HUTTON CONYERS
Hotone, Hotune (xi cent.); Hoton Coigners,
Hoton Conyers (xiv cent.).
Hutton Conyers, now a civil parish and formerly
extra-parochial, is situated in the north-west of Ripon
parish on the left bank of the Ure. It covers an
area of about 3,211 acres. The eastern boundary is
formed by Leeming Lane, and between the lane
and the village is the wide tract of Hutton Moor.
Its boundaries in 1202 were given as follows: 'By
the boundary between Bishou and Kanehou . . .
and to the north by the King's high road from
Boroughbridge to the bridge of Lemming, and then
by the road from Halikeld towards Braithkeld, and
then towards the south from Braithkeld to Kanehou. (fn. 1)
A later perambulation of Ripon gives more local
names of interest: 'Through the middle of Branckcarr
to the corner of Hutton Flatt and thence directly to
the corner of the wood of William Mallory, knight,
commonly called Theidale.' (fn. 2)
A local writer describes various customs of the
moor which were still in use in the 18th century.
The occupiers of messuages and cottages in Hutton
Conyers, Baldersby, Rainton, Dishforth and Hewick
had a right of estray for their sheep. Each township
had a shepherd, whose rights were subject to those of
the lord's shepherd. On the first day of the year the
shepherds appeared at the court of the manor and
did fealty 'by bringing up to the court a large apple
pie and a twopenny sweet cake.' (fn. 3)
The 'road from Halikeld' mentioned in 1202
must be the lane now known as Melmerby Green
Lane, which runs south from Melmerby and is
crossed on Hutton Moor by the road from Thirsk
to Ripon, which runs in a south-westerly direction
through the parish. At the point where a lane
branches off from it to run westward to the village of
Hutton Conyers stood Athelstan's Cross, one of eight
which marked 'St. Wilfrid's Mile' round the city of
Ripon. (fn. 4) Within this circuit the church of Ripon had
privilege of sanctuary. (fn. 5)
The village stands on rising ground a quarter of a
mile to the east of the River Ure. At a point just
north of the village a small stream flows into the
river, which below the junction is known as Hutton
Mill Deep. No trace remains, however, of the two
mills here which belonged to the Ripon Chapter. (fn. 6)
Just north of the village is the site of Hutton Hall,
the old moated manor-house of the Conyers, and
subsequently of the Mallorys. There is no trace of
the park which once surrounded it. (fn. 7) In 1869 the
site was occupied by a farm-house dating from the
16th century. A ceiling ornamented with the arms
of the Mallorys remained to show that this house also
had been at times the residence of the lords of the
manor. (fn. 8) According to tradition it was attacked
during the civil wars by the Parliamentary forces. (fn. 9)
The Hutton Hall of the present day stands a short
distance to the north-east and is the residence of
Mr. Cyril Spence.
There are many tumuli scattered over the eastern
part of the parish. Some earthworks on Hutton
Moor may possibly mark the site of the fortification
which Count Alan set up here in 1140 to harass
Ripon. (fn. 10)
The manufacture of bricks and tiles is the chief
industry of the population, which in 1901 amounted
to 194. (fn. 11) A large part of the parish is, however,
under cultivation. Wheat, turnips and clover are
grown. An Inclosure Act was passed in 1810. (fn. 11a)
MANOR
Twelve carucates in HUTTON
CONYERS were in the hands of the
Bishop of Durham before 1086, and
were held with 2 carucates in Howgrave as one
'manor.' (fn. 12) They were claimed as an endowment ab
antiquitate of the church of St. Cuthbert. (fn. 13) Norton,
Sutton, Holme and Thorp were in the soke of
Hutton. (fn. 14)
The tenant of the bishop in 1086 was one
Robert. (fn. 15) Between 1099 and 1133, however,
Bishop Ralph Flambard enfeoffed in Sockburn,
Hutton and other places his councillor Roger de
Conyers. (fn. 16) Hutton, Norton, Holme and Howgrave
were held of the Bishop of Durham for one knight's
fee. (fn. 17)
At the end of the 12th century a division of the
Conyers' estates was made between Roger son of
Robert de Conyers, the right heir, and his uncle
Roger. (fn. 18) Hutton was allotted to the elder branch
of the family, which resided here for several
generations. Roger was succeeded by his son
Robert, (fn. 19) who died before 1259, and was succeeded
by Roger his son. (fn. 20) Another Robert followed and
held Norton Conyers in 1284. (fn. 21) It was either he or
his heir of the same name who was returned as lord
of Hutton in 1316. (fn. 22) In 1334 Robert de Conyers
settled the manor on himself, with remainder to his
grandson Robert, son of Thomas de Conyers. (fn. 23) This
younger Robert succeeded him and died without
male heirs. (fn. 24) His daughter and heir Joan married
Sir Christopher Mallory, (fn. 25) who confirmed in 1347
grants which had been made by Robert de Conyers. (fn. 26)
He seems to have been succeeded before 1398 by
William Mallory, (fn. 27) probably his son. A second
Christopher Mallory followed. (fn. 28) His widow Isabel
married William Vincent, who claimed a third of the
manor as dower against William Mallory, (fn. 29) probably
the son of Christopher. This dispute lasted for four
years, and was finally settled by a quitclaim in 1438
of the third part in question, made by William
Vincent and Isabel to William Mallory. (fn. 30) William
married Denise, sister and heir of William Tempest, (fn. 31)
and thus became lord of the manor of Studley Royal.
He died in 1475, (fn. 32) and was succeeded by his grandson William, (fn. 33) son and heir of John Mallory, (fn. 34) who
had predeceased his father. (fn. 35) The younger William
married Joan Constable. (fn. 36) On his death in 1499 (fn. 37)
he was succeeded by his son John Mallory, (fn. 38) who
paid £4 0s. 4d. as subsidy for his land in Hutton
Conyers in 1524. (fn. 39) He settled some lands here on
his son William, (fn. 40) who was his heir, and succeeded
him at his death in 1527. (fn. 41) William died in 1547, (fn. 42)
leaving a son and heir Christopher, who survived
him only eight years. (fn. 43) At his death Christopher
had no children, (fn. 44) and his lands were inherited,
under a settlement, (fn. 45) by his brother William Mallory
and his wife Ursula. (fn. 46) A posthumous son John was
subsequently born to Christopher, (fn. 47) and in 1578 had
a writ of amoveas manus for a third part of the
manors of Studley and Nunwick, late of Christopher
his father. (fn. 48)
Conyers of Hutton. Azure a sleeve ermine.
Mallory. Or a lion gules with a forked tail collared with a crown argent.
William Mallory, brother of Christopher, held
Hutton Conyers till his death in March 1602–3. (fn. 49) He
was member of Parliament and Sheriff of Yorkshire,
and was very active in the suppression of Popery. (fn. 50)
His son John, who succeeded him, (fn. 51) was succeeded in
his turn by his son William. (fn. 52) William died in
1645–6, (fn. 53) and left to his son Sir John Mallory his
land encumbered with considerable debts which he
doubted his 'whole estate both reall and personall
would not extend by farr to satisfie.' (fn. 54) He and his
son had raised forces against the Parliament in the
liberty of Ripon, and had to pay a fine of £2,219. (fn. 55)
Sir John, whose wife was Mary Mosley, (fn. 56) died in
1655. (fn. 57) Their son William died ten years later, (fn. 58)
and was succeeded by his only
surviving sister Mary wife of
George Aislabie of York. (fn. 59)
The manor was in the possession of George Aislabie in
1670, (fn. 60) but four years later
he was killed in a duel, (fn. 61) and
his wife held his lands in trust
for her children. (fn. 62) Her eldest
surviving son George succeeded her, and died in 1699. (fn. 63)
The estates were inherited by
his brother John, who was
member of Parliament for
Ripon, and Chancellor of the
Exchequer during the financial crisis known as the
South Sea Bubble. (fn. 64) He resigned his seat after the
disaster, and retired to Studley. His son and heir
William Aislabie succeeded him, (fn. 65) and was member
for the borough from 1721 to 1781. (fn. 66) He had two
sons who predeceased him, and his will entailed the
estates on his two daughters in succession. (fn. 67) The
elder, Elizabeth, wife of Charles Allanson, (fn. 68) died
without issue. She was succeeded by Elizabeth,
daughter of her younger sister Anna Sophia who had
married William Lawrence. (fn. 69)
Aislabie. Gules a fesse between three martlets argent.
De Grey, Marquess of Ripon. Vert a cheveron between three harts or standing at gaze.
On the death of Miss Elizabeth Lawrence in
1845 the estates reverted to
the descendants of Mary
Aislabie, daughter of George
Aislabie and Mary Mallory. (fn. 70)
She had married Sir William
Robinson of Newby (q.v.),
bart., and her representative at
this date was Thomas Philip
Earl De Grey. (fn. 71) On his
death he was succeeded by his
nephew afterwards Marquess
of Ripon. (fn. 72) The present Marquess of Ripon is now lord of
the manor.
Two oxgangs in Hutton
belonged in 1086 to the Archbishop of York. (fn. 73) They
appear in the 13th century as part of the endowment
of the church of Ripon, (fn. 74) together with a toft, or
messuage, known as St. Wilfrid's House. (fn. 75) This land
was held of the Ripon Chapter by the lords of the
manor of Hutton. (fn. 76) The two mills in Hutton
Conyers were also held of the chapter by the
Mallorys. (fn. 77)
Chapelry
In the early 13th century the
chapter of Ripon granted to Roger
de Conyers and his son Robert the
right of having a chapel in Hutton Conyers, and a
chaplain serving there, (fn. 78) subject to the parochial
rights of the chapter. The presentation was to be
in the hands of the lords of the manor. (fn. 79) Roger de
Conyers made a grant of a toft and 6 acres of land
in Hutton Conyers for the purpose of building the
chapel, (fn. 80) which was dedicated to St. John the
Baptist. (fn. 81) In 1322 Robert de Conyers, then lord of
the manor, made an additional grant of one messuage
with land in Hutton Conyers and Howgrave to a
chaplain celebrating divine service daily in the
chapel. (fn. 82)
The lords of the manor of Hutton Conyers continued to present incumbents to this chapel down to
the 16th century. (fn. 83) The object for which it existed
was stated in 1546 to be 'to have mass, divine service
and sacraments ministered in the said church at such
times as the inhabitants of the same town cannot
come to the parish church for the influence of the
water, when the water here is big.' (fn. 84)
After the confiscation of its endowment the chapel
seems to have fallen into disuse, and since the 16th
century the inhabitants of Hutton Conyers have had
no nearer church than Ripon. In 1863 the village
was included in the new ecclesiastical district of
Sharow. (fn. 85)
There are no endowed charities in Hutton
Conyers.