Forcett

The Ancient Parish of FORCETT

[Transcribed information mainly from the early 1820s]

"FORCETT, a parish in the wapentake of Gilling West. and liberty of Richmondshire; 8 miles N. of Richmond. The church is dedicated to St. Cuthbert (see Churches for photograph); the living is a perpetual curacy in the patronage of the vicar of Gilling. Here are the remains of a Roman entrenchment, extending East and West of the village to Gatarby moor. Pop. 86."

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"BARFORTH, in the parish of Forcett, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; 2¾ miles NNW. of Forcett, 12 miles N. of Richmond, a small township situated on the banks of the Tees. This township, which is the property of the Earl of Harewood, comprises Old Richmond, but nothing now remains except the ruins of an old chapel, and a few irregularities in the neighbouring fields, which, together with the stones and other relics that are occasionally dug up, prove it to have been a place of considerable extent. Pop. 141.

"Here," says Cade, "was formerly a Roman station, near an ancient seat of the Pudsays, of which family, I find Ambrose Pudsay, Sheriff of Yorkshire anno 1762." There is a large station above 61 acres. After giving a description of its form, &c. he further adds, "the common name, ascribed to the station, we are treating of at Barford, has long been called Old Richmond, for no other reason, I suppose, than its magnitude." Again, "if any altars or inscriptions were found at the station near Barford, it is presumed they have been applied towards erecting an old church or chapel, dedicated to St. Lawrence, still remaining close by the place, but long disused, and the family seat of the Pudsays, which is of great antiquity, no doubt, partook of the spoils." -Archeol. Of the chapel alluded to, some remains are still extant."

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"CARKIN, in the parish of Forcett, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; 1¾ miles S. of Forcett, 7 miles N. of Richmond. Pop. 24."

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"OVINGTON, in the parish of Forcett, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; 3 miles WNW. of Forcett, 6 miles E. of Barnard Castle. A small township situated near the banks of the Tees. Pop. 166."