THORNTON WATLASS
Torretun, Torreton, Wadles (xi cent.); Thorneton
et Watlous (xiii cent.); Thorneton Watlows, Watlows
(xiv cent.).
This agricultural parish lies north of Masham in a
picturesque position on the eastern slopes of the Ure
valley. The height varies from 300 ft. near the
river to 500 ft. The total area is rather over 3,711
acres, of which 1,154 are arable land, 2,101 permanent grass and 253 woods and plantations (fn. 1) ; cereals
and root crops are grown. The soil is yellow gravel,
the subsoil chiefly magnesian limestone with some
millstone grit and alluvium near the Ure.
The ecclesiastical parish contains the townships of
Thornton Watlass, Clifton upon Ure, Rookwith and
Thirn, all now separate civil parishes.
Thornton Watlass originally consisted of two distinct
vills; as the church, which is frequently mentioned
in connexion with Watlass, is south of the village and
of Thornton Watlass Hall, it is probable that Watlass
lay south of Thornton. The village is built round a
large triangular green dotted with elms and sycamores.
The houses are mostly built of stone with slated and
tiled roofs and in front have hedged garden plots.
Thornton Watlass Hall, the seat of Sir Matthew B.
Smith-Dodsworth, bart., stands in a park of about 100
acres. The entrance to the hall is at the north end
of the village. The building consists of a main block
with wings on each side running north and south;
these wings project slightly on the front or southern
side of the house and form long projections at the
back. The house is rubble built, with rusticated
quoins, having been apparently refaced and altered in
the 18th century, particularly on the south side,
where a rain-water pipe bears the date 1727. In
the middle of the west side of the house, set in the
wall, are two stones engraved with two crests—a
boar's head above a crown and a hand holding the
butt of a lance. The principal room is on the
south side of the main building and has moulded oak
beams. The spaces between the beams are each
divided into two square panels by small wood mouldings. These, with the cornice and chimney-piece,
are probably alterations of the 18th century. An
oak stair of moderate size, the newels of which are
carved with fruit and flowers, leads in two flights to
the first floor. Generally the house contains much
good panelling and carved woodwork of various
periods, from the late 16th century to the 18th century, some of the work belonging to the building and
some having been brought from elsewhere. In a bedroom are about twenty pieces of mediaeval tapestry,
now worked into a bed canopy, containing, among
other subjects, the Crucifixion, figures of our Lord,
the Blessed Virgin, and St. Peter, together with
various saints, the figures being in most cases surrounded with canopy work.
To the west on Gospel Hill is a tumulus. Watlass
Moor, to the south, extends into Well parish.
There is no village at Clifton upon Ure. Clifton
Castle, the residence of Lady Cowell, stands in a
well-wooded park which slopes down to the river.
It is an ashlar-built house in the classical style of the
early 19th century. The site is that of the older
castle, the foundations of which form part of the
cellars of the present building. A drawing made in
1805 shows a portion of the ruins with a buttress
of two stages, a large pointed archway and other
details; it was described by Leland as a 'house
caullid Clifton, like a pile or castelet.' (fn. 2) On the
south side of the house, outside the area of the present
cellars, but on a level with them, is a stone-built
well, which formed the original water supply of the
castle.
Rookwith, lying to the north-east, consists of a
few farms. The village of Thirn consists of a small
group of houses with a Wesleyan chapel built on a
road from Thornton Watlass to Thornton Steward.
Thirn Moor lies to the east. The Hermitage, standing in park land, is occupied by Miss Clarke.
Among ancient place-names are Doddesworth
Closes, Sandy Brigworth and Monser Hill.
Manors
Before the Conquest two 'manors'
and 6 carucates in THORNTON were
held by Ulward and Stan, 'who had no
hall'; in 1086 both were in the hands of Count
Alan, (fn. 3) with whose successors the overlordship remained. (fn. 4) A mesne lordship followed the descent of
Middleham (fn. 5) (q.v.).
Thoresby. Argent a cheveron between three lions sable.
Dodsworth. Argent a bend engrailed sable between three rings gules.
Smith. Party saltirewise argent and sable with two trefoils gules in the argent.
In 1286–7 Peter de Thoresby, said to be descended
from Gospatric, held 5 carucates 2 oxgangs in
Thornton (fn. 6) and was succeeded by a son Hugh, (fn. 7) lord
in 1316 (fn. 8) and 1327–8 (fn. 9) ; John de Thoresby was
tenant in 1367. (fn. 10) At the end of the 14th century
Hugh de Thoresby was succeeded by three daughters
and co-heirs. The second of these, Agnes, married
Thomas Dodsworth. (fn. 11) William Dodsworth grandson
of Thomas died seised of six messuages and 6 carucates in 1469 and was succeeded by a son John. (fn. 12)
His son Thomas died in January 1514–15, his
successor being his son Richard, (fn. 13) who died in
1540, leaving a son John, then aged nine. (fn. 14) This
John Dodsworth held it at his death in 1609 and
was the father of another John, (fn. 15) whose son John was
in possession in 1674. (fn. 16) John Dodsworth (presumably
the great-grandson of this John) and Henry Dodsworth
dealt with the manor by fine in 1718–19. (fn. 17) In 1821
Thornton Watlass passed at the death of Frederick
Dodsworth, D.D., Canon of Windsor, to his nephew
Sir Edward Smith, who assumed the name of Dodsworth. (fn. 18) Sir Matthew Blayney Smith-Dodsworth is
the present lord of the manor.
Milbank. Gules a bend ermine and a quarter or with a lion's head razed gules therein.
WATLASS, where Sigreda had previously had a
'manor' and 3 carucates, also belonged to Count
Alan in 1086. (fn. 19) Ribald was tenant under Count
Alan and the mesne lordship followed the descent of
Well (q.v.). Hervey de Watlass was tenant here in
1286–7. (fn. 20) He granted it to his daughter Alice and
her husband Simon de Stutvill for an annual rent of
£60; he disseised them when
£40 were in arrear, but restored it after a suit in 1290. (fn. 21)
Simon, lord in 1316, (fn. 22) is mentioned in 1327–8, (fn. 23) but in or
before 1340 the manor came
into the hands of Thomas son
of Jollan de Nevill, (fn. 24) who
with his wife Cecily then
granted it to Sir Geoffrey le
Scrope, kt., in exchange for
the manor of Yarnwick. (fn. 25)
Watlass followed the descent
of Masham (fn. 26) (q.v.) until it
was sold by Sir Abstrupus
Danby to Sir William Blackett, bart., in 1688, (fn. 27) and
by the latter to John Milbank in the spring of
1699–1700. (fn. 28)
In 1901 Sir Powlett Milbank, bart., sold the 'manor
of Thornton Watlass' with the advowson of the church
and about 50 acres of land at Thornton Watlass,
including the village green, to Sir Matthew Blayney
Smith-Dodsworth., bart., now lord of the manor of
Thornton Watlass. (fn. 29)
A 'manor' and 3 carucates, late of Cnut, in
CLIFTON UPON URE (Clifton, xi cent.; Clyfton,
xiii cent.) were in the hands of Count Alan, whose
successors retained the overlordship. Donewald was
tenant in 1086, (fn. 30) but may have been superseded by
Ribald, for the lords of Middleham (q.v.) held a
mesne lordship here. Gilbert de Clifton was tenant
of the whole 3 carucates in 1286–7, (fn. 31) and obtained
a grant of free warren in his demesne lands here and
at Thirn in 1291. (fn. 32) A few years later the manor
of Clifton was settled upon Hervey de Clifton and
his heirs. (fn. 33) It is not certain whether Reynold de
Clifton was his successor here as at Thirn, (fn. 34) but the
manor seems to have been sold at about this date.
The conveyance of the manor in 1320 by John de
Hunton, (fn. 35) jun., and his wife Maud (possibly a Clifton
heiress) to Geoffrey le Scrope (fn. 36) may have been in the
nature of a quitclaim, for Geoffrey had obtained
licence to crenellate his dwelling-place of Clifton upon
Ure (fn. 37) and a grant of free warren here in 1317. (fn. 38)
The manor followed the descent of Masham (q.v.).
On the division of the property of Thomas sixth Lord
Scrope it passed to Margaret wife of Sir Christopher
Danby of Thorpe Perrow. (fn. 39) Their son inherited it,
and from him the manor passed to his daughter
Magdalene, who married her cousin Sir Marmaduke
Wyvill. (fn. 40) The manor descended with Constable
Burton (q.v.) until at least 1649. (fn. 41) In 1677 it was
held by Sir Marmaduke Dalton, kt., whose mother
Elizabeth Wyvill was a great-grandchild of Marmaduke and Magdalene Wyvill. (fn. 42) His daughter and
ultimate sole heiress, Mary, married Edward Graham
Viscount Preston, (fn. 43) after whose death she sold the
manor in 1735 to John Hutton. (fn. 44) His grandson (fn. 45)
Timothy Hutton was succeeded at his death in 1863
by his cousin James Pulleine of Crakehall, whose
daughter Georgina Elizabeth, widow of Major-General
the Rt. Hon. Sir John Clayton Cowell, K.C.B., (fn. 46) is
the present owner.
A water-mill here is mentioned in 1340–1 (fn. 47) ; free
fishery in the Ure was appurtenant to the manor in
1649. (fn. 48)
The two-fifths of the manor of Clifton held by
Sir James Strangways at his death in 1540 followed
the descent of his lands at Hunton (q.v.). In 1544
Robert Roos sold his share of the manor to Thomas
Pope and Robert Curson. (fn. 49)
In 1086 Count Alan was in possession of the
'manor' and 6 carucates in ROOKWITH (Rocvid,
xi cent.; Rockwich, Rokewyk, xiii cent.; Rokewythe,
xvi cent.) formerly held by Stenulf. (fn. 50) Rookwith became
parcel of the honour of Richmond. (fn. 51) Early in the
13th century Theobald de Valoignes held a mesne
lordship of half a knight's fee, under him being the
lords of Middleham. (fn. 52) In or before 1229 this land
was granted by Hamo de Valoignes to the Abbot and
convent of Jervaulx, (fn. 53) who obtained a grant of free
warren here in 1290. (fn. 54)
At the Dissolution the grange of Rookwith was let
for £49 0s. 4d. (fn. 55) In 1544 it was granted with the
site of the abbey to Matthew Earl of Lennox and
Margaret his wife. (fn. 56) After their death the grange
passed to their grandson, afterwards James I, and
Queen Elizabeth during his minority leased part
of it in 1601 to Christopher Smith for twentyone years. (fn. 57) A few months after the accession of
James I the whole grange was granted to Edward
Bruce Lord Kinloss, (fn. 58) who was seised of it at his
death in 1611. (fn. 59) It followed the descent of East
Witton (fn. 60) (q.v.) until 1886, and was sold by the
Marquess of Ailesbury with Jervaulx Abbey to the
first Lord Masham, whose son sold it to Mr. Hector
Christie. (fn. 61)
The overlordship of THIRN (Thirne, xi cent.;
Thyrne, xiii cent.; Thorne, present day), which in
1086 was among the lands of Count Alan, (fn. 62) continued in the honour of Richmond. (fn. 63) At the time
of the Domesday Survey Thirn was assessed at 3 carucates, and the value had increased from 5s. to 20s.
Bernulf, who had previously owned a 'manor' there,
was tenant. (fn. 64) A mesne lordship here was held by the
lords of Middleham (fn. 65) (q.v.).
In 1286–7 Gilbert de Clifton held the 3 carucates
here, Richard de Staynlay being tenant of 1 carucate. (fn. 66) The Clifton manor was acquired before
1328 by Geoffrey le Scrope, who was granted free
warren there in that year. (fn. 67) It followed the descent
of Masham (q.v.), and appears to have remained with
the Fitz Hughs, devolving in 1512–13 upon Thomas
Fiennes Lord Dacre and Sir Thomas Parr, kt., (fn. 68)
cousins of George Lord Fitz Hugh. Sir William
Parr, Marquess of Northampton, son of Sir Thomas,
was attainted under Queen Mary, and, although he
was restored in blood, (fn. 69) his moiety of Thirn was among
those lands appropriated by the Crown. Thomas
Fiennes Lord Dacre was at his death in 1534 succeeded by his grandson Thomas, who in 1541 was
found guilty of murder (though apparently without
foundation) and executed. His son Gregory was
restored in blood and honours in 1558, (fn. 70) and in 1571
was holding the 'manor' of Thirn, (fn. 71) which he settled
on himself and his issue. This manor may have
included that part which had formerly belonged to
Sir Thomas Parr, for Lord Dacre's right to make the
settlement was allowed by Queen Elizabeth in July
1581. (fn. 72) In August of the same year she granted the
reversion of the manor, in the event of Gregory's
death without issue, to William Cecil Lord Burghley
and Robert Earl of Leicester, their heirs and assigns. (fn. 73)
Gregory Fiennes Lord Dacre died without children
in 1594, his sister Margaret wife of Sampson Lennard
being his heir. (fn. 74) She and her husband sold a moiety
of the manor of Thirn to Francis Parker in 1599. (fn. 75)
After this time Thirn is described as a 'grange,'
which evidently descended with West Tanfield (q.v.).
Thirn was purchased, probably in 1796, by the
family of Milbank, (fn. 76) with whom it continued until
1901, when the manor passed with that of Thornton
Watlass (q.v.) to Sir Matthew Blayney Smith-Dodsworth, bart.
Thornton Watlass Church from the North-west
In 1280 Richard son of Adam de Thirn granted
2 carucates of land here to the Abbot of Jervaulx;
at the Dissolution 1s. was paid as rent of assize and
of free tenants here. (fn. 77)
Church
The church of ST. MARY THE
VIRGIN consists of chancel measuring
internally 35 ft. by 18 ft. with north
vestry, nave 51 ft. 9 in. by 21 ft., north aisle 9 ft. 5 in.
wide, north transept 15 ft. by 9 ft. 6 in., south transept 15 ft. by 9 ft., west tower and south porch.
With the exception of the west tower, which is of
the 14th century, the whole building is modern.
The piscina in the south wall of the chancel has an
old drain.
The tower is a fine dignified building with clasping
buttresses at the angles setting back in three stages.
The lowest stage is entirely plain save for a modern
three-light west window and small pointed opening
near the top of the stage; the second story, which is
very short, has like openings, and the belfry windows
are three tall trefoiled lights in each face, under
square heads, and over them the embattled parapet is
corbelled out, the corbel course being ornamented
with shields, heads and masks. The stair turret is at
the south-east angle. Internally the lower story of
the tower is vaulted and separated from the nave by
an arch of the same section as the ribs; it originally
had capitals, but these are now cut away. In the
first floor of the tower are a fireplace and garderobe,
and on the second floor is another room evidently
meant for habitation. At the top of the tower are
squinches designed to carry an octagonal spire.
There are two portions of Saxon cross-heads built
into the south porch. There is also a fragment of a
cross-shaft with loop-work upon the edge, much worn,
built into the churchyard wall.
The bells are three in number: the first inscribed
'Gloria in altissimis deo, 1694'; the second 'Soli
Deo Gloria Pax Hominibus, 1712. I. C. Churchwarden,' and the third dated 1825.
The plate consists of a modern cup, paten, flat
paten and flagon, all silver gilt, and a modern silver
set of cup, paten and flagon.
The registers begin in 1574.
Advowson
Mention of the church of 'Wattelaus' occurs in 1263. (fn. 78) Henry le
Scrope of Masham died in 1392 (fn. 79)
seised of the advowson and of the manor, which it
has followed in descent, the rectory being now in
the gift of Sir Matthew Blayney Smith-Dodsworth,
bart.
Charity
An annual sum of £4, supposed to
have arisen under the will of Dame
Julia Dodsworth, 1756, for educational
purposes, is duly received and applied in aid of the
school funds.
Township of Thirn. — The Wesleyan chapel,
founded by deed, 1835, is regulated by a scheme of
the Charity Commissioners, 1893.