GILLING
Ghellinge, Gellinge (xi cent.).
This parish is composed of the townships of Gilling,
Grimston and Cawton. The total area is 4,125 acres,
1,762 acres being arable land, 1,261 permanent grass
and 707 woods and plantations. (fn. 1) The chief crops
raised are turnips, potatoes, seeds, wheat, oats and
barley. The soil is sandstone and limestone, with a
tract of alluvium north of the village. There are
quarries at Gilling, old quarries at Cawton and
Grimston, and a disused gravel-pit at Grimston.
The altitude of the parish varies from 200 ft. to
475 ft. above the ordnance datum. Gilling village
lies in the wooded ravine formed by the Holbeck (a
tributary of the Rye) on the road from York to
Helmsley. To the south of the station there are a
few cottages scattered along the road from Cawton
which crosses the main road at right angles. Running
along the west side of the road is a small brook, which
rises in the well-wooded hills that lie to the south of
the village. The village is modern, the cottages
being built of stone and roofed with slates or tiles.
Opposite the church, which stands in a churchyard
inclosed by a brick wall at the south end of the
village on the east side of the roadway, is the entrance
drive to Gilling Castle. (fn. 2) The castle occupies an
elevated position a short distance to the west of the
village. The site is approached from the west side,
the ground falling away steeply on the north, east
and south and forming a projecting tongue of land.
Though the site was previously occupied, the earliest
building now standing is the tower-house erected
by the last Thomas de Etton or by his father. This
structure forms the central block on the east side of
the present house, and the upper stories were largely
reconstructed by Sir William Fairfax in 1585, when
the bay window and stair-turret on the east side
were added. The west front of the same block was
remodelled early in the 18th century, and the two
projecting wings added on this side by the architect,
William Wakefield, though the design is attributed
to Sir John Vanbrugh. These wings are said to
occupy the site of earlier buildings of uncertain date.
The original block was an unusually large specimen
of the 'tower-house' so common in the border
counties. It is externally 79½ ft. north to south by
72½ ft. east to west, but only the basement floor,
with a portion of the south wall above, belongs to
the original building. The basement is divided into
two portions by a corridor, which traverses the building from east to west. At either end are doors, both
of which were blocked and have been recently opened
out. The eastern door was external and has a fourcentred arch with a deep hollow moulding, containing on each side three shields of the Etton arms.
Immediately outside this is a portcullis groove, with
an outer arch, the head of which is still concealed.
The western door has a two-centred head. Opening
into the central corridor are three apartments on each
side; those on the north are each 21¾ ft. by 15 ft.
and lighted by a window with a stepped sill in the north
wall. That in the western chamber has, however,
been altered, and near it is a blocked stair leading to
the floor above. A small bay projects from the west
side of this apartment, communicating by a modern
door with the north wing and lighted by a small window
on the west side. The eastern chamber has a second
window in the east wall with a wall staircase, now
blocked, opening from its northern jamb. The
three rooms to the south of the central corridor are
28½ ft. by 15 ft. and are lighted by windows in the
south wall. Each is provided with a garderobe in the
thickness of the wall and opening from the window
jambs, but the central one is now converted into a
passage to the south wing. This room has also a
fireplace, as had the other two, but both of the latter
are now blocked up. An eastern window in the east
chamber is blocked by the base of the Elizabethan
bay. The doors to all these rooms have four-centred
heads, and they, with the corridor, are barrel vaulted
in stone, the vaults being segmental-pointed in section.
The two stories above the basement are finished
with a plain parapet and are of Elizabethan date, a
portion of the 15th-century walling being retained
on the south side. In the south-east angle of the
first floor is the lofty 'Great Chamber' (39 ft. by
22 ft.), lighted by a five-light window in the south wall
and by the bay window already mentioned and a
second four-light window on the east. All these
have two transoms. The decorations of this apartment are unusually rich, and the whole forms a remarkably perfect example of the period. The walls,
17 ft. 4 in. high, are panelled for 11½ ft., with a
finishing of strapwork along the top. Each panel,
there being three in the height, is cut up by moulded
bars and surrounded by a carved enrichment. Above
the panelling is a painted frieze, 3 ft. 8 in. high,
representing trees regularly disposed, with figures
amongst them. Each tree bears the name of one
of the Yorkshire wapentakes, and hanging from the
branches are 450 shields of arms (fn. 3) of the resident
gentry. The fireplace on the west has a rich overmantel, supported on fluted Doric pilasters at the
sides and divided up into three bays by Corinthian
columns. The arched niches in
the side bays contain female
figures; the centre is occupied
by the armorial achievement of
Sir William Fairfax, d. 1597,
consisting of a shield of six
quarters (Fairfax, Malebiche,
Etton, Carthorpe, Ergham and
Folyfayt), with a helm crested
with a black lion's head, and
supported by two silver goats.
Below are four impaled shields
denoting the marriages of Sir
William Fairfax's sisters to Bellasis
of Newburgh, Curwen of Wokington, Vavasour of Hazlewood
and Roos of Ingmanthorpe. This
bay is carried up and finished
with a pediment and bears also
the royal arms and supporters of
Queen Elizabeth. A rich band
of strapwork divides the whole
composition into two stages. The
ceiling of the Great Chamber is
an elaborate piece of plaster
work, with a small cove against
the walls and numerous large
and small pendants, with moulded
drops, the spaces between being
cut up by ribs. The room is
lighted on the east side by a
window of four lights and by a
bay window of nine lights to the
south of it, and by a third window of five lights in the south
wall, all filled with heraldic glass,
the work of Baernard Dinickhoff,
1585, whose name appears on a glass sundial ornamented with putti, &c., in the south window. The
bay window is occupied by eighteen shields, some
with crested helms, of the Fairfaxes and houses allied
with them; the other window in the eastern wall
with twelve shields of Constable (fn. 4) heraldry. The
south window has ten heraldic achievements of the
Stapletons in memory of Sir William's second wife
Jane daughter and heir of Brian Stapleton of Burton
Joyce, co. Notts. The bay, which is semi-octagonal
in form, is carried up to the floor above this, and the
room over is lighted also by a four-light window to
the north of it, both having one transom only. A
former window in the south wall is now blocked.
This apartment has a ribbed ceiling. The staircase
turret is semi-octagonal and lighted by six two-light
windows with a door at the foot. The 18th-century
west front of the house has a plain and severe appearance. It is executed in ashlar with rusticated window
openings to the main floor and square windows to
the upper story. The central entrance is flanked
by Ionic columns supporting a pediment, and is
approached by a double flight of stone steps. The
wings, projecting to the west, are of similar character,
that at the south containing the long gallery with the
drawing room at the west end, and that on the north
including the kitchen and offices in the basement
with the library over. The internal fittings of the
18th-century portions are of considerable interest
for their date, and the house contains numerous
family portraits.
Basement Plan of the Tower-house, Gilling Castle
There was a forester for Gilling in 1278–9, (fn. 5) and
in 1374 Thomas de Etton obtained licence to impark
1,000 acres of wood at Gilling. (fn. 6) This park, still
existing, was in 1720 full of deer. There were
then a bowling-green, fish-ponds and curtilage, a
warren stocked with coneys, an 'overfall water-cornmilne with a horsegate and a cowgate,' and numerous
tenants who paid for the commuted services of hens
and boon days. (fn. 7)
Leyrepitts was a place-name here in 1290, (fn. 8) Engthorn and Spitelgarth in 1322, (fn. 9) Suckerplatt, Gatehouse Leaze, and Frescome in 1717 (fn. 10) and Sugler
or Upper Ing in 1720 (fn. 11) ; the names Nelesgate,
Hengandegate and the wood of Blakedale in Cawton
occur in the 13th century. (fn. 12)
Grimston lies to the south of Gilling among
woods and moors from which the small stream called
Burnt Gill descends to join the Holbeck. Cawton,
also well wooded, is to the east of Gilling. There
is a station at Gilling on the Thirsk and Malton
branch of the North Eastern railway, which is a
junction for the line from Pickering to Helmsley.
A school now used as a reading room was built in
1837; the present National school at Gilling was
erected in 1896.
Manors
The 8 carucates of land in GILLING
were equally divided before the Conquest
between Orm and Barch, who each held
a 'manor' here. By 1086 the land of Orm had
come into the possession of Ralph de Mortimer,
that of Barch was among the lands of Hugh son
of Baldric. (fn. 13)
Here as at Thirsk (q.v.) the land of Hugh son
of Baldric afterwards became part of the fee of Mowbray; it was assessed at 2½ carucates in 1284–5. (fn. 14)
The overlord of the second 4 carucates, Ralph de
Mortimer, is said to have died in 1100, when he left
two sons, of whom one died childless, and the other,
Hugh, was ancestor of the Mortimers, Earls of
March (fn. 15) ; but this family seems to be no further
mentioned in connexion with Gilling, and its lands
here, probably coming under the overlordship of the
Stutevills (fn. 16) and Mowbrays, were alienated by undertenants to the abbey of St. Mary, York.
The Vescys, tenants elsewhere under the Mowbrays, (fn. 17) held what was probably a mesne lordship in
the 12th century. Ivo de Vescy granted 2 carucates
to St. Mary's Abbey, York, and his son-in-law and
heir Eustace son of John, who died in 1157, gave
or confirmed to the abbey 4 carucates and the
church with its dower of half a carucate. (fn. 18) No
further mention is made of the Vescys here. St.
Mary's Abbey held 3½ carucates in 1284–5 (fn. 19)
(no overlord or under-tenant being mentioned) and
was joint lord of the vill in 1316, (fn. 20) but probably
only had services from lands here. This mesne
tenancy is no further recorded; the manor, of which
the first mention found is in 1314, was held directly
of the Mowbrays, nor did the abbey possess the
advowson. (fn. 21)
In 1166–7 the vill belonged to Ralph son of
Ralph and Adam Lovel. (fn. 22)
William de Surdeval granted to St. Mary's Abbey,
York, 3½ carucates here, (fn. 23) in which he was probably
their under-tenant, and these Abbot Clement between
1170 and 1175 conveyed to Geoffrey de Stutevill. (fn. 24)
In 1221 Thomas de Etton owed the king a mark for
leave to summon Ingram de Cornbrough (fn. 25) and John
de Surdeval (fn. 26) concerning land in Gilling, (fn. 27) and in
1251–2 Osbert de Cornbrough quitclaimed to William
de Etton his common of pasture in William's land in
Gilling with certain exceptions. (fn. 28) William granted
Osbert the services of his men of Gilling, for which
Osbert was to pay a pair of white gloves yearly. (fn. 29)
Etton of Gilling. Barry argent and gules a quarter sable with a cross paty or therein.
The date at which the family of Etton first
acquired land in Gilling is uncertain. Hugelin de
Etton, lord of Skerne, forfeited his possessions early
in the reign of Henry I, and his lands were given
by the king to the French knight Odard de or le
Maunsel. Odard had sons
Geoffrey, father of Thomas
de Etton, senior, and Odard.
Thomas (probably the Thomas
son of Geoffrey de Etton
who made a grant of land in
Gilling) had sons Thomas,
Geoffrey, Odard, William,
Robert and Henry, (fn. 30) and in
1223 Thomas de Etton,
junior, released to John Surdeval 9½ oxgangs in Gilling.
He was dead in 1226, and
his son Robert was the ancestor of the Ettons of Etton. (fn. 31)
Geoffrey de Etton, presumably brother of Thomas de Etton, junior, in 1218–19
granted the mill of Gilling to Simon son of William
de Clifford and his heirs, to hold by the service of 1 lb.
of pepper. (fn. 32) Ivo de Etton, constable of Tickhill,
who about 1235 to 1245 held one knight's fee of
Roger de Mowbray in Yorkshire, (fn. 33) in 1255–6 held
20 librates of land in the wapentake of Ryedale. (fn. 34)
His son William de Etton in 1251–2 received
grants here from the Cornbroughs, (fn. 35) and Ivo de
Etton, tenant in 1284–5, (fn. 36) granted this manor to
his son Thomas in 1314. (fn. 37) Thomas was lord in
1316. (fn. 38) His sister Elizabeth married Thomas Fairfax
of Walton, and his son and successor Thomas, marrying his cousin Elizabeth Fairfax, in 1349 settled the
manor of Gilling on members of the Fairfax family
should the direct male line of the Ettons fail. (fn. 39)
Thomas de Etton, son of the last Thomas, may have
constructed the basement of Gilling Castle, which is
of this period. (fn. 40) His son and heir John was Sheriff
of Yorkshire in 1406 and 1412, warden of Roxburgh
Castle in 1415 and died in 1433, his eldest son Miles
having predeceased him. Miles left four daughters, (fn. 41)
but Gilling went under the entail to his brother
Ivo, on whom it was settled in tail-male in 1438,
with remainder to his father's right heirs. (fn. 42) Ivo
died without issue, and was succeeded by his brother
Alexander, a clerk, the last of the Ettons of
Gilling. In 1451, in spite of the agreement of
1349, the manor was settled on Alexander for life,
with remainder to Sir Thomas Nevill, kt., and
others and the heirs of Nevill. (fn. 43) Sir Thomas Nevill,
younger brother of Ralph second Earl of Westmorland, was as a Lancastrian attainted with his son
Humphrey in 1461. Sir Thomas was already dead, (fn. 44)
but his son escaped from the Tower, again took arms
against the king, was pardoned, but rose once more
in 1464, and when his kinsman the Earl of Warwick
besieged Bamborough Castle Edward IV offered a
pardon to the whole garrison with the exception of
their leaders, Sir Ralph Grey and Sir Humphrey
Nevill. Sir Ralph was captured and beheaded, but
Sir Humphrey again escaped, and after lying in
hiding for five years rebelled again in 1469. He was
captured and beheaded in the king's presence at
York. (fn. 45)
Fairfax of Walton. Argent three gimel bars gules with a lion sable over all.
Meanwhile the king had in 1461 granted the
manor of Gilling to Sir Edmund Hastings, kt., (fn. 46) but
on his pardon in 1463 the
reversion was granted to Sir
Humphrey. (fn. 47) In 1467, however, possession was confirmed
to Sir Edmund, (fn. 48) who held
it until the accession of
Henry VII, after which Sir
Charles Somerset had it until
1489. The manor was then
successfully claimed, under the
settlement of 1349, by Sir
Thomas Fairfax of Walton,
fifth in descent from Elizabeth Etton. (fn. 49) Sir Thomas
died seised in 1505. He was
succeeded by his son Thomas, who was knighted at
Tournai in 1513 and died in 1520. Sir Nicholas,
son of Sir Thomas, took part in the Pilgrimage of
Grace, but was pardoned. Sir Nicholas sat on the
Council of the North in 1539, 1561 and 1564,
but he attended the Queen of Scots on her flight
into England, thereby incurring Elizabeth's rebuke.
He died in 1571, and was succeeded by his son
William, knighted at Berwick in 1560, to whom
is due the 'great Chamber' in the castle. He died
in 1597, and was succeeded by his son Thomas, who
was Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1627 and 1628, (fn. 50) was
created Viscount Fairfax of Emley in Ireland in February 1628–9, and died in 1636. (fn. 51) His son Thomas
died in 1641, leaving four sons, his heir William (fn. 52)
(the third viscount, who died in 1648, and was
succeeded by his son Thomas), Charles, who succeeded
his nephew and died (leaving only a daughter, whose
son was attainted) in 1711, Nicholas, father of
Charles, the sixth Lord Fairfax, who died in 1715
without children, and Charles, the seventh viscount,
who died unmarried at Gilling in 1719. On the
failure of issue of these four sons of Thomas the
manor and title came to William son of his brother
William Fairfax of Lythe, who died in 1738, and
was succeeded by his son Charles Gregory of Gilling
Castle, ninth and last Lord Fairfax of Emley. Charles
Gregory died in 1772, and left an only surviving
daughter Anne, who died in 1793. His sister
Alethea had married Ralph Pigott of Whitton, and
the estates at Gilling now came to their son Charles
Gregory Pigott, who assumed the name of Fairfax. (fn. 53)
His son Charles Gregory died childless in 1871, and
was succeeded by his sister Lavinia, who had married
the Rev. Alexander Barnes, rector of Gilling. On
the death of Mrs. Barnes in 1885 Gilling passed
to Captain Thomas Charles Cholmley, R.N., of
Brandsby, younger brother of Francis Cholmley, who
had married Harriet younger sister of Mrs. Barnes.
On succeeding to the property he took the additional
name of Fairfax. His son Hugh Charles FairfaxCholmley succeeded in 1889, and in 1895 sold the
Gilling estate to Mr. George Wilson, who in 1904
sold it to its present owner, Mr. W. S. Hunter. (fn. 54)
Three carucates at CAWTON (Calveton, xi–xv
cent.; Calveton alias Cawton, xv–xviii cent.), held
as one 'manor' by Waltheof before the Conquest,
were land of the Count of Mortain in 1086. Four
carucates were held by Hugh son of Baldric. (fn. 55) The
Surdevals were possibly enfeoffed under the count, (fn. 56) for
3 carucates here were in 1284–5 in the fee of Paynel. (fn. 57)
One Gernagen was under-tenant in 1163 (fn. 58) and
1167, (fn. 59) and was followed by the family of Blancmusters (Blaundmusters, Blankmouster, Baundmisters)
of Wighill. Roger de Blancmusters held these
3 carucates in 1284–5 (fn. 60) ; in 1304 Ranulph de
Blancmusters obtained a grant of free warren in his
demesne lands here, (fn. 61) and in 1316 Reginald de
Blancmusters was returned as joint tenant of the
vill. (fn. 62) Guy Blancmusters, clerk, in 1376 conveyed
the reversion of the manors of Wighill and Cawton,
held for life by Margaret widow of Sir John Blancmusters, kt., to Brian de Stapleton in fee, (fn. 63) and in the
same year Brian settled the manor on himself and
Alice his wife for life, with remainder to Sir John
Nevill of Raby. (fn. 64) The manor seems, however, to
have been shortly afterwards purchased by the Ettons.
In 1428 Sir John de Etton was returned as only
joint holder of 2½ carucates of land here 'which Alice
Wallis formerly held,' (fn. 65) but the descendants of his
granddaughters and heirs (fn. 66) held the manor. A Roger
Norwood, probably descendant of the John Northwood who married Elizabeth Etton, died seised in
1512 of over 400 acres of land here, leaving a son
and heir Richard, (fn. 67) and in 1583 William Norwood
conveyed the 'manor' (that is, probably, part of it)
to William Barton, (fn. 68) who died seised in 1597–8,
leaving a son and heir Thomas. (fn. 69) Thomas in 1618
died seised of 'the manor and half the manor,' leaving
a brother and heir Robert, (fn. 70) who died in 1630–1,
leaving as heir his grandson Thomas, son of his son
William. (fn. 71) Thomas died a minor in 1632 seised
of 'the manor and half of half the manor,' leaving a
sister and heir Frances, aged five, (fn. 72) but in 1660
George Barton conveyed the manor to George Montague and his heirs and Francis Lascelles. (fn. 73)
Meanwhile George Roos, probably a descendant of
the John Roos who married Isabel Etton, made a
conveyance of the manor in 1593–4, (fn. 74) as did William
Roos in 1626–7 (fn. 75) and 1628–9. (fn. 76)
In the second half of the 17th century the manor
became divided into five parts. John Hagley and
Maria his wife, John Wildman and Jane his wife,
Bartholomew Cade and Helen his wife, Richard
Eyston and Dorothy his wife, William Simpson and
Barbara his wife made a settlement in 1662 with a
warranty against the heirs of the wives. (fn. 77) William
Simpson and Barbara in 1665 conveyed one-fifth to
William Liptrot and his heirs (fn. 78) ; Bartholomew Cade
and Helen in 1667 conveyed another fifth part to
William Liptrot and his heirs, (fn. 79) and a John Shepheard
and Margaret his wife and William Shepheard, for
themselves and the heirs of John, in 1680 conveyed
two-fifths to Richard Shepheard and his heirs. (fn. 80)
Robert Shepheard and Frances his wife in 1702 conveyed a fifth to John Webster (fn. 81) ; in 1708 Edward
Liptrot and Mary his wife and Thomas Liptrot conveyed two-fifths to Nicholas Hall and James Close
and the heirs of Nicholas, (fn. 82) and in 1713 William
Whitehead conveyed two-fifths to John Cuthbert and
Nicholas Hall and the heirs of John. (fn. 83) In 1737
Elizabeth Todd, spinster, conveyed a fifth to Martin
Sandys. (fn. 84) James Tindall was lord in 1872 and 1879,
his trustees in 1889. The manor is now in the
possession of the executors of Mr. Thomas Metcalf
of Towton, Tadcaster, by whom it was acquired in
1899 from the late Marcus Worsley. (fn. 85)
Roger Mowbray was in 1284–5 overlord of
another 3 carucates of land here of which the Wakes
of Liddell were mesne lords, (fn. 86) Baldwin Wake having
in 1282 died seised of one-third of a knight's fee in
Cawton as an appurtenance of his manor of Buttercrambe. (fn. 87) This mesne lordship with that of another
eighth part of a fee here descended until the 15th
century with the Wakes' manor of Kirkby Moorside (fn. 88) (q.v.).
Under the Wakes held the Cruers of Cawton and
the Lascelles. (fn. 89) Richard Cruer was returned as joint
lord with Gernagen in 1166–7, as John Cruer was
with Reginald Blancmusters in 1316 (fn. 90) ; and this family
is mentioned in the feudal returns until 1428, (fn. 91) and
was still assessed for the subsidy here in 1545–6 (fn. 92) ;
but no manorial rights seem to have been attached
to their lands. (fn. 93)
In 1086 GRIMSTON (Grimeston, xi–xiv cent.)
was a berewick of the manor of Hovingham (fn. 94) (q.v.).
The Ettons of Gilling had also some rights here early
in the 13th century when Geoffrey de Etton granted
the lay fee of William Burdon (Burdun, de Burdon),
the under-tenant, in Grimston, to the Dean and
Chapter of York. (fn. 95) The place in 1284–5 was said
to be held of the liberty of St. Peter of York, (fn. 96) and
the manor was still held of the dean and chapter
in 1565. (fn. 97) In 1280 Geoffrey, brother and heir of
John Burdon, sued the Prior of Malton for waste
of 100 acres of land and 1,000 acres of wood in
Grimston that John had given him for a term of
years. (fn. 98) In 1284–5 William Burdon held the 2½ carucates of land of which Grimston was composed under
Roger Mowbray, lord of Hovingham. (fn. 99) In 1298 John
Burdon conveyed the manor of Grimston to William
Burdon and Avis his wife in exchange for other
lands, (fn. 100) and in 1336 Gregory son of William Burdon
conveyed the manor to Sir John Moryn, kt. (fn. 101) In
the same year Sir John Moryn granted Gregory for
life a yearly rent of £10 and a silk robe of his
yeomen, price 15s., together with furs, and the right
to stay wherever Sir John Moryn kept his household and have the usual estate of his esquires for a
fortnight at Martinmas and a fortnight at Whitsuntide. (fn. 102) From this time the manor follows the descent
of that of Whenby (fn. 103) (q.v.) until in 1571 Edward
Burton (Barton) and Elizabeth his wife conveyed it
to Edmund Colthirst. (fn. 104) In 1612 it was in the possession of Edward Moody, (fn. 105) and in 1641–2 Edward
Moody and Mary his wife, William Moody, Thomas
Ibson and Thomas Hutchinson conveyed it to
William Weddell. (fn. 106) The Weddells still held Grimston
in 1745 when Thomas Weddell as lord of the manor
appointed a gamekeeper. (fn. 107) They sold it to the Garforths
about 1778, and from the Garforths it was purchased
by George Wilson in 1866. (fn. 108) William Randolph Innes
Hopkins in 1900 bought the manor from Mr. George
Wilson of Gilling Castle, but sold it in 1905 to
Mr. Edward Fisher of Bryan Lodge, Edgerton,
Huddersfield, now of Grimstone Manor. (fn. 109)
Church
The church of HOLY CROSS consists of a chancel about 30 ft. 9 in. by
19 ft. 7 in., north vestry and organ
chamber, a nave 47 ft. 1 in. by 15 ft. 6 in., north
aisle 45 ft. 8 in. by 8 ft. 8 in., south aisle 46 ft. 8 in.
by 8 ft. 10 in., a west tower 11 ft. 9 in. by 11 ft. 11 in.
and a north porch. These measurements are all
internal.
Plan of Gilling Church
Though no detail remains of so early a date, portions
of the north and south walls of the nave probably belong
to a church of the 11th century and aisles were
added circa 1190, to which date the nave arcades
belong. In the 14th
century the chancel
was rebuilt, when
it was lengthened
and widened southwards, and at the
same time the aisles
were rebuilt and
widened, while late
in the 16th century
the west tower was
built and a large
window inserted in
the south wall of
the chancel. Early
in the 19th century
the north porch
was added, and in
recent years the
church has been
considerably restored, the chancel
arch rebuilt, the
north vestry and organ chamber added, and many
windows inserted in the aisle walls.
The east window is modern and of three trefoiled
lights under a net traceried head. It is set above the
level of the original one, which was pulled down
during the restoration, when most of the east wall
was rebuilt. On the north is a 14th-century window
of two trefoil-headed lights under a pointed traceried
head with a two-centred segmental rear arch and
splayed inner jambs, which have been scraped and
partly restored. Underneath is a much scraped
pointed segmental tomb recess of late 13th-century
date. To the west of this is a large modern pointed
archway, opening into the modern organ chamber
and vestry, which is lighted on the west by a twolight window and entered by a north doorway. The
easternmost window in the south wall is of 14thcentury date and of two cinquefoiled lights with
tracery under a pointed head. The rear arch is a
pointed segmental one and the inner jambs are
splayed and partly restored. To the west of this is a
late 16th-century window of four lights under a flat
three-centred head. Under this window is a small
doorway of the same date, having a flat head with
rounded angles with widely splayed inner jambs and
a segmental rear arch. The south-west window is of
three trefoiled lights with net tracery under a pointed
head. The chancel arch is modern and of two
chamfered orders; over the arch are three corbels
which probably carried an earlier flat roof. In the
south respond is a rectangular squint from the south
aisle. At the corners of the east wall of the chancel
are diagonal buttresses; late in the 16th century the
walls were heightened.
The north arcade is of three bays with pointed
arches of two slightly chamfered orders, the inner one
of which is not placed centrally with the wall over,
but has the north face flush with the face of the
second order. The piers of the arcade are circular
and incline slightly to the north, probably through
the weight of the inner order, and have moulded
capitals and bases, square abaci and square chamfered plinths. The responds are semicircular and
have capitals and bases similar to those of the piers.
The south arcade is of three bays with pointed
arches of two square orders and is carried on piers
and responds similar to those of the north arcade.
In the east wall of the north aisle, which is
lighted on the north by three modern two-light
windows, is a modern pointed opening into the organ
chamber. Between the second and third windows
from the east in the north wall is a pointed 14thcentury doorway of two chamfered orders under a
moulded hood mould terminating in head stops. A
shouldered lintel takes the place of a rear arch. The
west window is of two trefoiled lights under a square
head. The tracery and outer jambs are modern, but
parts of the inner jambs are original. The south
aisle is lighted on the south by three 14th-century
windows, each of two trefoiled lights, with tracery
under a flat head. The westernmost of these
windows has been much restored. Between the first
and second windows from the east is a late 14th-century
cinquefoiled and cusped tomb recess under a crocketed
and pinnacled ogee-headed hood mould. On each
side is a shield of the arms of Etton of Gilling,
while over the finial is another shield quite defaced.
Between the second and third windows from the
east is a pointed doorway of two chamfered orders.
In the west wall is a modern two-light window.
In the south face of the arcade wall and in the south
wall of the aisle are corbels which evidently carried
the timbers of the original roof. All the present
roofs are modern and are covered with stone slates
with the exception of that to the north aisle, which
is roofed with purple slates.
The tower stands on a moulded plinth and is of
two stages with an embattled parapet, west diagonal
buttresses and flat buttresses on the east. The west
buttresses are in five stages as far as the level of the
bell-chamber, from which point they are considerably
narrowed and carried up in one stage and surmounted
by pinnacles. In the south-east corner is a vice,
which is entered from the inside. The tower arch,
which is the full width of the tower, is pointed and
of two chamfered orders. In the west wall, lighting
the ground stage, is a large window of four uncusped
lights with three-centred heads under a debased fourcentred main head with a moulded hood mould. The
rear arch is two-centred. Under the string which
marks the level of the ringing stage in the east and
west walls are single uncusped lights. Lighting the
bell-chamber on each side are windows of three
uncusped lights, under three-centred arches, with
moulded hood moulds, from the heads of which
issued small pinnacles which rose above the parapet,
though these are now much decayed, as are those at
the angles. Below the parapet on the south side is a
well-carved gargoyle, but the corresponding one on
the north is now decayed almost beyond recognition.
The entrance to the north aisle is covered by an
early 19th-century porch built in the Gothic style.
Under the tomb recess in the north wall of the
chancel is a late 13th-century tomb slab, on which is
carved a foliated cross, the upper part being pierced
by a quatrefoil, under which is the head of a knight
wearing a basinet, with his hands joined in prayer,
while projecting through a trefoil at the bottom are
his feet. On the dexter side of the cross is his helm
with the crest of a deer's head cut off, while on the
sinister side, lying on his sword, is his shield with
the arms of a bend with three martlets thereon in a
border engrailed.
At the east end of the south aisle is a 13thcentury tomb slab, while one of the same date and
character occupies the space under the tomb recess in
the south wall. Under the eastern arch of the
south arcade to the nave is a large late 16th-century
monument to a knight and his two wives. The
effigy of the knight, who is probably Sir Nicholas
Fairfax, lies above those of his wives, the northern
one of which wears mid-16th-century costume and
was probably placed there before her husband and his
second wife. At the west end of this aisle are the
remains of a 13th-century tub font. The font now
in use is modern. In the tower is a fragment of
a 10th-century carving of the Crucifixion, the upper
part of which is missing. There is also in the
tower a 17th-century oak chest. In the head of the
window in the north chancel wall is a small piece
of 14th-century glass, while in the head of the fourlight window opposite is a piece of 15th-century
glass with some canopy work.
There are three bells: the first by Samuel Smith
of York, 1701; the second by Pack & Chapman,
1773; and the third inscribed 'God Save his
Church. Charles Fairefax 1664.'
The plate is silver and consists of a cup, salver
and flagon and a modern paten. The cup is of
1598, with London maker's mark W.I. The salver,
which is an ordinary domestic waiter adapted, was
presented by Rosa widow of the Rev. W. M. Barnes,
M.A., in 1853. The flagon is in reality a peg
tankard and bears no date. It is ornamented with
repoussé work, and is probably not of English make.
It may have been given by the Rev. John Pigott,
who died in 1812. He also bequeathed a large
amount of plate for the use of the rectors of Gilling.
The registers begin in 1573.
Advowson
The church was granted by Eustace
son of John in the first half of the
12th century to St. Mary's Abbey,
York, but did not remain in the possession of that
house. (fn. 110) In 1446 Alexander de Etton exchanged the
rectory of Laxton, Notts., for the rectory of Gilling
with Thomas Tanfield, (fn. 111) and this suggests that the
rectory of Gilling had descended with the manor, and,
not being entailed, had passed, like the lands of the
Ettons in the parish of Laxton, (fn. 112) to the daughters of
Miles de Etton, (fn. 113) the exchange being made through
Thomas Tanfield as trustee. The Fairfaxes continued to hold the advowson of this rectory until
1768–9, (fn. 114) although as recusants they were not
allowed to present in the early 18th century. (fn. 115)
In 1768–9 Charles Viscount Fairfax conveyed it to
the Rev. John Pigott, (fn. 116) who left it by will dated
9 May 1812 to Trinity College, Cambridge, (fn. 117) the
present patron. There was a chapel at Cawton in
the 14th century. (fn. 118)
Charities
The poor receive £2 a year issuing
out of land in possession of Ampleforth College in respect of the gift of
—Duck; also the income of the charities of the
Hon. Anne Fairfax, £50 9s. 10d. consols, founded by
will proved 1793; Rev. John Boulton, £10 0s. 9d.
consols; Thomas Potter, £10 0s. 9d. consols, will,
1776; Edward Pape, £10 0s. 9d. consols, will,
1845. The several sums of stock are held by the
official trustees.
The official trustees also hold a sum of £445 1s. 3d.
consols, derived under the will of Hon. Anne Fairfax,
1793, and £407 0s. 10d. consols, the foundation of
Dame Mary Fairfax by deed 17 July 1844. By a
scheme of the Board of Education sealed 25 August
1905 the annual dividends, amounting to £21 6s.,
are applicable as to one moiety for the benefit of any
public elementary school not being a school provided
by the local education authority, situate in Gilling
or Cawton, and as to the residue of the income in
supplying school apparatus to any public elementary
school in the same places, in the purchase of books
for a school library and in providing prizes or
exhibitions.
In 1812 the Rev. John Pigott, rector, by his will
bequeathed £100, interest to be paid by the rector to
the parish clerk, to be nominated by him. The
legacy is represented by £102 4s. 6d. consols with
the official trustees.
The National school was founded by deed, 1894.
Township of Cawton.—The poor of this township receive 16s. a year, known as Garforth's charity,
which is paid by Sir William H. A. Worsley, bart.;
also the income of £5 19s. 10d. consols, representing the charities of Liptrot and Mann; and of
£20 3s. consols, John Shepherd's charity, founded
by will, 1828.
Township of Grimston.—The poor of this township receive the income of £20 3s. consols belonging
to the charity of Dr. Nicholas Gouge.
The several sums of stock belonging to these townships are held by the official trustees, and the
dividends are administered by the respective overseers.