of maintaining a priest. (fn. 129) All trace of it has now disappeared.
Charities
By an order of the Charity Commissioners of 27 January 1882 a
scheme was established for the administration of the following charities by one body of
trustees, viz.:—
Charity of John Pearson, deed, 1695, endowment consisting of 28 a. at Tollerton, let at £27 a
year, £133 North Eastern Railway £3 per cent.
debenture stock arising from sale of land in 1872,
and £85 14s. 4d. consols, from sale of timber in
1878;
Charity of John Wade, will, date unknown, consisting of 3 a. 3 r. in the Youlton Moor allotments,
and 10 a. 2 r. in Alne Field, let at £14 10s. a year,
and £19 12s. 10d. consols arising from sale in 1896
of a small piece of land to the North Eastern Railway
Company;
Poor's Land, consisting of 1 a. 2 r. known as Pitt's
Field, let at £2 15s. a year;
Unknown donor's charity, being an annuity of £2
payable out of land known as Rotten Croft, now
belonging to Mr. J. Swainston-Strangwayes;
John Plummer's charity, an annuity of £1 paid
out of property now belonging to Mr. Anthony
Crosby, and 2s. 6d. a year received from the village
of Flawith out of property belonging to Mr.
Pinkney.
By the scheme above referred to the net income
of Pearson and Wade's charities is applicable in
certain specified proportions for the benefit of the
necessitous poor of the townships of Alne, Tollerton,
Flawith, Tholthorpe, Aldwark and Youlton. In
1904 money and coal were given to seven poor
widows, and bread was distributed in church every
Sunday.
In 1857 William Sadler, by will, bequeathed £100
to be invested and the income to be distributed in bread.
The legacy is invested in £97 13s. 7d. consols.
In 1892 Ann Brotherton, by will, left £30 15s. 5d.
consols, the dividends to be applied for the benefit of
children of the Church Sunday schools.
The several sums of consols are held by the official
trustees.