APPLETON-LE-STREET
Apeltun (xi cent.); Appleton in Ryedale (xiv cent.
onwards); Appleton-le-Street (xvi cent. onwards).
Appleton-le-Street is composed of the townships of
Amotherby, (fn. 1) Broughton, Hildenley and Swinton and
the hamlet of Easthorpe. The area is 5,889 acres
of land, of which 13 acres are covered by water, 3,159
acres are arable land, 2,322 acres permanent grass
and 147 acres woods and plantations. (fn. 2) The chief
crops raised are wheat, barley, and oats. The
greater part of the parish lies on corallian beds
and Oxford clay, while there is alluvium near the
River Rye. Stone quarries at Amotherby and
Hildenley are mentioned in the 13th century, (fn. 3) and
limestone and sandstone are now worked at Appletonle-Street. The height of the parish varies from
75 ft. to 375 ft. above the ordnance datum.
The village of Appleton-le-Street (fn. 4) lies along the road
from Malton to Helmsley. The church is situated
on rising ground to the south in a large churchyard
approached from the road by a flight of rough stone
steps. The cottages are mostly of stone with tiled
roofs. At the western extremity of the village, a
short distance to the north of the main road, is
a stone dovecote with a high-pitched tile roof.
Amotherby stands on a road branching from the
Malton to Hovingham road. The cottages here also
are of stone and chiefly roofed with tiles. The church
stands in the middle of the village some 50 yards
back from the road, while to the west of the churchyard is the vicarage, a large modern stone building in
16th-century style. To the east of the village, on
the north side of the high road, are some disused stone
quarries.
An inclosure award was obtained for Swinton in
1774, for Amotherby in 1776. (fn. 5) Nearly the whole
district of Ryedale, of which Malton may be regarded
as the capital, is a fertile, well-drained region with
no great town, but an agricultural population
gathered into large villages. On Amotherby Moor,
which gradually rises to 367 ft. in Lund Hill and
375 ft. at Easthorpe Farm, are tumuli. From
Amotherby the road goes to Swinton and on to
Broughton, where numerous sepulchral urns have been
found; here there was in the early 13th century (fn. 6)
and in 1399 a hospital of St. Mary Magdalen, (fn. 7) the
site of which is still shown and is commemorated by
Spital Hill Plantation. Hildenley hamlet, wood,
Hall and park with fish-ponds are close to Malton on
Braygate Street, now more usually called the Castle
Howard Road. A deed of the early 13th century
mentions the 'kings street of Holdelith as far as
Braitgate.' (fn. 8)
The hamlet of Newsham lies to the north of the
parish, on the Rye, its northern boundary. The
capital messuages of Amotherby, Broughton and
Swinton are mentioned in the 13th century. (fn. 9) Some
12th and 13th-century local names are: Wandailes,
the Cross of Amotherby, Gildecroftende, 'Scoddegate which is now called Swintongate,' Sledde,
Middelkevel, Lundthorpdic, Balscroft in Amotherby (fn. 10) ;
Thoresbec, Landesmeresic and Brotesic in Easthorpe (fn. 11) ;
and Broughtun Museclive and the Broches of Broughton
in Broughton. (fn. 12)
Amotherby has a station on the Thirsk and
Malton branch of the North Eastern railway.
There are Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist
chapels at Swinton. A School Board was formed in
1892 for the united district, the school being at
Amotherby.
By a deed of 1669 Sir William Strickland, lord of
the manor of Amotherby, charged certain lands in
Amotherby under certain conditions with the payment of £15 a year for a plate to be run for by
horses on the third Thursday in March at Kiplingcotes; this payment was still made by the lord of
the manor in 1736. (fn. 13)
Manors
A 'manor' and 5 carucates in APPLETON-LE-STREET were held by Cnut
before the Conquest and by the king in
1086. (fn. 14) The Paynels received lands in Amotherby
from one of the first three Norman kings, (fn. 15) and early
in the 13th century they were overlords of Appleton
and Easthorpe, of half the vill of Swinton and onethird of the vill of Amotherby. (fn. 16) Part of the Paynel
fee passed, like Hooton Pagnell in the West Riding,
to Geoffrey Luttrell by his marriage with Frethesent
daughter of William Paynel. (fn. 17) Andrew their son
left a son Geoffrey, who died before 1270. Robert
son of Geoffrey died before 1297, and was succeeded
by his son Geoffrey, who died in 1345. Andrew
Luttrell, son of the last-named, died in 1390, leaving
a son Andrew, who was succeeded in 1397 by his
son Geoffrey. Geoffrey died in 1419, when his fee
passed to his sister Hawise wife of Geoffrey de
Hilton. (fn. 18) In 1427 Geoffrey de Hilton was overlord
of tenements in Swinton and Amotherby. (fn. 19)
The manor of Appleton, however, passed to the
Norman branch of the Paynel family, which held
Drax and Barton-le-Street (q.v.). On the forfeiture
of Fulk Paynel these lands were granted to Hugh
son of Peter Paynel. (fn. 20) Eleanor widow of Fulk's predecessor William Paynel married as her third husband
William Earl of Salisbury. (fn. 21) In 1230–1 she was holding 2 carucates and a mill in Appleton and Newsham
of Hugh Paynel in dower, while Hugh himself had the
service from a carucate here and 18 oxgangs in Swinton
of the land of the Normans. (fn. 22) John Paynel of Drax
died seised of a knight's fee in Appleton, Hildenley,
Swinton and Easthorpe about 1287–8 and was succeeded by his brother Philip. (fn. 23) In 1426 the manor
was said to be in the fee of the lords of Malton. (fn. 24)
Bolton. Argent a cheveron gules with three leopards or thereon.
Appleton was granted with Swinton (fn. 25) by John
Paynel to Thomas de Bolton, (fn. 26) whose son John had a
brother and heir Robert. (fn. 27)
Robert held half a knight's fee
of John Paynel in Appleton and
Easthorpe in 1284–5, (fn. 28) and,
according to the inquisition,
the whole of John Paynel's
knight's fee in Appleton, Hildenley, Swinton and Easthorpe
in 1287–8. Robert de Bolton
was lord in 1316. (fn. 29) In 1339
his son Thomas was lord, (fn. 30) and
in 1369 the latter had been
succeeded by a son Thomas, (fn. 31)
who then sold the reversion
of the manors of Appleton and
Easthorpe, which a Robert de Bolton held for life,
to Sir Thomas de Metham, kt. (fn. 32) Thomas de Bolton
died in 1375 seised of rents in Swinton and Broughton, leaving an infant daughter and heir Mary, (fn. 33)
and no further record has been found of the
Boltons in Appleton, nor of the new purchaser, Sir
Thomas de Metham. (fn. 34) William Lord Latimer, who
was mesne lord of Amotherby, as his ancestors were
of Broughton, died in 1381. He endowed the
chantry in Appleton Church. (fn. 35) His only daughter
and heir Elizabeth married John Lord Nevill of
Raby, to whose son Ralph, first Earl of Westmorland, (fn. 36) James Strangways and Robert Strangways conveyed the manors of Appleton and Easthorpe and
the advowson of the chantry in Appleton Church in
1416. (fn. 37) The manor of Appleton now descended
with the Nevills' manor of Middleham (q.v.) until
1631, (fn. 38) when it was conveyed by the citizens of
London to Sir George Lee
and Daniel Britton, who sold
it in 1632 to William Hebden. (fn. 39) The Hebdens retained
the manor for 127 years. (fn. 40)
Hebden. Ermine a fesse indented gules.
John Hebden 'of Scarborough' was lord of the
manor in 1742 (fn. 41) ; John and
James Hebden made settlements in 1745, (fn. 42) and in 1759
conveyed the manor to Robert
Ward and William Leyborn, (fn. 43)
who in 1761 conveyed it to
John Addison. In 1809 it
came into the possession of the family of Creswell, (fn. 44)
from whom it was purchased in 1875 by the late
Mr. James Fairbank. It is now held by the trustees
under his will. (fn. 45)
In 1293 Robert de Bolton stated that his predecessors had had amendment of the assize of bread
and ale in Appleton and Swinton by prescription. (fn. 46)
The court leet with court baron has been intermittently, but is now regularly, held. (fn. 47)
In 1086 AMOTHERBY (Aimundrebi, Edmundrebi, xi cent.; Eimundrebi, xii cent.; Aymunderby,
Eymunderby, xiii-xv cent.; Aymonderby, Amodderbye, Amotherby, xvi-xviii cent.) was a berewick
of Hovingham, (fn. 48) and part of it was still held of the
lords of Hovingham in the early 13th century. (fn. 49)
Some time after 1086 2½ carucates were granted to
Robert Brus. (fn. 50) It was stated in 1303 that William I
gave 1 carucate of land here to the 'ancestor of
Basset,' 2 to the 'ancestor of Luttrell' and the rest
of the vill to Robert Brus (fn. 51) ; but if the Robert
Brus was the father of Adam, as stated, the grantor
must have been William II or Henry I. (fn. 52)
The Basset fee descended to the barons of Greystock. (fn. 53)
Nesfield. Argent two bars engrailed sable.
Robert Brus was succeeded by his son Adam, who
enfeoffed Ricolf de Garton in Amotherby. Ricolf was
succeeded by his son Roger, whose son Nicholas left a
daughter and heir Ada, married to John de Garton.
John and Ada enfeoffed John de Bordesden and Isabel
his wife, (fn. 54) and in 1313–14 John de Bordesden received
a grant of free warren in Amotherby and Newsham. (fn. 55)
He was lord in 1316 (fn. 56) and 1319–20. (fn. 57) In 1329,
after his death, William de Bordesden, his heir,
granted tenements in these places to John de Barforth and his heirs (fn. 58) ; but in 1347 William de Garton
was returned as holding the 2 carucates of land in
Amotherby and Newsham previously held by John
de Bordesden, (fn. 59) and he was apparently lord in 1354. (fn. 60)
Two years later, however,
Thomas Ingleby of Ripley
obtained a grant of free warren
in Amotherby, (fn. 61) and in 1428
Thomas Ingleby and Henry
Nesfield held the 2 carucates
that William de Garton previously held. (fn. 62) Perhaps William
de Garton left co-heirs, for in
1368 William de Nesfield, by
right of Christina his wife,
conveyed the manor to William
de Newport and Katherine
his wife and the heirs of
Katherine. (fn. 63) In 1543 (fn. 64) and 1548 (fn. 65) the Inglebys
made settlements of the manors of Amotherby and
Swinton, but in 1558–9 Sir William Fairfax died
seised of the manor, his son and heir Guy, a lunatic,
dying seised in 1567. leaving a son and heir Thomas. (fn. 66)
Roger Ringrose died seised of tenements here in
1614–15, leaving a son and heir Robert, (fn. 67) who in
1624 conveyed the manor to William Strickland. (fn. 68)
It was sold by the Stricklands about 1729 to
Hugh Cholmley (fn. 69) of Whitby, (fn. 70) whose successor
Nathaniel Cholmley in 1766–7 conveyed it to
John Wilkinson. (fn. 71) John Wilkinson devised the
manor to trustees for sale, from whom it was purchased by Peter Thellusson of Brodsworth, who died
in 1797, (fn. 72) having made a will by which his revenues
were to accumulate for several lives in the interest of
his subsequent male descendants. (fn. 73) His trustees in
1812–13 conveyed this manor to his wife's brother (fn. 74)
Sir Ralph Woodford, bart., and others (fn. 75) ; but in
1857 Charles Sabine Thellusson was lord of the
manor, as was Charles Sabine Augustus Thellusson
in 1872–9 and Peter Thellusson of Brodsworth in
1889. The manorial rights now belong to the
owner of Appleton.
Two 'manors' and 8 carucates 2 oxgangs at
BROUGHTON (Brostone, xi cent.; Broctune,
xi-xiii cent.; Broghton, xiii-xvi cent.) belonged to
Gamel and Ligulf before the Conquest. In 1086
Broughton was a berewick of Hovingham. (fn. 76)
Latimer. Gules a cross paty or.
The king held 8 carucates here and Berengar
de Toni 1 in 1086, Berengar's part forming a
'manor.' (fn. 77) The overlordship
subsequently belonged to the
lords of Hovingham (fn. 78) (q.v.).
Henry le Latimer, who left a
daughter and heir Julia, and
William son of William le
Latimer and father of Thomas
father of William le Latimer,
held lands here in the 12th
and 13th centuries, (fn. 79) and in
1284–5 William Latimer was
mesne lord of 4 carucates. (fn. 80)
Under the Latimers the
Lovells were tenants. William
son of Robert Lovell of Broughton (fn. 81) and William
son of William Lovell are mentioned in the 13th
century. (fn. 82) William Lovell was lord in 1284–5, (fn. 83)
and in 1300 William son of William Lovell granted
tenements in Broughton and Swinton to Simon Lovell
for life. (fn. 84) In 1329–30 the manor of Broughton was
settled on Simon Lovell for life with remainder to
William his son and Margaret his wife and their
heirs. (fn. 85) In 1348, however, Simon Lovell quitclaimed all his right to William de Garton. (fn. 86) From
William de Garton the manor descended like
Amotherby (fn. 87) to the Nesfields. Henry de Nesfield
was holding in 1428, (fn. 88) and in 1488 James Nesfield
conveyed the manor, in which Margaret widow of
John Nesfield had a life interest, to Sir Thomas
Lovell, kt. (fn. 89) In 1496–7 Thomas Lovell conveyed
it to Robert Constable, serjeant-at-law, and others, (fn. 90)
and in 1501 Robert Constable died seised. (fn. 91) The
Constables of North Cliff held Broughton (fn. 92) until
1562, when Marmaduke Constable conveyed the 'manor'
to William Raysing, (fn. 93) who
died seised in 1590, leaving a
son and heir Marmaduke. (fn. 94)
In 1610 Marmaduke, Margery
his wife and James his son
and heir conveyed the manor
to William Hustler, (fn. 95) who in
1636–7 conveyed it to William
Marshall, Martin Pennock,
Richard Dixon and others. (fn. 96)
Mr. Thomas Isherwood, J.P.,
of Heywood, Lancashire, was
owner in 1889.
Constable of North Cliff. Quarterly or and vair a bend gules.
Howard, Earl of Carlisle. Gules a bend between six crosslets fitchy argent with the augmentation for Flodden on the bend and the difference of a molet sable.
EASTHORPE (Yaresthorp, Yarpesthorp, Yarpthorp, Yarthorp, xiii-xvi cent.) in 1086 was a
berewick of Pickering Manor. (fn. 97) Early in the 13th
century Hugh son of Peter Paynel was overlord, (fn. 98)
and had been succeeded in 1280 by John Paynel,
under whom John de Bolton
then held the manor. (fn. 99) He
died seised in that year, and
his brother and heir Robert
de Bolton held Easthorpe and
Appleton in 1284–5 (fn. 100) ; from
this time the manor of Easthorpe descended with that of
Appleton until the middle of
the 18th century. The Hebdens, who then alienated
Appleton, afterwards resided
at Easthorpe Park. James
Hebden had a son George,
who left sons James and
George (the latter dying in
1804). When James died
childless Easthorpe was sold
to the fifth Earl of Carlisle. (fn. 101) Rosalind Countess
of Carlisle is the present owner.
Two carucates at HILDENLEY (Hildingeslei,
Ildingeslei, xi cent.; Hildingley, xiii-xviii cent.;
Heldyngley, 1517) belonged to Cnut before the
Norman Conquest and to the king in 1086. (fn. 102) It
was afterwards divided between the fees of Bassett and
Paynel. (fn. 103) The manor in 1287 was held by John
Chambard (Chaumbard), but before this Ellis
Chambard and Robert Chambard made grants in
Swinton to Malton Priory, (fn. 104) and in 1284 John son
of William Chambard of Hildenley made a grant of
land in East Cowton. (fn. 105) In 1287 John Chambard
conveyed two parts of the manor to Walter Percehay
with the reversion of the dower third of Mary wife
of John Grimet. (fn. 106) Walter
Percehay received a grant of
free warren here and in
Swinton in 1328, (fn. 107) and the
Percehays of Ryton (fn. 108) (q.v.) retained (fn. 109) the manor until 1522,
when William Percehay conveyed it to Roger Cholmley
of Roxby. (fn. 110) In 1565 Richard
son of Roger Cholmley (fn. 111) conveyed the manor to William
Strickland (fn. 112) of Boynton, whose
descendant Sir Charles William
Strickland, bart., held it in
1909. (fn. 113) It has since been purchased by the Hon. F. H.
Dawnay.
Strickland of Boynton, baronet. Gules a cheveron between three crosses formy or and a quarter ermine with a hart's head razed sable therein.
Ten oxgangs in NEWSHAM (Neuhuse, Neuuehusum, xi cent.; Neusum,
xiii-xvi cent.) belonged to Eadne before the Conquest
and to the king in 1086. They afterwards formed
part of the Brus fee (fn. 114) and the heirs of Nicholas de
Newsham were tenants in 1284–5, (fn. 115) but are not
again mentioned. In 1349 Thomas de Ingleby and
Katherine his wife held a lordship here. (fn. 116)
In 1294 John de Garton and Ada his wife, the
heiress of this place as well as of Amotherby, conveyed the manor to John de Bordesden with
tenements in Amotherby. (fn. 117) William le Constable
and John Bordesden were returned as joint lords in
1316. (fn. 118) As at Amotherby, the Bordesdens were
succeeded by William de Garton, who in 1349 and
1355 made arrangements with Thomas de Ingleby
and Katherine his wife as to the services due to them
and the heirs of Katherine for the manor. (fn. 119) The
manor now followed the descent of the manor of
Broughton until it came to the hands of the
Constables of Cliffe. (fn. 120) In 1582 Robert Constable
conveyed it to Queen Elizabeth. (fn. 121)
At SWINTON (Suintune, xi cent.) two 'manors'
and 11 carucates were held by Cnut and Gamel
before the Conquest and were land of the king in
1086. (fn. 122) Part of this was probably dependent on
Hovingham (q.v.), for the Mowbrays held an overlordship here. (fn. 123) From the early 13th century, (fn. 124) and
perhaps earlier, lords of Malton (q.v.) had a mesne
tenancy. (fn. 125)
The Paynels probably acquired the rest of Swinton
with Appleton, and it was subinfeudated by John
Paynel with Appleton (q.v.) to Thomas de Bolton.
In 1275 Thomas de Bolton, 'ill at Easthorpe and
in want of money,' sold the manor of Swinton to the
Prior of Malton for £147 3s. 4d. (fn. 126) In 1276, after
his death, his son John de Bolton petitioned the king
for these lands, (fn. 127) but the Boltons were afterwards only
mesne lords, (fn. 128) and their tenancy had ended by
1375. (fn. 129)
Percehay of Ryton. Argent a cross paty gules.
Compton of Compton. Sable a leopard or between three helms argent.
Malton Priory, which held 1 carucate of land
here of the fee of Vescy, (fn. 130) and three other tenants
(of whom nothing further is heard) were returned
as joint lords in 1316 (fn. 131) ; but by 1328 the manor had
apparently come into the hands of the Percehays of
Ryton (fn. 132) (q.v.), who retained it (fn. 133) until 1521–2, when
William Percehay conveyed it to Sir William Compton,
kt., and others. (fn. 134) The Comptons of Compton,
Warwickshire, (fn. 135) held the manor (fn. 136) until Henry
Compton, a distinguished soldier, in 1586–7 conveyed
it to John Burley. (fn. 137) John Burnett and Anne his
wife in 1609–10 conveyed one-third of the manor to
William Pennyman and William Burnett, (fn. 138) and in
1614 Edmund Cotes and Phyllis his wife conveyed
one-third to James Cotes and his heirs. (fn. 139) In 1665
John Raynes and Dorothy his wife and Sarah Raynes
widow conveyed the whole manor to William Smith, (fn. 140)
and in 1680 James Smith conveyed it to Thomas
Dove. (fn. 141) The manor afterwards came into the
possession of a Miss Ward, who married first Sir
Thomas Fagg and as her second husband Roger
Talbot of Woodend, near Thirsk, a great-grandson of
Oliver Cromwell. Lady Fagg by will in 1784
devised this estate to Cornelius Cayley of Sowerby, near
Thirsk, and Sarah his wife. Cornelius Cayley (lord
in 1857) and Sarah were succeeded by their son, who
died unmarried and left Swinton to his sister, widow
of James Favell of Normanton. Mrs. Favell bequeathed
it to her only daughter Agnes, who married the Rev.
Canon A. W. Headlam of Whorlton Hall, Barnard
Castle. He now holds it by settlement for life with
reversion to his eldest son. (fn. 142)
Malton Priory held 3 carucates of land in
Amotherby and Swinton (fn. 143) ; in 1347 the cathedral
church of York held the same amount in Appleton
and Easthorpe, but in 1428 it had only 1 carucate in
these places. (fn. 144)
Churches
The church of ALL SAINTS consists of a chancel about 20 ft. 6 in. by
15 ft. 9 in., nave about 26 ft. by 14 ft.
6 in., north aisle 7 ft. wide, south aisle 10 ft. 8 in.
wide and west tower about 14 ft. by 10 ft. 6 in.
These measurements are all internal.
The earliest part of the church is the tower, which
probably dates from the first half of the 11th century, though the tower arch appears to have been
widened and the north doorway inserted in the 12th
century. The plan of the nave is also of pre-Conquest
date, but at the beginning of the 13th century the
north aisle was added, while at the same time, or
perhaps a little later, the chancel and chancel
arch were rebuilt, the former being increased in
size. About a century later the south aisle was
added. Late in the 15th century the chancel
was shortened, and at a considerably later date
the rough porch was built over the north door.
No alterations of a structural nature appear to
have been made since, the restorations being
almost entirely confined to the roofs.
The east window of the chancel is of three
cinquefoiled lights under a square head, with a
four-centred rear-arch, and dates from the end
of the 15th century. In the north wall are a
small round-arched rebated locker and a squareheaded doorway. At the east end of the south
wall is a portion of a label which may have belonged to the containing arch of sedilia, and
above it the west jamb of a lancet window, both
destroyed in the shortening of the chancel.
Under this is a rough piscina with projecting
bowl. To the west of this are two other
lancet windows, with wide splays and rebates for
glass on the inside, all of the same date as the 13thcentury chancel. On the outside of this wall, immediately beneath the westernmost lancet, is the square
chamfered head of a low-side window, now built up.
At the south-west is a two-centred chamfered label,
apparently of 13th-century date, but perhaps reset,
under which is an early 19th-century memorial tablet.
The wide two-centred chancel arch is of two chamfered orders, with chamfered label and rough headstops on the north. The jambs are formed by a
filleted roll with two plain rolls.
The early 13th-century north arcade of the nave
is of two bays, with acute two-centred arches of two
chamfered orders, the chamfer of the outer orders
being stopped on a double skew-back with a volutestop. The responds have chamfers with small carved
stops and keel-rolls with slightly varied moulded
capitals and bases which follow their outline. The
column is circular with a moulded capital, of similar
profile to that of the western respond, and a moulded
base. The south arcade, which is of the early 14th
century and contemporary with the south aisle, is
also of two bays, with two-centred arches, not quite
so acute, of two chamfered orders. The eastern
respond is semi-octagonal with a moulded capital and
base and stands on a square plinth. The column
is octagonal with a similar capital and base; the
western respond corresponds with the eastern.
Externally the walls are crowned by a plain parapet.
Plan of Appleton-le-Street Church
The east window of the north aisle is a small original
narrow lancet, rebated inside for a glass frame, with
wide splays and round rear-arch. In the north wall
are two windows, filled with modern two-light tracery,
but the jambs appear to be ancient internally. At
the north-east of this wall is a small buttress, and in
the centre a buttress of considerable projection with
six offsets, probably built in the 15th century to
give additional support to the wall. On the northwest, but only visible externally, are the blocked
remains of an original doorway with a shouldered head.
In the north-west angle of the walls of this aisle is
a stone with two longitudinal channels on its northern
face, utilized as a quoin stone. The walls are crowned
by a plain parapet. The east window of the south
aisle is of three lights with trefoiled heads and
uncusped intersecting tracery within a two-centred
main head. The eastern window of the south wall
is of three shouldered lights within a square head;
the glass line is in the centre of the wall, and the
jambs are of two chamfered orders inside and out.
West of this is a similar window, with the exception
that the heads of the lights are trefoiled; these and
the mullions are modern, the jambs alone being
original. In the west wall is a small original lancet,
much restored, with the rear-arch partly cut away.
At the south-east of the aisle, under the eastern most
window, is a small trefoil piscina. On the south
are three buttresses. The wall is crowned by a small
chamfered string-course, stopped against the buttresses,
above which are the projecting eaves of the roof.
The tower is of three stages (the lowest of considerable height), with a modern cornice. The
tower arch is of one slightly chamfered order with a
plain abacus and is of early 12th-century date. The
north doorway, of the same date but much restored,
is of two plain semicircular orders with shafted
jambs. The west window is a modern round-headed
light. In the upper part of the ground stage, on the
south and west, are traces of blocked openings.
Above the north door is a small niche with shafted
jambs and a trefoiled head, of which the central foil
is subcusped. This contains defaced figures of the
Virgin and Child. On all four sides of the second
stage are large windows of two round lights with
round heads of one square order cut from single
stones. They have plain chamfered abaci at their
spring-lines, and the central mullions are formed by
plain circular shafts without bases or capitals, but with
large projecting abaci. The upper stage has four
similar but smaller windows and the shafts are
cheveron moulded.
Appleton-le-Street Church from the South-east
The chancel has a flat plaster ceiling. The nave
is covered by a low-pitched modern roof. The lean-to
roof of the north aisle is also modern. The purlin
of the south aisle roof is dated 1730.
The tub font in the tower may possibly be of
12th-century date. In the chancel is a Jacobean chair.
The altar-table and altar-rails are also 17th-century
work, but of a later period. In the east window of
the south aisle is a mediaeval shield of Greystock.
At the north-east of the chancel is an effigy of a
lady of late 13th-century date, dressed in a long loose
robe, a cloak, on the shoulders of which are two
small shields of the arms of Bolton, and a wimple
and head-veil. The face has been damaged. The
hands are joined in prayer and at the left side is a
squirrel. At the south-east of the chancel is another
effigy of a lady, of early 14th-century date, wearing
a robe with close sleeves buttoned at the forearm, over
which is a sleeveless gown with large armholes, and
a cloak. Her chin is covered by a wimple and there
is a small head-veil falling at the back of the head.
There are two bells: the first is inscribed 'God
savee his Church 1665,' the second 'Gloria in
altissimis deo 1705,' with the mark SS Ebor.
The plate, which is modern, consists of a silver
chalice and paten.
The registers begin in 1680.
The church of ST. HELEN at Amotherby consists of a continuous chancel and nave, measuring
internally 77 ft. by 17 ft. 2 in., north aisle 53 ft. 5 in.
by 12 ft. 4 in., south porch, and west tower 7 ft. 9 in.
by 7 ft.
Much detail remains of a church of 12th-century
date, but the earliest part of the present structure is
the tower, which appears to have been built late in
the 16th century. The nave and chancel may also
be of this date, but there is evidence of considerable
repairs in the 18th century, while in 1872 the north
aisle, vestry and south porch were added, the chancel
was partly rebuilt and new windows were inserted
throughout the church.
The east window of the chancel is of three roundheaded lights, and in the south wall of the chancel
are two windows, the eastern one being of two
lights. A modern doorway on the north opens into
the vestry. The nave, which has no structural division from the chancel, has on the north a modern
arcade of four bays, to the west of which is a singlelight window. The nave is lighted on the south by
three single round-headed windows, between the two
westernmost of which is a reset 12th-century doorway
with a roll-moulded semicircular head of a single
order carried upon shafted jambs having scalloped
capitals. There is a moulded external label stopped
by stones carved with the bird's-beak ornament,
originally the voussoirs of a larger 12th-century arch.
The tower is built of ashlar in one stage without
buttresses and has an embattled parapet. The ground
stage opened into the nave by a round-headed doorway, now blocked up. In the west wall is a doorway with a three-centred head and a moulded label
finishing in a lozenge-shaped volute, and above it is
a square-headed two-light window with a horizontal
hood mould returning on itself. The bell-chamber
or top story is lighted on each side by a similar
window, over which is an external string-course
running round the tower immediately below the
parapet. There is a considerable quantity of 12thcentury masonry built into the lower part of the
tower. The south porch covers the reset 12thcentury doorway and is roofed with a slate roof.
Built into the exterior of the east wall of the
chancel are four stones, on which are carved the
following names: 'James Spavin 1708'; 'James
Snarry Wcilc 1708'; 'John Spa(vin ?)'; 'Corne
Liqus (Cornelius) Holdforth July ye . . . Anno 1708';
while in the south wall of the nave, to the west of
the porch, is a stone in which are incised the names
of 'John Spavin, Clark; James Snarry; John N.
Snarry, M.A.; John Spavin; William Postgate.'
The nave, chancel, north aisle and vestry have open
pitch pine roofs covered with slates. In the north wall
of the chancel is a recess, apparently rebuilt with 12thcentury masonry, under which is a 13th-century tomb
slab carved on the top with a foliated passion cross
and the following inscription in Gothic capitals: 'Ici
git Willelm de Bor(d)esdon priez pur la ame.' At
the south-east of the chancel is a modern arched
recess with a cross-legged effigy of a knight, of late
13th-century date, with his hands joined in prayer,
wearing a mail hauberk with mittens strapped at
the wrists, mail hose with knee-cops, prick spurs,
and a long, sleeved surcoat. The sword hangs from
a broad belt, and on the left side is a shield of arms,
burelly with three bears' heads. In the vestry are
two pieces of a late 13th-century altar tomb. One
fragment shows a small arcade of three pointed trefoil
arches carried on small shafts; in the alternate recesses
are small shields, much defaced, and in the middle
recess can be traced a rood. The other fragment is
smaller but of similar character.
The font is modern. In the churchyard, to the
west of the porch, is a dilapidated font of the 12th
century.
In the porch are several fragments of tomb slabs and
gable crosses taken from the original building, among
them part of a late 13th-century tomb slab on which is
a quatrefoil inclosing the bust of a woman holding
her hands to her breast and wearing a flowing headveil and wimple. There is also part of a Saxon cross.
In the churchyard, lying against the south wall of
the nave, is part of a mediaeval sundial.
There are two bells: the treble inscribed 'Campana beate Helene,' the second 'Campana beate
Marie I.H.S.' The inscriptions are in Gothic capitals,
and the bells are probably of the 15th century.
The plate consists of a silver chalice and paten,
both modern, and a pewter salver and plate. The
salver is not earlier in date than 1725 and the plate
not earlier than 1662.
The registers begin in 1680.
Advowson
The church was confirmed to
St. Alban's Abbey, Herts., by
Henry II. (fn. 145) In 1328 papal licence
for appropriation was obtained, (fn. 146) royal licence being
received in 1331. (fn. 147) The abbey held the advowson
until its dissolution. (fn. 148) The Crown presented in
1605, (fn. 149) but the advowson from 1688 to 1740
followed the descent of the manor of Amotherby (fn. 150)
(q.v.). In 1764 Mrs. Grace Thompson presented, (fn. 151)
and a Mrs. Grace Thompson was still patron in
1817 (fn. 152) ; in 1822 Trinity College, Cambridge, presented, (fn. 153) and in 1829 the Rev. James Jarvis Cleaver. (fn. 154)
The last-named in 1845 by royal licence changed his
name to Peach. He was succeeded in 1878 by his
second son, (fn. 155) Charles Pierrepont Peach, (fn. 156) who presented until 1886. (fn. 157) He bequeathed it to his widow (fn. 158)
from whom it passed to his son James Legard Peach.
The chantry of the Blessed Virgin in the parish
church in 1547 was founded in 1339 by Thomas de
Bolton (evidently carrying out the wishes of his father
Robert). (fn. 159) William Lord Latimer, who died in 1381,
desired in his will that the four chaplains of Appleton
chantry should each have in turn £6 1s. 8d., according to the will of Robert de Bolton, and that his
house called 'le Erber' in the parish of St. Mary
Bothawe, London, should be sold for the perpetual
establishment of two of the four chaplains. (fn. 160)
In 1364–5 John de Amotherby and Thomas de
Swinton had licence to grant tenements in Amotherby
and Malton to a chaplain in the chapel of St. Helen,
Amotherby. (fn. 161) This chapel was granted in fee in
1566 with Hovingham Chapel to Francis Barker and
others. (fn. 162) The chapel was rebuilt in 1872. The
living is a chapelry annexed to Appleton-le-Street.
Charities
An annual sum of £3 10s., originally paid as interest on a sum of
£70 left in 1677 for the poor by
Henry Stockhill alias Stockdale, is charged on a close
known as the Poor Close, containing 5 a. 1 r. 29 p.,
numbered 48 on the tithe map. The charity is
regulated by a scheme of 6 January 1885, whereby
the rent-charge is vested in the official trustee of
charity lands.
The school at Amotherby was under an Inclosure
Act, 1725, endowed with 20 acres in Swinton. The
school was erected in 1866 and enlarged in 1892.