South Skirlaugh, Yorkshire, England. Further historical information.

SOUTH SKIRLAUGH

SOUTH SKIRLAUGH, in the parish of Swine, wapentake and liberty of Holderness; 2¼ miles N. of Swine, 9 miles NE. of Hull. The population of this place amounts to 211.

Marmaduke Langdale, Esq. left by will to the townships of South and North Skirlaugh 32 acres and a few perches of land, the rental to be appropriated to the following purposes, viz. -one half to be applied to the repairs of the church, &c., the other half to be applied to the education of the poor children, and the overplus given to the poor on their marriage. According to the testator's will the schoolmaster was to teach scholars on the work-days, and to preach on the Sundays; he had also to be an unmarried man, "For I" says the testator, "hold it unnecessary for a man living in so barren a place as Skirlaugh is, to have the use of a woman."

The elegant chapel here, erected by Walter Skirlaugh, Bishop of Durham, the place of his nativity, is described by Britton in his Architectural Antiquities, as one of the most perfect minor specimens of parochial architecture in the kingdom, and supposed to have been erected after Skirlaw was advanced to the See of Durham, A.D. 1388. and probably not before 1400. The base of the tower is surrounded with a series of quatrefoil panels.

Mr. Britton further adds, on the authority of Wood, that "it appears by a certain note (inter collect. Rog. Dodsworth) that Skirlaw was born at Skirlaw or Skirley, in Yorkshire, and the son of a siever (riddle or sieve maker) there, but being very untoward, ran away from his father's house, and went to the University, where, being received by some Scholar, he arrived at such learning, that be became noted for it, and through various preferments, was made Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, then of Wells, and at length of Durham. At which last place being settled, he sent his steward to inquire at Skirlaw, whether his father and mother (who had given him over for a lost son) were living; and having received notice that they were alive, sent for them, and supplied their wants."