BURNESTON
Brennigston (xi cent.); Brinnington (xii cent.);
Brynston (xiii cent.); Brunston (xiv cent.).
Burneston ecclesiastical parish comprised in 1831
the townships of Burneston, Carthorpe, Exelby,
Leeming and Newton (the last three places conjointly forming one township), Gatenby and Theakston. All these are now separate civil parishes, and
Leeming, with Exelby and Newton, was formed into
an ecclesiastical parish in 1880.
The area of Burneston is nearly 5,185 acres, including over 1,227 in Burneston civil parish, 2,113
in Carthorpe, 875 in Gatenby and 969 in Theakston.
The acreage of Exelby, Leeming and Newton is over
2,440. In the two ecclesiastical parishes there are
2,663 acres of arable land, 4,293 of permanent grass
and 357 of woods and plantations. (fn. 1) The land throughout the parish is level and open, varying from 100 ft.
to 150 ft. above ordnance datum. The soil is gravel
on a subsoil of either Keuper Marl or alluvium.
There are brick and tile works in the parish, but the
inhabitants are mainly engaged in agriculture, the
chief crops being wheat and roots.
Leeming Lane, the great Roman road to the north,
runs north-west and south-east through the parish, and
half a mile to the west of it is a parallel lane connecting Exelby on the north with Carthorpe on the
south. Between these hamlets, and built along this
road, is Burneston, connected with Leeming Lane by
the 'Back Lane' and 'Burneston Hargill,' which at
the village end is known as the 'Church Wind.' The
church of St. Lambert lies at the head of this lane,
and the Hall is close by, but on the opposite side of
the road.
The houses of the village are in most cases of brick
covered with rough-cast, with tiled roofs. The main
portion of the village extends north from the church
with hedged gardens on each side of the road. A
road running east, with a
number of houses scattered at
intervals along it, separates
the churchyard from the vicarage, the latter standing on
the north of the road in
grounds planted with elm,
ash and sycamore. To the
north-west of the church are
the Robinson Almshouses,
founded in 1680 by Matthew
Robinson, vicar of Burneston.
They form a picturesque block
two stories in height, and are
built of red brick. The windows are stone mullioned
and of two lights, those of
the ground floor having pediments of moulded brick alternately straight and curved.
The two entrance doorways
on the south side towards the
street are each surmounted
by a stone tablet and an oval
window. The easternmost
door has on the lintel '+ A.
W Discite ex me Matt. 11.
29. 1680.' On the tablet above is a shield blazoned
with a cheveron between three harts, with three
trefoils on the cheveron and a crescent for difference,
for Robinson.
The tablet above the other door bears an inscription
recording that 'Mat. Robinson MA vic. de Burneston'
built the almshouses in 1680. On the lintel are
Scriptural quotations in Latin.
Further to the west of the village is Old Hall Hill,
where are traces of earthworks. There is a Wesleyan
chapel in the village.
Carthorpe is a fair-sized hamlet a mile south of
Burneston. The old chapel, transformed into a
cottage, stood at the eastern end of the village, but
was demolished some years ago. The Manor House,
on the south side of the street, is a substantial late
17th-century building of red brick with a stone-slated
roof. It is two stories high, with early sash windows,
and contains some good panelling. Hall Garth and Carthorpe House are both modern. There are Wesleyan
and Primitive Methodist chapels in this hamlet.
Camp Hill, 1 mile to the south of Carthorpe, is a
large modern classic house, well situated on rising
ground and surrounded by a park, and is the residence
of Capt. Francis Horner Reynard, J.P. In the
gardens, park and adjoining fields are the remains of
a series of entrenchments which give their name to
the house and to a large wood near by. West of
Carthorpe the land slopes downward and there are
brick and tile works near the parish boundary.
Gatenby village consists of a few houses built on a
curve of the road connecting Burneston on the southwest and Newton on the west. There are brick and
tile works west of the village, beyond which is Gatenby
Wood.
The Robinson Almshouses, Burneston
The group of houses which comprise the hamlet of
Theakston is situated less than half a mile north-west
of Burneston and is built along a wide lane turning
west from the road joining Burneston and Exelby.
Theakston Hall, at the west end of the village, is the
residence of Mr. John McIntyre, and to the west of
the grounds is the common. Theakston Grange is on
Leeming Lane, half a mile north-east of the village.
Leeming village is built along Leeming Lane, where it
crosses Bedale Beck by a bridge. The houses are
brick or rough-cast and are built mostly in rows of
even size. On the east side a row of small halfruinous cottages with gardens stands back from the
road. The church of St. John the Baptist is on the
west of Leeming Lane. There are Wesleyan and
Primitive Methodist chapels here, the former built in
1904. West of the village on Main Cut are a mill
and a spring, and on Bedale Beck, about a mile northeast, there is a corn-mill near low meadow ground
called The Bottoms. Newton House, standing in a
wooded park, the residence of Mr. William Derby
Russell, D.L., J.P., is also on Leeming Lane and is
south-east of Leeming. To the south of the park is
the hamlet of Londonderry, consisting of an inn, a
mission hall and a few houses. It is connected by
Tofts Lane with Exelby, which lies half a mile southeast. This is a small village with a Wesleyan chapel.
To the north of it are gravel-pits. Interesting placenames in the parish are Hunger Hill, Pewet Hill,
North Folly, Keld Hill, Conquers Hill and Swarthlands.
Manors
In 1086 8 carucates in BURNESTON
belonged to Count Alan, and were
among the lands held by Merlesuain in
the time of Edward the Confessor, and at the time
of the Domesday Survey by Robert de Musters. (fn. 2)
Robert de Musters granted 4 carucates of land here
and the church in the late 11th century to the abbey
of St. Mary, York, (fn. 3) to which Ribald of Middleham
(q.v.) granted 4 more carucates before 1112. (fn. 4) In
1286–7 (fn. 5) the abbey held half Burneston of Robert
de Musters and the other half of the lady of Middleham. At the Dissolution Burneston was still among
its possessions. (fn. 6) In 1591 Queen Elizabeth granted
this manor to Sir Richard Theakston. (fn. 7) He died
seised of it in 1609, leaving a son and heir William, (fn. 8)
who sold the manor in 1639 with all the appurtenances to John Pierse of Bedale and his daughter
Dorothy and Richard Pierse. (fn. 9) It subsequently
passed into the family of Wastell. John Wastell
was in possession of the manor in 1682 (fn. 10) and his son
Henry Wastell, clerk, in 1748. (fn. 11) Matthew Montagu
(Robinson) fourth Lord Rokeby and his son and heir
Edward Montagu were holding it in 1830, (fn. 12) and
henceforth the property followed the descent of the
manor of Swainby in Pickhill parish (q.v.).
Serjeantson. Paly or and sable a bend azure with a sword argent thereon with hilt and pommel or.
At the time of the Domesday Survey 4 carucates
and a manor at CARTHORPE (Carrtorp, xi cent.;
Carthorp, xiii cent.) once
held by Archil were among
the lands of Count Alan, with
whose successors the overlordship remained. Gospatric had
one plough there. (fn. 13) In 1246
the manor was held by Avis
Marmion, (fn. 14) lady of West Tanfield (q.v.), which Carthorpe
followed in descent until the
early 19th century.
Colonel W. R. L. Serjeantson bought Badger Hall (now
called Camp Hill) with 131
acres of land from the then
owner, Dorothy Lambert, in or
about 1799, and he and his
son George Serjeantson afterwards bought some adjoining property from Lord Ailesbury at different
dates. Although the Serjeantsons appear never
to have exercised any manorial rights, that part of
Carthorpe which represented the manor was probably acquired by them from Lord Ailesbury either
in 1826 or 1856. George Serjeantson died in 1889,
having left the property to his cousin James Serjeantson (who predeceased him in 1886) and his heirs. It
was afterwards divided and the greater part of it came
into the hands of Captain Francis Horner Reynard,
J.P., who bought Camp Hill in 1896 and the farm
called East Lodge Farm in 1906. (fn. 15)
The history of EXELBY (Aschileby, xi cent.;
Eskells, xii cent. ; Eskelby, xiii cent.; Exilby,
xv cent.) and that of LEEMING (Lemeng, Leemingg, xiii cent. ; Great Leming, xiv cent.) are very
closely interwoven. Exelby consisted in 1086 of
8½ carucates of land belonging to Count Alan. (fn. 16)
Leeming is not mentioned in the Survey.
The tenants under the lords of Richmond in the
12th century were the owners of Tanfield. Hugh
son of Gernegan confirmed land here to St. Leonard's
Hospital, (fn. 17) and his descendants the Marmions continued to hold in demesne lands in Exelby and
Leeming which followed the descent of West Tanfield. (fn. 18) In the 17th century they were known as
the manors of Exelby and Leeming. (fn. 19) They were
purchased in about 1800 from Lord Ailesbury by
Mr. Edward Carter, (fn. 20) whose family was represented
in 1905 by Mr. Charles Carter of Theakston.
Under the lords of Tanfield the family of Exelby were
tenants. Wymar de Exelby, grandson of the Wymar
the Dapifer who was lord of Aske at the time of the
Domesday Survey, is the first who is known to have
held lands here. (fn. 21) He had a son Robert, from whom
his lands descended to a son Stephen. (fn. 22) Stephen's
heir was his sister Ivetta, married to Alan de Folyfayt. (fn. 23)
In 1199 she conveyed 4 carucates in Exelby to Henry
son of William, her cousin, and others. (fn. 24) Most of
the Exelby lands then descended in the younger
branch of the family. Alan de Exelby, grandson of
Ivetta, granted his capital messuage for life to
Bartholomew brother of Henry in 1251. (fn. 25) The
heirs of Bartholomew, who were also heirs of Henry,
granted their land here to Roger de Miniott, (fn. 26) who
paid subsidy in 1301. (fn. 27) It is probable that this
manor descended through the family of Miniott to
that of Pigot. (fn. 28) Randle Pigot was holding the manor
of Leeming on his death in 1502, (fn. 29) and it was
inherited by his niece Margaret Metcalfe. It belonged
in 1569 to Thomas Hussey. (fn. 30)
One carucate of land was granted to the hospital
of St. Leonard by Wymar de Exelby, (fn. 31) and was in
the possession of the hospital in 1286. (fn. 32) In 1335
2 carucates were added by the trustees of John de
Helbeck, who had married a widow of one of the
Exelbys, (fn. 33) and 2 more were granted by Henry IV,
who had them of the gift of Thomas Haxay, clerk,
in 1412. (fn. 34) The hospital had a manor here called
the 'manor of Exelby' or the 'manor of Leeming'
till the Dissolution. This manor of Exelby with
Leeming was in the hands of the Crown (fn. 35) in 1542.
Exelby Grange (fn. 36) was granted in fee to Sir Richard
Theakston and John Welles in 1590, (fn. 37) while the
manor with the profits of the manor court were
granted in 1602 to Henry Best and Arthur Squire, (fn. 38)
and were immediately purchased by Sir Richard
Theakston, lord of Burneston (fn. 39) (q.v.), to which
manor in 1609 the property probably became appurtenant.
The master of St. Leonard's obtained a grant of
free warren here in 1296, (fn. 40) and in 1300 received
licence to hold a market here on Fridays and a fair
on the eve, day and morrow of the Nativity of
St. John the Baptist. (fn. 41)
In 1086 GATENBY (Ghetenesbi, xi cent.; Gattaneby, Geytenby, Gaytenby, xiii cent.) was assessed
at 3 carucates, and belonged to Count Alan, whose
successors held the overlordship. (fn. 42) It is mentioned in
the Domesday Survey in connexion with Burneston
and other places in which Robert, the earl's vassal,
had the three 'manors' held by Merlesuain in the
time of Edward the Confessor. (fn. 43) The mesne lordship
of the Musters family is mentioned in 1286–7, when
the vill consisted of 3 carucates assessed at one quarter
of a knight's fee.
Their tenant was Ralph son of Ranulf, who died
in 1270 seised of 4 carucates here. (fn. 44) His son-in-law
Robert de Tateshall held the vill in 1286–7. (fn. 45)
Robert de Tateshall's grandson died without children
in 1306, and his share of Ralph son of Ranulf's
lands reverted to Mary eldest daughter of Ralph and
wife of Robert Nevill. (fn. 46) The lordship of the Nevills
followed the descent of the family, (fn. 47) and was in the
hands of Richard Nevill Earl of Salisbury in 1439. (fn. 48)
Aske. Or three bars azure.
Bowes. Ermine three bows gules.
The tenants in demesne in the early 13th century
were a family bearing the territorial name of Gatenby.
Roger de Gatenby, who died before 1229, left three
daughters and co-heirs. (fn. 49) Of these Joan (or Juliana)
married Robert Maulovel, Alice appears to have
married an Aske, and Sarra must have carried her
share into the family of Rougemond (or Richmond). (fn. 50)
The tenants under Ralph son of Ranulf in 1270
were Gilbert Rougemond, Hugh de Aske and Stephen
Maulovel. (fn. 51) Stephen Maulovel was the son of Robert
and Joan. (fn. 52) The seat of this family was Rampton,
in Nottinghamshire, but after the time of Stephen
Gatenby was held by a younger branch, which called
itself Maulovel or Gatenby. William Gatenby son
of Thomas was the chief tenant in 1301 and his son
Thomas in 1327. (fn. 53) A William Gatenby was holding
land here in 1421 and another William in 1523. (fn. 54)
In 1551 John Gatenby died seised of a third of the
vill, leaving a son William. William's son Anthony
succeeded him, and had two daughters and co-heirs,
Mary wife of William Bowes and Anne wife of
Thomas Warcop. (fn. 55) Mary and William sold their share
to George Jackson before 1598. The Warcop family
still held theirs in 1649, and the family was living
here in 1712. (fn. 56) The share of the Askes was settled
on John Aske in 1250 by Richard de Arundel and
his wife Alice. It followed the descent of Aske (fn. 57) in
Easby parish till the 16th century. William Aske,
who held the manor of Gatenby, died in 1512, leaving
as his co-heirs two granddaughters, (fn. 58) who afterwards
married Richard Bowes and Ralph Bulmer. (fn. 59) George
Bowes, the son of Richard, (fn. 60) eventually held the
manor, which he seems to have sold to John Jackson
in or about 1564. (fn. 61) John Jackson was seised of the
manor of Gatenby at his death in 1583. He had in
the same year settled it on his son and heir George
on his marriage with Jane daughter of John Clopton. (fn. 62)
About 1627 the manor was sold by the representatives
of George Jackson and William Clopton to Marmaduke Langdale, (fn. 63) who afterwards owned this manor of
Gatenby and suffered its sequestration for his delinquency. In 1651 his children petitioned for one
fifth of the estate, for which they had had an order; the
tenants, however, had refused payment, alleging that
Major-General Lambert had a grant of the estate by
Act of Parliament. The petition was granted, with
arrears from 1649 to the date of the settlement of
the estate upon Major-General Lambert or Sir William
Constable. (fn. 64) John Lambert was holding the manor of
Gatenby in 1655, (fn. 65) but Sir Marmaduke Langdale,
created Lord Langdale in
1658, (fn. 66) or his heirs, evidently
recovered it, for it was in the
possession of Marmaduke third
Lord Langdale in 1706, (fn. 67) and
of his son Marmaduke Lord
Langdale in 1742. (fn. 68) The fifth
Lord Langdale died in 1778, (fn. 69)
leaving three daughters: Mary,
who married Lord Stourton,
Elizabeth, who married Robert
Butler, and Apollonia, who
married Lord Clifford. (fn. 70) They
obtained an Act of Parliament
and sold all their rights in
the manor of Gatenby in
1807. One portion was bought by the Rev. James
Gildard of Kirk Deighton and the other by a
Mr. Wilson. After changing hands two or three
times both parts were bought by Lord Darlington,
afterwards Duke of Cleveland. His wife left the
property to her great-nephew Robert Russell, whose
cousin Mr. W. D. Russell is the present owner. (fn. 71)
Langdale, Lord Langdale. Sable a cheveron between three stars argent.
The third share of the manor, which was held by
Gilbert Rougemond in 1270, was inherited by his
son Ralph. (fn. 72) It reappears in 1522 in the possession
of Richard Burgh of Willingham, near Stow, in
Lincolnshire. His heir was his grandson Richard, (fn. 73)
whose sisters and co-heirs conveyed this estate to John
Jackson in 1562–3. (fn. 74) It was united two years later
with the Aske portion, and subsequently followed
the same descent.
NEWTON (Scabbed Newton, xiii–xviii cent.;
Newton Pyggot, xvi cent.) may be identified with
the Newton associated with Burneston (q.v.) in
Domesday Book and assessed at 6 carucates. (fn. 75) In
1317 free warren here was granted to Ranulf son of
Ralph, (fn. 76) lord of Spennithorne (q.v.), which Newton
followed in descent. With Spennithorne it was
divided in 1517 among the five co-heirs of John Fitz
Randall. (fn. 77) The fifth inherited by Elizabeth Strelley
was conveyed to William Strangways, clerk, in 1534, (fn. 78)
after which no further mention of it has been found.
Mary Batty's fifth went, like her fifth part of Spennithorne, first to Sir William Paulet, afterwards Lord
St. John, and from him to Sir James Strangways, kt.,
in 1540. (fn. 79) No subsequent descent of it is known.
Alice Dransfield's fifth, after the death of her son Ralph
in 1549, was divided between her sister, Dorothy
Esshe, and Christopher Wyvill, the son of another
sister Agnes, (fn. 80) each of whom, therefore, held threetenths of the manor. Dorothy Esshe left her share of
Newton (her own fifth and the tenth she inherited from
her nephew) to one of her sons, John, who died in
1566, leaving a son and heir Christopher Esshe. (fn. 81) In
1588–9 Christopher Esshe sold this estate to George
Metcalfe of Firby, (fn. 82) for whose recusancy it was under
sequestration in 1654. (fn. 83) Christopher Wyvill died
in 1578, and was succeeded by his son Marmaduke, (fn. 84)
who in 1613 sold his three-tenths of Newton Manor
to Roland Wandesford. (fn. 85) Roland's daughter and heir
Elizabeth married Philip fourth Lord Wharton in
1632, and brought him her part of Newton. (fn. 86) Lord
Wharton's daughter Elizabeth married Robert Earl
of Lindsey, and they were in possession of threetenths of the manor in 1672, (fn. 87) after which the history
of this division is uncertain.
There was a holding in Newton which belonged
to John Marmion in 1316, and followed the descent
of West Tanfield. It was described in the 16th
century as the manor in the same way as the Marmion
'manors' of Exelby and Leeming. (fn. 88) When they
were purchased from Lord Ailesbury by Mr. Edward
Carter about 1800 Newton was said to do suit at the
court of Exelby. (fn. 89)
THEAKSTON (Eston, xi cent.; Texton, Thexton,
Thekeston, xiii–xvi cent.; Theakstone, xvii cent.)
was associated with Burneston in 1086. It consisted
of 12 carucates of Count Alan's land, (fn. 90) and the
overlordship followed the descent of the honour of
Richmond. (fn. 91)
The first of the two mesne lordships here was
that held over 8 carucates by the lords of Middleham (fn. 92) (q.v.). Their most important tenant was the
Abbot of Coverham, who obtained 3 carucates here
from Walran son of Robert, lord of Middleham, in
the reign of Henry II. (fn. 93) Most of the land here
held by William de Lascelles in 1270 was obtained by
the abbey before the end of the reign of Edward I, (fn. 94)
and was held by the abbot at the Dissolution. (fn. 95) It
was granted to Sir Richard Theakston, whose son
Sir William Theakston sold all the demesne lands of
Theakston in 1630 to Christopher Byerley. (fn. 96) These
were in 1692 called the manor, which was then held
by Robert Byerley. (fn. 97) He sold
it to John Wastell in 1693.
After the death of John it
was inherited by his youngest
son, the Rev. Henry Wastell
(whose elder brothers John
and Matthew had become
bankrupt), and was sold by
him to Edward Carter in
1749. (fn. 98) The manor remained
with the Carter family until
1893, when it was purchased
by Mr. John McIntyre. (fn. 99)
Coverham Abbey. Or a chief indented azure.
Theakston of Theakston. Ermine a fret parted gules and azure.
A further fee was held
under the lords of Middleham by the family of Preston. (fn. 100) Robert de Preston
held land here in 1208, (fn. 101) and William de Preston
was the tenant in 1270. (fn. 102) Six
carucates, assessed at threetenths of a fee, were held by
Lettice de Preston in 1367
and by her heir in 1375. (fn. 103)
The heir of Lettice de Preston
and Geoffrey de Sinningthwaite held the land in
1388, (fn. 104) but after this the descent is not clear. Part of it
may have been given to the
priory of Mount Grace,
founded in or about 1398, for
it owned land here at the
Dissolution. (fn. 105) It was acquired
by Sir Richard Theakston and followed the descent
of his other land here. (fn. 106)
The second mesne lordship was over 1 carucate
and was held at the close of the 13th century by
Robert de Musters. (fn. 107) Before 1286–7 this land had
come into the hands of the hospital of St. Leonard,
and it was held by that house until the Dissolution. (fn. 108)
In 1590 Sir Richard Theakston obtained a grant of
the land which had belonged to St. Leonard's, (fn. 109) and
from this date the descent of this property followed
that of his other lands. (fn. 110)
Churches
The church of ST. LAMBERT
consists of a chancel 42 ft. 5 in. by
21 ft. 5 in. with a north vestry, nave
60 ft. by 22 ft., north and south aisles 10 ft. 9 in.
wide, south porch, and west tower 9 ft. 6 in. square.
These measurements are all internal.
The nave probably contains the stones of an
aisleless nave of the 13th century or earlier. The
chancel arch, entirely retooled, like much of the
internal masonry, is of early 14th-century detail, and
the plan and lower parts of the walls of the chancel
appear to belong to the same date. All the rest has
been rebuilt early in the 15th century, the nave
aisles and tower being of this date, and the chancel
arch may have been widened at the same period. (fn. 111)
The east window of the chancel has five cinquefoiled lights under a pointed head filled with vertical tracery; the details of the jambs, labels and
tracery are more like 14th than 15th-century work.
On either side of the window is an image niche with
an ogee-trefoiled canopy with crockets and finials,
and a carved angel bracket. The doorway into the
north vestry has a four-centred arch with mouldings
like those of the windows. The north-west and the
three south windows are all of 15th-century date,
and are of three cinquefoiled ogee-headed lights under
traceried heads; the mouldings are similar to those
of the east window. The middle south window has
its sill raised about a foot above the level of the others
to make room for the priest's doorway below; this
has a 15th-century four-centred arch, but the section of
the moulded jambs again recalls 14th-century detail.
The 14th-century piscina has an ogee-trefoiled
head and moulded jambs and label. A modern stone
covers the drain. There are three sedilia of the
same date with trefoiled heads under steep crocketed
and finialled gables, and panelled buttresses surmounted by crocketed pinnacles between them and
flanking them. A scroll moulded string-course round
the chancel at the level of the window ledges breaks
up to inclose the sedilia. The chancel is faced with
good ashlar masonry inside and out. The buttresses
are all of three stages with plain octagonal pinnacles.
A plain weathered string-course runs round the walls
below the window sills, and the parapet is also plain.
On one of the south buttresses is an incised sundial.
The roof is modern, but the four easternmost stone
corbels on either side are old; they are carved as
human heads or grotesque beasts. The two westernmost of the six on each side are modern and carved
with foliage.
The vestry, where it has not been modernized,
is of 15th-century date, like the later work in the
chancel, and is lighted by a two-light modern east
window. Its two buttresses appear to be old, and
have pinnacles resembling those of the chancel.
The chancel arch appears to be of early 14thcentury date and is of two orders, the inner a wave
mould and the outer with two hollows. The nave
arcades are each of four bays with two-centred arches
of two chamfered orders, without labels, carried
upon octagonal columns and responds, with moulded
octagonal capitals and bases. The clearstory is lighted
on each side by four windows having three plain roundheaded lights with pierced spandrels under flat internal
and round-arched external heads. Each side is divided
into four bays by pinnacled buttresses, and the parapet
is embattled.
The east window of the north aisle has three
cinquefoiled lights, the middle foils being worked on
the main instead of the cusping order. The head is
pointed and filled with vertical tracery, plainer than
that of the chancel windows, but following the same
general design. Below the north light is a broken
vertical joint, marking a change in the masonry. The
plinth also changes here in section. The north
wall of the aisle is divided by buttresses into four
bays, in the first, second and fourth of which are
windows of three trefoiled round-headed lights with
sunk spandrels under semicircular arches with labels.
The jambs and mullions are similar in section to
those of the east window of the aisle. Parts of
the first and third windows are new, the rest of
the stonework is old. The north doorway in the
third bay is also nearly all old and has jambs of a
sunk quarter-round order and a moulded label above its
dropped semicircular head. The parapet is embattled,
and the stump of one spout remains in place. The
west window of the aisle is of two trefoiled ovalheaded lights under a four-centred head, with a wide
shallow label; the jambs are of a single hollowchamfered order. Between the aisle and the nave,
to the south of this window, may be noticed a broken
vertical joint and a change in the courses of the
masonry. The east window of the south aisle is very
like that of the north. The three south windows
differ only from those opposite in that they are of
larger dimensions and that the heads are cinquefoiled
instead of trefoiled. The south doorway in the third
bay is pointed, with jambs of two hollow chamfers
and a moulded label. The west window of the aisle
has two trefoiled pointed lights with plain vertical
tracery over in a three-centred arch, with a label.
The roof of the nave is modern. The lean-to roofs
of the aisles are plain, and probably of no great age.
The west tower is of two stages with a spire. The
tower arch is pointed and of two chamfered orders
continuous on the east side and dying on the wall on
the west. Above this arch are the marks of the
earlier steep gabled nave roof. The ground stage has
a ribbed vault with a central bell way, the ribs having
a sunk quarter-round section. The west window is
of three cinquefoiled ogee-headed lights with cusped
vertical tracery above under a two-centred arch with
a label stopping on carved heads; over it is a clock.
There are plain rectangular lights to the first
floor in the north and south walls, both with labels.
The four belfry windows are each of two trefoiled
pointed lights with a continuous mullion and plain
tracery under a round arch. The angles are supported by diagonal buttresses, the eastern pair of
which appear inside the nave. In the lowest stage
of the western pair of buttresses are large ogee-headed
trefoiled niches enriched with crockets and finials.
The bracket of the north-west niche is carved as a
head. On the second offset are the shields of Nevill
and Conyers, and above the fourth are grotesque
gargoyles, over which are four shields, each in a
cusped panel, with the arms of Boynton, Fitz Hugh,
Nevill and Norton of Norton Conyers. The buttresses
finish with plain pyramidal finials rising above a plain
parapet. The spire is of ashlar and changes from
square to octagon immediately above the parapets.
The south porch, which is of a little later build
than the aisle, retains its old side walls, but has a
modern front wall. Its parapet is embattled and it has
crocketed pinnacles rising above the angle buttresses.
The base and bowl of the font are octagonal, but
the stem is circular. All are rudely moulded, and
the sides of the bowl are carved with variously shaped
panels, containing the date 1662 and the initials
R.B. R.W. IP. R.K. and C.P.
Most of the seating of the church dates from
1627, and is very good of its kind, with carved upper
panels and turned finials to each seat end. An
interesting feature is the large Allerthorpe pew, placed
against the north wall of the north aisle. It is
arranged in three stages with a large panel at the
back flanked by baluster-shaped pilasters supporting
an entablature, above which is a smaller pedimented
panel containing the arms of Thomas Robinson of
Allerthorpe. The large panel below bears an inscription to the effect that Thomas Robinson left a sum
of £50 to the church, which was expended on the
seats, paving and beautifying of the church in 1627.
The chancel is fitted with a good modern screen and
stalls, which have unfortunately been varnished.
The oldest monument is a small brass in the
chancel floor to Eleanor eldest daughter of Thomas
and Mary Harrison of Allerthorpe, 1668, and there
is another brass to Matthew Robinson, who was
parson for forty years, and died aged sixty-six, in the
year 1695.
There are six bells, all modern but the fifth and
fourth, the former inscribed 'Jesus be our Sped,
1621,' and the latter, a late 14th-century bell, in
small Gothic capitals 'S. Lambertus Belforth lamberte
salventur sponsa que perte.'
The plate includes a paten with the London marks
and an inscription 'Ex dono Mat. Robinson, M.A.
Vic de Burneston, 1677,' two cups and a flagon of
London make, all of 1854, and a paten of 1903. There
are also two pewter flagons and an almsdish by a
London pewterer I.B. On the flagons are the arms
of Harrison.
The registers begin in 1566.
The church of ST. JOHN BAPTIST, Leeming,
is a plain modern brick building consisting of a
small chancel with a three-light east window, a north
vestry and a nave of four bays in each of which there
is a two-light window. The entrance is by a porch
at the west end over which is an octagonal turret
with one bell.
Advowson
At the end of the 11th century
Robert de Musters gave the church
of Burneston to the Abbot of
St. Mary, (fn. 112) with whose successors it remained until
the Dissolution. (fn. 113) Before 1292 a vicarage had been
ordained. (fn. 114) The church and the advowson of the
vicarage were granted by Mary to Nicholas Archbishop of York in 1558, (fn. 115) and by Elizabeth to John
Wells and Henry Best in 1595. (fn. 116) The advowson
had, however, been acquired by Sir Richard
Theakston before his death in 1609, (fn. 117) perhaps about
the year 1602, when he purchased the manor of
Exelby from Henry Best and Arthur Squire. (fn. 118) His
son Sir William Theakston seems to have sold the
advowson shortly before 1634, (fn. 119) when William Robinson of Rokeby was patron. (fn. 120) William and Thomas
Robinson held the advowson in 1673, (fn. 121) and in 1682
the vicar was presented by William Robinson. (fn. 122)
Before 1765 the patronage had passed into the family
of Elsley, (fn. 123) to whom it still belonged in 1831. (fn. 124) From
1836 to 1879 it belonged to the Duke of Cleveland
and his trustees. (fn. 125) Between the latter year and 1889
it passed to the present patron, Mr. W. D. Russell.
In 1546 a gild called 'Our Ladye Guylde' existed
in the parish. It was endowed with 1 oxgang of
land in the parish of Murton, then held by Robert
Harper. (fn. 126)
In 1332 a chantry was founded in the chapel of
St. John the Baptist at Leeming by John Heslerton. (fn. 127)
This chapel served as a chapel of ease in 1548, and
escaped destruction. (fn. 128) In 1609 Francis Morrice and
Francis Phelips obtained a grant of land in Leeming
which had formerly belonged to the chantry of St. John
the Baptist. (fn. 129) Parts of the ancient chapelry were in
1880 formed into the district chapelry of St. John
the Baptist, (fn. 130) which is called a vicarage under the
Act of 1868. (fn. 131) The vicar of Burneston is patron.
Charities
The school was founded by
Matthew Robinson, 1688. (fn. 132) This
school property being intermixed
with a trust for an almshouse, the Charity Commissioners by a scheme dated 18 July 1905 determined that a yearly sum of £22, part of the rentcharge of £43 5s., the old grammar schoolroom in
the almshouse buildings, and the other school buildings and playgrounds, used for the purpose of a
public elementary school, should constitute the educational foundation of Matthew Robinson and others;
and that £21 5s., the residue of the endowment, the
remainder of the rent-charge and an estate at
Carthorpe, containing 15 a. let at £31 a year, should
constitute the Almshouse Charity of Matthew
Robinson and others.
The scheme provides (inter alia) that the almspeople should be poor persons of good character of
either sex who have resided in the parish for two
years at least next preceding their appointment,
receiving such a stipend as the trustees should fix
from time to time.
The Poor's land consists of 7 a., representing
the gift in 1637 of Richard Foes and lands purchased in 1780 with certain benefactions. The
land produces a net income of about £10 a year,
which with £2 13s. 4d., dividends on £106 19s. 1d.
consols held by the official trustees, arising from the
sale of gravel, is duly applied for the benefit of the
poor.
Township or Quarter of Carthorpe.—John Gale,
by will proved in the Probate Court of Canterbury
28 January 1655, charged a house in Field Lane,
Holborn, with a rent-charge of £4 towards the
relief of the poor of this township, in respect of
which a sum of £2 15s. a year only was paid for
many years. The site and houses thereon were
required for the purposes of the Holborn Viaduct,
and the rent-charge was redeemed by the Corporation
of the City of London by the transfer to the official
trustees of £100 6s. consols.
The Wesleyan chapel, founded by deeds, 1808,
is regulated by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 1893.
Township of Exelby, Leeming and Newton.—In
1670 Ralph Cowley left £4 a year for the poor,
which is paid out of two farms, now the property of
Mr. Basil Wood of Knaresborough, and distributed
by the parish council in gifts of money varying from
3s. to 5s.
In 1684 Thomas Isles left £3 a year for the poor,
which is paid by Mr. Richard Pearson of Darlington, the present owner of the property charged,
in respect of which 10s. is given to each of six
recipients.