SPENNITHORNE
Spenyngtorp (xi cent.); Spenigthorne (xiv cent.).
Spennithorne is a parish at the lower end of
Wensleydale on the north bank of the Ure. It
covers altogether about 5,500 acres, by far the
greater part of which is permanently under grass. (fn. 1)
The soil is loam on a subsoil of limestone.
Of its three townships, Spennithorne, Harmby
and Bellerby, Spennithorne lies farthest south. The
village stands a short distance from the Ure, opposite
Middleham, with which it is connected by a road
crossing at Ulshaw Bridge. Harmby Beck flows into
the Ure near the village. Here perhaps was Spennithorne Mill, in existence in 1301, when Robert the
Miller paid subsidy. (fn. 2) No trace of it remains, though
a lane running from the junction of the streams to
the village is known as Mill Flats Lane.
At the south end of the village where a lane turns
off to the west are the remains of the old hall of the
Fitz Randalls, which has a gabled projection at the
rear, and behind it is a cottage with a large rubblebuilt chimney stack, evidently intended for a larger
building. The back wall of the rear gable shows
the remains of two large square-headed windows,
each of four round-headed lights. Each light
measures 1 ft. 8 in. by 6½ ft., but they are now
filled in, and in the interior are two small rooms
with a chimney stack built against the window end.
The front of the house has been fitted with modern
windows. The walls are of unusual thickness,
varying from 3 ft. 8 in. to 4 ft. 8 in.
The present Spennithorne Hall, the residence of
Mr. Chaytor, is to the north-west of the older house.
Spennithorne House is the residence of Major
Stobart, and Thorney Hall of the Hon. Mrs. A. C.
Orde-Powlett.
Harmby is about three-quarters of a mile northwest of Spennithorne. A memorandum in the parish
register states that John Wells of Harmby, servant of
Lord Scrope of Bolton, caused the 'causey' of the
lane from Harmby to the church of Spennithorne to
be made during his lifetime, ' for the benefit of the
inhabitants of that town and others.' (fn. 3) He died in
1663, (fn. 4) so it must have been his father John Wells
who died seised in 1641 of the 'capital messuage' in
Harmby held of John Scrope. (fn. 5) This was doubtless
the old manor-house of Harmby, which stands on
the west side of the steep village street, and is now a
farm. The street runs parallel with a deep wooded
gill, down which flows Harmby Beck. There is a
Wesleyan chapel in this street, dating from 1855.
Bellerby is the largest of the three townships in
the parish, and includes the large tract known as
Bellerby Moor. This is all high ground, and in the
extreme north-west rises to a height of 1,300 ft.
There is a deer park to the west of the village of
Bellerby. Just at the entrance to the village is the
old manor-house of Bellerby, once the residence of the
Metcalfe family. It is a rectangular stone building
standing north and south, apparently dating from the
late 16th or early 17th century. There is a modern
porch in the centre of the east front, on which side it
has been faced with Roman cement; the windows here
are all of the Georgian period, with the exception
of one of four lights, to the north of the porch,
which retains its stone mullions and transom. The
most interesting feature, however, is a bay window
remaining at the south end. The three sides are
all pierced with windows, that in the outer face being
of three lights with a transom, and the structure is
carried up two stories and finished with a gabled
stone roof. The house is two stories high and
built of rubble, the stories being formerly divided
by moulded string-courses, which remain at the two
ends. The windows, where original, have plain
chamfered mullions and jambs.
In 1575, (fn. 6) on the death of Thomas Metcalfe, the
house had eight rooms, the parlour, buttery, chamber
over the parlour, storehouse next the same chamber,
chamber over the hall, chamber over the kitchen,
kitchen and hall. The furniture of the hall included
'one drawinge table with a clothe of domex, one
cownter, one longe forme and one shorter, one chare,
one cubberd, one bassinge and an euer, one paier of
iron gallowes and fyve crokes, ii paiers of tonges, one
old fyer shovell, nyne guisshings, one paier of playinge
tables 40s. Item ii saddells with their appurtenances
6s. 8d.'
The church of Bellerby stands further north, and
was erected in 1874. A Wesleyan chapel in the
village dates from 1839. The manorial mill (fn. 7) stands
to the east of the village, on one of the little becks
which flow down the village street and are crossed
by a great number of bridges.
In the north-east of the township is Skelton Cote
Farm, once the property of the abbey of Easby. It
was granted to them before 1206 by Thomas de
Hellebec, with the following boundaries: 'From
Huntergate by the old foss to Wyselapeltre; thence
to Siket, and by Siket to the green way of Waleburn,
and by the green way of Waleburn to Caldekelde and
thence as Caldekeld falls into Ulvedalebec by the
green way to Boscstalebec and to Long Boscstalebec as
it falls into Huntergathe.' (fn. 8) The Abbots of Rievaulx
had meadow land in Bellerby adjoining the 'water of
Terwinne,' and 'between Terwinne and Hunteresty.' (fn. 9)
There are old coal-pits on Bellerby Moor and traces
of old quarries all over the parish, but the population
at the present day is agricultural. Spennithorne
station on the Northallerton and Hawes branch of
the North Eastern railway is a mile north of the
village.
An Inclosure Act for Bellerby township was passed
in 1770. (fn. 10)
Manors
Before the Conquest SPENNITHORNE was held by the Saxon
Ghilpatric; a 'manor' and 8½ carucates
were held of Count Alan in 1086 by Ribald. (fn. 11)
Spennithorne followed the descent of Ribald's
manor of Middleham (q.v.) until the middle of the
13th century, when it was given to Ranulph, a younger
son of the house, who founded here the family of
Fitz Randall of Spennithorne. He is generally said to
have been the third son of Robert of Middleham, (fn. 12)
but was in fact his grandson, brother of the Ralph
son of Ranulph (fn. 13) who left two daughters and co-heirs
in 1270. (fn. 14) This Ranulph son of Ranulph had a grant
in 1270 of free warren in some of his lands, though
not in Spennithorne. (fn. 15) He was still in possession in
1286–7, (fn. 16) but had been succeeded before 1294 by
his son Ralph, (fn. 17) who married Theophania, one of
the four daughters and co-heirs of Roger Lascelles
of Kirkby Knowle. (fn. 18) His son Ranulph (fn. 19) (called in
one place Reynold) (fn. 20) was lord of Spennithorne in
1316, (fn. 21) and lived till 1342 at least. (fn. 22) He appears
to have been succeeded by a son John, whose son
Ranulph (called Fitz John) held Spennithorne in 1367
and 1388. (fn. 23) With John, the
next heir, the surname Fitz
Randall came into use. Sir
John Fitz Randall was a leader
in the rebellion of 1405, (fn. 24) and
was executed for treason. (fn. 25)
His lands, however, seem to
have been held by him under
a settlement, and were inherited by his son Ralph. (fn. 26)
Fitz Randall. Or a chief indented azure.
Ralph Fitz Randall died in
1458. (fn. 27) His heir was John,
who died in 1474 seised of
eight messuages and 5½ carucates of land in Spennithorne, and was succeeded by
his son, another Ralph. (fn. 28) The latter was knighted, (fn. 29)
and married Elizabeth daughter and ultimately coheir of Thomas Lord Scrope of Masham. (fn. 30)
He died in 1517, when his heir was his son John. (fn. 31)
John only survived his father a short time, and his
whole estate was divided among his five sisters, Elizabeth wife of Nicholas Strelley (Styrley), Alice wife of
Charles Dransfield, Mary wife of Ralph Batty, Dorothy
wife of Lancelot Esshe, and Agnes wife of Marmaduke
Wyvill. (fn. 32) Elizabeth Strelley quitclaimed her fifth of
the manor in 1537 to Sir William Paulet. (fn. 33) He had
a grant of another fifth in the same year from Robert
Batty, (fn. 34) clerk, no doubt on behalf of Elizabeth Batty,
daughter and heir of Ralph and Mary. (fn. 35) In 1540
Sir William Paulet quitclaimed his two fifths to James
Strangways, (fn. 36) who in 1553 joined with Christopher
Lascelles in granting them to Henry Scrope, (fn. 37) ancestor of the family of Scrope of Danby (fn. 38) (q.v.), which
this moiety followed in descent till at least 1788. (fn. 39)
Of the three remaining shares of the manor one
descended from Charles and Alice Dransfield to their
son Ralph. (fn. 40) In a will dated 1548 he left half of it
to his cousin Christopher Wyvill (son of Agnes) and
half to his aunt Dorothy Esshe. (fn. 41) A complicated
settlement of the three shares was executed in 1553,
by which two parts were to remain to the Wyvill family
and one to Dorothy Esshe and her heirs (fn. 42) ; but this
does not seem to have been carried out, for the Wyvill
and Esshe families appear subsequently in possession
each of one-fifth and the moiety of one-fifth. (fn. 43) The
share of the Wyvills followed the descent of their
manor of Constable Burton (fn. 44) (q.v.) till the middle of
the 17th century, when Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, a
recusant, was seised of lands in Spennithorne. (fn. 45) It
was perhaps this share which passed into the possession
of Matthew Smales of Gilling, and by the marriage
of his daughter and heir Jane (fn. 46) with Henry Chaytor
in or about 1730 came into the hands of the Chaytor
family. (fn. 47) William Chaytor paid the tax for his three
male servants at Spennithorne in 1780. (fn. 48) He was still
living there in 1792, (fn. 49) and was succeeded by a younger
son John Clervaux Chaytor. (fn. 50) The great-grandson of
the latter, Mr. Clervaux Alexander Chaytor, (fn. 51) is one
of the chief landowners in Spennithorne at the present
day, but the manorial rights have lapsed.
Dorothy Esshe conveyed her share to her younger
son Thomas in 1564. (fn. 52) Thomas died in possession
in 1583, his heir being his son Henry. (fn. 53) In 1605
Henry Esshe conveyed the 'manor of Spennithorne'
to Ralph Atkinson. (fn. 54) He died in possession in 1614,
leaving a son and heir Charles. (fn. 55) During the next
eighty years the estate passed rapidly through various
hands. Charles Atkinson conveyed it in 1634 to
Moses James. (fn. 56) John James, presumably the heir of
Moses, conveyed it to Wastell Robinson in 1649, (fn. 57) and
William Robinson in 1697 conveyed it to William
Warwick. (fn. 58) Its subsequent history is obscure, but it
seems probable that both this and the Scropes' share
of the manor were absorbed by purchases into the
estates of families resident in Spennithorne. These
included, besides the Chaytors, the family of Van
Straubenzee. Their ancestor Philip William Casimir
Van Straubenzee, a captain in the Dutch Guards,
became a naturalized Englishman, (fn. 59) and married Jane
daughter of Cholmley Turner of Kirkleatham. His
son Colonel Turner Van Straubenzee was living at
Spennithorne at the end of the 18th century. (fn. 60) He
was succeeded by his great-nephew Henry, whose
third son Turner was owner of the Spennithorne
estate in 1906. (fn. 61)
Peter Hammond, who also had an estate in Spennithorne in the late 18th century, left it to his greatnephew Anthony Ewbank, who took the name of
Hammond and lived till 1838. (fn. 62)
The Hon. A. C. Orde-Powlett held a considerable
amount of land in Spennithorne in 1872. It now
belongs to his widow the Hon. Mrs. A. C. OrdePowlett.
The right of free warren was obtained by Ranulph
son of Ralph in 1317. (fn. 63)
The priory of St. Martin at Richmond had by
grant of Ribald two sheaves of tithe corn grown upon
his demesnes at Spennithorne. (fn. 64)
A 'manor' and 6 carucates in BELLERBY (Belgebi, xi cent.; Belgerby, xiii cent.) belonged before
the Conquest to the Saxon Tor. In 1086 they were
held of Count Alan by Enisan, (fn. 65) and the mesne
lordship here (fn. 66) followed the descent of his manor of
Constable Burton (q.v.) till the constables sold their
estates in the 14th century to the Scropes. (fn. 67)
The tenants in demesne of this fee here as at
Bolton-on-Swale were a family bearing the local name
of Bellerby. Robert de Bellerby confirmed a grant to
St. Agatha of 1 carucate in his fee of Bellerby at the
end of the 12th or the beginning of the 13th century. (fn. 68)
His son Ellis was lord of the manor in 1236. (fn. 69) He
appears to have had several sons, of whom the eldest,
Richard, was a lunatic. (fn. 70) Richard gave his whole
inheritance to his lord, Roald son of Alan, who gave
dower to Olive, the widow of Ellis. (fn. 71) Before 1288
the manor had been recovered by Thomas de Bellerby,
another son of Elias, (fn. 72) who granted it to Robert de
Hartforth in that year. (fn. 73) Robert was succeeded by
his son Thomas de Hartforth, (fn. 74) who was in turn succeeded by his son John. (fn. 75) In 1328–9 John de Hartforth
conveyed the manor to Geoffrey le Scrope of Masham
and his son Henry. (fn. 76) Denise widow of John released
to Geoffrey her claim to dower in 1332. (fn. 77)
Bellerby followed the descent of the manor of
Masham (fn. 78) (q.v.) till the forfeiture of Henry Lord
Scrope in 1415. It was then granted with Coverham (q.v.) to Henry Fitz Hugh. (fn. 79) After complicated
proceedings between the Fitz Hugh family and John
Lord Scrope, who succeeded in obtaining a grant of
his brother's lands, the manor was quitclaimed to
William Fitz Hugh. (fn. 80)
Bellerby now followed the descent of Ravensworth (fn. 81) (q.v.) in the Fitz Hugh family till the division
of their lands in the early years of Henry VIII.
Half then passed to Sir Thomas Parr (fn. 82) and half to
Thomas Fiennes Lord Dacre. (fn. 83) The first half was
forfeited with the other lands of William Parr
Marquess of Northampton, but was subsequently regranted to him. (fn. 84) He sold it with the manor of
Mickleton (q.v.) to Sir George Bowes in 1561. (fn. 85) It
does not appear subsequently among the lands of the
Bowes family, and must have been the moiety which
a few years later was in the hands of John Cholmeley
of Spennithorne. He sold it in 1567 to Richard
Sheppawe, (fn. 86) who probably conveyed it shortly afterwards to the family of Metcalfe; they certainly
acquired the other half of the manor. Thomas
Metcalfe 'of Bellerby' died in 1575 (fn. 87) in possession
of the manor-house. His brother and heir Nicholas (fn. 88)
had a grant of the Dacres' share of the manor from
Gregory Fiennes Lord Dacre (fn. 89) some months later. He
died in possession of the manor in 1581, when his
brother Mark, vicar of Northallerton, was his heir. (fn. 90)
His mother Katherine, however, held the manor for
life under a settlement, (fn. 91) Mark succeeding after her
death. He was followed by his brother Matthew, (fn. 92)
who died in 1593, leaving a son and heir Francis. (fn. 93)
Francis had a son of the same name, (fn. 94) who seems to
have granted some of his estate before his death to his
brother and successor Thomas. (fn. 95) In 1643 Thomas
Metcalfe conveyed the manor to his son Adrian. (fn. 96)
Adrian Metcalfe, who was an M.D., was still in
possession in 1649, (fn. 97) and was succeeded by his son,
another Adrian. (fn. 98) John, brother of Adrian, (fn. 99) seems
to have been his heir. He appointed gamekeepers
for the manor of Bellerby in 1725, 1741, and 1743, (fn. 100)
and was still in possession in 1746. (fn. 101) Another John
Metcalfe was lord of the manor in 1770. (fn. 102) His family
continued to present to the chapel, and therefore in
all probability to hold the manor till the early years
of the 19th century. (fn. 103) Both manor and advowson
then came into the hands of the Chaytor family, (fn. 104)
and were purchased from them in 1853 by John
Osborne. (fn. 105) Mr. John O. Osborne is now lord of
the manor.
An estate here called in the 16th century a manor
belonged to the family of Scrope of Bolton (fn. 106) (q.v.) and
followed the descent of the manor of Castle Bolton
till 1609 at least. (fn. 107)
In 1300 Thomas de Hartforth, lord of Bellerby,
sued John de Spennithorne for trespass on his free
warren at Bellerby. (fn. 108) Subsequent lords of the manor
also enjoyed free warren, which was granted to
Geoffrey le Scrope in 1328. (fn. 109)
Several religious houses had lands in Bellerby.
Certain lands which had belonged to Coverham were
leased to Ralph Rokeby in 1539, (fn. 110) and granted to
John Dorbye and John Scudamore in 1545. (fn. 111) Easby
Abbey had 1 carucate in Bellerby, called Skelton,
of the grant of Thomas de Hellebec. (fn. 112) Ellis de
Bellerby granted meadow and pasture here to
Rievaulx Abbey, (fn. 113) which exchanged a messuage and
20 acres here for land in Newsham-upon-Tees with
Henry le Scrope in 1315. (fn. 114) The priory of St. Martin
at Richmond had the third part of the tithes of the
demesne of Enisan in Bellerby. (fn. 115)
HARMBY (Hernebi, xi-xvi cent.) was in the
hands of Tor before the Conquest. The 'manor'
and 9 carucates were held of Count Alan in 1086 by
Wymar, (fn. 116) tenant of Leyburn. A mesne lordship
followed the descent of the manor of Thornton
Steward (q.v.).
Harmby seems to have been held in demesne by
the lords of Leyburn (q.v.) down to the late 13th
century. In 1286 William de Leyburn held more
than half the vill under the mesne lord Robert de
Furneaux. (fn. 117) The remainder was held by Walter
Gill with various mesne lordships intervening.
Plan of Spennithorne Church
In 1316 Harmby was returned with Spennithorne
as the possession of 'Reynold son of Ralph.' (fn. 118) This
may have been due to some
confusion. In reality the
manor belonged at about this
time to Master Michael de
Harcla, brother of the Earl
of Carlisle, who forfeited his
estates for treason. (fn. 119) Michael
was also condemned, his lands
in Harmby being granted in
1323 to Henry le Scrope for
life. (fn. 120) The grant was afterwards extended to apply to
Henry and his heirs. (fn. 121) The
manor followed (fn. 122) the descent
of Bolton (q.v.), Lord Bolton
being now lord of the manor.
Some land in Harmby was
held by the Nevill family in
1368. (fn. 123) It was regarded as
part of the lordship of Middleham and followed the same
descent. (fn. 124)
Churches
The church
of ST. MICHAEL consists of a chancel 32 ft. by
15 ft. 9 in., small north
vestry, north chapel extending eastward from the
north aisle 16 ft. by 13 ft., nave 36 ft. by 15 ft. 3 in.,
north aisle 36 ft. by 13 ft., south aisle 35 ft. by 15 ft.,
west tower 12 ft. square, and south porch. These
measurements are all internal.
The church still possesses in the north arcade
of the nave part of the building which stood there
in the 12th century, when it consisted of a nave
about the same length as the present one, with a
north aisle of three bays extending eastward as far
as the chancel arch, but only so far westward as to
allow a doorway to open directly on to the north of
the nave from the exterior, and a chancel about twothirds the length of the present one. In the 13th
century an aisle was added on the south of the nave,
running its full length, and that opposite was
lengthened as far as the west wall of the nave by
adding another bay to the arcade; of this extension
the south windows and probably the west wall of
the south aisle and the westernmost bay of the north
aisle—with its semicircular arch made to match the
others—still remain. In the 14th century great
alterations and additions were made by adding a west
tower, widening the aisles to their present width,
rebuilding the chancel and lengthening it eastwards
and adding a north vestry. The tower, the south
aisle with earlier windows re-used, the porch and the
sedilia, piscina and south windows of the chancel still
remain with little alteration. Late in the 14th
century a new window was inserted in the east wall
of the chancel, and the north wall of the north aisle
was apparently rebuilt c. 1480 and again c. 1620, as
in the parish register under the year 1716 is a note:
'Wm. Appleby of Harmby about 100 years ago (as
an ancient inhabitant there relates) did at his own
proper cost build the north aisle of the church.'
When this was done one of the late 15th-century
windows, the doorway and two windows of the
14th century at the north-west were retained and the
aisle extended eastward to join the vestry, in which
also was placed a new window.
The east window of the chancel has four wide trefoiled lights under a two-centred arch. In the north
wall is a pointed arch of two chamfered orders leading
into the chapel, which has been rebuilt. The vestry
doorway is of the 14th century, with a continuous
wave mould running round a pointed arch, and to
the east of it is a recess with a trefoiled ogee head. It
is a modern copy of the piscina opposite, and contains
a stone sill with a cross potent on the upper surface,
tending to show that it was once part of a 14thcentury altar stone. Near the east end is a singlelight 14th-century window, trefoiled, under a pointed
arch. The south wall of the chancel contains two
two-light 14th-century trefoiled windows, with a
quatrefoil over, underneath a pointed arch. To the
west of these is a single-light window like that in the
north wall, and to the east is a piscina of the 14th
century similar to the recess opposite. Below the
sill of the window are the sedilia, in the form of a
projecting stone seat with shaped ends of the same
material. The contemporary chancel arch is of two
chamfered orders, pointed and springing out of the
abutments; on each side is a hood moulding supported by heads, and at the springing of the arch are
two large moulded head corbels once used for carrying
the rood screen.
Spennithorne Church: Piscina and Sedilia in the Chancel
The nave has an arcade on the north side of four
bays; the three to the east are of two semicircular
square-edged orders surmounted by a chamfered hood
and date from about 1150. They rest on circular
columns and semicircular responds with scalloped
capitals and moulded bases on deep square plinths
with stops at the angles. The western arch is
evidently a later extension and has two similar orders,
but the respond is similar to those of the opposite
arcade and has an early English base. The 13thcentury south arcade is of three bays, with arches of
two chamfered orders carried by circular columns and
semicircular responds having octagonal moulded abaci,
circular bells and necking and ordinary early English
bases.
Over the outside of the north doorway is the
monogram I.H.S., internally the doorway has a simple
stone lintel. To the east of this is a three-light chamfered square-headed trefoiled window, the spandrels
of which are also trefoiled. The next window has
three lights under a pointed arch, the cusping of which
is cut away. In the west wall is a two-light trefoiled window with a quatrefoil above under a pointed
arch; the jambs and head are old, but the tracery is
modern. To the east of the aisle is a modern semicircular arch leading into the Lady chapel, which has
a north window like the easternmost one in the
aisle, but retaining its cusping. As mentioned previously, this chapel appears to have been part of the
building erected in the 17th century, and though a
will is in existence dated 1457, in which Ralph Fitz
Randall directs that his body be interred 'in the church
of St. Michael the Archangel of Spennithorn in the
chapel of St. Mary,' (fn. 125) and his tombstone is in this
chapel, it seems to have been removed from the east
end of the north aisle, which would probably be
dedicated to St. Mary at that period.
The south aisle has a large 14th-century window
of three trefoiled lights at the east end under a square
head, the spandrels being also trefoiled. To the
north of it is a broken image bracket with two heads
reworked, and underneath is
a rounded string which goes
round the whole aisle, stopped
where necessary by grotesque
heads. In the south wall are
two 13th-century windows
belonging to the earlier aisle.
The first has two trefoiled
lights with a trefoil above
under a pointed external and
a shouldered internal arch.
The other is a little earlier in
character; it has two trefoiled
lancet lights with a trefoil
above. To the west of these
is a richly-moulded 14th-century pointed doorway with a
segmental rear arch, and externally the jambs are a series
of rounds and hollows forming
three slender shafts, the middle
one of which is detached.
These continue round the
arch, but are interrupted by
foliated capitals, and round
the arch is a moulded label
terminating in grotesque
heads. Inside the doorway a
quirked bowtel is worked on the angle and runs
round the arch.
Externally the church with its 14th-century tower,
built with the idea of defence, presents an interesting
and imposing appearance. This tower is three stories
in height; the uppermost is emphasized by a moulded
string, and has a projecting embattled parapet on
which are stumps of pinnacles, underneath which
are masks and heads; at each angle are two fourstage buttresses, the third offsets having trefoiled
gablets and the fourth dying away a few feet above
the string-course at the base of the top stage.
There is a stair turret running the full height at the
south-east and all round the base is a plinth in two
chamfered stages, the top one of which has also a
small bowtel. The bell-chamber is lighted by twolight trefoiled windows, each with an unpierced
quatrefoil in a pointed head of two chamfered orders
having a label with grotesque heads. The middle
story has a pointed trefoiled light with a square label
on the north and south sides. The west window in
the lowest story is similar to those in the belfry, but
the quatrefoil in the head is pierced. The tower
arch is of the same date and is of two chamfered
orders, the inner one resting on corbels carved with
grotesque human heads.
The south aisle has a projecting parapet supported
by grotesque heads; there is a chamfered plinth,
while between the windows and at the angles are
two-stage 14th-century buttresses; under the windows
runs a moulded string. The porch is later than the
aisle and has a pointed door with a continuous large
hollow chamfer and a label
with small head stops; above
this is a canopied niche with
a modern panel containing a
monogram. At each angle is
a diagonal buttress.
The chancel has a chamfered plinth but no parapet,
and there is a moulded string
beneath the windows. The
angle buttresses are in three
stages, dying away a little below the eaves, and a similar
buttress divides the south side
into two bays. The upper
part of the east gable has been
rebuilt, but in the old walling
is a much-decayed carved Saxon
stone. The north wall of the
aisle has a projecting parapet
but no plinth; there is a twostage diagonal buttress at each
angle and a modern one between the chapel and aisle.
The open timber chancel
and nave roofs are modern,
but of old work there is a
finely carved fragment in the
vestry with two bosses, one
having on it the Paschal Lamb,
the other rich foliage, and
there is a rude traceried screen
under the tower arch. On the
west wall of the south aisle is
a painting of 'Father Time'
as a bearded and winged old
man with an hour glass and
scythe, and in the vestry is an
altar slab with five crosses, and
a stone carved with a doubleheaded cross and runic work.
There are few old monuments;
a tablet on the south wall of the chancel inscribed to
F. R. Wyvill, rector, is dated 1649, and in the porch
is a slab with the matrix of a brass inscription.
There are three bells, the first with the inscription 'Jesus be our speed 1681,' the second recast in
1890, the third with the inscription 'Fili dei miserere
mei 1664.'
The plate consists of a small cup of 1617, a
highly ornate secular tazza of 1572, which was given
in 1759, and is embellished by a female bust in high
relief surrounded by repoussé work, and a modern
flagon and paten.
The registers begin in 1573.
The church of ST. JOHN (fn. 126) of Bellerby was rebuilt
in 1801 and again in 1874 and consists of chancel,
large north vestry, nave and porch to the southwest, built in the style of the 13th and 14th centuries.
On the west side of the porch is an octagonal bellturret with a pinnacled top containing one modern bell.
The plate consists of a modern paten, an electroplated communion cup and flagon, and a two-handled
chalice presented in 1802 and bearing the Newcastle
date mark of 1770.
Spennithorne Church from the South-east
The registers are modern, the parish formerly being
part of Spennithorne.
Advowsons
A church existed here in 1086 (fn. 127) ;
its dedication to St. Michael is
mentioned in 1457. (fn. 128) There is
no mention of the advowson of the rectory till the
16th century, but it clearly belonged to the lord
of the manor, for it was divided up with the
manor among the five daughters of Sir Ralph Fitz
Randall. (fn. 129)
The Scropes of Danby obtained two parts of the
advowson, (fn. 130) the other three-fifths were in the possession
of Christopher Wyvill in 1578. (fn. 131) Most of the subsequent presentations were made by the Wyvill
family, and in 1764 Simon Scrope finally sold his
interest to Sir Marmaduke Wyvill. (fn. 132) The patronage
has followed (fn. 133) the descent of the manor of Constable
Burton (q.v.) to the present day.
In 1457 Ralph Fitz Randall directed by his will
that his body should be buried in the chapel of
St. Mary in the parish church. (fn. 134)
Sir John Fitz Randall is said to have founded a
'service or stipend' in 1520 (fn. 135) for the support of a
priest to minister sacraments and pray for his soul. (fn. 136)
The advowson of this chantry, which is sometimes
described as the chantry in the parish church, (fn. 137) or
'at the altar of St. Michael the Archangel,' (fn. 138) and
sometimes as the chantry in the church of St. Mary, (fn. 139)
appears among the possessions of the Fitz Randall
heirs.
In 1236 Ellis de Bellerby claimed a tenement
and land in Bellerby against the parson of Spennithorne, alleging that these had been granted to
Thomas, the parson, by Ellis in return for the right
of maintaining a private chaplain at his own cost.
He accused Thomas of refusing to admit his chaplains, (fn. 140)
and Thomas was fined. 'John the clerk' of Bellerby is
mentioned in 1306. (fn. 141) Queen Elizabeth granted
Bellerby chapel to John Awbrey and others, (fn. 142) and it
was presumably then disused. It was in the tenure
of Charles Lonsdale, (fn. 143) whose family remained in
possession of the tithes of Bellerby as late as 1772. (fn. 144)
They must have been sold shortly afterwards to John
Metcalfe. He presented in 1786 to the chapel. (fn. 145)
The patrons and impropriators in the early 19th
century were the Chaytor family. (fn. 146) The advowson
was acquired with the manor by Mr. J. Osborne,
and at the present day belongs to the Rev. G. Osborne.
Tradition says that there was a domestic chapel at
Harmby also, which was demolished during the first
half of the 19th century (fn. 147) ; no evidence for this has
been found.
Charities
Township of Bellerby: charities
created by will of Francis Walker,
proved at York 1 November 1873.—
This testator bequeathed to his executors the sums
of £300, £300 and £300, making together the
sum of £900, free of duty, upon trust to invest the
same upon government securities, and to pay onethird part of the income (a) to the resident vicar of
the church of Bellerby, (b) to the vicar and overseers
at Bellerby for the purchase of coals for the poor,
and (c) to the Wesleyan ministers of the Middleham
circuit.
As the result of proceedings instituted in 1897 by
the Charity Commissioners a sum of £582 9s. 5d.
consols was transferred to the official trustees, and
£300 on mortgage at 4 per cent. of property at
Leeming was secured for the charities, producing a
total income of £26 11s. a year.
The administration of the charities is regulated by
a scheme dated 27 November 1900, whereby the
vicar of Bellerby was appointed an ex officio trustee,
in conjunction with two representative trustees to be
appointed by the parish council of Bellerby and one
by the Wesleyan ministers of the Middleham circuit,
and one co-optative trustee residing or carrying on
business in or near Bellerby.
The said testator likewise by his will bequeathed
a legacy for a school charity, represented by £1,299
6s. 5d. consols with the official trustees, the annual
dividends of which, amounting to £32 9s. 8d., are
applied towards the support of the school founded in
1832.
The poor of Bellerby are also entitled to 5s. a year
devised by will of Christopher Dixon in 1711.