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Sherburn In Elmet, Yorkshire, England. Geographical and Historical information from 1834.

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SHERBURN IN ELMET:
Geographical and Historical information from the year 1834.

"SHERBURN IN ELMET, once a market town, in the township and in the parish of its name, partly in the liberty of St. Peter of York, East Riding, and partly in the upper division of Barkstone Ash, West Riding, is 184 miles n. by w. from London, 15 s.s.w. from York, 13 east from Leeds, and 9 n. from Pontefract ; situate on the road from Tadcaster to Ferrybridge, and about one mile s.e. of the rail road now constructing from Selby to Leeds; upon the completion of which work it is expected the market at Sherburn will be revived. A meeting of magistrates is held here every alternate Tuesday, at the Red Bear Inn. Excellent stone is obtained in the vicinity of the town; and upon a stream called Bishop Dyke, are several corn mills. The country around here is fertile, abounding with fine orchards. Flax is cultivated to some extent, and sent to the Leeds market; teasel is also grown in this part of the country, and forms a prominent article of trade. The church, which is dedicated to All Saints, is a handsome and spacious structure; the nave exhibiting a beautiful and rare specimen of ancient architecture. This edifice is said to have been erected out of the ruins of the palace, which existed here in the time of King Athelstan, and which was afterwards given to the Archbishop of York. The living is a discharged vicarage in the patronage of the prebendary of Fenton, in York cathedral. A rich and elegant cross was found some years ago, in the church yard, in digging amongst the foundations of an old chapel. Sherburn hospital and school house were erected in 1619, in pursuance of the will of Robert Hungate, Esq. who gave a rent charge for the maintenance, clothing, and education of twenty four male orphans, of the parishes of Sherburn, Seaton, and Sand Hutton, the City of York, or elsewhere; also for the support of four scholars, at St. John's college, Cambridge : the establishment is also entitled to send candidates for Lady Hastings' exhibitions, at Queen's college, Oxford. The market, which is entitled to be holden on Friday, has for many years been scarcely noticed; but an annnual fair is still maintained on the 25th September. The parish of Sherburn contained, by the census taken in 1821, 2,916 inhabitants; and in 1831, 3,068; of which last number 1,155 were returned for the township."


"SOUTH MILFORD, is a village and township, in the parish of Sherburn in Elmet, one mile west from that town. The cultivation of teasel, for the Leeds market, is here carried on extensively. The new line of railway from Selby to Leeds, will pass through this township. The only place of worship here is a chapel for methodists. Population of the township, in 1831, was 719."

[Transcribed by Steve Garton ©2000 from
Pigot's directory (Yorkshire section) 1834]