Gilling West

The Ancient Parish of GILLING WEST

[Transcribed information mainly from the early 1820s]

"GILLING WEST, a parish in the wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; 3 miles N. of Richmond; is a place of great antiquity, and once of sufficient consequence to give name to two wapentakes, Gilling East and Gilling West. The present vicar, his brother, has lately erected a noble vicarage, and improved the village very considerably. In addition to the parish church, which is dedicated to St. Agatha (see Churches for photograph), there are here a Methodist chapel and a National school, the latter of which affords instruction to 75 poor children. Population, including Hartforth and Stedbury, 921.

About half a mile from Gilling is Gilling Wood hall, now a farm-house, but formerly the residence of a branch of the Duke of Wharton's family, it was burnt down about eighty years ago, and is now the property of John Wharton, Esq. of Skelton Castle, in Cleveland, M.P. for Beverley, who is Lord of the manor, and has a large estate here, with the patronage of the living. The free stone quarry of this place is of the finest quality, said to be one of the best in Yorkshire, and of which nearly all the bridges in the North Riding are built.

It was here that Oswyn, King of Deira, was murdered by Oswin of Bernicia, A.D. 651. To atone for this foul murder, Eanfleda, wife of Oswin, who was also related to Oswyn; founded the monastery of Ingethlingum, so called by Bede, not a Vestige of which is now to be seen. Gilling is remarkable also as having been the residence of the Saxon Edwin and his progenitors. The Castle, the seat of the Saxon Earls was situated upon a hill, nearly a mile to the south of the village, the vestiges of which were removed some time since."



Information on the following places in this Parish is contained on a supplementary page.

Atley Hill Brackenby Eppleby Eryholme Hartforth Hedgeholm Little Hutton

North Cowton Pepper Hall Sedbury Sedbury Hall South Cowton Temple House