KIRKDALE
This parish was in 1831 composed of the townships
of Beadlam, Bransdale Westside, Muscoates, Nawton,
North Holme, Skiplam, Welburn and Wombleton,
North Holme being now in the parish of Great
Edston. The total area is 11,823 acres; in Bransdale Westside, Kirkdale, Nawton, Skiplam, Welburn and Wombleton there are 3,225 acres arable
land, 2,829 acres of permanent grass and 455 acres of
woods and plantations. (fn. 1) The chief crops raised are
wheat, oats and barley. Alluvium, Corallian Beds,
Oxford Clay, Kimmeridge Clay and Keuper Marls are
found. There were 950 acres of land inclosed in
Kirkdale and Helmsley in 1806, (fn. 2) and an Inclosure
Act for Kirkdale was passed in 1814. (fn. 3)
The church of Kirkdale lies in the township of
Welburn, but far from that village, in the deep
valley formed by the Hodge Beck, one of the streams
that run down from the Cleveland Hills through
Bransdale Moor to the Rye. It stands by the stream
200 ft. above the ordnance datum, the wooded surrounding slopes rising rapidly to 500 ft. It has a
Saxon sundial. (fn. 4)
Welburn Hall is an Elizabethan structure now
incorporated in a large modern house built in the
same style in 1891. A messuage, part of the manor
of Welburn, is mentioned in 1587. (fn. 5) The ancient hall
is practically intact and occupies the eastern side. It
is a long rectangular building, standing north and
south, with two gabled wings projecting to the east.
The main or west front is now largely obscured by
modern additions, but the southern half stands free,
and the simple round-headed entrance door is included
in a modern loggia; it has a carved face key-stone
and moulded imposts. The house is two stories
high with a moulded cornice between them brought
out on diminutive consoles on either side of the
ground floor windows. The latter are four in number
on this side, all of three lights, the three southern
having double transoms. A second moulded cornice
is carried along above the first floor windows, which
are similar to the three below. The roof-line of
this front is broken by three stone gablets, one in
the centre and one at either end, each inclosing a
three-light mullioned window. The southern end of
the main block has a semi-octagonal projecting bay
pierced all round at the first floor level by doubletransomed windows and finished with an embattled
parapet. These windows have quarter-round mouldings to the mullions, all the other windows in the
house being plainly chamfered. On the return wall
of this block, facing east, is a stone chimney stack
supported by very deep ogee corbelling. The two
wings on this side, by the addition of modern outbuildings, now inclose a small courtyard. The southeast angle of the southern wing is supported by a
clasping buttress tabled back at the top. The windows
here are finished by a straight moulded cornice above
them. The northern end of the main block is
pierced by a large five-light double-transomed window
somewhat restored. In the gardens to the west of
the house is a square summer-house of late 17thcentury date approached by a flight of steps. It has
rusticated angles and a steep pyramidal roof with a
moulded cornice to the eaves.
A limestone cavern which had been previously
quarried yielded in 1821 remains of extinct animals. (fn. 6)
The small hamlet of Skiplam and Skiplam Wood lie to
the west of Kirkdale valley. At Nawton is a station
on the Gilling and Pickering branch of the North
Eastern railway. Nawton Tower was built by the
architects Banks and Barry and completed in 1855.
Beadlam lies by the River Riccal, which divides it
from Helmsley. Muscoates is on the same stream
and separated from North Holme by Walmouth
Beck. Wombleton is on the road from Harome to
Kirkby Moorside. There are Wesleyan and Primitive
Methodist chapels at Nawton and Wombleton, a
Wesleyan chapel at Bransdale Westside, (fn. 7) and public
elementary schools at Nawton (erected in 1897)
and Wombleton (erected in 1844).
Bowforth (Bulforde, xiv cent.), now represented by
a farm-house lying about a mile south of Welburn,
was formerly a hamlet and gave its name to a local
family. (fn. 8) Another lost place, Houetun, mentioned in
Domesday Book, (fn. 9) seems from a 12th-century charter
to have been in this territory. (fn. 10)
Manors
BEADLAM (Bodlun, xi–xii cent.;
Bodlum, xii–xvi cent.; Bothlun, xii–
xiv cent.; Bodhlum, xiii cent.; Botholom, Buthlum, xiv cent.; Budlome, xiv–xix cent.)
was held by Ughtred as a 'manor' of 4 carucates
in the time of the Confessor. In 1086 it was in
the possession of the Count of Mortain, (fn. 11) and so
returned to the Crown. (fn. 12) By 1284–5 the overlordship formed part of the fee of Roos of Helmsley, (fn. 13)
and so continued (fn. 14) until in the 16th century the
overlordship merged in the under-tenancy.
Peter de Surdeval (fn. 15) held 1 knight's fee of Everard
de Roos in 1166. (fn. 16) He and William his brother,
Robert his son and Ralph son of William made grants
to Rievaulx Abbey in 'Theokemarais' (fn. 17) ; Robert
made a grant in Beadlam in 1201. (fn. 18) Robert was
succeeded by a brother Alan (fn. 19) 'de Beadlam,' who
in 1206 paid a fine not to be disseised of the
3 carucates of land here except by judgement of
court. (fn. 20) Robert son of Alan de Surdeval confirmed
a grant to Ralph de Surdeval in 1240 of 1 oxgang
of land here. (fn. 21) This is perhaps the Robert who
was uncle of William son of William, Peter Raboz,
Robert de Newton and Julia de Sutton, said to be
his heirs. (fn. 22) John de Surdeval and William son of
William were joint tenants in 1284–5. (fn. 23) John son
and heir of Walter de Surdeval and born at this
place proved his age in 1309, (fn. 24) but the Surdevals
soon alienated the manor. The Abbot of Rievaulx
was apparently lessee in 1316 (fn. 25) ; Amand Surdeval of
Benningholme leased the manor to Robert son of
Hamo de Harome for a term unexpired in 1349, (fn. 26)
and it was afterwards conveyed by a trustee (fn. 27) to Sir
Richard Pickering, kt., of Oswaldkirk (fn. 28) (q.v.), who
died seised in 1441. (fn. 29) The Pickerings held the
manor (fn. 30) until in 1580 Anthony Pickering conveyed
it to Edward Earl of Rutland. (fn. 31) It has since descended
with Helmsley, (fn. 32) and is now in the possession of the
Earl of Feversham.
The 'manor' and 1½ carucates that Gamel had
previously held in NORTH HOLME (Holme,
xi cent.; Northolme, xiii cent.) were in 1086 in
the hands of the king, while another 1½ carucates here
were in the possession of Berengar de Toni. (fn. 33) The
land of the king appears to have formed part of the
liberty of St. Mary of York, and with Great Edston
passed into the possession of the priory of Hexham, (fn. 34)
following the descent of the manor of Salton (q.v.).
Land of the Bigod fee (fn. 35) once held here by the
Earls of Albemarle was in 1284–5 in the hands of
John de Eston. (fn. 36) Fees were also held at the end of
the 13th century by the Mowbrays, whose undertenants were the Wyvills of Slingsby, and the Nevills,
overlords of Thornton Riseborough in Normanby
(q.v.), of whom James de Holme held a carucate in
1284–5. (fn. 37) He held besides 4 oxgangs of the Wyvills. (fn. 38)
This 'manor of North Holme' was inherited by
Walter son of James de Holme and followed the
descent of that of Great Edston (q.v.) until the sale of
that manor in 1564 to Richard Simpson by Thomas
Stillington. In 1590 Thomas settled one-half of
the capital messuage of North Holme on his second
son Robert Stillington and Olive his wife (fn. 39) ; the
other moiety presumably descended to William, eldest
son of Thomas, on the death of his father in 1591. (fn. 40)
John Stillington was lord of the manor of North
Holme in 1638, when he conveyed it to Thomas
Masterman. (fn. 41) This was possibly a lease for ninetynine years, for in 1738 Joseph Stillington and Mary
his wife and William Peirce in right of his wife
Dorothy sold the manor to Henry Masterman. (fn. 42)
Miss Henrietta Masterman was lady of the manor
in 1787. (fn. 43) It belonged to W. T. Shepherd in
1859. (fn. 44) The present lord is Mr. J. R. Wheatley.
The second moiety of the capital messuage was
in the possession of James Moyser at his death in
January 1608–9. (fn. 45) His son and heir Francis Moyser
died in February 1617–18, leaving a son Thomas,
who immediately obtained livery. (fn. 46) Thomas died
in 1643, when his son James was still a minor. (fn. 47)
The vill of MUSCOATES (Musecote, xii–xiii
cent.; Muscotes, xiii–xvi cent.), not mentioned in
1086, is referred to in a grant made by Roger Mowbray between 1154 and 1181 (fn. 48) and belonged to the
fee of Mowbray. (fn. 49)
The Wakes were enfeoffed under the Mowbrays of
a knight's fee appurtenant to their manor of Kirkby
Moorside (q.v.) in Barugh, Muscoates and Wombleton. (fn. 50) John de Vescy held this fee under Baldwin
Wake in 1281, (fn. 51) and it descended to the Eures. (fn. 52)
John de Stonegrave must have been under-tenant
in 1278–81, when he claimed 'from of old' amendment of the assize of bread and ale. (fn. 53)
Stapleton. Argent a lion sable.
Metham. Quarterly azure and argent with a fleur de lis or in the quarter.
In 1284–5 he held 5 oxgangs, the other tenants
being Nicholas de Stapleton and James de Holme. (fn. 54)
In 1301 the reversion of the manor was granted to
Walter de Teye, (fn. 55) who had married the heiress of
John de Stonegrave (fn. 56) ; but in 1316 Nicholas de
Stapleton, whose grandfather Nicholas in 1284–5
had held part of Muscoates, was returned as sole
lord. (fn. 57) The lords of Stapleton (fn. 58) (q.v.) retained
Muscoates (fn. 59) until George Metham in 1648 leased
his house and lands at Muscoates to William Wawne.
The lease was transferred in 1651 to Marmaduke
Norcliffe, who complained in the following year
that the estate had been sequestered for Lady
Metham's recusancy. (fn. 60) Sir Thomas Norcliffe joined
in 1657 with Miles Stapleton and George Metham
in conveying the manor to Robert Otterbourne, sen.,
and others and his heirs. (fn. 61) Nicholas Bullock had
lands in Muscoates in 1554, (fn. 62) and in the next
mention found of the manor (1826) it was in the
hands of Edward Darell of Calehill and Mary
Ann his wife, (fn. 63) daughter and heiress of Thomas
Bullock of Muscoates. (fn. 64) Edward and Mary Ann
conveyed it in 1826 to John Gage. (fn. 65) The Earl of
Feversham is now the owner.
Land at NAWTON (Naghelton, xi cent.; Nageltone, xi–xii cent.; Nathelton, xii cent.; Nalton,
xii–xvi cent.; Navelton, Nawilton, xiii–xiv cent.;
Narton, xv cent.) was a berewick of Kirkby Moorside
in 1086. (fn. 66) It became part of the Mowbray fee,
and was still held of their head manor of Thirsk in
1617. (fn. 67)
In 1086 the Archbishop of York held a 'manor'
and 4 carucates here which had formerly belonged to
Ulf, and a 'manor' and 2 carucates, formerly of
Torbrand, were held by Berengar de Toni, whose lands
here must have been acquired by the Mowbrays. (fn. 68)
Four carucates of land here belonged to the archbishop in 1284–5, (fn. 69) and part of Nawton was still in
the liberty of St. Peter in 1831. (fn. 70)
John Dayvill held 3 carucates in 1284–5. (fn. 71) He
granted all his right in these lands to the Abbot of
Rievaulx, (fn. 72) who was returned as sole lord of 'Nawton
with Beadlam' in 1316. (fn. 73) Rievaulx Abbey held 1
carucate of land here in 1428, (fn. 74) and had a rent of
39s. 4d. from 'Nawtondale' at the Dissolution, (fn. 75) but
seems to have been merely mesne lord, the tenancy
in demesne belonging to the family of Nawton.
In 1333 William de Broklesby, clerk, conveyed
2 carucates and tenements in Nawton and other
places to William son of Richard de Nawton, Margaret
his wife and their heirs, with remainder to John de
Nawton and his heirs. (fn. 76) Thomas Nawton of Eddlethorpe, by will in 1515, directed that Elizabeth
Nawton, his sister, Prioress of Neasham, should take
the issues of Nawton and Nawtondale until she
received 20 marks to pray for his soul. (fn. 77) He died
in 1519 seised of the capital messuage of 'Nawtondale,' and left a son and heir Henry. (fn. 78) Henry died
about 1547 seised of the manor of 'Nawtondale,'
leaving four young daughters, Agnes, Elizabeth,
Eleanor and Katharine, (fn. 79) the first three of whom
married respectively Thomas Harwood, George
Constable and Francis Conyers. (fn. 80) Sir Roger Lascelles
of Sowerby was perhaps a guardian of these daughters,
for he was said to die seised of the manor in 1551, (fn. 81)
and William Nawton and Francis Nawton, who
conveyed it to George Montforth in 1555, (fn. 82) may have
held the same position. Thomas Sayvell and Cecilia
his wife in 1560 conveyed the manor of Nawtondale
to Robert Thornton (of East Newton), and William
his son and heir, (fn. 83) to whom George Constable and
Elizabeth his wife and Francis Conyers and Eleanor
his wife also made a conveyance in 1570. (fn. 84) In 1617
William Thornton of East Newton (fn. 85) (q.v.) died seised
of Nawton Manor, (fn. 86) but in 1666 Clement Read, sen.,
and Barbara his wife were in possession. (fn. 87) A Clement
Read and Elizabeth his wife held it in 1698 (fn. 88) and
in 1708 conveyed it to William Whitehead. (fn. 89) In
1744 Thomas Whitehead as lord appointed a gamekeeper. (fn. 90) William Whitehead was lord in 1779, (fn. 91)
Thomas Whitehead in 1816, (fn. 92) Francis Barr in 1857–
72, W. F. Shepherd in 1879. The manor is now in
the possession of Mr. William Frank of Helmsley.
The Surdevals of Beadlam held the 3 carucates
here under the Dayvills in the 12th century. (fn. 93)
In 1086 SKIPLAM (Skipenum, xii cent.; Scypnoma, Scipnum, xiii cent.) is not mentioned, but in
the 12th century Gundreda wife of Niel Daubeney, (fn. 94)
with the consent of her son Roger de Mowbray,
granted to Rievaulx Abbey all the cultivated land of
her demesne in this place. (fn. 95) Henry III granted the
monks free warren here and in Welburn, (fn. 96) and in 1311
Skiplam was in their possession. (fn. 97) In 1541 the abbey
lands here were granted to the Earl of Rutland, (fn. 98) and
from this time followed the descent of the manor of
Helmsley (fn. 99) (q.v.). The Earl of Feversham is the
present owner.
Before the Conquest 2 carucates in WELBURN
(Wellebrune, xi cent.) were held respectively by
Grim and Torbrand as two 'manors.' In 1086 the
king held the land of Grim, Berengar de Toni the
land of Torbrand, and there was also here a berewick
of Kirkby Moorside. (fn. 100) The whole vill subsequently
formed part of the Mowbray fee. (fn. 101) Roger de Mowbray
granted it to the monks of Rievaulx, the grant being
confirmed by Richard I. (fn. 102) Rievaulx Abbey still had
3 carucates of land in 1428, (fn. 103) and at the Dissolution
a rent of £39 18s. 0½d. from Welburn and the granges
of Sonley (Sinlow, Sowley), &c., in Welburn territory. (fn. 104)
In 1545 Howkeld (Hykelde or Holbek) Mill near
Welburn was granted to William Ramsden of Longley and Edward Hoppey of Halifax, (fn. 105) and in the
same year William Ramsden had licence to grant
various lands in Welburn and Sowley, possessions of
Rievaulx, to Thomas Savile and Cecily his wife. (fn. 106)
Thomas Savile held the manor in 1558 (fn. 107) and died
seised in 1583, leaving a son and heir Thomas, (fn. 108)
who died in 1587, leaving a son and heir Francis. (fn. 109)
Francis died childless in 1594, and was succeeded
by his brother Conyers, (fn. 110) who in 1597 and 1605–6
conveyed the manor to John Gibson, kt. (fn. 111) Sir John
Gibson died seised in 1612–13 and was succeeded
by his son Sir John, (fn. 112) who died seised in 1639, leaving
a son and heir Sir John. (fn. 113)
Gibson. Barry ermine and sable a lion or.
Robinson. Vert a cheveron erminois between three roebucks tripping or.
The last-named died in 1665 and was succeeded
by his son John, who had at that time an eldest son
John. (fn. 114) In 1685–6 John Gibson, senior, made a
settlement of the manor, (fn. 115) and in the following year
John Gibson, junior, conveyed it to James Gibson
for ninety years. (fn. 116) Sarah Gibson, spinster, and James
Gibson made a settlement in 1712, (fn. 117) and it was in
the possession of James Gibson of Turnham Green,
Middlesex, in 1746–7. (fn. 118) By 1750 it had come into
the possession of Thomas Robinson, great-grandson
of the John Gibson who died in 1711, (fn. 119) and in 1779
it belonged to George Strangways Robinson, his
grandson. (fn. 120) This family represented the old Yorkshire house of Strangways, (fn. 121) having changed its
name to Robinson on acquiring the estate of the
Robinsons of Thornton Riseborough. (fn. 122)
The nieces and co-heirs of the Rev. J. Robinson
married respectively the Rev. Francis Wrangham,
Archdeacon of Cleveland, Thomas Smith, M.D., and
the Rev. Arthur Cayley, rector of Normanby, who
were in possession in 1824. (fn. 123) Mrs. Wrangham held
the manor in 1857, the Earl of Feversham in 1872.
The capital messuage or grange of Sonley Cote in
Welburn, which had belonged to Rievaulx Abbey, (fn. 124)
was granted by Queen Elizabeth to John Hercy and
John Howard, and by them to Sir Valentine Brown
and Thomasine his wife, and by them to their son
Thomas, who conveyed it to William Robinson,
alderman of York. In 1622–3 it was in the
possession of William son of William Robinson, and
also an alderman of York. (fn. 125)
Ulf held a 'manor' and 1 carucate at WOMBLETON (Wilbetun, Winbeltun, xi cent.; Wimbleton,
xii–xviii cent.; Wombleton, xvii cent.) before the
Conquest. This carucate was among the lands of the
Archbishop of York in 1086 (fn. 126) and 1284–5, (fn. 127) and
belonged to the liberty of St. Peter in 1831. (fn. 128) By
1284–5, however, Wombleton was composed of
5 carucates of land, of 4 of which Roger de Mowbray
was overlord, (fn. 129) this overlordship already existing in
the 12th century. (fn. 130) Under the Mowbrays the
Wakes and under the Wakes the Vescys were enfeoffed
here. (fn. 131) In 1284–5 Nicholas de Stapleton was one of
the under-tenants, and in 1316 his grandson Nicholas
was joint lord. (fn. 132) In 1339–40 the manor was settled
on Miles Stapleton, (fn. 133) and subsequently descended like
Muscoates (q.v.) to the Methams. (fn. 134) In 1611 Sir
Thomas Metham conveyed it to Roger Earl of Rutland (fn. 135) ; it has since descended with the manor of
Helmsley (fn. 136) (q.v.), and is now in the possession of the
Earl of Feversham.
Henry III granted the amendment
of the assize of bread and ale here to
Newburgh Priory, (fn. 137) and the prior was
joint lord in 1316. (fn. 138) The priory held
1 carucate in 1428 (fn. 139) and 70s. rent at
the Dissolution. (fn. 140)
Churches
The church of ST.
GREGORY consists of
a chancel about 30 ft.
by 17 ft. 10 in., vestry on the north
side of the chancel 11 ft. 8 in. by
9 ft. 11 in., nave 34 ft. 7 in. by 18 ft.,
north aisle 33 ft. 9 in. by 9 ft. 6 in.
and west tower 4 ft. by 6 ft. These
measurements are all internal.
The date of the original church can
be fixed to within a few years of 1060
by the Saxon inscription on the sundial
over the south door, which records that
Orm, the son of Gamal, bought the
minster of St. Gregory, and had it rebuilt in the days of Edward the King
and of Tosti the Earl. Of this church
the nave yet remains, but of its wrought details only
the west doorway and the jambs of the chancel arch
have survived. The south doorway, over which is the
Saxon inscription, is a 12th-century insertion. The
quoins of the western angles of the nave have been
left undisturbed and are a good example of the later
long-and-short work. The north aisle was added
and the present arcade of three bays inserted in the
north wall of the nave c. 1200. Later in the 13th
century the chancel was rebuilt and lengthened, and
probably at the same time the north aisle was also
lengthened to form a north chapel. The chancel
arch was in all probability widened at this rebuilding,
the stones of the original responds being re-used. In
the 15th century the north aisle was raised to its
present height, but the north chapel retains the
height of the early 13th-century aisle. The present
four-centred chancel arch also dates from this period.
New windows were at the same time inserted in
the nave and aisle walls, three of which still survive
—namely, the east window of the north chapel and
the two windows in the south wall of the nave—
the remaining windows of this style being entirely
modern, though probably more or less faithful versions
of their predecessors. During the first quarter of
the 19th century the west tower was built and the
bells rehung within it. A drawing of the church
made about 1820 shows that at that time the bells
were hung in a wooden belfry surmounting the west
end of the nave roof. In 1881 the chancel was
rebuilt and the present high-pitched roof substituted
for a former low-pitched roof, one of the beams
of which was dated 1633. The portion with the
date upon it has been preserved. In 1907 the whole
church was restored under the direction of Mr. Temple
Moore; the west gallery and high pews put in at
some period in the 18th or early 19th century were
removed, and the present oak benches substituted.
The fine pre-Conquest west doorway, which had been
walled up, was again cleared, and a stone wall was built
in line with the chancel arch, in place of a former lathand-plaster partition, separating the north chapel,
which serves for a vestry, from the north aisle. At
the same time the arch opening from the chapel into
the chancel, which had been built up at some period,
was cleared, and new roofs were placed over the nave,
aisles and porch.
Plan of Kirkdale Church
In the east wall of the chancel are three grouped
lancet windows with wide splays and ribbed rear
arches, which appear to be of 13th-century date,
though perhaps reset. The circular window over
is modern. Immediately east of the chancel arch,
in the north wall, is a 13th-century arch of two
chamfered orders opening into the north chapel, now
used as a vestry. The east respond is square, the
abacus being composed of a large quarter-round; the
north and south angles of the abacus have been chamfered off, probably at some subsequent period. The
western respond is splayed on the chapel side.
The 15th-century chancel arch is four-centred and
composed of two chamfered orders, the outer order
being stilted and the inner order dying into it. The
responds are pre-Conquest, and shafted on the west;
the capitals have hollow bells, with no necking, and
added 15th-century abaci. In the south wall of the
chancel is a rough piscina with a projecting fluted
basin, and to the westward of it a triangular niche.
Over this is a two-light uncusped square-headed light
of modern date. Next to the westward is a priest's
doorway, with two-centred external head and segmental rear arch and an external label with mask
stops. The stones of this appear to be of original
date with the 13th-century rebuilding of the chancel.
The westernmost window of the chancel is a small
widely-splayed lancet, also probably of original date.
Kirkdale Church from the South-west
The 13th-century north arcade of the nave is of
three bays with two-centred arches of two chamfered
orders and circular columns, with circular moulded
bases on octagonal plinths and bell capitals with
moulded octagonal abaci. The capital of the east
respond is carved with a form of broad water-leaf,
while those of the west respond and eastern column
are plain. The western column has a capital of
unusual design, with volutes at each angle of the
abacus. The south wall of the nave is lighted by
two 15th-century windows. The eastern is of three
trefoiled lights under a square head; the western
window is of two square-headed lights and is placed
high up in the wall. The south door is round-arched,
the jambs chamfered on the exterior, and having
chamfered impost. The pre-Conquest west doorway
has a round head of three square orders recessed
from the west face, the eastern face presenting only
a plain arch springing from a square impost. The
intermediate order on the west is carried rather
awkwardly upon circular shafts with crude cushion
capitals and moulded bases. On the south wall of
the nave is a stone bench.
The 15th-century east window of the north
chapel, or eastern extremity of the north aisle, is of
two ogee-headed trefoiled lights with tracery under
a square head. In the modern wall dividing the
chapel from the aisle is a doorway with a twocentred head. The north wall of the aisle is lighted
by two modern windows of two lights under square
heads, and in the west wall is a modern window
similar to that in the east wall. Against the north
wall are two stone benches. Externally a set-off
with a weathering of dressed stone marks the original
height of the wall. The west tower has a small loophole window in the west wall of the ground stage
and plain square lights to the bell-chamber, which is
crowned by a pyramidal slate roof. The south porch
is a rough structure, probably of late date, consisting
merely of east and west walls, with stone benches
and a modern timber roof. The roofs of the
chancel, north chapel and heating chamber are
covered with stone shingles, the nave and north aisle
with green slates.
The octagonal font has a plain bowl and a moulded
octagonal stem and appears to be of 13th-century
date. In the two easternmost bays of the nave arcade
are two pre-Conquest slabs with interlacing ornament,
the so-called tombs of King Ethelwald and Bishop
Cedd. Both of these slabs previously to the last
restoration were embedded in the west wall. (fn. 141) On
the western of the two stone benches against the
north wall of the north aisle are some fragments of
coffin-lids. On the east wall is a fragment of a figure
within a crocketed ogee canopy, probably representing
the Virgin and Child, dating, to judge from the
style of the drapery, from the early part of the
15th century. A quern stone, found during the
last restoration within a few feet of the surface of the
churchyard, is now placed within the church. Over
the south doorway is the Saxon sundial referred to
above; it is composed of an oblong stone divided
into three compartments, the centre one of which is
occupied by the dial, which has an incised semicircle
with radii dividing it into eight hours. The inscriptions are cut in incised Saxon characters, and are in
a fine state of preservation. On the dial panel is
inscribed: 'This is dæges solmerca | æt ilcum
tide | & Hawarth me wrohte & Brand prs'; on
the side panels: 'Orm Gamal | suna bohte Scs
Gregorius min | ster thonne hi | t wes æl tobro | can
& tofalan & he | hit let macan newan from | grunde
Xr[ist]e & Scs Gregori | us in Eadward dagum
c[yni]ng & [i]n Tosti dagum eorl.'
On the west wall of the nave is a mural monument
to Joan (Pennyman) Gibson, 1675, the wife of John
Gibson, above which is a shield with his arms impaling
a cheveron ermine between three broken spears.
There are two bells: the treble, probably cast about
the year 1300, is inscribed in Gothic capitals—
GREGORI CAMPANAM +
with the stamp of a quadruped; the second in
black letter—
+ Sancte ihs Petre ora pro nobis.
It was cast at York between 1400 and 1450, and has
a founder's mark of three bells.
The plate includes two cups, one with the London
date mark for 1706, the maker's mark B.O., and the
arms of the Gibson family, the other is inscribed as
given by the Rev. John Robinson in 1801, but bears
the date mark of 1804. Of the two patens here
one bears the London date mark for 1715 and
the maker's mark B.O. It is inscribed, 'The gift of
Mrs. Penelope Gibson to the parish of Kirkdale
1715'; the other bears the same marks and arms as
the cup of 1706 and is inscribed, 'The gift of Joanna
Gibson to the church of Kirkdale 1707.'
The registers begin in 1578.
The church of ST. HILDA, Beadlam, is built of
stone in 13th-century style and consists of chancel,
nave and west turret containing one bell.
Advowson
Skaife has identified the 'Chirchebi' of Domesday Book, where
there was a church and priest, with
Kirkdale, although 'Chirchebi' is almost certainly
Kirkby Moorside (q.v.). The suggestion of Brooke, (fn. 142)
however, that the church entered under 'Chirchebi'
was Kirkdale Church is worthy of consideration.
Kirkdale is not a village, but a valley, which has given
its name to the church north of Welburn, and this
church, when first indisputably mentioned (1145), (fn. 143)
is called the church of Welburn. As Welburn was a
berewick of Kirkby Moorside at the time of the
Domesday Survey, (fn. 144) the church in its territory might
be rated with Kirkby Moorside. Roger de Mowbray
granted in his foundation charter to Newburgh Priory
(1145) (fn. 145) the church of Welburn and the vale where
the church was situated with the chapel of Wombleton. (fn. 146) The priory kept the church until its dissolution,
and afterwards, in 1576, the rectory was granted to
Francis Metham for twenty-one years, (fn. 147) and in 1587
to him and others for life. (fn. 148) In 1608 the rectory and
the advowson of the vicarage were granted by James I
to Francis Philips and Richard More and their heirs. (fn. 149)
It must have come soon afterwards into the possession of
Henry Baron Danvers, who was created Earl of Danby
in 1625–6, (fn. 150) for he left it by will before 1644 to the
University of Oxford for the maintenance of the new
Physic Gardens which he established there. (fn. 151) In
1786 Kirkdale was said to be a curacy in the possession of the University of Oxford, the present patron. (fn. 152)
The living is a vicarage. There was a church at
Beadlam in 1309, (fn. 153) but no later mention of it has
been found. The modern church of St. Hilda at
Beadlam, erected in 1882, is a chapel of ease to
Kirkdale.
Charities
The poor receive £2 a year, paid
as to 20s. by Lord Feversham out of
Mitton Holm, in respect of John
Ellerton's charity; as to 10s. by Mr. B. King out
of land at Wombleton, in respect of George Pearson's
charity; and as to 10s. by Lord Feversham out of
land at Weathercoat, in respect of Ralph Richardson's
charity.
A sum of £55 15s. consols is held by the official
trustees belonging to the charities of John and Robert
Shepherd, John Boyes and Ann Dixon, also a sum of
£100 consols bequeathed in 1815 by will of John
Dodsworth for poor housekeepers. The dividends of
the stock, amounting to £3 17s. 8d., are distributed
in flour, coals and money.
Township of Beadlam.—John Stockton's charity.
A sum of £4 3s. 4d. a year is applicable for educational purposes in this township. (See under Kirkby
Moorside.)
Township of Nawton.—John Stockton's charity.
A sum of £12 10s. a year is applicable for educational
purposes in this township. (See under Kirkby Moorside.)
Township of Welburn.—John Stockton's charity.
A sum of £8 6s. 8d. a year is applicable for educational purposes in this township. (See under Kirkby
Moorside.)
Township of Wombleton.—John Stockton's charity.
A sum of £8 6s. 8d. a year is applicable for educational purposes in this township. (See under Kirkby
Moorside.)