ORMESBY
Ormesbi, Ormesbie (xi cent.); Ormsby (xiii cent.);
Ormysby (xiv cent.); Ormesbye, Ormysbye, Ormsbye
(xvi cent.).
In 1831 the parish of Ormesby included the
chapelry of Eston and the townships of Normanby,
Morton and Upsall; of the 8,963 acres covered
by the ancient parish 3,491 acres are arable land,
3,234 acres permanent grass and 237 acres woods
and plantations. (fn. 1) The ecclesiastical parish of Ormesby
now consists of the townships of Ormesby, Morton
and Upsall, while the civil parish is composed of the
townships of Ormesby, North Ormesby and part of
Cargo Fleet. A portion of Ormesby and the remainder of Cargo Fleet are now included in Middlesbrough. (fn. 2) Eston is now a separate ecclesiastical
parish and includes Normanby and Grangetown.
The land slopes upwards towards the moors of Eston
and Upsall in the south-east, the greatest height being
700 ft above ordnance datum at Mount Pleasant, a
rising ground in the middle of Upsall Moor. The
soil is clay, with a subsoil of Upper and Lower Lias,
and the chief crops are wheat, barley, oats, beans and
clover.
The principal industry of the parish is ironstone
mining, the Eston mines being the first to be opened
in Cleveland between 1850 and 1860. In connexion with this industry are many blast furnaces,
iron-foundries and steam saw-mills at Branch End,
South Bank and Cargo Fleet on the banks of the
Tees, which forms part of the northern boundary
of the parish; while the development of North
Ormesby, an ecclesiastical parish formed out of the
old parish of Ormesby in 1871, is also largely due
to the same causes. There are railway stations at
Ormesby and Eston on the Middlesbrough and
Guisborough branch of the North Eastern railway,
and at Cargo Fleet and Grangetown on the Darlington and Saltburn branch. Public elementary
schools were built at Eston in 1873, at Grangetown in 1884, and at Cargo Fleet in 1909. In
North Ormesby a boys' school was built in 1884,
and a girls' school here, built in 1875, was enlarged
in 1891. There is an infants' school at Eston,
built in 1909, and Roman Catholic schools were
erected in Grangetown in 1884 and in North
Ormesby in 1885.
Ormesby Hall stands at the west end of Ormesby
in a park of 100 acres, and consists of two blocks
placed corner to corner, south-east and northwest. The older part, which is of uncertain date,
much modernized, is a square two-story building
with a courtyard in the middle, and now contains
the offices and servants' rooms. The newer part,
or house proper, which stands to the north-west,
is a plain 18th-century building of three stories
with pediments to the north and south fronts and
high-pitched hipped roofs. It was built by Dorothy
wife of James Pennyman and daughter of Archbishop
Wake about the middle of the 18th century. (fn. 3) The
house has since been somewhat modernized. (fn. 4)
Cargo Fleet was formerly known as Caldicotes
(Caldecotis, xii cent.; Kaldecothis, xiv cent.; Caldecoates, xvii cent.); a water-mill here was granted to
Guisborough by Arnald de Percy at the foundation
of the priory. (fn. 5) This mill is frequently mentioned, (fn. 6)
and, together with a windmill in Ormesby, was afterwards given to William son of Walter de Percy in
exchange for lands in Ormesby. (fn. 7)
North Ormesby is symmetrically built round a
square market-place, to the north-east of which is the
church of Holy Trinity, erected in 1869. There
is a Roman Catholic school chapel dedicated to
St. Alphonsus, built in 1885, and there are also
Baptist and Wesleyan chapels, built in 1884, and a
Primitive Methodist chapel. A hospital, said to
have been the first 'cottage hospital' in England,
now contains more than 100 beds (fn. 8) ; it stands southwest of the market square, by the side of the Ormesby
Road, which leads past the cemeteries on the east and
the vicarage on the west to Ormesby.
Ormesby is a small village lying to the east of
Ormesby Hall. The church, dedicated to St. Cuthbert,
stands amidst trees to the west of the village, in a position of much beauty. The entrance to the churchyard is through a lych-gate erected in 1883 by
Elizabeth Caroline Brown. Hambleton Hill, to the
south, is probably the Hameldon of which various
early mentions occur. (fn. 9)
The village of Normanby is about a mile northeast of Ormesby, Normanby House lying to the
north-west, while Normanby Hall is situated among
park lands further south. The common fields were
inclosed in 1790, and to the south-east are moorlands and plantations. North of the village is
Normanby Grange Nursery, probably the site of the
grange which belonged to the monastery of Rievaulx. (fn. 10)
The modern parish of Eston includes California on
the north-east, South Eston on the south-west, and
Old Eston on the north-west. It owes its importance
and size to the ironstone mines. Christ Church,
built in 1884, lies to the west of the town, while
the old chapel of St. Helen, now used as a mortuary
chapel, is further west. The Wesleyan Methodists,
Primitive Methodists, and Bible Christians have
chapels, and that of the Congregationalists was built
in 1858. The hospital was built in 1884.
Grangetown, north of Eston, has sprung up since
1881, and has extensive steel and iron-works. A
Roman Catholic church dedicated to Our Lady of
Perpetual Succour was built in 1885, and there are
also Congregational, Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist chapels. North-east of the market-place is a
Literary Institute, built in 1889. Public baths
were opened in 1897. North-east of Grangetown
and due north of Eston village is Eston Grange,
which belonged to Fountains Abbey. (fn. 11) South of
Eston is Eston Moor, hill ground on which are
several tumuli; this moor juts out to the northeast in a spur known as Eston Nab, where there are
traces of an encampment. (fn. 12)
The township of Upsall is due south of Eston and
west of Ormesby. Upsall Hall lies to the west, and
there are moorlands and plantations to the east, where
are mines and quarries. Upsall Mill Farm, to the
south-east of the moor, seems to indicate the site of
a mill given to Guisborough by Robert de Tunstall
early in the 13th century. (fn. 13)
Morton forms the southern portion of the parish
and consists of three farms. Morton Grange, the
history of which remains obscure, but which probably
belonged to Guisborough, as lands here were early
granted to that house, (fn. 14) is in the south-east and
Morton Carr in the south-west. Here are brick
and tile-works, due south of Normanby village.
Many of the old place-names in this parish are
known. (fn. 15) Ketelpittes, Culteracre, Barlielandes, Peselandes, Sandpittes, Austerculteraker, Priurhyl, Langeleinlandes, Wuerestebotham, Scortesandes, Hueflat,
Langthorndic, Gosemire, Bradderburniorth, Midellesteboem and many others occur among the lands of
Guisborough Priory (fn. 16) ; while Birtrestub, Blalandes
and Fornflat are found among those of Whitby
Abbey. (fn. 17)
Manors
Before the Conquest 12 carucates in
ORMESBY were held by four thegns, (fn. 18)
and Orme is mentioned as a tenant in
1086. (fn. 19) Ormesby formed part of the fee granted to
Robert de Brus, (fn. 20) the overlordship following the
descent of the manor of Yarm (q.v.). Arnald de
Percy, lord of Kildale, was holding Ormesby early
in the 12th century. (fn. 21) This manor followed the
descent of Kildale (q.v.) until William de Percy
granted a tenement here to his younger son William
and his issue in 1268, (fn. 22) and in 1280 followed this
with a feoffment of the manor to William and his
heirs (fn. 23) for a rent and foreign service. The elder
son Arnald thus held a mesne lordship. (fn. 24) William
died seised in 1295 (fn. 25) and was succeeded by his son
Alexander, (fn. 26) at whose death his son John followed. (fn. 27)
John Percy died without male issue, (fn. 28) and his
daughter and heir Juliana married Robert Conyers, (fn. 29)
whose descendants held the manor for many generations. Robert Conyers was succeeded in Ormesby by
his son another Robert, (fn. 30) lord of the manor in 1427–8, (fn. 31)
at whose death his son John succeeded. (fn. 32) John died
in 1438 (fn. 33) ; his son and heir Robert (fn. 34) died shortly
afterwards, (fn. 35) leaving a daughter and heir Anne, who
married Sir James Strangways (fn. 36) and died seised in
March 1517–18, (fn. 37) when her son James succeeded to
the manor. (fn. 38) This James Strangways 'of Ormesby'
died seised in March 1526–7 (fn. 39) ; his son and heir
James in 1529 obtained a grant of exemption from
serving on juries, (fn. 40) and was in possession in 1539 (fn. 41) and
1545. (fn. 42) He died in January 1547–8 and was succeeded
by his son Sir Richard, (fn. 43) who died seised in or about
1558, his heir being his son James. (fn. 44) James made
a conveyance of the manor in 1592, (fn. 45) and in 1596
he, with his nephew Strangways Bradshaw (fn. 46) (son of
his sister Elizabeth, who married James Bradshaw of
Gisburn), conveyed it to Ralph Rokeby, (fn. 47) who four
years later conveyed it to James Pennyman. (fn. 48) James
Pennyman in 1601 had a grant of various lands in
Ormesby which had belonged to the monasteries of
Guisborough, Whitby and Byland, (fn. 49) and in 1602
he bought three messuages here from Christopher
Bulmer. (fn. 50) With James Pennyman the younger he
made a conveyance of the manor to William Tothill
in 1606. (fn. 51) This William Tothill, 'one of the six
clerks in Chancery,' (fn. 52) may be identified as William
Pennyman, an illegitimate son of James, (fn. 53) the conveyance being probably a settlement of one moiety
of the manor for life on
William, who died seised
thereof in 1628. (fn. 54) James
Pennyman, head of the legitimate line, died in possession
of the other moiety in 1624
and was succeeded by his son
James, (fn. 55) who made conveyances of the manor in 1636 (fn. 56)
and 1650. (fn. 57) On his death in
1655 (fn. 58) he was succeeded by
his son James, who had been
knighted in 1642. (fn. 59) Both
father and son were ardent
Royalists, (fn. 60) and during the
Commonwealth they were
heavily fined, (fn. 61) with the result that James Pennyman
conveyed a moiety of the manor to Gervase Elwes. (fn. 62)
James was created a baronet in February 1663–4 (fn. 63) ;
he died in 1679, (fn. 64) and was succeeded by his son
Sir Thomas, (fn. 65) Lord Privy Seal to William III, (fn. 66) who
died in 1708. (fn. 67) His son Sir James was lord of the
manor in 1717–18 (fn. 68) and died in 1745 (fn. 69) ; his son
and successor Sir William, (fn. 70) who was lord of the
manor in 1762, (fn. 71) died unmarried in 1768, (fn. 72) when
his brother Warton succeeded him. (fn. 73) Sir Warton
died without surviving male issue, (fn. 74) his heir being his
nephew James, son of his brother Ralph. (fn. 75) Sir James
died in 1808, (fn. 76) when the baronetcy and estates passed
to his son Sir William Henry, (fn. 77) the last baronet, who
died without issue in 1852. (fn. 78) His cousin James
White Worsley (fn. 79) assumed the name of Pennyman
and inherited the estate, which he held until his
death in 1870. (fn. 80) His son James Stovin Pennyman (fn. 81)
died in 1896, (fn. 82) and was succeeded by his son James
Worsley Pennyman, the present owner.
That part of the manor sold to Gervase Elwes
during the Commonwealth (fn. 83) descended to his grandson Sir Harvey Elwes, bart. (fn. 84) ; he sold it in 1720 (fn. 85)
to Ralph Robinson, from whose nephew it is said to
have been repurchased by Sir James Pennyman in
1770. (fn. 86) It was afterwards sold to John Brown, the
owner in 1806, (fn. 87) whose descendant Miss Brown of
Ormesby House held lands here in 1905, but has
since died.
Pennyman of Ormesby, baronet. Gules a cheveron ermine between three broken spears or with their heads argent.
Land in Ormesby seems to have remained in the
hands of the Bradshaws after the conveyance of
1596. (fn. 88) In 1610, and again in 1628–9, Strangways
Bradshaw was holding lands here, (fn. 89) and in 1663–4
Constable Bradshaw was living here. (fn. 90)
A windmill was appurtenant to the manor in the
16th and 17th centuries. (fn. 91) Free warren in his
demesne lands here was granted to William de Percy
in 1253. (fn. 92) View of frankpledge was appurtenant to
the manor in 1596, (fn. 93) and in 1601 James Pennyman
received a grant of courts leet, view of frankpledge and
all other privileges which had belonged to the Priors
of Guisborough in this place. (fn. 94)
A second manor in Ormesby belonged to Guisborough Priory and was known as ORMESBY
GRANGE. In 1300 the priory held 3½ carucates
here by grant of the Percys and their tenants; they
also held the carucate which was endowment of
the parish church, and on this was situated their
dwelling-house. (fn. 95) After the Dissolution this manor
was leased to various persons, (fn. 96) and in 1601 it was
granted in fee to James Pennyman. (fn. 97) Henceforth
it followed the descent of the principal manor of
Ormesby.
Whitby Abbey also had grants of land in Ormesby. (fn. 98)
Before the Conquest Waltef held a 'manor' at
ESTON (Astune, Astun, xi cent.; Estona, xii cent.)
which in 1086 was among the lands of the Count of
Mortain. (fn. 99) It afterwards formed part of the Canterbury fee. (fn. 100)
In 1086 the tenant was Richard (de Surdeval). (fn. 101)
Early in the 12th century Robert de Meynell, (fn. 102) lord
of Whorlton, was apparently lord of this manor, which
followed the descent of Whorlton (q.v.) until the death
of John Lord Conyers in 1556–7, (fn. 103) being eventually
divided among his three surviving daughters and
co-heirs, (fn. 104) Anne wife of Anthony Kempe, Elizabeth
wife of Thomas Darcy, and Katharine wife of John
Atherton. (fn. 105) The share of Katharine, here as at
Marske (q.v.), came in 1644 into the hands of
Conyers Darcy (fn. 106) Lord Conyers, son and heir of
Thomas and Elizabeth Darcy. He died in 1654 (fn. 107)
and was succeeded by his son Conyers, (fn. 108) whose
daughter married Sir Henry Stapylton of Myton, (fn. 109)
apparently bringing the estate into her husband's
family, as her son Sir Bryan Stapylton (fn. 110) in 1680
held two-thirds of the manor, (fn. 111) which henceforth
followed the descent of Myton-on-Swale, (fn. 112) the present
lord of the manor being Mr. Miles John Stapylton.
The third which descended to Anne Kempe
followed the descent of her share of Skelton (fn. 113) (q.v.),
and was still in the hands of George Trotter in
1631. (fn. 114) It must afterwards have been bought by
Sir John Hewley, who died in 1697, (fn. 115) or by his
widow Dame Sarah Hewley, and probably formed
part of the estate she in 1704–5 conveyed to trustees
for charity. (fn. 116) Dame Hewley's trustees still hold
lands here.
A court baron was held at Eston in 1406–11, (fn. 117) and
is mentioned in 1789 (fn. 118) ; court leet occurs in 1637 (fn. 119)
and 1789. (fn. 120) Free warren was granted to Nicholas
de Meynell in 1269, (fn. 121) and confirmed in 1280 (fn. 122) and
1337. (fn. 123) View of frankpledge occurs in 1632, (fn. 124)
1637 (fn. 125) and 1638, (fn. 126) and tolls, coal-mines and
quarries were appurtenant to Katharine Atherton's
moiety of the manor in 1632. (fn. 127) A windmill is
mentioned in 1368. (fn. 128)
Lands in Eston were granted to Guisborough
Priory by the Meynells and their tenants. (fn. 129) The
abbeys of Byland and Fountains (fn. 130) also held lands
here.
In 1086 3 carucates in MORTON (Mortun, xi
cent.; Mowrton, xvi cent.) were among the king's
lands, Magbanet and Aluret being tenants. (fn. 131) They
afterwards were part of the Brus fee, (fn. 132) the overlordship apparently following the descent of the manor
of Skelton (q.v.).
Conyers of Hornby. Azure a sleeve or with the difference of a crescent on a crescent.
A mesne lordship here seems to have been held by
Henry de Percy in 1314, (fn. 133) and probably descended to
the Conyers with their other lands. (fn. 134) The earliest
tenant appears to have borne the territorial name.
Walter de Morton, who lived in the first half of the
13th century, (fn. 135) was succeeded by his son William, (fn. 136)
probably that William who was holding 4 carucates
here in January 1302–3. (fn. 137) In 1310 the manor was
settled on William de Morton and his wife Isabel,
with remainder to Denise daughter of William and
her heirs. (fn. 138) A quarter of a knight's fee here was
still held by William de Morton in 1314, and this must
be identical with the 4 carucates held by the heirs of
William Sturmy in 1428. (fn. 139)
In 1490 the manor was held
by John Conyers of Hornby (fn. 140) ;
from this time it followed
the descent of Hornby (q.v.),
coming to the three surviving
daughters of John Lord Conyers, (fn. 141) Anne Kempe, Elizabeth Darcy and Katharine
Atherton. Anne Kempe's
third, here as at Hornby, after
various alienations, (fn. 142) was conveyed to John Jackson
and Harsculph Cleasby in 1572–3. (fn. 143) It may have
been this part of the manor which in 1624 was held
by Edmund Underwood, (fn. 144) who with Isabel his wife
in 1637 conveyed it to Francis Tindall. (fn. 145) It seems
afterwards to have come to John Bathurst, who in
the spring of 1686–7 conveyed it to Anne Savile. (fn. 146)
Its later history has not been traced.
In 1586–7 John and Katharine Atherton conveyed
her third to James Pennyman, (fn. 147) who with Strangways Bradshaw in 1602 conveyed it to John Hart
and George Bolles and his wife Joan (fn. 148) daughter of
John Hart. (fn. 149) Sir John Bolles, bart., great-grandson
of George Bolles, (fn. 150) held the manor in 1670. (fn. 151) Its
subsequent history remains obscure. Elizabeth Darcy's
share was conveyed in 1582–3 by Thomas Darcy
and Colubra his wife to James Pennyman. (fn. 152)
One-third of the manor was in 1747 conveyed by
John Warcopp, clerk, and Hannah his wife to Edward
Montague. (fn. 153) Matthew, later Lord Rokeby, nephew by
marriage to Edward Montague, (fn. 154) held part of Morton
in 1806. (fn. 155) Lord Rokeby died in 1831 and was succeeded by his son Edward, (fn. 156) who owned Morton and
died unmarried in 1847. (fn. 157) His brother and heir
Henry was in possession of lands here in 1859. (fn. 158) This
land appears to have been afterwards acquired by Sir
J. W. Pease, bart. (fn. 159) In 1806 a further share of this
place was in the possession of Richard Garbutt (fn. 160) and
was still held by his family in 1859. (fn. 161) William Osborn
Garbutt was farming Morton Grange in 1890, (fn. 162) but
this land also seems to have been acquired by Sir
J. W. Pease, bart.
The third portion of Morton was in 1846 part of
the estates of the Jackson family, (fn. 163) and Mr. C. L. A.
Ward-Jackson is now lord of this part of the manor
of Morton.
In the reign of Edward the Confessor Uctred
held a 'manor' and 7 carucates in NORMANBY (fn. 164)
(Normanebi, Normannebi, xi cent.; Northmanbi,
xii cent.) which were afterwards granted to the Count
of Mortain. Half a carucate, formerly held by Lesing,
was in 1086 held by Robert Malet, (fn. 165) while William
de Percy had half a carucate as soke of Marske. (fn. 166)
Normanby afterwards passed into the Brus fee, (fn. 167) the
overlordship following the descent of Yarm (fn. 168) (q.v.).
Here as elsewhere a mesne lordship was held by
the Percys of Kildale. (fn. 169)
Robert de Normanby held lands here in 1208. (fn. 170)
Henry son of Robert de Normanby occurs in 1268, (fn. 171)
and in 1279 Richard de Normanby held 2 carucates
of Peter de Brus. (fn. 172) In 1285 and in 1302 Adam de
Normanby or Leventhorpe held 6 carucates here. (fn. 173)
In 1331 John de Leventhorpe, probably a son of
Adam, conveyed to William de Worsall (fn. 174) tenements
and half the mill which were afterwards held by John
de Worsall and in 1427 were in the hands of Thomas
Fulthorpe. (fn. 175) Thomas Fulthorpe in 1449 conveyed
the manor to John Pegham and his heirs. (fn. 176) The next
reference to the manor occurs in 1528, when Sir
Richard Yorke, kt., of Beverley died seised, (fn. 177) his next
heir being his granddaughter Rosamund daughter of
his son Edward. (fn. 178) In 1554 the manor was conveyed
by Thomas Yorke, grandson of Sir Richard through
his son Thomas, (fn. 179) to Henry Addison, (fn. 180) who had been
living in Normanby as early as 1541–2. (fn. 181) Henry was
succeeded at his death in January 1562–3 by his son
Thomas, an infant, (fn. 182) who was in possession in 1597. (fn. 183)
His son, Thomas Addison of Richmond, in 1641 conveyed lands in Normanby to James Pennyman of
Ormesby and Joan his second wife, (fn. 184) who were succeeded here by their son William Pennyman. (fn. 185) William
was succeeded by his son, another William, (fn. 186) who was
probably the 'heir of William Pennyman' mentioned
in 1663. (fn. 187) This William died in 1690 without male
issue, but left two daughters and co-heirs, Elizabeth
wife of the Rev. William Consett, (fn. 188) and Joan wife of
Captain Matthew Consett. (fn. 189) On a division of the
estate (fn. 190) the eastern part came to William Consett, who
built Normanby House. (fn. 191) He died in 1762 (fn. 192) and was
succeeded by his son William, (fn. 193) who died in 1800.
His son and successor John died without issue, when
his half of the manor came through his sister Mary
to her husband Jacob Dryden of Wilton Castle. (fn. 194)
Their son Consett Dryden
owned Normanby House in
1846 (fn. 195) and 1867, after which
it seems to have come to the
hands of Mr. Ward-Jackson,
who is the present lord of the
manor.
Jackson. Azure a fesse ermine between three sheldrakes proper.
The other or western half
descended on the death of
Captain Matthew Consett, in
1748, (fn. 196) to his son Matthew. (fn. 197)
The Consetts in 1764 sold
this half to Ralph Jackson, (fn. 198)
who died in 1789 and was
succeeded by his son William
Ward-Jackson. (fn. 199) At William's death in 1842 his
heir was his son William, (fn. 200) lord of the manor until
his death in 1874. (fn. 201) His eldest son William died
in the same year, (fn. 202) when the manor passed to his
second son Charles Lionel Atkins Ward-Jackson, the
present lord of the manor.
A mill in Normanby was held by the Worsalls in
1324 (fn. 203) and 1331. (fn. 204)
Land was also held here by the family of Morley.
In 1439 Nicholas Morley of Normanby obtained
pardon for non-appearance in a case of debt. (fn. 205) John
Morley of Normanby, Agnes his wife, and Nicholas
Morley made a settlement of land in Upsall in 1456,
but no mention is made of their possessions in this
place. (fn. 206) In 1547 Christopher Morley conveyed lands
and a windmill to Robert Morley, (fn. 207) probably his son. (fn. 208)
Christopher died seised of nine messuages here in
1548, (fn. 209) his heir being his granddaughter Marjorie,
daughter of his son Christopher (fn. 210) ; she may be the
Margaret Dawson who with her husband Anthony
conveyed lands here in 1580 to Cuthbert Morley, (fn. 211)
son of Robert and grandson of Christopher Morley,
senior. (fn. 212) Cuthbert in 1586–93 held lands here assessed
at 40s. (fn. 213) He had a son James (fn. 214) who acquired the manor
of Hawnby (q.v.), which this estate then followed in
descent, (fn. 215) the last reference occurring in 1684. (fn. 216)
In 1086 UPSALL (Upesale, Upishale, xi cent.)
was soke of Ormesby (fn. 217) ; it was still held of the lord
of Ormesby in 1636. (fn. 218) Among the king's lands was
a carucate here held by Norman in 1086 (fn. 219) ; it afterwards passed into the Brus fee.
The tenancy of Upsall descended like Ormesby (fn. 220)
(q.v.) from the Percys to the Strangways. James
Strangways made a conveyance of the manor to Ralph
Rokeby in 1592 (fn. 221) and was succeeded by his nephew
Strangways Bradshaw, who married Elizabeth daughter
of James Pennyman of Ormesby (fn. 222) and died seised
of the capital messuage in March 1631. He was
succeeded by his son James. (fn. 223) In 1662 Constable
Bradshaw held rent from the manor, (fn. 224) and he in
1667 made a conveyance of land here. (fn. 225) His daughter
Anne married William Pierson, lord of the manor of
Stokesley (fn. 226) (q.v.), which Upsall followed in descent
until 1799, when the trustees of James Bradshaw
Pierson sold the greater part of his estate to William
Ward-Jackson of Normanby Hall. (fn. 227) Mr. Charles
Ward-Jackson, grandson of the purchaser, is the
present lord of the manor.
A mill in Upsall belonged to John Morley of
Normanby in 1455. (fn. 228) Two water-mills were appurtenant to the manor in 1592 (fn. 229) and during the 17th
and 18th centuries. (fn. 230) Courts leet and baron are
mentioned in 1746 (fn. 231) and also in 1790. (fn. 232) View of
frankpledge is mentioned in 1746 (fn. 233) and free warren
in 1790. (fn. 234)
Churches
The church of ST. CUTHBERT
was almost entirely rebuilt in 1875,
and the structure has therefore little
or no antiquarian interest. A number of old stones,
however, and other fragments of the ancient building
are incorporated with the walls or are preserved inside
the church. Three of these are of pre-Conquest date,
one a small fragment with flat strap ornament, outside
the east wall of the organ chamber, and another with
plait and cheveron pattern in the south wall of the
nave, perhaps portions of grave slabs. The ocher is
part of a hog-back with tegulated ornament. (fn. 235)
The old church is described by Graves, about
1808, as consisting of chancel, nave and strong square
tower, the chancel and tower being more modern
than the nave, with a circular chancel arch and a
south doorway with zigzag moulding partly built up. (fn. 236)
From this it would appear that the nave was substantially of 12th-century date, and among the fragments now preserved in the church are a Norman
impost stone and capital carved with spiral pattern, and
the bowl of a large circular font, without ornament,
but apparently belonging to the same period. In
1650 the chancel was stated to be in 'great decay,' (fn. 237)
and in 1810 the church was repewed and partly
rebuilt. (fn. 238) In the later rebuilding in 1875 a large
portion of the chancel walls was retained, but the
masonry is not apparently of very ancient date and
may belong to a comparatively modern period. The
church, which is faced entirely with ashlar, consists
of chancel 24 ft. 6 in. by 14 ft. 6 in. with south
organ chamber, nave 48 ft. 9 in. by 19 ft. 8 in. with
north aisle 9 ft. 6 in. wide, north porch, south-west
vestry and west tower 9 ft. 6 in. square, surmounted
by a spire, all these measurements being internal.
The tower and spire were only completed in 1907,
the cost being defrayed from a bequest by Elizabeth
Caroline Brown. The north porch is in memory of
John Hymers, D.D., who died in 1887. All the
fittings are modern. There are mural monuments to
James Pennyman (d. 1743) and Sir William Henry
Pennyman, bart. (d. 1852). (fn. 239)
Amongst the fragments already mentioned, now
preserved at the east end of the aisle, are a stoup,
a female effigy and the feet of a male figure resting
on a lion. Built into the south wall of the vestry
outside are two mediaeval grave slabs, one with a
floreated cross and sword and the other with a cross
head within a circle. In the south wall of the nave
and the east wall of the organ chamber are built eight
other grave slabs, or fragments of such, with crosses
and the customary symbols, one a chalice.
There is a ring of eight bells.
The plate consists of a cup of 1675, made by John
Thompson of York, inscribed '1676 Ormesby ex
dono Jacobi Pennyman Milt. & Bartt.,' and with the
arms of Pennyman; a cup of the same date and make
inscribed '1676 Ormesbiy Wm Raisbeck Ren Burgess
Church wardens'; a cup of 1754, made by Thos.
Cooke and Richard Gurney of London, inscribed
'The gift of Mrs Dorothy Pennyman for the use of
the church of Ormesby in Cleaveland Yorkshire 1754';
and a paten of the same date and make with similar
inscription. (fn. 240)
The registers begin in 1599.
The old chapel of ST. HELEN at Eston stands a
short distance to the north-west of the village, and
consists of chancel, nave and west tower, with a small
vestry on the north side of the chancel. It is built
of stone, but the walls are almost entirely covered
with ivy, and the roofs are slated. Graves, writing
about 1808, describes what appears to have been a
12th-century south doorway, then partly walled up,
but this has disappeared, and no part of the building
is of any great antiquity. The chancel was at that
time 'separated by a circular arch,' and both the
tower and chancel appeared to be of 'more modern
construction than the body of the chapel.' (fn. 241) The
building seems to have been very drastically restored
shortly after, the nave, perhaps, being almost
entirely rebuilt, and its general appearance is now
that of an early 19th-century Gothic structure, the
windows all being modern with wooden frames and
bars. A square-headed east window of three trefoiled
lights was inserted about 1900, when the building
was repaired. The tower is of two stages with
embattled parapet and angle pinnacles and has a
doorway on the south side. It may be of 16thcentury date or even later, but has been repaired with
the rest of the church. The belfry windows are
square-headed and of two plain lights, and on the east
side is the weathering of a former high-pitched roof.
The walls are all plastered internally and there is a
west gallery. There are no ancient monuments. (fn. 242) On
the south side of the churchyard is the base of a cross.
Since the erection of Christ Church in the village
in 1883–4 the old building has been used as a Church
of England cemetery chapel and is kept in repair
by the Burial Board. The cemetery has grown up
and constantly increased round the old churchyard,
but the building still remains the parish church, and
the vicar has the right to take service at any time
which does not interfere with funerals. (fn. 243)
CHRIST CHURCH is a brick building with
stone dressings consisting of chancel, clearstoried nave,
north and south aisles, and unfinished south-west
tower forming a porch.
The plate consists of a cup of 1570 of the usual
type, with interlacing band of leafwork round the
bowl and the maker's mark of two C's back to back,
a modern chalice and paten, and a pewter flagon and
plate. The two latter pieces are now at the district
church of Grangetown. Both are inscribed 'Eston
Chapel, May 1840,' and the flagon bears in addition
the names 'Joseph Garbutt, Daniel Sheppard, Church
Wardens.' (fn. 244)
The registers begin in 1592. (fn. 245)
Advowson
There was a church with a priest
at Ormesby in 1086 (fn. 246) ; the church
was granted to Guisborough by
Arnald de Percy at the foundation of that house, (fn. 247)
the gift being confirmed by Robert de Brus, (fn. 248) by
succeeding generations of Percys, (fn. 249) and by Henry II. (fn. 250)
It was appropriated to the priory and a vicarage was
ordained. (fn. 251) At the Dissolution it came to the Crown,
and the rectory and advowson were in 1545 granted
to the Archbishop of York, (fn. 252) in whose hands they
have since remained. (fn. 253)
The chapel of Eston, first mentioned in 1539, (fn. 254)
was dependent on Ormesby; the advowson of the
perpetual curacy followed the same descent. (fn. 255) The
living is now styled a vicarage.
Charities
The poor receive an annuity of
£10, less land tax, issuing out of
land at Stokesley near Pennyman's
Bridge, also £2 a year paid by Lord Harewood out of
an estate at Thornaby, known as Bew's rent-charge,
and an ancient payment of £1 a year out of land at
Morton. Gifts are made to twelve recipients, chiefly
in money, but some receive fuel and clothing.
In 1878 Henry William Ferdinand Bolckow, by
will proved 27 July, left £200 for the benefit of the
Cottage Hospital at North Ormesby, founded in
1859. The legacy was invested in £199 15s. consols
with the official trustees.
In 1905 Miss Elizabeth Caroline Brown, by will
proved at London 4 April, bequeathed (inter alia)
£2,000 to be applied in adding or endowing a wing
to the same institution.
Miss Elizabeth Caroline Brown, by her will, also bequeathed to the vicar and churchwardens of Ormesby
a sum of £3,000 for adding a tower to the existing
parish church. The money being more than was
required for a tower application was made to the
Charity Commissioners, who, by their scheme dated
27 July 1906, authorized the trustees to apply the
capital funds of the charity in the payment of the
costs incidental to the removal and reburial of the
human remains interred in that part of the churchyard intended to be appropriated for the erection of
a tower, to the erection of such tower, to the removal
of the font to a position under the tower, &c., and
directed the setting aside of a repair fund by remitting
£500 for investment by the official trustees, who hold
a sum of £451 North Eastern railway 4 per cent.
stock in respect thereof, producing £18 0s. 8d. yearly.
The scheme further made provision for a peal of bells
in the said tower.
The said testatrix was buried in the churchyard
and a monument was erected to her memory in
accordance with her testamentary directions. Under
the trusts of a deed of 1 February 1907 a sum of
£100 consols was transferred by the residuary legatees
to the official trustees, the dividends to be applied in
keeping the churchyard in good repair, order and
condition.