Source: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/east/vol3/pp120-128
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 01:02:55+00:00

Document:
A History of the County of York East Riding: Volume 3, Ouse and Derwent Wapentake, and Part of Harthill Wapentake. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1976.
The boulder clay of the moraine is topped by a narrow strip of sand and gravel, in places exceeding 50 ft. above sea-level. (fn. 5) Elsewhere the outwash sand, gravel, and clay lie mostly at between 25 ft. and 50 ft., occasionally lower still. Except where it crosses the moraine south-west of the village, the parish boundary largely follows some of the numerous streams and dikes that drain these low grounds. The relatively small open fields of Wheldrake lay partly on the moraine, but extended into the lower ground north and south of the village. Beyond the open fields were assarts made from waste and woods, and in the north-west of the parish extensive commons. Open fields and commons were inclosed in 1773 and the resulting regular field pattern contrasts with that of some of the areas of old assarts.
Almost all the older houses of the village lie along the closely built-up Main Street and its continuation Church Lane. Back lanes run behind the garths to north and south, the latter still only a field road. Dalton Hill links the north back lane with Main Street. The regular layout of the village results from a replanning which may have been carried out in the late Dark Ages or following William I's harrying of 1069-70. The village as then laid out may have consisted of eight tofts on either side of the street. (fn. 14) The growth of the village up to c. 1850 was achieved almost solely by the subdivision of those original tofts, and only more recently has development extended beyond the back lanes.
Westwards of the parish church the main street is almost continuously flanked by houses, which are set back behind a grass verge. No. 53 has exposed timber framing, probably of the 17th century, and fragments of framing have been found inside other houses, notably nos. 3-5 and 51. In addition several houses of brick, including nos. 13, 16, 20, and 23, have a three-roomed plan and axial stack which suggest a 17th-century origin. (fn. 15) Most of the brick houses are, however, of the 18th and 19th centuries, as are the numerous brick barns and outbuildings which occupy much of the ground immediately behind the street frontage. The largest house is no. 52, an 18th-century building with added bays, behind which there is a stable range with central dovecot and a group of farm buildings which include a wheelhouse. No. 71 also has a dovecot.
Most of the numerous scattered farms in the parish were no doubt built after the inclosure of Wheldrake in 1773. Wiggenholme Farm (now Wigman Hall), however, certainly existed by 1696 (fn. 33) and probably by 1609. (fn. 34) Grange Farm is also preinclosure in date. (fn. 35) The farm-houses at Langwith, where inclosure was earlier, also had an older origin. (fn. 36) There is the remnant of a moat at Langwith Lodge.
After the Dissolution various Crown leases were made of former Fountains property in Wheldrake, including those of the manor to Humphrey Boland in 1543, Thomas Powle in 1558, (fn. 53) and Thomas Knyvett, later Baron Knyvett of Escrick, in 1597. (fn. 54) In 1612 Lord Knyvett conveyed his interest in the manor to Thomas Howard, earl of Suffolk, and his son Theophilus (fn. 55) and in 1625 the manor was granted in fee by the Crown to Sir Edward Howard, (fn. 56) later Baron Howard of Escrick.
After the capital manor was granted to Fountains abbey by Richard Malbis the Darels remained undertenants of one carucate, and their estate was sometimes referred to as the manor of WHELDRAKE. William Darel conveyed it to feoffees in 1368 and their successors conveyed it to Fountains in 1383. (fn. 70) These transactions also involved the acquisition by St. Leonard's hospital, York, of a rent-charge upon Fountains abbey's estate in Wheldrake. The hospital was apparently enjoying the profits of William Darel's manor in 1364, in return for giving hospitality to Darel and his wife, (fn. 71) and in 1383 it was assigned 16 marks to be paid by the abbey. (fn. 72) The hospital's estate there was worth £10 in 1535 (fn. 73) but no more is known of it.
Warter priory obtained a carucate in Wheldrake, (fn. 89) worth nearly £10 after the Dissolution. (fn. 90) It was granted to Thomas, earl of Rutland, in tail in 1536 and in fee in 1541. (fn. 91) Henry, earl of Rutland, conveyed it to Thomas Hussey and William Sygrave in 1562-3. (fn. 92) Its descent has not been traced further.
By the end of the 13th century the older arable land within the ring of new assarts consisted of fragmented holdings, sometimes described as bovates, sometimes as lying in culture. Some of the culture, however, were in single ownership. (fn. 105) There is no evidence how the older arable was farmed, but it was later to become the open fields of the township. Beside the Derwent there were large areas of meadow, especially within the great loop of the river beyond its modern course. Part of the ings was divided between the villagers, but by 1218 Fountains abbey had secured sole rights over the easternmost part, known as Alemar. (fn. 106) The common pastures consisted of sandy stretches known as North and Roxhall moors, and wetter areas called Moze or Moss and Horse marsh. Moze was intercommoned by Wheldrake and Escrick, together with the adjacent common of Escrick. (fn. 107) The woodland c. 1300 included North and South woods, lying within the area of 13th-century assarts.
By the later 17th century North field had become known as Dovecot field and North-west as Well field, and by the early 18th century West field was called Mill field. (fn. 118) Probably in the 1720s some consolidation of the scattered strips of the openfield holdings was carried out. (fn. 119) In 1769 the open fields, commons, and ings amounted to nearly 2,000 a., compared with over 2,400 a. of ancient inclosures. About 2,000 a. of the latter belonged to Beilby Thompson, lord of the manor, and included about 1,120 a. of pasture, 330 a. of meadow, 440 a. of arable, and 60 a. of wood. (fn. 120) The remaining commonable lands were inclosed in 1773 (fn. 121) under an Act of 1769. (fn. 122) Allotments totalling 221 a. were made from Mill field, 157 a. from Well field, 109 a. from Dovecot field, and 104 a. from East field, the last perhaps including the Flats. The ings comprised 210 a. and allotments from the commons totalled 1,175 a., of which 84 a. lay in Horse Course, the former Horse marsh. A few small closes were allotted as part of exchanges. Beilby Thompson received 1,484 a., the rector 210 a. for glebe and tithes, and there were 2 allotments of over 30 a. each, 10 of 10-29 a., and 11 of under 10 a.
There are surviving accounts of the churchwardens for 1740-1881, constables for 1745-1837, surveyors for 1791-1811, and overseers for 1765- 1820, as well as overseers' assessments for 1717- 1807. Another book contains a summary of the officers' accounts for 1760-1882. (fn. 154) There were always two of each of the officers, and bylawmen were mentioned by the constables in 1747. The surveyors recorded an annual list of the inhabitants and their quota of day-work or compositions.
The overseers of the poor maintained poorhouses which were first mentioned in 1743; in 1764 there were eight of them. (fn. 155) Wheldrake joined York poorlaw union in 1837, (fn. 156) and the poorhouses were sold by the union in 1867. (fn. 157) The parish became part of Escrick rural district in 1894, Derwent rural district in 1935, (fn. 158) and the Selby district of North Yorkshire in 1974.
A parsonage house was mentioned in 1535 (fn. 182) and it had nine hearths in 1672. (fn. 183) In the 18th century the south front was said to be wholly of brick, the rest partly of timber and plaster; two gabled bays projected from the south front. In 1764 the house had four main ground-floor rooms, besides service rooms, and there were nine rooms upstairs ; (fn. 184) it was enlarged soon after 1825. (fn. 185) The older part was demolished in the 1930s. (fn. 186) A new Rectory was built in 1969 (fn. 187) and the earlier house was in 1972 known as Woodlands.
In 1580 many parishioners were cited for not attending church. (fn. 196) Two services were held each Sunday in 1743 and Holy Communion was administered four times a year to 45-50 people. (fn. 197) By 1764 communion was celebrated six times a year, by 1868 once a month, by 1884 twice a month, and by 1914 every week; there were 20-25 communicants in the 1860s, about 12 in the 1870s. In 1871 a room at Langwith was used for worship in summer, and farm-house services were occasionally held there in 1914. (fn. 198) Two services were held each Sunday at Wheldrake in 1972.
Two large marble tablets in the sanctuary commemorate Charles Blake, rector 1719-30, one bearing his own modest words and the other the praises of his friends. (fn. 204) There is a Royal Arms of 1779 and a charity board of 1780. An octagonal font of c. 1300 was restored to the church in 1974. (fn. 205) A stone pedestal for a sun-dial stands in the churchyard.
George Parish, rector, by will dated 1681, gave £100, the interest to be used to put out a boy or two girls as apprentices. (fn. 244) Samuel Terrick, rector, by will dated 1718, left £30 for the poor. (fn. 245) Richard Morris, by will dated 1720, similarly left £20. (fn. 246) Charles Blake, rector, by will dated 1728, left £50 to be used with the three previous endowments to buy land. (fn. 247) Another £33 was borrowed and about 35 a. were bought at Brackenholme (in Hemingbrough) in 1731. (fn. 248) In 1764 the rent of the estate produced £10 (fn. 249) and in 1824 £18 a year, of which £8 16s. was used for apprenticing and the rest was distributed to the poor. (fn. 250) The land was usually known as the Hemingbrough or Woodhall charity estate.
Frances, dowager Lady Howard, by will proved in 1716, bequeathed money to provide coal in Escrick and other villages, including Wheldrake. (fn. 251) After 1862 Wheldrake received 1/7 of the income.
1. This article was written in 1972, with some amendment in 1974.
2. P.N.E.R. Yorks. (E.P.N.S.), 269-70. See above p. 17.
4. O.S. Map 6", Yorks. (1851-4 edn.). Most of the parish is covered by sheet 192, some by sheets 174, 175, and 191.
5. Geol. Surv. Map 1", solid and drift, sheet 71 (1973 edn.).
6. R.D.B., 1739/263/234; 1770/242/196; Wheldrake: Aspects of a Yorks. Village (Wheldrake Loc. Hist. Soc. 1971), 28-9.
9. T. Jefferys, Map of Yorks. (1772); O.S. Map 6" (1851-4 edn.).
10. Fountains Charty. ed. W. T. Lancaster, ii. 828; Monastic Notes, i (Y.A.S. Rec. Ser. xvii), 65; June A. Sheppard, 'Pre-enclosure Field and Settlement Patterns in an Eng. Township: Wheldrake, near York', Geografiska Annaler, xlviii (Series B), 67.
11. See p. 123. There is no evidence for the location of the grange but it is likely to have been at the manor-house site.
12. V.C.H. City of York, 316.
13. Fountains Charty. ii. 816, 835.
15. Wheldrake: Aspects, 8-11, 44. See below plate facing p. 129.
16. V.C.H. City of York, 479.
18. J. Fairfax-Blakeborough, Northern Turf Hist. i. 98- 101.
20. Baines, Hist. Yorks. ii. 399.
23. B.I.H.R., PR. 86, 158-9.
26. Sheppard, 'Wheldrake', 69, where the number of waste tofts in 1361 is wrongly given as nine. For the Darel manor see below p. 123.
27. Select 16th Cent. Causes in Tithe (Y.A.S. Rec. Ser. cxiv), 62; Yorks. Deeds, ii, p. 130 n.
28. O.S. Map 6" (1851-4 edn.); 1/2,500, Yorks. CXCII. 10 (1910 edn.).
29. Penes K. J. Allison, 1974.
30. B.L. Add. MS. 40010, f. 158d.
32. Ex inf. Northern Area Manager, Yorks. Water Authority, York, 1974. See plate facing p. 32.
34. L.R. 2/230 f. 294.
36. e.g. B.I.H.R., CC. D/C 11. 17 (1772 map).
37. Sheppard, 'Wheldrake', 69, calculated from B.L. Add. MS. 40010.
38. E 179/202/58 m. 9.
42. Herring's Visit. iii. 202.
43. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1764/Ret. 124.
44. V.C.H. Yorks. iii. 498; Census, 1911-71.
45. V.C.H. Yorks. ii. 167, 262, 293.
46. E.Y.C. xi, pp. 62, 186-9.
48. Fountains Charty. ii. 808-11.
50. Ibid. 818-19. For his date of death see E.Y.C. ix, p. 187.
52. Valor Eccl. (Rec. Com.), v. 253.
53. L. & P. Hen. VIII, xviii (1), p. 552; Cal. Pat. 1557-8, 457-8.
54. Cal. S.P. Dom. 1595-7, 380.
60. R.D.B., 809/332/273; /595/482; 810/360/298; 811/ 304/256; 817/401/325; /405/328; /409/329.
61. Ex inf. Escrick Park Estate Office, 1972.
62. V.C.H. City of York, 26.
63. Chron. of Roger of Howden (Rolls Ser.), iv. 117.
64. E.Y.C. xi, p. 192.
65. B.L. Add. MS. 40010, f. 191d. For the Darel manor see below.
67. E.R.R.O., DDSY/73/1; Wheldrake: Aspects, 22-3.
68. T. Allen, Hist. Co. York, iv. 145.
69. O.S. Map 6" (1851-4 edn.).
70. Feud. Aids, vi. 222; Fountains Charty. ii. 836-8.
71. Cal. Inq. Misc. iii, p. 202.
72. Fountains Charty. ii. 837-9.
73. Valor Eccl. v. 17.
74. V.C.H. Yorks. ii. 241, 276, 321; E.Y.C. iv, pp. 131-2.
75. E.Y.C. iv, pp. 16-17, 84.
76. Yorks. Inq. ii, pp. 105, 111-12, 215.
77. Dugdale, Mon. v. 709.
78. B.L. Harl. Ch. 53 H. 24-5.
79. Ibid.; Yorks. Inq. iii, pp. 38-9; Reg. Corbridge, ii, p. 1.
80. C 54/3659 no. 31.
81. Lond. Gaz. 10 Sept. 1852, pp. 2436, 2446-7, which mentions about 360 a. in Langwith closes. The wood presumably passed to the commissioners soon after. See below p. 125.
85. J. Burton, Mon. Ebor. 280.
89. Fountains Charty. ii. 815-16.
90. Dugdale, Mon. v. 314.
91. L. & P. Hen. VIII, xi, p. 207; xvi, p. 325.
92. Cal. Pat. 1560-3, 616; Yorks. Fines, i. 272.
93. Valor Eccl. v. 129.
94. Yorks. Sta. Cha. Proc. iv (Y.A.S. Rec. Ser. lxx), 101.
96. Cal. Chart. R. 1327-41, 367; Fountains Charty. ii. 813.
97. Yorks. Fines, 1603-14, 60.
98. V.C.H. Yorks. ii. 262.
99. The land-use history of the township has been examined in detail in Sheppard, 'Wheldrake'. Much of this section is based on Miss Sheppard's article, but the more useful primary sources are appended.
100. Variously given as 24 a. and 80 a. in E. Y.C. xi, p. 187 and Fountains Charty. ii. 817, which presumably refer to the same licence.
101. See p. 123. The grange is mentioned in Fountains Charty. ii. 823.
102. Fountains Charty. ii. 816, 826.
103. Ibid. 815-16, 834-5; Year Bk. 16 Edw. III (Rolls Ser.), (1), 182-6; Cal. Pat. 1338-40, 424.
104. Fountains Charty. ii. 814, 816, 825, 831-5.
105. Ibid. 810, 814, 821, 827.
106. Ibid. 829-30; Cur. Reg. R. vii. 257-8.
107. Fountains Charty. ii. 833-5.
108. E.Y.C. iv, pp. 16-17.
109. Yorks. Inq. i, pp. 111-12. For venison from it in 1251 see Cal. Lib. 1251-60, 8.
110. B.L. Add. MS. 40010, ff. 70-1d, 191d.
111. Forland was sometimes called forby land.
112. L. & P. Hen. VIII, xxi (1), p. 784; Cal. Pat. 1557-8, 24.
114. Fabric Rolls of York Minster (Sur. Soc. xxxv), 102; Y.A.J. xxix. 193.
117. L.R. 2/230 ff. 273-95.
118. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Wheldrake n.d. (17th cent.), 1727. A dovecot in Dovecot field was mentioned in 1659: E.R.R.O., DDJ/15/1.
119. E.R.R.O., DDFA/45/5-9 (undated maps of the fields, in the case of Dovecot and Well fields showing the situation before and after consolidation).
122. 8 & 9 Geo. III, Sess. 2, c. 23 (Priv. Act).
123. Minster Libr., D. & C. Archives, Wa. ff. 29, 92 (16th cent.) to Wm. pp. 471-2, 639, 735 (19th cent.).
124. Ibid. Wa. ff. 28, 46; Wb. ff. 125, 281.
125. Ibid. We. ff. 5, 19 (17th cent.) to Wm. p. 639 (19th cent.).
126. Fabric R. of York Minster, 56, 58, 69, 115, 117, 124, 130-2, 200; Cal. Pat. 1374-7, 227.
128. E.R.R.O., DDFA/41/3, 6; H.O. 107/2351; Baines, Hist. Yorks. (1823), ii. 399; White, Dir. E. & N.R. Yorks. (1840), 339-40.
134. [1st] Land Util. Surv. Map, sheet 27; 2nd Land Util. Surv. Map, sheet 699 (SE 64-74).
136. Ex inf. Forestry Com., York, 1972.
137. Fountains Charty. ii. 825-6, 829-31.
138. Monastic Notes, i. 68; Cal. Inq. Misc. ii, pp. 320-1.
140. O.S. Map 1/2,500, Yorks. CXCII. 10 (1910 edn.).
141. L.R. 2/230 f. 285.
142. E.R.R.O., DDFA/18/122, 159, 214.
143. Ibid. QSF. Christ. 1782, C.1.
144. O.S. Map 6" (1851-4 edn.).
146. Fountains Charty. ii. 818, 827.
147. B.L. Add. MS. 40010, f. 83d.
148. L.R. 2/230 f. 293.
152. O.S. Map 6" (1851-4 edn.).
153. Baines, Hist. Yorks. (1823), ii. 399; White, Dir. E. & N.R. Yorks. (1840), 339.
154. B.I.H.R., PR. WHEL. 13-18.
155. Ibid. Bp. V. 1764/Ret. 124; Herring's Visit. iii. 202.
156. 3rd Rep. Poor Law Com. 171.
157. York City Archives, Acc. 2, 1560-7.
159. V.C.H. Yorks. ii. 262.
160. Reg. Romeyn, i, pp. 180, 183.
161. York Dioc. Regy., Order in Council.
162. E.Y.C. x, pp. 118-19.
163. Reg. Giffard, pp. 50-1.
164. Reg. Corbridge, ii, p. 172.
165. Cal. Pat. 1396-9, 66, 293, 317.
166. Ibid. 1566-9, p. 319.
167. Minster Libr., Torre MS., 'Cleveland & E.R.', p. 407.
168. Cal. S.P. Dom. 1628-9, 182.
170. Tax. Eccl. (Rec. Com.), 300; Valor Eccl. v. 97.
171. C 94/3 f. 76.
172. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Wheldrake 1727, 1743, 1760.
173. Rep. Com. Eccl. Revenues, 978.
174. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1884/Ret.; Bp. V. 1914/Ret.
175. Ibid. CP. F. 29-30; H. 887, 4280.
176. R.D.B., AT/3/2; 8 & 9 Geo. III, Sess. 2, c. 23 (Priv. Act).
178. J.I. 1/1045 m. 9.
179. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Wheldrake n.d., 1727, etc.
182. Valor Eccl. v. 97.
184. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Wheldrake 1727, 1764.
185. Ibid. 1849; PR. 91; MGA. 1825/2.
187. Ex inf. the rector, 1972.
188. Cal. Pat. 1381-5, 19.
189. N. Country Wills, i (Sur. Soc. cxvi), 279.
191. B.I.H.R., V. 1865/Ret. 583; Cal. Papal Pets. i. 388; Cal. Papal Regs. viii. 522; Herring's Visit, iii. 202; Rep. Com. Eccl. Revenues, 978; Wheldrake: Aspects, 14.
192. Walker Revised, ed. A. G. Matthews, 392; D.N.B.
193. C 94/3 f. 76; Calamy Revised, ed. A. G. Matthews, 96.
195. Ibid.; Wheldrake: Aspects, 16.
196. J. S. Purvis, Tudor Par. Doc. of Dioc. York, 76-7.
197. Herring's Visit, iii. 202.
198. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1764/Ret. 124; V. 1865/Ret. 583; V. 1868/Ret. 536; V. 1871/Ret. 542; V. 1877/Ret.; Bp. V. 1884/Ret.; Bp. V. 1914/Ret.
199. Ibid. V. 1578-9/CB. 1; D/C. CP. (1628-30); C. V/CB. 9.
200. Ibid. PR. WHEL. 13.
201. Building accts., plans, etc. are printed in J. Howat, Documents concerning the Rebuilding of Wheldrake Church, 1778 (priv. print. 1971). See below plate facing p. 128.
202. B.I.H.R., PR. WHEL. 24; Yorks. Gaz. 10 Jan. 1874; Wheldrake: Aspects, 7.
203. Ex inf. the rector, 1974.
204. For details see Wheldrake: Aspects, 15.
205. Ex inf. the rector, 1974.
206. Boulter, 'Ch. Bells', 32.
207. B.I.H.R., Fac. Bk. x, p. 78.
208. Yorks. Ch. Plate, i. 333.
211. York Dioc. Regy., Consecration deeds.
212. Aveling, Post Reformation Catholicism, 13, 64.
213. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1764/Ret. 124.
214. Bodl. MS. Tanner 150, ff. 27 sqq.
215. G.R.O. Worship Returns, Vol. v, nos. 155, 1643, 2133, 2308, 2773, 2870, 2993.
216. B.I.H.R., Fac. Bk. iii, p. 275.
217. G.R.O. Worship Returns, Vol. v, no. 2993.
218. Baines, Hist. Yorks. ii. 399.
220. G.R.O. Worship Reg. no. 15685.
222. B.I.H.R., V. 1865/Ret. 583; Bp. V. 1894/Ret.
224. Herring's Visit. iii. 202.
225. B.I.H.R., PR. WHEL. 13.
227. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Wheldrake 1777.
228. 12th Rep. Com. Char. 652-3; see below p. 128.
229. Educ. Enquiry Abstract, 1099.
230. Wheldrake: Aspects, 24; Bulmer, Dir. E. Yorks. (1892), 728.
231. Ed. 7/135 no. 200.
233. B.I.H.R., PR. 66; plaque in church.
234. Rep. of Educ. Cttee. of Council, 1874-5 [C. 1265-1], p. 449, H.C. (1875), xxiv.
236. Bd. of Educ. List 21 (H.M.S.O.).
237. Ex inf. Chief Educ. Officer, County Hall, Beverley, 1972.
238. E.R. Educ. Cttee. Mins. 1972-3, 171.
239. Ex inf. the rector, 1974.
240. B.I.H.R., V. 1865/Ret. 583; V. 1868/Ret. 536; Bp. V. 1884/Ret.
241. B.I.H.R., PR. WHEL. 52-3.
242. Ibid. TER. N. Wheldrake 1809; Bp. V. 1764/Ret. 124.
243. Ibid. PR. WHEL. 65; 12th Rep. Com. Char. 653-4.
244. B.I.H.R., PR. WHEL. 54-5.
248. 12th Rep. Com. Char. 653.
249. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1764/Ret. 124.
250. 12th Rep. Com. Char. 653.
252. 12th Rep. Com. Char. 653; see above p. 127.
253. B.I.H.R., PR. WHEL. 127.
260. B.I.H.R., PR. WHEL. 68.
262. Ex inf. the rector, 1974.
264. Ex inf. Mr. A. R. Tunnah, Haxby, 1974.

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