KIRK LEAVINGTON
Lentun, Leuetona (xi cent.); Levington (xii cent.);
Kirke Levyngton (xiii cent.); Kirkleventun in Cleveland (xv cent.); Leventon (xvi cent.); Kirk Leavington (xvii cent.).
The parish of Kirk Leavington in 1831 included,
besides its present townships of Castle Leavington
and Picton, the township of Low Worsall, which
since 1891 has been united with High Worsall. (fn. 1)
Kirk Leavington itself contains 2,202 acres, Castle
Leavington 1,071 acres, Picton 1,004 acres. The
soil is clay upon a subsoil of Keuper marls. At the
beginning of the last century half the 5,000 acres
which then made up its area were in tillage (fn. 2) ; now
the permanent grass exceeds the arable land by 800
acres, and there are 250 acres of woodland. (fn. 3) In the
east and south of the parish the ground rises to 175 ft.;
elsewhere, except on the banks of the Tees and
Leven, the average height is 125 ft. above the
ordnance datum.
Low Worsall lies west of Kirk Leavington, the
Tees separating it from the county of Durham on
the north. The Hall stands on the river bank near
the little village, once busy with the export of corn,
timber and other merchandise, (fn. 4) and further south is
a Wesleyan chapel built in 1885.
In the south-east of the township are Low Worsall
Moor, Staindale Bridge—an extensive ridge of land
which bore this name in 1285 (fn. 5) and was afterwards
known as Staindale Rigg (fn. 6) —and Hillilies, a 'papist
estate' early in the 18th century. (fn. 7) In 1605 Low
Worsall seems to have been clear of 'papistry,' though
there was a considerable number of recusants in other
parts of the parish. (fn. 8)
South of Low Worsall is Picton with its Wesleyan
chapel, built in 1856, rebuilt in 1875, and a few
houses scattered irregularly on a road leading from
Appleton Wiske to Picton station, on a branch of
the North Eastern railway.
In 1607 some closes in Picton bore the names of
Old Picton, Pole flatt and Faceby furres. (fn. 9)
The village of Kirk Leavington is built on a gently
rising eminence nearly in the centre of the parish,
round the junction of the Thirsk and Yarm road with
another leading west towards Worsall Moor. The
church of St. Martin stands at an elevation of 150 ft.
above the ordnance datum in the south of the village.
Next to it is the Old Hall, now a farm-house, but
once the residence of Mr. Thomas Bates. (fn. 10) North
of the church are the Hall and Grange, surrounded
by extensive grounds and woods. In 1617 two large
tracts of pasture land 'shrubby and overgrown,' one
'the Ox Pasture' in the west, the other 'the Moor'
(perhaps the 'Hallemore' of 1437) (fn. 11) in the south
of the parish, were measured out and apportioned
among the king's tenants and freeholders who had
hitherto occupied them in common. (fn. 12)
Place-names known then and later are Hungrehill,
Morreld or Morraley, Morleybecke, Flagge Crofte,
the Intacke, Baker his Whynnes alias Corneclose,
Kernemyers, the Marres, Grenehaw, Forbye lands
and Bullinge, the last also mentioned in the 16th
century. (fn. 13)
In 1319 Kirk Leavington had suffered so much
from the inroads of the Scots that Eleanor de Percy's
goods here were exempted from taxation. (fn. 14)
The township of Castle Leavington stretches eastward from Kirk Leavington to the steep and wooded
banks of the Leven, which separates it from Hilton
and Middleton. Here are Red Hall, once the
manor-house of the Meritons, (fn. 15) a few scattered farms,
and in the south-east corner the mount on Castle
Hill, 125 ft. above the river. (fn. 16) This castle, from
which the township takes its name, was possibly
thrown up by a member of the Brus family in the
late 11th or 12th century. There was probably
never any masonry work on it, the buildings being of
wood.
Nichel Presther and Stanyholm are 14th, Howden
and Blackbus Fields 17th-century names in this
township. (fn. 17)
At the close of the 17th century contributions
towards the relief of the poor of Low Worsall were
levied from the rest of the parish, a measure which
seems to have provoked considerable dissatisfaction. (fn. 18)
Manors
Six carucates in KIRK LEAVINGTON, formerly of Hawart, were among
the king's lands in 1086; they were
afterwards included in the fief granted to Robert de
Brus. (fn. 19) These followed the descent of Skelton (q.v.)
until Adam Brus gave them to Henry de Percy in free
marriage with his daughter Isabel (fn. 20) for the service, it
is said, of coming on Christmas Day to Skelton Castle
and leading its lady from her chamber to the chapel
for mass and returning to eat a meal with her. (fn. 21) It
was perhaps under this grant that the overlordship,
which belonged to the Crown until 1314, (fn. 22) in 1349
was ascribed to Bartholomew Fanacourt and his wife
Lucy, (fn. 23) in 1430 to Lord Fauconberg. (fn. 24) In 1455,
however, when the last mention occurs, Kirk Leavington was again declared to be held of the king in
chief. (fn. 25)
William de Percy, son and heir of Henry de Percy
and Isabel Brus, (fn. 26) is said to have left Kirk Leavington
in trust for his younger sons, (fn. 27) one of whom, Ingram,
died seised in 1262, when his brother William, a
canon of York, was his heir. (fn. 28) William granted the
manor to his nephew Henry son of Henry de Percy,
who was lord until his death in 1314. (fn. 29) Eleanor his
widow then held Kirk Leavington, which she had
claimed against William de Percy in dower, (fn. 30) till her
death in 1328. She was then succeeded by her son
Henry, who was in possession in 1328, 1335 and
1349. (fn. 31) After his death in or before 1351 (fn. 32) his widow
Idonea or Imania (fn. 33) held Kirk Leavington until she
was succeeded in 1365 by her son Henry, (fn. 34) whose
son Henry was created Earl of Northumberland in
1377. (fn. 35) His younger son
Ralph obtained pardon in
1394 for acquiring this manor
in tail from his father (fn. 36)
without licence. Ralph is
believed to have died soon
afterwards, (fn. 37) and Kirk Leavington reverted to the earl
and was forfeited on his rebellion. It was granted in
1405 with Acklam to Roger
Thornton, Mayor of Newcastle, in reward for the safe
keeping of Newcastle against
the Earl of Northumberland and other rebels. (fn. 38) A
few weeks earlier it had been granted to John Duke
of Bedford, (fn. 39) who demised it to Roger for life;
Roger was seised until his death in 1429, when the
manor reverted to the duke. (fn. 40) When the duke died
in 1435 Henry Percy, the earl's grandson and heir,
petitioned for the restitution of Kirk Leavington, (fn. 41)
of which he was lord when he fell in battle in
1455, (fn. 42) in spite of an assignment in dower to the
duke's widow Jacquetta de Luxemburg. (fn. 43) Ten years
later, when a grant of Kirk Leavington and other
Percy manors to the Duke of Clarence had been
followed by another of the reversion, Henry's widow
Eleanor Percy was in possession. (fn. 44) Her grandson,
the fourth Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland, was
succeeded here in 1489 by his son Henry, (fn. 45) whose
widow in 1530 received this and other manors in
dower from their son Henry. (fn. 46) The latter died without
issue in 1537, having, on the attainder of his younger
brother Thomas for taking part in the Pilgrimage of
Grace, (fn. 47) conveyed his lands to the king, (fn. 48) who granted
Kirk Leavington to Matthew Earl of Lennox and
his wife Margaret and their issue in 1544. (fn. 49) The
rights of the house of Percy, however, had not altogether expired by 1585, when Henry Earl of Northumberland was found to be seised of the reversion of
the manor of Kirk Leavington after the death of
Matthew Earl of Lennox, Margaret late his wife and
their issue. (fn. 50) Before 1602 it had come again to the
Crown and had been leased by both Elizabeth and
James (fn. 51) before Charles I granted it in 1625 to
Robert Lord Carey of Leppington and his son Sir
Henry Carey, (fn. 52) who succeeded his father as Earl of
Monmouth in 1639, (fn. 53) and received a fresh grant of
Kirk Leavington the following year. (fn. 54) On his death
in 1661 the manor came to his daughter Mary, afterwards the wife of the Earl of Denbigh, (fn. 55) who with her
step-son Basil, fourth earl, sold it in 1706 to Sir William
Bowes of Streatlam Castle. (fn. 56) Mary Eleanor, daughter
of Sir William's son and heir George, (fn. 57) lord in 1724, (fn. 58)
brought Kirk Leavington to her husband John Lyon
Earl of Strathmore. (fn. 59) By their eldest son John
Bowes Earl of Strathmore, who held Kirk Leavington
in 1792, (fn. 60) the manor was sold to John Waldy and
Henry Hutchinson, owners in 1805. (fn. 61) Between 1824
and 1830 the southern portion of the manor passed
by purchase to Thomas Bates, son of George Bates of
Aydon Castle, Northumberland. He bred here his
famous herd of shorthorn cattle, and on his death in
1849 was succeeded by his nephew Cadwallader John
Bates of Heddon, Northumberland, the well-known
antiquary. The northern portion came afterwards
into the possession of Lucius Bentinck Viscount Falkland, (fn. 62) who sold it in about 1870 to Thomas Richardson of Hartlepool; his son Mr. W. J. Richardson is
the present owner.
Percy. Or a lion azure.
Bowes. Ermine three bent bows gules.
Lyon. Argent a lion azure in a double tressure counterflowered gules.
The mill which belonged to the manor in 1262 (fn. 63)
is probably the windmill of 1315. (fn. 64) At this date
there was a capital messuage, (fn. 65) as also in 1625, when
it was called Lazenby Grange. (fn. 66) A common bakehouse was then and in 1640 an appurtenance of the
manor, (fn. 67) as were also from the 16th to the 18th
century court leet and view of frankpledge (fn. 68) A
custom or toll called le Gaytelaw or Gayteley in the
16th century was rented at 3s. 4d. in 1605. (fn. 69)
Four geld carucates in CASTLE LEAVINGTON
(Alia Lentun, xi cent.; Levintun, Castellemiton,
Castelleuigton, xiii cent.; Chastell Levyngton, xiv
cent.; Castelleuenton, xv cent.; Castylleventon alias
Castill Lynton near Yarm, xvi cent.) came with
Kirk Leavington Manor (q.v.) through Hawart and
the Conqueror to Robert de Brus and were described
in 1299 as having been 'for long of the fee of Brus.' (fn. 70)
Before 1166, however, they had reverted to the
Crown. They were held by the service of finding a
sergeant with an unbarbed horse, a haketon and a
bascinet in the king's army for forty days. (fn. 71) In 1303
and 1315 this manor was declared to be held of the
Percy lords of Kirk Leavington. (fn. 72)
The family of Feugers, tenants of Castle Leavington in the 13th century, were probably the lineal
descendants of William de Filgeriis, who held a Yorkshire fee in chief from 1166 to 1191. (fn. 73) By 1194 he
had been succeeded by Andrew de Feugers, (fn. 74) who died
in or before 1215, when the custody of William his
heir and of his lands in Leavington and elsewhere
was granted by King John to Philip de Ulecote. (fn. 75)
William, who entered on his inheritance in 1221, (fn. 76)
and like his father commuted his foreign service (fn. 77) by
money payment, was lord of Castle Leavington until
his death in about 1281. (fn. 78) By Andrew his son, then
aged fifty, a moiety of the Feugers' lands here had
already been transferred to Nicholas de Meynell as the
price of his services in releasing him from his debts
to Hagin, a Jew of London, (fn. 79) and in 1285 Nicholas,
with his wife Christiana, received a formal grant
from the Crown of the whole manor and was returned
as lord. (fn. 80) Christiana, who succeeded her husband in
1299, (fn. 81) died in 1311 or 1312, shortly after Nicholas
their son obtained licence to grant the reversion of
Castle Leavington to his younger brother John, (fn. 82) lord
in 1316 (fn. 83) and until 1337, when his infant grandson,
a third John de Meynell, was his heir, (fn. 84) a third of the
manor being held by his widow Katherine until
1345. (fn. 85) Four years after his grandmother the heir
died and Castle Leavington passed to his sister Alice
and her husband Robert de Bolton, (fn. 86) and was settled
on them in 1350. (fn. 87) Robert was dead in 1356, when
another Robert de Bolton made violent entry into
the manor of Castle Leavington, then held by Walter
Boynton, (fn. 88) second husband of Alice. (fn. 89) Alice, who
married her third husband John or William de Percy
about 1364, (fn. 90) died in 1387, when Castle Leavington
descended to her son Walter Boynton. (fn. 91) On his death
without issue the following year William de Percy,
the son of her third marriage, succeeded and held till
his death in 1396. (fn. 92) His infant son William did not
long survive his father, and Castle Leavington, with
the exception of the third held by his mother Christiana
until her death in 1417, came to Margaret (fn. 93) daughter
of Alice Meynell by her third husband and wife of
Thomas Blanfront. (fn. 94) John son of Thomas and Margaret (fn. 95) died without issue, (fn. 96) and Thomas was holding
by courtesy in 1428 (fn. 97) and in 1434, when the manor
was settled by John and Christopher Conyers and
Christopher Boynton on Sir William Bowes and other
trustees. (fn. 98) Thomas died childless before or in 1444,
and Castle Leavington was then settled on Christopher
Boynton, his wife Joan and their issue. (fn. 99) Joan held
from Christopher's death in 1451 (fn. 100) until January
1488–9, when Henry Boynton her grandson succeeded
her. (fn. 101) Elizabeth his daughter and heir with her second
husband Sir Thomas Hilton (fn. 102) obtained pardon for
having acquired without licence the manor of Castle
Leavington. (fn. 103) Three years after her death, 1545, (fn. 104) Castle
Leavington was entailed on Richard son of Sir Henry
Gascoigne her son by an earlier marriage. (fn. 105) After
the death of Sir Thomas Castle Leavington came to
Sir Henry, who was seised in 1555 (fn. 106) and at his death
in 1559. (fn. 107) Richard, on whom with his wife Jane
Norton a fresh settlement was made in 1563, (fn. 108) did
not enjoy undisturbed possession until 1564. (fn. 109) He
was succeeded in February 1603–4 by his son Sir
William Gascoigne, (fn. 110) who in 1611 conveyed Castle
Leavington to Francis Atkinson and John Garforth. (fn. 111)
No later mention of the manor as a whole seems
to survive in public records. Dr. Meriton, Dean of
York, was seised at his death in 1624 of property
in Castle Leavington which descended to his eldest
son George (fn. 112) and was held by him as one-quarter of
the manor in 1642. (fn. 113) From the descendants of the
dean's younger son Thomas this came to the Pennymans of Ormesby and was sold by Sir James Pennyman to Mr. Robert Caris in 1802. (fn. 114)
Other lands here, sold in 1633 by John Garforth
and his wife Alice to Roger Beckwith, (fn. 115) passed at his
death in 1634 to his younger sons Matthew and
William, (fn. 116) who held them in 1662, as did Matthew
with his elder son John thirteen years later. (fn. 117)
William Beckwith, grandson of Matthew's younger
son William, (fn. 118) owned a considerable estate in Castle
Leavington in 1808. (fn. 119) The manorial rights are now
in abeyance, but Mr. Henry John Beckwith still
owns an estate here. (fn. 120)
The history of another quarter of the manor
settled in 1646 by Jeremiah Elwes on Lionel Robinson (fn. 121) cannot be traced further, and it is said that all
manorial rights fell into disuse long before the 19th
century. (fn. 122)
One capital messuage belonged to the manor of
Castle Leavington in the 13th and 14th centuries, (fn. 123)
and in the 17th there were two in the occupation of
the Meritons and Beckwiths respectively. (fn. 124) The two
water-mills of 1281 (fn. 125) had been succeeded before 1349
by a water-mill and a fulling-mill, (fn. 126) and in the
16th century a water-mill, in the 17th a water-mill
and a dovecot, were appurtenances of the manor. (fn. 127)
Free warren granted to Nicholas de Meynell in 1285
was renewed to John de Meynell in 1312. (fn. 128)
At PICTON (Pyketon, xiv cent.) in 1279 a quarter
of a knight's fee and 1½ carucates were held of the heirs
of Peter de Brus. (fn. 129) In the partition of his lands Picton
was included in the share of his sister Lucy wife of Marmaduke de Thweng, and was held of her granddaughter
and heir Lucy from 1316 (fn. 130) until 1346, when with her
husband Bartholomew de Fanacourt she settled this
and other fees on John Darcy, her granddaughter's
husband. (fn. 131) The rights of his grandson John Darcy,
overlord in 1411, (fn. 132) descended through his son Philip
to Philip's daughter and co-heir Margery wife of
Sir John Conyers, (fn. 133) and belonged in 1540 and 1549
to their great-great-grandson of the same name. (fn. 134)
William and Geoffrey de Picton, sub-tenants in
1279 (fn. 135) and 1285 (fn. 136) respectively, were represented by
an unnamed heir in 1303, (fn. 137) possibly the Margaret
whose husband John Judy was lord of Picton in 1334. (fn. 138)
Their successors seem to have been known by the
territorial name. John de Picton was holding the fee
in 1342 and Laurence de Picton in 1362, when he
granted his lands here to John Gower of Sexhow and
Thomas Ellerbeck. (fn. 139) John Gower, who entered into
possession of the manor of Picton in 1364, (fn. 140) was succeeded by his son of the same name, whose widow
Joan surrendered her rights here to their son and heir
Nicholas in 1391. (fn. 141) In 1417 Nicholas was succeeded
by his son John, (fn. 142) whose son and heir, another John
Gower, received a grant of the manor from his grandmother Joan Gower of Hett in
1454. (fn. 143) He was probably the
ancestor of Thomas Gower,
who was seised of Picton
Manor at his death in or
about 1549, when his heir
was his grandson Thomas, (fn. 144)
who seventeen years later sold
Picton to Robert Pursglove. (fn. 145)
In the autumn of 1593 Robert
sold the reversion of a moiety
of the demesne lands in Picton
to Roger Chapman (fn. 146) ; Robert
died in the following January
and Roger in September 1596,
when he was declared to have been seised of the
manor or capital messuage of Picton with all demesne
lands there. (fn. 147) Some rights, possibly over the moiety
unaccounted for in the inquiry held after Robert
Pursglove's death, remained with his son and heir
Robert until 1600, (fn. 148) but the manor itself descended
through Roger Chapman's son John (fn. 149) to another
Roger Chapman, who sold it to Edward Pepys of
the Middle Temple, William Turner and Nicholas
Johnson, citizens and woollen drapers of London, in
1652, (fn. 150) the bargain being completed in 1657. (fn. 151)
Public records preserve no later notice of Picton as
a manor, and in 1808 the lands were said to be in
the hands of various freeholders. (fn. 152)
Gower. Argent a cheveron between three talbots sable.
A windmill was an appurtenance of this manor
from 1566 to 1657, (fn. 153) a capital messuage in 1652. (fn. 154)
Three carucates in LOW WORSALL (Alia Wercesel, xi cent.; Parva Wyrkesale, xiii cent.; Wirksallcum-Stayndale, Worsell, xv cent.; Lyttyl Worsall,
Nether Worsall, xvi cent.; East Worsall, xix cent.),
owned by Hawart before the Conquest, were in the
king's hands in 1086, but were afterwards added to
the fee of Robert de Brus. (fn. 155) In 1285 they were in
the hands of Margaret de Roos, (fn. 156) but before 1303 they
were transferred to Marmaduke de Thweng. (fn. 157) No
later direct reference to the overlordship seems to
survive.
Lowther. Or six rings sable.
The early tenancy of Low Worsall is not easily traced.
Robert Gower, lord in 1285 and 1303, (fn. 158) was succeeded
by John Gower in or before 1316, (fn. 159) possibly the John
Gower 'of Worsall' mentioned in 1333. (fn. 160) The
manor followed Faceby (q.v.) to Christiana de Wauton
and her sister Elizabeth. In 1377, however, Sir
Roger Fulthorpe held in right of his wife a part of the
Gower fee which was probably Low Worsall. (fn. 161) It
was inherited by his family, the Fulthorpes of Tunstall,
and was settled in 1483 on the daughters and co-heirs
of Thomas Fulthorpe, Isabel wife of Henry Radcliffe,
Philippa wife of Richard Booth, and Joan wife of
Philip Strangways. (fn. 162) Francis Constable, grandson of
Joan Fulthorpe by her second husband, Sir William
Constable of Caythorpe, (fn. 163) was lord in 1574, when
with his wife Margaret and son and heir William he
sold Low Worsall to Robert
Middleton of Belsay Castle. (fn. 164)
Thomas son of Robert, lord in
1623, (fn. 165) was succeeded by his
grandson Robert, (fn. 166) who sold
the manor, probably about
1654, to Sir John Lowther, (fn. 167)
whose grandson of the same
name, afterwards Viscount
Lonsdale, owned it in 1676. (fn. 168)
Henry Viscount Lonsdale,
his second son, held it in
1727, (fn. 169) but before 1742 Low
Worsall had been sold to
George Allan of Blackwell Grange. (fn. 170) He was succeeded by his son of the same name before 1808, (fn. 171)
and Robert son of his younger son Robert was in
possession in 1811. (fn. 172) The manor was sold in or
about 1832 to E. G. Waldy of Barmpton, Darlington,
and in 1859 passed under his will to his youngest
son John Waldy. (fn. 173) In 1866 it was bought by
Mr. Thomas Hustler. From this time it followed
the descent of Acklam until sold in 1911 to Mr. Ernest
Bainbridge, the present owner.
The Prior of Healaugh Park owned land in Picton
and Low Worsall in the 15th and 16th centuries, (fn. 174) and
certain closes in Picton once of this house were held
of the Crown as one-sixtieth of a knight's fee in 1607. (fn. 175)
In or before the 13th century Guisborough Priory
received various gifts of land, one donor, William de
Wicton, granting half a carucate in Kirk Leavington,
which it seems to have retained till its surrender. (fn. 176)
Another house which had a small holding here in the
16th century was the convent of Nun Monkton. (fn. 177)
Churches
The church of ST. MARTIN stands
on high ground and consists of chancel
22 ft. 6 in. by 16 ft. 6 in., nave 42 ft.
by 21 ft. 6 in., north transeptal chapel 9 ft. 9 in. by
8 ft. wide, and south porch 8 ft. by 7 ft., all these
measurements being internal. There is also a bellturret with short spire over the west gable containing
three bells. (fn. 178) The chancel arch and the south doorway
are of 12th-century date, and the chancel belongs to
the 13th century, but with these exceptions the whole
of the structure is modern, having been rebuilt on
the old foundations in 1882–3. (fn. 179) The building,
however, is of considerable interest and stands on an
ancient site, the 12th-century church, the nave of
which was probably the same size as at present,
having apparently been the successor of one of still
older date. In the course of demolition in 1882
a large number of pre-Conquest fragments, mostly
portions of cross shafts or arms, with interlacing and
other ornament, were discovered, most of which are
preserved at the west end of the nave. A number of
mediaeval grave slabs were also found. (fn. 180)
The 12th-century building was apparently a good
example of the aisleless church of the district with
rectangular chancel, which was afterwards rebuilt in
its present form. Some time later, perhaps in the
14th century, (fn. 181) the transeptal chapel was added, but
no portion of the original masonry remaining, the
date of its erection cannot positively be stated. In
Ord's time, c. 1846, the south porch was 'walled up
and converted into a vestry,' and 'an ancient north
porch' could also be traced 'notwithstanding the
modern doorway erected over it.' (fn. 182)
The upper part of the east wall of the chancel has
been rebuilt and the east window consists of three
modern lancets. On the north side are three original
lancets, with external hood moulds, and on the south
two similar lancets with a later segmental-headed
window of two trefoiled lights without hood mould
near the east end. The pointed priest's doorway is
original, with plain chamfered head and double-chamfered hood mould, but it is now boarded up inside.
There is some red sandstone mingled with the old
masonry and two fragments of mediaeval grave slabs
are built into the east wall. There are no buttresses
and the walls are plastered internally. No ancient
ritual arrangements remain, and the roof is modern
and covered, like that of the nave, with blue slates. (fn. 183)
The chancel arch is of the usual semicircular type,
of two orders towards the nave, but with a single
square order facing east. The opening is 6 ft. 7 in.
in width, and both orders have the cheveron ornament and spring from angle shafts with carved capitals
and moulded bases. The two inner capitals are of
the scalloped cushion type, but the outer are more
elaborately treated. That on the north side has a
human head at the angle, with a spiral volute above,
and on either side a line of star ornament and other
enrichment of plainer character. The neck of the
capital has the cable moulding, and the west face
of the stone is carved with the figure of an animal,
apparently a bull. The capital on
the south side has a bird at the
angle with long incurved wings,
and the face of the stone, as on
the opposite side, has been carved
with the figure of a beast, only a
fragment of which remains. These
figures possibly represent the symbols of the Evangelists. The imposts are quirked and chamfered,
but are not continued along the
walls, and the two outer shafts
have been renewed. The wall on
either side of and above the arch
has been rebuilt.
The south doorway has a semicircular arch of two orders springing from chamfered imposts and
attached angle shafts with carved
capitals and moulded bases. Both
orders have the cheveron ornament
on the face, but the soffits are
plain, and the cheveron of the
inner order is carried down the
jambs. The opening is 3 ft. 6 in.
wide and the outer shafts are
octagonal in section. There is no
hood mould. The two inner
capitals have volutes and grotesque
animals and the outer appear to
have been of the scalloped cushion
type. One has been replaced by
a block of stone and the other is
very much worn. On the inside
the doorway is entirely modern.
The nave is in the style of the
14th century with an open roof
of four bays, the easternmost of
which is open to the transept by
a pointed arch. Built into the
north wall outside are four portions of mediaeval grave slabs, and
some 12th-century fragments at
the angles. In the transept are
portions of eleven other grave slabs
with various emblems—sword, chalice, shears, &c.—
and in the chancel an unmutilated stone with floreated
cross, chalice and book. (fn. 184) Two other grave slabs are
in the porch. In the churchyard on the south side
are a stone coffin and two portions of mediaeval coped
gravestones with floreated cross heads.
The fittings are all modern and include an oak
chancel screen, oak pulpit in memory of Mary Luke
(d. 1900), and circular stone font. The bowl of a
six-sided font in the churchyard is probably not older
than the 17th century, but the shaft is ancient and
has dog-tooth ornament at the angles. (fn. 185)
The plate consists of a cup, paten and flagon of
1876, Sheffield make, each inscribed 'Kirkleavington Church 1876.' There are also two pewter
flagons by Edmund Harvey, and a plated almsdish
inscribed 'Kirk Leavington Church Revd William
Putsey Minister, Thomas Bell Church Warden
1846.' (fn. 186)
The registers begin in 1734.
Kirk Leavington Church: The Chancel Arch
The church of ST. HILARY at Picton was commenced in 1910 and consists at present of a chancel
only.
Advowson
The church of Kirk Leavington,
granted by Robert de Brus, founder of
Guisborough Priory, to that house, (fn. 187)
was afterwards given by his grandson Adam to the
abbey of Thornton in Lincolnshire. (fn. 188) It was, however,
confirmed to Guisborough before 1167 by Archbishop
Roger, (fn. 189) who somewhat later engaged in a long
controversy with Prior Ralph touching this church. (fn. 190)
After two canons had been excommunicated and the
prior deposed by the archbishop, the dispute was
ended by papal commissioners, by whose award the
advowson was restored to the priory after the archbishop's death. Before 1199 an agreement was also
effected between the Abbot of Thornton and the Prior
of Guisborough, (fn. 191) the right of the latter being acknowledged. Kirk Leavington Church was appropriated
before 1291, (fn. 192) and was retained by the priory until its
dissolution in 1540. (fn. 193) In 1545 the rectory and advowson were included in a grant to the Archbishop of
York, (fn. 194) and have belonged to his successors ever since. (fn. 195)
In the 13th century William de Feugers and his wife
were granted a chantry in their chapel of Leavington
on condition of an annual payment of 2s. to the
mother church at Leavington, to be made at the
feasts of Pentecost and St. Martin in the winter. (fn. 196)
Charities
In 1692 William Hall by will
devised a messuage and parcel of
ground adjoining, containing about
1½ acres, the rents and profits to be distributed
amongst the poor upon Trinity Sunday and Christmas
Day. The property was sold in 1898, and the
proceeds invested in £179 19s. 6d. consols with the
official trustees; the dividends, amounting to £4 10s.
a year, are distributed in doles of money.