Hide

Kirkby Ravensworth Supplementary

hide
Hide
Hide

In 1822, the following places were in
the Parish of Kirkby Ravensworth:


"DALTON, in the parish of Kirkby Ravensworth, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; 2 miles NW. of Kirkby Ravensworth, 7 miles NW. of Richmond. Here is a Free School, which the Methodists are permitted to use occasionally as a chapel. A Foot-post from hence to Richmond every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Pop. 265."


"EARLY LODGE, (the seat of William Hutchinson, Esq.) in the township of Newsham, and parish of Kirkby-Ravensworth; 3¾ miles NW. of Kirkby Ravensworth, 8 miles from Richmond."


"FOX HALL, a public house in the township of Ravensworth, and parish of Kirkby-Ravensworth; 6 miles from Richmond, 7 from Catterick. (Still a pub on the A66 in 2008)."


"GAYLES, in the parish of Kirkby Ravensworth, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; 1¼ miles WNW. of Kirkby Ravensworth, 5 miles NW. of Richmond. Mr. Thomas Wickliffe, the last male branch of the reformer Wickliffe's family, was born at Gayles hall, which is now the property of Lord Prudhoe, and occupied as a farm-house. Pop. 218."


"HALLGATE, (now Holgate) in the parish of Kirkby Ravensworth, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; 5 miles NE. of Reeth. The residence of Leonard Spenceley, yeoman."


"HELWITH, in the parish of Kirkby Ravensworth, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; 4¾ miles WSW. of Kirkby Ravensworth, 4 miles NE. of Reeth."


"KERSEY GREEN, in the parish of Kirkby Ravensworth, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; 6 miles NE. of Reeth."


"NEW FOREST, a vast expanse of moorland, in the parish of Kirkby Ravensworth, and wapentake of Gilling West; 5 miles N. of Reeth. Pop. 73."


"NEWSHAM, in the parish of Kirkby Ravensworth, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; 3 miles NW. of Kirkby Ravensworth, 8 miles NW. of Richmond. Pop. 511."


"RAVENSWORTH, in the parish of Kirkby Ravensworth, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; ¾ mile N. of Kirkby Ravensworth, 5 miles NW. of Richmond. Pop. 317.

Here are the remains of an ancient castle; the time of its erection is not known, but it is said to have existed before the conquest, and at that period, together with the manor, belonged to a baron named Bardulf; who, in his old age, became a monk in St. Mary's Abbey, at York: he granted to that monastery the church of Ravensworth, in pure alms. On the face of the broken tower are some large letters, but by the injuries of time they are altogether illegible.

In Leland's time it belonged to Lord Parre; who says "The castle, excepting two or three towers, and a faire stable; with a conduct coming to the haulle side, hath no thing memorable. It is three miles by north-west from Richmond, and thereby is a pratty village."

From Whitaker's Yorkshire, it appears that this castle and estate were in the hands of the crown from 1571 to 1629, when by letters patent, they were granted to Edward Ditchfield, and other trustees. In 1677, they were in the possession of Sir Thomas Wharton, by whose daughter they passed to Robert Byerley, Esq. They were sold a few years since to Mr. Humphrey Fletcher, of Minskip, the present owner.

Here was born about 1738, Cuthbert Shaw, a poet of some celebrity. He was educated at the free-school of Scorton, where he became usher. In 1756 he published a poem called "Liberty." On leaving the north he joined a company of Commedians; but he relinquished the stage in 1762, and became a professional writer. In 1766 he published the "Race" a satire, against many living poets; and in 1768, "a monody on the death of his wife," who, with her child, fell into an untimely grave by his debauchery. This wretched man, however, still continued to lampoon his superiors in a satire entitled "Corruption;" and an elegy on the death of Mr. Charles York. He died In 1771. Europ. Mag."


"STURDY HOUSE, a farm house in the township of Whashton, and parish of Kirkby-Ravensworth."


"WHASHTON, in the parish of Kirkby Ravensworth, wapentake of Gilling West, and liberty of Richmondshire; ¾ mile ESE. of Kirkby Ravensworth, 4 miles NW. of Richmond. Pop. 140."


"WHASHTON SPRINGS, a farm house in the township of Whashton, and parish of Kirkby Ravensworth; 1 mile SSE. of Kirkby Ravensworth, 3 miles from Richmond."

[Description(s) edited mainly from various 19th century sources by Colin Hinson. ©2010]