MYTON-UPON-SWALE
Mitune, Mitona (xi cent.); Miton, Mitton (xii-xv
cent.).
Myton is a small parish to the south of Helperby;
it is watered by the River Swale, which here forms a
junction with the Ure. The united rivers, henceforth known as the Ouse, continue their course in a
south-easterly direction and form the southern
boundary of the parish, separating it from Lower
Dunsforth.
The parish contains 1,672 acres, of which 650
are arable land, 885 grass and 80 woodland. (fn. 1) The
soil is deep loam with a subsoil of sand and clay.
Turnips, barley and oats are the chief crops grown
and the grassland is very good. As a whole the
parish is flat and low-lying, especially in the west and
south near the rivers, but the riverside scenery is
picturesque. Nowhere does the land rise to more
than 105 ft. above the ordnance datum.
The village is built from east to west along the
high road from York, which here turns sharply north
to cross the Swale by Myton Bridge; it is not
continued on the other side as a main road. The
village contains no buildings of any antiquity. The
iron bridge was built by Major Stapylton in 1870,
near the foundations of an older bridge which was
probably of ancient date. A bridge was in existence
here in the time of Niel Daubeney, (fn. 2) who died in the
reign of Stephen. (fn. 3) It was destroyed by his son (fn. 4)
Roger de Mowbray, (fn. 5) who granted to the abbey of
St. Mary at York a ferry-boat to be used (fn. 6) until such
time as the bridge should be repaired. About 1270
'Stephen, (fn. 7) Earl of Richmond,' gave to the abbey
land in Ellingthorpe to make and maintain a bridge
across the Swale at Myton, or to find a boat there to
convey people across the river, free of charge. (fn. 8) The
monks neglected to make the bridge till the time of
Abbot Alan de Nesse (elected 1313). (fn. 9)
A ferry over the Swale was an appurtenance of the
manor at the Dissolution (fn. 10) and in 1591, and had been
leased separately by the Crown to Leonard Gourley. (fn. 11)
A free passage across the Swale was in the hands of
the Stapyltons in 1676. (fn. 12) In the 19th century there
was a ferry for cattle, carriages, &c., over the river
here. (fn. 13)
It was no doubt owing to the bridge that Myton
was the scene of the 'White Battle' or the 'Chapter
of Myton,' which took place in 1319 on a site just
outside the parish boundary and now known as
Ellingthorpe Ings. (fn. 14) Edward II was besieging Berwick, which had been taken by the Scots, when, to
create a diversion, the Scots sent a force of 15,000
men under the Earl of Murray and James Douglas, who
marched on York, burning and pillaging the country.
An attempt is said to have been made by them to
capture the queen, then resident near York. To
withstand them an army was hastily collected by
William de Melton, Archbishop of York, the Bishop
of Ely, the Abbot of Selby and Sir Nicholas Fleming,
Lord Mayor of York. They pressed into service
priests and peasants and 'such unapt people for the
wars,' and pursued the invaders. The two forces met
near the bridge at Myton on 12 (fn. 15) or 20 (fn. 16) September, and the Scots utterly routed the English, who
fled in disorder, leaving a large number of dead on the
field, many of whom were the priests in full canonicals
who gave the skirmish its distinctive names; many of
the fugitives were drowned in the river, and of the
leaders Fleming was slain. On the side of the Scots
the loss was trifling.
In 1820 the remains of Roger de Mowbray were
removed from Byland Abbey and buried at Myton. (fn. 17)
The Hall, the seat of Mr. Miles Stapylton, stands
near the river bank, having a large park on its eastern
and northern sides. It is said to have been built by
Sir Henry Stapylton in 1693, (fn. 18) but more probably
was built by his father, Brian Stapylton, who in
1626–39 brought a suit against one Robert Staninge
concerning the bricks used to build his new house
and buildings at Myton. (fn. 19) South of the Hall is
St. Mary's Church with a churchyard stretching to
the river bank; near it is the vicarage. A little southwest of the vicarage, down a by-lane, is the Old
Hall, possibly the country house of the Abbots of
St. Mary's, York, at which the abbot stayed in
1534–5. (fn. 20) Near the Old Hall and on the river bank
is the district of Mill Hill. The eastern part of the
parish is known as Myton Moor.
The following 13th-century place-names have
been found: Gategynela, Guwylandes, Banco, Fenerdale, Ravenessyk, Hendikedale. (fn. 21)
Manor
In the time of Edward the Confessor
Ligulf had a 'manor' in MYTON gelded
at 4½ carucates, while Gospatric and
Alverle had another 'manor' of 3 carucates 2 oxgangs.
In 1086 these lands were held by the Count of
Mortain and the king (fn. 22) respectively. Niel Fossard
was perhaps tenant of the lands of the count, who
forfeited them for rebellion in 1088. (fn. 23) Robert son
of Niel (fn. 24) would thus become tenant in chief of part
of Myton, while the rest was apparently granted to
Robert de Stutevill and afterwards formed part of
the barony of Mowbray. (fn. 25) On the foundation of
St. Mary's Abbey, York, (fn. 26) Robert de Meynell (sonin-law of Robert Fossard) (fn. 27) and Robert de Stutevill
gave to the abbey the vill of Myton, containing
8 carucates of land. (fn. 28) This gift was confirmed by
Stephen de Meynell, son of Robert, (fn. 29) and lord of
one fee of Myton, and later Roger de Mowbray
confirmed the vill to the monks. (fn. 30) The abbey
continued in possession (fn. 31) until it was dissolved in
1539, when the lordship of Myton was valued at
£64 12s. 5½d. (fn. 32)
The manor was granted in 1591 to William Cecil
Lord Burghley and John Fortescue, (fn. 33) who seem to
have alienated it in the same year to Richard
Lewkenor and others. (fn. 34) They would seem to have
sold it to the Stapyltons, (fn. 35) probably in or about
1610 when Sir William Ingilby and others conveyed it to Sir John Mallory and others, all of them
possibly trustees. (fn. 36) In 1614 Brian, son of Sir John
Stapylton of Wighill, who is said to have bought
Myton, (fn. 37) had licence to alienate a messuage and land
here to Philip Stapylton and others. (fn. 38) In 1621–5
Brian is mentioned as lord of the manor. (fn. 39) In
1633 he was a justice of the peace for the North
Riding (fn. 40) and Receiver General of the North, (fn. 41) but
he was 'convented' for refusing to allow his men to
pay the muster fee of 12d. (fn. 42) Brian married Frances
daughter of Sir Henry Slingsby
of Scriven; he died in 1658, (fn. 43)
and was succeeded by his son
Henry, (fn. 44) created a baronet in
1660. (fn. 45) He had been elected
M.P. for Boroughbridge about
1647. (fn. 46) He married Elizabeth daughter of Conyers
Lord Darcy, on whom this
manor seems to have been
settled in 1650, (fn. 47) and died in
1679. (fn. 48) His son Sir Brian
Stapylton (fn. 49) was M.P. for
Aldborough in 1679, (fn. 50) and
for Boroughbridge from 1690 to 1715. (fn. 51) He was
Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1683–4 (fn. 52) and died in 1727. (fn. 53)
His son Sir John Stapylton, M.P. for Boroughbridge
1705–8, (fn. 54) died in 1733, succeeded by his son
Miles, (fn. 55) M.P. for Yorkshire 1734–50. (fn. 56) He died
in 1752, leaving an only daughter Anne, who died
unmarried in 1770; on his death the title and
estates passed in succession to his three surviving
brothers Brian, (fn. 57) John and Martin. (fn. 58) Sir John
Stapylton served in the Navy, and distinguished himself at the taking of Havannah. (fn. 59) Sir Martin, who
was in holy orders, died in 1801, leaving a son
Martin. (fn. 60) He died unmarried in 1817, when the
title became extinct. (fn. 61) The Myton estates passed to
his nephew Martin Bree, son of the Rev. John Bree
by Anne daughter of Sir Martin Stapylton the seventh
baronet, who took the name of Stapylton (fn. 62) and was
Sheriff of York in 1821–2. (fn. 63) His son Stapylton
Stapylton died in 1864, and was succeeded by his
son Henry Miles, (fn. 64) a major in the 2nd Dragoon
Guards, who died without issue in 1896, when
Myton passed to his nephew Mr. Miles John
Stapylton, the present owner. (fn. 65)
Stapylton of Myton. Argent a lion sable.
In 1545 the site and capital messuage of the manor
of Myton, in the tenure of William Dent, late Abbot
of St. Mary's, York, was granted in fee to William
Romesden of Longley and others. (fn. 66) They were,
perhaps, fishing grantees, for William Dent died in
possession in 1546; his heirs were his sister Cecily
Dobson, widow, his nephew Christopher Watson, and
his two nieces Alice wife of James Tyndall and Joan
wife of John Chace. (fn. 67) They dealt with the capital
messuage by fine in 1547. (fn. 68) It seems to have been
acquired by the Watsons, for one Edmund Watson
died in January 1595–6 seised of the site of the
manor here. (fn. 69) He was succeeded by his son Edward,
who died in 1603, and was followed by his cousin
Thomas Watson, who had livery in 1607. (fn. 70) In 1617
the site of the manor of Myton was conveyed by John
Wythes and Dorothy his wife to Arthur Aldbroughe, (fn. 71)
who in 1619 conveyed it to William Bell and William
Clarke and the heirs of William Bell. (fn. 72)
Roger de Mowbray granted to the monks of
St. Mary's Abbey leave to have a mill, a dam, and
a fishery at Myton. (fn. 73)
In 1086 certain lands in Myton were soke of the
'manor' of the Archbishop of York at Helperby (fn. 74)
(q.v.), which the overlordship probably followed in
descent. It was possibly this land in the Liberty of
St. Peter that was held at the close of the 12th
century by the treasurer of the cathedral, who
claimed a mill on the River Foss and the church. (fn. 75)
The situation of this land is indicated by a clause in
the settlement made at this time by which the abbot
and convent secured the fishery
from their mill to the bridge,
while the fishery from the
bridge on the north was
assigned to the treasurer.
Church
The church of
ST. MARY consists of a chancel
26 ft. by 17 ft. 3 in., with
organ chamber on the north,
nave 40 ft. by 17 ft. 3 in.
with north aisle, making the
total width 24 ft., western
tower and vestry to the north
of it occupying the west end
of the nave and a south
porch. The total length of
the building is about 76 ft.
All measurements are internal.
The chancel and nave of
the existing building date
from the early years of the
13th century. Assuming that
the modern restoration work
follows the old lines, three windows, including that
in the east wall, were inserted in the chancel in the
15th century. The church has been extensively
restored in recent times, and the modern western
tower and the adjoining north vestry stand within
the limits of the old nave. The most recent addition
to the church is the south porch. The chancel is a
13th-century building with a modern three-light
east window of 15th-century character. At the east
end of the north wall is a plain 13th-century lancet,
and at the east and west ends of the south wall are
blocked lancet windows with detached side shafts,
having moulded capitals and bases. There are also
two modern windows on this side, both of two lights
and of 15th-century character.
The nave is structurally undivided from the chancel,
the south wall being of one build, and supported by
small flat pilaster buttresses, two to the chancel and
three to the nave. At the south-west angle of the
latter is a massive buttress added in the 15th century.
The north aisle was originally four bays long, but
with the nave it has been shortened to three and a
half bays by the tower and vestry already mentioned.
The arcade consists of pointed arches of two chamfered
orders, supported on piers, two circular and one octagonal, with moulded capitals and bases. The western
respond (now included in the vestry) has three attached
shafts and a capital of transitional character, with
square abaci and nail-head ornament. The base rests
on a square plinth. In the spandrels of the arcade
are trefoil and quatrefoil sunk panels with floreated
points to the cusping. The nave windows are all
modern, as are the west tower and south porch. The
roofs and fittings of the church are all modern, but
against the east wall are two paintings on canvas of
the Crucifixion and Ascension, perhaps dating from the
18th century. Under the tower is the head of a
13th-century slab, bearing a well-preserved cross in
high relief. The tower is built of brick faced with
stone and is not square, being wider from north to
south. It contains three bells, all dating from
1805.
Myton Church from the North-west
The plate consists of a cup (London, 1688),
engraved with the arms of Stapylton of Myton, a
paten of the same date with the same arms, a small
paten (London, 1688) and a modern flagon.
The registers before 1812 are as follows: (i) baptisms 1654 to 1783, marriages 1654 to 1755, burials
1658 to 1783; (ii) marriages 1756 to 1812; (iii)
baptisms and burials 1783 to 1812.
Advowson
The early history of the church
is obscure and was disputed at the
close of the 12th century, when the
treasurer of St. Peter's claimed it as in his fee and as a
chapel dependent on the church of Alne, while the
Abbot and convent of St. Mary's, York, maintained
that it was itself a mother church and within their
fee. Whatever the truth, a compromise was arrived
at by which the monks paid an annual pension of 3s.
to the treasurer in return for the release of his rights. (fn. 76)
The church was appropriated to St. Mary's and a
vicarage ordained in 1301. (fn. 77)
At the Dissolution the patronage fell to the Crown,
and in 1545 the rectory and church with the advowson
of the vicarage were granted in exchange to Robert
Archbishop of York. (fn. 78) This grant was renewed to
Nicholas Archbishop of York in 1555–6, (fn. 79) and his
successors have since collated to this living. (fn. 80)
Charities
Glauber's charity is a rent-charge
of £1 paid out of the Myton estate,
the property of Mr. Miles John
Stapylton, lord of the manor.
In 1802 William Melmerby by will left £60, the
interest to be applied in teaching four poor children
of the parish to read and say their catechism. The
trust fund now consists of £77 15s. 6d. consols with
the official trustees. By a scheme of the Board of
Education dated 17 June 1904 the annual dividends,
amounting to £1 19s., are applied in prizes or rewards,
not exceeding 10s. in value, for religious knowledge,
for scholars at a public elementary school, and in the
Sunday school of the parish church.