PATRICK BROMPTON
Bruntone (xi cent.); Patricbrumtone or Brumton
Patrik (xii cent.); Paterick Burnton or Paterick
Brumpton (xiii cent.).
This parish, comprising the townships of Newtonle-Willows, Hunton and Arrathorne, lies in an
agricultural district at about 200 ft. above ordnance
datum. It covers about 4,388 acres, of which 1,400
are arable, cereals being the chief crops, 87 woodland,
and the rest permanent grass and waste. (fn. 1) The soil
is gravel, the subsoil various, and both sand and stone
have been worked. Four arable common fields in
Hunton, comprising about 720 acres, were inclosed
in 1807. (fn. 2) Jervaulx station on the Northallerton
and Hawes branch of the North Eastern railway was
opened in 1856, (fn. 3) and is within the parish.
The pleasant village of Patrick Brompton is
divided by a beck into East and West Brompton.
About half of the houses are in East Brompton and
are built along the grass-bordered road from Northallerton to Hawes. The church of St. Patrick stands
upon a slight eminence at the north-west extremity
of West Brompton. Traces of earthworks may be
seen in the field to the north. Brompton Hall, formerly used as the parsonage, is now the property of
Miss Elsley, to whose family it has belonged for
many years. (fn. 4) It is the residence of the Hon.
Edith and Evelyn Cunliffe-Lister, and was restored
in 1901. Its park borders the south side of the
village road both east and west of the beck. The
capital messuage of East Brompton had already disappeared by 1427, its site being then occupied by a
garden. (fn. 5) The public elementary school, which
belongs to the church, was rebuilt and enlarged in
1856 and in 1895 by voluntary effort.
The sheriff's tourn for the Hang East division of
the honour of Richmond was held in Patrick
Brompton. (fn. 6) There was a mill in 1086, (fn. 7) and
Margery Hawley held two parts of a water-mill in
1427. (fn. 8) What appears to have been another mill is
mentioned in the 13th century. (fn. 9)
Backed by moors which rise to heights of 725 ft.
Hunton lies along the junction of the roads to Richmond and Hauxwell at a level of about 350 ft. The
Richmond road forms the principal street; at the
north and higher end of it is the chapel of ease of
St. John, rebuilt in 1894. South of the church is the
Wesleyan chapel, dating from 1829. The school,
built in 1876, lies half-way down the street, which
turns westward further south and crosses Hunton
Beck by a bridge.
The houses of the village are built of stone and
extend from the church to beyond the bridge. The
remains of Hunton Old Hall, (fn. 10) now occupied as a
farm-house, the property of Mr. M. D'Arcy Wyvill,
stands a little to the west of the road which runs due
south from the village. The present house consists of the
south wing and a portion of the central block of an
H-shaped house
with a modern archway and additions
on the north side.
There are remains
of windows with
mullions and transoms, the best example being a wellpreserved four-light
window on the west
side. The field on
the opposite side of
the road to the
house is known as
Chapel Garth, but
no masonry is
visible.
Hunton Low
Hall (fn. 11) (the property
of Miss D. Atkinson), a farm-house
at the east end of
the village, is a
modernized 17thcentury building.
An original gable
with mullioned
windows remains at
the back.
The Manor
House, the property of Mr. John Hammond, stands
in the middle of the village on the west side of the
road; the southern portion of the building is old
and has several four-light mullioned windows of
rather early type. A two-story porch, entered from
the north side, has been added and bears a date on
the lintel [A S E] 1729. North-east of the village lies
Cote or Court House, which is thought to be of
some antiquity; it is the property of Lady Cowell.
Wyvill Grange, a farm-house situated to the northwest of the village, is now the property of Mrs.
Thornhill. (fn. 12)
West of the Old Hall the beck is crossed by Scroggs
Bridge; the scrog-gates were appurtenant to the manor
in 1717. (fn. 13)
There has been a mill since the 13th century. (fn. 14)
Arrathorne consists chiefly of the farms of East and
West Arrathorne, which are situated on the south of
the road from Hunton to Hornby.
Patrick Brompton Church: The Chancel from the South-east
Newton-le-Willows is a straggling village lying on
each side of roads from Patrick Brompton to Thornton
Steward and Masham. The Manor House, which is
the property of Mr. Hector Christie of Jervaulx Abbey,
is on the north; the Hall, which also belongs to Mr.
Christie and is the residence of Mrs. Hill, is in the
middle; Newton Grange, the property of Miss Elsley,
is on the west. There are both Wesleyan and Primitive
Methodist chapels in the village. The church elementary school was erected in 1846 and enlarged in 1894.
Aysgarth School, the well-known preparatory school
for boys, originally founded at Aysgarth, was removed
to Newton by the late Rev. C. T. Hales in 1890 and
lies in extensive grounds on the hill side south of the
village. The present head is the Rev. W. H. Chitty.
Further west, at the top of the steep southern bank
of Ruswick Gill, is the farm of Ruswick, sole representative of what was a vill. It was waste in 1086. (fn. 15)
It seems ultimately to have passed to Jervaulx Abbey
and to have become part of that estate. (fn. 16)
Manors
The 13 carucates in PATRICK
BROMPTON were held by Count Alan
in 1086 and remained with his successors.
Before the Conquest the tenants were Ghill and
Torphin, each with a 'hall,' and Archil, who were
succeeded before 1086 by three knights. (fn. 17) One
knight, probably the owner of Torphin's portion,
may have been Bardolf, for 5 carucates (fn. 18) forming the
MANOR OF EAST BROMPTON passed to the
lords of Ravensworth (fn. 19) (q.v.). In 1287 Hugh of
Ravensworth settled this manor on himself and his
wife for life with remainder to John their son. (fn. 20) In
1300 John and his wife apparently relinquished their
claim for £100, (fn. 21) and in 1316 Henry, lord of Ravensworth, held Patrick Brompton. (fn. 22) The manor was
subsequently claimed by Beatrice, granddaughter or
great-granddaughter of John, and her husband Robert
Hawley of Mablethorpe under the fine of 1287, (fn. 23) and
Robert obtained free warren in Patrick Brompton in
1361. (fn. 24) Beatrice died about 1389, her heir being her
grandson Robert, (fn. 25) who died a minor in 1397. He
left a widow Margery and a sister and heir Beatrice. (fn. 26)
Beatrice shortly afterwards married a Thomas Rolleston
without royal licence, receiving pardon in 1400 (fn. 27) ;
they had daughters Margaret and Ellen. Margery,
widow of Robert, died in 1427 seised for life of the
manor with reversion to Margaret and Ellen. (fn. 28) East
Brompton appears to have passed to Ellen, then the
wife of Christopher Conyers of Hornby (q.v.), which
it henceforth followed in descent. (fn. 29)
Ghill's land was probably the nucleus of the
manor of WEST BROMPTON. In 1286–7 a fee
of 4½ carucates was held by the lords of Thornton
Steward (q.v.), whose tenants were the Fittons (fn. 30) of
East Cowton (q.v.). A further mesne lordship was
held by the lords of Hornby (q.v.), of whom it was
held in demesne by the family of Lyng. (fn. 31) Probably
in the middle of the 13th century Richard de Lyng
was holding a messuage and 2 carucates in Brompton, (fn. 32)
and in 1286–7 4½ carucates in Patrick Brompton
were held by Reynold de Lyng and his son Richard. (fn. 33)
By 1304 Richard had been succeeded by his son
Roger, then a minor, (fn. 34) and he was returned as joint
lord in 1316, (fn. 35) this being the last mention of this
family in Patrick Brompton. Their manor would
appear to have escheated to the lord of Hornby before
1490, when John Conyers died seised of this manor
and that of East Brompton, (fn. 36) which it has since
followed in descent.
The history of the third fee in Patrick Brompton
—that presumably held by Archil (fn. 37) —is obscure, and
2½ carucates only are accounted for in the return of
1286–7. (fn. 38) Of these, 1½ carucates were held by
Walter (Egglesclive) of Barden (q.v.), the fee being
further subdivided under him: Robert de Tateshall
held 1 carucate, which was in the hands of sub-tenants,
Robert de Lascelles held 2 oxgangs in the hands of
the Lyngs and Michael de Borrowby held the remaining 2 oxgangs in demesne. (fn. 39) The last carucate was
held under the earl by the lords of West Tanfield
(q.v.), whose tenant was Ellis de Fearby. (fn. 40) Some of
this land appears to have passed to religious houses.
Robert de Longchamps, Abbot of St. Mary's, York,
granted land here to one William de Wytewelle in
the 13th century, (fn. 41) and at the Dissolution Jervaulx
Abbey had land in Newton, (fn. 42) possibly that now in the
possession of Mr. Hector Christie. (fn. 43)
ARRATHORNE (Erghethorn, Erethorne, xiii
cent.; Arathorne, Arrowthorne, xvi cent.) in 1286–7
was grouped with Garriston and Hunton, all members
of the honour of Richmond. (fn. 44) At this date 3 carucates 5 oxgangs in these places were held of Hugh
son of Henry, lord of Ravensworth, by John de
Hunton, who apparently had only 6 oxgangs in
demesne, (fn. 45) but his tenants are not named. (fn. 46) This
land was regarded as appurtenant to the manor of
Hunton (fn. 47) (q.v.), which it followed in descent. The
remainder of the 14 carucates in the three vills were
said in 1286–7 to be held of various unspecified fees. (fn. 48)
Probably part of Arrathorne was appurtenant to
Garriston (q.v.), where, as at Hackforth (q.v.),
Geoffrey was tenant in 1086, his successors being the
family of Burgh. (fn. 49) Possibly here, as at Ruswick,
land may have been held of the Burghs by Nicholas
de Garriston, who is said to have confirmed to
St. Martin's, Richmond, the grant of 6 acres in Arrathorne and Hunton made by Roger son of Gamel. (fn. 50)
These 6 acres were subsequently known as Ellerton
land and as Wycliffe land. (fn. 51) They may be identical with the property purchased by Christopher
Conyers before 1426, when he divided it by will,
leaving half to his son Thomas. The rest seems to
have descended to his heir. (fn. 52) Early in the 16th
century Christopher's descendant, William Lord
Conyers, held the land given to St. Martin's, (fn. 53) and
his successors appear to have been the chief landholders after this date. Henceforward Arrathorne
followed the descent of Hornby (fn. 54) (q.v.).
Gospatric and Torphin each had a 'manor' at
HUNTON before the Conquest; these were afterwards held by Count Alan and his successors, Gospatric retaining his 'manor' and Bodin having the
land of Torphin; the whole was assessed at 3 carucates. (fn. 55) Gospatric's land may have passed to the
lords of Hackforth (q.v.), of whom the manor of
Hunton was afterwards held. (fn. 56) Odo de Hunton
and Robert his son were tenants in demesne in the
12th century; they were contemporaries of and
may have been identical with Odo the Chamberlain
and his son and successor in office, Robert, (fn. 57) who
were both among the benefactors to St. Mary's
Abbey, York. (fn. 58) 'Robert son of Odo of Hunitone'
gave land in Hunton to Jervaulx Abbey. (fn. 59) Roger
son of Robert made a grant of land to Marrick, (fn. 60) and
Helewise daughter of Roger confirmed this gift,
as did also her husband, Roger Gulewast. (fn. 61) This
Helewise, the donor of 4 acres of land to Jervaulx
Abbey, (fn. 62) was a contemporary of Henry son of
Hervey. (fn. 63) The heir of Helewise was her son
Gilbert de Hunton, (fn. 64) who was living about 1220. (fn. 65)
His son Roger, mentioned in 1240, (fn. 66) was succeeded
by a son John de Hunton. John son of Roger gave
to the hospital of St. Peter, York, his sheepfold on
Hunton Moor within the 'court' inclosed by a stone
wall. (fn. 67) About 1286–7 John son of John de Hunton
held the manor, (fn. 68) and in 1316 a John de Hunton
was joint lord of Hunton and Arrathorne. (fn. 69) John,
'son and heir of John de Hunton,' sold the manor
in 1322 to Geoffrey le Scrope of Masham (q.v.), which
Hunton followed in descent until 1517. (fn. 70) At the
division of the Scrope lands Hunton passed to the
youngest co-heir Elizabeth wife of Ralph Fitz Randall
of Spennithorne (fn. 71) (q.v.), and was divided between
her five daughters and co-heirs.
Dorothy and Lancelot Esshe seem to have lived at
Hunton. (fn. 72) In 1566 Richard grandson of Dorothy (fn. 73)
sold the 'manor of Hunton' to John Cholmley. (fn. 74)
Twelve years later Sir Richard Cholmley, kt., conveyed it to Marmaduke Wylde. (fn. 75) In 1623 Marmaduke Wylde died seised of the manor and land
which he had bought of various persons. (fn. 76) His son
and successor John died in 1633 without issue.
His heir was his brother Marmaduke Wylde of East
Cowton, but the manor and grange passed under a
previous settlement to Robert son of Marmaduke. (fn. 77)
He died about 1641, (fn. 78) and Hunton descended to
one of his daughters and co-heirs Isabel. She married
William son of Sir William Riddell of Gateshead,
and died in 1663, leaving a daughter Jane. (fn. 79) William
Riddell and Jane mortgaged Hunton in 1684 and
1686. (fn. 80) Jane subsequently married her second
cousin Mark son of Sir Thomas Riddell of Fenham. (fn. 81)
In the spring of 1721, Mark Riddell and Edward his
son being unable to redeem the mortgages, their
lands in Hunton, with all manorial rights, were sold
for £500 to Richard Robinson of Sunderland, perhaps as trustee for the Lascelles family. (fn. 82) In October
1725 Thomas Lascelles was lord, (fn. 83) and by 1748 he
had been succeeded by the Rev. Francis Lascelles of
Pontefract, (fn. 84) whose family retained Hunton until
1802, when Robert Lascelles sold it to Mr. Timothy
Hutton. Henceforward the manor followed the
descent of Clifton Castle, (fn. 85) and Lady Cowell is the
present lady of the manor. (fn. 86)
The share of Agnes and Marmaduke Wyvill (fn. 87)
followed the descent of Constable Burton (q.v.), and
Mr. D'Arcy Wyvill is still one of the chief landowners in Hunton. (fn. 88)
The fifth inherited by Alice Dransfield was eventually divided as at Spennithorne (q.v.) by the will
of Ralph Dransfield between Dorothy Esshe and
Christopher Wyvill, (fn. 89) one-tenth of it subsequently
following the descent of the manor of Hunton and
the other that of Constable Burton (fn. 90) (q.v.).
In Hunton, as at Spennithorne (q.v.), the shares of
Mary Batty and of Elizabeth Strelley came into the
hands of Sir James Strangways, (fn. 91) who died in 1540
seised of two-fifths of this manor. (fn. 92) His heirs were
his aunt Joan wife of William Mauleverer, and his cousin
Robert Roos of Ingmanthorpe, each of whom inherited
a fifth. (fn. 93) William Mauleverer secured a quitclaim of
the Strelley moiety from Nicholas Strelley, jun., and
Elizabeth his wife in 1541, (fn. 94) and probably sold it shortly
afterwards; its descent cannot subsequently be traced.
On the death of Robert Roos in 1583 his portion
passed by the marriage of his daughter and heir Bridget
to Peter Roos of Laxton, whose son Gilbert died
seised of it in 1610. (fn. 95) His heir was his daughter Elizabeth wife of William Thomas, (fn. 96) but there is nothing
to show that she ever had an interest in Hunton, and
she may have sold it soon after this date. (fn. 97)
The land of Torphin passed from Bodin, tenant in
1086, (fn. 98) to the lords of Ravensworth (fn. 99) (q.v.). In
1279 Hugh son of Henry conveyed this manor to
John son of John de Hunton, (fn. 100) after which it was
merged in the manor traced above.
In 1240 Robert Arundel and Alice his wife granted
land in Hunton to the master of the hospital of
St. Leonard, York. (fn. 101) The hospital had probably
already received gifts from Roger de Hunton. (fn. 102) It
obtained a grant of free warren in Hunton in
1293, (fn. 103) and its manor is mentioned in 1364 (fn. 104) ;
this is doubtless that grange of Hunton held by the
hospital at the Dissolution. In 1545 it was granted
to Ralph Croft, (fn. 105) who settled it on his son Christopher
in 1570. (fn. 106) Christopher Croft conveyed it to Marmaduke Wylde of Hunton in 1621, (fn. 107) and the grange
subsequently followed the descent of the manor (fn. 108)
(q.v.), in which it was probably merged. Its history
during the 19th century cannot, at all events, be
traced.
In NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS (Neuton, xi cent.;
Newton-in-the-Willowes, xiv cent.; Newton Morkarr,
xv cent.; Newton Morkarr alias Newton-le-Willows, (fn. 109)
xvi cent.) 12 geld carucates were held by Count Alan
in 1086. They formed parcel later of the honour of
Richmond (q.v.).
The three 'manors' held before the Conquest by
Archil, Torchil and Asul had passed by 1086 to four
of Count Alan's knights, (fn. 110) of whom one was possibly
Ribald, for the lords of Middleham (q.v.) subsequently
had a mesne lordship over 6½ carucates in Newton. (fn. 111)
At the division of the lands of this fee in 1270 this portion was allotted to the youngest co-heir, Anastasia, then
a minor. (fn. 112) On her death it was divided between Mary
wife of Ralph Nevill and Robert de Tateshall, (fn. 113) who
in 1286–7 held 3½ carucates and 1 carucate respectively. (fn. 114) When Robert de Tateshall died in 1306 his
share passed to Mary Nevill, (fn. 115) and henceforward this
overlordship followed the descent of Middleham (q.v.).
In 1270 a carucate of this fee was held in demesne
by John de Scrafton and 2 by Peter de Rand, while
Robert de Tortemayn had 3½ carucates, (fn. 116) 1 of which
had previously belonged to Robert Marcolf. (fn. 117)
The holding of the Tortemayns was of some
antiquity, for Werric and Robert de Tortemayn
granted 1 carucate in Newton to Orm de Aysgarth
nephew of Sunnive in 1194. (fn. 118) In 1286–7 1½ carucates 6 oxgangs were held of Robert Tortemayn,
1 carucate 2 oxgangs being in demesne. (fn. 119) Robert was
apparently succeeded by 1298 by John, (fn. 120) whose heir
seems to have been the Robert Tortemayn who was
one of the chief taxpayers in Newton-le-Willows in
1301. (fn. 121) William Tortemayn was holding the fee
early in the reign of Edward II (fn. 122) ; he settled tenements from it upon Robert son of Walter de Newton
and Alice his wife for life, with remainder to Walter
their son, his wife Maud, and their issue. (fn. 123) By 1367
John de Fleetham had acquired the 'Marcolf lands'
and other land in Newton, (fn. 124) afterwards known as
Fleetham land. (fn. 125) Before the close of the 15th century
'Fleetham land' was in the possession of the lord
of Hornby (fn. 126) (q.v.). If not absorbed by the manor of
Patrick Brompton it must have been sold soon after
1755. In the latter case it may have passed to a
lord of East Witton (q.v.) or a member of the family
of Elsley. Mr. Hector Christie is now sole lord of
the manor of Newton-le-Willows. (fn. 127)
John de Scrafton died before 1287, (fn. 128) and his fee
seems to have been inherited by his daughter Eve.
Land in Scrafton and a small portion of Newton
descended apparently to a son Robert. (fn. 129) The Robert
de Hepple (Hephale) who was mentioned in 1301 (fn. 130)
and held most of the land of John de Scrafton (fn. 131)
was possibly either Eve's husband or her son. (fn. 132) He
died about 1304, leaving a son Robert, aged twentytwo. (fn. 133) In 1316 Robert de Hepple was returned
as sole lord of Newton-le-Willows, (fn. 134) and in 1334
he settled a mill and tenements in Newton and
Hackforth upon Thomas and Margaret Lellom and
their issue with contingent reversion to himself. (fn. 135)
Margaret was possibly daughter of Robert, for she
and her husband ultimately obtained the Scrafton
lands. Before the close of the 14th century they
had passed from Thomas Lellom to Richard de
Aske (fn. 136) of Aske (q.v.), which they followed in descent
until the death of Roger Aske in 1512. His tenement in Newton went to the elder of his two
daughters and co-heirs Elizabeth wife of Richard
Bowes; they appear to have conveyed it to Francis
Norton, (fn. 137) for Christopher Norton died seised of the
'manor' in 1538, (fn. 138) leaving sisters and co-heirs
Elizabeth and Joan. (fn. 139) Elizabeth appears to have
married Henry Norton of Seacroft, for Henry and
Elizabeth his wife had a share in the 'manor or
capital messuage' of Newton Hall in 1547. (fn. 140) Fortyone years later a Henry Norton and his son George
conveyed tenements in Newton to John Rownthwaite, (fn. 141) and in 1592 John Rownthwaite died seised
of 'Norton Hall' and five other messuages in
Newton. (fn. 142) His son Francis (fn. 143) granted the 'manor
of Newton Morkar' to Henry and Ralph Atkinson
in 1612, (fn. 144) and in 1632 Henry and Ralph and their
wives conveyed it to Thomas Lord Fauconberg. (fn. 145)
Dorothy Bellasis, sister of Thomas, married Conyers
Darcy Lord Conyers of Hornby (fn. 146) (q.v.), after which
it followed the descent of the manor given above.
Aske. Or three bars azure.
Norton. Azure a sleeve ermine.
Though William de Rand paid a small amount of
subsidy for Newton in 1301, (fn. 147) he can hardly have
held the whole of the 2 carucates of Peter de Rand.
These may have been partially absorbed by the Scrafton lands, which seem to have increased in value about
this time, or they may have passed to Jervaulx Abbey. (fn. 148)
The second knight of Count Alan was possibly
Bardolf, for the lords of Ravensworth held a mesne
lordship of 1½ carucates in Newton. (fn. 149) Their tenants
were the lords of Hackforth (q.v.), who also had
tenants unnamed.
The third knight, probably tenant of Archil's
lands, (fn. 150) may have been an ancestor of Thomas de
Burgh, of whom in 1286–7 Richard de la Chamber
held in demesne 1 carucate 2 oxgangs. (fn. 151)
Sir William Chamber, kt., held a toft and 35 acres
in Newton of Ralph de Nevill in 1322 when he
followed Joscelin Dayvill (fn. 152) in his rebellion against
Edward II and friendship with the Scots. (fn. 153) His fellow
rebel Thomas Longespy had inherited from Katherine
his mother a messuage and 5 oxgangs held of Sir
Laurence de Montfort. (fn. 154) Both these small holdings
were granted to Iseult de Pakenham in fee in 1359, (fn. 155)
but no further history of them has been found, nor
can the fee of Count Alan's fourth knight be accounted
for. These may, however, be represented by the
numerous small holdings of various persons in the
14th and 15th centuries (fn. 156) or by the possessions of
the convents of Jervaulx (fn. 157) and Marrick. (fn. 158)
The estate described in the 16th century as a
hamlet in NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS, and later as
the manor of Newton Morker, (fn. 159) represented the
tenement of the abbey of Jervaulx. (fn. 160) It followed the
descent of East Witton (q.v.) and is now owned by
Mr. Hector Christie, lord of the manor.
In 1361 Robert Hawley had a grant of free warren
in Patrick Brompton. (fn. 161) Geoffrey le Scrope received
a like liberty in Hunton in 1328, (fn. 162) while the master
of the hospital of St. Leonard, York, obtained it for
Hunton Grange in 1293. (fn. 163)
Churches
The church of ST. PATRICK
consists of a chancel 41 ft. by 20 ft.
6 in. with north vestry, nave 57 ft.
by 15 ft. 6 in., north aisle 10 ft. 6 in. wide, south
aisle about 12 ft. wide, west tower 12 ft. 6 in. by 10 ft.
3 in. and south porch. These measurements are all
internal. Though so much repaired externally as
to look rather dull, it is a very beautiful building
within and the work is of two main dates, c. 1180
and 1310–30. At the earlier date the church had
a chancel and nave with north aisle and north
chapel and perhaps a south aisle. The 14th-century
work involved an entire rebuilding of the chancel
with a north-east vestry, a new south arcade to
the nave and a rebuilding of nearly the whole of
the outer walls of both aisles. In modern times the
west tower has been rebuilt, leaving nothing to show
the style of its predecessor, which itself replaced a
former 'steeple' blown down by a violent storm in
1577; a south porch and north organ chamber have
been added, new roofs put on, and the masonry
generally repaired and quite unnecessarily retooled.
Plan of Patrick Brompton Church
There is a curious alteration of line in the chancel
walls, the eastern part of which inclines considerably to the north. All the work being of the same
date and outside the lines of the former chancel, it
seems to have been set out from both ends, the
mistake in direction, which might easily be made,
being corrected as the work went up. The five-light
net tracery window in the east wall, with its jambmouldings interrupted at the springing of the arch by
small capitals, is a beautiful piece of contemporary
work. A heavy moulded string runs round at the
level of the window sills, breaking upwards over the
doorways, sedilia, and tomb recess in the north wall.
On each side of the east window is a niche with a
projecting trefoiled canopy, gabled and crocketed,
carried by small attached shafts resting on grotesque
heads. The image corbels are carved with welldesigned and executed human heads. At the west
end of the north wall is a two-light window with
late geometrical tracery of beautiful design and detail,
and jambs of two orders moulded with sunk chamfers.
In the south wall are three similar windows. The
vestry has a good but much repaired east window of
three flat-headed trefoiled lights with cusped rectangular openings above, and a north window with a
trefoiled circle over two trefoiled lights, the mouldings
being of the same character as those of the east window
of the chancel. At the north-west of the vestry is a
trefoiled piscina. In the east and north windows is
some old heraldic glass, believed to be the shields
of Dalton and Peverell.
The vestry opens to the chancel by an arched
doorway with continuous mouldings, and to the east
of it is a fine tomb recess with a trefoiled arch and
flanking pinnacles; it doubtless served as an Easter
sepulchre and is part of the original work. In the
south wall are three beautiful sedilia with trefoiled
heads inclosed by gabled canopies with crockets and
finials resting upon the heads of a bishop and a
priest, and abutting on the east and west upon the
pinnacled buttresses which flank the group. To
the east is a trefoiled piscina with traces of a shelf,
now gone, and a single drain, and to the west is
a continuously moulded priest's doorway; near the
south-west is an ogee-headed low-side window, and
under the middle window in this wall another small
low window, trefoiled, and now blocked. The chancel
arch is of very sharp pitch and beautiful detail, with
moulded capitals to the inner order, the others being
continuous; in its north jamb is the rood stair
opening both to the chancel and north aisle.
The north arcade of the long and narrow nave is in
four bays of similar detail, the easternmost arch springing from a lower level than the others and being
separated from them by a pier; the arches are pointed
with an inner order of an arris between two rolls, and
an outer order enriched on the nave side by a roll
between two lines of zigzag, but plain towards the
aisle. There is also a label with indented ornament
towards the nave. The columns are of eight attached
shafts with octagonal capitals, their bells carved with
foliage and their bases with a hollow between two flattened rolls, on an octagonal plinth and square subplinth; the responds are of the same design. The eastern
bay of the south arcade is like that on the north, but
has its springing at the same level as the rest. Its
east respond is of the 12th-century date and does not
appear to have been heightened. The other three
bays of the south arcade are of 14th-century date and
perhaps take the place of a 12th-century arcade, of
which only the eastern bay remains. The arches are
of two wave-moulded orders resting on piers formed
of four large filleted shafts separated by a hollow and
fitting clumsily to an octagonal moulded capital. The
western respond is semi-octagonal, having a differently
moulded capital, but the same base as the others.
The north aisle has a trefoiled window with a
pointed segmental rear arch at the west end; those in
the north wall, four in number, are all different from
each other and of plainer style than those on the
south. To the west is a window of two trefoiled lights
with a trefoiled circle over, mostly modern, and next
to it is a modern triangular opening inclosing three
quatrefoils, then one of two uncusped lancets with a
pierced spandrel, and, near the east end, one of two
trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil over of the same
mouldings internally as the chancel windows, but
externally in one order only. The east wall appears
to have been built or refaced at the same time as the
chancel, the external plinth returning round and
stopping about 3 ft. from the angle on the north
side. The window is of a single trefoiled light with
square shouldered internal and external heads, under
which are two ball flowers on the interior.
Patrick Brompton Church: Sedilia and Piscina
The east window of the south aisle is of three
trefoiled lights with net tracery under a pointed
head; it is of two wave-moulded orders inside and
outside, and on each side of it are moulded image
brackets. In the south wall is a trefoiled piscina
with a shelf and pointed label, and over it is part of a
capital of the same design as the north arcade. In
the south wall are three two-light trefoiled windows
with pierced spandrels and wave-moulded jambs.
The pointed south doorway is of three orders, moulded
with zigzag and rolls with triple-shafted jambs, having
foliated capitals like those of the arcades. The label
has a lozenge ornament, and the whole was 'restored'
in 1864 by a son of the then rector, the Rev. Hugh
Rigg. The west window of the aisle is a modern
single trefoiled light with a trefoil over.
The modern tower is built of quarry-faced stone
in three stages, with an embattled parapet and angle
and intermediate pinnacles, and diagonal buttresses.
The tower arch is also modern, and has panels on
each side towards the nave.
The font is modern, and the only monument of
any age is a brass inscription in the chancel to
Thomas Lowden of Brunton, attorney, who died in
1666.
In the west window of the north aisle is a little
old glass of the 14th century and later, containing
parts of a Doom.
The bells are three in number and inscribed as
follows: (1) 'My crack is cured now loud I cry
have faith in Christ and live eternally 1703. Henry
Rookes, G. Manfield churchwardens'; (2) 'Pervvla
per magnam prebebat cima ruiam I Place 1686. (fn. 164)
SA.'; (3) 'Ora pro nobis beati patrici,' in fine ornamental capitals with no stop; it seems of late 13thcentury style.
The plate includes a chalice by John Langwith of
York, with date letter for 1706–7, a paten by Cattle
& Barber of York, and a flagon by Richard Cooke of
London, both of 1810.
The registers begin in 1558.
The church of ST. JOHN at Hunton is modern
and consists of a chancel measuring internally 15 ft.
by 11 ft., a nave 45 ft. by 23 ft. and a west porch
(entered by a south door) 9 ft. by 6 ft. The walls
are of rubble, and there is a west bellcote containing
one bell.
The font is twelve-sided, with a circular stem and
base moulded with half-rolls. This font belonged to
Thornton Watlass, and was presented in 1894.
The doorway of the porch has a plain chamfer.
The bell appears to be of the 18th or 19th century.
The plate is modern, the gift of Mr. G. A. Macmillan, 1896.
Advowson
The church of St. Patrick was
given by Bardolf to St. Mary's
Abbey, York, (fn. 165) which held it until
the Dissolution. (fn. 166) In 1546 Henry VIII granted the
advowson in exchange for certain manors to the
Bishop of Chester, (fn. 167) whose successors retained it until
it was transferred to the Bishop of Ripon in 1859. (fn. 168)
The living is a perpetual curacy, styled under an Act
of 1868 a vicarage. (fn. 169)
Patrick Brompton Church: Capital from North Arcade of Nave
The church of St. John of Hunton, originally a
domestic chapel, is a chapel of ease to Patrick
Brompton. Henry son of Hervey received a confirmation of land and the 'church' in Hunton
(Hinton) in 1201. (fn. 170) A century later John de
Hunton established a claim to land in Hunton
against the parson of Patrick Brompton on the
ground that he had granted it to a previous parson
by the service of finding a chaplain to celebrate mass
in his chapel daily throughout the year, and that for
two years this service had not been performed. (fn. 171)
The chantry of St. Edmund in this chapel was
founded by Geoffrey le Scrope, who in 1329 received
licence to alienate in mortmain land in Hunton and
Heslerton to the parson of Patrick Brompton, for the
purpose of augmenting the sustenance of a chaplain,
who was to be found by the parson of the church to
celebrate mass daily in this chapel. (fn. 172) At the suppression of the chantries mass was celebrated on three
days a week only. (fn. 173)
Charities
The Free School.—The original
schoolhouse was built by Samuel
Atkinson, who, by his will 1717,
endowed the same with land in Newton-le-Willows,
exchanged on the inclosure of Noman's Moor for
other land in Newton. In 1707 Samuel Clarke
endowed the school with a field and garth at Hunton,
and in 1716 Gregory Elsley by will left £60 for
education. The net income from these sources
amounts to about £24, which is carried to the
general funds of the church school.
Charities for the Poor.—The above-mentioned
Gregory Elsley also left £20 for the poor. In 1708
Francis Clarke by will charged his lands with £2 12s.
a year to be applied in the distribution of bread. In
1823 Gregory Elsley left £100, interest to be distributed among the poor. In 1851 Elizabeth Elsley
by will left a legacy, represented by £407 12s. 11d.
consols with the official trustees, income to be
distributed in coals, one moiety for the poor of
Patrick Brompton and the other moiety in the
township of Newton-le-Willows.
In 1905 the annual dividends, amounting to
£10 3s. 8d., were distributed by the vicar and
churchwardens in coals to eighteen persons, £5
at Christmas among thirteen persons in respect
of Gregory Elsley's charity (1823), and £1
distributed to the poor in respect of Gregory
Elsley's charity (1716). The £2 12s. for bread
(Francis Clarke's charity) was given each week
in the church to one person, the only applicant.
Hunton.—In 1858 Thomas Knight, by will
proved at York, left a legacy, now represented
by £97 19s. 2d. consols with the official trustees;
the income, amounting to £2 9s., is duly distributed among the poor of the township.
The Wesleyan chapel, founded by a trust deed
of 1829, is regulated by scheme of the Charity
Commissioners, 1884.
Newton-le-Willows.—John Forster, by deed of
1851, declared the trust of a sum of £500 12s. 6d.
consols, the dividends thereof to be applied for
education or for clothing or fuel for the poor
of the township. By order of the Charity
Commissioners, 1895, £230, part thereof, was
authorized to be applied in enlarging school buildings (founded by deed 1846), and the residue of
stock to be set aside at compound interest for
purposes of replacement. In July 1907 the amount
of stock with the official trustees was £376 13s. 9d.
consols.
Charity of Elizabeth Elsley.—This township is
entitled to a moiety of the income of this charity
(see above).