Market Weighton, Yorkshire, England. Geographical and Historical information from 1834.

MARKET WEIGHTON:
Geographical and Historical information from the year 1834.

"MARKET WEIGHTON, is a market town and township, in the parish of its name, which is partly in the liberty of St. Peter, of York, and partly in the Holme Beacon division of Harthill wapentake, East Riding, 190 miles from London, 83 n by e from Manchester, 19 s.e. from York, the like distance n.w. from Hull, and 10 w from Beverley ; situated at the western foot of the Wolds, on the high road from York to Beverley ; within a trifling distance of a branch of the river Foulness, upon which are corn mills, and near to the canal of its name, communicating with the Humber. Not many years ago it was a place of considerable thoroughfare, but since the establishment of many steam boats upon the Humber, there has not been so much travelling through it ; latterly, however, its trade has somewhat revived. The situation of the town is considered highly salubrious, and though the views around it are almost devoid of any interest, yet to the lovers of field sports the Wold scenery is highly attractive. The Duke of Devonshire is lord of the manor, and holds a court baron twice in the year. The places of worship are the parish church, an ancient edifice, dedicated to All Saints, and a chapel each, for Wesleyan and primitive methodists and calvinists. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the patronage of the prebendary of Weighton (in York cathedral.) The present incumbent is the Rev. R.C.Winpenny, A.M. The market is held on Wednesday, and the fairs on the 14th of May and 23rd of September for horses, 24th for cattle, and 25th for sheep ; the latter, at one period, was the largest sheep fair in England, and it still remains very considerable.

The parish contained in 1821, 2,093 inhabitants, and in 1831, 2,169 of which last number 1,821 were returned for Market Weighton and Arras townships. Holme upon Spalding Moor is a village, in the parish of its name, in the same division and wapentake as Market Weighton, 4.5 miles s.w. from that town. The church, which is dedicated to All Saints, and is a structure of some antiquity, stands on an eminence, commanding a fine and extensive prospect, in which the minster at York is a prominent object. The living is a vicarage, in the patronage of the master and fellows of St. John's College, Cambridge ; the very Rev. Thomas Calvert, D.D. is the incumbent. The other places of worship are a chapel each for Wesleyan and primitive methodists, and Roman catholics. Here is also a national school. Upon the Mount, where the church stands, is the Beacon, from which the division of the wapentake, here, takes its name. According to tradition, a cell was founded by Vavasours or Constables, on the edge of the moor, for two monks, one of whom acted as a guide to travellers across the dreary and extensive waste, the other praying for their safety. The parish (which has no dependent township) contained, by the last returns, 1,438 inhabitants.

Shipton is a chapelry, in the parish of Market Weighton, one mile and a half west from that town, on the road to York. A chapel of ease, and a school with a small endowment, are in the village. The chapelry contained, by the government returns for 1831, 348 inhabitants."

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