Source: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/east/vol3/pp12-17
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 00:33:13+00:00

Document:
A small area of boulder clay and glacial sand and gravel in the south of the parish represents the northern edge of the Escrick moraine. The rest of the parish, including the sites of the former open fields around the village, consists of outwash sand and clay. (fn. 4) The common moor lay on the sand in the north-west where much of the parish is now occupied by an airfield.
The Derwent Valley Light Railway, opened in 1912, crossed the parish and the former station adjoins the York road west of the village. The line was closed for passenger traffic in 1926 (fn. 18) and the sections south and north of the station for goods in 1968 and 1972 respectively. (fn. 19) The track has been lifted.
A Royal Air Force station has occupied the western part of the parish since 1943 (fn. 32) and was still in use in 1972. A long new runway extending into Langwith was built in 1956. (fn. 33) Beside the York road west of the village is a memorial to a Free French air force squadron which was based at Elvington in 1944-5.
The manorial estate, comprising about 1,500 a. in 1772, (fn. 59) descended in the Sterne family until the later 18th century. In 1774 Richard Sterne sold 837 a. to Ralph and John Dodsworth, (fn. 60) 83 a. to Ambrose Etherington, and 172 a. to John Daniel. (fn. 61) The following year he sold the manor and 321 a. to John Ramsey. (fn. 62) After Ramsey's death in 1801 (fn. 63) the manor, divided into moieties, passed to his nieces Susannah Spence and Dorothy Garwood (fn. 64) and in 1857 the trustees of their six children sold the whole manor with about 200 a. to Smith Wormald. (fn. 65) Wormald's devisees sold the 125-acre Manor farm to John Barker in 1871 (fn. 66) and the manor and about 30 a. to John Dobby in 1876. (fn. 67) Thomas Dobby sold the manorial rights to Thomas Masterman in 1891 (fn. 68) and no more is known of them.
The manor-house occupied by Sir Roger Jacques in 1646 had 7 hearths in 1672. (fn. 69) Elvington Hall was apparently built by the Sternes in the later 18th century. It remained the manor-house until 1881, when John Dobby sold it to Harriet Whitaker. (fn. 70) On the death of her daughter Harriet Von Beverhoudt in 1934 the hall passed to the latter's cousin Judith Bury-Barry (d. 1947), (fn. 71) whose executors sold it to Mr. K. Wadham in 1957. (fn. 72) He sold it in 1962 to Mr. R. M. Pontefract, (fn. 73) the owner in 1972. The house has been extended and remodelled in the 20th century. The oldest part appears to be the north front, which may be 17th-century in origin. A new drawing room and staircase were added on the south-west in the later 18th century, perhaps from designs by Carr of York, and the south front was made symmetrical by the addition of another room in the earlier 19th century.
Much of the remaining common or moor, but not the most northerly part, was inclosed in 1743 (fn. 96) under an Act of the same year. (fn. 97) In all, 576 a. were allotted, Richard Sterne as lord of the manor receiving 469 a. and the rector 91 a. There were three other allotments totalling 16 a. The rest of the common, together with the open fields and ings, was inclosed under an Act of 1769. (fn. 98) About 800 a. were involved, of which at least 250 a. were from the common. (fn. 99) The rector received 147 a. and two other men a total of 54 a. The rest went to the lord of the manor.
Weavers at Elvington were mentioned in the 1390s. (fn. 114) A brick and tile works beside the Wheldrake road existed by 1850 (fn. 115) and brick-making continued there until the 1930s. (fn. 116) In 1972 the site was marked by a 19th-century brick wind-pump and a water-filled pit. There is no evidence of a mill at Elvington and the three corn-millers who lived in the parish in 1851 (fn. 117) were presumably employed in the large mill at Sutton upon Derwent. In 1892 willows were said to be grown in the parish for basket-making. (fn. 118) In 1972 a firm of fertilizer manufacturers provided some employment and huts formerly belonging to the airfield were occupied by several industrial concerns, including a manufacturer of pre-cast concrete and an agricultural engineer.
No parochial records before 1835 are known. In 1743 there were 'three or four' unendowed almshouses (fn. 120) and in the mid 19th century a row of poorhouses adjoined the York road west of the village. (fn. 121) In 1837 Elvington joined York poor-law union. (fn. 122) It became part of Escrick rural district in 1894, Derwent rural district in 1935, (fn. 123) and the Selby district of North Yorkshire in 1974.
There were two services each Sunday in 1743 and Holy Communion was celebrated four times a year, with about 40 communicants. (fn. 156) In 1764 services were held fortnightly. By 1865 there were two services each Sunday. In the 1860s and 1870s communion was usually celebrated monthly, with 16-18 people receiving. In the 1880s and 1914 it was celebrated fortnightly and in 1936 weekly. (fn. 157) There were still two services each Sunday in 1972.
Little is known of the medieval church of HOLY TRINITY. It was out of repair in 1663 (fn. 158) and 1744 (fn. 159) and was entirely rebuilt, largely at the rector's expense, in 1803. The new church was of brick with stone dressings and had an embattled west tower and an apse. The windows were in 'semigothic' style and there was a west gallery. (fn. 160) The church was repaired in 1849 (fn. 161) and 1868 (fn. 162) before being rebuilt on a site a little to the south in 1876- 7. (fn. 163) The new building, of stone, was designed by William White and consists of chancel with polygonal apse, nave with north aisle and vestry, and north-west tower. The belfry stage of the tower is wooden and is capped by a short spire. The aisle arcade has four semicircular red-brick arches on red sandstone columns with leaf capitals. A round Norman font with a scalloped base remains in the church and in the churchyard is a font dated 1685.
There were two recusants at Elvington in 1586 and three were discovered in the 1630s. (fn. 170) Houses, barns, and other buildings were licensed for worship in 1785, 1789, 1819, 1821, 1830, and 1833. (fn. 171) Between 1790 and 1816 the Wesleyan Methodists usually had 18-29 members at Elvington (fn. 172) and they built a chapel in 1810. (fn. 173) It was rebuilt or extensively repaired in 1833 (fn. 174) and restored in 1899. (fn. 175) It was said in 1914 to be not well attended. (fn. 176) It was still used in 1972.
2. P.N.E.R. Yorks. (E.P.N.S.), 272.
3. O.S. Map 6", Yorks. (1854 edn.). Most of the parish is covered by sheet 192, the rest by sheet 175.
4. Geol. Surv. Map 1", solid and drift, sheet 71 (1973 edn.).
5. V.C.H. City of York, 98.
7. E.R.R.O., QAB/1/1-3. See plate facing p. 160.
9. 8 & 9 Geo. III, Sess. 2, c. 21 (Priv. Act); T. Jefferys, Map of Yorks. (1772); O.S. Map 6" (1854 edn.).
11. O.S. Map 6" (1854 edn.).
12. B. F. Duckham, 'Fitzwilliams and Navigation of Yorks. Derwent', Northern Hist. ii. 48-9, 57.
13. O.S. Map 6" (1854 edn.).
14. Northern Hist. ii. 60.
15. Wheldrake; Aspects of a Yorks. Village (Wheldrake Loc. Hist. Soc), 40.
16. Hull Daily Mail, 28 Aug. 1972. See below plate facing p. 176.
17. Sheffield corp. River Derwent Scheme, Progress Reps. 1961-4; Water Supply to Sheffield and Dist. (1966) (all in York Pub. Libr.).
18. V.C.H. City of York, 479.
19. Wheldrake, op. cit. 41; iocal information.
20. O.S. Map 6" (1854 edn.).
22. O.S. Map 6" (1854 edn.). The gatehouse is dated 1857 and the gate-posts bear the initials J.E.C.: they were presumably added by the Revd. J. E. Clarke.
23. Local information. They bear his initials.
24. R. Derwent Scheme, Progress Reps. 1961-4; Water Supply to Sheffield and Dist.
26. Baines, Hist. Yorks. (1823), ii. 202.
29. R.D.B., CF/294/475; HK/17/20; Baines, Hist. Yorks. (1823), ii. 202.
32. Ex inf. Ministry of Defence, 1972.
33. Yorks. Eve. Press, 4 Oct. 1956.
34. E 179/202/58 m. 12.
36. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1764/Ret. 170; Herring's Visit, i. 181.
37. V.C.H. Yorks. iii. 497.
39. V.C.H. Yorks. ii. 263.
42. Feud. Aids, vi. 33; Cal. Inq. p.m. v, p. 319; xii, p. 226.
43. E. Y.C. xi, p. 284.
44. Feud. Aids, vi. 33.
45. Ibid. 173, 222; Rot. Litt. Pat. (Rec. Com.), 164.
46. Cal. Close, 1392-6, 360, 362.
47. J. W. Clay, Ext. & Dorm. Peerages of N. Cos. of Eng. 146.
48. Ibid. 147; Feud. Aids, vi. 271.
49. Cal. Fine R. 1452-61, 273-4; Cal. Pat. 1452-61, 578.
50. For pedigree of the Nevilles see Complete Peerage, s.v. Salisbury, Warwick, Westmorland.
51. Cal. Pat. 1467-77, 483.
53. N. Country Wills, i (Sur. Soc. cxvi), 281; Cal. Pat. 1563-6, p. 513.
54. C 66/2488 m. 11; Y.A.S., MS. 530(d).
58. D.N.B.; for pedigree of the Sterne family see Y.A.J. xxi. 91.
61. R.D.B., AU/127/204; /128/205; E.R.R.O., DDFA/4/ 26.
69. E 179/205/504; Royalist Composition Papers, i (Y.A.S. Rec. Ser. xv), 196.
71. Ibid. 165/518/437; 507/242/189; 754/297/251.
76. Ibid. FD/385/421; FF/194/233; /196/234.
77. Ibid. GL/310/395; E.R.R.O., DDFA/8/110.
81. V.C.H. Yorks. ii. 263.
82. Chron. de Melsa (Rolls Ser.), i. 230.
83. Cal. Pat. 1225-32, 208.
84. Fountains Charty. ed. W.T. Lancaster, ii. 834-5.
86. B.L. Harl. MS. 6288, ff. 81-7.
87. E 310/27/162 f. 38; E 310/27/163 f. 39.
88. B.I.H.R., CP. H. 120.
89. B.L. Harl. MS. 6288, ff. 81-7; E.R.R.O., DDFA/8/59.
91. B.L. Harl. MS. 6288, ff. 81-7.
92. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Elvington 1663, 1685.
93. 8 & 9 Geo. III, Sess. 2, c. 21 (Priv. Act).
94. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Elvington 1663, 1685.
96. E.R.R.O., Enrolment Bk. D, p. 37.
97. 16 Geo. III, c. 18 (Priv. Act).
98. 8 & 9 Geo. III, Sess. 2, c. 21 (Priv. Act).
99. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Elvington 1770; R.D.B., AR/134/ 264.
104. Kelly's Dir. N. & E.R. Yorks. (1937), 454.
106. 2nd Land Util. Surv. Map, sheet 699 (SE 64-74).
107. V.C.H. Yorks. ii. 263.
108. Cal. Inq. Misc. ii, pp. 320-1.
109. Public Works in Med. Law, ii (Selden Soc. xl), 276-7.
110. B.L. Harl. MS. 6288, ff. 81-7.
114. V.C.H. Yorks. ii. 409.
115. O.S. Map 6" (1854 edn.).
118. Bulmer, Dir. E. Yorks. (1892), 604.
120. Herring's Visit, i. 181.
121. O.S. Map 6" (1854 edn.).
122. 3rd Rep. Poor Law Com. 171.
124. V.C.H. Yorks. ii. 263.
125. Reg. Giffard, i, p. 45; Reg. Corbridge, ii, p. 173; Reg. Greenfield, v, p. 182; Cal. Close, 1392-6, 360; 1422-9, 238; 1476-85, p. 189; Cal. Pat. 1557-8, 448.
127. Sheahan and Whellan, Hist. York & E.R. ii. 617; York Dioc. Cal. (1866).
128. York Dioc. Year Bk.
129. Tax. Eccl. (Rec. Com.), 300.
130. Valor Eccl. (Rec. Com.), v. 97.
131. C 94/3 f. 76.
132. B.I.H.R., PR. ELV. 3.
133. Rep. Com. Eccl. Revenues, 932.
134. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1884/Ret.; Bp. V. 1914/Ret.
135. Ibid. CP. H. 120.
136. Ibid. TER. N. Elvington 1685.
137. Ibid. PR. ELV. 3.
138. Valor Eccl. v. 97.
139. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Elvington 1685.
140. E.R.R.O., Enrolment Bk. D, p. 37.
141. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Elvington 1770.
144. Valor Eccl. v. 97.
147. B.I.H.R., TER. N. Elvington 1770, 1809.
149. Cal. Pat. 1563-6, pp. 474-5.
150. Reg. Greenfield, iii, p. 39.
151. Herring's Visit. i. 181.
152. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1764/Ret. 170.
153. Rep. Com. Eccl. Revenues, 932.
155. R. A. Marchant, Puritans and the Ch. Courts in Dioc. York, 1560-1642, 226-7, 320.
156. Herring's Visit. i. 181.
157. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1764/Ret. 170; V. 1865/Ret. 166; V. 1868/Ret. 153; V. 1871/Ret. 154; V. 1877/Ret.; Bp. V. 1884/Ret.; Bp. V. 1894/Ret.; Bp. V. 1900/Ret. 114; Bp. V. 1914/Ret.; Bp. V. 1936/Ret. 145.
158. Ibid. V. 1663/CB. 1.
159. Herring's Visit. i. 181 n.
160. B.I.H.R., Fac. Bk. iii, p. 332; White, Dir. E. & N. R. Yorks. (1840), 326; Sheahan and Whellan, Hist. York & E. R. ii. 617.
161. B.I.H.R., PR. ELV. 9.
162. Ibid. V. 1868/Ret. 153.
163. Ibid. Fac. Bk. vi, p. 134; Fac. 1876/4; CD. 437. See plate facing p. 17.
164. Ibid. TER. N. Elvington 1764; Inventories of Ch. Goods, 84.
165. Boulter, 'Ch. Bells', 31; V.C.H. Yorks. ii. 451.
166. Yorks. Ch. Plate, i. 76.
168. York. Dioc. Regy., Consecration deeds.
170. Aveling, Post Reformation Catholicism, 64.
171. G.R.O. Worship Returns, Vol. v, nos. 661, 761, 3307, 3577, 4227, 4293.
173. G.R.O. Worship Returns, Vol. v, no. 2402; H.O. 129/23/515.
176. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1914/Ret.
177. V.C.H. City of York, 413.
178. White, Dir. E. & N.R. Yorks. (1840), 326.
179. Sheahan and Whellan, Hist. York & E.R. ii. 617.
180. B.I.H.R., Bp. V. 1764/Ret. 170.
181. Educ. of Poor Digest, 1080.
182. Educ. Enquiry Abstract, 1084.
183. Sheahan and Whellan, Hist. York & E.R. ii. 617; see above.
184. Ed. 7/135 no. 46.
185. Rep. of Educ. Cttee. of Council, 1870-1 [C. 406], p. 549, H.C. (1871), xxii.
186. Bd. of Educ. List 21 (H.M.S.O.).
187. E.R. Educ. Cttee. Mins. 1967-8, 107; local information.
188. Ex inf. Chief Educ. Officer, County Hall, Beverley, 1972.
190. B.I.H.R., V. 1865/Ret. 166; V. 1868/Ret. 153.

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